Rita Ackerman Makes No Friends With Salad

by Art Fag City on September 18, 2008 · 76 comments Blurb + Reviews

ackerman.jpg
Rita Ackerman, Installation View, Don’t Give Me Salad (Nurses), Image via: Andrea Rosen Gallery

Rita Ackerman takes a page from the Stuckists this month at Andrea Rosen Gallery employing their trade mark coffee shop style of art.  I was not able to find any of their members using the female alien as subject matter, (or as Ackerman calls them, nurses,) though there are more than enough examples of art similarly lacking any originality or skill.  The garish paintings and assemblage works are a fairly astounding step back from her early collages.

On a related note, I would think if I were Sarah Braman and Joel Shapiro,  the artists in Gallery 2 at Andrea Rosen I might not be so pleased about the exhibit in the main gallery because it means a lot of people won’t make it through to the second space.  I know I didn’t.

{ 76 comments }

some girl who lives in brooklyn September 18, 2008 at 11:51 am

i completely agree. the fact that rita ackerman is taken seriously at all is mind boggling. i’m not sure how this was allowed to happen.

some girl who lives in brookly September 18, 2008 at 4:51 pm

i completely agree. the fact that rita ackerman is taken seriously at all is mind boggling. i’m not sure how this was allowed to happen.

some girl who lives in brookly September 18, 2008 at 4:51 pm

i completely agree. the fact that rita ackerman is taken seriously at all is mind boggling. i’m not sure how this was allowed to happen.

some girl who lives in brookly September 18, 2008 at 4:51 pm

i completely agree. the fact that rita ackerman is taken seriously at all is mind boggling. i’m not sure how this was allowed to happen.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 19, 2008 at 12:35 am

Not all of the Stuckists are ‘bad’.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 19, 2008 at 12:35 am

Not all of the Stuckists are ‘bad’.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 19, 2008 at 12:35 am

Not all of the Stuckists are ‘bad’.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blog September 18, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Not all of the Stuckists are ‘bad’.

Charles Thomson September 19, 2008 at 1:12 am

Ho ho!

Charles Thomson September 19, 2008 at 1:12 am

Ho ho!

Charles Thomson September 19, 2008 at 1:12 am

Ho ho!

Charles Thomson September 18, 2008 at 8:12 pm

Ho ho!

Eric September 19, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Bold assertion. What will the intelligentsia
think of it?

Eric September 19, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Bold assertion. What will the intelligentsia
think of it?

Eric September 19, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Bold assertion. What will the intelligentsia
think of it?

Eric September 19, 2008 at 7:22 am

Bold assertion. What will the intelligentsia
think of it?

valerie September 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Lord,her work has bugged me for a long time-thanks for posting this-

valerie September 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Lord,her work has bugged me for a long time-thanks for posting this-

valerie September 19, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Lord,her work has bugged me for a long time-thanks for posting this-

valerie September 19, 2008 at 1:23 pm

Lord,her work has bugged me for a long time-thanks for posting this-

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blog September 19, 2008 at 1:35 pm

I’d rather see Ackerman’s work than the end result of someone playing with their poo or a golden model. My point is that I’ve seen works by specific Stuckists that I consider better than all three.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 19, 2008 at 6:35 pm

I’d rather see Ackerman’s work than the end result of someone playing with their poo or a golden model. My point is that I’ve seen works by specific Stuckists that I consider better than all three.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 19, 2008 at 6:35 pm

I’d rather see Ackerman’s work than the end result of someone playing with their poo or a golden model. My point is that I’ve seen works by specific Stuckists that I consider better than all three.

Donald Frazell September 19, 2008 at 11:02 pm

Never seen any suckists before, just read about them as I am becoming reacquainted with the art world, and in horror at what I am finding. Who knows? Being hated, maybe they are actually good? But havent seen anything worth talking about, in positive terms, in decades.

