I think this picture about says it all.
This is a jewel of an exhibition: small, well curated, riveting. The works are breathtaking in and of themselves, together they create a surprisingly intimate look at Van Gogh's vision, intellect and strength of will. Truly moving. It is worth the sheer emotional drain of setting foot in MoMa and facing the crowds. Don't let the Baroque and rather draconian admission rules (outlined below) deter you.
"Please note: If you plan to see the exhibition Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night (Through January 5, 2009), be aware that gallery occupancy is limited and timed entry tickets are necessary to visit those galleries. Only same-day Van Gogh tickets remain and are distributed daily at the Museum on a first come, first served basis. Members and accompanying guests are not required to obtain timed tickets. Simply present your membership card and/or member guest admission ticket at exhibition entrance.
Online ticket buyers are not required to obtain a timed entry ticket, but can simply present their online ticket at the exhibition entrance on the second floor. This ticket also permits you to all other Museum galleries, exhibitions, and films. Corporate Members are required to obtain timed tickets. "
Also on view at MoMa, in the "drawing" gallery is:
Marlene Dumas: Measuring Your Own Grave
December 14, 2008–February 16, 2009
This is an uneven but sometimes magical exhibit of watercolors, drawings and collages by the South African artist. Her figurative, erotically charged watercolors make humans look like the fragile sacks of fluid that we are, and hover strangely close to being photographically real while remaining steadfastly gestural. Of particular note is the striking series of portraits of Jesus, taken from various paintings, which cover a wall like mug shots, blurry and impossible to grasp. A revelation.
Skip the collages and feel free to skim past work that doesn't immediately grab you. This show is huge, ungainly and needs serious editing.
While you are at it, scoot over to the 4th floor to see the wonderful display of works by Eva Hesse, Joseph Beuys (be sure to read the list describing the materials used in his works), the Robert Rauchenberg combines and the fabulous Claes Oldenburg soft sculptures. There is also a Robert Morris sculpture using mirrors and discarded thread and wool and a Louise Bourgeois Phallus that are must-sees.
There is also a large Sol LeWitt wall drawing, which will remain up until June, 2009. This is more Diagrammatic than many of his other works and has an almost quilt-like feel to it that seems, in contrast downright pictorial.
Having tasted the LeWitt,
get yourself over to Massachusetts:
to MassMoca, in Beautiful North Adams, for an eye-popping Sol LeWitt wall drawing extravaganza!
you have time with this one- it's up until 2033.
this picure is from the Dia Art Foundation, but you get the idea...
Yes, it does have three whole floors of them.
There are other intriguing exhibits to see there as well, so give yourself time for this one.
If this is beginning to seem as if I endorse huge, barn-like mega-art-warehouses, don't be fooled. I loathe being overloaded and advise picking and choosing what to look at. The very quality of the above two institutions makes them impossible to ignore, despite their objectionable enormousness.
While in Massachusetts, sidle on over to Lincoln ,Ma.
and catch the last few days of "Drawn to Detail" at the Lovely DeCordova Museum.
The exhibit ends January 4th!
see:
http://www.decordova.org/decordova/exhibit/2008/Drawn%20to%20Detail/Drawn%20to%20Detail.htm for details(ha!)
RUSSELL CROTTY / Surf Works: 1988 - 2008
January 17 - February 21, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday / January 17 /
5 - 7 pm
SHOSHANA WAYNE GALLERY
2525 Michigan Ave. B1
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310 453 7535
I love Russell Crotty's work.
A die-hard surfer and amateur astronomer, Crotty has for years been trying to capture and document the motions of the sea and stars. his highly accurate yet personal night sky drawings are wondrous. His surf diaries and drawings more frenetic, more gestural, as he scrambles to capture in an instant the path and shape of a wave and the surfer riding it. This is investigative, passionate, personal drawing at it's best. If you are lucky enough to be in L.A. by all means go...
In New Orleans:
Prospect One, [P.1], the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States, opened to the public on November 1, 2008 in museums, historic buildings, and found sites throughout New Orleans.
closes soon: January 18, 2009
Ok, so it's huge too.
but it was also curated by the brilliant Dan Cameron, and takes one on a breathtaking tour of New Orleans, including the Katrina decimated lower 9th ward, and features a really interesting mix of contemporary art's brightest and best.
the website is very nice-see: http://www.prospectneworleans.org/as is all of the design work for this enormous and ambitious project.
If you can actually visit in person, super. If not take a virtual tour and save the wear and tear on the feet. A worthy project truly well-done.
Back In NYC:
a goofier, more contemporary counterpart to the venerable Cooper-Hewitt, the madmuseum promises lots of fun, great design, and has finally done something nice with that awful building on Columbus Circle- Yay!
http://madmuseum.org/
So- that's a nice round-up to get the new year started, but really- Huge and overwhelming is SO 2008- we all know that in 2009 the vibe is downsized, low-key, low-cost and ingenuity will be everything.
Pink Poodles are SO 2008, don't you agree?
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