New Art TV
All of a sudden many of the online art news outlets have "TV." From artnet.com to The Art Newspaper to New York Magazine. This is hardly new technology. The fine folks at Bad at Sports have been using it incredibly well for quite some time now, but for the more traditional news outlets to be picking up on it suggests someone must see it as potentially lucrative now.
I'll be honest, though. I'm not so sure. Most of the current efforts are fine in terms of production values, but there doesn't seem to be a marriage of content and format yet that suggests this won't prove to be a passing fad.
Having said that, the single best effort out there to my mind, in terms of depth, vision, and production values that serve the subject matter is the impressive debut of NewArtTV. (Full disclosure: I blogged about NewArtTV a while back after having met its founder, and our current exhibition will be featured in an upcoming piece).
What makes NATV stand out for me, as noted, is the depth of the coverage. From an overview of the fairs in New York in 2007 to a wide and growing range of studio visits to coverage of Felix Gonzalez-Torres at the American Pavilion in Venice, NATV's scope, while clearly American and New York centric, promises to reflect the globetrotting nature of the art world. Perhaps its most solid offering at the moment is the coverage of exhibitions and events.
More impressive though is the depth of the interviews. I mean that in terms of length (some last as long as 15 minutes, which is an eternity in YouTube time) and in terms of intelligence. The interviews dive right in, assuming the audience is educated, and thereby providing a richer treasury of information. This piece on Deborah Grant, for example, begins with the artist describing a particular piece, no overview of her project or background or even process, just straight into references and picking up speed from there. Brilliant.
There's no slickness to the look and feel of the video itself, but there is a sophistication to the editing that provides lots of information without having to slow down to do so. If I had to put my finger on the effort's strongest accomplishment, that would it be it: the editing and pacing. Get in, get the goods, and get out.
The site just launched, so it bears watching to see where it goes, but of all the new efforts in presenting art news in video format, this is the site to beat, IMHO.
I'll be honest, though. I'm not so sure. Most of the current efforts are fine in terms of production values, but there doesn't seem to be a marriage of content and format yet that suggests this won't prove to be a passing fad.
Having said that, the single best effort out there to my mind, in terms of depth, vision, and production values that serve the subject matter is the impressive debut of NewArtTV. (Full disclosure: I blogged about NewArtTV a while back after having met its founder, and our current exhibition will be featured in an upcoming piece).
What makes NATV stand out for me, as noted, is the depth of the coverage. From an overview of the fairs in New York in 2007 to a wide and growing range of studio visits to coverage of Felix Gonzalez-Torres at the American Pavilion in Venice, NATV's scope, while clearly American and New York centric, promises to reflect the globetrotting nature of the art world. Perhaps its most solid offering at the moment is the coverage of exhibitions and events.
More impressive though is the depth of the interviews. I mean that in terms of length (some last as long as 15 minutes, which is an eternity in YouTube time) and in terms of intelligence. The interviews dive right in, assuming the audience is educated, and thereby providing a richer treasury of information. This piece on Deborah Grant, for example, begins with the artist describing a particular piece, no overview of her project or background or even process, just straight into references and picking up speed from there. Brilliant.
There's no slickness to the look and feel of the video itself, but there is a sophistication to the editing that provides lots of information without having to slow down to do so. If I had to put my finger on the effort's strongest accomplishment, that would it be it: the editing and pacing. Get in, get the goods, and get out.
The site just launched, so it bears watching to see where it goes, but of all the new efforts in presenting art news in video format, this is the site to beat, IMHO.
Labels: art news, art on television
posted by Edward_ at
7:43 AM
16 Comments:
For a quick look and ride along to openings in New York, I'm a fan of James Kalm on YouTube...
(http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jameskalm)
I can't believe James Kalm has never been mentioned on this blog! And not even a link in the sidebar?
I guess he hasn't been on ArtInfo yet?
I can't believe James Kalm has never been mentioned on this blog! And not even a link in the sidebar?
LM? Is that you?
:-)
I only just learned of James Kalm, so no slight intended (and a little self-promotion can go a long way...just sayin'). I'll update the blog roll.
