Bad At Sports

I'm sick, this will be a less glitzy and amusing e-mail than usual. Hence this notice coming out so late. THIS WEEK: 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. Names dropped: Barbara DeGenevieveMarco Castillo and Dagoberto RodriguezAlexandre ArrecheaStephen BalkenholJan Theun Van ReesLari PittmanDavid ShrigleyRobert MapplethorpeKaren FinleyLorelei StewartAnthony ElmsTony TassettLawrence SewardRodney GrahamStephanie BrooksBob and Roberta SmithDavid RobbinsMichael ElmgreenDana SchutzRon MueckJuan MunozCharles RayPeter HalleyFishboneJudy LedgerwoodJulia FishMichelle GrabnerSol LewittAd ReinhardtTom FriedmanMaurizio CattelanMatthew

THIS WEEK: Duncan and Richard interview James Rondeau, superstar curator and Cecelia Edefalk, superstar artist. We just bought the right to the word "superstar" so we are compelled to use it as much as possible. Stealing liberally from the AIC's press release bank we now paste the following for your enlightenment. "The Art Institute of Chicago presents the first solo U.S. exhibition of Swedish artist Cecilia Edefalk as part of its Focus exhibitions of contemporary art. Double White Venus, a series of 12 paintings all titled Double White Venus, will be on view in Gallery 139 of the museum from February 2 to April 23, 2006. Born in 1954, Edefalk draws viewers in by exploring, through repetition as well as innovative installations, the mechanics of making and looking at painted images. Edefalk works slowly and deliberately, in direct contrast to our high-speed, image-based world; she began Double White Venus in 1999 and completed its 12 paintings over the course of nearly 7 years." James Rondeau is the Franc

An interview that goes off the rails, reviews, our San Francisco branch checks in! Wow! Check out our new NEWS FLASH section below. THIS WEEK: 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. If that wasn't enough, Amanda, Dun

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. WHY OH WHY doesn't Tony Wight at Bodybuilder & Sportsman respond to our e-mail? Everybody else in 119 responds; where is the love??? We are just trying to give you some airtime--we won't be mean, honest. Wendy Cooper writes back, c'mon buddy. THIS WEEK: 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! Chicago Artists Resource website, GO NOW!!! ALSO: Duncan and Richard shut the hell up (leave the room even) so that Amanda and Shannon can review the new show at 40000 "Versus" Names dropped:Brian Andrews, Cody Cloud, Rose DiSalvo, Dennis Hodges, Josh Mannis, Video Mache

20 shows! Wow! I think back to my initial conversations with Duncan in a bar downtown and I doubt we ever expected to get an audience as large as we now have (which has doubled in the last month), the number of great, brilliant people working with us around the world, and the wonderful feedback we have been getting, thanks to you all! We continue to look at Bad at Sports as an open resource, so let us know what you think. If you want to contribute (particularly if you are somewhere other than Chicago), let us know! We are here as a public resource. Thanks! Also, curious minds are still waiting to hear a good explanation of why, without permission from the artist, UIC took the Death by Design piece down off of the Temporary Allegiance flag pole at Gallery 400. Someone please enlighten us. Check out the cool pictures of us Duncan posted: http://www.badatsports.com/pages/about.htm Lane Relyea purportedly thinks we are cool. THIS WEEK: We interview Mark Booth--artist, teacher, and curator of the forthcomin

Back again for more art talk, mirth and mayhem. Tell your pals, classmates, enemies, family about the show! The more the merrier. THIS WEEK: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.ALSO: Amanda and Richard review shows at Aron Packer, Polvo, Open End, and Monique Meloche! Name dropped:David Romanelli, Art Forum, BAT Magazine, Andrea Frasier, Jim Elkins, Jerry Saltz, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rashid Johnson, Lane Relyea, Monique Meloche, Middle Management, The School of the Art Institute, Death by Design, Reed Barrow, Benjamin Bellas, Justin Cooper, Clinton King, Andrea Chin, Rene Cruz, Vicki Fowler, Randall Garrett , Kevin Jefferies, Aimee Jones, Otaben

THIS WEEK: 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. Name-dropped this episode: Rapper Jelly Donut, Egon Schiele, Ed Ruscha, Thomas Cole, Thomas Blackman, Sterling Ruby, Heather Hubb, MC Paul Barman, Donald Young Gallery, Kavi Gupta Gallery, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, 65 Grand, Dan Peterman (who can't see fit to write back to us), Kerry James Marshall, Tony Tasset, Tony Fitzpatrick, Paul Klein, Duncan's mom, Amanda's mom. NEXT WEEK: Part 2 of our discussion with Michelle Grab

