Bad at Sports Episode 33: Version Festival

Bad at Sports begins the Art Fair Update by chatting it up with the organizers of the Version Festival '06 in Bridgeport (Edmar, Elise, Matt, Rotten Milk, and Burke). Later, we discuss with Michael Workman the highlights of the upcoming Nova Art Fair. Richard and Duncan end the show with a review of "Covers," the Oli Watt show at Booster and Seven.

Bad at Sports Episode 32: Lane Relyea

Bad at Sports interviews Northwestern professor Lane Relyea. Between sips of whiskey, Lane discusses the state of criticism in Chicago and the nation at large. Not only does he explain why it's better to be a curator in Chicago than L.A (and better to be
an artist in L.A. rather than Chicago), but then the interview crescendos into Lane and Richard's smackdown confrontation about art theory.

Later, Duncan reviews Deb Sokolow at Polvo, and Jamison Oggs at Art Ledge. Amanda wraps it up with a review of the Jose Lerma show at Andrea Rosen Gallery in NY, and Lane chimes in with rants and commentary.

Bad at Sports Episode 31: David Jones, Shannon Stratton and more!

David Jones, master printer, artist, founder of the amazing Anchor Graphics and all around kickass guy talks about Anchor Graphics new merger with Columbia College Chicago. Shannon Stratton from Three Walls talks about their residency program, Duncan reviews more Mo Williams, and calls Richard a Jerk several times.

Bad at Sports Episode 30: Edible Books and lots of reviews!

Books + Food = The 7th Annual Edible Book Show at Columbia College. Kathryn Born makes her podcast debut with an interview with Marlene Russum Scott about the festival, and book arts in the city. - Michelle Grabner picks up the critical torch in her "Art Papers" article. - Reviews a plenty: Some are kinda awesome, and some kinda are not. - Richard takes on the "Dad" character in Leave it to Beaver, and Duncan giggles his way to stardom. - All are wrapped up in a cheery band melody that Richard promises a dollar to the first person to e-mail us the exact reason of why it is so funny!

Bad at Sports Episode 29: talk talk talk

Reviews galore! We go to 92 shows in Pilsen with Liz Armstrong, we appear live without a net at the Steppenwold Theater for the Third Coast Festival and Chicago Public Radio, Brian Andrews reviews Scott Reader and other stuff, Amanda and Duncan review more stuff, and Amanda talks about going to NYC.

Bad at Sports Episode 28: Alison Ruttan and more

We interview Alison Ruttan and talk about her show at Monique Meloche and lots and lots of talk about bonobos and why a bonobo is *not* a monkey. Brian Andrews turns off his mind relaxes and floats down stream at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Ecstasy: In and About Altered States show. Jeff Ward talks about The CORE program at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

NEXT WEEK: We talk about talking to a sell out crowd at the Steppenwolf Garage Theater, We review some stuff. We talk about partying like a rock star with Liz Armstrong while checking out 52 shows in Pilsen.

Bad at Sports Episode 27: Happiness

- Jeff Ward, Shannon Stratton interviewed, Michael Miller, and the "Made in China" show at the Museum of Contemporary Photography reviewed. - ALSO LIVE WITHOUT A NET, Bad at Sports that the Steppenwolf garage theater this Wednesday the 8th as a part of the NPR, Third Coast Festival, Listen Room series. Come throw rocks at us you jerks!

THIS WEEK:

Jeff Ward and Shannon Stratton have curated the wonderful series of shows, the Happiness I Seek. Showing consecutively in 5 spaces throughout the Chicago community, The Happiness I Seek will feature artists Andrea Cohen (at ThreeWalls), Loul Samater (at Fraction Workspace), Ryan Swanson (at The Chicago Cultural Center), Mike Andrews (at 40000) and Clinton King (at The Suburban). Through a format of dispersing the sculptural installations throughout the city, the exhibition takes on the rhizomatic and cooperative nature of current art and exhibition practice: the materials of the artworks and the artworks of the exhibit and the spaces in a community imply the ideas of attraction, chemistry and the dancing cheek-to-cheek as evoked by the title's Irving Berlin's lyric.

Bad at Sports Episode 26: Corbett vs. Dempsey and State
of the Union

SIX MONTHS!

Wow!

It's our sixth month anniversary and there is much excitement for all!

