make it red: March 2013

Saturday, March 9, 2013

NY Armory Show 2013: Top 11 Things to See

There are a bunch of art fairs in New York City through this weekend. Of course, the biggest is the Armory Show. Here is a look at what I thought was most interesting:

1. Yossi Milo Gallery, Booth 714

Yossi Milo continues to show a broad range of approaches to photography. Featured this year are work by Julie Cockburn, Matthew Brandt, Pieter Hugo, Mark Ruwadel, and Myoung Ho Lee.

Julie Cockburn at Yossi Milo

Pieter Hugo at Yossi Milo

Myoung Ho Lee at Yossi Milo

Matthew Brandt at Yossi Milo

2. Michael Kohn Gallery, Booth 509

I like the cacophony of signs and symbols in the paintings of Ryan McGinness and the idiosyncratic wackiness of Dennis Hollingsworth.

Ryan McGinness at Micheal Kohn

Ryan McGinness at Micheal Kohn (detail)

Ryan McGinness at Micheal Kohn

Ryan McGinness at Micheal Kohn (detail)

Dennis Hollingsworth at Micheal Kohn

3. David Reed at Peter Blum, Booth 705b

The preparatory sketches and working notes for David Reed's abstract paintings offered insight into his process. This collection was the pleasant surprise of the show.

David Reed at Peter Blum

4. Mel Bochner at Two Palms

Bochner showed two large monoprints with collaged elements. Paint like candy.

Mel Bochner at Two Palms

Mel Bochner at Two Palms (detail)

5. Matt Mullican at Mai 36 Gallerie

I like that several galleries focused on the work of a sole artist. Mai 36 Gallerie showed a body of work by Matt Mullican titled Glen turns 40, 1973 - 2013. Mullican wrote: "In 1973, I wanted to prove that stick figures live lives."

Matt Mullican at Mai 36 Gallerie

6. Tony Tassett at Kavi Gupta

Tasset produced an incredibly life-like, life-sized snowman made out of glass and resin titled Snowman with Yellow Glove.

Tony Tassett at Kavi Gupta

7. Leo Koenig Gallery, Booth 511

Leo Koenig showed work by Tony Matelli, Brandon Lattu, Anoka Faruqee, among others.

Leo Koenig Gallery, front of Booth

Brandon Lattu at Leo Koenig (detail)

Brandon Lattu at Leo Koenig

Tony Matelli at Leo Koenig

Anoka Faruqee at Leo Koenig

Anoka Faruqee at Leo Koenig (detail)

8. Galerie Eva Presenhuber

Galerie Eva Presenhuber displayed work by Carroll Dunham, Ugo Rondinone, Jay DeFeo and Doug Aitken, and Andrew Lord among others.

Ugo Rondinone at Eva Presenhuber

Doug Aitken at Eva Presenhuber

Carroll Dunham at Eva Presenhuber

Andrew Lord at Eva Presenhuber

9. Georg Baselitz at Galerie Michael Schultz, Booth 426

Good to see a piece by a master of German Neo-Expressionism.

Georg Baselitz at Michael Schultz

10. Jason Martin

I saw the work of Jason Martin at a number of galleries, including Wettterling, Galerie Forsblom, and Lisson Gallery.

Jason Martin at Wetterling

Jason Martin at Lisson

11. Todd Pavlisko at Samson Projects, Booth 910

I'm not sure how drug paraphernalia, comedian Richard Pryor, boxer Joe Louis and chess grandmaster Bobby Fisher all tie together, but I liked the manic energy of Todd Pavlisko's installation at Samson Projects.

Todd Pavlisko at Samson Projects

Individual Photography Instruction and Mentoring: March Discounts

I've really enjoyed the private classes and individual photography instruction I've been doing over the past year. With most of the photographers I've worked with, the process is ongoing -- and it has been rewarding to see the progress they have made. I'd like to offer an incentive to anyone who has been thinking about signing up for a consult: for new clients, I'm offering a discount of 50% off my regular rate for the first session. This offer is good through the end of March.

Every meeting is tailored to your goals, whether it be getting feedback on a new project or brushing up on Photoshop technique. Recently, I have worked with clients editing and sequencing a series of photographs for publication, taught a private class in the elements of composition and the language of photographic vision, and assisted a client in mastering the nuances of fine art printing.

For more information about private instruction and consultation, please see my Services page or contact me directly.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Philip Trager at the New York Public Library

Philip Trager is well known for his photographs of dancers. A recent exhibition at the New York Public Library surveyed his earlier work, primarily architectural photographs taken in New York City, Connecticut and the Southwest. It is easy to see the consistencies of Trager's approach in both bodies of work: in particular, his use of diagonals, his very active method of framing, and his emphasis on flowing lines.

However, a series of photographs of historic buildings in Connecticut really captured my attention. At first, they give the impression of being somewhat detached and coldly formal. My experience of looking at them began by noting the overall symmetry, and then taking pleasure in observing where the symmetry broke down -- a dark window on left side mirrored by a light one on the right or a curved railing here matched by a rectangular one there, for example.

Often improbably tightly cropped, Trager clearly was paying attention to how to fit his subject within the frame.

There is something odd about these houses -- they almost seem sentient, despite their drawn curtains and dark windows. And that is where the real interest begins. These are not just formal studies of how to arrange dark and light shapes within a frame. Through their crooked lines and a use of a perspective which in some images pulls us in (see the arched windows at the top of the image just above) and in others push us back --- Trager's houses appear to breathe.

These images -- which may initially appear simple and direct -- reward a careful viewing. We can talk about the speed of an image: how long does it take a viewer to take it in before moving on to the next one? What I like about Trager's architectural studies is that they seem fast but actually are slow. A fast image can entice and seduce. Generally a viewer reacts to a fast image. A slow image is more work, but it gives the viewer something to do. A viewer participates in a slow image.

Ultimately, participation is the more rewarding experience.

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