Iao PROJECTS relocating at end of month?
Is the Iao Gallery relocating this month? The lease is up and we are awaiting the results from various office spaces where we plan to relocate the forthcoming Iao PROJECTS. More to come.
I just arrived back from Denver yesterday and I look forward to the challenge of curating the various projects from the roster of artists whom we plan to work with soon!
I just got to Denver after a totally late flight from Salt Lake City into the Denver airport... United was quite delayed by nearly two hours which was a disaster so I was lucky not to have any connecting flights whatsoever.
Time for a gallery stroll as I head to the downtown region to visit the galleries: Plus Gallery, Space Gallery, Rule Gallery, Limited Addiction Gallery, Robischon Gallery, and a few others...
I look forward to meeting with some gallery owners and to see what's going on. More at six...
Please support our fellow artist qi peng as he gains national recognition for his conceptual photography at: http://www.artistswanted.org/qipengart . He is also being featured at PhotoBistro sponsored by PhotoEye Gallery in Santa Fe. Even though he focuses heavily on his conceptual work in painting and video art, qi peng's documentary photographs remain the foundation of his outlook in life.
Iao PROJECTS finished with submissions
Hello there,
Iao PROJECTS has completed its submission cycle and will not be taking anymore online or mail submissions for the PROJECTS as of May 21st, 2008. We have a full roster of artists now and Shadna and I would like to thank all of those artists who have submitted.
On the other hand, the Iao Gallery will be always accepting submissions both online (email) or by mail. Please email Shadna at shadna@iao-gallery.com or mail information to Iao Gallery attn: Albert Wang Artist's Submission 974 West Big River Court Unit 3 Salt Lake City UT 84119.
Note that Iao Gallery is relocating to new office spaces. We are hoping to begin our first physical exhibition at the PROJECTS in December 2008 with the exhibition 'Shall We Begin?' which will feature the complete roster of the Iao PROJECTS with one piece per artist.
At the moment feel free to check out Angela Woods' exhibit at the present Iao location and the online exhibition for the PROJECTS at
New Iao Gallery + PROJECTS eBay Store!Iao Gallery goes on-line with their new eBay art gallery (click here)! Currently uploading images and artist works, please visit frequently for updates and opportunities to obtain works via the store or through our various auctions. We're excited to explore this new venture as a way to share the creative talents that we have discovered with the entire world.
See you soon!
Iao Gallery + PROJECTS
ps - if you are an artist and would like to be considered for representation, please, email us at shadna@iao-gallery.com with your portfolio and artist statement.
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The future of Iao PROJECTS online
Iao PROJECTS has been a relatively new concept with Utah galleries. There has been a tendency for the local Salt Lake City art market to remain staid and stagnant through the traditional gallery/artist relationship. We intend to shift the model towards online/social networking way.
Here's a brief interview with artist Angela Woods. This interview was conducted by Iao Gallery's contemporary artist qi peng during the artist reception last Thursday. Enjoy this intimate view of a creative genius!
Welcome to Iao PROJECTS. As we are relocating, our first exhibition for the new space will take place on cyberspace. This is definitely a new concept for our gallery but, considering that we want to reach as far as audience as possible, YouTube has been a way for many to look at the farthest reaches of the universe.
For example, one of our most versatile artists Sibyll Kalff is a musician as well as a wonderful artist. In some of her video clips, she strums an electric guitar which is unplugged. By emphasizing the quietness of the electric work, her personal self shines through. In her "nature" videos, her camera veers back and forth across settings which wistfully suggest a nostaglia for a simpler time.
On the opposite pole, qi peng, who is usually a painter or photographer, decides to shift into the territory of video art with a wide scattered net. One of his works features a documentary of a Mollies concert (mentioned before) shot with Dogme 95 techniques yet failing ultimately because the artist can't perceive any color which is required. Thus a naughty schoolboy of the rules. In his series 15 seconds of fame, peng attacks the media for using canned images and focuses his camera on everyday abstract things to make those confusing yet famous. The irony is not lost on viewers who are critical of how the media creates an aura of falseness. peng talks the truth. In his other video work, he remixes common videos from ads and music into an abstract universe of colorful poetry vaguely reminding one of Jeremy Blake but with a savage humor and distorted contortion of sounds like an atonal symphony.
