Nan Goldin’s Ballad of Sexual Dependency

I just discovered Nan Goldin’s Ballad of Sexual Dependency today at SFMOMA. The piece is presented as a 45 minute long slide installation with accompanying soundtrack. The series is a thoroughly personal body of work depicting the artist’s friends in intimate, everyday moments such as using the toilet, taking a bath, or performing sexual acts. The viewer feels like an unanticipated voyeur captured in the midst of an array of arrestingly private imagery. It is an eye opening series into the lives of Goldin’s friends but is also a group of images which chronicles a time and culture of ‘sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll’ in New York City throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. In contrast to the glamour that one associates with this era Goldin reveals a soberingly honest perspective of the seedy side of life which inevitably becomes even more sobering when the series ends with somber images of tombstones and open caskets containing deceased friends due to the devastating effects of AIDS which plagued that time.

This is an extremely powerful and poignant series and for me personally, a long overdue discovery.

Emerging artists; A hot commodity

Why are Collectors increasingly interested in artwork by emerging artists? Is it because they love the work? Of course! Lower price points? Absolutely. But I've been thinking...does it have something to do with the newness of it and also if it costs less, you can collect more! When you buy emerging artists you're accessing fresh ideas, ones that haven't been torn open and chewed up by critics. You're also tapping into something that at a lower price point you have the ability to consume more of and all the while follow trends. It's like fashion. The top shops and h&ms allow us to have more and follow the trends at the same time. The older more expensive and established labels represent a stuffy, older culture and there is something very attractive about having something new, right off the rack, something different. But the fear is that there is a ficklness attached to that kind of collecting. If the new is it, like in fashion, one minute you're hot the next you're not. Is this what's going to happen with new artists? A fickle infatuation and then, next year, collectors are over it?

YELAPA

Yelapa is a coastal town near PVR Mexico. It's an absolute discovery. Romantic, quiet, and exotic. There is only one little hotel on there that offer little huts for rooms. The rooms are really rustic and also affordable. It's a great location for a quiet romantic get away but don't expect 5 star service. It is not the four seasons and you will come home with quite a few bug bites!

PANELS

OUR LOFT

We spent so much time designing, building this place. Maybe 2 years or so. We have very modern taste but found that as we decorated it we didn't want the place feeling too cold or stiff. The most recent additions have been the old comfy brown lounger and the painted bird panels that we made together. I've added some photos and paintings to liven up the place too. I also like having books and magazines tossed around to give it that live in feel.

Raw Fish Served on a Salt Block

What a beautiful and creative way to serve raw fish; on a salt block. It was a raw halibut served with mushrooms on a cold salt block. Delicious and beautiful. My kind of meal.

Art, style, and creativity are essential parts of life. I like to look at the world in terms of color, scale, shape. Carefully observing the world around us and looking at things, taking a mental snapshot and contemplating what scenes mean visually. I think there are many ways to be creative whether it's painting, writing, drawing, dressing, decoration, or taking pictures. I like to be surrounded by creativity and style and not limit myself to any one way of expression. Even more so, I love to find art and things that are stylish or aesthetically pleasing. I love to be the viewer as much as I love to create.