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UT Student Pop-Up Gallery

During a work-related visit to Knoxville, TN I had the opportunity to explore the city’s vibrant downtown culture. Fortunately I was there at the right time to catch a terrific farmers market with great food and homemade goods, a poetry/music show at an historic local divebar, a costumed march/demonstration protesting rape and a pop-up street show of student art.

The pop-up gallery, organized by art students from the University of Tennessee, was a clever re-appropriation of a temporary sidewalk construction shelter. Coming upon this was unexpected and added to the delight and pleasure of the experience. Some of the work was your typical student painting and drawing, but other pieces fell more along the lines of installation, inviting the passer-by to become involved with the art. The more memorable was a fabricated wall, built out a few inches from the structure of the sidewalk shelter, with a small viewing window the piece demand that the viewer pause long enough to stop and see what was on display. Too bad for me though, because I am only 5’5″ and the viewing portal was a bit too high for me to be on my tip-toes long enough to read the writing behind the surface.

Kudos to those art kids getting out there and making something happen. Knoxville is a special town with a great heart and soul. I will definitely be heading back soon!

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Wisconsin Triennial

Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Madison WI

September 21 – January 5

Opening night at the Wisconsin Triennial was well attended with an enthusiastic crowd of artists and patrons. This juried exhibition of artists puts a spotlight on Wisconsin’s cutting edge art scene. The show only happens every three years, it will be up through January 5, 2014.

Wisconsin Triennial

Benjamin Grant, Untitled #36, 2012
Acrylic, Automotive Paint, Enamel, Flashe, Metal Flake and Spray Paint on Panel

Benjamin Grant is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is now represented by the Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee.

Frame Gallery

A mobile gallery with a rolodex of artists’ business cards on top. A small reminder of the immensity of creative people in the world.

Brett Rees, Benjamin Grant, Heather McCalla

Fred Stonehouse, Leslie & Diana Smith

Kim, Jordan Adams

mmoca.org

mobileframegallery

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///Some, The Definitive 3rd Year Review

Art Lofts Gallery, University of Wisconsin – Madison

111 North Frances St.

///Some, A Definitive 3rd Year Review

As the fall semester gets off to a busy start, graduate students working towards their MA and MFA degrees are exhibiting their latest artworks. This year’s review show is entitled: ///Some. Eighteen graduate students in the art department are each exhibiting one piece that best articulates a culmination of their previous two years of study.

Art Lofts Gallery

Upon first entering the exhibition space, the viewer’s initial response may be one of surprise. The seemingly sparse amount of art housed in the large room sets a quiet tone. This initial confrontation of stark openness mellows out after a few moments of adjusting to the mood. The calmly lit, concrete gallery and it’s white walls, demand a sense of quiet observation from the viewer. Focusing with such intensity as if you are listening to hear the art speak, rather than simply looking at it. The tone is aptly set complimenting the generality of a muted palette amongst the paintings, prints and sculptures speckled throughout. Effectively drawing the viewer in for further examination; each individual piece begins to provide evidence of greater detail through craftsmanship, and in some cases, significant conceptual meaning. Kendall McMinimy’s piece, Eminence Dissipated, is a fine example of exploration of materials and well controlled technique. He uses white plaster to produce geometric shapes in an off kilter arrangement. A circular relief form presents color and pattern of unrecognizable imagery. McMinimy’s piece draws the viewer’s eye in every direction that the seemingly subtle characteristics of the plaster material is now alive with rhythm.

Kendall McMinimy, Eminence Dissipated, Plaster and Acrylic

On the opposite side of the room a small plastic tarp hangs nonchalantly by two pins on each corner of its horizontal length. Unusually shaped with cut in square edges and the occasional organic hole shape, the clear plastic has been carefully embroidered with thread and encased in a blanket stitch. Large powder pink and rose colored lettering across the lower half read, “I could just give up and be my mother.” The piece is titled Dowry by Dominique Haller. Without having the luxury of seeing any other work by the artist, it is difficult to the level of sarcasm that Haller is striving for. Undoubtably every viewer will take away a different response.

Dominique Haller, Dowry, Plastic Tarp, Thread

Almost hidden, on the back right wall of the gallery is Eulogy, by Jordan Adams. This large scale oil painting on panel has an unusual quality mark-making. Unlike traditional oil on panel seen through the eons of art history, Adams’ approach challenges medium and application. Dark ruddy black-browns and a center vignette of fuschia tinted oils melt across the surface creating an illusion of a wondrous landscape. Some portions have been tightly controlled to juxtapose the gravity induced dripping with straight edges. The title lends a melancholy atmosphere to the work, yet the technique provides a more magical one.

