Weekend Review

Film and Play

The Art of the Steal

The Barne’s foundation was created as an antitheses to the hallowed halls of conventional museums.  Since the 1990s it has been at the center of one of the greatest art scandals of our decade. The cast of villains and heros, of wills and trusts, of monetary gain an invaluable loss weave a defining tale of our times. This revealing documentary raises an interesting debate over preservation versus commercial exploitation. Where should the boundaries lie and at what cost?

Time Stands Still

Sarah Goodwin is a female photographer daring to document a controversial subject, she is also a strong-minded individual in the midst of an uneasy relationship. While the parallels between Sarah’s life and my own were uncanny, her contemplation on the role of the artist as witness is what caught my attention. It is a timeless quandary, yet one of profound significance: when horror is happening in front of the lens when should the photographer go from observer to participant?

Exhibitions

Elisa Sighicelli at Gagosian Gallery

Elisa work is printed by hand on matt paper rather than on the customary transparent film, then mounted onto a Plexiglas structure using black-tape and florescence to manipulate light and shadow. Her work is a carefully crafted exploration of light.

Damien Hirst – Gagosian Gallery

Hirst has always worked on the edge of contemporary art, and once again he delivers by boldly addressing the zeitgeist through large scale installations. Provocative, interesting, and worth viewing.

Richard Tuttle at Joni Mosiant Weyl

A departure from his typical material creations, these prints embody the same innate delicate nature of Tuttles other works. Intimate, subtle, and beautiful geometric forms that envelope the viewer in a sense of calm.

Whitney Biennial Preview

For me, the highlight of the Biennial was an instillation entitled “Hearse” from artist Bruce High. The windows of this iconic looking white hearse were replaced with large screens on which clips of american history were displayed. An electric and ironic view of the past century.

Guggenhiem

Malevich in Focus

Malechivich has many influences, but in this intimate exhibition of his work the development of his style unfolds in-front of the viewer. His distinct cubic masterpieces remain avant-garde to this day.

Contemplating the Void

A global representation from a broad-base of artistic disciplines, contemplating the void breathes fresh life into one of Frank-Lloyd Wrights most iconic structures. Each remarkable submission plays on different themes of space and vacuum.

Tino Sehgal

These “constructed situations” engage the audience through the interplay of dance, of fleeting gestures, and social subtleties. It is impossible for the viewer to hold back from participating and becoming part of the art itself. Some have said that sehgal is attempting to exhibit the very joy of life. For me it was mesmerizing.

Eggleston, Shore, Myers

These three artist share a remarkable sense of bold, vivid, and vibrant color. It was Avendon who first recommended I study Eggleston’s approach to photography. To this day his works still capture my attention.

Ida Applebroog – Hauser & Wirth

A year long study of an oft ignored part of the female anatomy, Applebroog presents 160 drawings of her own vagina.These beautifully simple sketches lay dormant in storage for nearly 40 years. In 2009 the vault was opened and 100 new drawings were created using digital manipulation to enhance the original works. Displayed in a home-like wood construction symbolizing the the exterior and interior walls of her life. It was witty, focused, and poignant.

Restaurants

Lest I forget back to brunch at Minetta Tavern where the best bloody mary, the best hamburger in New York, and the company of a good friend awaits.