He[art]

“For the poor, the arts are a path to opportunity.” Props to Americans for the Arts’ Robert L. Lynch and actor / director Robert Redford for writing this letter, which was in response to a recent study revealing that federally funded arts programs benefit people of all income levels. (And yesterday, in related news, President Obama finally named his pick for the head of the National Endowment for the Arts.) Art’s importance cannot be stressed enough.

So tell me. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day…

Penny Byrne's Love Is a Battlefield
at the inaugural Art Basel Hong Kong.

Why do you love art? And what do you love most about art?

(P.S. De La Soul is making their entire catalog available for free download today at 11am EST until tomorrow at noon. Edit: And Gargoyles, my second favorite animated TV show as a kid—after Batman: TAS—is streaming legally on YouTube. Happy Friday!)

Of the Horse

Hello from the other side of 2014! (Me, late to wishing you a happy new year? Never!) First, a couple opportunities and calls for artists and designers:

• My good friend Caitlin Bergh is starting a company and needs a graffiti-inspired logo that says “CEB.” You can contact her here. [Update: Caitlin has made her decision. Thanks for all the submissions!]

• As mentioned in the previous post, I’ve been invited to be the guest juror for Water Street Studios’ spring show. It’s an open group exhibition, so submit and let me judge your work.

And a couple personal art updates:

Photo by Kim Koin.

• Last month, I charged into the new year with a series of visiting artist workshops at the Chicago Children’s Museum. Here are some photos from the last session. Thanks, CCM! I had a blast.

• Also, thanks to the artblog for the plug in a news post! I’ve updated the Press page accordingly.

Fellow Chiberians and winter warriors elsewhere, be warm and well! Everyone else, I grant you permission to gloat.