Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.
About Elizabeth Gilbert
The author of Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert has thought long and hard about some large topics. Her next fascination: genius, and how we ruin it. Full bio and more links
George Tobolowsky (American, b. 1949) "My Signature Piece," 2009.
Welded steel with lacquer. 79 x 112 x 55 inches.
August 17, 2010 (TYLER, TX) – Discarded steel and scrap metal are reborn in the exhibition Substance & Form: The Art of George Tobolowsky, on view at the Tyler Museum of Art September 5 through November 28, 2010 in the Museum’s Bell Gallery. Texas sculptor George Tobolowsky is known for his dynamic repurposing of discarded metal pieces into energetic and compelling large-scale sculpture. Works weighing up to 3,000 pounds will be placed in and around the TMA, both inside the gallery and outside on the grounds. This exhibition was organized by Grace Museum, Abilene. The final selection of works to appear at TMA will vary from those shown in Abilene. Collectors’ Circle sponsors are Betty and Dick Summers.
A Dallas native, George Tobolowsky earned business and law degrees from Southern Methodist University in the early 1970s. While there, he minored in sculpture and became life-long friends with his mentor, the renowned sculptor, James Surls. In the years following, Tobolowsky remained involved in the arts through personal collection and voluntary service to arts institutions, although his primary focus was on his corporate career. It wasn’t until 2006 that the distinguished businessman and attorney had his first solo exhibition at the Gerald Peters Gallery in Dallas. His work immediately captured the interest of the art world, and in the months following the exhibition, Tobolowsky began shifting his focus to life as an artist, exhibiting his unique works and creating new sculpture from his Mountain Springs, Texas studio, which is situated on his ranch.
“Tobolowsky has earned recognition in the world of contemporary art because his works recall a long legacy of steel sculpture while maintaining a uniquely new quality,” says Kimberley Tomio, TMA Director. “He has been compared to sculptors like Julio González, Pablo Picasso, and David Smith, all pioneers of abstract sculpture. While his works recall the legacy of past artists, Tobolowsky forges his own way, composing pieces that connect with a 21st century viewer.” The artist’s corporate background certainly colors his work, with titles like The Auditors and The 600 lbs Deal Breaker suggesting a humorous context to each piece.
In order to find materials, Tobolowsky visits metal scrap yards where he routinely picks up 1,000 to 2,000 pounds worth of raw material from vast heaps of discarded steel. The materials come from a variety of sources including machine and heavy-duty fabrication shops. These industrial castoffs are to some degree familiar to anyone who has observed a working engine or a large machine of some kind. Fan blades, gears, and coiling metal strips are transformed by Tobolowsky, who uses the materials to create works that are both familiar and foreign. Rather than constructing something that is a sum of its parts, Tobolowsky redefines form and function by building three-dimensional abstractions, often suggesting anthropomorphic postures, and succeeds in elegantly proving that the sum is indeed more than the parts.
Substance & Form: The Art of George Tobolowsky will be presented free of charge at the Tyler Museum of Art. The exhibition opens to the public Sunday, September 5, 2010. The TMA is supported by its Members, TylerJunior College and the TylerMuseum of Art.
Events & Activities
Sunday, September 5: Form & Substance: The Art of George Tobolowsky opens to the public. Organized by Grace Museum, Abilene. Collectors’ Circle Sponsors are Betty and Dick Summers.
Monday, September 6: Last day for Blue Star Program. TMA will be open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Labor Day. Active members of the U.S. military and their family members are invited to enjoy the Museum with no admission fees through Labor Day, 2010.
Saturday, September 11: Family Day, featuring Form & Substance: The Art of George Tobolowsky. Visitors will enjoy free art activities from 2–4 p.m. in the TMA Classroom.
Friday, October 8: Artist Reception & Gallery Talk. The public is invited to meet artist George Tobolowsky and listen as he discusses his works shown in the exhibition Form & Substance: The Art of George Tobolowsky. 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 28: Fall Lecture Series III with special guest, Jed Morse, Curator, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, who will deliver a lecture titled “Form & Substance: The Art of George Tobolowsky.” TMA Classroom, 5:30–7:00 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for TMA Members and children 12 and under.
Friday, November 5: First Friday Art Tour. This month’s free First Friday Art Tour will lead visitors through Form & Substance: the Art of George Tobolowsky. Tour begins at 11 a.m.
The Tyler Museum of Art, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. (The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.) Lunch is available in the Museum Café from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the TMA Gift Shop is open during Museum hours. For more information, call (903) 595-1001 or visit www.tylermuseum.org.
George Tobolowsky (American, b. 1949). "The Scholar," 2009.
