More often than not I have a greater interest in the exhibitions put on by the staff of blue chip galleries than their regular programming. A lot of this has to do with the fact that these are the people whose jobs in no way employ the full extent of their talent. I like to think that these shows are an attempt by the gallery to in some way acknowledge this, though a more cynical look might be that this is just another means for galleries to exploit the resources of their employees. I do not believe the latter is the case in either of today’s listings.
You have to be almost gifted to do what I do
Alexander and Bonin
132 Tenth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets
May 27 – July 28, 2006
Opening May 27: 6-8 pm
Curated by Steven Stewart and Oliver Newton (The preparator and archivist at Alexander and Bonin Gallery)
Participating artists: Brian Belott, Michelle Cortez, Eddie Martinez, Joseph Hart, Karen Heagle, Elizabeth Huey, Larry Krone, Wes Lang, Ernest Loesser, Ilse Murdock, Kristine Robinson, and Tamara Zahaykevich
I haven’t seen this show and I already appreciate the curatorial focus of this show. Unlike the countless “Here-are-some-people-who-make-work-I-like” group exhibitions, You have to be almost gifted to do what I do, brings together work by artists who have an interest in the homemade and appropriation. It’s anyones guess what the show will look like, but I can honestly say I am looking forward to finding out.
What Works
Gallery 117
117 West 21st Street between 6th and 7th
Opening: Thursday June 8, (so two weeks from now)
Curated by artists Tim Lynch and Frank Lentini (Pace Wildenstein employees)
Participating artists/Pace employees: Joe Baptisa, Kerry McFate, Frank Lentini, Joerg Lohse, Rufus Lusk, Tim Lynch, Justin Christopherson, Jeff Burch, Arim Jibilian, Kevin Hart, Matthew Wilkin, Josie Macmurdo, Brian Sette, Colin White, Michael Yoder, Liliana Krynska, Robert Selwyn, Lucas Kelly, William Wood, Scott Sjobakken, Bruce Gluck, Adam Thompson, Humphrey Bilger, Kenny Maxwell, Brent Spaulding
Artists who work at Pace Wildenstein have put this show together, and while the expressed concept is trite (in the words of the press release “The exhibition explores what happens when artists are surrounded by some of the most iconic and influential modern art during their workday before coming home at night to their studios“), it is likely that this is just some superficial statement slapped on by a network of artists who wish to take advantage of the high profile status of the gallery that employs them. That concept I can get behind.
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