Bad at Sports

This week we can catch up with the preeminent American Art Critic, Ben Davis from Art Net and talk about NFTs and whether this really is the future the hype demands, or whether this is a long con grift.   Ben Davis - http://www.benadavis.com/ Art Net - https://news.artnet.com/ Nifty Gateway - https://niftygateway.com/ Foundation.App - https://foundation.app/ Beeple - https://www.beeple-crap.com/  

Indoor recess cannot be stopped! This week we throwback to our interview with Brendan Fernandes and honor Canada's musical heritage.

On this episode of Bad@Sports the team travels to NADA Miami 2017. We speak with Justin Polera, designer or Exhibitionary, an iOS app and mobile optimized art guide, covering the latest exhibitions across the globe. We speak with Hubert Neumann and Alison Wolfson about their new model for art collection through Neumann Wolfson Art based out of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. And to close the show, we dish about fair culture with gallerist and collecter Avi Gitler. It is all worth the wait. 

In this episode, we explore Ours Is The Hand That Sews Time, a two-person exhibition at M. LeBlanc featuring new work by father and son, Peter and Jake Fagundo. Both artists challenge the notion of painting as a finished product, instead embracing it as a continuous, evolving process. Peter, a longtime professor at SAIC, draws from his deep archive of past drawings and appropriated imagery, creating works that bridge abstraction and figuration. His son Jake, shaped by the digital age and a dynamic array of artistic influences, balances historical references with playful figurative work. Together, their pieces create a dialogue across generations, blending tradition with contemporary exploration. We are joined by Taylor Payton and Marc LeBlanc.   https://peterfagundo.com/home.html https://www.artsy.net/artist/jake-michael-fagundo https://www.sulkchicago.com/ https://mleblancchicago.com/oursisthehandthatsewstime https://gruntsrarebooks.us/  

In this episode, the Bad at Sports crew heads to the Center for MAD Culture to dive into the powerful intersection of art and mental health. They sit down with the Center’s current featured artist, Meghann Sottile, and Director Matt Bodett to explore what it means to embrace "MAD culture" and the crucial role that madness plays in shaping our broader cultural landscape. Sottile shares insights into her exquisitely crafted sculptures, discussing the influence of her personal experiences and the broader implications of creating work that navigates the boundaries of beauty and mental health. Bodett adds to the conversation, offering a glimpse into the mission of the Center for MAD Culture and the ways in which madness informs creative expression, societal perceptions, and cultural contributions. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about art, madness, and the way we think about the relationship between creativity and mental health.   https://www.madculture.org/ https://www.meghannsottile.com/ https://www.mattbodett.com/

Eric Von Haynes is a Chicago-based artist, printmaker, and community organizer. He founded Flatlands Press, a print studio that creates art objects and printed ephemera for artists worldwide, with a focus on community engagement. His work blends traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques, creating unique monoprints that invite viewers to reflect on time and memory. Haynes’ work is characterized by his use of slow media, non-repeating patterns, and an emphasis on process-driven art. In addition to his artistic practice, Haynes is deeply involved in community-based initiatives. He co-founded The Love Fridge Chicago, a mutual aid group focused on food sovereignty, and serves as the President of the Chicago Printers Guild. His dedication to collaborative art practices extends to his residency at the Chicago Art Department, where he engages in projects that promote public participation and social connections through art. He has exhibited works like Drawn Through Restraint, a series of lithographs exploring the intersection of design, time, and memory. This exhibition included participatory workshops to engage the public in risograph printing, highlighting his commitment to blending art with community-building. https://www.flatlandspress.com/ https://www.thelovefridge.com/ https://www.chicagoprintersguild.org/ https://chicagoartdepartment.org/ https://www.tigerstrikesasteroid.com/chi-/-eric-von-haynes-drawn-through-restraint    

This week on Bad at Sports Duncan MacKenzie and Amy Kligman check in with Sean Nash! Thanks to the glory of the Charlotte Street Foundation.  Sean Nash is a visual artist whose work often intersects with fermentation, social practice, and ecological themes. His projects integrate fermented foods into sculptures and exhibitions, exploring the cultural and biological aspects of fermentation. Nash has exhibited at various venues including the Kniznick Gallery at Brandeis, Plug Projects in Kansas City, and Black Ball Projects in Brooklyn. Notably, his "Lactobacillus Amongus" exhibition used sourdough starters and bacteria as a form of portraiture, blending biology with visual art. He also engages with social practice art, such as his long-term project "Trans Fermentation," where he collaborates with other transgender individuals to ferment food, creating a platform for dialogue and community building. Nash’s work challenges traditional boundaries between disciplines, bringing together art, food, and social issues​   Additionally, he recently earned the Charlotte Street Visual Art Award, and his upcoming work will be featured at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. His pieces often comment on environmental and agricultural themes, creating art that envisions a hopeful, sustainable future​ https://kcstudio.org/honors-sean-nash/ https://emerge.asu.edu/artist/sean-nash/ https://www.townsend-gallery.com/artists/seannash https://charlottestreet.org/ https://www.amykligman.com/ https://senash.com/  

