NCAD, Joburg art, media art calls

Sorry for the lack of postings lately, but as promised before the move to Dublin, that’s just how it’s gonna be (until such time as Bronwyn and Rat do the regular blogging they tentatively offered here; like most Joburgers, they’re busy with more than a handful of things, so…).

OK, catch-up spanning (and doing little justice to) about 4 weeks of "stuff," beginning with a talk I gave at Ireland’s National College of Art and Design on 18 Jan. A bit of an enlightening experience for me in terms of crowd response — I guess I’m used to the very animated audience that Joburg and greater South Africa offer, so when people listened without expression, I ended about 30 minutes into the presentation, thinking I had completely bombed (all the more disappointing, since it was a crowd of about 70 – 100 people, a good turnout, IMNSHO – In My Not So Humble Opinion). But alas! A great discussion persisted for another 45 minutes beyond my early end! Mostly very generous questions which led to great dialogue, a few compliments, and one very provocative accusation; I have to say I’m excited to be starting off with a discussion in this community, and hope my leaving the country a few days after the talk didn’t put a potential speed bump on what began there…. NCADers – let’s hang?

I won’t cover my own exhibition since both Bronwyn and I already mentioned it, but there was a nice piece in beeld that was more like a profile of me just before leaving, and I think Robyn Sassen may be writing a short text in the Jewish Report. I did manage to go see GordArt’s new space, with several good shows (am new to Zach’s work – nice), lots of red stickers and the usual enthusiasm and support every art scene needs. Gordon Froud should be thanked over and over again by emerging and established artists alike, for his ongoing contributions.

Also caught the last of the Parking Gallery (at least in its initial Joburg incarnation) collaborations, this one between Simon Gush and Dorothee Kreutzfeldt at the Drill Hall. It was a very funny performance piece called 3-point turn, where they hired Sam Metentji to go, the wrong way, down a one-way street in downtown Jozi during rush hour. Many debates ensued, but mostly laughs and good byes: Simon has since left for a 2-year residency at the prestigious HISK in Belgium; see you there in July, buddy.

^{all photos taken on my crappy cell phone}

Sad to say I missed most of all the other goings-on in the art world, catching up on my own crap, but I hear the Guy Tillim show at Goodman was divine, and there’ve been a few workshops at the Bag Factory worth checking out.

And finally, a few calls:
You have til Monday to nominate yourself or a friend for the iCommons Artist In Residence in Croatia (use the Wiki).
Rhizome has its annual call for net.art commissions.
Turbulence has, probably, the most interesting net.art call I’ve ever seen: a collaboration with Art Interactive and Ars Virtua.
Ars Electronica Prix has been launched, with a few new categories.
Not new media (tho my proposal will be, if I get into the second round) there’s the Sasol Wax Art Award for South African mid-career artists.