“To create one’s own world, in any of the arts, takes courage.”
—Georgia O’Keeffe

I first discovered René Hugo Arceo’s El Poeta while browsing Etsy and finding The Serie Project’s shop. I marked it as a favorite, knowing I would soon return to make the purchase when financial circumstances permitted. Soon, however, turned into many months—not necessarily due to a lack of funds but simply because I forgot about it. Eventually I rediscovered El Poeta (scrolling through my “Favorites” one day) and finally bought the limited-edition print, which is now framed and hanging in my library.

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, René Arceo’s body of work is remarkably diverse, spanning a broad spectrum of styles, subject matter, and media—from a whimsical figure with colorful acrylics on paper to an abstract watercolor on canvas. But this Chicago-based artist makes the most memorable impression through printmaking. In his brilliant linocut prints, Arceo blends hints of surrealism with various influences—from his Mexican roots to the students he teaches at Chicago public schools—to form his distinct brand of contemporary folk art.

With El Poeta, Arceo celebrates the importance of the poet and honors the power of the pen. As a writer, the subject of the work immediately resonated with me, and the bright, vibrant colors and fantastical scene only enhanced its appeal. As the Etsy description states,

El Poeta is a fantastic figure; he is a creator deep in thought and surrounded by his muses and characters he can bring to life with the power of his words. Like a plant, the poet is a vivid green and through him there is potential for growth, hope and new life….As an artist, Arceo feels a kinship with the poet, who also has the power to create worlds.

El Poeta is part of Serie XV, 2007-2008, celebrating The Serie Project’s 15th anniversary. Based in Austin, Tex., The Serie Project is a Latino-oriented nonprofit program dedicated to producing and promoting fine art serigraphs. Each limited-edition print (50 in this case of El Poeta) is a unique creation, not simply the result of reproducing a painting in large quantities. Thanks to serigraph printmaking, more people can enjoy original artwork at more reasonable prices. As Arceo puts it, “multiplicity can contribute to reaching larger audiences while subsequently making the artwork affordable or more accessible.” Amen to that, I say, as I attempt to summon the muse, staring no longer at a blank wall but El Poeta—a regular reminder of the power of the written word, of art.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
—Jack London

Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, died today at the age of 87, and the nation and world will miss his presence.

His contributions to our society, however, will live on forever. (Read the Associated Press obit here.) Recently, the History Channel aired the much-anticipated and  thoroughly stirring “The People Speak”—a visually and audibly compelling 101 course in democracy and American history based on Zinn’s important work. So we present in his honor this performance from the aforementioned documentary, by an artist much admired by The Madness of Art, that in many ways sums up the spirit of the man who used his art to seek and deliver truth. Read more…

On my first exploration of the Telfair Art Fair this past November, I had no expectations to leave with any art in hand. Well, to be honest, I had no expectations at all. So I wandered through the tented maze that overtook Telfair Square that sunny Saturday in Savannah, ducking in and out of the numerous nooks occupied by artists from all areas of the country (though Savannah and other parts of the Southeast seemed most prominent).

Eventually, I found myself transfixed by the delightfully disturbing work of Victoria Sexton. Despite the early onset of sensory overload in the midst of a somewhat hectic affair, her Burtonesque clay sculptures called out for attention. Each of the dozen or so thought-provoking pieces on display required rumination. As a writer, both Deadline (pictured below) and Mental Block possessed a disarmingly poetic appeal. In the end, I chose the lesser of two evils: As much as I detest a deadline—that “black bird” teasingly hovering about your head no matter how many times you try to shoo it away—it’s much easier to ignore than a mental block is to overcome. Prominently displayed in my apartment, Deadline now alternates, depending on when I cross its path, as a practical reminder, an inspirational catalyst and an agent of angst.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
—Maya Angelou

From Dave Matthews and Neil Young to Jay-Z and U2, from Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay to Wyclef Jean, musicians of all stripes and styles played music of hope on a multi-network telethon to raise money to help all those suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

Once again, I’m struck by the sheer potency of music, galvanizing the global community to offer financial support to a nation of people that desperately need it. While many of the big-name stars gave moving performances, the real example of the transcendent power of music came during a report from Haiti. Amid the rubble, groups of Haitians continue gathering to summon positive vibes and spread hope through the sounds of salvaged instruments, strained-yet-optimistic voices and hands clapping in unison.

Whether you watched or not, whether you donated already or not, simply buying some good music right now will have an impact. iTunes is now offering an album of the live performances from Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief for $7.99 (a video of the complete broadcast will be available for $2.99), and proceeds will support several vital organizations involved in the relief efforts: Partners In Health, American Red Cross, UNICEF, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Yéle Haiti, and Oxfam.

Check out some of the performances from the benefit concert after the jump. Read more…

Non-Profit, Quarterly Arts Journal Launches in Savannah

One of the great things about Savannah—this big small town (or, depending on your perspective, small big city) on the Georgia coast that I’ve called home for 20 months—is its robust, ever-expanding arts scene, generating a palpable creative energy suitable for invoking the muse.

Despite this burgeoning arts community, and even with a fairly respectable assortment of local print publications, Savannah lacked an “offline” magazine dedicated solely and specifically to this community, its creative creatures and their admirers. I, for one, thought it obvious that such an arts journal could not only survive but thrive here. Luckily, I wasn’t alone. Read more…

In an effort to showcase the work of more artists, The Madness of Art is pleased to announce the start of a new feature: Exhibit A.

Each post in this ongoing series will feature a single piece from a visual artist, along with a bit of information about the artist, including where to view and buy his or her work. Obviously, the criteria I will use to make selections are subjective: An artist whose work I have discovered—perhaps locally here in Savannah, throughout my travels or somewhere on the Web—and find appealing and compelling, in such a way that speaks to me, qualifies. I certainly welcome suggestions of artists you think warrant inclusion in Exhibit A (send a message, with “Exhibit A” in the subject line, that includes the artist’s name and Web site).

During these tough economic times, artists and galleries need more support than ever. The intention of this feature is to shine a light on some interesting (and, most likely, unheralded) artists who might benefit from the attention.

To access Exhibit A, click on the button located between “Connect” and “Listen Up!” in the far right sidebar.

“You must take an obsessive pride in the smallest details of your craft. And you must be willing to defend what you’ve written against the various middlemen—editors, agents and publishers—whose sights may be different from yours, whose standards not as high.”—William Zinsser