https://mickimeng.org/new-page daily 0.75 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511530-8UQ2APJGJ6RUS5I0W1MO/Books+2.jpg Current Micki currently guest lectures in art programs across the Bay Area. In the past she has advised in the Curatorial Practice MA program at CCA. She is frequently invited to speak for events and panels with a focus on Bay Area transitional states, the politics of art and infrastructure, artist’s rights, next generation engagement, and the ever so popular subject of art and technology. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511517-SONIWDKMMJD14P9FW4CO/dbte8ntq8x8yjyfdc1qq.png Current In Spring 2020, &Art& is curating a fundraising exhibition with proceeds benefiting a WOMXN’S CHOICE FUND for artists and art workers including stipends for childcare, post-partum depression, and more. The exhibition is titled Stretched, and looks at the threshold of mind, limitations of body, and material in art-making (the potential of painting, for example). Text is co-written by Sarah-Lehrer Graiwer, a writer and curator based in Los Angeles who recently published Lee Lozano’s comprehensive monograph. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511513-CAXPWYWK2NXJZHOM0EAO/preparator.png Current In Summer 2019, Micki Meng and Calen Barca-Hall, Chief Installer at Wattis Institute, will publish an ACCESS TO TOOLS book for artists and art workers as a resource guide for art making in a city with near untenable production conditions. It is not a phone book, but a careful selection of top vendors useful in our field. Organized by a banded group of hiring managers, head preparators, installers, production experts, and curators, the A list has been used by trade professionals for years. On the last page, there will be a verbal code, which can be used for pre-negotiated discounts at selected locations. The intention is to publish an updated edition annually in a limited edition run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511502-B5M8P7GESM07319BTLWS/JimandMike.jpg Current After speaking with several deans of art programs, it became very apparent that kids who have direct exposure to the most talented creative minds in their field are more likely to get into programs of their choice in the future. In Fall 2020, we will host the first Bay Area Kids Art Festival with proceeds benefitting &Art& and Center for Youth Wellness, a charity founded by Nadine Burke Harris, California’s first Surgeon General. The event will have kids art making projects, food, music, and a reading room. Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram will play a set of kids rock’n’roll tunes with Jim Fairchild, the guitarist of Modest Mouse, among other great participants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511525-XGXIQAH83SKR9TYUPEA0/Gallery+201_7.png Current In Dec-Jan 2020, during high season for the San Francisco art world, Minnesota Street Project (a three warehouse art district with artist studios, galleries, art services, and offices totaling over 100,000 square feet), will donate a pilot space for &Art&. Minnesota Street Project is founded by Andy and Deborah Rappaport, longtime art philanthropists. Every Tuesday at 2pm, an art professional will call in to the gallery and provide advice for a young artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883511508-RMOKIU8JIDITHY3AQ9LF/imgres.png Current Through &Art&, secured a partnership with Untitled, San Francisco to sponsor a 3-year emergency fund for artists facing crisis in an economically-divided city. https://mickimeng.org/contact daily 0.75 2022-11-08 https://mickimeng.org/about daily 1.0 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883517475-Z12X4UP7Q77JY0CDTZJX/IMG_2522.jpg About Photo: Opening of Markus Schinwald at The Wattis Institute where she served as Assistant Director, Curator, and Interim Director (2010-2015). https://mickimeng.org/lineage daily 0.75 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883519439-DPT90XJE7Z36EKTUDMGO/Screen+shot+2019-06-12+at+1.26.17+PM.png Lineage Image source: A Touch of Zen (1971) https://mickimeng.org/inspiration daily 0.75 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520937-N6Q7142JLS0PBAJW0EUS/Screen+shot+2019-06-14+at+10.04.49+PM.png Inspiration “The artist, however faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility against an intrusive society and an officious state. The great artist is thus a solitary figure. He has…a lover's quarrel with the world. In pursuing his perceptions of reality, he must often sail against the currents of his time. This is not a popular role. …a good many preferr to ignore [her] darker truths. Yet in retrospect, we see how the artist's fidelity has strengthened