But then, as read one was Tracy Eminem(sister of the famed white rapper?) old boyfriend, they gotta be suckists. As a man, you are your word, what you do, and who you hang with. Guess that wipes out most artist, after all, they want to hang with the progenitors of the Depression about to engulf us.

Donald Frazell September 19, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Never seen any suckists before, just read about them as I am becoming reacquainted with the art world, and in horror at what I am finding. Who knows? Being hated, maybe they are actually good? But havent seen anything worth talking about, in positive terms, in decades.

But then, as read one was Tracy Eminem(sister of the famed white rapper?) old boyfriend, they gotta be suckists. As a man, you are your word, what you do, and who you hang with. Guess that wipes out most artist, after all, they want to hang with the progenitors of the Depression about to engulf us.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 12:32 am

I’d rather see Richard Prince’s nurses.

I can’t make the one on the right out that well… what is the material exactly?

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 12:32 am

I’d rather see Richard Prince’s nurses.

I can’t make the one on the right out that well… what is the material exactly?

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 12:32 am

I’d rather see Richard Prince’s nurses.

I can’t make the one on the right out that well… what is the material exactly?

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blog September 19, 2008 at 7:32 pm

I’d rather see Richard Prince’s nurses.

I can’t make the one on the right out that well… what is the material exactly?

Charles Thomson September 20, 2008 at 2:17 am

Tracey Emin actually, not Eminem. What was it decades ago that was worth talking about, as a matter of interest?

Charles Thomson September 20, 2008 at 2:17 am

Tracey Emin actually, not Eminem. What was it decades ago that was worth talking about, as a matter of interest?

Charles Thomson September 20, 2008 at 2:17 am

Tracey Emin actually, not Eminem. What was it decades ago that was worth talking about, as a matter of interest?

Charles Thomson September 19, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Tracey Emin actually, not Eminem. What was it decades ago that was worth talking about, as a matter of interest?

Charles Thomson September 20, 2008 at 2:19 am

My Ho ho! was about the original post, not Brian Sherwin’s post.

Charles Thomson September 19, 2008 at 9:19 pm

My Ho ho! was about the original post, not Brian Sherwin’s post.

Donald Frazell September 20, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Some people can’t get a joke. Eminem far more relevant, rap far more powerful than contmporary art, andn its still crap itself, where does that put this? In the septic tank. Hirst should make on of those. oh, my bd, thats all eh does. Rotted flesh in a tank, there, literal enough for you?

And uh, ever hear of Modern Art? The last good painters were Tamayo, and Diebenkorn and Bearden. Kiefer is great, even Hockney, after he got rid of that stiff self relevatory crap, and became a stage designer. Picked up on Matisse and does excellent work now, but cant draw worth a damn, no matter what these dumb overeducated, under intelligent curator says. A few other minor footnotes taht will be remembered in a hundred years, the rest, in the trash can, or actually, septic tank.

Donald Frazell September 20, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Some people can’t get a joke. Eminem far more relevant, rap far more powerful than contmporary art, andn its still crap itself, where does that put this? In the septic tank. Hirst should make on of those. oh, my bd, thats all eh does. Rotted flesh in a tank, there, literal enough for you?

And uh, ever hear of Modern Art? The last good painters were Tamayo, and Diebenkorn and Bearden. Kiefer is great, even Hockney, after he got rid of that stiff self relevatory crap, and became a stage designer. Picked up on Matisse and does excellent work now, but cant draw worth a damn, no matter what these dumb overeducated, under intelligent curator says. A few other minor footnotes taht will be remembered in a hundred years, the rest, in the trash can, or actually, septic tank.

Donald Frazell September 20, 2008 at 10:23 am

Some people can’t get a joke. Eminem far more relevant, rap far more powerful than contmporary art, andn its still crap itself, where does that put this? In the septic tank. Hirst should make on of those. oh, my bd, thats all eh does. Rotted flesh in a tank, there, literal enough for you?

