"Artworks are the virtual traces of a ceaseless process of becoming." -- Henri Focillon


"THESE HANDS" call for entries

"THESE HANDS" call for entries
Click photo to view details of newest CHRISTINE TARANTINO project.

FLUX-USA welcomes visitors from over 40 countries daily. Artists, curators, and other arts leaders who wish to contribute to this blog, please contact me. tarantinochristine@yahoo.com

CHRISTINE A. TARANTINO ART NEWS

September 2012

Christine A. Tarantino - Hjuler BROTKATZE collaborations on exhibit at FzKKe Gallery, Germany, Sept. 1 - 30, 2012. http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/09/brotkatzen-exhibit-opens-sept-1.html

With the Blood of a Daylily - Poems & Drawings by the Homeless Poet by Christine A. Tarantino, published by Words of Light:
http://wordsoflightbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/with-blood-of-daylily-poems-drawings-by.html

THESE HANDS PRAY FOR GERONIMO, a visual poem of American Indians, by Christine A. Tarantino, published by Words of Light:
http://wordsoflightbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/these-hands-pray-for-geronimo-by.html

Christine A. Tarantino's ECDYSIS, snake skin artist book exhibited with 99 other book artists in Italy, curated by Maddalena Castegnaro. http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/09/mirabilibrimostra-internazionale-di.html

August
Christine A. Tarantino, Sign and Language Group Exhibit, Open Stal, The Netherlands.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/08/christine-tarantino-sign-language-group.html

Christine A. Tarantino series of 40,"Being Human" published by Redfoxpress, Assembling Box #20, Ireland.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/08/assembling-box-20-christine-tarantino.html

RED LIPS - What is Your Version for Me? by Christine Tarantino is published by Words of Light now available in print or eBook formats. New version includes ALL 42 artists from 13 countries plus additional text and images by Christine Tarantino.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/08/new-red-lips-book-available-at-lulucom.html

August internet art exhibit @ CHRISTINE TARANTINO COLLECTION features artist STEVE RANDOM. http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/08/steve-random-usa.html

July
WORDS OF LIGHT BOOKS, Art Publications By Contemporary Artists, new blog offering various format books published by Christine A. Tarantino. www.wordsoflightbooks.blogspot.com

Christine A. Tarantino/Words of Light publishes THE SKY EMBRACES THE GREAT WORLD by Walter Festuccia. http://www.lulu.com/shop/walter-festuccia/the-sky-embraces-the-great-world/paperback/product-20294750.html

Christine Tarantino, "Instant Person 1 & 2", self-portraits with Polaroid Camera for POLAROID MADNESS, project of Franticham, Ireland. On-line exhibit and exhibition Kassel, Germany during the DOCUMENTA 2012.http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2012/02/no-426-instant-person-1-2.html
Exhibition "INSTANT PEOPLE"250 polaroid self-portraits by 175 artists from 22 countries.11.– 23. Juli 2012 Zur Eröffnung der Ausstellung am Mittwoch, dem 11. Juli 2012 ab 19 Uhr möchten wir Sie und Ihre Freunde herzlich in denKasseler KunstvereinWerner-Hilpert-Straße 2334117 Kassel, einladen.

Christine A. TARANTINO, "Ecdysis" artist book exhibited at Villa Excelsa, Sannicola, Italia. Curator, Maddalena Castegnaro
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/06/christine-tarantino-anna-boschi-alfonso.html
Opening night: http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/07/naturalia-animalia-artist-book-exhibit.html

July internet art exhibit @ Christine Tarantino Collection features Anna Banana, Darlene Altschul, & John Mountain.
http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/07/anna-banana-darlene-altschul-john.html

June
"THESE HANDS" call for entries, newest project from Christine TARANTINO.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/06/these-hands-newest-christine-tarantino.html

June internet art exhibit @ Christine Tarantino Collection features Antoni Miró.
http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/06/antoni-miro.html

May
"Fear No NewNew Art" artist book published by Redfoxpress, Assembling Box #19, Ireland.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/05/fluxus-assembling-box-19-redfoxpress.html

"E-mail Between the Artist & Her Lover" artist book exhibited Villa Giulia, Italia. Curator Marisa Cortese.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/05/tarantino-artist-book-villa-giulia.html

"WHO AM I?" artist book exhibited Mostra Internazionale, Italia. Curator Virginia Milici.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/05/tarantino-artist-book-who-am-i-in.html

"RED LIPS of Christine Tarantino", art booklet by Bruno Chiarlone published in Italy. http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/05/red-lips-of-christine-tarantino-by.html

