UICA Visit: 2016 Color of the Year

2016 is the first year that Pantone® has released TWO colors for it's annual Color of the Year.

PMS 13-1520 Rose Quartz and PMS 15-3915 Serenity are a soft combination of warm and cool. 

When choosing a Color of the Year, Pantone chooses a color that will resonate around the world. Rose Quartz and Serenity are very contemporary, meant to inspire a soothing, peaceful feeling.

The 2016 colors are much calmer, more relaxed colors than the previous 12 years. This is in response to modern day stress and our hectic lifestyles. The colors are a calming antidote to everyday demands. 

The colors also blur traditional gender associations. This social trend toward gender fluidity has led to an increased comfort with using color as a form of expression.

The UICA in downtown Grand Rapids has a X-Rite Pantone Color of the Year exhibit on until Sunday, July 31, 2016. A row of gorgeous gowns line the main hallway, visible from the long windows along Fulton. These dresses drew me inside. All are made from light, flowing, soft materials. They create an airy feeling, a simple display of beauty and comfort. 

Several of the exhibition pieces incorporate a gentle, windy feeling or actual blown elements.There's a tranquil feeling throughout the entire exhibition— I was the only visitor in the gallery (this is not unusual at the UICA) and a quiet lull of indie music followed me throughout. 

Overall, they definitely achieved a peaceful space, and I feel like the 2016 color choices are very modern, quiet, and mature. They are a fresh step forward, away from the past palette which has tended to scream "Look at me!" 

Could that really be the direction society is heading?? 

Stop by and see for yourself, now thru July 31st.

A Felt Family

This afternoon I saw the most intricate and adorable (and in some cases creepy) felted creatures at the UICA Holiday Art Market. 

"Needle Felted Fancies" by Aron Lowe are completely handmade creations by a Saugatauk artist. They are full of whimsy and vary in size from quite tiny (1 inch) to quite large (12 inches). 

Needle felting is something I get, but I don't fully understand. I have no idea the amount of materials or time that goes into each character. But I have a feeling it's a lot. The intricacies and the detailing baffles me. 

Lowe's work here is some of the more complex felting that I've seen. Each face has such individual charm and character, I feel like her selling them must be like parting with a beloved family member. Check out the family of characters on her Etsy page. 

The Market continues through Sunday at the Steelcase Town Hall, so stop on by and check it out. Aside from Lower, there's many other very impressive and unique artists. Great opportunity for some Holiday shopping!

Collecting Friends: On Display

What were your hobbies 25? Did they include collecting valuable pieces of contemporary art?

For Ryan Kortman they did. And now, the 35-year-old's art collection is on exhibit at the UICA. Buying Friends: The Kortman Collection includes the wry, satirical, humorous and sometimes morbid pieces from over 36 artists. 

For a personal art collection, it's an impressive compilation; for someone in my same age bracket, it's damn extraordinary! I marvel at how one must get started in something like this, and how it must spiral into an addiction.

The exhibit, which has a little something for everyone, goes until February 15, 2015. Come on out and share in someone else's hobby!

Super Wonders

So if you're a loyal reader, you'll recall my December obsession with Wonder Woman, so I was pretty pumped when I saw that the UICA was doing a showing of Wonder Women! The untold story of American Superheroines as part of their Community Cinema series. 

Wonder Women! encapsulates the evolution of Wonder Woman— from the comic book superheroine of the 1940s to the 1970s television series starring Linda Carter to the blockbusters of today, it evaluates how representations of powerful women in pop culture reflect society's anxieties about women's liberation. 

The film recognizes the influence of Cat Woman, Xena: Warrior Princess, Sarah Conner, Jaime Sommers and Sunnydale High's Buffy Summers (and if you've been anywhere near me the last 3 months you'll know I've recently started and finished the complete Buffy series with great enthusiasm).

The documentary will be aired as part of the Independent Lens series. You'll be able to see the film online starting April 15. 

UICA does Community Cinema every month, on the second Tuesday. The free showing is followed by a public discussion on the topic. Join them next month—April 2nd!

All Mashed Up

We hit up another UICA Quirkshop last month— the monster mash-up. Inspired by Sid and his kooky toy conglomerations in Toy Story. 

The UICA provided miscellaneous clay body parts and animal bits and it was our job to mash them together. I, of course, went straight for the monkey head, which i attached to a baby foot. I can so just see this thing hopping around. Maybe a stop motion animation is in my future.... The lovely woodland menagerie is the work of my good friend and crafting pal, Amanda.

Check out UICA's program offerings here. 

Call Me Quirky

This past Thursday we went to the UICA's Tiny Terrariums because what's better on a fall evening than digging in the dirt (and gold-painted animals)?

This is part of the Adult QuirkShop's at the UICA. Great new programing at the UICA!

Want to build you're own Terrarium—here's some great inspiration from Pinterest and DIY Instructions!

Is a Detropian Society the Future?

In 1930 Detroit was the fastest growing city in the world. today it is the fastest shrinking city in the US. There are 100,000 abandoned properties in Detroit.

The UICA has extended it's showtimes for Detropia until October 4th. This elegant and poignant film showcases the pluck and determination of the Motor City as it struggles to survive postindustrial America. We witness a middle class now faced with a collapsing economy, and are left with the brutal warning for the entire nation. 

