LOOK INTO MY OWL

son:DA is the Slovenian duo Metka Golec and Miha Horvat. Their first solo exhibit in the US is on display at Bitforms Gallery. Golec and Horvat are interested in the hypothesis that technology draws us closer. A networking theme in the work is the overabundance of electronic gadgetry. They often portray the individual mastering their technology alongside others doing the same.
The pair spent two weeks printing and assembling the large scale imagery using only 8.5 x 11″ sheets of paper and an inkjet printer found in the gallery.

son:DA
19 June - 25 July 2008
Bitforms Gallery
NYC

The idea for “Swimming Pool” by Leandro Erlich was first conceived in 1998 while the artist was in residence in Houston as part of the Core program. Since then, it was featured at the Venice Biennale and has found a home as part of the permanent collection at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan.
It can’t always be this way. The subjective nature of Art offers choice to an audience. When encountering artwork the basic questions of yes, no and maybe are all viable options to each viewer on a personal level. In the rare case of “Swimming Pool” only the affirmative exists. Whether you’re breathing freely in the deep end or witnessing the impossible submerged gathering from above you stop, you smile, you think… yes.

Leandro Erlich
Swimming Pool
permanent installation
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Kanazawa, Japan

In September, Sotheby’s will be the scene. Damien Hirst is auctioning the bulk of his output from the last two years. A wide array of art will be made available to the public from butterflies to pills, drawings to monumental formaldehyde sculptures.
The auction/show will be the first chance to witness “The Golden Calf”. The piece is composed of a bull beset in formaldehyde adorned with horns, hooves and headdress all cast solid in 18-carat gold. The case accommodating this false god is made from gold-plated stainless steel and glass. There have been preservation issues with many of the previous formaldehyde works. It would seem that these problems have been belayed in the newest efforts which may make the bidding bullish on this homage to idolatry.
Moving this exhibit out of the gallery to the auction house is yet another bold and brilliant move. Hirst says of his experiment, “It’s a very democratic way to sell art and it feels like a natural evolution for contemporary art. Although there is risk involved, I embrace the challenge of selling my work in this way. I never want to stop working with my galleries. This is different. The world’s changing, ultimately I need to see where this road leads.”

Damien Hirst
Beautiful Inside My Head Forever
15-16 September 2008
Sotheby’s
London

Petroc Sesti has established an amazing installation at the Paul Kasmin Gallery. “Vanishing Point” is a large glass sphere filled with optical fluid that is stirred by a turbine. The kinetic movement of this large liquid lens moves the light captured from the striped walls in an undulating rhythm. The effect is one of a pulsing vortex in a static environment. I love the interaction between the sculpture and the architecture. Notice how the light in the room is focused away from the central sculptural element.

Petroc Sesti
Vanishing Point
8 May - 6 September 2008
Paul Kasmin Gallery
NYC

Also on view at the Paul Kasmin Gallery is the show, “Totally Rad: New York in the 80’s”. This show includes the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Peter Halley, Keith Haring, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, Annette Lemieux, Allan McCollum, Robert Longo, David Salle, Kenny Scharf, Julian Schnabel, Cindy Sherman, Haim Steinbach, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, and David Wojnarowicz. Another good reason to head over to the gallery.

The Ring House by TNA architects was constructed in rural Tokyo. The home has a compelling impact inside and out that takes full advantage of the environment at the site. The exterior disappears into the woods while the 360 degree views from the interior conjure the forest home.
The idea of living in a home indistinguishable from one’s neighbor is swiftly becoming outmoded. Currently, architecture like “The Ring House” may be reserved for the wealthy but never fear, a day is coming that the people will demand competent design in their dwellings. After all, keeping it real is so 1990’s.

Thanks to Sasha for the tip.

Curator Les Barany has brought together the dark work of 17 artists for a summer group show at Fuse Gallery. The imagery of Paul Rumsey (above) and Brian Viveros (below) are featured along with John U. Abrahamson, Patrick Byers, Vincent Castiglia, Christopher Conte, William B. Hand, Eli Livingston, J.L. Robbins, Chris Savido and Kenneth “Dominique” Williams.
Fuse has also made available original artworks from the book, “Carnivora”, also organized by the curator of the show.