the fibre of our national life. If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our Nation falls short of its highest potential. I see little of more importance to the future of our country and our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist. If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth…Democratic society--in it, the highest duty of the writer, the composer, the artist is to remain true to himself and to let the chips fall where they may. In serving his vision of the truth, the artist best serves his nation. I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well. And I look forward to a world which will be safe not only for democracy and diversity but also for personal distinction.” John F. Kennedy speech at Amherst College (1963). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520941-FYG9MLIFNJ5ZZFW8AVJR/Screen+shot+2019-06-14+at+10.43.03+PM.png Inspiration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520960-YS46RZ5QJ80TTT04C94X/JP.liver.jpg Inspiration Josephine Pryde, Liver (the world is your ATM), 2006. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520946-CQHH9FU0KDH6LEP4M5AC/url.jpg Inspiration Paulina Olowska “Museum,” neon, smoke (2007). An institutional critique installation where a voice mispronounces the sacred word. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520951-AMS25YPCGOT727Q0EOW2/Screen+shot+2019-06-14+at+10.42.25+PM.png Inspiration Late curator Okwui Enwezor whose largess was immeasurable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883520955-QBWXDRMBNDYI85L2X5OM/Screen+shot+2019-06-14+at+10.42.40+PM.png Inspiration https://mickimeng.org/projects daily 0.75 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525141-G8QUZ5W28WGNQQG6EVCW/Screen%2Bshot%2B2019-06-12%2Bat%2B1.46.54%2BPM.jpg Past Here with Carlie Wilmans, director of the Wattis Foundation and Laura Sweeney, longtime friends and art patrons at the opening of the Wattis Institute’s new storefront space. Above: Installation of new commissioned work by Claire Fontaine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525115-1L6GLQF85ESZNRU7G70V/EditDinner.jpg Past For &Art&, hosted a dinner with chef Leif Hedendal at HQ to value writers in our community ahead of our publication launch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525172-EE0SBGP6KLZC2GSEQSN4/Me.jpg Past A now young photo of me, taken on my last day at Regen Projects in 2010 by Walead Beshty for his J|P|R book, Industrial Portraits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525190-18XG8NP22W920PMFYJ6V/arttotable2.jpg Past The second &Art& fundraising dinner event where Rita Gonzalez, Chief Curator at LACMA, spoke about ‘submerged histories’ in the museum’s collection, at a private collector’s home, with food prepared by chef and forager Leif Hedendal. While Rita was here, she was also commissioned to interview an artist for the publication and did studio visits with MFA students at SFAI. Micki has produced VIP experiences and engagement activities through a curatorial lens for over ten years and always considers ways to involve educational activities and partnerships for the Bay Area community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525151-E5S2HY462XQ0OSNYGMUD/Screen+shot+2019-06-12+at+4.06.02+PM.png Past Moderated a Salon Talk at Art Basel Miami with Juan A. Gaitán, Curator, 8th Berlin Biennale and Franklin Sirmans, Artistic Director, Prospect.3, New Orleans; and Chief Curator at LACMA titled Curating in Context. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525098-7BCZCPFPTO5GKQT2ZBKK/Dena.jpg Past As founder of &Art&, organized a series where artists and curators give walkthroughs of projects which are not their own, in an effort to build community. Here, Dena Beard, Director of The Lab, gives a tour of Suzanne Lacy: We are Here, at SFMOMA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525167-PTYGMM8IFUJWIQBSQWDB/untitled+death+by+gun+at+the+istanbul+biennial.jpg Past Assistant to the director for the 12th Istanbul Biennial (2011) focused on four main themes through the work of Felix Gonzalez Torres . Pictured here, a section of the exhibition focused on politics with work by Kris Martin and Matt Collishaw. Infrastructure designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa. Led a tour for patrons through the city of Istanbul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525180-B3M9VOLFCJLEQDV746MR/wrogan28.jpg Past As Director of Altman Siegel, consistently exceeded sales goals, introduced a community of writers, curators, and collectors to represented artists, supported artists in decision-making, managed staff, and advised on strategic long-term plans for the gallery. In 2016, moved the gallery operations to a 5,000 square foot space in the Dogpatch with 50’ high skylights. Pictured: Will Rogan, Scout’s Ruler, (2013). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525156-CMY11IJITCNK5YHW5WFU/Thomas-HW_2008_After61Years.jpg Past Worked with Hank Willis Thomas on his debut exhibition at a major institution. Image: Hank Willis Thomas, Uncle Ben, After 61 Years of Service, I, Ben, Promoted (2008), in Huckleberry Finn, at the Wattis Institute (2010). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525081-4BYTGZE9CQ192M9K3HMA/Mbaloon.jpg Past At Wattis Institute, managed a rotating staff of 30+, developed partnerships locally and internationally, exceeded fundraising expectations, directed finances, event and exhibition production, research and curation, artist-in-residence program, press outreach and communications, and long-term vision. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525108-2OYGJL1PPBID3PX2EPUB/John.jpg Past Birthed this human after 50 hours of labor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525134-JNJ1ZA1O1VQ60GUR52TC/Screen+shot+2019-06-12+at+1.46.06+PM.png Past As Interim Director, programmed a Cinema Visionary series with Werner Herzog for students at California College of the Arts (not my best photo). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525091-RANPPOQ22G9YZXG5KS4F/Harald.jpg Past At Wattis Institute, curated an organ performance by Erik Thys as a part of Harald Thys and Jos de Gruyter’s first solo exhibition in the United States. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525161-BZWMGNUCN5B8CF1GSSXV/BC3E4E6-467F-4EDA-8019-8D6AC8DC6.jpg Past In 2012, assistant curator for the 9th Shanghai Biennale in a 20,000 square foot repurposed power plant and different site-activations around the city. Led a tour for patrons through the city of Shanghai. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525087-P7MOVEHQ804L9OF7WU7Q/JosephinePryde.jpg Past As Assistant Director of the Wattis Institute, secured funding through the prestigious granting organization VIA Art Fund for Josephine Pryde’s commissioned exhibition, which later won the Turner Prize. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525121-JVIV155NLCOTNESZK2V3/Jordan.jpg Past For &Art&, a series where artists and curators give walkthroughs of projects which are not their own. Here, Kim Nguyen, curator at Wattis Institute is in conversation with artist Troy Chew at Cushion Works, a curator-run gallery in the Mission. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525126-BF9BAC09M7IETRKAXJO5/imgres.jpg Past In 2014, as Interim Director for the Wattis Institute, moved our operations to a new 10,000 square foot office and gallery and opened with two exhibitions including an installation with Claire Fontaine and a 3-channel video installation by Werner Herzog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525071-8PZ3ZH9CEX3H0G8LDZEL/Nairy.jpg Past As Assistant Director of the Wattis Institute, managed the artist residency program for five years. Herewith, installing the culmination of Nairy Baghramian’s residency, an exhibition titled “Off Broadway”, which reimagines traditional methods of display. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525146-KFEJ8FBY1Y5URBTXOZDD/640x0.jpg Past Featured in the SF Chronicle as San Francisco’s “New Art Guard,” while at Wattis Institute. Click to read full article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525185-LG9EM083H1TMI9T3KI4M/Zarouhie%2BAbdalian.jpg Past As a guest curator, organized the first solo exhibition of Zarouhie Abdalian in Los Angeles at LA><ART, an experimental institution led by Hamza Walker, with accompanying catalog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525104-H0I06026WAKY19JJVDSE/FutureGen.jpg Past On a panel discussing future generation philanthropy at the Art Museum Development Association annual conference with Abbey Banks, philanthropic advisor for Evan and Sarah Williams, hosted by SFMOMA and OCMA. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6369e1f7528a3039b14fbe0c/1667883525076-AUHNBW5BXUXY6SV22WV5/ArtToTable.jpg Past As founder of &Art&, organized a 3-part dinner series at the intersection of art, food, and politics. Inspired by Conflict Kitchen, we served food by regions the U.S. is in conflict with. This event was hosted in the private room of James Beard award-winning restaurant The Progress; Megan Steinman, Director of the Underground Museum gave a talk; and our chef-activists made an off-menu coursed meal of Middle Eastern food where the saffron was sourced from an all-female collective in Afghanistan that supports education for women in the region. Wine was sponsored by SCRIBE and tequila donated by Casa Dragones.