This isn't a story about Detroit, it's a story about America, and I highly recommend seeking out a theater showing it near you.

Art. Take 4.

The fourth year of ArtPrize kicked off tonight and after a lackluster year three, my hope is renewed (albeit expectations somewhat mellowed) for 2012.

From what I can tell, the rules haven't changed much from last year, when the top ten proved to be somewhat controversial. ArtPrize has responded to the criticism by lengthening Round 1 and adding additional juried prizes, including a $100,000 Juried Grand Prize, on par with the world’s major juried art competitions. If the public and the jury agree, a single winner could take home up to $320,000.

We spent the first night of voting wandering around Site:Lab at the Old Public Museum. I love this space—I loved it when they reopened it in 2010 for Land of Riches. And I found tonight that I still get a kick out of reminiscing about 5th grade field trips through these same exhibits. 

But before voting officially started, I was lucky enough to make it to the UICA's second annual Odd Ball last night—and alien chic event with non-traditional entertainment...and guests. And while the event wasn't quite as outrageous as one would anticipate, it was nice to be one of the early few to see the UICA's extended gallery space and terrace, and get a sneak peek at their "Somewhere Else" 2012 ArtPrize exhibition. 

So we have 10 days people. Time to get out there—go places you don't normally go, and [undoubtedly] see things you don't normally get to see. I fully encourage you to get off the beaten track–I guarantee it will be more interesting. Vote on!

A [Sort of] Blockbuster Night

It's raining in Grand Rapids. This is some of the first rain we've had all summer, after weeks of sweltering 100 degree days, all I want to do is curl up and watch a movie. But instead of heading to the local Cinema, instead I'm going to head downtown to the Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts (UICA).

The UICA has a 198 seat theater, fully stadiumed and equipped with comfy chairs that used to belong to Studio 28*. AND, there are some awesome films showing in the coming weeks.  

I advise that you make it a point to see something that may not have been born in Hollywood. 

First Position – August 17th
Follow six young dancers striving to enter the world of professional ballet—a world where practice and discipline are paramount, and nothing short of perfection is expected. 

Beats, Rhymes &Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest –
Free Screening, August 21st only
A documentary film about one of the most influential and groundbreaking groups in hip-hop history.

Trishna – August 24th
A powerful look at the tension between ancient privilege and modern equality based on Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles.


Queen of Versailles – August 31st
With the epic dimensions of a Shakespearean tragedy, this rags-to-riches documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis, uncovers innate virtues and flaws of the American dream. 

Detroipia – September 23rd
Detroit has encapsulated the iconic narrative of America over the last century—a grand city teetering on the brink of dissolution. The spirit of the Motor City struggles to survive postindustrial America, refusing to abandon hope or resistance. 

(You could even make this a themed event, hit the movie and then head down the street to check out Cities in Transition at the GRAM.)

Sleepwalk with Me – September 28th
Comedian Mike Birbiglia plays a struggling stand-up comedian avoiding commitment, who finds his anxieties manifesting themselves in surreal bouts of sleepwalking in which his sub-conscious runs wild.

Visit the UICA website to see showtimes for these films and others as they continue to post their schedule. You can still have dinner and a movie, while going someplace different and unique to our city. 

*Studio 28's history is fascinating! I didn't know all this—but I do recall seeing quite a few movies there!

And the Oscar goes to.....

So we just saw the 2012 Nominated Oscar Shorts at the UICA — live action and animated.

This was my favorite animated:

This was my favorite live action:

However I think this animated will win:

And this live action will win:

What do you think? See full list of nominated shorts and their trailers here. Winners will be announced Sunday, February 26th on the Oscars!

That Big New Building on Fulton Street

Well Grand Rapids, we've been waiting a long time for this. But this evening, members finally got a preview of the new UICA.

The space is far from complete, but it was great to get inside and see the progress that has been made. I love the high ceilings, expansive windows and bright, natural light. There's lots of great walls for hanging art, plus a fabulous new movie theater and the makings of a gorgeous clay studio.

Community Day is this Saturday, 2-7 pm so stop by and check it out!

Play. Just for Laughs.
For the next month UICA is hosting a 19 hole, artist designed miniature golf course. The indoor Putt-Putt game is part of Gilda's LaughFest. And it's confirmed, the course is a laugh riot.

Top left: GI Putter. (Note the GI's eyeball, not an eye, but rather Kristin's smartly placed wine glass.) Top right: The lazy putter. Bottom left: Kristin celebrates a clean putt at the Wolverine hole. Airborne balls may have been discouraged but getting air during a celebration was more than permitted. Bottom right: Mini mini-golf. Putting at the sunday soup hole with the severed soup ladle.

It was harder than most courses I've played, but it was still a load of fun, and wildly creative. Everything from an enclosed green played with rubber armed putters, to a plinko-style gamble. Cheating may have been involved with most holes, but truthfully, no one cared.

The two holes I enjoyed most were Sunday Soup and Wolverine World Wide's (narcism anyone?). But I can tell you why, Both used custom putters— a shoe putter for Wolverine and a severed soup ladle for Sunday Soup.

If you get a chance to head down to the UICA building over the next few weeks I highly recommend a game. I i personally intend to go back for a rematch. This time, it's me verse the course. Game on.