Edward,
I just found found you when I as researching a point in regards to the Phillips Collection. Already I am greatly indebted to you. Thank you for Art Tv and Sellout and the intelligent dialogue here. Will be back.
All best, Jan
Slow week?
This is so boring...
Slow week?
This is so boring...
I hear Ritalin helps. ;-)
One of the best sites for art TV is Vernissage TV which covers not only what happening just in New York but across the globe.
Thank you for a good post
That is not a nice thing to say Mr. W. Are you a doctor? Are you implying I am sick? Why are you trying to humiliate me? Ritalin is a powerful drug prescribed for troubled and hyperactive children. Do you have children with problems Mr. W?
The truth is this post is old news. Exactly one year or more late.
I know January is the slowest and less profitable month for a gallery. A "dead month" some like to say. Never show your work in January...
Are you tired? The bad news are getting to you?
Be nice. I am always nice.
yes, Vernissage TV is great! Sorry it slipped my mind when writing this.
Be nice. I am always nice.
I don't think that word means what you think it means.
The truth is this post is old news.
Given that the press release for the site's launch was only received in the past week, I wonder where you got that idea?
A "dead month" some like to say. Never show your work in January...
No longer true. There are no "dead" months currently. Strategically, a good deal can be accomplished in any month now, even August.
Are you implying I am sick? Why are you trying to humiliate me? Ritalin is a powerful drug prescribed for troubled and hyperactive children. Do you have children with problems Mr. W?
Do look for the emoticons in blog comments, my friend. They'll tell you when someone is joking or not. For example, I'd normally consider an overblown reaction like yours a joke, but absent an emoticon, it's hard to tell. Either way...I had no intention of humiliating you. I don't even know who you are. Did you intend on humiliating me with your "boring" comment? I would hope not...I would hope it was meant as a joke (you do, after all, claim you are always nice), hence the joke in return.
Are we done here?
for the more traditional news outlets to be picking up on it suggests someone must see it as potentially lucrative now
I've been in online marketing and publishing for ten years now after working in the museum industry for several years. Online video is one of the biggest "trends" in advertising. According to advertising research firms like emarketer, advertisers are planning on substantially increasing their budgets for online video. But the reality is that only the largest sites like ESPN and CNN.com have been getting that money.
Thanks for the links to NewArtTV, Vernissage and James Kalm. They are all great sites, but I really hope they are doing it for their love of the arts because the advertising dollars will take a long time to trickle down.
"I really hope they are doing it for their love of the arts because the advertising dollars will take a long time to trickle down."
Well put.
I dont think James "the man with the bicycle" Kalm is in it for the dough - otherwise he'd have some snappy graphics to bookend the program and a theme song - maybe something by Phillip Glass or Brian Eno, I hear they are arty. Wassherface with the violin and effects pedals. SOmeone from Sonic Youth. God those people are getting old. Sonic youth is selling a compilation in Starbucks I read (is that true?)
WHat is truth?
Depth of coverage is fine but what about NEW content, as opposed to rehashes of the Frankfurt school, Guy Debord, "the market is so big" or other such so stories?
I think its more about niche marketing because there is so much redundancy (barring nuance) in art (its so big).
Niche marketing IS U Tube. Niche marketing makes it possible for many artists to avoid chelsea (unless they have a gallery there), or read artforum or look at art - Im talking big names here.
I love that James Kalm always sounds out of breath but not breathless. Thats the depth of tone I require. He's not worried about his brand, and mingling with lesser talents, bottom feeders or psycophants. No, he knows everyone, and sometimes they dont like to be on tape. Why not? Whats the problem?
Vernisage bored me when I looked last. Pretty much cheerleading to the uninitiated or already dead.
Not a critical voice.
I can't figure out, after looking at both the posts and the sidebar links, why artphile is called artphile.
This is the kind of thing that I will be happy to see dry up soon.
I can't figure out, after looking at both the posts and the sidebar links, why artphile is called artphile.
Sorry, we can't all have names as witty as Anonymous. :)
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