Jordan Adams, Eulogy, Oil on Panel

The overall exhibit holds together in continuity with a muted palette. Amidst the silent nature of the show characteristics of movement appear to create “noise” however subtle it may be.  The level of ability that each artist is able to express their own theory and stand out in a room of highly trained artists is impressive.

Jason Gray, Rhyk’th the Cannibal, Glass, Wood Veneer, Steel, Skull of Rhyk’th

The art department at the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s reins with prominence in the academic art world. In a national survey conducted by U.S. News, UW-Madison’s overall graduate art program ranks in at number eighteen. Scoring even higher in printmaking and metals at second and third place.

Natasha Hovey, 1,4 – Alpha Glycosidic Bond, Ceramic Cone 4 Oxidation, Flocking

The show runs through September 20th

art.wisc.edu

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The Brooklyn Museum & Three Popular Artists

Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn Museum is a very unconventional and extremely impressive space. Upon entering the museum one may not fully grasp the immense scale of gallery space throughout. Along with many other fantastic museums in the New York area, admission to the Brooklyn Museum is donation based. Take advantage of this but be sure to please donate what you can to keep the arts alive and vibrant.

Brooklyn Museum

Each gallery within the museum is curated in such a way that guides the viewer throughout the different rooms displaying work that spans eras of formal means to cultural obscurities that collected from classical portraiture to modern toaster design. Each wall not only has a different color of paint, but often split color designs that cut through the background of hanging artworks. At first a bit disconcerting the themes become more relevant and actually bring the works together as one spends more time in the environment.

Sanford Biggers, Blossom, 2007

Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2010

Textiles, the viewer is encouraged to touch these samples

Brooklyn Museum, Furniture Design

Brooklyn Museum, Painting and Collectables

John Singer Sargent

A very popular exhibit on view is John Singer Sargent’s watercolors.

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent

Judy Chicago

The Brooklyn Museum has a gallery specifically designated to display woman artists. Adjacent to this space is a permanent installation of Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party. Entering this exhibition space demands the viewer to walk down a long hallway that displays hanging textiles inscribed with messages of female empowerment. Once arriving to a large open room the viewer is positioned at one end of the triangular points that is the dinner table. Thirty-nine place settings are elaborately displayed along the table. A chart of each woman honored in the installation is listed at the exit. This is a treasure that only the Brooklyn Museum has to offer. If you have the opportunity, it is fantastic to see in person.

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Brooklyn Museum of Art installation entrance

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, 1974-79

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Artemisia Gentileschi

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Elizabeth R.

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Emily Dickinson

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Emily Dickinson (detail)

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Susan B. Anthony

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Georgia O’Keeffe

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, Georgia O’Keeffe (detail)

El Anatsui

The special exhibit on view this summer is by Nigerian artist, El Anatsui. His work consists of labor intensive piecing together of salvaged items such as bottle caps and gum wrappers. His assembly of typically frigid metal objects become fluid in such large scale arrangements. This is his first major exhibition including so many works in one space. Often deceiving first impressions his pieces appear to look like fabric from a distance.

El Anatsui, Gli Wall, 2010

El Anatsui, Gli Wall, 2010

El Anatsui, Gli Wall, 2010 (detail)

El Anatsui, Gli Wall, 2010 (detail)

El Anatsui, Drainpipe

El Anatsui, Drainpipe (detail)

El Anatsui, Drifting Continents

El Anatsui, Drifting Continents (detail)

El Anatsui

El Anatsui

El Anatsui

El Anatsui

brooklynmuseum.org

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Hopper Drawing

Whitney Museum of American Art; New York, NY

May 23 – October 6, 2013

Edward Hopper is a true artist in the sense that he took his career and artistic practice with genuine seriousness. His classical training and gift of selecting and executing composition provided success and an esteemed reputation.

Hoppers exhibition at the Whitney is a remarkable collection of drawings and studies accompanied by well known paintings that we continue to be intrigued by. He lived as a New Yorker his entire life and it was his wish to leave his collection with the Whitney after he passed in 1967 at age 84.

Edward Hopper, Office at Night, 1940

Edward Hopper, Sketch for Office at Night, 1940

One mentionable piece included in the show is Soir Bleu (1914) which depicts a Parisian scene of characters both facing the viewer and with backs turned. Hopper visited France at the turn of the century. Having fallen in love with the atmosphere and lifestyle of another culture, Hopper was enthusiastic about his series of paintings depicting his encounters. Unfortunately critics were quick to shoot the new aesthetic down. Immediately after the showing he rolled up the work which remained in storage until after his death. Never painting anything similar again, Hopper kept diligent in developing his signature style as a painter.

Edwards Hopper, Soir Bleu, 1914

whitney.org