Maps and Manifests

Upon research of WVXU's website, I found information on an interesting-looking weekly show, Around Cincinnati, which seems to discuss art-related happenings, interviews with authors, and other events as they relate to the city's citizens and establishments. For example, in their archives you can replay a discussion of the recent Weston Art Gallery show, CANstruction (of which Queen City Survey also just posted some great pics).

But, what really caught my eye was the upcoming show with the topic of a current Cincinnati Art Museum exhibition, Maps and Manifests (the link also directs you to CAM's Youtube channel, which I didn't know existed until now - here, check out the Damascus Room vid... I used to love this room as a kid, but would have a hell of a time finding it, way in the back of the little traveled Eastern/Asian section of the museum).

"Black Venus" [2005] by Mark Bradford. 
Mixed media collage, 130 x 196 inches - gargantuan (as is most of his work).

Anyway, I'm a big fan of maps and infographics (along with architectural renderings and references to urban construction), and their sometimes abstract depictions of the 'real world', which sparks my interest in Mark Bradford's work.

The CAM describes Bradford as an artist who "creates large-scale mixed media works that address topics such as urban sprawl, the local effects of globalization, and borders." So it's no wonder that he's showing here, since all three of these issues reflect the concerns of Cincinnati (and Ohio as a whole).

• More info on Bradford at art21 (which is a great show frequently played on PBS, by the way). Also, don't forget that the Cincinnati Art Museum is now always free (thanks to the great Cincinnati-based Rosenthals' philanthropy), though, some exhibitions might be a couple of bucks extra - still, it's a helluva good deal. Finally, "Around Cincinnati" airs every Sunday @ 7pm on WVXU (91.7 FM) - subscribe to their Feed / Podcasts here.