The work in Galleries, the biggest sector of the Art Basel 2019 art fair, with 273 galleries displaying artwork, ranged from very bad to superlative. From large, childlike, messy, grease crayon drawings and similarly unfinished paintings to the refined glitz, and smooth stainless steel and optic glasswork, this sector provided the low and high points of the fair. Not surprisingly, there was much handmade textile work, the best being Sheila Hicks’ “Calligraphy Sauvages,” a 2019 sculpture of 15 chords of silk, wool, linen, bamboo and synthetic fiber — in bright, coordinated colors. Her 2018 linen line drawing, “Je veux être seul,” reminded me of 1930s Bauhaus geometric work. Robert Mapplethorpe’s “Stars,” created in 1983, of stained wood and carpet, presented a rare foray into Mapplethorpe’s textured relief sculptures. At Sperone Westwater’s, New York, New York, booth, Emil Lukas’ “Twin … [Read more...] about ART BASEL 2019 DAY THREE: GALLERIES, AND STATEMENTS
Featured
ART BASEL SWITZERLAND 2019 DAY TWO: THE BEST OF UNLIMITED
Unlimited, a sector of the Art Basel art fair, took up most of my second day there. Earlier in the day, at the Art Basel press conference, Marc Spiegler, the global director, pointed out that this year’s artists were more open-minded with broader practices than 10 to 15 years ago. He noted that “our old notions of borders are broken down.” Spiegler referred to art’s borders — those of materials and labels. It is difficult, if not impossible, to label installations — sculptures or paintings — with the overarching mixed media category prevalent, and installation being the preferred term to include sculpture and two-dimensional work. It seems that as new borders are erected and maintained between nations, art’s boundaries have widened to include diverse practices, subject matter and artists. That subject matter includes references to — current and in the recent past — events and … [Read more...] about ART BASEL SWITZERLAND 2019 DAY TWO: THE BEST OF UNLIMITED
Washington D.C.’s Newest Museum
Encompassing the history, arts and culture of Palestinians, the Museum of the Palestinian People located at 1900 18th St. NW, near Dupont Circle is the newest museum to open in Washington, D.C. Work by contemporary Palestinian artists and artifacts illustrating the history and culture of Palestine will be displayed, including paintings by Palestinian artist Ahmed Hmeedat and a video, “Borders & Promises,” by renowned videographer, Haya Zaatry. The museum will host its opening ceremonies on Saturday, June 15, from 3–7 p.m. and Sunday, June 16, from 12–6 p.m., featuring tea and Palestinian sweets, contemporary visual art, historic artifacts and performance. The reception will include folk dancers performing the Dabke (meaning “stamping of the feet”), an Arabic folk dance first created in the villages of the Levant to remember the line formed by villagers joining hands and stomping … [Read more...] about Washington D.C.’s Newest Museum
CAMBRIDGE ARTS RIVER FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SATURDAY JUNE 1
The recent Memorial Day weekend, with its golden sun and warm weather, was a welcome respite after the long New England winter and a cold and rainy spring. I spent the weekend kayaking on the Charles, picnicking in my local park, and strolling the suddenly green streets of my neighborhood. Everywhere I went, I encountered other Cantabrigians out and about and enjoying the sunshine. Now that we are out, we don’t want to go back in. Thankfully, there are many free outdoors art events to look forward to as we slide towards summer. Coming up this weekend, don’t miss the 40th annual Cambridge Arts River Festival, now in its new location in the Central Square Cultural District. The festival, which will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., will bring the neighborhood alive with four stages of music plus dance, theater and vendors selling crafts, international foods and … [Read more...] about CAMBRIDGE ARTS RIVER FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS SATURDAY JUNE 1
COMMENTARY: THE BIENNIAL OF FEAR: THE WHITNEY BIENNIAL 2019
The Whitney Biennial reputedly seeks to represent the tenor of current American art. Toward that end, this Whitney Biennial presents novel concepts at representation and abstraction that contemporize past formal conceptualizations. With news coming at us so fast, it is difficult not to portray past events, relegating current topics to history. This Biennial is relevant and courageous in unveiling truth and reminding us of the importance of remembering the recent past and remaining informed of that past and its impact on the present. “Triple-Chaser,” 2019, Forensic Architecture’s documentary film of Warren Kanders’ firm, Safariland was well-presented and critical to current debate in the arts and museum community. Warren Kanders is the Whitney Museum board’s vice chairman and chairman and CEO of Safariland, the firm producing the tear gas that is the target of demonstrations by the … [Read more...] about COMMENTARY: THE BIENNIAL OF FEAR: THE WHITNEY BIENNIAL 2019
REVIEW: ALVIN AILEY CELEBRATES 60TH SEASON AT THE BOCH CENTER WANG THEATRE
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrated its 60th year as a leading American and world company during its annual Celebrity Series of Boston appearance from May 2 though 5 at the Boch Center Wang Theatre. This year, acclaimed choreographer Rennie Harris’ “Lazarus,” composed in 2018, was featured on Friday evening. “Lazarus” is based on the biblical story in the gospel of John of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from a tomb where he had lain dead for four days. Fact or legend, this dramatic spectacle has been celebrated in Western culture by superstar painters such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt as well as countless icon paintings from the Eastern regions of the Roman empire. Harris is a choreographer raised in an inner-city community on the North Side of Philadelphia. His rise to his present status in the dance world is itself a miracle of an artistic talent blossoming in the … [Read more...] about REVIEW: ALVIN AILEY CELEBRATES 60TH SEASON AT THE BOCH CENTER WANG THEATRE