Bits: 08.20.10

Urban Nests, by Madrid-based light-art collective Luzinterruptus

• Luzinterruptus has modified the yellow protective covers for scaffolding joints at Madrid construction sites to add 130 birds and lighting "to achieve a warm, cozy atmosphere throughout the scaffolded area, inviting one to remain and contemplate such an unusual habitat." More on Urban Nests here.

• Rirkrit Tiravanija, whose first solo show in his native country the Bangkok Post calls "undeniably a defining moment in the history of contemporary Thai art," on politics: "Thai politics impacts my soul. I feel more qualified talking about the ongoing [socio-political] crisis in Thailand than protesting against George W. Bush [for his decision to go to war with Iraq]." (who’s afraid of red, yellow, and green) runs through August at Bangkok's 100 Tonson Gallery.

• Wired previews artist Trevor Paglen's new monograph Invisible: Covert Operations and Classified Landscapes with an overview of the Berkeley experimental geographer's work (including, ahem, a link to my description of his art being “part Gerhard Richter painting, part Bigfoot sighting."

• And here's Joerg Colberg's review of Invisible.

• Minnesota's own, Bob Dylan opens a show of his paintings at the Denmark Museum of Art (SMK) in two weeks. This first showing of his "Brazil Series" -- previewed in by Rolling Stone here -- opens Sept. 4.

• Hammers in art.

• Lebanon, KS, exhibition: The Centers of the USA, by the Center for Land Use Interpretation and the Institute of Marking and Measuring, opened this week. It "describes several of the “Centers” of the United States, such as the geodetic center, in Lucas, Kansas; the geographic center, near Belle Fourche, South Dakota; and the current population center, in Edgar Springs, Missouri."

• Vicious cycle: Minneapolis "Work of Art" contestant Miles Mendenhall landed a New York show for participating in the Bravo series -- from none other than one of the show's judges.

• A gallery of vintage Japanese manner posters.

• Finally a political story about governor-wannabe wrestlers that's not from Minnesota.