This last week has been bereft of art for me and I really miss it. Make sure you find a way to NY to see the Richard Serra at MoMA. It closes September 10. The sheer monumentality of the work must be quite amazing.
And if you have time, take a trip up the Hudson River to DIA-Beacon. Situated in an old cracker factory, this venue has been open for several years and showcases much of the great sculpture from post - World War 2. Also stop at Storm King Art Center, 500 acres of wonderful sculpture--including Serra, Andy Goldworthy, and many others.
I am leaving for 2 weeks on a cruise through the British Isles. I hope to take some great pictures and explore art I haven't seen before.
Please check in periodically. I will try to post from the ship.
Maril
Monday, August 20, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Elizabeth Murray dies in New York at 66
It seems as though my recent posts have been about death and dying. Today I am sad to report that Elizabeth Murray died from complications from lung cancer. I was fortunate to see a retrospective of her career that spanned some 40 years last year at the Museum of Modern Art. Murray studied at the Art Institute in her native city of Chicago. She received an MFA from Mills College in California. By 1967 she had moved to New York. Remember that Murray came of age after minimalism. But she wasn't doing conceptual art, nor performance pieces. She was neither purely an abstract painter nor one who was representational. Think about Philip Guston or Susan Rothenberg when you think of her work. And she was a painter, after all. But the art scene changed by the 1980s and young, brash men came into the forefront: Julian Schnabel, David Salle and Anselm Kiefer. The label neo-expressionist was used for them, and at times for her work as well.
Her work was in the Venice Biennale of 2007.
Murray's personal life reflects shifts as well. Her first marriage, to fellow artist Don Sunseri (and with whom she had a son) ended in 1973. Later she married Bob Holman and had two daughters.
It is with such sadness that I write about the loss of a wonderful painter. You can see some of her work and read more about her.
Her work was in the Venice Biennale of 2007.
Murray's personal life reflects shifts as well. Her first marriage, to fellow artist Don Sunseri (and with whom she had a son) ended in 1973. Later she married Bob Holman and had two daughters.
It is with such sadness that I write about the loss of a wonderful painter. You can see some of her work and read more about her.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Fishers plan new museum in San Francisco
Donald (age 78) and Doris (age 75) Fisher, the founders of the Gap, have plans for a museum to showcase their own collection of modern art. They hope to build in the Presidio--a former military base in San Francisco now turned into a national park. Mr. Fisher was formerly on the board of trustees of the Presidio. Plans are to call the museum the Contemporary Art Museum; they hope to break ground in 2008 and be open by 2010. But we all know what happens to such ambitious plans. I was not able to find information on a proposed architect for this new museum.
Their collection (over 1,000 works) includes pieces by Chuck close, Richard Serra, and Alexander Calder. Now the collection is displayed at the Gap's national headquarters in downtown San Francisco. Their collection is said by Benezra (direction of SFMOMA) as one of the most important in the world.
Although some items from their collection are often displayed at SFMOMA and he is on the board of trustees, he wants more control and to make sure his work is really seen. As you know, all too often, museums acquire works of art and then are in a juggling position--trying to decide what to display.
I wonder how many collections are considered "one of the most important in the world." I haven't seen any of these pieces, but certainly the artists are first-rate.
I think back to over 100 years ago when William Wilson Corcoran decided to build a museum to house his collection. It wasn't too long before his new museum (now the Renwick in Washington, DC) became too small for growing collection and he had to build a second museum (the current Corcoran Gallery of Art on 17th and New York Avenue). You can find out more about the Corcoran's history here.
Did you know that the Riggs Bank was formed in 1836 when Mr. Corcoran opened a small brokerage house. By 1840, he had joined up with George Washington Riggs, a neighbor's son, to form Corcoran & Riggs. By 1844, the government made this enterprise the only federal depository in Washington. Corcoran got out of the banking business some ten years later in 1854. Riggs Bank became the bank of embassies and diplomats. In July of 2004 it was bought by PNC for 779 million dollars. For the history buff, you can actually review these partnership documents in the library at the George Washington University.
Their collection (over 1,000 works) includes pieces by Chuck close, Richard Serra, and Alexander Calder. Now the collection is displayed at the Gap's national headquarters in downtown San Francisco. Their collection is said by Benezra (direction of SFMOMA) as one of the most important in the world.
Although some items from their collection are often displayed at SFMOMA and he is on the board of trustees, he wants more control and to make sure his work is really seen. As you know, all too often, museums acquire works of art and then are in a juggling position--trying to decide what to display.