And uh, ever hear of Modern Art? The last good painters were Tamayo, and Diebenkorn and Bearden. Kiefer is great, even Hockney, after he got rid of that stiff self relevatory crap, and became a stage designer. Picked up on Matisse and does excellent work now, but cant draw worth a damn, no matter what these dumb overeducated, under intelligent curator says. A few other minor footnotes taht will be remembered in a hundred years, the rest, in the trash can, or actually, septic tank.

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm

“As a man”… As a man OR woman. Bad Donald, bad! 😛

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm

“As a man”… As a man OR woman. Bad Donald, bad! 😛

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blo September 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm

“As a man”… As a man OR woman. Bad Donald, bad! 😛

Brian Sherwin @ Myartspace Blog September 20, 2008 at 2:08 pm

“As a man”… As a man OR woman. Bad Donald, bad! 😛

Donald Frazell September 20, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Sorry, guess I am a sexist pig, or a dogg. Women are slightly different, thank god. Nurturing is one of the big three, as childbirth is their biological function, ours is protecting and hunting, getting that succulent pig for dinner. Oh, sorry, a sexist again, maybe, dogg, uh, used to be.
Nice link with Dion and here, Winkleman a little funny. But good trio, best blogs i have seen, now together! Hope it generates more revenue and hits, i will supply the controversy, call it a gift.
Art collegia delenda est

Donald Frazell September 20, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Sorry, guess I am a sexist pig, or a dogg. Women are slightly different, thank god. Nurturing is one of the big three, as childbirth is their biological function, ours is protecting and hunting, getting that succulent pig for dinner. Oh, sorry, a sexist again, maybe, dogg, uh, used to be.
Nice link with Dion and here, Winkleman a little funny. But good trio, best blogs i have seen, now together! Hope it generates more revenue and hits, i will supply the controversy, call it a gift.
Art collegia delenda est

Art Fag City September 20, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Donald: Stop trying to provoke readers with comments you know are annoying. Intelligent conversation generates hits, not this.

Art Fag City September 20, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Donald: Stop trying to provoke readers with comments you know are annoying. Intelligent conversation generates hits, not this.

Art Fag City September 20, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Donald: Stop trying to provoke readers with comments you know are annoying. Intelligent conversation generates hits, not this.

Donald Frazell September 21, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Sorry, but thought provoking people into defending their ideas, weak or not, was good for business and bloggers, putting their deepest beliefs into writing, and so be able to actually think for themselves. I certainly dont require other to think as i do, but do expect intelligent people to be constructively self critical, a lost art it seems. I dont see much of that anymore, as it does take effort and preparation, research and passion.

My bad, will try to be good, but Dion and Brian seem to like it, well, most of the time. Cant please everyone all the time, or else you are a schmuck.

Art collegia delenda est

Donald Frazell September 21, 2008 at 2:26 pm

Sorry, but thought provoking people into defending their ideas, weak or not, was good for business and bloggers, putting their deepest beliefs into writing, and so be able to actually think for themselves. I certainly dont require other to think as i do, but do expect intelligent people to be constructively self critical, a lost art it seems. I dont see much of that anymore, as it does take effort and preparation, research and passion.

My bad, will try to be good, but Dion and Brian seem to like it, well, most of the time. Cant please everyone all the time, or else you are a schmuck.

Art collegia delenda est

Donald Frazell September 21, 2008 at 9:26 am

Sorry, but thought provoking people into defending their ideas, weak or not, was good for business and bloggers, putting their deepest beliefs into writing, and so be able to actually think for themselves. I certainly dont require other to think as i do, but do expect intelligent people to be constructively self critical, a lost art it seems. I dont see much of that anymore, as it does take effort and preparation, research and passion.

My bad, will try to be good, but Dion and Brian seem to like it, well, most of the time. Cant please everyone all the time, or else you are a schmuck.

Art collegia delenda est

Jesse Patrick Martin September 21, 2008 at 4:18 pm

I completely agree that Ackerman’s show is relentlessly bad, like first-semester work by freshmen art students who will transfer to a communications program by their second semester.

