Finding The Hero on BRAVO’s Work of Art, Episode 10: The Big Show

Work Of Art: The Next Great Artist -- "Finale Episode"- Photo by: David Giesbrecht/BRAVO

By Alicia Eler & Patricia Herrmann Pop culture is replete with stories of young men realizing their potential and becoming heroes.  In the first season of Work of Art, pop culture’s introduction to the heretofore secretive Art World, America was provided with the familiar hero’s story. In the tenth and final episode, The Big Show, [...]

Letter to Latham Zearfoss for TRUST ME: SELECTED WORKS BY LATHAM ZEARFOSS

Still from "Self Control" by Latham Zearfoss

I had the honor and pleasure of writing a letter to Latham Zearfoss for his upcoming show Selected Works By Latham Zearfoss this Saturday, September 4 at 7 & 9pm at the Nightengale. Facebook Invite for “Trust Me: Selected Works by Latham Zearfoss” Here’s the letter, dated September 1, 2010: Dear Latham, A few years [...]

A Day in The Life of Alicia Eler on the3six5.com

the boys at the beach

I tried to sleep in today but I couldn’t. Typical. It’s 6:30am on a Saturday morning, and I’m out on my back porch staring at the sun and watering my basil plant. The other weekend I took a three-day trip to New Mexico for a gay wedding, and forgot to ask my housemates to water [...]

CHICAGO GALLERY NEWS: Collector Conversation with Scott J. Hunter

Chicago Art Collector, Scott J Hunter

Writer Alicia Eler spent some time with Scott J. Hunter, and his dog Tyler, in Chicago’s South Loop to talk about how he gradually came to collect art, what it is about abstract art that intrigues him now, and his own “rule of three” when it comes to really wanting to acquire an artist’s work. [...]

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Gunner’s in Wicker Park

Bartender/co-owner Eric Palm serves up a drink at Gunner’s on North Milwaukee. (Erin Drewitz~Centerstagechicago.com)

At this self-proclaimed “grown-up bar,” Eric Palm, who worked at The Matchbox for 14 years, and his brother Dan Palm, who put in seven-plus years at Silver Palm, decided to go out on their own. The result is a swank Wicker Park joint covered in lots of wood and lined on the ceiling with tin. [...]

Work of Art and America’s Queer Boys

"Swimming Hole" by Thomas Eakins (1889)

By Alicia Eler & Patricia Herrmann American culture idealizes the beautiful boy as one who lives “between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood.” Unlike adults, he is alive to “enjoy every second of every minute of every hour of every day…”  The beautiful boy can do no wrong. His natural habitat is [...]

Do Opposites Really Attract? Mark Velasquez, Heaven, and Hell on BRAVO’s “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist,” Episode 8

Mark and Peregrine during final crits on WORK OF ART: THE NEXT GREAT ARTIST (photo courtesy NBC Universal / Credit: Barbara Nitke)

In Episode 8 of Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, three artist pairs were selected at random, and given an assignment to jointly create works of art about opposing forces. Peregrine Honig and Mark Velasquez worked on “Heaven and Hell,” Nicole Nadeau and Abdi Farah had “order and chaos,” and Miles Mendenhall and Jaclyn [...]

Remembering Childhood: Work of Art, Episode 7

"Rainbow," Peregrine Honig. Courtesy NBC Universal / Credit: Barbara Nitke

What does it mean to be an artist? Where do artists draw inspiration? That’s what the producers of BRAVO’s Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, decided to ask the artist contestants in this week’s episode, “Child’s Play.”

A Public Display: Work of Art, Episode 6

Work of Art: The Red Team (Nicole, Ryan, Abdi and Mark)

Creating meaningful art work on one’s own in a short period of time is hard enough, but working on a collaborative project with a team of artists who, as past episodes have revealed, do not share each other’s vision? I was shocked when I learned about this week’s challenge. The remaining eight contestants were divided [...]

Emptiness and AUDI on BRAVO’s Work of Art, Episode 5

WORK OF ART: THE NEXT GREAT ARTIST -- Episode 105 -- Pictured: Work by Nicole -- Photo by: Barbara Nitke/Bravo

Last week on BRAVO’s art reality TV show,Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, the artist contestants were given the challenge of driving three Audi cars from the Audi showroom to 47th & Park, and then making a piece based on their journey. The Audi drive was not only a cheesy challenge, it was a [...]