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2.19.2009

Grids and Lattices

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Grids viewed through a grid: Mary Heilmann's Two Lane Blacktop, up through February 21, at 303 Gallery (the gallery has a no-photo policy, but that doesn't extend to the sidewalk). This exhibition follows her fabulous show at The New Museum


If you read this blog even ocasionally, you know I go looking for geometry and grid-based abstraction. But sometimes even I’m astonished by the synchronous appearance of so many really good exhibitions on one theme. I'm a bit late with this post; between Marketing Mondays and Blogpix (see sidebar also) my posting time has been tight. While some of the shows are down, many live on in the galleries' respective websites. Let me connect some dots for you:



Robert Irwin's Red Drawing, White Drawing, Black Painting installation at Pace Wildenstein, up through February 28.
"What I'm trying to do is eliminate the frame . . and put you in direct relationship to the real power, which is your ability to perceive, " Irwin has said
Irwin's work, fluorescent lights in a non-repeating grid installed on large walls, is shown above and below


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Light without the electricity: Susie Rosmarin at Danese.
The show ended February 7, but the wattage is undiminished. Rosmarin's meticulously crafted paintings draw on op art, hard-edge abstraction and even textile pattern

Above: detail of the acrylic painting shown below



Installation view: Susie Rosmarin at Danese

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Thornton Willis at Elizabeth Harris. This is a peek at Willis's upcoming show, March 19-April 18
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Imi Knoebel at Mary Boone Gallery, Chelsea. The show ended February 14.
Knoebel makes dimensional paintings, or planar sculpture, whose inviting hues and slight dimension create an almost cinematic viewing experience.


And how perfect is that architectural echo?




All the works are wall size except these three below:
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Unexpected:
On the way top MoMA, I saw the grid, above, in the subway.
When I got to the museum and looked down into the atrium, there was the grid in progress below. Sol Lewitt channeling Agnes Martin?

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20 comments:

Barbara J Carter said...

Wow, lots of good stuff. I'm especially in love with Knoebel's work. Wish I could have seen it in person.

Anonymous said...

I love this post! Thanks!

Eva

Anonymous said...

Those little Knoebels are my favorite.
This guy @ lookawry.com/ has a similar feel, though what Knoebel picks up in the fun, which loses some of the clarity in the structure, the link sits it back up, and does some talking to.

Nice to hear some art.

Word verification 'blawdreh'. Today, I'm a Blawdreh.

Thanks Joanne

Brent

Joanne Mattera said...

Brent (or should I say Blawdreh),

Yes, is nice to have some art again. Between Marketing Mondays and my fits about gay issues and Holland's comment, the art has taken a back seat.

I've got more good stuff coming up: Ellsworth Kelly (the work on paper is fabulous); Fred Sandback; SoHo Geo; and as soon as the Blogpix opening takes place, a big picture-rich post of the who, what, when, where.

I've also interviewed Stephen Haller on his friendship, many years ago, with Giorgio Morandi. I'm taking my time with that one because I want to get it just right.

Funny you mention the word verification. I was thinking of doing a series based on the words that come up.

Yours,
"Regolarb"

Stephanie Clayton said...

I'm keen to see some of Knoebel's work in person. Those smaller ones (photo of three side by side) intrigue me the most.

There's that painting-sculpture quality, that physicality, which I've been exploring in my own work lately.

I've enjoyed this post; thank you!

Anonymous said...

word verification is the exquisite corpse of our age,

Nancy Natale said...

Great post, Joanne! Thanks not only for the grids and geometry but for the COLOR!!! I'm sick of grey with the occasional white. Boooooring.

(my alias - "chird" - an elipse of chirping bird)

Anonymous said...

Joanne, thanks for letting us in on what's coming up. I'm looking forward. Not sure what vc means, but hopefully something good.

Ransest

Aka

Brent

Anonymous said...

Hey, are you going to do the NYC fairs like you do the Miami ones? Please do! Then I won't have to go.

word verification:

clananti

then torboel

Joanne Mattera said...

Oriane,

I won't be covering the NYC fairs the way I do for Miami--that's a once-a-year obsesso-palooza event. But I am planning to take a lot of pictures and do at least one overview of trends and interesting/quirky objects, or whateverhits me as a postable topic.

This time around I'm involved with Blogpix at the Platform Project Space for both an opening and a Saturday panel (see sidebar right for more info), and I'll have work with DM Contemporary at the Bridge Art Fair. I'll post a blog announcement about everything on Wednesdaay the 4th, which will remain up for several days.

Yours,
"Redicar"

Anonymous said...

greatness!

tony said...

Brent - I can see what you mean about the Tilman/Knoebel connection but for me it's a little like comparing a snack to a meal; they can both be pleasing but one is more sustaining.

Anonymous said...

I think Tilman does look pretty close at Knoebel, that's for sure. I think also the two are on about very different things. So maybe it wasn't the best idea to put in that link. Though, for many, both artists would draw a blank, so that's the reason I linked, Tony -- just to give a wider...
The similarity, at this and current intersection, will lose itself... so further down the line we'll see this as a passing toot, a honking of the horns.. each to their roads, rides, riffs, and territories.

Anyways, I mailed you, and received a great mail back. Thanks.

\(^∀^)メ(^∀^)ノ

congrer
gantl

brent

tony said...

Do you know the family tree drawings of Ad Reinhardt where he plots out the relationship between art movements and painters ? I've been trying to put Ellsworth Kelly & Barney Newman (et alia) to rest for years and still the buggers refuse to lie down. Maybe Joanne you ought to curate an exhibition called 'GRIDS & LATTICES', in which living painters put their work alongside those from the past who have influenced them; after all the Oedipus complex seems to make up part of a painter's psyche & airing it could be healthy.

Anonymous said...

Another great post and images Joanne! Looking forward to Ellsworth Kelly coverage. I too am glad for return to the art coverage, but I also found much validity in your other recent posts (cotter, Maureen, marketing).

Thanks,
rubbi (Bill)

Anonymous said...

BTW, the Thornton Willis is astonishing. I hope E Harris posts more images.

Joanne Mattera said...

Tony,
I love your idea of a curated show of Grids and Lattices. Tell you what, when I become the curator of contemporary art at MoMA in my next life, I'm on it! In the meantime, Minus Space (www.minus space.com) does a wonderful job with reductive work, and Geoform (www.geoform.net) with a broader range of geometric work, so there's a lot to look at on both sites.

Vittorio,
I'm guessing Elizabeth Harris will post more Thornton Willis pics when the show goes up. But never fear, I will cover that show. (GeoMetrics II opens the name night on the LES--see info on mmy blog sidebar--so I won't be at Thornton's opening, but I will see and photograph the show. And post images, of course.)

BTW, I'm waiting for you to organize an online Cadavre Exquis based on our verification words. Will you think about it? Count me in to participate!

Jeffrey Collins said...

Really digging the Knoebel photos. Wish I could have seen it in person. Lots of wonderfully bright colors for a dreary winter.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I'll curate Gourds and Lettuces.

Anonymous said...

re the online Cadavre Exquis
yes, someone should definitely do that. :)

chawed
i kid you not