I saw the show yesterday and this is what I say about it http://jessepatrickmartin.com/writing/

Jesse Patrick Martin September 21, 2008 at 4:18 pm

I completely agree that Ackerman’s show is relentlessly bad, like first-semester work by freshmen art students who will transfer to a communications program by their second semester.

I saw the show yesterday and this is what I say about it http://jessepatrickmartin.com/writing/

Jesse Patrick Martin September 21, 2008 at 4:18 pm

I completely agree that Ackerman’s show is relentlessly bad, like first-semester work by freshmen art students who will transfer to a communications program by their second semester.

I saw the show yesterday and this is what I say about it http://jessepatrickmartin.com/writing/

Jesse Patrick Martin September 21, 2008 at 11:18 am

I completely agree that Ackerman’s show is relentlessly bad, like first-semester work by freshmen art students who will transfer to a communications program by their second semester.

I saw the show yesterday and this is what I say about it http://jessepatrickmartin.com/writing/

Belvoir September 21, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Sigh. I just love Art Fag City, it’s so refreshing to see honest opinions. Keep it up, I appreciate it.

Belvoir September 21, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Sigh. I just love Art Fag City, it’s so refreshing to see honest opinions. Keep it up, I appreciate it.

Belvoir September 21, 2008 at 7:23 pm

Sigh. I just love Art Fag City, it’s so refreshing to see honest opinions. Keep it up, I appreciate it.

Belvoir September 21, 2008 at 2:23 pm

Sigh. I just love Art Fag City, it’s so refreshing to see honest opinions. Keep it up, I appreciate it.

reportage September 21, 2008 at 11:27 pm

nice reference in the title.

reportage September 21, 2008 at 11:27 pm

nice reference in the title.

reportage September 21, 2008 at 11:27 pm

nice reference in the title.

reportage September 21, 2008 at 6:27 pm

nice reference in the title.

semina October 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm

WIthout doubt one of the worst shows around chelsea at present.
Teenage angst anyone………?
Check Matthew Monahan’s show at Anton Kern a real strong show!

semina October 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm

WIthout doubt one of the worst shows around chelsea at present.
Teenage angst anyone………?
Check Matthew Monahan’s show at Anton Kern a real strong show!

semina October 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm

WIthout doubt one of the worst shows around chelsea at present.
Teenage angst anyone………?
Check Matthew Monahan’s show at Anton Kern a real strong show!

semina October 13, 2008 at 8:45 am

WIthout doubt one of the worst shows around chelsea at present.
Teenage angst anyone………?
Check Matthew Monahan’s show at Anton Kern a real strong show!

Anon October 24, 2008 at 3:31 am

Why is she “relevant”? She is a well-connected downtown art-and-fashion-crowd person. The random fake-poor street cred enjoyed by Nate Lowman, et all. If she weren’t , people wouldn’t care. The reference to Prince is a bit hypocritical as she enjoys the same in-crowd audience as his (before Gagosian and the retrospective made him a bit too mainstream for some). Let’s face it, most people who make this level of bad work HAVE to be excellent and leading scenesters (see Dan Colen).

Anon October 24, 2008 at 3:31 am

Why is she “relevant”? She is a well-connected downtown art-and-fashion-crowd person. The random fake-poor street cred enjoyed by Nate Lowman, et all. If she weren’t , people wouldn’t care. The reference to Prince is a bit hypocritical as she enjoys the same in-crowd audience as his (before Gagosian and the retrospective made him a bit too mainstream for some). Let’s face it, most people who make this level of bad work HAVE to be excellent and leading scenesters (see Dan Colen).

Anon October 23, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Why is she “relevant”? She is a well-connected downtown art-and-fashion-crowd person. The random fake-poor street cred enjoyed by Nate Lowman, et all. If she weren’t , people wouldn’t care. The reference to Prince is a bit hypocritical as she enjoys the same in-crowd audience as his (before Gagosian and the retrospective made him a bit too mainstream for some). Let’s face it, most people who make this level of bad work HAVE to be excellent and leading scenesters (see Dan Colen).

