LOOK INTO MY OWL

MICHAEL MINELLI – CUE ART FOUNDATION

l00k — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:09:20 +0000

A selection of sculpture by Michael Minelli, curated by Sowon Kwon is on view at the CUE Art Foundation in Chelsea.

Michael Minelli, Installation view, 2012.

The conceptual bias of this work is the artist as filter. Minelli is engaged with the quickness of popular culture and mimics this resolve in the way he feels his way through the mystery of art making without foresight. As long as celebrity exists, there will be fantastic stories that arise from the phenomenon. The method of this work relies on a similar path of certainty.

Michael Minelli, Installation view, 2012.

The opening night was packed and the crowd, for an art show, uncharacteristically exuberant. A huge deficit to scale played out between the pieces exhibited. The tiny polymer clay “Souvenirs” require close engagement while the protrusions of the larger works keep examination at a distance. There was no single stance to be taken so a strange and beautiful dance ensued.

Michael Minelli, Installation view, 2012.

Michael Minelli
26 January – 10 March 2012
CUE Art Foundation
NYC

Images courtesy of CUE Art Foundation.

DON PORCELLA – MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN – RESIDENCY

l00k — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:52:01 +0000

Since 2008, the Museum of Arts and Design has been granting residencies for artists to occupy their sixth floor open studios. It’s a fantastic opportunity for visitors to interact with the artists and gain valuable insights into materials and practice. Each Tuesday through the end of March, Don Porcella will be weaving his magic in the fantastic space on Columbus Circle overlooking Central Park. Thanks to Don for letting us look in on this week’s session.

A steady wave of guests were obviously charmed by the presence of the artist and his willingness to engage in meaningful discourse. Porcella encouraged his new friends to handle some small encaustic paintings while he explained the origins of his material choices and contextual concerns with an ease derived from authenticity. A wide range of his wonderful pipe cleaner sculptures were on hand. There is a real brilliance to these works that transcend the difficult boundary that traditionally exists between fine art and craft. We could tell you a lot about Don, now, but you should visit him and get the story straight.

Don Porcella
Open Studio Residency
Every Tuesday through 25 March 2012
Museum of Arts and Design
NYC

Photographs Scott Lickstein.

CHRISTOPHE LAUDAMIEL – PHANTOSMIA – ALL BUT THE SMELL

l00k — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:50:47 +0000

For one week, the Dillon Gallery has opened its beautiful ground floor space in Chelsea to the scent sculptures of internationally recognized perfumer Christophe Laudamiel.

Christophe Laudamiel, Phantosmia, installation view, 2012.

The smell that hits the visitor as they enter the gallery is titled “The Remembrance of Things Lost”. The critical components that went into the production of the rich discharge were inspired by the life of Marlene Dietrich. Each tent cordoned off individual auras with the overall gallery aroma serving as a reference to recalibrate the nose.

Christophe Laudamiel, Phantosmia, installation view, 2012.

I’m quite accustomed to having my senses plucked when encountering artwork but this groundbreaking effort shifted my sensitivities to a variety of pongs encountered elsewhere that evening. Gallery night is a vision quest for me but I was pleased to have Laudamiel open my nose to other possibilities. It was a surprise to feel the wildness of “The Banana and the Monkey” and pure delight to emerge from the face twisting enclosure entitled “Fear.” The installation is only in place for a few more days so move quickly to see… er, smell this one.

Christophe Laudamiel, The Banana and the Monkey, exhibition label, 2012.

Christophe Laudamiel
Phantosmia – all but the smell
25 January – 1 February 2012
Dillon Gallery
NYC

Images courtesy of Dillon Gallery.

STEVE GIANAKOS – NEW PAINTINGS

l00k — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:38:47 +0000

Steve Gianakos has again, for the fifth time now, filled Fredericks & Freiser with a wonderful attack on the wholesome. The show runs through February 18th at the Chelsea gallery and I highly recommend seeing the paintings in person.

Steve Gianakos, She Decided to Throw the Party Anyway, acrylic on canvas, 2011.

The opening night was very well attended. Coats came off and it seemed that people wanted to stay. There existed a noticeable boundary between the viewers and the paintings. The glances this work received were short as though it would be psychologically telling to be caught gazing. The minimal approach to the craft is a clever response to this natural behavior. It’s OK now here online, go ahead, peel back those lids and have a good long stare.

Steve Gianakos, It Had An Abrupt Melodramatic Conclusion, acrylic on canvas, 2011.

There is no cause for concern, these disturbances do not leave lasting harm on the psyche. They are retained as clever reminders to genuine diversity. Steve Gianakos has been pricking us for some time now and we can’t get enough.

Steve Gianakos, The Farm Had Been Rescinded Just A Month Earlier, acrylic on canvas, 2011.

Steve Gianakos
New Paintings
19 January – 18 February 2012
Fredericks & Freiser Gallery
NYC

Images courtesy of Fredericks & Freiser Gallery.

DONGWOOK LEE – LOVE ME TENDER

l00k — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:44:10 +0000

The beginning of 2012 marked the end of Dongwook Lee’s six month New York residency. The Doosan Gallery made the extended stay possible and now we get to see some of the work Mr. Lee created during his time in this country. The exhibition is titled “Love Me Tender” and runs in Chelsea through the middle of February.

Dongwook Lee, Mermaid, mixed media, 2004.

Dongwook Lee has put together some very powerful sculptures for his first solo exhibition on U.S. soil. His miniature mixed media figures each have an amazing amount of detail. The facial expressions and body forms were captured with a clarity that commands the viewer move in for close inspection and then to move in for an even closer look.

Dongwook Lee, I Know Everything, mixed media, 2010.