May internet art exhibit @ CHRISTINE TARANTINO COLLECTION features artist RYOSUKE COHEN.
http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/05/ryosuke-cohen-japan.html

April
Christine TARANTINO, "RED LIPS FOR DALAI LAMA" exhibition @ INviso, Padiglione TIBET, Associazione
Sal Viana frazione Saliana Pianello del Lario (CO)curated by Ruggero Maggi. http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/04/inviso-padiglione-tibet-cura-di-ruggero.html

April internet art exhibit @ CHRISTINE TARANTINO COLLECTION features artists Daniel C. Boyer and Richard Canard. http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/04/daniel-c-boyer-richard-canard.html

March
Christine Tarantino, "NEWNEW ART Mono-Prints" published in
"Franticham's Fluxus Assembling Box Nr 18", Redfoxpress, IRELAND.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-402-newnew-mono-print-series.html
http://www.redfoxpress.com/ass.box18.html


DODODADIANI featured this month in internet art exhibit at
Christine Tarantino Collection. Dododadiani internet art exhibit.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/03/dododadiani-christine-tarantino.html

February
RED LIPS Project: What is your version for me? Send to:
tarantinochristine@yahoo.com or RED LIPS, Box 121, Wendell, MA 01379 USA
"Sometimes I need red apple. Sometimes I need red
lips."--
Nam June Paik
Your RED LIPS art modification will yield online documentation, mailed
documentation, and potential publication. Please include a mailing address with
your submission.

Christine Tarantino, "Better Together: Harmony; Radiance; Consciousness; Evolution",
International Mother Language Day Art Exhibit, Kathmandu, NEPAL, by invitation of Rafique Sulayman, Curator.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-412-better-together-harmony-radiance.html

Christine Tarantino, "Flux-USA Gallery of Stars with Lucy Chew Intervention" http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2011/12/no-403-flux-usa-galaxy.html
exhibited in Group Show: Fluxfest Chicago 2012 (Chicago, USA) FROM THE ARCHIVE Mailart and Fluxus from the archives of Fluxus/St. Louis. Opening reception Chicago Art Institute, Joan Flasch Library.

February online art exhibits from 'The Christine Tarantino Collection' features Belgian artists Guido Vermeulen and Gerson Wenglinski. http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/2012/01/guido-vermeulen-and-gerson-wenglinski.html

January
Christine Tarantino, "RED-BERRY Series" published in "Franticham's Fluxus Assembling Box Nr 17", Redfoxpress, IRELAND.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-377-red-berry-stained-series.html http://www.redfoxpress.com/ass.box17.html

FAX Exhibit, The DeVos Art Museum, Michigan, USA, curated by Ribas; organized by The Drawing Center and ICI, NYC. TARANTINO "I of the EYE-FAX", asemic writing series: http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-416-i-of-eye-fax.html

Wooden Postcard Exhibit, Stehekin Post Office, Stehekin, Washington, USA. Work by Christine Tarantino: http://christinetarantino.blogspot.com/2012/01/outgoing-wooden-postcards-mail-art.html
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-417-american-women-artists-as-tree.html

Christine Tarantino, "PhotoBooth" work published in new book, "Photobooth Performances" by Ginny Lloyd.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-379-photobooth-book-performance.html
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/photobooth-performances-by-ginny-lloyd.html

Christine Tarantino, Mail Art and Video Performance at Galleriea Terre Rare, Bologna, Italy, January 28 - February 8, 2012. Project of Maurizio Follin, Italia. http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-commercial-potential-phaze-ii-show.html
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-commercial-potential-phaze-ii-show_29.htm

Christine Tarantino, RED LIPS for Dalai Lama, collage exhibited at Venice Biennial Tibet Pavilion – Palazzo delle Esposizioni Sala Nervi - Torino, project of Ruggero Maggi, Milan, Italy.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-409-red-lips-for-dalai-llama.html

Christine Tarantino exhibited at Foundation IK New Year Celebration Exhibit "I WISH", The Netherlands, by invitation of Ko de Jonge.
http://wordsoflightart.blogspot.com/2011/12/no-406-ik-wens-i-wish.html

The Christine Tarantino Collection, newest Christine Tarantino art blog started on January 1, 2012. Showcasing selected works from my 20 year collection of works on paper from artists around the globe.
http://christinetarantinocollection.blogspot.com/

Christine Tarantino-Hjuler BROTKATZE Collaboration exhibited at GALERIE "Offenes Atelier D.U. Design", Austria, Barbara Rapp, Curator.
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/brotkatze-catalogue-hjuler.html
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/hjuler-brotkatze-exhibit-austria.html
http://www.offenesatelier.com/kommissar-hjulers-brotkatze-kollaborationen-1401-01022012/
http://fluxusa.blogspot.com/2012/01/austrian-exhibit-tarantino-and-mamabaer.html