This week we talk to John Corbett and Jim Dempsey of Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery. Also we reflect on six months of weekly podcasts and mull whether or not to go on. A very special episode of Bad at Sports. Like an afterschool special with expletives.

Bad at Sports Episode 25: Wendy Cooper and reviews!

This week we interview Chicago gallerist Wendy Cooper. Then the BAS team reviews new shows at the Renaissance Society (Yutaka Sone's Forecast: Snow) and the Hyde Park Art Center (4-Reel). Amanda checks out more shows on her own, and--possibly the most exciting segment of the show yet--Duncan and Richard go to see Unshackled, recorded live at the Pacific Garden Mission.

Bad at Sports Episode 24: Stuff

We set the record straight about our rumored conflict with Gallery 400, although we definitely didn't like the show they have up right now. We check out the utterly fabulous collection of shows at the Cultural Center. AND to make it total art overload, we go to the MCA and take in an array of shows there too. Also our London branch (Ben Tanner and Christian Kuras) checks in and we get a brief NOVA plug from Michael Workman.

Bad at Sports Episode 23: James Rondeau, Cecilia Edefalk

Curatorial superstar James Rondeau, Swedish artist Cecilia Edefalk and rapper Jelly-D all in the same show. Only Bad at Sports, the art review podcast, can provide that much greatness for your entertainment dollar.

Bad at Sports Episode 22: Liz Armstrong, Social

Liz Armstrong, author of the Chicago Anti-social column in the Reader.

From her Wikipedia entry:
Liz Armstrong lives in Chicago, Illinois. She has performed solo and with the bands To Live and Shave in L.A. and To Live and Shave in L.A. 2 under the stage name "Misty Martinez." Since 2004, she has written first-person party journalism for the Chicago Reader in her "Chicago Antisocial" column.

But that doesn't begin to cover our knife wielding interview. Liz is the first guest to show up "heavy" to an interview. She was none-the-less delightful and wacky to talk to. Amanda and Liz have a battle royalle and end up pals! This interview is a non-stop action fest loaded withconfessional jaw dropping moments. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it will become a part of you. You'll listen again and again. It's downright worthy of Chicago Anti-Social.

Bad at Sports Episode 21: Chicago Artists Resource

Another great show, tell your pals that we kick ass. Duncan cries inside because there are still people in town who haven't been reached by our pithy commentary.

We visit Barbara Koenen at her lovely home and discuss resources available for artists in the City of Chicago. Barbara is in charge of the utterly bad-assed Chicago Artists Resource website, which shines the light of knowledge into the dark pit of confusion for us local types. If you don't already participate, sign up now!

Bad at Sports: Episode 20 Mark Booth

Mark Booth, discusses "an incomplete map of everything" and why he is often mistaken for a space man. Amanda and Duncan fight about curatorial practice. Richard demands that you bow down to Patti Smith.

Bad at Sports: Episode 19 Michelle Grabner pt. 2

Michelle Grabner is back! Michelle has written criticism for more magazines than I can comfortably count, runs an art gallery and shows her work internationally. This week we present second part of our interview. Michelle points out that BAS is damn guilty of being a part of the sad watering down of art criticism. She also very kindly puts Richard in his place for his anti-intellectual criticism bashing.

Bad at Sports: Episode 18 Michael Workman

The always controversial and busy Michael Workman--New City art critic, NOVA front man, Bridge Magazine editor in chief, Art Fair impresario, freelance writer and 92 other things-- talks about the art biz, why he pisses people off, why the youth cult is bullshit, and the state of the Chicago art scene. Amanda is hopping mad about the role of teaching in the art community.

Duncan, Richard, and Amanda talk about "Maximum Wage" from Illbilly.com!

Our second New York Bureau member, Nate Rogers-Madsen, reviews Egon Schiele at Neue Galerie and Ed Ruscha at the Whitney.

Bad at Sports: Episode 17 Death by Design

Michelle Maynard and Teena McClelland the ladies of Death by Design Co. talk about gore, guts, and their show at Gallery 400! Duncan, Richard and Amanda, rise above the fray and avoid saying snotty things about people related to a certain gallery space, once again, basking the entire time in the soft, warm glow of our moral superiority. Cassie Thornton checks in from NYC! We review Daniel Blanco's show at Flatfile. AND the year end wrap up. Duncan apologizes to the OODA group for being a jerk. We throw down the gauntlet to Liz Armstrong who is writing the Chicago Anti-Social column in the Reader. Duncan hates Anne Goldstein. More singing by all.

