But Are They "Good At Art?"

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 17, 2006 1:45PM

The Bad At Sports Podcast, an informed and often irreverent take on the Chicago art scene, celebrates its birthday next week. Over the last 50 episodes, hosts Richard Holland and Duncan MacKenzie and frequent co-host Amanda Browder have discussed everything from the merits of outsider art to the merits of campy, low-budget viral videos, sliding effortlessly between serious debate and hilarious schoolyard asides. As the acclaim piled on, they amassed a stable of correspondents from across the country and overseas while making lots of friends in the arts biz.

Saturday night, Richard and Duncan open their own exhibit and open themselves up to the type of criticism they’ve been dishing out week after week. They’re producing installation pieces that contemplate death, mythologically and psychologically. Richard is building "a gateway to the beyond," Duncan is constructing "graves for childhood friends." They’ll also have an open mic for visitors to record their impressions, whether it’s “I loved it! It was better than that thing I saw last week! I’ll visit again and again…” to “I braved the Green Line for this?” Your candor is welcome. The show's regular listeners know its hosts can take it as well as they can dish it out.

Richard Holland and Duncan MacKenzie exhibit their work at The Suburban Gallery, 244 West Lake Street, Oak Park (Ridgeland Green Line stop) through September 14. Opening night is Saturday from 7-10pm. The gallery is open Saturdays 12-5pm and by appointment. Regrettably, their website is not working.

Image via Bad at Sports, where a new podcast is offered each week.