Whitney - Sixties Surreal

[MitchW]

The Sixties Surreal exhibition will involve at least one more visit, as one of the people I was with insisted on talking the whole time...https://whitney.org/exhibitions/sixties-surreal  But I'd go back anyway.

There's also a great gallery filled with Claes Oldenburg drawings...https://whitney.org/exhibitions/claes-oldenburg   I didn't know that the Whitney holds an extensive collection of Oldenburg drawings.

And their holdings never fail to make me happy...

 

Second Story Sunlight (1960)

Hollywood Africans (1983)

[Wilfrid]

I saw the Oldenburgs last time I was there. I had only associated him with sculpture.

I look forward to this show. Maybe the mods could drop an "n" in the Whitney in the thread title?

[MitchW]

On 10/3/2025 at 10:39 AM, Wilfrid said:

I saw the Oldenburgs last time I was there. I had only associated him with sculpture.

I look forward to this show. Maybe the mods could drop an "n" in the Whitney in the thread title?

OMG - I didn’t even see that!  

[maison rustique]

I looked at it 3 times before I had the courage to click. LOL!

[bloviatrix]

On 10/3/2025 at 8:50 AM, MitchW said:

The Sixties Surreal exhibition will involve at least one more visit, as one of the people I was with insisted on talking the whole time...

And this is why I typically prefer going to exhibits by myself. It's fun going with friends, but when I really want to immerse myself I need to be alone.

[Wilfrid]

Went today. Curious one. It's an interesting and in-depth examination of a period of wacky/experimental art, post-serious abstraction, more-or-less pop adjacent. But I didn't come away thinking I'd seen anything which knocked me out. Lots of artists I had never heard of.

Not that I am given to pedantry but quite a few works seemed to have little connection with surrealism as such.

[MitchW]

Went back yesterday to get a better look - it (the Sixties Surreal show) is definitely weird and wacky.  Keep your eye out for a wonderful Arbus or two, and a few other lovely pieces...

It was our lucky day however, as it was member's only preview day of a show opening today...

High Wire: Calder's Circus at 100

Quote

In 1926, Calder began constructing his miniature multi-act spectacle while living in Paris, using commonplace materials—wire, fabric, cork, wood, string, and found objects—to create a cast of acrobats, animals, and other circus performers including clowns, a sword swallower, and a ringmaster. The figures were brought to life through performances that Calder staged for audiences of artists and friends, among them Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, and Isamu Noguchi.

We both absolutely enjoyed this, and practically had the gallery to ourselves.  Even watched the video, which is of (an older) Calder enacting the circus.  Great stuff - art that makes you laugh and smile.