Bad at Sports : 16 Holiday Show!

Ho ho ho! We are starting official traditions for our show: the first annual holiday special!!!

Bad at Sports : Episode 15

Britton Bertran (head honcho at 40000) and Brian Andrews (mean listener, etc.) talk to Duncan and Richard about Brian's new show. Britton throws down the gauntlet to the world at large, proclaiming that he is in Chicago to stay. Brian talks about being delighted to be back in Chicago to trudge through 6 inches of gray slush.

Reviews! Duncan, Richard, and Amanda Browder review Michelle Faust at 65 Grand, The Promised Land show at Wendy Cooper including Dan Attoe, Tim Barber, Chris Dorland, Kim Krans, Jin Lee, Sabine Linse, Shona Macdonald, Nancy Mladenoff, AND the OODA Group, AND, if that weren't enough we review new work from Melissa Pokorny and Paul Nudd at Bodybuilder and Sportsman.

And we name drop: the West Town Gallery Network, NOVA, Michael Workman, Paul Klein, Bill Gross, Nevin Tomlinson, Thomas Blackman, Thomas Kincaid, and our pal David Michael Coyle.

Bad at Sports : 14 REVIEWORAMA

Reviews, reviews, reviews!!! Our London correspondents Ben Tanner and Christian Kuras make their fabulous debut and review the UK version of "Universal Experience: Art, Life, and the Tourist's Eye," which began its life on this earth at our very own MCA. Brian Andrews, our West Coast rep, is back to tell us what is wrong with the art scene in San Francisco. Duncan and Richard review "On the Scene: Jessica Rowe, Jason Salavon, Brian Ulrich," and then they check out The Museum of Contemporary Photography's new shows "Jeffrey A. Wolin: Inconvenient Stories" and "Stages of Memory: The War in Vietnam." And if THAT weren't enough, Duncan and Richard argue about whether or not Rodney Graham is full of BS after sitting through his lecture. The last song in this week's show goes out from Richard to Scott Speh.

Bad at Sports : Lucky 13!

Reviews, reviews, reviews!!! Tropicalia at the MCA, the non-art art show at Loyola, A bunch of stuff at the Cultural Center and more!

Singing hosts, great music cues, mirth, mayhem, and music. Special guest, writer, critic, and giant of consciousness Joanna Topor mocks "author" Rick Moody's talk at the MCA and suffers the slings and arrows of my comedic editing. Styx!!! Holy guacamole! Who could ask for anything more?

Bad at Sports : Episode 12 Michelle Grabner!

Michelle Grabner! We show up with bagels and coffee to interview artist, critic, gallerist, teacher, and writer Michelle Grabner in her Oak Park Studio.

Michelle has written criticism for more magazines than I can comfortably count, and shown her work internationally. We talk about her career, the't find a decent solo show to review for Art Forum.

The Suburban
244 West Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
tel: 708.763.8554
Hours Saturday: 12-5

And as if that discussion isn't enough to fuel thoughtful conversation for weeks and provide enough grist for the intellectual mill, Duncan and I review current shows. And, for the first time, we completely, utterly, and collectively dislike something!

We review the Hyde Park Art Center's new show of James Faulkner's work, the Smart Museum's exhibition Beyond Green: Toward a Sustainable Art, the Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery's show Art in the Abstract, and the Renaissance Society's exhibition All the Pretty Corpses.

Bad at Sports : Episode 11 Lou Mallozzi and Jonathan Rhodes

We really will get back to reviews at some point, but there is just too much to talk about in the interview department! Lou Mallozzi, Executive Director of the Experimental Sound Studio, artist, and educator, talks about the Open Ear Festival of Sound (November 13, 2005 - December 15, 2005) and the 20th Anniversary of ESS! Also, Duncan talks to Jonathan Rhodes Executive Director of Three-Walls about Nato Thompson's lecture on Art Activist Communities. We talk about why Scott Speh hates Canadians. Duncan and Richard sing a duet!!

Episode 10 The Pentaphilic

Terror! Mayhem! Plagues! Fires!!!

This week's show had to endure horrors beyond description, those of you conversational with me know what woe has befallen the kingdom, but dammit, the show goes on!