Welded stainless steel with lacquer. 92 x 32 x 32 inches.
Light Space & Time – OnlineArtGallery presents a Juried Competition, in which 2D artists from around the world are called upon to make online submissions for the theme “Liquid” for inclusion into the October 2010 online group exhibition. Light Space & Time encourages entries from all 2D artists regardless of where they reside and regardless of their experience or education in the art field.
A group exhibition of the top five finalists will be held online at the LightSpace & TimeArtGallery during the month of October. Awards will be for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. In addition, 2 artists will recognized with Honorable Mention awards. The theme for September is “Liquid”. The submission process for artists ends September 29, 2010.
All winners will be selected, announced and featured on the Light Space & Time website on October 1, 2010 and remain online in the gallery through October 30, 2010. Thereafter, the artworks will remain online in the Light Space & Time Archives with links to the artist’s websites.
I came across The Starck Club Documentary while online, I think it was on Facebook, but it actually may have been on Myspace a few years ago. At that time there was just talk of putting a movie together. Anyway, since the first time I saw the hintings of a movie, I was ready to watch. Then fast forward to a couple of days ago, and I saw it again. This time I watched the trailer and was trying to figure out if I wanted to rent or buy the movie. If any of you out there have been in the club scene, then your interest should be piqued.
The intro reads: The Starck Club opened in 1984 when it was actually legal to buy MDMA aka Ecstasy there, people would put it on credit cards. The DEA stepped in and made it a category 1drug on July 1, 1985...
I was beyond intrigued, so I invited the producer, Joseph F. Alexandre, for an interview.
The Interview
SIVY221: I am here with Joseph F. Alexandre who has made the documentary: Warriors of the Discotheque The Starck Club Documentary
Joseph, what made you want to make a film about the Starck Club Jfa42: I think just having been to the club as a kid, it was an experience that stuck with me a long, long time. I was originally from NY and spent some time in Europe so Id been around but here was this club in Dallas like nothing I had ever seen Jfa42: And having been too many many clubs since that still holds true
SIVY221: It seemed like it had that kind of vibe that you just don't see everyday, and if you were there you share that experience with others
Jfa42: Indeed, people get caught up in making more of things than they were sometimes but you can;t overplay the other worldliness of this club...
Jfa42: Before Starck you had Studio 54 like warehouse dressed up a bit or some flashing disco lights, but nothig kike the design of Starck
SIVY221: I read in some articles that the club had a huge rise then kind of died down
Jfa42: Big time, 85' 86 was peak then after it was almost like a diferent scene
Jfa42: It became very sort of normal and suburbia and the gay mafia kind of lost its grip. they had a stranglehold on the scene in its heyday
SIVY221: What angle does your documentary explore of the Starck scene
Jfa42: We explore the design, music, the drugs (X or E and coke) and the fashion and people... the kind of time it was--a kind of the lead up to this crazy upswing weve had that just came crashing to an end
Jfa42: the seeds of the current recession were planted in the go go 80s of Reagan
SIVY221: They were selling X legally at the club, then the laws changed. Do you think that added to the downfall...
Jfa42: it was prefigured the whole anti depressant thing... That sort of lead to it, but really it's when Joe blow started coming from the outer suburbs that kind of lost the magic... it had good 2-3 run so..
SIVY221: Ya-- when things hit mainstreme they tend to loose the edge
Jfa42: It did, I also think some of it had to do w/ ownership losing their edge, getting caught up in the scene so to speak... sniff, sniff if you get my drift.
SIVY221: totally
SIVY221: Where are you at with the film right now, are you still looking for funding
Jfa42: We have a little more thats come thru but honestly Blake Woodall the former owner and Michael Cain who said theyre doing a film that has yet to materialize have cock blocked us from getting more funds in Dallas but we still have a few avenues and are resuming shooting shoot SIVY221: So is the film not done-- I watched a trailer on Amazon?
Jfa42: we have a 20 min. short version that's done well on the fest circuit and are looking to do a sort of cable hour 54 min. sort of thing... we have enough to do a longer version now packed all sorts of extras deleted scenes and other goodies but want to fill it out even more as their is so much there....Jfa42: on DVD I mean
Jfa42: Also in the works is a feature script I've been shopping to some big producers in town (LA) so we'll see...
SIVY221: How can we help
From what I have seen so far, I think it looks great
Jfa42: Well we had a couple of crowd funding campaigns that fizzled but if people could rent it on VOD on Amazon for 2 bucks thatd help us alot:) no doubt!
SIVY221: Yes They should rent it! I will include the links to rent it at the end of this interview.
