Iao PROJECTS: Michelle Kurtz Gets Interviewed by Gavin Sheehan for Gavin's Underground

Monday, October 13, 2008

Michelle Kurtz Gets Interviewed by Gavin Sheehan for Gavin's Underground

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About Iao PROJECTS

ABOUT US:

What is the Iao PROJECTS? We are a conceptual art project founded in 2008 by Shadna Sieger and Albert Wang as a gallery which is featured in a curator's 108 square foot office space. Our inspiration is derived from the famed BBC television program "The Office" minus that bad(ass) attitude. The goal is to discover untapped and innovative talent throughout the world which have not had the opportunity to be presented to the public at large.

Also we are a gesture against the grain of the prevailing Utah cultural winds. Typically Salt Lake City is not seen as the harbinger of artistic trends worldwide. Iao PROJECTS will dispel that notion extremely quickly. We do not believe in academicism or empty emotional art. We celebrate all art forms ranging from artist’s books to installation to even video/digital art which has been seen as anathema in the market around here. We love traditional with a twist, controversy with a coffee creamer, groundbreaking visual styles, and a rebellious attitude whether subtle or evident in egg tempera, etc...

Like the secret style of the Wu-Tang shaolin monks, we strongly feel that having a diverse range of vocabularies is key to the ultimate championship, the red belt. From the crane style to the monkey style, Iao PROJECTS seeks to give support to artists who have not had the opportunity to feel relaxed to express themselves honestly because of commercial support. We want the artists to be comfortable to who they are because it is what we are too.

The Iao PROJECTS Flatfiles is an emerging artist (mentoring, teaching) program for nurturing young and hip artists who have testing the waters and the limits of what their art can do. Through group shows and solo shows, we plan to have a mentoring program where the experienced artists from the PROJECTS can help the young artists grow and develop and navigate the treacherous waters of the art market. All too often, there are good artists but lack of marketing and wide exposure have knocked talents by the wayside. We believe that schooling and experience, not formal education only, is the key to the cycle of experienced artists being able to help out the youthful artists who worry that they won’t be able to make it. So we have developed the Flatfiles as a stepping stone for those who are starting out…

Note that we plan to change the game up. We believe in being honest and forthright to the artists and treating them with respect and understanding. We also believe in being uncensored and provocative, even if risks cultural misunderstanding and even protest, because we know that the most dangerous thing is the lack of critical thought which is all too often the dominant malaise of our current society.

WHO WE ARE:

Jerry Hardesty, current co-director and curator, is the latest addition to the Iao PROJECTS crew. He is over at Art at the Main Gallery and is a rocking self-taught artist. You can reach him through his email at jehardesty@aol.com.

Shadna Sieger, current co-director and web designer of the main Iao Gallery which was featured as one of the finest Salt Lake City galleries by 15 Bytes newsletter. Iao Gallery was founded in summer 2007. Currently he is working on a secret project more secret than the secret Manhattan Project. He is a graduate from Weber State University. Feel free to contact him at shadna@iao-gallery.com.

Albert Wang, curator of the Iao PROJECTS. He also works as an artist and photographer under a secret moniker (he won't tell you what his secret identity is). His works have been collected on an international scale. He is a graduate from Yale University. Feel free to contact him at iaoprojects@gmail.com or call him at (801) 879-1971.

Powell Smith, gallery assistant of the Iao PROJECTS. He is well-versed in cultural endeavors ranging from opera to drama (not the teenage queen variety). He attended University of Pennsylvania during the hippie 60's. Feel free to contact him at powell@iao-gallery.com or call him at (801) 712-2212.

Circlegal, gallery assistant of the Iao PROJECTS. She is well-known under her infamous tag Circlegal. The signature stick figures around town may or may not be of her doing. University of Utah art department, watch out as her career takes off. Feel free to contact her at wandaleigh77@yahoo.com or call her at (435) 669-5606.

John Zilleruelo, gallery consultant for Iao PROJECTS. As a former Marine, he has survived boot camp and muddy situations. He enjoys good real estate and fine art pieces to enhance the home or commercial situation. Feel free to contact him at john@iao-gallery.com or call him at (801) 833-5067.

HOURS:

The space at 925 East 900 South Suite 40 is open by appointment only.

Iao PROJECTS featured at Acme Burger Company is open on Monday-Thursday, 11 AM-10:30 PM; Friday-Saturday, 11 AM-Midnight or so; Sunday, 11 AM-9 PM. Please visit the off-site project space for our large scale and installation inventory.

LOCATION:

We are located at 925 East 900 South Suite 40 Salt Lake City UT 84105. Online we are located on our gallery website and YouTube. Please contact us for more information about artists, prices, and inventory.

ARTISTS REPRESENTED:

CIRCLEGAL

JON COFFELT

JEFF FAERBER

MATT GLASS

SIBYLL KALFF

RAFAL KARCZ

MINDY KOBER

JAMISON SARTESCHI

DAVID B. SMITH

KAY TUTTLE

ANDREW WRIGLEY

OTHER ARTISTS REPRESENTED:

AMY CARON [ABC Artist]

MASON FETZER [ABC Artist]

DONALD FODNESS [Flatfile Artist]

JERRY HARDESTY [ABC Artist]

ERIC HART [Flatfile Artist]

MEGAN HILDEBRANDT [ABC Artist]

JORDAN JENSEN [Flatfile Artist]

RACHEL LOMAZOFF [ABC Artist]

JOSHUA LUTHER [ABC Artist]

ERIC OSBORNE [Flatfile Artist]

CAT PALMER [ABC Artist]

MARK PHELAN [ABC Artist]

BRENDAN ROGERS [Flatfile Artist]

BRETT SYKES [Flatfile Artist]

ROBYN THOMPSON [Flatfile Artist]

STACEY WEXLER [Flatfile Artist]

BARRY WOLFRYD [ABC Artist]

CATHERINE LISA WONG [Flatfile Artist]

JAN WURM [ABC Artist]

Monday, October 13, 2008

Michelle Kurtz Gets Interviewed by Gavin Sheehan for Gavin's Underground

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Blog Archive

About Iao PROJECTS

Iao PROJECTS on Twitter

Iao PROJECTS Fanatics

Monday, October 13, 2008

Michelle Kurtz Gets Interviewed by Gavin Sheehan for Gavin's Underground

No comments:

Blog Archive

About Iao PROJECTS

Iao PROJECTS on Twitter

Iao PROJECTS Fanatics

Subscribe to the Iao PROJECTS Press