Tyler Rollins Gallery-> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

"★★★★★"

Review of Tyler Rollins -> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

I was delighted to hear that a Cambodian artist was going to be exhibiting in
NYC so I rushed over to the Tyler Rollins Fine Art Gallery with high expectations! It is always, always, always very refreshing to see art that has organically come out of different cultures especially ones that we don't get exposed to very often. Also its nice when art is not steeped and buried by art history and can be approached without an MFA. This is exactly why Pich's work is so exciting for me. Deeply symbolic without loosing its message or emotion. This show is a success! The Pulse Within even though it is a small show is very engrossing. Pich is going to be remembered as a great artist. I really recommend reading the press release section below because we get a real insight into Pich's creative reasoning and creative process. Even without the press release the same message gets conveyed which is very hard with sculpture. ADD THIS ART SHOW TO YOUR LIST.

Press Release of Tyler Rollins -> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

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ERNEST RUBENSTEIN GALLERY -> HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side group show

"Five Stars""★★★★★"

Review of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

This was a wonderful and engaging show exhibiting twelve artists who have lived in the Lower East Side for many years. When you first walk in you are greeted by a group of wonderfully organic wood sculptures cleverly crafted from old tree Branches and twigs that were then woven into a meaningful narrative. After this lovely greeting you are taken though a great and diverse set of work ranging from architectural photos to Vampire anatomy drawings to woven quilts to abstract gold leaf pieces. Despite the enormous variety in the show everything came together both visually and emotionally. Overall you leave the show with a very satisfied creative stomach after witnessing such solid and grounded work. I could really tell this show was not about making political statements, about bringing to light a controversial subject or about exposing some injustice. This show was about artists who are fulfilling the creative void that exists in the world and about doing the kind of art that is fulfilling instead of selling out. I highly recommend this art show!

Artists: Kuki Gomez. Deborah Holcombe, William Holton, Katherine Jackson, Tim Lomas, Jill London, Tim Milk, Paul Nowell, chev d'orange, John Pavlou, Suchitra Van and April Vollmer.

Press release of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

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Claire Oliver -> Beth Cavener Stichter: On Tender Hooks

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"
On Tender Hooks Press Release (PDF)

Review of Claire Oliver -> Beth Cavener Stichter: On Tender Hooks Art show:

This show was spot on! Wonderfully skilled artist Beth Cavener Sticher really stole my night's attention. Her sculpture is not plaster but actually hollowed out clay which shows her extream attention to detail. Aside from the OOOhs and AAAhs of her craftsmenship is her subject matter. A starving rabit or two gay goats and some equally charged sculptures "On Tender Hooks" is a wonderful confrontation of large issues that plaugh our would today. Its always a relife when an artist doesn't present the matter in a pretentious higher than thou manner, but instead takes the more subtle route. That's exactaly what Stichter does and then takes it to anouther level by not only documenting issues that go on forgotten but she recontextulizes them into a creative bizare yet powerful way. The artists emotion is ratiating from the peices, i mean how could it not if you spend so many hours and days working stroke by stroke on a peice of art. I highly recomend heading over to the Claire Oliver Gallery for a look! Even though there aren't many peices its still worth the trip!

Claire Oliver -> Beth Cavener Stichter: On Tender Hooks website

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Cavin-Morris Gallery ->Lidia Syroka & Tim Rowan: Nomadic Bodies & Stone Ridge Alchemy

"★★★"

Review of Cavin-Morris Gallery ->Lidia Syroka & Tim Rowan: Nomadic Bodies & Stone Ridge Alchemy:

This show was confusing for me. The art was well crafted and had a great amount of depth and certainly accomplished it's purpose. But, (there's always a but) some how the pieces seemed commercial like maybe you could find the same stuff in a home furnishings store in Tribeca.I just couldn't shake this feeling like the artists created the sculptures and paintings with the intent on selling for income. I'm probably wrong about that, but you'll have to see for yourself. Maybe I've seen similarly themed work appear in so many "bohemian" garden magazines and on the walls of "raw" "artistic" lofts that I've become so jaded and brainwashed so that when somebody who lives on the upper east side says "I designed my house, its so bohemian" I just think of the kind of art work that is in this show. That's not to discredit the work. They way it was displayed in the gallery was also odd considering the gallery's "L" shape. Visit at your own risk or if you want some great art for your roof garden.

