Shag-a-riffic—We skipped spring and went straight to summer, SMH. Anyway there will be a fantastic shagarific show at Jonathan Levine Gallery featuring the hep cat feel of the late 1960’s painting and illustration. I’m sure everyone will be in a good mood/vibe. For some amazing photo-realistic paintings, check out Melodie Provenzano at the Nancy Margolis Gallery. Have a hep night!
Michael Heizer
Altars
Gagosian Gallery NYC
Epic works on a grand scale. These are monumental works that to his quote “Size is real. Scale is imagined sized” He plays with the real thing at a monumental scale. He dragged a huge boulder through LA and deposited it at LACAMA over a trench that you can walk under and here at Gagosian you can see additional hugh examples of boulders in the negative. Check it out through July 2, 2015.
Thursday Chelsea NYC Gallery Map
(2-5-15)
Slush This!— Sculpture and more sculpture. Mathew Marks Gallery has two concurrent shows opening Thursday night that feature old and new sculptural work by Tony Smith and Charles Ray. Should be a monumental night, check it out.
Maayan Strauss
Seven Sinks
Andrea Meislin Gallery
Very peculiar piece from a photo gallery. This sculptural piece is a readymade with 7 sinks synchronized to play with sound. The table top is a photograph (that’s where the photo gallery part comes in play) of marble that will deteriorate over time. The sculpture takes up almost the entire footprint of the gallery. Check it out through February 28, 2015
Rain Got You Down? See some sculpture!—It’s been raining lately, but there are some great shows on tonight that will brighten your mood. Galerie LeLong has work by Ursula von Rydingsvard. She produces massive sculptures that look like bulbous, withered, inverted tree trunks made out of Cedar. She has outdoor pieces at Storm King that are amazing in their scale. It wíll be nice to see smaller more intimate pieces. Magnan Metz gallery has a room filled installation (love this stuff) that contains an inverted buck, antlers down. Check it out.
Mass MOCA
North Adams, MA
Great new shows and buildings are open to preview great art. There is a new building for Anselm Kiefer that is sited on campus. 3 amazing pieces that speak to the healing process of Germany sponsored by the Hall Art Foundation. Also worth checking out is the Octogon Room which was inspired by true life events. Lots of Dioramas onsite as well as Live music and outdoor events (we just missed a live BECK show). Put this on your map. Also a 25 year sited show by Sol LeWitt. Amazing. Check it out.
Jakkai Siributr
“Transient Shelter”
Pictured above is Jakkai Siributr and Monica Welsh. There are 2 sections of his work. One set is earlier work that is more abstract and intricate set off separately from the main show of new work. Current pieces consist of hand stitched uniforms representative of Thailand and photographs of the artist wearing the same uniforms. Culturally these are common style of portraits from Thailand but there is an incongruity between the pacifism of Buddhist teachings and the military outfits that occupy the same space culturally. A beautiful and elegant show. Check it out.
trfineart.com
Julian Schnabel
“View of Dawn in the tropics: Paintings, 1989-1990”
Gagosian Gallery on 24th
Very surprising show. Even though the canvasses are 25 years old, they still seem fresh and of the moment, a little Basquiat with some of the word and type treatments, but the canvasses are huge. All were painted “En plein air” and have an urgent active feeling. Definitely worth checking out.
gagosian.com
Julian Schnabel has a big show at Gagosian Gallery on 24th as well as Thai Artist Jakkal Siributr has a Cindy Shermanesque show of photos. Check it out.
Mike Mellia “Our Side of the Story: South Sudan”
Mike was kind enough to invite me to his opening last night and to chat with me a bit about his new work. Each photograph is a portrait of South Sudanese who managed to not only escape there war torn country but flourish here in America. The photo’s have a beautiful Chiaroscuro look focusing on the amazing faces of these brave people. This show is well worth seeing! #mikemellia #southsudanese #nykhorpaul
Tapir Editions Gallery, 39 White Street, NYC