12.9.10

I Santini Del Prete


Who Are I Santini Del Prete And Why Do They Always Dress As Railwaymen?

by Vittore Baroni 2005

Like a hybridization between Abbott and Costello and Gilbert & George, Franco Santini and Raimondo Del Prete have merged into an indivisible two-headed entity called I Santini Del Prete. This joint company name has a lovely built in pun that is totally lost in translation. Prete means “priest” in Italian and Santini are the small holy images, often with a prayer on the back, that beggars used to give you in exchange for small coins outside churches on Sunday mornings. So the duo’s nickname sounds in Italian as something like “the priest’s holy images”. What exactly this religious twist has got to do with two adult men dressed in full uniform as railwaymen and showing up regularly at performance festivals and contemporary art exhibitions, is anybody’s guess. And are these stationmaster uniforms, or head technical supervisor dresses, or what? Their exact duty is probably of little relevance, since there are no railways and train platforms to be taken care of inside art galleries and museums. But uniforms are important a) to standardize their look as a duo, and b) to give ’em a certain reassuring air of authority. Anyway, there are some differences between the two, stemming from their geographical origins: Raimondo is from the South of Italy and Franco from the Centre. So the first has got a hint of Punchinello’s (Neapolitan mask) friendly vitality and the second retains the stone faced but witty demeanour of a Buster Keaton. It is more than a little surreal to see a full dressed stationmaster, not to mention two, blowing his whistle far from the train station: you do take notice, even more so than if he had been covered from head to toes with tattooes (everybody does that now, right?). The truth is that both Franco and Raimondo do work as railwaymen during their busy weekdays, so they simply keep their job’s uniforms on when they go around pursuing their non-art practices.

Non-art? Yes, you read that right. ISDP (short for I Santini Del Prete) do not pretend to be artists - they are railwaymen after all - so they consider themselves non-artists. They are in fact major champions of “non art”, the twin heroes of ephemeral creative gestures to be found in everybody’s lives, the serious researchers and theorists of the most amazing non-artifacts. If there is an antimatter opposed to matter, there should be a non-art opposed to art: this is their sound line of reasoning. To alert everyone about non art, they juggle in the space between art galleries and private homes ( La Casa dell’Arte, “The House of Art”, is the small and homely museum they co-direct in Rosignano Marittimo near Livorno ), they also mix ’n’ confuse the roles of art superstars and common workers, exposing collective “networking” ideas through their staged personae. The roots of ISDP’s non-art are in fact to be found inside the wonderful and underrated history of “mail art”, an activity that the two have practiced for a quarter of a century. Born long before the invention of the Internet, mail art was (and still is) a worldwide open circuit of one-to-one horizontal, free and democratic exchanges between all kinds of professional authors, amateurs and non-artists. Correspondence art is art injected into life to an higher degree than ever before: more than Dada and Fluxus, its respected older cousins. Mail art is an utopian’s dream become true, a (net)working model of planetary friendship and non-competitive collaboration. ISDP also often dream of peace, love and understanding, collaborating with other (non)artists in imaginative projects: they once exhibited a series of their “self-portraits” commissioned to various friends. In another series of lyrical photomontages, Raimondo and Franco picture themselves flying like free birds over their favourite cities. Their work mimics popular art, choosing as non-art vehicles - or “gadgets” as they call them - cheap and ephemeral media like postcards, soccer trading cards (we are World Champions, after all) and, yes, small holy images...

What ISDP do in person is not a theatrical act or a straight performance job. There is never a strong physical contact between the two, gags are light innuendos not slapstick. And you never see them crying, screaming or losing their temper. Mostly, they just signal their presence with simple gestures, such as carrying a banner (with slogans like “Multiplicity, Creativity, Solidarity”), leading the audience in a non-art procession, or directing a choir of non-singers. They are often mere “living installations”, whimsical reminders of trains arriving well past their appointed schedule, two real and quite normal railwaymen materialized in the middle of art festivals and show openings, those outerworldly spaces inhabited by alien weirdoes. If art is now everywhere and everyone can be an Artist with a capital letter, then it is so much more exclusive and cool to be real outsiders, proud working-class heroes and naive non-artists. “We are not artists, we are railwaymen!” is the motto that Franco and Raimondo didn’t steal from Devo. The fact that they decided to follow this statement to its extreme consequences with such an unrelenting energy and faith, is what really hits a deep chord. Why do we spend so much time looking at distant stars, when we may acknowledge the beauty and dignity of what is here around us right now?
(kindness of Franco Del Prete)

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