Patron Saint of Year End

Everyone, at least the hyper critical types, are always drawn to summing things up this time of year. My reasons for doing the following comic are complicated, confusing and odd. But I did it, and it was fun. I especially liked coloring it in. I think that art is like little league baseball, in that it's not who wins or loses, it's how you play the game. Or if everyone has fun. I dont know.

Click the comic to enlarge. Actually, it's rather frustrating, you have to click on it, and then go to another screen with it the same size, but it haas a little icon which says, All Sizes, and then you click that, and then you select Large, and then you can read it. But believe you me, it is well worth it.

Guide to 2004, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

Hot Event

Biz Card, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

This is one of my handmade business cards. It is a work of singular genius and let me tell you why.

First off, it is a fake business card, in that it is drawn to look like a mass-produced one, but in reality is meticulously hand crafted. It is a real business card, though. It has real information and can be used as a networking solution.

It is Uber-Warholian. Andy Warhol talks about wanting to be a machine, and the best way to be an art machine is to perfect the ability to draw the same thing over and over. Like this dog guy. You thought it was a funny little character but you were wrong. It is all just one big simulacrum.

Beyond this we have the totality of the situation, a perfect mixture of art and commerce.

I was at Sonotheque at the of Artists' Month this past October for a show I participated in there. I had hundreds of dog cutouts that I installed in the restrooms. Again, with the repetition. One of the other exhibiting artists was there, Krista Peel, and we began to talk. I gave her one of my homemade business cards, and she instantly had an idea. Krista, among other things, makes miniature art installations. Dollhouses with a contemporary knack for design.

She saw my tiny dog on the back of the card as a perfect mini poster for a mini room.

At any rate, she has included my piece, along with many by other real, honest-to-goodness artists, in her ultra-mod dollhouse. The result is the sculptural product and a calendar of images.

As if to come full circle, the event to kick all this off is at Sonotheque. Below you will find the invitation.

2005-invite, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

Nothing Munch to Scream About

Lately I have been interested in the turn of events surrounding the robbery of two Edward Munch masterpieces last August. Below you will find an update of some new events and twists. Further down, below the MoMA thing and the venomous social critique after the elections, you will find the Scream Report. Half research paper and half entertainment, it is both informative and a joy to read. Apparently, this is a genre of writing that is being called Creative Non Fiction who knew?

So hopefully you will browse the site and enjoy what you see. If you have any comments, please address them to me at:
artoridiocy@yahoo.com
I would love to hear what you think. Watch this space for regular stories, art news, commentary, and announcements regarding my noteworthy activities.

Thanks,

Erik

Armed Bandit

Armed Bandit, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

The Scream snatchers are still at large, but there are some minor developments in the case. In August armed gunmen raided The Munch Museum in Norway, making off with a version of The Scream (hence all the puns) and a version Madonna. I have located some more photos of the crime, and its particulars.

Masterpiece at Hand

Thief, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

After struggling with wires anchoring the art to the walls, the thief has freed his quarry and heads out the door.

Caution Tape

Caution Tape, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

From the sources of the Associated Press, BigNews.com and Aftenposten News from Norway (aftenposten.no/English) I have learned that the Munch Museet (Munch Museum) is now planning to remain closed at least until June 2005. The Museum is heightening its security with approximately $7.8M in additions. The money will be used to augment its video surveillance system. Glass casings bolted to the walls around its more famous paintings, and metal detectors will be added as well, announced the City Council. Also under consideration is a mazelike structure to prevent would-be burglars from easily escaping the lobby. I can only imagine this ending in disaster. Imagine an emergency where the museum needs to be evacuated and everyone becomes trapped in the maze.

Well, what the fuck do we do now?!

Museet, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

Authorities mill about, trying to figure what went wrong.

Mary Vassiliou, From New Jersey

Mary Vassiliou NJ, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

Truly an international museum is the Munch Museet, as this American was witness to the tragic events which unfolded that grave Sunday in August. We can only guess as to what she was saying as this is just a picture and she is not quoted anywhere. Her presence does add an air of legitimacy and urgency, though.

Discarded Frame

Discarded Frame, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

To the left is oneof the four sides to the frame which was once on the Madonna painting.

Grete Horntvedt, a city councilor, wants to make the blueprints of the Munch and Stenersen classified. Nine-Eleven has impacted security the world over, apparently, and this step to secure the plans to the museums and the Oslo City Hall are all part of an overall heightened security initiative there. So any time security gets stepped up, and you ask yourself why, just think: "Nine-Eleven," and go back to you business.

Abandoned Getaway Car

Abandoned Getawaycar, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

The bandits' rented getaway car, found near a tennis court, a fire extinguisher was left off inside to destroy evidence.

This is a very sad event, and security should be improved. But really, security should have been improved long ago. It should have been restructured ten years ago in the aftermath of the first Munch theft (different Scream different museum, same city). All the ADT systems in the world won't bring back those two paintings.

The Telltale Head

Munch Bust, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

And as if to add insult to injury, less than 3 mos. after the robbery, another was committed one of an even greater desecration. Some time between Monday (11/15/4) and Thursday (11/18/4) a bust of Edward Munch, which was perched atop a monument to the artist, was beheaded. The effigy was situated in Our Savior Cemetery near his actual grave. The head turned up missing, which is to say that the head didn't turn up at all and was thus deemed missing. Either vandalized or stolen, the bust of the Norwegian master was placed on that site,"[...] the so-called Sacred Ground," states Aftenposten, "in 1992 by friends of the Munch Museum in [...]" The sculpture was created by fellow countryman Arne Durban.

Sans a Bust

Munch Monument, originally uploaded by Art or Idiocy?.

With such occurrences such as this, one can't help but wonder what is going on? Is there a greater plot besides art theft going on? It seems those involved are out to get Edward Munch, his art and the museum dedicated to him. It's almost a Scooby Do or Scream plot. Hmm, Scream, the movie. Where it turns out the killer is a disenfranchised illegitimate son. What if the Scream painting caper has more in common with the Scream movies than the name?

We may never know.