MARE139 Graffiti + Sculpture @ the Carrack

panels

Update #5 · Dec 10, 2011 · 4 comments

Dear Backers,

Heads up we'll be finishing the mural panels over Christmas, between Dec 17th and Jan 1st, while the large scale forms on the panels are done, we need to add much smaller scales and details to keep it interesting once we cut it up in smaller panels!

If you're in Durham we'll be finishing the paintings at the Carrack, while the gallery is technically closed, it will be open as a studio space, and certainly feel free to stop by to either watch progress or choose your panel, as we make progress some will be completed earlier than others.

So .... patience! we'll be shipping panels very early in the New Year unless you pick them up before then, either way look for an update later in the month and another update early January.

All the best and wishing you very happy holidays!

John & Mare

4 Comments

the Carrack

Update #4 · Nov 23, 2011 · comment

Dear Friends,

Carlos' show was a great success, with well over 100 people attending the event, and a front page photo and article in the Durham News, the show included a series of remarkable new sculptures Carlos produced during his residency at the Carrack... Much more on this and on the mural from Carlos soon.

Meanwhile I would like to bring to your attention another fund-raising campaign that is coming to a close on Dec 3rd (follow this link). With 10 days to go, and thanksgiving weekend with us now, we (the Carrack) have very little time to raise the remaining $3700 or so we need to reach our $12,000 goal which will keep us open through 2012, and allow us to continue to promote art and artists in downtown Durham, and to continue to host amazing events like we did with Carlos.

So far 126 people have pledged $8287 but we need more help!

With a simple $25 donation YOU collectively could get us very close to our goal, with a $50 collective, cumulative push, we'd be all but guaranteed to succeed.

Please consider helping us succeed in our efforts for downtown Durham and for all artists at large.

Happy thanksgiving and all the best from us here at the Carrack.

John Wendelbo and Laura Ritchie

Comment

important note from John Wendelbo too...

Update #3 · Nov 1, 2011 · comment

Dear friends and supporters,

I too (John Wendelbo here) wanted to express a huge thank you to all of you for making possible this truly exciting, maybe pivotal, moment in Carlos's work and career. I too believe passionately in the transformative power of ART whatever its expression, and the upcoming collaboration with Carlos is one of the most promising endeavors I have come across yet in my career as an artisan/designer/fabricator, as an artist, and as a promoter of the Arts at large.

In January this year I founded the Durham Sculpture Project, a project that aims to foster cultural and socio-economic development in downtown Durham through the lens of large scale, high impact sculpture. One of the not-so-small by-products of this venture has been the creation of a zero-commission, non-commercial exhibit space for artists specifically to have zero commission, short, solo exhibits in a no-strings-attached beautiful exhibit space in the heart of downtown. This space is called the Carrack Modern Art, and yes Carlos is next in-line to exhibit here! Believe it or not (no, do believe it) we've stayed open 100% on the strength of grassroots donations we've collected from the Durham community, and quite remarkably folks from all over the country have donated too, this speaks I think to the strength of our ideas and vision.

In an attempt to solidify our position for 2012, I've launched about a month ago a kickstarter project to raise ALL of the 2012 rent by Dec 1st 2011, we've raised $3000 so far and have another 30 days to raise the remaining $9000 we need to stay open through 2012, to get our expenses (rent, insurance, utilities...) out of the way and focus our attention fully on the Arts as we should be!

57 of you have made a real difference already to fund Carlos' upcoming work and exhibits here and beyond, with an additional $50 pledge to this project (follow this link) from each and everyone we could collectively, almost overnight get back on track with our fundraising goals which are falling behind schedule, we really need to get to $6000 very fast or we won't make it, and I'm hoping all here on this forum might want to chip in, and maybe even mobilize some of their own networks. Needless to say with a $150 pledge we'd be done tomorrow! The Carrack is an amazing space for the Artist community and needs to stay open... not only open but open in staying true to our founding philosophies... a challenge well worth pursuing.

Even though most of you are far from Durham, the Arts community in its loose and fluid way is none the less highly interconnected, helping us here in Durham will sow the seeds for rewards and growth for the Arts community at large.

At any rate a huge thank you again for your support, I fully expect exceptional work to come out of this effort, but there is a lot LOT more work to be done and I hope you will trust me a little more and help as you can with these truly awesome projects that are the Carrack Modern Art and its companion the Durham Sculpture Project!

All the best

john

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thank you from Carlos

Update #2 · Nov 1, 2011 · comment

Dear friends, supporters,

I want to thank you sincerely for backing this important kickstarter project with the Carrack Modern Art and myself. Your support and encouragement over the years and now are crucial in the development of my art and life's work. The overwhelming support is an endorsement for the advancement of my work as a sculptor and artist in general, moreover it supports my belief that we collectively have a stake in the arts.

As art advocates you are supporting the belief that art enriches our lives and makes us the better for it to some degree, whether by a donation or word of mouth or by passing along an email this is a role that makes a difference. Today as many of us artists are being challenged by the economy or face limited platforms to showcase our work I am humbled by your support and look forward to honor it by making the best art possible.

I will also continue to encourage other artist and especially younger artists to follow their dreams, to feel included in the community of artisans. We have set a healthy example with this effort, so beyond myself and this project I will ask that you do continue to advocate for arts whether it's in your kid's schools, with your friends and relatives or through local artist run venues such as the Carrack Modern Art.

Many of you already know I speak regularly at public schools and universities, being able to add this layer into my life's story plays an important part in that discussion, by sharing this story we collectively may very well inspire the next great idea or artist, with the hope that our efforts and life's work will resonate and inspire others to lead expressive lives.

We will keep you abreast on all developments with the project and will be posting it online.

Again- I thank you and appreciate you.

Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez

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Thank you, and let's seize the opportunity to take this to Miami / Art Basel Dec 1-4 2011!!!

Update #1 · Oct 27, 2011 · comment

Dear Friends and Supporters,

On a personal note I'd like to sincerely thank you all for your advocacy for arts and culture and in particular the evolution of my work over the years. This effort is a collective one that begins with you and your desire to see great art find a platform. It is something I have believed in my whole life that we outside the system and market of art have a greater role to play in advancing our ideas and making them available for others to observe, critique and / or own. I believe in the mission of Carrack Modern Art, as it is born from that desire by an artist to create a home for artists so that the incubation of ideas can blossom into realized projects. Supporting this effort are other artists, friends, fabricators, educators, gallerists, collectors, it's all walks of life that share a determined goal with me in my work, to see it grow and evolve into broader and more challenging forms. Having said that I believe my collaboration with Wendelbo will prove to be formative in what I bring from it into my cultural space, his vision as an artist and advocate is inspiring and indispensable. I would encourage ongoing support for the artist run gallery well after we complete our mission, it is crucial in these times that we continue our support and that we get involved with a gallery that is open to your ideas.

Now that we have met our second goal we set a third which is to make it to Miami for Art Basel where a wall has been donated for a mural. I ask that you continue to contribute in any small or large donation to see this through even if you can spread our goal is helpful too.

I will continue to document and publish these efforts online and all will be recognized as participants for this unique project.

With that I thank you sincerely and look ahead to an extraordinary event.

-Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez

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Kickstarter