Iao PROJECTS on YouTube
The Iao PROJECTS is pursuing a new avenue for its exhibitions complementing its future physical space in an office--ONLINE... with selections of online video art, performance art, and conceptual projects, Iao PROJECTS on YouTube promises to be a new avenue for self-expression in innovative media. We will become the first commercial gallery in Utah to use YouTube to present video art, etc.
Starting in May 2008, Iao PROJECTS will be featuring its first exhibition entitled YOUTUBE SOCKS which will include contributions of video-related projects from its roster. Featuring video art from qi peng to potential projects with Megan Hildebrandt or Dave Krueger or Brett Sykes, Iao PROJECTS will be able to features innovation at the forefront so that art can be brought to the public and that an online gallery will be just as important as the physical space.
So welcome to YouTube land and be the outlook for new videos here at http://www.youtube.com/IaoProjects... We will post the exhibition schedule here on a weekly basis.
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Looking for Angela Woods
Tonight is the opening for Angela Wood's exhibit, so hopefully all of you guys can make it and enjoy some jazz music with the night life. Shadna and the artist will be over there to greet those who can relish the depth of her figurative work.
Gallery Artist Update: Megan Hildebrandt
Welcome to our first spotlight on an Iao PROJECTS artist, Megan Hildebrandt. She is being featured currently in the prestigious New American Paintings issue #75. Now she will be represented by Iao PROJECTS.
Even though she is a painter by trade, she also does some wonderful performance art pieces that ties into the historical representation of America. She focuses very much on a feminist sensibility which deconstructs the traditional way that American events of the past have been portrayed. By acting as a figure for her own "alternative media," she is bold enough to place herself within the same scene as Francis Scott Key or look at George Calvert as a cross-dresser. These historical risks she takes demonstrate that she can combine principles from conceptual art while mastering the lovely techniques of mixed media watercolors.
Mr. Wang, the curator, had seen her work in the magazine and was impressed by the similarities to the work of Dana Costello. However, even those both artists share similarities in the focus on personal painting, Ms. Hildebrandt moves beyond a personal history and relates to a large schema which is the recording of historical narratives and how one relates to them through the act of reading (Barthes, come over here...)
Congratulations, Ms. Hildebrandt. We are glad to have you on board as the journey continues...
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New IAO PROJECTS Roster
I would love to congratulate the following artists so far who have made it onto the upcoming IAO PROJECTS roster:
Matthew and Mark Enger
Andrew Greene
Megan Hildebrandt
Sibyll Kalff
Dave Krueger
Joshua Luther
Kieran McGonnell
Cat Palmer
Mark Phelan
qi peng
Jamison Sarteschi
Dan Schwartz
Barry Wolfryd
Jan Wurm
on Flatfiles:
Sarah Aponte
Aydasara Ortega
Eric Osborne
Brendan Rogers
RoByn Thompson
Stacey Wexler
Catherine Wong
We have quite the roster with artists coming from our hometown of Salt Lake City, New York City, Baltimore, Koln in Germany, Chicago, Taunton in Massaschusetts, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Passiac in New Jersey.
IAO PROJECTS promises to deliver new forms and expressions of art throughout the Utah community. There are those who dream about going out to the big cities but, thinking "out of the box", we are going to be bringing the big cities into the small city of SLC...
We are hoping to start in December 2008. Be on the lookout as we arrive with a vigor!
Gallery Stroll w/ The MolliesWe are pleased to announce that The Mollieswill be performing at this month's Gallery Stroll. Admission is free and open to all ages. Come experience some great art and some great music!
Iao Projects... Get ready for an edgy, hip, contemporary art space that will feature the experimental, the avant-garde, the new, the unique, and the creative vision of the new world.
This exhibition space will explore creation through the possibilities of video art, digital art, installation art, performance art, etc. in ways that Salt Lake has yet to experience...
Be on the lookout as the project begins to rise...
What is the future of the art market?
Some thoughts about where the art market is heading... I have been able to figure out that as art becomes more international (and national collectors are still grabbing even as the economy is declining domestically) because the internet connections and multiple art fairs (currently there over 15 across the world which are huge) are helping to keep the art market alive. In fact, more people are becoming interested in it as we live in a world which is emphatic on mass production. Art in most cases has a unique spin to it.
Iao Gallery is shifting gears as we plan to have a more international focus and a greater focus on online sales (e-commerce) and networking through sites such as eBay and mySpace. We are working on a Facebook, Zaadz and Linkedin profiles as well.
