Is Amanda Hamilton Beautiful/Terrible?

Beautiful!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   As you willl see in the following account, taken from her website, about her installation shown in Room 239 at Modern Art 2009!

One day, an enormous Russian lake with an already peculiar history disappeared.  Yes, disappeared.  In the morning, it was there-the same evening, it was gone.  When artist Amanda Hamilton read the story about White Lake, it haunted her.  The simplest explanation for the 612 mile wide, 48 foot deep lake glugging down into the earth in a matter of hours is that an underground cavern had collapsed.  But this, Hamilton explains, doesn’t help quell the effect such a disturbance has to the human psyches and imaginations that are connected to the lake.  It doesn’t draw out the meanings of the event-one of which, for Hamilton, is the distinct sense that human beings are clearly not ultimately in control of the universe in which we live.

So… Amanda built a miniature White Lake.  A complicated process of trial and error with new materials and technology yielded a final film of an eerie winter landscape-”Beautiful/Terrible”.  The piece’s power is as much linked to it’s soundscape as to it’s slow visual pain of foggy trees and snow…and the ice covered lake.  A soft white noise is punctuated by distant birdsong, which becomes increasingly frantic (birds and other animals have been shown to uncannily perceive a coming disaster) until a frightful crack booms convincingly.  In the aftermath of the crack, the camera pans to a starry sky-as if referencing a divine distance.  Is this a picture of indifference?  Or is there hope to be found in the immense and quiet steadfastness that the starts imply?  The film itself leaves this question unanswered…

room 239 in 2009 from Curators on Vimeo.

To view more of Amanda’s amazing work please visit her website:

http://amandahamiltonart.com/home.html

Ali Ward paves the way….

This week on our Modern Art blog we have a lovely reminiscence for you to enjoy. If you don’t know of Ali Ward, it is our pleasure to introduce her to you. She is an amazing member of our Boise community who defies categorization, but we’ll give it a shot: High School Science Teacher, Multi-instrumentalist (including, but not limited to, the singing saw, banjo and washboard), beautiful Harmonist, Gardener, Uber-Mom, and Artist. That’s just to name of few.

In 2010, she created a natural entrance for Modern Art. It allowed all of us to start our evening on the just the right foot. Enjoy these photos of her work and then watch the video of her band, Hillfolk Noir, singing for us later that day. Also be sure to check more out about the Hillfolk Noir via the following links, and don’t miss them at the upcoming Treefort Music Festival.

http://www.myspace.com/hillfolknoir

http://www.petometz.com/bio.htm

various artists 2009 featuring Hillfolk Noir from Curators on Vimeo.

Excerpt

Revisions

MODERN CARUSO…

Modern Art 2012 is rapidly approaching which gives us a fluttery feelings in our bellies.  It also allows us to visit the ghost of Modern Art past.  We particularly love this video shot and edited by Modern Art’s faithful documentarian, Andy Lawless.  It stars everyone’s favorite Renaissance Man, Michael Baltzell, and gives a great overview of the marvel that was Modern Art 2010.  So many great rooms, artists and installations!  Worthy of a look, if only to hear Enrico Caruso played on the gnome record player in the bathroom.

TOMORROW, MARCH 1ST 2012, IS THE DEADLINE FOR ARTIST SUBMISSION FORMS FOR MODERN ART 2012

Modern Caruso from Andy Lawless on Vimeo.

A room, a hare, Bill and Kirsten

For Modern Art 2010, artists Bill Lewis and Kirsten Furlong collaborated in Room 117.  Using the work of the German performance/installation artist, sculptor and art theorist Joseph Beuys as inspiration, Lewis and Furlong spent the whole of Modern Art within their room in a tableau vivant.  Take a look at the photos below and marvel at the dramatic incidental scene that they were able to create!  Then be sure not to miss Modern Art 2012 at the Modern Hotel on May 3rd.

To see more of Kristen and Bill’s work visit their websites at:

http://kirstenfurlong.com/home.html

http://wmlewispainting.com/home.html

The Modern Hotel & the Tree Fort Music Festival Package

The Modern Hotel is offering three hotel nights and admission to  the Tree Fort Music Festival

The Modern Hotel is perfectly located in the heart of Tree Fort Music Festival country in downtown Boise. It is a stumble away from three of the top Tree Fort music venues–across the street from the Linen Building, around the corner from the Neurolux and three blocks from the Main Stage. This hotel package includes four days of concerts, along with other music happenings. Each package includes two general admission tickets to the festival for all four days, two “keep that music playing” pig lighters from the Modern and a “Welcome to the Festival, friend” drink voucher at the Modern Bar a, $20 value.

Packages are limited to guests who book all three nights, so book early to get in on the deal.