In this episode our intrepid art adventure enthusist, Duncan MacKenzie, is joined but KC rockstar ED, Amy Kligman. Together they catch up with two of the next generation of Kansas City's art world grinders charting the next phase of KC contemporary art. Sam Hann and Cesar E. Lopez Mejia. https://www.plug.gallery/team-1 https://www.artskcgo.com/organization/curiouser-curiouser/ https://lopezcesar.com/ https://www.samanthahaan.com/ https://www.amykligman.com/ https://charlottestreet.org/  

In this episode of the Bad at Sports Podcast, we sit down with Ruben Castillo, and explore his two person exhibition with Amy Cousins. Few broadcast from the heart of Kansas City thanks to the glory of the Charlotte Street Foundation. https://charlottestreet.org/ https://rubenbcastillo.com/ https://www.amycousins.com/

In this episode of the Bad at Sports Podcast, we sit down with Caleb Taylor, a dynamic artist and influential figure in Kansas City's vibrant art scene. Join us as we delve into Caleb's creative journey, his work, Plug, curating, and his deep roots and connections with the local Kansas City art scene. https://charlottestreet.org/ https://charlottestreet.org/exhibition/site-seeing/ Corey Antis (Kansas City)-  https://cargocollective.com/coreyantis Avantika Bawa (Portland)- https://www.avantikabawa.net/ Dan Devening (Chicago)- http://dandevening.com/ Marcie Miller Gross (Kansas City)- https://www.marciemillergross.com/ Mie Kongo (Chicago)- https://www.miekongo.com/ Cybele Lyle (Los Angeles)- https://cybelelyle.com/ Armin Mühsam (Kansas City)- https://arminmuhsam.com/ Erin O’Keefe (New York)- https://www.erinokeefe.com/ Christopher Spaw (Alma, KS)- https://www.instagram.com/christopherspaw/ Caleb Taylor (Kansas City)- https://calebtaylorstudio.com/Information http://deveningprojects.com/ https://www.plug.gallery/

On this episode of Bad at Sports, Wisconsin artist Colin Matthes gets descriptive about his ongoing series of discursive drawings and sculptures. His unconscientious images come from a daily drawing routine made around the home with his wife and two children, portraying confabulated narratives from books and TV intertwined with imagined and lived moments.   ColinMatthes.com Instagram https://www.thealicewilds.com/

Description: Join hosts Jesse Malmed and Duncan MacKenzie as they chat with Jen de los Reyes about the future of arts education. Jen shares her innovative teaching methods and syllabus, sparking a lively discussion on how to nurture creativity and adapt to a changing art world. Jesse gets thoughtful. Duncan mic drops. About Our Guests: Jesse Malmed is a Chicago-based artist, curator, and educator known for his interdisciplinary practice that includes performance, video, text, and curatorial projects. Jesse's work explores the intersection of art and media, challenging traditional forms and pushing creative boundaries. He teaches at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Jen de los Reyes is a visionary artist, educator, and community organizer. She is recognized for her pioneering work in socially engaged art and her commitment to rethinking and reshaping art education. Jen's teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, creativity, and real-world impact, making her a leading figure in contemporary arts education. She teaches at Cornell University. Duncan MacKenzie is an artist, educator, and co-founder of the Bad at Sports podcast. With a background in print, painting, sculpture, and art criticism, Duncan brings a keen analytical eye to the podcast, facilitating in-depth discussions on art practice and education. He teaches at Columbia College Chicago. https://www.jendelosreyes.com/ https://www.jendelosreyes.com/teaching https://www.jessemalmed.net/ https://uwm.edu/ https://www.cornell.edu/ https://www.colum.edu/ https://coprosperity.org/