Shadna, Tom and I are working on a top secret project which will be unleashed upon the Art World within the month. It promise to revolutionize how art collectors, dealers and galleries will interact in the future...
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One of Iao Gallery'ssculptors, JinMan Jo is being featured in 15 Bytesin this lovely review of his solo show at Art Access. Apparently Mr. Wichert, the reviewer, liked the fact that Mr. Jo could present such delicate subject matter with an Eastern type of harshness and fragility.
Hope that you can make the show and see for yourself!
Artist Review: Chris Dunker Well, it is a rare treat to see a Utah artist (in this case, a photographer) make it to the big leagues but, one of my favorite guys, Chris Dunker, has done just that. He does a lot of commercial work but one of his projects documenting the death of the Geneva Steel Plant was featured at the511 Galleryin New York! Also you can check out his prints which are available at by clicking here.
Very beautiful formalist photography with a strong interest in using nearly monochrome color. He shoots using a various set of cameras of 6x17 film down to black and white. His signature style reminds one of Andreas Gursky in a similar interest in large-format and epic stylings but there is a personal nature to it rather than the formalist approach of members of the Dusseldorf Schooltaught under the Bechers.
Gallery Artist Update: qi peng Hi there folks! I got my website up and running now at http://www.qipeng.net/ plus many of my older works are now available on eBay through the seller iao_gallery. I will be working on more abstract paintings this year and works on paper (which are getting to be hot in the market) plus some documentary photographs.
manowce – a new documentary by snowwalkerFilmswill be screening at Iao Gallery May, 22nd - 24th at 7pm. The screenings will include an exhibition of, Gary Snow’s (the main character of the film) art pieces. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5.
Story Time : Ananse"Ananse" is an African folk tale about a spider who brought wisdom to the earth. This story is brought to us by The Met Museumin NYC and is inspired by a linguist staff (oykeame) in the Museum's collection. The story is narrated by actor Ronnie Washington.
Hosted by the Center for the Living Citythe tour will begin at 1pm from Higher Ground Learning, 325 West Pierpont Avenue (250 South between 300 and 400 West) and end at about 3pm at Squatters Pub Brewery, 147 West Broadway
A recent article was published regarding this event in the Deseret News which you can view by clicking here.
Enjoy the tour and we look forward to meeting you.
Update on Sunny Belliston Last year we introduced you to local abstract artist Sunny Belliston. Her amazing work was well recieved and we continue to get inquiries about her current shows and work. Sunny has continued to persue her career as an artist and has begun to update her website http://www.sunnybellistonart.com/.
Along with this announcement I'm including a link to an interview with Sunny from the Stacking Chairs Blog Spot : CLICK HERE for an intimate experience with the artist.
I have been involved in an ongoing conceptual photography project based out of the United Kingdom (curated by Stuart Pilkington). Check our work based on the alphabet at: http://www.alphabetproject.co.uk/ and particuarly my submissions at: http://www.alphabetproject.co.uk/qipeng.htmlas I have been only shooting with Polaroid 600 film (during its last year of production) as a conceptual tribute to a dying film format.
It's been quite a lovely challenge and I'm hoping to propose to Shadna to exhibit our group project at Iao Gallerysometime this year or next year? It's going to be an encyclopedia of living!
Ike Bushman is one of my favorite artists who works in the area. Be sure to view his upcoming shows and website as his abstractions are just too good to pass up. A combination of art, magic, and science, it's a cross betweenAntoni Tapies and Cy Twomblywith the gestural scribbles in grey tones, white and black contrasts which have made his work incredible. One day he will be one who will be highlighted at Art Miami Basel...
Today is a totally awesome! Iao Galleryhas begun the first steps in creating a new Ebay storefront to promote the work of its Utah artists.
Feel free to check us out at http://myworld.ebay.com/iao_gallery/ for the latest auctions online of various art pieces from the Iao Gallery roster. We will soon be featuring the abstract art, conceptual art, hyperrealistic art, spiritual art, landscapes, expressionistic portraits and photography that make Iao Gallery the unique space that it is.
Welcome to our new world online as Iao Gallerybecomes the first Utah gallery to be featured through Ebay.
Iao Gallery provides art advice, art news, and art events in their blog. Hosting interviews with artists, curators, and galleries across Utah and in special feeds across the nation. This blog and its podcasts are updated weekly. Check back often for the latest in Art world news.