This week: The Alliance of Pentaphilic Curators! Duncan reviews a book! 10 seconds of Shannon Stratton! A whole interview got cut because the artist didn't like what they had to say!!! A record review I recorded a month ago!!!!!! Wow, that's a lot of show for your podcasting dollar.

Episode 9 Paul Klein

Holy guacamole it's my freaking birthday, my landlord is making me move my studio, and we STILL get the show out early. That's quality people, trauma, mirth and on time. When choosing podcasts remember who loves ya baby, we don't make you wait three weeks between shows like lots of the other bush league podcasters out there in I-pod land. Duncan and I sit, huddled under a bare bulb, humming "working in a coal mine" and get our shit out in short order. Golly.

Okay, anyway. This week, Chicago art legend Paul Klein, Duncan reviews a book and rants about the oppression of pest fowl, I counterpoint, and west coast bureau chief Brian Andrews checks in with his first report. Damn, that's a lot of quality art reporting.

Episode 8 Edward Lifson

We interview Edward Lifson, host of Chicago Public Radio's weekly Arts program Hello Beautiful

Also: Bill Gross of 65 Grand returns to discuss the tone of the lecture at the Three Arts Club a few weeks back. AND Amanda Browder and Richard review a plethora of shows! Rhona Hoffman, Monique Meloche, and the ever bad-assed Gallery 40000. Wow!

Show #7 Bill Gross, Duncan's Show, Depart-ment and more!!!

Bill Gross, Depart-ment, Duncan MacKenzie and Shannon Stratton at Fraction, and Michael Asher reviewed at last.

Things edited out and that will be worked into future shows include: Bill, Duncan and Richard discussing the current show at the Three Arts Club and the discussion that followed the opening that was lots of complaining, Amanda and Richard discussing a whole bunch of shows and why Gordon Matta-Clark's used Kleenex would probably be brilliant, and Duncan calling for the world to hate Richard as he is evil.

Show #6 Scott Speh and Philip von Zweck interviewed

We interview Scott Speh at Western Exhibitions, he talks about the current show, 5 Solo Exhibitions (Mike Andrews, Jimmy Baker, Carl Baratta, Paul Fuchs and Ben Stone), and about running a gallery space in the contemporary Chicago art scene.

Next we talk to Philip von Zweck, artist, radio show producer and host, artist, project coordinator, and now gallery owner about his work and his new gallery.

This show is a must for a great state of the union of the Chicago art scene and making it as an artist here.

Show #5 Musicircus and the Pentaphilic! Some reviews as well.

Meet a plethora of people from the Musicircus at the MCA including Eric Leonardson, Chris Preissing, Peter Rosenbloom, Robb Drinkwater and Jesse Seay. Also we review Michael Goro at ARC and we talk about a zillion painters in the Everybody Paints! show at Parlour. Duncan interviews Jason Dunda of Pentaphilic Curatorial Projects. There is some Canada bashing and we decide to pick a fist fight with Art News Magazine's editorial staff.

Show #4: Introducing - Amanda Browder

We talk to Chicago Artist Amanda Browder about her current local and international projects, and about the meaning of Career Day.

The three of us discuss the Bruce Nauman show at theDonald Young Gallery Gallery and we look at the Nevin Tomlinson show at Gallery 40000.

The Alliance of Pentaphilic Curators, Experiment 400/5 With a tongue-in-cheek curatorial style, Experiment 400/5 seeks to question and play with the structure of gallery systems.

To apply for Experiment 400/5, please pick up an application at Gallery 400 or email pentaphilic@yahoo.com.

Show #3: With a little experimentation you will get it.

Show #2: Art Review Cast Game On

FALL SEASON KICKOFF!!! Richard and Duncan talk about what it is like to walk around and check out several exhibitions of artwork throughout the Chicago gallery landscape, and they give their pithy comments about the art
Rashid Johnson
Justin Schmitz
Scott Anderson and Susan Giles
Mike Peter Smith
Brian Getnick / Andy Young
Not in that order. Love you all.

Show #1: Chris Cook and the Minimal truth/Mr T

Richard and Duncan chat with lovely and intelligent Chris Cook (curator at the Sioux City Art Center) about Julian Dashper and Fred Sandback.

This chat also touches on how the gear is not quite working and Richard reviews a Mr T rap album from the eighties.