Hello SOTA listeners! It’s SOTA-nice to see you. Just kidding! We are always ecstatic for you to be joining us.

The news this episode is about US! We have a Big Announcement! Next month, SOTA Projects will be launching! SOTA will be infiltrating the physical dimension, bringing pop-up exhibitions and happenings around the Twin Cities. Be sure to add your email at the bottom of this page to get notifications for when we announce programs to the public! Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest announcements as well. Please, visit our new SOTA Projects page for more information and check back at our calendar below for event listings.

Now, onto the art–why we’re all here. You can look forward to Jasa dealing out the DL on biennials and art fairs–What are they? How do they function in the art world? What’s the difference between them? All shall be answered, friends! Sarah gives a lively review of the exhibition ‘Ardkore, A Thing Like You and Me by local multimedia artist Christopher Corey Allen at Hair and Nails gallery in Minneapolis.

Go, and be artful!

References:

International Biennial Foundation Website

Christopher Cory Allen’s Website

Hair + Nails

Hello SOTA listeners! We have some delicious ‘sota-flavored offerings this week! In the news, we’re heading back to our beloved Midwestern neighbor, Iowa, as we talk about a statue in the prison system that forbids portrayals of nudity, even in arts and medical educational materials. We then delve into the issue of privilege in the arts, and specifically how coming from wealth increases one’s likeliness of entering the arts field. (No one is surprised.) Then, we present an interview with local artist Alex Peterson, whose color-rich, flat paintings may fool you as prints at first impression!

References:

“Can Iowa Prevent Prisoners from Accessing and Creating Nude Art?” – Hyperallergic

“A Study Says High Family Income Significantly Increases Likelihood of Becoming an Artist” – Hyperallergic

Alex Petersen’s Website

Hello SOTAns! This week in the news, we talk about how the Met Museum has hired Marie Kondo to deaccession objects in their collection. Presumably, only that which sparks joy may remain. Jasa took a recent trip to the lovely city of Des Moines, Iowa and recounts the pleasantly surprising art world there. Sarah presents an interview with local artist Alison Hiltner whose work, often mechanical or biological in nature, presents the viewer with an in-depth, organic experience.

References:

“Art Industry News: Metropolitan Museum of Art Hires Marie Kondo to Deaccession Works That Don’t ‘Spark Joy’ + Other Stories” – Artnet

Des Moines Art Center 

Alison Hiltner’s Website

Greetings SOTA listeners! This week, the news and critical topic are combined in the wake of the disappearance of an installation Desert X exhibition. Vandalism and theft of public art is no uncommon occurrence when objects are placed in the public sphere and the Twin Cities has encountered these issues in recent history as well. Why even put up public art, especially temporary installations, if they’re vulnerable? We then bring you an interview with local artist, Sophia Songmi, whose work approaches difficult dichotomies: the artists’ identity as both Chinese and Korean, subversive media messaging and patriarchal power, and self-sacrifice versus self care.

References:

“Desert X Sculpture by Eric N. Mack Vanishes Under Mysterious Circumstances” – Artnews

Sophia Songmi’s Website

Hello SOTAns! We’re playing it fast and loose in this episode. First, in the news, we discuss how the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland has gone admission-free, how Twin Cities institutions make that work, and also the affects free admission has on the community. We also discuss the Without Boundaries: Fiber Sculpture and Paintings by Women, on view at Mia. Here, we discuss the intersection of media hierarchy, generated disparity, and fine art vs. craft in museum representation. Sarah brings us a gem of an interview with local artist Teresa Audet, who is also working at the intersection of fine art and craft. Tune in for all this good stuff, plus our gratuitous banter!

References:

“Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland Will Become Free as Part of Inclusivity Initiative” – Art News

Without Boundaries: Fiber Sculptures and Paintings by Women

Teresa Audet’s Website

Hi SOTAns! In the news, we give a verbal high-five to the NEA for coming through with their 2019 grants on time, despite the government shut down! We are also so happy to bring you a discussion this week centered around the importance of programming in the arts. Jasa talks about her experience viewing a screening of City of Joy at the Hammer. We then tackle the personal impact of this experience, how programming in the arts works, and why it’s important. Sarah presents an interview with local artist, Tiffany Lang , who explores idea of gender roles while questioning the tradition of painting.