New Blood Rising
10 July - 9 August 2008
Fuse Gallery
NYC

Mr. Brainwash the enigmatic French filmmaker/artist has staged an elephantine art installation in downtown LA. Much innocent rhetoric has been spilled over this egregious display. Rumor speculates that MBW has employed production structure similar to that of a film with himself in the director chair. Would this decrease the merit of the effort? Of course not. This assault on the senses is a celebration of now and a reminder that “Life is Beautiful“. Mr. Brainwash has extended the exhibit through the end of July so go out and enjoy yourself.

Life is Beautiful
through the end of July 2008
6121 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles

The “Good Life” means many things to different people. For their current group exhibit the Yancey Richardson Gallery has reconnoitered photographs from 20 artists depicting their versions of easy times. The photograph is an excellent choice of media for this topic because when life is nice the camera tends to make an appearance. From the comfort of the perfect bed (Larry Sultan) to Santa in the summer (Lars Tunbjörk) this show offers something for everyone.

The Good Life
10 July - 22 August 2008
Yancey Richardson Gallery
NYC

The “Exquisite Taste” photographs of Gisel Florez are on view at the Winkleman Gallery in Chelsea. The imagery depicts dogs destroying high end clothing and accessories. These photos display a stunning juxtaposition that at once has the high brow shocked at the annihilation of a label while the low brow is left with the memory of a handsome animal.
Florez’s photographs along with mixed media by Kevin Zucker and drawings from George McCracken make up the summer group show “The Shallow Curator” at the Winkleman. The gallery classifies this outing as “an exhibition with neither urgency nor depth”.

The Shallow Curator
11 July - 15 August 2008
Winkleman Gallery
NYC

The forward-looking, treacly sweet magazine Hi-Fructose has assembled a swank group show. Included in the exhibition are mellifluous efforts from Tin (above) and Jeff Soto (below). Cheers to Atta and Annie for getting together such a rich collection. The primarily pop-surrealist pageant has been staged at Copro Nason Gallery with an opening reception July 12th from 8-11:30pm.

The show also features artworks from:
Amy Sol, Anthony Ausgang, Attaboy, Brian McCarty, Boomer, Brian Viveros, Chris Peters, Christopher Ryniak, Christian van Minnen, Dan Quintana, Daniel Lim, Dan May, Dave Cooper, David Stoupakis, Erik Alos, Esao Andrews, Germs, Gris Grimly, Jeff Gillette, Jeff McMillan, Jim Woodring, Josh Keyes, Keith Weesner, KMNDZ, Kukula, Lola, Luke Chueh, Makiko Sugawa, Mark Covell, Martin Witfooth, Matt Dangler , Michael Page, Michelle Mia Araujo, Naoto Hattori, Nathan Spoor, Laurie Lipton, Noferin, Oksana Badrak, Ray Caesar, Shag, Scott Belcastro, Stella Im Hultberg, Travis Louie, Winston Smith, Xiaoqing Ding, Yoskay Yamamoto & many more. WOW!

The Hi-Fructose Group Art Exhibition
12 July - 2 August 2008
Copro Nason Gallery
Santa Monica

It’s always a good time to go to the Hirshhorn Museum. If you can make it by November 17th you’ll have the opportunity to bask in this still from the video masterpiece “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” by Paul Pfeiffer. In his videos, Pfeiffer digitally alters sports footage frame by frame. He scrubs all branding, competition and the object of desire (ball). The result is a display of bizarre, hectic human behavior.
This piece is part of the current rotation of recent acquisitions at the Hirshhorn. The show “Currents” also features works by Andrea Bowers, Mona Hatoum, Ernesto Neto, Robin Rhode, and Allen Ruppersberg.

Currents
Recent Acquisitions
through 17 November 2008
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Washington, DC

Here are some photos from “Nonpareil”, a group show of unique and customized figurative sculptures at NOWhere Limited. To browse and purchase items from the exhibition, click here. We were very impressed with the quality of the submissions. A special thanks to all of the artists that took part in the exhibition.

More photos after the jump.
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