While all the Hottentots were busy with the Armory Show and its offshoots, Toto and I took time to take in a few shows in Chelsea. Here's what we saw:
KEN PRICE @ MATTHEW MARKS GALLERY - Fun, fun, fun. These witty ceramic works are finished with gorgeous painted surfaces that are channeling the spirit and voluptuousness of Austrian glass from the turn of the last century. We loved the deflated Macy's Thanksgiving Day float in luminous gold as we entered the front door and continued through the entire exhibit. A favorite: the tubular 360 tube in Loetz peacock blue!
Up until April 17, 2010 - VERY FUN! TOTO AND I BOTH SAY GO!!
JAN DIBBETS @ GLADSTONE GALLERY - Ellsworth Kelly meets Todd Hido. Deceptively simple photographs are juxtaposed at right-angles which combine the horizon lines contained in both photos. Varied photo sizes as well as placement on the larger paper field add enough variety to the mix while a perimeter line in graphite unite them. Fanciful and not unpleasant.
Up until January 16, 2010 - WORTH A LOOK!
BILL JENSEN @ CHEIM & READ - An 80's stalwart re-emerges as an apostle of abstract painting. Jensen has refined his palette and style to his benefit. His surfaces are less tortured then they once were and his color choices have brightened. Compact and well composed, many of these paintings are truly delightful. The show also features many black & white drawings that seem to reflect the artist's study of Chinese Philosophy, the escape hatch for most American Abstract Painters today.
Up until MARCH 27, 2010 - I APPRECIATED THE EFFORT MORE THAN TOTO! DEFINITELY FOR DIE-HARD PAINTHEADS!!
JOE BRADLEY & CHRIS MARCH @ MITCHELL-INNES & NASH - This two-man show juxtaposes the delicious painterly excesses of our city's foremost painters, Mr. March, with an acolyte of the Minimalist school, Mr. Bradley. The two play off each other well displaying a nice study in painterly composition and construction! Mr. March in particular shines with large exuberant paintings.
Up until March 27, 2010 - DON'T MISS!!
Also seen:
WOLFGANG TILLMANS @ ANDREA ROSEN GALLERY - A sprawling photographic installation of Mr. Tillmans’ snapshots. I think Mr. Tillmans may have found his 'happy medium' in the large-scale photos in the smaller second gallery. These large vertical works seem to work best for his images. Lesson learnt, Mr. Tillmans? Let's hope so. WORTH A QUICK PEEK.
GARY SIMMONS @ METRO PICTURES GALLERY - These white on black images of movie palaces and drive-ins are nicely rendered and executed. The enormous wall drawing in the back gallery is a tour-de-force!! MAKE A WALK-THRU.
CANDIDA HOFER @ SONNABEND - More of the usual from Empress of the Interior. Cold and a bit more washed-out than usual. The standout image is in the rear gallery of the a wonderfully rococo interior littered with empty Phillip Stark Ghost Chairs. HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE BACK AND LOOK RIGHT. THEN LEAVE.
TONY SMITH @ GAGOSIAN GALLERY - A blue-chip show of America's grandfather of abstract sculpture. Simple, direct and nicely curated. IF YOU MUST.
PETER HALLEY @ MARY BOONE GALLERY - More Cells and Conduits in 80's day-glo and glitter. Does anyone still buy these? Does anyone still buy this? Hello Mr. Halley? 1988 is calling; it wants its hair scrunchy back. SKIP IT.