Press Release for Cavin-Morris Gallery ->Lidia Syroka & Tim Rowan: Nomadic Bodies & Stone Ridge Alchemy

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Lehmann Maupin -> Teresita Fernandez: Solo Art Show

(this is not the actual installation pic, at the gallery theres some impressive additions to the walls)

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review of Lehmann Maupin - Teresita Fernandez: Solo Art Show:

Sculpture at its best! I think this is the third great review I'm writing this week. Don't be fooled There are some less than amazing shows I went to I just didn't write the reviews yet. That said the show at Lehmann Maupin Gallery was wonderfully put together. The space, the art, and the feeling, the emotion, the craziness! (OK maybe I'm getting carried away) Honestly though for me this show was like an epic short film with a wonderful still movement to it. The absolute coolest think was that everything was made of graphite! I never knew the stuff inside a pencil could be so impressive. Fernandez has produced something elemental and raw as f she dipped her hand into the earths core and pulled out one of her thoughts. Set in the sparsely renovated Lehmann Maupin Gallery, the space compliments the work in a setting of plausible post WWIII setting. You should set some extra time in your tour to let this art show seep into your consciousness for a lovely exploratory journey. I enjoyed this Chelsea art show the most out of my tour on October 22nd. Must see!

Press Release forLehmann Maupin - Teresita Fernandez: Solo Art Show:

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Winston Wachter Fine Art Inc -> Andreas Kocks:Current Events

"Three Stars" "★★★"

Review of Winston Wacher Fine Art Inc-> Andreas Kocks:Current Events:

The Winston Wachter Gallery was not on my agenda Thursday night when I started my weekly gallery tour of Chelsea, but as always there were some more galleries that I didn't know about that had their doors open with a huge crowd of socialites doing what they do best (socializing). When I walked in I was greeted with a huge peice of graphite covered paper on the gallery wall cut out into an intiguing design. The whole galler was covered in graphite paper feathers and splaters and goo and blood. The title "Current Events" made tied the whole art show together. Kocks made full use of the Winston Wachter's interesting roomy layout and was a sucsess! The only thing thatwas lacking was a deeper emotional conection with the viewer which wasn't comunicated through the work. This coulb be that the work was an not an emotional reaction to the work but rather a conceptual one leaving a tad sense of being forced. The show was still sucessful and I would love to have Kocks set up some work in my condo! (I would be soooo cool!)Gotta see this one. NOTE: The pic above is not from the exhibit.

Press release of Winston Wacher Fine Art Inc-> Andreas Kocks:Current Events:

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Gana Art New York -> Shigeru Uchida: Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review of Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering:

The Gana Art center really out did themselves with this high profile show of Shigeru Uchida. Uchida is one of the designers today with lots of high profile grants and awards who has been producing for over 30 years! This exhibit was incredible and multi-faceted. For one thing, the attendees at this show were much more interesting than the other receptions that evening, some even wearing traditional feudal Japanese outfits. When I walked in I was greeted with somebodies lovely perfume (typically I don't notice perfume) and it was very pleasant. In a way the pleasant sweetness of the perfume foreshadowed the exhibit.

One of the first things you see when you enter is the large wooden trees (pictured above) and there is a small description on the left wall about some traditional Japanese concepts which set the tone of the lens that you will view the rest of the installation with. It's hard to describe the show really, you'll just have to see it for yourself! Any self respecting art connoisseur cannot miss this opportunity to see Uchida's contemporary works! The first floor also had pools of water which were lit from the bottom casting out a mystical wavering light onto the walls. Also littered throughout the show were these little white creature like benches (also above). On the second floor were some intricate shelving designs that looked like they came right out of a photo sequence. In the same room there was watery light projected onto the floor with more white creatures. Overall Uchida really created an amazing atmosphere that captured some of the essence of Japanese culture and also provided a great sense of tranquility with multi layered meaning. This is a MUST MUST MUST MUST SEE! Enjoy the show!

