Saw some good shows today in Chelsea. Just made it under the wire on some of them.
1. Cheim & Read is showing Pat Steir's beautifully modulated, tonal, poured and dripped paintings consisting of paint layers merging with the canvas, weaving into one another, generating light and texture effortlessly. The "thereness" that thrilled me years ago when I first saw Helen Frankenthaler, are present in these poetic, expansive works.
http://www.cheimread.com/exhibitions/2014-02-20_pat-steir/
1. Cheim & Read is showing Pat Steir's beautifully modulated, tonal, poured and dripped paintings consisting of paint layers merging with the canvas, weaving into one another, generating light and texture effortlessly. The "thereness" that thrilled me years ago when I first saw Helen Frankenthaler, are present in these poetic, expansive works.
http://www.cheimread.com/exhibitions/2014-02-20_pat-steir/
2. Kiki Smith's exhibition at Pace Gallery contain Jacquard Tapestries which are so finely textured and woven that i was knocked out. Smith's work is enriched by the textural quality of the fabric - the fit was perfect. The fairy-tale mythic nature of her imagery conveys the innocence of childhood - an innocence that all good artists never lose or abandon to self-conscious repetitiveness.
https://www.pacegallery.com/newyork/exhibitions/12650/kiki-smith
https://www.pacegallery.com/newyork/exhibitions/12650/kiki-smith
3. Chuck Close Nudes 1967-2014 - primarily made up of large polaroids with a mysterious group of daguerrotypes installed on a shelf. I was most fascinated by the evolution of pubic hair - shaved, waxed, grown out, etc. over the years. Various testicle and nipple sizes, shapes, were also something my friend and I were fascinated by. The latest works which were also large polaroids reminded me of Mapplethorpe wrought large.
https://www.pacegallery.com/newyork/exhibitions/12653/nudes-1967-2014
https://www.pacegallery.com/newyork/exhibitions/12653/nudes-1967-2014
4. Sarah Lucas in her first solo show in 10 years at Barbara Gladstone Gallery exhibits gigantic cast concrete phalluses- what can you say? I wondered who the model was? But I discovered a new word NOB - a british slang term for a penis - the title of the show is Nud Nob. One learns something important everyday! This exhibition was amusing and very very out there and according to the press release: "... Language and its potential for both poetic alliteration and sly allusion is central to Lucas's works, and her titles often draw on slang, puns, and historical references to invoke allusions that are variously erotic, romantic, and funny..."
http://www.gladstonegallery.com/exhibition/8487#&panel1-1
http://www.gladstonegallery.com/exhibition/8487#&panel1-1
