Art Mutt

September 30, 2009 10:33 AM

Help me find a good way to keep up with the art scene.

I have a pretty good art background and a very good modern art museum a few blocks away from me, but I am having trouble knowing what is going on, what is new and fresh, in the broader art world. What magazines, journals, or blogs do you use to stay informed?

If it is relevant, I am mostly interested in the visual arts but would still appreciate more general sources.

posted by munchingzombie to media & arts (14 comments total)

What city do you live in? I know some cities have weekly magazine they have with event calenders, even the local newspaper webpage might be a good source for that information. Also if you have a local university most university have lots of stuff going on and usually keep an events calender listed on their websites.

Craigslist
Cityguide
posted by lwclec072 at 10:43 AM on September 30

I live in Buffalo. Which, you may be surprised to learn, has a nice little art scene. However, I am less interested in local stuff than I am in international trends.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:55 AM on September 30

art forum
art in america
posted by zennoshinjou at 10:56 AM on September 30

Edward Winkleman *
Curating.info
Art Fag City
Vernissage
The Douglas Kelley Show List
Artnet
The Art Newspaper
One Artworld
Linsay Pollock
Artworld Salon
Artforum
Frieze
Art21 Blog

*Also see Ed's list of artblogs on his sidebar.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:59 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]

I like the blog culturegrrl.
posted by Toekneesan at 10:59 AM on September 30

I'm hardly an expert, but speaking from a photography-as-contemporary-art perspective (rather than a photography-as-pretty-picture-making-craft perspective) I'd say your time would be better spent with some choice magazines/journals than on skimming 100 blogs. The photoblogworld is a self-congratulating echo chamber.

Go down to the museum, pick up a few of the mags on sale there and get a feel for the ones that suit you. If you find one you like, think about subscribing. When you're reading an article that speaks to you and you come across a reference that you don't understand, go down to the library and take out a book on the relevant artist/movement/theory. If the book's a disappointment, skip it. Go to every new show the museum puts on, read the reviews in the press, read some of the books/catalogs that accompany the shows, go to some of the talks and screenings they put on. Attend artists' talks whenever you can. Follow any and every scent that interests you, and feel comforted by the knowledge that no matter how much you read, see, or make, you'll never, ever catch up.
posted by SebastianKnight at 11:13 AM on September 30 [1 favorite]

OH! Lots of goodies. Thank you all so far.
posted by munchingzombie at 11:26 AM on September 30

For street art, wooster collective.
posted by phrontist at 11:27 AM on September 30

Oh, and just for the sheer horror of it: How's My Dealing?
posted by R. Mutt at 11:42 AM on September 30

How about a podcast? Bad at Sports
Newcity Art, out of Chicago
Artnet magazine (online) for international news and NYC reviews
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 12:01 PM on September 30

Adding to Mr. Mutt's excellent blogroll:
C-Monster
we make money not art

Also, critic Jerry Saltz uses his Facebook page to start discussions. (I'm not a big fan of the conversation there myself, but it's definitely something of a phenomenon.)
posted by neroli at 1:01 PM on September 30

Some good stuff here. In addition to those already mentioned, I enjoy the photography sites Conscientious, Lens Culture, Too Much Chocolate (more up-and-coming, but still interesting) and Rachel Hulin's personal blog.
posted by Magnakai at 3:06 PM on September 30

For San Francisco-specific gallery openings, you can check out Art Business' reviews. The guy really gets around and provides quality photography. Obviously the things there are more of an on-the-ground than "art world" style.
posted by beerbajay at 1:55 PM on October 1

Oh shit, I forgot my favorite: vvork.
posted by beerbajay at 7:11 AM on October 2