Press Release for Gana Art New York's Shigeru Uchida: Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering show:

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Marlborough Chelsea -> Steven Charles: The Upstairs Room

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Press Release(pdf)

Review of Marlborough Chelsea: Steven Charles's The Upstairs Room:

Wow! Open up your eye's for this juicy and amazing show! This was by far the best show I saw on Oct 15th when visiting receptions in Chelsea. The Internet pics definitely do not give Charles credit for the complexities of his work. He uses enamel in all of his work, dipping paining and splattering making some parts of the frame 3D; actually popping out of the canvass. Furthermore, he does not limit himself to the canvas including old shoes and miniature trees in his pieces. There was even an actual pop-up book enameled to the painting in one of the pieces! That's not including the three contemporary monolithic sculptures that were presented. Not only is the enamel layered, so is his works meanings. "The Upstairs Room" really touches on a range of themes from religion to sex! Combine intensely enamel graphics, a plethora of topics, some awesome colors and an old sneaker with some empty cleaning containers and you get whats in "the upstairs room". These works seem to reflect on persons perceptions of the world or rather they reflect that persons reflections of his or her perception of the world and whatever else is on their mind. This show could set a new trend for expressionism with a twist! Each piece has an almost visceral impact on the viewer forcing them to take in these snapshots and depictions due to the totally unique presentations. All of the work has no kind of contrived feeling, but rather its all very natural and organic feeling. I would guess that Charles is a very genuine person in real life (didn't get to meet him unfortunately).

If you go see one show this fall THIS IS IT! MUST SEE!

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Marlborough Chelsea -> Red Grooms: Dancing

"Two Stars""★★"
Press Release (pdf)

Review of Marlborough Chelsea's Red Grooms:Dancing show:

This show was not up to par for me coming from Marlborough. The sculptures were very straight forward, so straight forward in fact that they lost their personality and intimacy. Furthermore the craftsmanship of the pieces didn't lend to the art's overall meaning. The fact that they were made in this way was pointless; they could have been carved out of marble and the meaning would bee the same. Marble would have looked nicer and it would have been more impressive as well as immortalized the subjects, while this cardboard looking construction will crumble the first chance it gets. The show had an additional video installation of some dance groups work from the 80's and 90's that Red Grooms assisted with painting the background. That was interesting even though i looked like it took place on the set of an avant guard Sesame Street. Worth a quick look if you are in passing. The video below is more entertaining....

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AC Institute -> Deborah Johnson: In Star Orbit

Installation pic.
My rendition of the installation.
(I could possible be being a bit harsh)
"NO STARS"

AC Institute Exhibits In A Star Orbit

Review of AC Institutes's exhibit:

This show was...um...how should i put this...not up to par. The room, about 100 sq ft was dark and had these three "planets" and a little bench for you to sit on. Unfortunately the materials and the atmosphere reminded me of cheap 80's prom night decorations. I couldn't manage to spend too much time there, I felt that uncomfortable adolescence awkwardness that is associated with ugly 80's Glam decorations. Maybe if the music was louder?...no...better to go back to the drawing board. Do not waste your time on this one.

Press release of Deborah Johnson's show:

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MoMa -> Ron Arad: No Discipline

Three Stars "★★★"

Moma did a great job at hyping this exhibit up! They had a great big ad campaign and everything! Unfortunately for all those who got exited, the show was...lacking. The New York Magazine but it best in their super grid. "It looked like a glorified dive bar in a washed up Vegas hotel"(or something like that) Not to discount Ron Arad and his designs, It was a curation disaster. Half of the items on exhibit are 20 feet above your head in this grid like structure. Now how am i supposed to be fascinated by some intricately designed sculpture If I'm, looking at it from a distance. Moma's Ron Arad exhibit is best viewed virtually. Some of the "cool" factor is lost in its virtual presentation but the great wall of "No Discipline" does a good job of killing the experience. The pieces themselves up close and personal were very interesting.
Arad does a great job at taking everyday functionality to an extreme which plays into his title of no discipline. he doesn't stick to the convention of for example straight lines or standard furniture structures. A MUST SEE FOR DESIGNERS! That goes without saying. I especially enjoyed the use of reflective surfaces in the exhibit. So you should go if you like shiny stuff!

• 'rtw' storage-wheel for hidden, 2000

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art->Roxy Paine on the Roof: Maelstrom

"viewers the sense of being immersed in the midst of a cataclysmic force of nature" but rather they were looking for another dimension of the piece which isn't there.

The piece brought into consideration the juxtaposition of man vs. nature and the gray area that is inherent with the assumption that man and nature are actually separate from each other.

It is not worth a trip just for this exhibit. The video would have done the trick for me.

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