SHARKFORUM: OPINION WITH TEETH

Though I am confident that this idea will grow and permutate as we develop it, the basic idea to get things started, is an editors circle that will be known as, The Concrete Club- as in the inimitable thinglyness of how things are in terms of the concrete and universal. How subjective is all of this? Try jumping into the water with me (carcharodon carcharias,) and see for yourself just how subjective biological fear can actually be!



Anyway, I digress: what we are going to do is begin with this interdiciplinary discussion group- which will in time begin to focus on site specific events here in Chicago -and elsewhere- that we find interesting and of note - some of these things we hope to eventually have on our site in their cyber incarnation -ideally, functioning as a guide to actual events/ exhibitions. And in this way this site will be experimental -in seeing just what the symbiosis between virtual and actual can mean in the concreteness of the open sea. Rather than introducing the members of our group to you, I will simply let them announce their own presence, on their own terms - I mean this is sharky water after all-

Many are simply gummed by what researchers now believe to be packs of wild sharks and then let go...

Sharks and Media
Media sensationalism and widespread ignorance has given the white shark a bad rap. Although the species is responsible for an average of 2-3 non-fatal attacks on swimmers, surfers, specious venalities posing as curators, manipulative art educators hellbent on self-promotion/promotion of their specific agendas/departments- usually under the auspices of 'new institutional product' -commonly known as 'emerging artists'; mediocre, has been art dealers pretending to be art saviors/museum directors; failed artist with their prerequisite resentments, bolstered with muddled, poorly realized thought; artists whose positions in the artworld here, seems to have more to do with political appointment than any discernible aesthetic sensibility, and divers each year, its role as a menace is exaggerated; more people are killed in the U.S. each year by dogs than have been killed by white sharks in the last 100 years. Additionally, many are simply gummed by what researchers now believe to be packs of wild sharks and then let go........ scientific studies show that population of white sharks is low, with perhaps fewer than 100 adult animals in the state's waters. White sharks are important predators in the marine ecosystems of the California and Lake Michigan coasts, (and elsewhere-) and the people of California (and, Chicago,) recognize that. In 1992, the white shark was placed on the protected species list, and is legally protected from unlawful killing or exploitation. The original bill was supported by both scientists, artists and fishing and arts organizations, surfing clubs and diving groups, private citizens and an array of others. With your support and respect, we can continue to live with this complex and misunderstood animal.