This show has at least 3 shows worth of material. THIS WEEK: 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. People name dropped: Daniel Blanco, Michael Asher, Michael Workman, Philip von Zweck, Paul Klein, David Coyle, Mark Booth, Naughty Candy, Bruce Campbell, Jim Faulkner, Jasper Johns, The Booms, David Robbins (WHO IS NOT connected to Death by Design, honest, really, seriously, no foolin'), Readymade Magazin

Holy crap did we have a hard time posting this!Libsyn is giving me a rash, it shouldn't take 8 f-ing hours and 29 tries to upload a file.THIS WEEK: 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.

THIS WEEK: 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.On the Scene: Jessica Rowe, Jason Salavon, Brian Ulrich The Museum of Contemporary Photography Rodney Graham Universal ExperienceSF links are to follow. NEXT WEEK: We lied last week. THIS COMING W

THIS WEEK: 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? Museum of Contemporary Art Tropicalia Water Tower of Art Cultural Center Chicago LUMA or Loyola University Museum of Art NEXT WEEK: I have no freaking idea. I think our West Coast correspondent Brian Andrews will be in town to shill for his forthcoming show at 40000. Why am I the only person on this show not in the queue for a show at 40000? Clearly I don't say enough nice things about Britton Bertran (I love you Britton!). Links to follow whenever Duncan gets around to it...

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. Links etc. to follow soon! South Park Michelle Gr

Libsyn, who hosts our stuff has really been a pain in our collective Bad at Sports ass this week, so many of you tried to download last weeks show had trouble, we're sorry, they suck, we will beat them up as soon as we can find their offices. Don't forget to download Episode #10, good stuff! THIS WEEK: 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!! If you miss this you will have nothing to discuss around the water cooler next week, loser! More links to follow! The Experimental Sound Studio Mass. MoCA While we didn't get acha

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.Gallery 400MASS MOCANato ThompsonTed Hiebert's Post Human suggestion LASTLY, yeah yeah I'm a jackass and I screwed up...Contrary to our press release, next week Jonathan from threewalls, not Jeff from threewalls, will discuss smart people things with duncan on the pod. I goofed. Jonathan wants all the fame and glory that bad at sports will inevitably bring him!!!

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.As this is the temp show note posted in the 8:00 a.m. hour no links as of yet, but eventually Duncan will get to it. Although, I am making him accompany me to the comic book convention today, so he has an excuse.Lastly, spread the damn word already, we want thousands of adoring fans fawning at us instea

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! Early AdoptersHello BeautifulRhona HoffmanMonique MelocheGallery 40000

TEMP SHOW NOTE: Bill Gross, Depart-ment, Duncan MacKenzie and Shannon Stratton at Fraction, and Michael Asher reviewed at last. Okay so this show was edited in a Toyota and in a Holiday Inn in Port Washington Wisconsin. Not our tightest work and we had WAY too much material. 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.Real note to follow soon with appropriate links.65 Grand = wgross@artic.edu Skestos Gallery DEPART-ment Micheal Asher Fraction Workspace

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.Scott SpehPhilp Von Zweck and AssociatesFraction WorkspaceThe Rest of WesttownGallery 40000Lisa Boyle GalleryBooster and SevenCorbett vs. Dempsey

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. Chris Preissing and the Chicago Composers ForumRobb DrinkwaterEric Leonardson and Peter Jones GalleryJesse Seay and Likes To Do Other Things PodcastPeter Rosenbloom and False Walls The Chicago Tribune review of Musicircus. The review section of the show. Michael GoroARC GalleryParlor (they have no web presence).Katharine MulherinFraction WorkspaceFor info on Jason Dunda and the Pentaphilic Curatorial Projects please see Gallery 400 and or our links page for an application. Remember they are only accepting applicants until October 11th. Thanks for Listening.

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. Also... Anyone interested in show opportunities that exist in Canada should check out these websites. AkimboInstant Coffee Closer to home... The Illinois Arts CouncilThe City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Grant Opportunities Richard Interviews everyone he can at the Chicago Composers Forum: John Cages Musicircus the MCA. 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.