In this episode of Bad at Sports, Daniel Tucker travels to Seoul, South Korea, to attend the Arts in Society conference 2024, where he sits down with two influential figures in the global arts community. Solana Chehtman, a New York-based cultural producer and curator originally from Buenos Aires, joins Daniel as a plenary speaker at the conference. Solana is currently the Director of Artist Programs at Joan Mitchell Foundation, where she focuses on supporting visual artists through unrestricted funding and career development opportunities. Her commitment to equity in the arts has shaped her roles as the inaugural Director of Creative Practice and Social Impact at The Shed and Vice President of Public Engagement at Friends of the High Line. Solana’s extensive experience includes teaching at the MA in Arts Administration at Baruch College and collaborating with organizations such as Artadia and Creative Capital. Jaeyong Park, a curator, writer, and translator based in Seoul, shares insights from his work at the Seoul Reading Room and as an organizer at Curating School Seoul. Jaeyong co-founded Work on Work and has curated numerous impactful projects, including "HIT and RUN" and "The Ideological Guide to Venice Biennale." His individual projects, such as "TOTAL RECALL" and "Center for Selfie Studies," explore themes of technology, connectivity, and social context in art. As a researcher, Jaeyong delves into structural changes in the art system in Korea and Asia, emphasizing the intersection of art and society. Join Daniel Tucker as he engages Solana Chehtman and Jaeyong Park in a conversation that delves into their experiences, perspectives, and the evolving landscape of arts and culture on a global scale. https://artsinsociety.com/2025-conference https://artsinsociety.com/ https://www.joanmitchellfoundation.org/solana-chehtman https://www.jaeyongpark.net/  

Welcome to another episode of Bad at Sports. In this episode, Jesse and Duncan sit down with Jen de los Reyes, an artist, organizer, and activist known for her transformative projects that bridge art and community engagement.   Jen de los Reyes is perhaps best known for her role in founding and organizing the groundbreaking Open Engagement conference, a platform that explores various facets of art and social practice. Through Open Engagement, Jen has created a space where artists, thinkers, and activists converge to discuss critical issues and forge connections that transcend traditional boundaries.   During our conversation, Jen de los Reyes shares insights into the origins of Open Engagement, its evolution over the years, and its impact on the contemporary art scene. We delve into the conference's role in fostering dialogue around social justice, environmental sustainability, and collective action within artistic practices.   In addition to her work with Open Engagement, we discuss: Garbage Hill Farm. This innovative urban farming initiative challenges conventional notions of sustainability and community building. The Garbage Hill Farm project transforms its urban landscapes and serves as a platform for education and empowerment within local communities.   All from inside of her exhibition “In Concert With” at Chicago’s Co-Prosperity Sphere.   https://www.jendelosreyes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/garbagehillfarm/ https://openengagement.info/ https://www.disappearingbirds.org/  

In this captivating episode of Bad at Sports Podcast, we bring you a special recording of a panel discussion held at the Goldfinch Gallery. The event, which saw an enthusiastic turnout with every painter in Chicago turning out for this standing room only discussion, delves into the intricate world of painting. "Team Contemporary Painting" panelists, Leslie Baum and Andreas Fischer, share their insights on a range of topics, including painting techniques, materials, subjects, and the generation of content. They also explore the dynamics of collaboration among painters, shedding light on how artists work together and maintain their individuality in the art world. Leslie Baum, a distinguished painter known for her vibrant and dynamic works, joins Andreas Fischer, whose thought-provoking pieces have garnered critical acclaim, in a conversation moderated by Justin Witte. Justin, the Curator and Director at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, guides the discussion with his profound understanding of contemporary art and its evolving https://www.atthemac.org/cleve-carney-museum-of-art/ https://goldfinch-gallery.com/ https://lesliebaum.net/ https://goldfinch-gallery.com/artists/66-andreas-fischer/overview/   Image Andreas Fischer, "Grandma is Mountians", 2024 

Join the Bad at Sports team as they delve into the vibrant world of contemporary art in their latest episode featuring two influential figures from the gallery scene: Haynes Riley of Good Weather and Kai Matsumiya of his eponymous gallery. In this engaging conversation, Haynes Riley shares insights into the vision and mission behind Good Weather Gallery, a dynamic space known for its cutting-edge exhibitions and support for emerging artists. From discussing the curation process to the challenges and triumphs of running an independent gallery, Riley provides a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the contemporary art world. Kai Matsumiya brings his unique perspective as a gallery owner, offering listeners a glimpse into the ethos driving his own gallery's endeavors. With a focus on fostering community engagement and pushing artistic boundaries, Matsumiya shares anecdotes from his journey in curating thought-provoking exhibitions and collaborating with diverse artists. Throughout the episode we attack the evolving landscape of contemporary art, the role of galleries in shaping cultural discourse, Chicago, Little Rock, and New York City, and the intersections between art and society. Tune in as the Bad at Sports Podcast team explores the intersections of art, culture, and creativity with Haynes Riley and Kai Matsumiya, two trailblazers shaping the future of the art world through their respective galleries. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a seasoned collector, or simply curious about the power of visual expression, this episode offers an illuminating exploration of contemporary art's ever-evolving landscape.   https://goodweather.llc/ https://www.barelyfair.com/ https://kaimatsumiya.com/ https://www.expochicago.com/  