Germaine Greer October 31, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Obviously you people are jealous of Rita Ackermann because all you get to do all day long is sit on the internet talking shit about her while she is too busy laughing straight to the bank from the profits of her beautiful paintings. She has no time to read your complaints, she is a busy woman making art! Hahaha!

Germaine Greer October 31, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Obviously you people are jealous of Rita Ackermann because all you get to do all day long is sit on the internet talking shit about her while she is too busy laughing straight to the bank from the profits of her beautiful paintings. She has no time to read your complaints, she is a busy woman making art! Hahaha!

Germaine Greer October 31, 2008 at 7:52 am

Obviously you people are jealous of Rita Ackermann because all you get to do all day long is sit on the internet talking shit about her while she is too busy laughing straight to the bank from the profits of her beautiful paintings. She has no time to read your complaints, she is a busy woman making art! Hahaha!

diegos December 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Rita Ackermann’s show had poetry, skill, and all these comments miss the point. Her work is ‘sloppy’ (the word doesn’t even apply here) on purpose, there is an existential angst about it, as well as an expressionistic feel to it, obviously….but that’s it…it is on purpose…would you call kieffer sloppy? or oelhen?

She has inspired many people and her independence is something to applaud…she emerged at a time when slick surfaces and read-made where all…and she showed up with raw, hand-made stuff, with a wierd voice that was at once private and loud….
rather than posting insensitive stuff, why not learn a little…? nothing wrong with education…it usually goes hand-in-hand with intelligence,,,thanks Rita, I’m off to try and get a book of yours, or as you well put it “I need air, gentlemen” and out of this nonsense.

diegos December 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Rita Ackermann’s show had poetry, skill, and all these comments miss the point. Her work is ‘sloppy’ (the word doesn’t even apply here) on purpose, there is an existential angst about it, as well as an expressionistic feel to it, obviously….but that’s it…it is on purpose…would you call kieffer sloppy? or oelhen?

She has inspired many people and her independence is something to applaud…she emerged at a time when slick surfaces and read-made where all…and she showed up with raw, hand-made stuff, with a wierd voice that was at once private and loud….
rather than posting insensitive stuff, why not learn a little…? nothing wrong with education…it usually goes hand-in-hand with intelligence,,,thanks Rita, I’m off to try and get a book of yours, or as you well put it “I need air, gentlemen” and out of this nonsense.

diegos December 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Rita Ackermann’s show had poetry, skill, and all these comments miss the point. Her work is ‘sloppy’ (the word doesn’t even apply here) on purpose, there is an existential angst about it, as well as an expressionistic feel to it, obviously….but that’s it…it is on purpose…would you call kieffer sloppy? or oelhen?

She has inspired many people and her independence is something to applaud…she emerged at a time when slick surfaces and read-made where all…and she showed up with raw, hand-made stuff, with a wierd voice that was at once private and loud….
rather than posting insensitive stuff, why not learn a little…? nothing wrong with education…it usually goes hand-in-hand with intelligence,,,thanks Rita, I’m off to try and get a book of yours, or as you well put it “I need air, gentlemen” and out of this nonsense.

diegos December 11, 2008 at 9:22 am

Rita Ackermann’s show had poetry, skill, and all these comments miss the point. Her work is ‘sloppy’ (the word doesn’t even apply here) on purpose, there is an existential angst about it, as well as an expressionistic feel to it, obviously….but that’s it…it is on purpose…would you call kieffer sloppy? or oelhen?

She has inspired many people and her independence is something to applaud…she emerged at a time when slick surfaces and read-made where all…and she showed up with raw, hand-made stuff, with a wierd voice that was at once private and loud….
rather than posting insensitive stuff, why not learn a little…? nothing wrong with education…it usually goes hand-in-hand with intelligence,,,thanks Rita, I’m off to try and get a book of yours, or as you well put it “I need air, gentlemen” and out of this nonsense.

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