References:

“Week in Review: Amazon Cancels Queens HQ2, NEA Awards Grants Despite Shutdown” – Hyperallergic

“Government Shutdown Jeopardizes Major Exhibition Celebrating Women’s Suffrage Centennial” – Hyperallergic

City of Joy film

City of Joy Hammer event

Tiffany Lange’s Website

Salutations SOTAns! In the news, we discuss the findings of the recently published Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey 2018, which notes that diversity in art museum staff is *marginally* increasing. Then, the big moment is here for the project Jasa has been working on, Desert X! After two years in the making, the opening week is here. Jasa relates the experience about working behind the scenes on a biennial and highlights the unique experience of the exhibition in the desert. Sarah brings us a wonderful interview with local artist, Dakota Hoska.

References:

Art Museum Staff Demographic Survey 2018

“Diversity in Museum Leadership Has Marginally Increased Since 2015, New Survey Says” – Hyperallergic

Desert X

Dakota Hoska’s Website

MN Original special on Dakota Hoska from 2017

Hello SOTAns! We have exciting stuff for you this week! We dive in with a discussion on how to curate art exhibitions that involves communities which you do not represent. It’s a multifaceted conversation where be both bring personal experiences to the table. Relatedly, we talk about the nudity ban on Tumblr and how it affects specific communities, particularly in the art world. Lastly, we present an interview with local artist, Justin Nelson, whose work was directly affected by this ban. We hope you enjoy! We sure did.

References:

“Tumblr’s nudity ban removes one of the last major refuges for pornography on social media” – Washington Post

“Tumblr’s ban on adult content is pushing artists and sex workers to other sites, such as Twitter and Patreon” – CNBC

“What Tumblr’s Porn Ban Really Means” – The Atlantic

Justin Nelson’s Tumblr

Hello SOTA listeners! We are excited to bring you our first episode of 2019! We are beginning to implement a lot of changes and improvements starting this new year. We hope you enjoy some of our experiments and as always, enjoy the content as we bring word on our local arts community!

This week in the news, we discuss the government shut down and how it affects workers in the arts. Last week, workers officially starting missing their paychecks and many museum remain closed. We also scarped the surface on unpaid labor in the arts, an issue that perpetually plagues the art world. Finally, we bring you an interview with Christopher Selleck, who you may remember from our episode where we reviewed his exhibition This is a Record!

Thank you for tuning in, SOTAns! We are so delighted to be with you in the new year!

Intro:

Gallery 427’s Website

Only Human Opening Event Page

Government Shutdown and the Arts:

National Gallery of Art Closes to the Public, Latest Victim of U.S. Government Shutdown – ArtNews

Federal art institutions For more details on current and upcoming shows

Transformer: Native Art in Light and Sound – closes Jan. 6 – National Museum of the American Indian

City of Hope: Resurrection City and the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign – closes Jan. 6 – National Museum of American History

Trail of Tears: A Story of Cherokee Removal – closes Jan. 31 – National Museum of the American Indian

Unpaid Labor in the Arts:

The Art World Plague of Unpaid Internships – Hyperallergic

Women’s invisible labor and the art world – E-flux

WAGE’s Website

WOMANIFESTO

Christopher Selleck:

MN Artists

Salutations, SOTAns! This week Sarah interviews Jonathan Aller who is an illustrator turned oil painter who blends his background in animation drawing with classical painting approaches to create works based off conversations with the sitters.

Jasa reviews the exhibition From Non-Conformism to Feminisms: Russian Women Artists from the Kolodzei Art Foundation at the Museum of Russian Art of Art in Minneapolis. She touches on some history behind the collection, exhibition design, and highlights some favorite projects such as The Museum of a Woman.

In the news, we discuss how the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire has made a free community program that focuses on engaging with those whose family and friends are afflicted by addiction–particularly as an effect of the opioid crisis.

References:

Jonathan Aller’s Website

From Non-Conformism to Feminisms: Russian Women Artists from the Kolodzei Art Foundation at the Russian Museum of Art

The Kolodzei Art Foundation

Tania Antoshina Website

Museum Creates Program for Families Suffering from the Opioid Crisis- Hyperallergic