So many Exhibitions, So Little Time

[small h]

Finally made it, a week before it closes. Good one this year!

[Wilfrid]

To MoMA for “The Red Studio” which closes soon. The titular painting is familiar of course. Part of the exhibit also displays the works pictured in that painting. Also enlightening is the other part of the exhibit which starts with the construction of the studio, then gives the history of the painting; I had forgotten that it hung at one time in a fancy nightclub in Soho.

But also I found a terrific canvas from Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park series hanging, I think, on the 3rd floor stairwell. How long has that been there?

[AaronS]

dia:beacon has a lot of stuff that wasn’t up in 2019. 

[bloviatrix]

39 minutes ago, AaronS said:

dia:beacon has a lot of stuff that wasn’t up in 2019. 

There's also stuff that was there last year that's not there now. Was talking with a colleague who was the last weekend and we traded notes.

[bloviatrix]

I'm so pissed that I missed Winslow Homer at The Met. Not sure how I let that pass by me.

[Wilfrid]

That was good, although I know you know that already. 
 

[joethefoodie]

8 hours ago, Wilfrid said:

That was good, although I know you know that already. 
 

So good I saw it twice.  This week, I really have to get to ICP to see the William Klein exhibit, which closes on the 12th. Found out that Thursday nights, between 6 PM and 9  PM, are their pay what you wish admission nights.

[bloviatrix]

Finally got to the Frick at the Breuer. It's such a different experience seeing the collection outside of the house.

[small h]

21 minutes ago, bloviatrix said:

It's such a different experience seeing the collection outside of the house.

It is! I went a few months ago. I might like it better. 

[Sneakeater]

I must have spent more time looking at The Red Studio than any other painting.  It's been a personal favorite since high school.

When I used to work in Midtown, I'd drop in to see it during lunch at least once a week.  Sometimes more.

So seeing that room with not only it but all the works depicted in it was like becoming reacquainted with a bunch of old friends.

Interestingly (to me if to no one else), I'd seen one of the constituent paintings -- Nude with a White Scarf -- in Copenhagen, but didn't realize it was in The Red Studio.

What was funny (to me if to no one else) is that, whenever I go to an exhibition at MoMA, I make it a practice to check in with The Red Studio on my way out.  I didn't have to do that this time.

[small h]

I was blown away by this, and the Brant Foundation just released more tickets.

https://www.brantfoundation.org/exhibitions/female-figure/?mc_cid=5584e6ec50&mc_eid=b9c050cff9

[Wilfrid]

Impressed and moved by “Hear Me Now” at the Met, an exhibit of 19th century work by enslaved potters in South Carolina. Not only are the pots beautiful, but there’s an extensive set of “face vessels,” jugs and cups and similar with hand-moulded faces on the exterior.

On top of that, works by contemporary artists inspired by these amazing artefacts. Medium-small exhibit but worth a detour as they say.

[Wilfrid]

“Just Above Midtown” at MoMA is also essential, for me because of the vast range of practices and outcomes. 
 

https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/art/just-above-midtown-changing-spaces

[Wilfrid]

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon catching up with the Chelsea galleries. I've added closing dates.

Zoey Frank (at Sugarlift). At first glance, just paintings of people in an apartment or having breakfast or hanging out on the stoop. The more you look, the more you see her achievement in fragmenting space and pulling it back together. I can't explain it, but mainly through use of diagonal lines that remind me of Diebenkorn's Ocean Park abstracts. (1/7)

Diana Copperwhite (at Thomas Jaeckel). Dublin-based painter of abstracts, both large scale and small. The large ones can be looked at for a long time without boredom. The small ones reminded me strongly of Howard Hodgkin. (12/23)

Sven Marquardt (at C24). Large B&W portraits of dancers. (12/23)

Kerry James Marshall (at Jack Shainman). I read these pictures as being very angry about how contemporary Black culture trivalises or tramples on historic Black experience.  (12/23)

Joan Mitchell (at David Zwirner). Relatively late paintings (1979-1985) but you know what to expect. (12/17)

Anselm Kiefer (at Gagosian). This was very busy. Gigantic paintings, mostly of architectural interiors and exteriors, with objects attached. The word that came to mind as I looked was "bombastic." Followed by, "I am rich and famous and have lots of studio assistants and only Gagosian is big enough to show these." The stream of shopping trolleys affixed to a painting made me think of reindeers pulling Santa's sleigh. Some of the paintings also have portentous texts added. I don't know why Kiefer is dragging Paul Celan into this, but he should have enough respect not to run out of space for the quote. (12/23)

And then I thought I was done, but ran into @AaronSon 10th Avenue and he sent me to see sound installations by Camille Norment (at Dia). I especially liked the one in the enormous room filled with wood. (1/1)

[AaronS]

didn't manage to see the copperwhite but the frank and marshall shows were terrific, and if you're over there see the keifer and the norment too.