The artists of Hilma’s Ghost join us from the inside of Secrist Beach Gallery, Chicago’s newly opened and probably most gorgeous gallery, Dannielle Tegeder and Sharmistha Ray, treat us to magic, haunting and an introduction to tarot. Beyond that, they revel in the radical feminist histories of art and witch craft looking for knowledge beyond the rationally conceived. Beyond Hilma’s Ghost they also chat about putting together the exhibition “Cosmic Geometries the Prairies Edge.” Including Candida Alvarez, Elijah Burgher, Holly Cahill, Mike Cloud, Gianna Commito, Edie Fake, Vanessa Filley, Julia Fish, Beverly Fishman, Diana Guerrero-Maciá, Azadeh Gholizadeh, Michelle Grabner, Christina Haglid, Rachel Hayes, Gina Hunt, Michiko Itatani, Miyoko Ito, Anna Kunz, Alice Lauffer, Aya Nakamura, Deb Sokolow, May Tveit, Georgina Valverde, Susan C. White, Amy Yoes and Jade Yumang. https://www.hilmasghost.com/ https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/hilma-af-klint https://www.secristgallery.com/exhibitions/2024/hilmas-ghost-spectral-visions-a-feminist-collective-signals-magickal-futures/ https://www.secristgallery.com/exhibitions/2024/cosmic-geometries-the-prairies-edge/ https://www.octaviaartgallery.com/artists/dannielle-tegeder?view=slider#4 https://sharmistharay.com/work/tantra-series-2020-ongoing-works-on-paper/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot https://m.facebook.com/hilmasghost?locale2=my_MM https://hyperallergic.com/330790/the-unnamed-woman-artist-revealed-in-the-monogram-of-your-tarot-cards/

This week Bad at Sports favorite art world wanderer, Nato Thompson. We chat through all of Nato’s current diversions such as independent curationg, building the 21st Century Museum and AI’s role in that work, the Alternative Art School and the value proposition of contemporary arts education, and Dreaming in Public. https://thealternativeartschool.net/ https://www.dreaminginpublic.com/

Kate Sierzputowski for EXPO and the Barely Fair! Holy smokes the Art circus is in town. Time to get on board! WE HAVE ALL THE PREVIEW YOU NEED!   https://www.expochicago.com/visit https://www.barelyfair.com/

Compound Yellow's featured artist Gary Cannone dominates every part of the compound with his LA from Chicago brand of conceptual art. Fun name drops include Bernini and Maritizo Catalan. Tune in for the rest.   bio:   Gary Cannone (Guerino Giovanni Cannone) was born in 1964 to Italian immigrants working factory jobs in Chicago. He learned english from American 70s television and was obsessed with Norm Crosby, Carol Burnett, the Three Stooges, Mad Magazine, Wacky Packages, and the Marx Brothers. His grandfather (and namesake) was crushed to death by a pool table the day before Cannone’s eighth birthday in a warehouse accident. He played in the early 80s leftist punk rock band The Leeches but, as his interest in performing music waned, he saw Vito Aconcci lecture and decided to become an artist. Cannone exhibited conceptual and often dadaistic art while headquartered from Chicago, Rome, and Los Angeles until he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2013. As the disease took a toll on his body, he took a hiatus but began to work again digitally using social media to distribute art and jokes. Interest in his communal project of parody album covers “Albums by Conceptual Artists” led to invitations to exhibit again. He began exploring the effects of his disease on his body and brain which led him back to the comedic tropes he loved so much as a youngster; adressing his disability through the lens of slapstick rather than advocacy. Cannone’s recent work can be described as a decidedly reductive art executed with the deft skill of a prop comic. The resulting ensemble explores fragility, instability, urges, communication, humiliation, tension, torture, gravity, parody, dexterity, and death.   https://compoundyellow.com/ https://garycannone.studio/