Mission Mission

Artist Andrew Wilson filled a vessel with dirt, genetically modified corn, water, Skittles, hair gel and rat poison, and it will be on display in the window at ATA starting tonight. From the artist’s statement:

Through an opening in a large Lexan sphere I first laid down soil and planted in it genetically modified corn. I then gradually added Skittles, fruit-infused Garnier hair gel, and D-CON rat poison colored and shaped like candy, all stolen gradually from large chain stores.

Perhaps this thing will present a microcosm of the obscene excesses of global capitalism, as it invokes the spatial limits of growth that the smooth space of smooth capital seeks at every turn to negate.

Lots more here, including lengthy diatribes on each individual ingredient, and suggestions on how to get involved with the food sovereignty movement.

Eric Drooker‘s musical slide show presentation at Modern Times tonight was a gas as usual. He played banjo and narrated a (strictly analog) slide show made up of graphic novel excerpts, paintings, and photos from a recent trip to Palestine. When he got to this pigeon painting, a cover he’d done for The New Yorker, he told a story. In doing some research, looking for pigeon pictures from which to draw inspiration, he learned that pigeons are known in some circles as rock doves. He said he liked thinking of them that way, thinking about being in a city, surrounded by doves.

And it’s true, right? Right. It’s nice to think of pigeons not as pigeons but as doves.

Tonight at Modern Times, Erik Drooker appears to promote a new book of “postcards”:

Disguised as a book of innocent postcards, Slingshot is a dangerous collection of Eric Drooker’s most notorious posters. Plastered on brick walls from New York to Berlin, tattooed on bodies from Kansas to Mexico City, Drooker’s graphics continue to infiltrate and inflame the body politic.

Show starts at 7pm. Drooker is always a riot. (via funcheapSF)

Here’s hoping this one’s in the book…

Previously on Mission Mission:

Save Rent Control Poster By Eric Drooker

When I was in Indianapolis a couple weeks ago, I saw this badass exhibition at the Indiana State Museum called Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting. I loved a lot of the stuff, like the skulls below, and thought, “Boy, I can’t wait to see more.” Then I get home, and Soap Gallery tells me they’re about to debut a showcase of nothing but radical and subversive crocheted doilies, like the ones above! Thanks, Soap Gallery!

The exhibition is called When Doilies Go Bad, the artist’s name is Laura Mappin, and the opening is Saturday at 6pm. More here.

Update: There’s more over at Bender’s too:

Link.

Yesterday, Elizabeth at The Ladder Herald saw some compelling new street art on a wall near 18th and Valencia. Today, she saw some cranky dude scrape it off. (And somewhere in between, she wrote a moving analysis of all the Sarah Palin news.) Thanks, Elizabeth!

Gravel & Gold hips us to tomorrow’s festivities:

The countdown to the Rock Make Street Festival has begun! If the idea of a San Francisco street fair conjures up tired images of funnel cakes, hemp necklaces, and guys playing didgeridoos, prepare to be blown away by the FIFTY amazing independent local designers, artists and craftspeople and TWELVE great indie rock bands at this year’s Rock Make event. It’s a great chance to get some great bargains on high-end pieces from nationally reknowned artisans while enjoying some great music. It’s a free, all ages, totally DIY event and an excellent way to spend a warm Sunday afternoon!

I hate hemp necklaces! Complete list of bands and vendors and stuff here. Everything takes place on Treat between 17th and 18th.

Rock Make on Myspace.

PS, why the fuck isn’t Treat called Treat Street? Google Maps says it’s “Treat Avenue.” Boo on that. “Treat Street” RHYMES for God’s sake.

San Francisco Art & Design Lover hips us to tomorrow’s festivities. Info on individual sellers here.

Update: Beth says, “[A]ll the shops are on 16th btwn Valencia & Guerrero or on Valencia btwn 16th and 17th.” Thanks, Beth!

Southern Exposure needs an Associate Director:

Southern Exposure seeks a dynamic individual to fill the position of Associate Director. This is a full time, 40 hour a week, staff position with benefits. The Associate Director works with the Executive Director to manage and coordinate Southern Exposure’s membership program, annual auction, and SoEx’s Alternative Exposure Grant Program. The Associate Director plays a key administrative role in SoEx’s current fundraising campaign and organizing fundraising events. They manage day-to-day bookkeeping, including payables and receiveables. The Associate Director works collaboratively as a member of the SoEx team. This position offers an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in working in a creative and dynamic non-profit arts/arts administration environment at an organization entering into a period of exciting growth and change and an upcoming move to a new facility.

Opening Date: August 14, 2008
Deadline to submit application: September 19, 2008
Projected start date: October 2008

Full particulars here.

Southern Exposure is hiring! They need part-time instructors for their Fall 2008 program:

Youth Advisory Board (YAB) – Southern Exposure is seeking two part-time Art Instructors: 1 part-time Art Instructor, 1 part time Assistant Art Instructor for its Youth Advisory Board program. Two Art instructors, along with SoEx’s Artist in Education Program Manager, will collaborate and teach approximately 15 to 20 teenagers this fall to produce a final art exhibition based on a socially relevant theme. Southern Exposure is designating its back gallery space for the duration of the class.

Downtown High School- Southern Exposure seeks a part-time art/screen printing instructor to teach workshops to a group of high school students at Downtown High School. The Artist will work with students to create a silk screening studio that focuses on developing young artists’ understanding of screen printing and develop printing skills. Topics to explore include t-shirt design, poster campaigns, logo design, site-specific projects, and issues reflecting the students and the neighborhood. Instructor will lead youth through idea, concept and design.

Further details here. Good luck!

In Land of a Million Cereals, currently on view at Mission17, artist Ryan Alexiev takes breakfast cereal out of the box and puts it on the canvas. ArtLicker‘s got the scoop:

Alexiev creates exaggerated and at times gawdy representations of consumer culture as seen through the eyes of a F.O.B. Bulgarian peasant. The result is a humorous and thought-provoking commentary on what we consume and why we do it.

No doubt — Larry King looks pretty appropriate rendered in high-fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring. Show closes August 2. Link.

Photo courtesy of ArtLicker.