echovar

Richard Foreman has an API. He’s mashable. His notebooks are downloadable in html and you can freely include them in your Web 2.0 mashup. You push the button, and Foreman does the rest…

This website contains hundreds of pages of unedited text which Richard Foreman is making available freely for use by theatrical authors/directors from which to create plays of their own.

I’d like to see an automatic Richard Foreman play generator, select the themes, the length and the number of characters. And then we need to get together and put on theatricals for each other on a saturday night.

Arcadia 2007 was a tremendous success. The proceeds from the event topped $185,000.00 and that money will help Friends of the Urban Forest continue its mission of creating a greener San Francisco. Arcadia is also a lesson in individual action and the power of bringing people together for a common purpose. Arcadia was conceived by artists as a way to make a significant contribution to San Francisco’s urban ecosystem. Arcadia turns art into trees.

And all good intentions aside, the party was amazing and the art was stellar. 560 people packed the California Modern Gallery and had an absolute blast. It was a perfect evening.

Gyöngy Laky’s Play By The Rules is a great addition to the Arcadia 2007 Auction. Constructed from the street trees in her Neighborhood, nails and plastic army men — this piece has both a ecological and a political edge. This wall mounted sculpture will be part of the Live Auction. If you’ve never encountered Gyöngy’s work before, you should give her a google. (By the way, it’s pronounced “Ging” as in “Ginger”)

Recording artist Peggy Honeywell in the guise of visual artist Clare Rojas has contributed a beautiful untitled work to Arcadia 2007. Clare Rojas is a talented musician, filmmaker and painter. With all that going on, it’s wonderful that Clare took the time to create a piece especially for Arcadia.

As a child I played with a toy called Lincoln Logs. Artist Richard Bassett has recast that childhood toy in cold rolled steel and made it his donation to Arcadia 2007. “The Burden of Myth and Memory” is both a playful and deep expression of Arcadia’s theme: Art of, or inspired by, trees.

The Web is a great way to get an idea of how something looks. But in some ways it robs us of the depth and immediacy of direct experience. This is especially true when it comes to visual art. Marcia Stuermer’s contribution to Arcadia 2007, Botanical Barcode must be seen in person to fully appreciate its beauty. Stuermer samples moments in time, capturing them in resin. The artistry is in the moments she chooses.

This is the second time that Barry McGee has contributed to Arcadia. His piece for Arcadia 2005 inspired quite a bidding frenzy. Barry’s piece will be included in the Live Auction this year. If you can’t make the event — you can place an absentee bid. And you can check out Barry’s Untitled contribution and all the other art at the preview — Today (Sunday, 4/22) from 2 to 4pm at California Modern Gallery, 1035 Market Street.

Christine Cariati is a contributing artist and the curator of Arcadia 2007. She selects and coordinates the artists—and hangs the show with SFMOMA curator Janet Bishop. Her contribution “In The Garden” is a beautiful example of her “theater” style work. These pieces are assembled from 5 to 10 layers 300# Arches Cold Press paper to create a substantial three dimensional work. The paintings are gouache, a difficult medium, which Cariati handles with a master’s hand. “In The Garden” expresses the terrible beauty of nature. Her birds are so enchanting, but a closer look reveals a Darwinian context and a hint of nature’s use of beauty.

Paula McCartney’s Bird Watching is a facinating thought experiment for the viewer. You start by thinking that you’re seeing an intimate slice of nature. Suddenly culture intrudes and the questions begin. In the end, the image is undeniably beautiful and a great contribution to the Arcadia 2007 auction. Rumor is that tickets are going fast, so get yours today.

San Francisco artist Mark Ulriksen is best know for his great cover illustrations for The New Yorker and other magazines. But did you know that Mark is a three time contributor to Arcadia? This year’s donation is called “Family Tree” and is another classic. It brings to mind the sense of community that is engendered when neighbors get together to plant trees with Friends of the Urban Forest. The event is next Monday, so get your tickets today.