Runts: Robert Rauschenberg’s New Series and Much More

Runts: Robert Rauschenberg’s New Series and Much More at Pace Wildenstein.

What more can be said about Robert Rauschenberg that has not been said before? Runts are said to be the smallest works he has produced in many years. The images are from his archive of photographs, and in some cases, stirred up my own by gone memories of the architecture and graffiti I’ve walked by a million times. Pace Wildenstein was buzzing in anticipation of his presence. The crème of the crop were all out and about last night and in attendance. Chuck Close was there sitting quite high in his hydraulic wheel chair chatting with people when in rolled the ever dapper Rauschenberg. Chiding Close (and this is not verbatim as I’m recounting this from memory) “Chuck, you always try to out do me.” Both artists laughing as he rolled over to Close, it was a fantastic, strange dance of wheel chairs much to the delight of everyone as they hugged greeting each other. Not ten minutes later in rolled another from the gang, I’ll let you guess his name as not to give it all away but, it has an M. and the crowd responded with “Oh my god can you believe it isn’t this wonderful!” It was a very touching moment I will always remember as the cameras were clicking away from all sides. …And so the evening at Pace was complete; I went on my way with a smile.


Robert Rauschenberg: Runts
January 11, - February 16, 2008

Pace Wildenstein
534 W. 25th Street
NY NY

http://www.pacewildenstein.com/

Sit Back And Get Comfortable, This Will Take Awhile

Back Side
A collaborative exhibition featuring:
Chris Coffin, Michelle Jaffe', Kristine Robinson, Chris Walsh



image (c) Chris Coffin and Jeremy Slater, Video Stills "Hudson River, Bump and Grind".

Sit Back And Get Comfortable, This Will Take Awhile...

In an age of one minute to feel anything, sound byte moments, and short attention spans, artist Chris Coffins’ (sound component by Jeremy Slater) DVD and sound installation Hudson River Bump and Grind, does not adhere to the notion that the public is said to only spend five minutes or less viewing a work of art. His work is the exact opposite, requiring your attention with all senses ready…

The black and white video of frozen ice on the Hudson River moves from large over view angles to close up shots of particular pieces. Large broken forms of ice become abstract, bumping up against each other by the natural rhythm of water. In a macro view they are a collective of shapes reminiscent of cells, or a carapace protecting the fluid underneath. It is as if one is watching something so tremendous it is impossible to comprehend its scale, breathing, watching, waiting, and sleeping an ancient guardian of the ocean. Moving slowly into close up shots of individual sections, the bumping and grinding against each other take on living characteristics, nudging, sliding, flickering lines of light surrounding the forms where the water catches light are a silent communication. An alien pattern seemingly rooted in mathematics or musical composition. The nervous system or brain’s electrical flickering also comes to mind. Natural sounds of the environment surround you, wind, water flowing and lapping up against the ice forms…. Crackling sounds repeat… and you move in for an even closer view, now of two forms. Their edges rounded by centuries of movement, your sense of time slows down, and you’re in a prehistoric realm observing the earth shift. One piece, bobbing in the water, nudging the other as if it is its soul mate appears tender and lamenting. The second form appears still, floating in the water, life-less. They are like a pair of large orca’s or hump back whales, in the vast ocean, and you are a voyeur within the most private intimate moment between them, hoping for the forms to somehow connect. The depth of the water, smaller piece’s submerged, their weight and thickness throw you off kilter, questioning, contemplating the relationship and responsibility between human-kind, the environment and the universe itself. After a deep breath, I emerge from the small room into the bright, large expanse of the warehouse space, changed, affected, emotions laid bare.

45-46 21st Street second floor
Long Island City, NY 11101

Exhibition Dates: Sat. Jan 5th 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Sunday Jan 6thopening 3:00pm to 6:00pm
*Monday Jan 7th 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Sat. Jan 12th 3:00pm to 6:00pm
Sunday Jan 13th 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Contact: Chris Coffin: http://www.chriscoffin.com/

John Moores 25 Prize call for entries

LIVERPOOL, UK.-The launch of the call for entries this year marks the 50th anniversary of the John Moores prize. First held in 1957, it is the UK's best-known competition for painters and is named after Sir John Moores (1896 - 1993), the founder of the competition.


The exhibition is held every two years at the Walker Art Gallery in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust. Next year the John Moores exhibition coincides with Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008 when it forms a key strand of the well established Liverpool Biennial. The John Moores exhibition showcases the best new paintings produced in the UK today and attracts a broad spectrum of artists. No preference is given to levels of experience or particular practices of painting. The work is selected anonymously from an open submission by the jury, who also award the main prizes. There is a first prize of £25000 along with four further prizes, each of £2500. In addition, in celebration of Liverpool’s year as Capital of Culture, our popular visitors' choice prize is increased to £2008. This prize will be announced towards the close of the exhibition. Entrants from the last competition said: "It is the premier painting competition in the UK" "Having been selected has already opened doors for me" "Highly regarded forum for emerging and established artists" “Most of the contemporary British artists I admire have been in a John Moores exhibition" “Widely regarded as the best showcase for British contemporary painting" Jury 2008: Jake and Dinos Chapman, artists; Sacha Craddock, art critic / curator; Graham Crowley, artist; Paul Morrison, artist.

Entry: The competition has a two-stage entry procedure. Stage 1 – submission by image (one painting per artist). Stage 2 - sending in shortlisted paintings for final judging. Key dates: 15 February 2008 - Deadline to register. 29 February 2008 - Deadline for submission of images. 27 to 30 May 2008 - Sending in shortlisted paintings. 20 September 2008 to 4 January 2009 - Exhibition Prizes: First prize £25000. 4 prizes £2500. 1 visitors’ choice prize £2008.

Contact: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/

Happy New Year !

A dawn, a new day, time to begin again...
Looking foward to a whole new ball of wax
maybe the impossible becomes possible,
the perfect understands perfectly - imperfect
a gaunlet is thrown
trick will be played
a laugh will be had

the shows will spill out into the winter streets
and I'll be out and about freezing my....
pencils.

If you see some great shows this season
email me, scream, rant, rave, gafaw, excite, break down in tears
enjoy, support this crazy thing we call art in all it's forms.

best wishes to all