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The Art of the Steal is a documentary that looks at The Barnes Foundation's amazing collection of post-Impressionist artworks and the controversy surrounding the attempts to move the collection from it's home in Lower Marion, PA, five miles up the road to Philadelphia.

We're talking about a collection that includes 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 21 Soutines, 18 Rousseaus, 16 Modiglianis, 11 Degas, 7 Van Goghs, 6 Seurats, 4 Manets and 4 Monets.  That adds up to billions and billions of dollars that a lot of people would like to control. 

The doc has been a hit on the film festival circuit, but has also caught a lot of criticism (here's a pretty even-handed review from the New York Times).  The Art of the Steal's Director and Cinematographer, Don Argott, joined us by telephone on March 10th, 2010, from a hotel room in LA to talk about the film and address the criticisms directly. 

IS IT ART OR VANDALISM ?

The Art Institute Modern Wing exterior wall was vandalized with 50 feet of graffiti on February 23, 2010.  Security surveillance tape caught 5 people quickly painting the east wall of the building.

When is it art.  When is it a criminal act ?

In 1997 a mural artist named Wyland was given permission to paint a loop building with what he describes as “A Whalen Wall”.  He is famous for murals of whales.  “The Windy Whales” was his Chicago version.  He worked with elaborate scaffolding and full city cooperation.  News media covered his daily progress.  He was a media darling.

He, like many mural artists, started painting whales as performance art.  He would find a wall and just start painting.  Now he has funding and donations and commissions.  He has become "legitimate artist."  And of course - he has been accused of being - a sell-out.  Often hawking his wares (including dolphin jewelry) on a home shopping channel.

As part of a graphic arts class in college I participated in several mural projects throughout Chicago. Part of the course was studying mural artists in other countries. Most of the revered muralists painted something that represented an emotion, a statement, a pride in the state of the country or in the state of the people. 

Taggers should be encouraged to hone their craft and perhaps look at art from other countries and the history of graffitti.

Looking at murals inside caves or pyramid is art.  Was it a way to record history before paper or was it a lone artist expressing his anger ?

 Artist, journalist and burlesque performance Chasity Chaos dropped in on Fem Weds to talk about why taking your clothes off is sexy and powerful! We started by talking about the difference between burlesque and stripping and laid out some expectations and stereotypes people have about burlesque. Lorrell K called in to talk about power structures.

We next got deeper into the Chicago burlesque scene and body and ethnicity stereotypes with Maiden Sacrifice, another Chicago performer and organizer.

Lastly, we talked about the coming movie Burlesque, with Xtina Aguilera and Cher, and how burlesque is going mainstream. Buster from Valparaiso called in to reveal his new found enthusiasm for the art.

Curator Amy Galpin talks about the National Museum of Mexican Art's latest exhibit, "Translating Revolution: US Artists Interpret Mexican Muralists".

From the museum's website, "This unique exhibition examines the influence of Mexican muralists on U.S. visual culture and the subsequent re-invention of the mural movement in the U.S. Artists from east to west gleaned inspiration from the Mexican mural in numerous ways. Some of the artists visited Mexico for months, while others stayed a lifetime and became Mexican citizens."

The exhibit runs through August 1st, 2010 at 1852 W. 19th St. Chicago IL 60608.

This audio originally aired as part of "1401", heard Fridays at 6pm on Radio Arte 90.5FM WRTE.

This past  Friday, February 12,  Vocalo Street Team joined the Hyde Park Art Center in their monthly, "Cocktails and Clay" event. Everyone enjoyed a late night clay-making, dance-partying, gallery-hopping good time at the Hyde Parl Art Center. The event included 45 minute clay sessions in their studios, a live DJ and drink specials.

Take a look at some of the pictures from the event;

   Check out all the cool Vocalo swag given out at the event.

   The Vocalo Street Team was present at "Cocktails and Clay."

   This young lady posed by the Vocalo banner to show her support.

   The clay sessions were very popular and the studio was amazing.

This group is working on their clay project during the clay session. 

   Members of the Vocalo Street Team also joined in the fun and showed off their clay making "abilities" during one of the clay sessions.

One of the finished clay projects from the groups after the 45-minute clay session.

   Another creative project created by clay during the clay session Friday. The Vocalo street Team was part of the creation of the bottom portion of this piece. Vocalo Street Team member, Chris was responsible for the "Sponge Bob" clay figure on the bottom right.

The next "Cocktails and Clay" at the Hyde Park Art Center will take place on March 12, 2009.