On October 10th we reported on the Banksy solo exhibit in New York City. “The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill” has been a huge success. Here are some exclusive photos from the front lines.
MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP
(more…)
Ronald Bladen is considered one of the fathers of Minimalism but he envisioned himself a romantic. This attitude was a successful attempt to avoid the trap of the pigeonhole. His interest was in the dramatic effect that a sculpture could have on a viewer. This accomplishment is clear to anyone that approaches these monumental works.
An exhibition of his painted aluminum garden scale sculptures as well as some drawings and models is set to open this week at Jacobson Howard Gallery. The work above was shot at the Corcoran in 1967 during the “Scale as Content” exhibit. The last major display of Bladen’s work was at P.S.1 in 1999. Opportunities to see his work don’t come around often, so head over to the gallery and allow yourself to be wooed by a modern master.
Ronald Bladen
Sculpture
16 October - 26 November 2008
Jacobson Howard Gallery
NYC
In museums, contemporary works are habitually deployed asunder from the antiquities that formed their inception. This is not the case with the current exhibition at The British Museum. “Statuephilia” showcases three dimensional works from five leading British contemporaries. The artworks have been thoughtfully placed throughout the museum alongside historic international treasures. This mingling of past and present coerces fans of art history into a realization that our time is as significant as days gone by. Conversely it demonstrates to the hipsters that the art they are infatuated by was not gathered from the ether.
Major works of art from Marc Quinn, Damien Hirst, Noble and Webster, Ron Mueck and Antony Gormley make up this exhibition. All of these artists had spent considerable time in the British Museum during the years that formed what they are today. This is their way of paying tribute to this inspiration.
Statuephilia
4 October 2008 - 25 January 2009
The British Museum
London
Initial Access is a 10,000 sq. ft. space that houses and exhibits the contemporary art collection of Frank Cohen. The current display is an offering of artworks that make their own light. Some pieces are sculptural while others exhibit the qualities of installation. Attendees that step into the dark are welcomed by works from John M Armleder, Dan Attoe, Shezad Dawood, Olafur Eliasson, Tracey Emin and Jason Rhoades.
Lightness of Being
6 September - 19 December 2008
Initial Access
Frank Cohen Collection
Wolverhampton, England
Richard Serra has unveiled three new weatherproof steel sculptures at the Britannia Street location of Gagosian Gallery. It’s the first time that Serra has shown in London in sixteen years. If you haven’t experienced the steel sculptures in person head over to this exhibition or find the one nearest your location. Encountering one of these behemoths is an adventure not soon forgotten. Step inside and you penetrate another realm. The sound changes, the light is altered and the scale humbles. Also step back and watch the reactions of others. You will see a full spectrum of emotion from oblivious through astonishment and on to fear.
Richard Serra
Sculpture
4 October - 20 December 2008
Gagosian Gallery
London
It’s as though the 1970’s have risen from the ashes at DCKT Contemporary. Ryan Humphrey has opened his latest show “All or Nothing”. The exhibition has a macho theme that predates political correctness, leaning back to a time that it was acceptable to flex in public. The discourse moves from the classic Trans Am imagery to the ice box adorned with stickers and filled with alcohol and condiments. This work is truly all or nothing and if you don’t like it, Humphrey may beat you down without a thought of legal ramification.
Ryan Humphrey
All or Nothing
19 September - 1 November 2008
DCKT Contemporary
NYC
The sculptures of Michel de Broin are in a class that few occupy. The blend of deep concept and gut level response make for a powerful combination. He’s got a heavy schedule of museum and gallery shows coming up in France, New York and Canada over the next few months. Check his website for upcoming events and an archive of previous works.
The sculptures of Beth Cavener Stichter hold attention with an eerie intrigue. She proffers animal forms actuated with human emotional concerns. The hybrid as a theme has been overdone in recent years to the point of potentially drying out the well. Cavener Stichter has entered into the discourse with a new light, one that has the potential to shine throughout a career.
The sculptures do not display an overall polish. Some areas are defined more than others like the drawings of an old master. These physical embellishments mirror her psychological concerns of things left unsaid.
Beth Cavener Stichter has an aggressive program of workshops planned over the next few years. Check her schedule to see when she’s coming to a town near you.
Swedish artist Hemmendorff was commissioned by Nike to interpret one of their shoes. As a medium he chose “the most powerful, most durable and most delicious material known to man: hamburger.” Bon Appetit!
Thanks to Wendell for the tip.
If you’ve been to a museum of modern/contemporary art it’s certain that you’ve seen the fluorescent installations of Dan Flavin. Usually they are positioned alongside sculpture and paintings from other masters. Flavin’s work definitely deserves such respect; however, it is not the way to experience his art. These pieces demand space, they require an exhibition of their own.
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts has drawn together such an exhibit. If you find yourself anywhere near St. Louis, head over to their beautiful space and enjoy the spectacle. Otherwise, explore the installations virtually via the web catalogue.
Dan Flavin
Constructed Light
1 February - 4 October 2008
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
St. Louis
Jean Nouvel has organized a retrospective exhibition of César’s sculpture for the Fondation Cartier. César was a sculptor that did not limit himself to a particular medium, rather, he let the form determine the materials. Toward the end of his life, César relied less on direct craftsmanship and began employing various fabrication techniques. He realized that time spent on content was more important than that wasted on technique.
Jean Nouvel the curator of this exhibition also designed the beautiful building that houses the Fondation Cartier.
César
Anthologie par Jean Nouvel
8 July - 26 October 2008
Fondation Cartier
Paris
The New Museum has put together a huge summer show. “After Nature” showcases more than ninety works of art spanning three floors of the building. The theme proposed in this exhibit is one of a gloomy future. Feelings concerning the dystopian stress of the exhibition aside, it is worth the trip just to extend a gaze toward the untitled installation by Maurizio Cattelan (above).
“After Nature” also includes work from Allora and Calzadilla, Pawe Althamer, Micol Assaël, Fikret Atay, Roger Ballen, Huma Bhabha, William Christenberry, Roberto Cuoghi, Bill Daniel, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Nathalie Djurberg, Reverend Howard Finster, Nancy Graves, Werner Herzog, Robert Kusmirowski, Zoe Leonard, Klara Liden, Erik van Lieshout, Diego Perrone, Thomas Schütte, Dana Schutz, Tino Sehgal, August Strindberg, Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, and Artur Zmijewski.
After Nature
17 July - 21 September 2008
New Museum
NYC
