Thursday, February 15, 2007

Shows to See...

Saw two really great shows that I highly recommend! First, I popped on over for the opening day to see the High Times, Hard Times: New York Painting 1967-1975 show at the National Academy Museum. Then I went down to NYU's Grey Art Gallery to see, Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle.

Both shows are extensive investigations of artists and their practices (with amazing supplementary catalogue material).

The High Times, Hard Times show deals with the under-recognized time period of art-making that deals with the expansion of new ideas in art, especially painting. Many of the artists deal with issues of what makes a painting a painting, and how much of the painter goes into the piece. It's an absolutely beautiful show that asks rather probing questions of the audience and doesn't accept easy answers.

The second show, Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle, delves deeply into the Beat Culture based out of California. It explores and chronicles the artist and his dynamic relationships to other artists, writers, photographers, and performers. The depth which this show covers is amazing.

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