Performa '09 kicked off with a stellar performance by Alterazioni Video in collaboration with Ragnar Kjartansson in, Symphony n.1 at Performance Space 122. The set looked like something from a Fischli & Weiss work, where Alterazioni Video, dressed in tuxedo's, played absurd instruments derived from mic'd appliances; a drying rack became a stand-up bass, ping-pong balls were thrown in a wondrous obstacle course, a giant cocktail was prepared and served from 12 feet off the ground, bowling balls were stacked meticulously in a vertical line, Italian words beginning with the letter P were recited into a microphone with great fervor and Kjartansson accompanied via video monitor on guitar with tasseled pasties attached to his nipples. This hilarious composition reached its crescendo as chaos ensued and 'Super Tele' footballs were kicked into the audience and all over the set. Needless to say a great time was had and both Roberta Smith and Simon Dumenco gave rave reviews in the New York Times!
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/performa-09-gooaaaaallll/?emc=eta1
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/performa-09-alterazioni-video-and-ragnar-kjartansson/
Alexandre Singh at White Columns: taking the mantle from Homer, Singh recited from memory “The Alkahest,” a series of complex tales written by the artist, featuring golems, monks, parrots, 20th-century abstract painters, and the creation of the world. For three hours (inc. two intermissions) Singh took the audience on a adventure that only he could envision. The magic of this performance was how Singh delivered his rhetoric by interweaving formal and informal verse captivating the audiences attention. As the narrative ensued Singh juxtaposed colored transparencies on an overhead projector which gave the work an edge and firm roots in a contemporary art dialogue.
Ryan McNamara's loosely choreographed performance with forty male dancers at X Initiative billed as "The Sacred Band of Thebes AKA In Memory of Robert Isabell AKA Any Fag Could Do That", inspired by 375 BC, whereby the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite force composed entirely of homosexual lovers, annihilated the Spartan army, a brigade three times their size, at Tegyra. 2353 years later, party planner Robert Isabell triumphed as well, becoming an instant sensation when he filled Studio 54 with four tons of glitter. Without a doubt this performance was one of the highlights of Performa '09 for me. Having recently visited with Ryan in his studio I was impressed with the way in which he kept this epic from verging on the extreme of parody. As the audience entered the ground floor at X Initiative there was a pungent smell of sweat..at first not so enticing...but once the room was filled with toga clad men wearing beat-up kicks, parading around the room in various stances of embrace, the smell added to the dimension of the drama. It was funny and fun and engaging and there was a lot going on at once. AWESOME!
Guido van der Werve at Marshall Chess Club. Having seen this artist's work at Manifesta 2008 and at Creative Time's PLOT09: THIS WORLD & NEARER ONES, I was really excited to make it to this live performance in the second-floor parlor room of the storied club (founded by the chess legend Frank Marshall, who held the United States championship title for 29 years beginning in 1909), the Dutch artist presented a “chess piano concert.” Facing off against an opponent from the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, and rounded out by nine string players (two first violins, two second violins, two cellos, two violas and one bass). The chess set was actuated from the bottom so that for each move made by the player, there was an accompanied sound. This intimate setting was perfect for such a soulful composition. The performance mimics a prior date where the artist filmed a game with Grandmaster Leonid Yudasin for his work Nummer twaalf, currently on view at Luhring Augustine until March 13th.PINTA ART FAIR
As a Latina myself and a student of Latin American art and KEEN fan of what is currently coming out of South America, I always like going to Pinta. Most often works by master artists I love are on view...Jesús Rafael Soto and Wilfredo Lam being the stand outs and always the stellar representative galleries in attendance. But this year seemed a little lack luster. EXCEPT of course for Henrique Faria from FARÍA+FÁBREGAS GALERÍA. The gallery is based in Caracas, Venezuela but shows at most global art fairs. Henrique Faria has an incredible eye and this year showed a museum quality booth. Discovery is the driving force for any curator. This is what we love..what we travel the world to find...and if in doubt, GO VISIT HIM AT ARMORY & VOLTA from March 4-7th.
FRONT DESK APPARATUS
Insightful and serious, this salon program curated by Rob Teeters in association with his artists and peers, has proved to be outstanding. It is rare to see exhibitions outside of museums where lines are being drawn and multi-generational connections made in such subtle and clean ways. Teeters has carefully chosen to juxtapose artists that parle in ode to prior generations while maintaining their own voice. There is a critical dialogue here and Teeters is aware of it.
54 KING STREET, PARLOR FLOOR , NEW YORK, NY 10014, WWW.FRONTDESKAPPARATUS.COM
OFFICE HOURS: FRIDAY & SATURDAY 12-6 PM
Up Next: LUCIE FONTAINE, Sign in / Sign Out, OPENING MARCH 06, 2010 / 8-10 PM
Armory 2010
I AM GIVING A TOUR OF THE LES!
I have been asked by the Armory to give a tour of the galleries in the Lower East Side. Sunday March 7th at 2pm. Meet in the New Museum lobby. This tour will circulate the neighborhood and give a stellar insight as to what is going on in this bustling scene. Highlights will follow online here!
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