5 from 1: Paul Booker
5 from 1 presents the work of one artist in conversation with five sources that are driving their studio practice. The rest is up to you. Paul Booker (link) Balloon Form Spiral #2, 2009 ink, Lexan, steel pins 7″ x 9″x 11″
Pick of the Week for March 26th, 2012
–Ellsworth Kelly at Matthew Marks, LA and LACMA– Ellsworth Kelly’s stunning show at the newly minted Matthew Marks Gallery in Los Angeles is sublime. Flat color and form dance on the walls with natural light bathing the space like a Bonnard Nude. The Gallery facade itself is a work of art by Kelly proving art [...]
The Singularity of his Absence
Statements made by artists are often regarded as the key to understanding their work. Art critics look to artists to set the theoretical framework surrounding their art; art historians use artists talking about other artists to establish chains of influences or schools of artmaking; and exhibitions use artist quotes on introductory labels or videos of [...]
“A Tribute to Mike Kelley” at MOCA
Mike Kelley’s untimely death sent a shockwave throughout the art world. It seemed unthinkable that L.A.’s subversive “bad boy” artist was gone. Within two weeks of his death, MOCA L.A. organized a special tribute exhibition celebrating Kelley’s work. Knowing how far in advance museums plan exhibitions, this is nothing short of miraculous. The 23 exhibited [...]
Pick of the Week for March 19th, 2012
–Frick Byers at Sam Lee Gallery– A good work of art can impress upon first sight. An even better work of art follows you out of the gallery and keeps you thinking weeks after the gallery visit. Frick Byers‘ Tennis Courts affects the latter’s subterranean magic where it is on view at Sam Lee Gallery [...]
Los Angeles Wrap Up: Ming Wong at REDCAT
Ming Wong, study for “Making Chinatown,” 2011. courtesy of REDCAT. One of the best things I saw while in Los Angeles was Ming Wong’s Making Chinatown at REDCAT. The Singapore-born, Berlin-based artist turned the gallery space into a fake studio back lot and projected pivotal scenes which he’d re-shot from Roman Polanski’s 1974 film Chinatown. [...]
CAA Part II: Design, Food, Weegee and Naked Hollywood
The College Art Association Conference was a great excuse to play in L.A. for a few days. Arriving at the swanky L.A. Marriott Live hotel, I immediately noticed the intersection between art, design and advertising. The bathroom lobby resembled a pink Dan Flavin installation. Huge Guess banners filled the lobby walls and columns. Guess [...]
Five Artists at CAA
The saying goes that if you are a curator you educate yourself publicly. In other words, you are constantly in a process of learning and integrating that knowledge into exhibitions and public programs you produce. As a full-time student at Rice University, I have taken my education out of the public sphere for the most [...]
CAA Part I: Conference Highlights
Mary Kelly, “Post-Partum Document 1973-79 Documentation I Analyzed fecal stains and feeding” My grumble with College Art Association conferences is that historically the programming primarily targets art historians. Last year’s New York conference was a notable exception with some of my favorite artists on the roster. Shirin Neshat participated in a panel on censorship. The [...]
