Sometimes we work behind the scenes to coordinate and facilitate news.
Sometimes we work on the frontlines creating news.
...Modern Must: 798 Arts District, one of the most buzzed-about places in Beijing.... ChART runs informative walking tours of the area for newbies and art pros alike. Link
…His versatility as an artist defines the harmonious balance of skill and vision so attractive to collectors, says Megan Connolly, director of Chart Contemporary, a Beijing-based art consultancy…. Link
...Two New York City, bright pink lipstick-wearing sisters, KC Vienna (left) and Megan Connolly (right), have embraced Beijing’s vibrant art community. Their wonderfully creative business ChART Contemporary is like a work of art itself- challenging and helping change the present understandings of art in Beijing…. Link
...Admittedly, being jet-lagged and not being a modern-art enthusiast myself, I was initially a bit apprehensive about my foray into 798. Fortunately, I had Connolly as my guide.
The neighborhood has a rich array of offerings in the way of galleries, exhibits, restaurants, cafes and event spaces, but it is fairly spread out, so having the right insider is crucial for making the best use of one's time. Link
...Asian art specialist Megan Connolly, an ex-pat from New York City who co-owns Chart Contemporary, a Beijing-based “curatorial lab,” can help to set up a function in one of the many high-end galleries and speak to your group about the flourishing contemporary Chinese art scene. Link
“My mom wore an Army uniform day in and day out … I would ask to see family heirlooms, pieces of vintage embroidery, or anything old, but it was all destroyed.” In terms of style, Fu says, China’s younger generation is “going through a process of self-education.” They are beginning to see fashion “fused seamlessly with art, architecture, design, even cars,” says Megan Connolly who offer tours of Beijing’s art and culture scene with her sister KC. “Many Chinese today simply want to be surrounded with stylish things.” Link
"...At six o’clock in the evening of a particular open house, the installation comes down. This mere four hours of ephemeral existence of an art installation offers its audience a window of time and space to look at art from a different angle. Being alternative is as simple as challenging what exists by offering another way, be that through a fixed physical space, or physical spaces that manifest another conceptual model...." Link
“...China’s 'new cultural golden age', as Megan calls it, has made it possible for ChART to grow rapidly. The sisters have already added modern architecture and design tours to their offerings, and they're full of ideas for future exhibitions and other projects.” Link
…"Sanitation worker Sun Qijun had a ribbon pinned on his chest and a sticker on the rear of his garbage tricycle, but still inquired, "Isn't AIDS an American problem? Us Chinese don't have it, do we?"
Local villager Gao Wenzhen, 75, wondered if AIDS can be cured. Link
...."Every year, we hope that the initiative will grow not only in scale but also in the awareness that we can bring to the local community. Last year, there were 80 of us and we were in the 798 ArtDistrict. This year, we're going to Cao Changdi; because it's a place where the local community, the artists and the art galleries can really co exist." Link
…BWYA art teacher KC Vienna Connolly has often taken her students to the galleries before, but this is the very first time for her students to see her own creations. KC exhibited her photography works including an interesting series of visitors to IKEA taking a nap on the beds on sale - called “Beijing, Make Yourself at Home”, which is an ongoing project that began in 2007 when KC first visited IKEA in Beijing.“I was inspired by China’s new-found materialism and this new interest in lifestyle trends. I began documenting visitors interacting with different show rooms and I spent many days inside the world’s 2nd largest IKEA here in Beijing. Link
…“We believe art belongs to everyone, so we decided to bring art outside of galleries for those who are too shy and timid to enter”, Megan said. It is important that people outside of galleries and the art scene are able to touch and experience art.” Link
...Inspired by these illuminati, local brilliant minds lit up the UCCA in 798 on Saturday, at the first edition of the TEDx798 Factory in Beijing. Under the topic "Insider-Outsider," four presenters had 18 minutes each to be smart as a whip. A selected audience of 70 learned how vigorous minds whir to change the world. Link
...Megan and KC Vienna Connolly will be discussing their Open House series that presents new work by emerging artists and exhibits it in Beijing architecture that is either for rent, sale or abandoned. All taking place within the modern industrial landscape of China these exhibitions reference the public consumption of real estate and its similarities to the business of contemporary Chinese art. Link
Last Friday, Artinfo reported on Open House , an ongoing exhibition series curated by the American sisters Megan and KC Connolly. Link
"Open House is the project of American curator sisters Megan and KC Connolly. Jaded with the normal avenues of exhibition, they came up with another idea. They knew Beijing was full of empty rooms that were slated for demolition or rent.” Link (Page 51)
"At 9:41 on a recent Sunday morning, the text message was sent: "Come to Fangyuan Xi Lu. Right of the Sunny Golden Market. Left of the U&D Jewelry. Underground 20A near Sculpting in Time Cafe. Call for assistance. Time: 2 to 6 pm. The recipients of the message arrived one by one, sometimes in pairs or a few groups of three or so. They were led down stairs, through a maze of dimly lit corridors deep below Beijing's busy streets." Link
“Last sunday, Chart Contemporary invited Chen Ke to display “A Room of One’s Own,” a temporary installation that is the fourth in an on-going series of Open Houses, art interventions in some of Beijing’s unique spaces. Chen Ke’s room was a tiny closet of a room in a damp underground maze of dwellings near Lido Hotel.” Link
"...The students made 4000 HIV/AIDS red ribbons, 1000 stickers, 100 red-ribbon earmuffs, and designed a poster for all of the shops and galleries in 798. This is their first 798 Day Without Art intervention. 9 galleries or spaces, including Timezone 8 bookstore, the first and most important art bookseller and publisher in China, participated on December 1st by closing to the public." Link