Lee’s characters find themselves hooked, tied, cubed, canned and worse. The countenance of these unfortunate positions linger long after viewing. The size difference between spectator and subject increases the empathic qualities that run through the works. It is a sensation that recalls witnessing childish cruelty to insects, all we can manage to say is, “stop!” before stealing that next licentious glance.

Dongwook Lee, Sailor, mixed media, 2004.

Dongwook Lee
Love Me Tender
19 January – 18 February 2012
Doosan Gallery
NYC

Images courtesy of Doosan Gallery.

DAMIEN HIRST – THE COMPLETE SPOT PAINTINGS 1986-2011 – NYC

l00k — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:01:58 +0000

The Complete Spot Paintings of Damien Hirst opened simultaneously at Gagosian Gallery locations across the planet yesterday. The eight lucky cities to host the eleven events are New York, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Athens and Hong Kong. More than one hundred and fifty individuals and institutions lent works to make this exhibit possible.

“The Complete Spot Challenge” is a goal set by the artist that rewards successful participants with a personally dedicated spot print should they visit all eleven galleries during the exhibition. Check with the gallery for details and get ready to log some serious frequent flyer miles.

Damien Hirst, Zirconyl Chloride, household gloss on canvas, 2008.

No one piece held me mesmerized longer than any other but the concept as a whole for this exhibit completely blew me away. Placing dots on the map and covering the empire was a gesture that further cemented Mr. Hirst as a man that is not afraid to take every advantage of his position.

Damien Hirst, The Complete Spot Paintings, installation view, New York, 2012.

I haven’t checked in with the press on this one yet but it is as sure as sunrise that the response to this impressive undertaking will be largely negative. It is a regrettable certainty that follows any artist commanding this much attention. The truth, however, is that looking around the largest of the rooms opening night at Gagosian on 24th Street in New York City revealed no unhappy faces.

Damien Hirst, The Complete Spot Paintings, installation view, New York, 2012.

Damien Hirst
The Complete Spot Paintings 1986-2011
12 January – 18 February 2012
Gagosian Gallery
NYC

Images courtesy of Gagosian Gallery.

WILL KURTZ – EXTRA FUCKING ORDINARY

l00k — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:04:02 +0000

Last night the life sized figurative sculptures of select New Yorkers from Will Kurtz packed into the Mike Weiss Gallery for the first night of a five week run. It is the artist’s first solo show with the Chelsea gallery.

Will Kurtz, Studio View, 2011.

Kurtz collects construction site debris like chicken wire and scrap wood to build the armatures for these stunning shapes. His characterizations are equitable because he hunts the streets photographing his special subjects and works from his two dimensional studies to gather details that make his people so real.

Will Kurtz, Studio View, 2011.

The opening was well attended, often filled to capacity with short wait times at the door. Inside, the gallery goers mingled with their newspaper covered counterparts with more grace and ease than many encounters on the streets of New York. The living beings in their dark wintery attire faded away contrasting the spotlighted forms that were the many focuses of the silent and still theater in the round.

Will Kurtz, Studio View, 2011.

Will Kurtz
Extra Fucking Ordinary
12 January – 18 February 2012
Mike Weiss Gallery
NYC

SUE COE – ART OF THE ANIMAL

l00k — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:09:40 +0000

Jasmin Singer from Our Hen House has just put together this great interview with Sue Coe. There is a lot to admire in the process and product of Coe’s work. I am also struck by the inventiveness of Our Hen House and imagine their message of “… a new world for animals” as a glimpse toward our evolution as better humans.

IVORY TOWER – MIAMI

l00k — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:18:59 +0000

Curators Lauren Gentile (Contemporary Wing) and Ginger Shulick (Big Deal Arts) have pulled off a truly beautiful video exhibition. Fifty floors above the city of Miami, the Ivory Tower is a thoughtfully composed taste of pure delight. Seven artists have been brought together to showcase a diverse menagerie of work. Moving room to room in this wonderful space located in the Marquis Residences building was an adventure that held surprises around each corner. If you are in Miami for the art fairs, do not miss this stunning event.

Tiffany Carbonneau, Here and Now, unique projection approximately 20 stories tall, DVD, 22 minutes, 2011.

Phillip David Stearns, Apeiron / Peras V & IV, DVD with bonus material, 21 minutes, edition of 500, 2009.

Nia Burks, Angry Gamers, DVD, 3:03 minutes, edition of 5 + 2 AP, 2011.

Sean Capone, High Rise, DVD, 6 minutes, edition of 10, 2011.

Paul Moakley, Balls Flying Everywhere, DVD, 30 minutes, edition of 25, 2011.

Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky), Ice Sonification, Antarctica Project, DVD, 8:08 minutes, edition of 5 + 2 AP, 2011.

Alex Villar, Breaking into Business, DVD, silent, 9 minutes, edition of 5 + 2 AP, 2011.

View from the Ivory Tower exhibition, 2011.

Ivory Tower
1 – 4 December 2011

PULSE MIAMI 2011

l00k — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:13:15 +0000

Pulse Miami is host to ninety international exhibitors this weekend. It is a powerful experience to walk through the familiar halls and absorb the diverse nature of the artists on view. The exterior gardens with casual lounging areas are always a welcome sight for the leg weary fair goer. Pulse is a sure bet. Treat yourself right and jump on the convenient shuttle over to the Ice Palace.

Pulse Miami, 2011.

Margie Livingston, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Buster Cleveland, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Kent Dorn, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Brian Dettmer, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Delia Brown, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Tom LaDuke, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Vito Acconci, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Ingo Günther, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Dina Gadia, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Damien Hirst, Pulse Miami, 2011.

Pulse Miami
1 – 4 December 2011