Surfing The Channel

Archive for May, 2010

There are a number of variations and ways of stating the notion that great art does not provide answers, but only asks questions. It’s such a recurring theme in the 20th and 21st centuries, that it’s certainly worth looking into, but who knows what answers might come? There are plenty of situations in a city-state as wonderful as Singapore, in which guests and locals might be able to ask the big questions that art often evokes here.

It’s one of the more interesting places in the world these days, because it is developing and unrolling itself so quickly, and seems so rushed to become what it is. This is driven by the artists and designers of the next generation, who are eager to see changes come to the island, and originate in their own ideas. Of course, their ideas are sparked and modified through lifetimes, and based on the ideas of some previous generations, making a link between the contemporary and the historical.

It’s certainly evident in the Etiquette exhibition, which was showing here in the spring. The exhibition brought together 18 international artists to ask questions about what is proper women’s behavior. The links between contemporary women are very much on the surface, although they intertwine in complicated ways just beneath the perceivable order of things. The links to the past may not be so apparent, but they are absolutely there. This was a great excuse for spending time here and booking a Singapore hotel , and there are always new works worth seeing here. The artist-citizens ask very good questions.

In many parts of the world, art that looks at gender consciously can become an exercise in re-inventing the wheel. So the critics say. It may be true, and it might be true that the wheel needs invention everywhere so that it might be useful. In making the connections that revolve around the cycles of repetition in expectation, there are ancestors who rise up out of the center of the axis and start to speak. It’s territory that has a lot of ghosts, because the territory is so precarious for the living. There are many reasons for visiting the Substation , and this has been one of the best arguments for it in awhile.

When in Miami Beach, try doing something a bit off the beaten path, like The Bass Museum of Art , located 2121 Park Avenue, between 21st and 22nd Streets and close to many Miami Beach hotels . The Bass Museum was born with the agreement between the City of Miami Beach and the Bass’s when they donate their entire art colletion back in 1963, but on the condition that the collection be kept in perpetuity and kept open to the public. The Bass collection has over 500 European works from the 15th to the early 20th century, including over 200 important groups of significant holdings of sculptures, works on paper, decorative objects and textiles, which the masterpiece tapestry ‘The Tournament’ and ‘The Hunt’ fill two walls on the museum’s Grand Ramp. The collections is a comprehensive collection of Southeast and European art that provides a solid foundation with which the museum was developed. The beautiful museum is surrounded by the symmetry of the formal gardens of Collins Park , which was also donated to the City by Collins in the 20’s. The building itself has quite a history, it was originally the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, which is now considered a centerpiece of Miami Beach’s historic district.

Recently, the Bass museum inaugurated the only Egyptian Gallery in Florida. The Gala Event was titled ‘A Night at the Museum’. This gallery offers a unique way to experience and learn about one of the most ancient worlds and to explore this very mysterious civilization, including an array displaying surviving objects that showcase 13 Egyptian antiquity such as an Egyptian sarcophagus and a mummy! The exhibits covers the Egyptian period from 1075 to 750 BC and the later period of 750 to 332 BC. A few of the objects are gifted to the Bass Museum from the Brooklyn Museum, the Lowe Art Museum and from Private Collections. General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students. Members get in free and children under 6.

There are a great number of cultural attractions and entertainment options that are available to tourists, as well of course to the residents, of Atlanta, Georgia, that many people who originally travel there due to business trip needs end up enjoying the city and their stay so much that they plan a return trip. Of course there are numerous other reasons why people visit this great city, though it was mentioned because Atlanta happens to be a common destination for many business meeting trips. This is partially due to the incredible convention centers and seminar venues as well as the meeting rooms and great accommodations offered by many of the Atlanta hotels .

The Atlanta Executive Conference Center is one of the main facilities in the city where interstate as well as international business meetings and conventions are held. The facility offers state of the art resources and features thirteen different meeting rooms that range in size and accommodation factors from about 154 square feet to 2,640 square feet. It is suitable for important executive meetings as well as major presentations and corporate trainings.

The center is located on Peachtree in the heart of the Atlanta arts and cultural district. There are numerous entertainment options within a couple of miles from the center and finding resort accommodations is also easy. In addition to all of the cultural options the city of Atlanta is known for, it is the ideal place to plan a major business event and the surrounding cultural attractions are the perfect compliment to attracting new clients and wining and dining important executives. The nightlife elements in Atlanta are so dynamic and attractive that many people will plan to spend an extra night in the city so they can spend more time exploring its options. The club scene, live music venues as well as the higher art sophisticated cultural establishments such as the Atlanta Ballet and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra satisfy the artistic needs of many visitors.