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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2008 > July > 31
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Brad Womack’s imaginary children and Tyra Banks’ 275 smiles
It’s the last few days to catch ‘Reality Show’ the super sharp exhibit at Women & Their Work about our penchant for ‘over-sharing’ and our fuzzy boundaries in the modern world where what we accept as reality is actually heavily edited.
The exhibit’s last day is this Saturday.
For two years artist Jill Pangallo and a handful of her female artist friends gathered weekly to watch all types of reality shows: “The Bachelor,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Project Runway” and others. Pangallo challenged her peers — Anna Krachey, Cecilia Phillips, Laura Turner and Jaime Wentz — to create art in response to their hours of viewing.
The result is a cogent yet entertaining exhibit that slyly asks viewers to re-consider the hyper-reality of so much ‘reality.’
Krachey took as her subject Brad Womack, the Austinite who starred on “The Bachelor” and made reality television history when he rejected both finalists.
Using headshots of the contestants who vied for Womack’s proposal, a headshot of Womack and a generic baby picture, Krachey digitally created a series of baby portraits of the imagined progeny. You can view the online version of “Bachelor Babies” here
“Deanna & Brad.” and “Jenni & Brad.” Digital photo collages. By Anna Krachey. Photo courtesy Women & Their Work.
Also, watch the inimitable Pangallo do Tyra Banks one better in “276 Smiles.” Pangallo’s “durational smile challenge” plays off the supermodel’s claim that she has the ability to cope 275 unique smiles for the camera. Banks called her ability to smile her “art form.”
Well, Pangallo — as savvy a performance artist as Austin has seen in long while — has, as you can see by this video, 276 different smiles.
Take that Tyra!
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‘Field of Infinite Forms’ to celebrate Dell Hall, Long Center
Noted composer Christopher Theofanidis has announced the title of his new work written specifically for the Dell Hall at the new Long Center for the Performing Arts.
‘Field of Infinite Forms’ is a commission from the Austin Symphony Orchestra — a brilliant idea of ASO music director Peter Bay who conceived of celebrating the new hall with new music written specifically for it. Hey — Bay knows what it takes to keep it real in the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World.
‘Field of Infinite Forms’ will premiere Sept. 19-20. There are five movements to the 16-17 minute piece: Introit; Superunison; Hall of Mirrors; They Listened, Trembling; Dazzler of Heaven. Theofanidis is collaborating with electroacoustic music pioneer Mark Wingate.
The Dallas-born Theofanidis received lots of attention earlier this year for “The Refuge,” his massive musical and community event for the Houston Grand Opera inspired by Houston’s fabulous polyglot immigrant community.
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