I wonder how many collections are considered "one of the most important in the world." I haven't seen any of these pieces, but certainly the artists are first-rate.
I think back to over 100 years ago when William Wilson Corcoran decided to build a museum to house his collection. It wasn't too long before his new museum (now the Renwick in Washington, DC) became too small for growing collection and he had to build a second museum (the current Corcoran Gallery of Art on 17th and New York Avenue). You can find out more about the Corcoran's history here.
Did you know that the Riggs Bank was formed in 1836 when Mr. Corcoran opened a small brokerage house. By 1840, he had joined up with George Washington Riggs, a neighbor's son, to form Corcoran & Riggs. By 1844, the government made this enterprise the only federal depository in Washington. Corcoran got out of the banking business some ten years later in 1854. Riggs Bank became the bank of embassies and diplomats. In July of 2004 it was bought by PNC for 779 million dollars. For the history buff, you can actually review these partnership documents in the library at the George Washington University.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Simon Schama on Rothko
I am currently reading Schama's Power of Art, which is an account of 8 artists. I began reading at the end of the book and am currently reading about Mark Rothko. Absolutely fascinating. I earlier read a biography by Dore Ashton, but this reveals information I either forgot or didn't know.
Schama's work is currently being shown on public television. For a current schedule and additional information, go here.
Schama's work is currently being shown on public television. For a current schedule and additional information, go here.
Top Ten Art Collectors
Artnews magazine released the name of the top 200 art collectors from around the world. Here are the top 10.
Eli Broad - Corcoran had part of his collection a few years ago
Steven Cohen
Anne and Kenneth Griffin
Henry Kravis
Ronald Lauder
Sammy Ofer
Francois Pinault
Mitchell Rales - Collection housed in Glenstone, located in Potomac, Maryland.
Charles Saatchi - Housed in London; about to reopen in new location
Charles Schwab
If you want to know the names of the rest of the group, go here.
Eli Broad - Corcoran had part of his collection a few years ago
Steven Cohen
Anne and Kenneth Griffin
Henry Kravis
Ronald Lauder
Sammy Ofer
Francois Pinault
Mitchell Rales - Collection housed in Glenstone, located in Potomac, Maryland.
Charles Saatchi - Housed in London; about to reopen in new location
Charles Schwab
If you want to know the names of the rest of the group, go here.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Jeremy Blake
According to The New York Times of Wednesday, August 1, 2007, Jeremy Blake, 35 years old was reported missing on July 17. His clothes and wallet were found on a beach in Queens. A bystander reported that she saw a man disrobing and walking into the water. Speculation is that he was despondent over the suicide of Theresa Duncan, age 40, his longtime companion. He found her body in their apartment. Blake, from Takoma Park, MD, received a degree from the Art Institute of Chicago and a master's from Cal Arts in Valencia.
Mr. Blake was known to bridge the gap between painting and film. His work is described as lush, color, and color-saturated. He began to make a name for himself in the 1990s using digital projections combined with colorful abstract geometric forms and photographic images. Some art critics described the work as Color Field paintings set in motion.
His work was to have been shown at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in October, in a show curated by Jonathan Binstock. His new work called Glitterbest--a collaboration he did with Malcolm McLaren--was to be part of this show. Binstock reports that the museum will try to present as full a picture as possible.
There was a dark side to this couple. You can read some of the details in Chris Lee's piece in the LA times.
Mr. Blake was known to bridge the gap between painting and film. His work is described as lush, color, and color-saturated. He began to make a name for himself in the 1990s using digital projections combined with colorful abstract geometric forms and photographic images. Some art critics described the work as Color Field paintings set in motion.
His work was to have been shown at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in October, in a show curated by Jonathan Binstock. His new work called Glitterbest--a collaboration he did with Malcolm McLaren--was to be part of this show. Binstock reports that the museum will try to present as full a picture as possible.
There was a dark side to this couple. You can read some of the details in Chris Lee's piece in the LA times.
Corcoran friends
Hi friends,
As we begin the fall, I am looking for a simple way for all of us to talk with each other. Maybe this will do the trick.
So, please post a reply--you don't have to sign in--and leave your name if you want to. Other people can make comments, but right now I am the only one who can post new messages or entries.
Marilyn
As we begin the fall, I am looking for a simple way for all of us to talk with each other. Maybe this will do the trick.
So, please post a reply--you don't have to sign in--and leave your name if you want to. Other people can make comments, but right now I am the only one who can post new messages or entries.
Marilyn
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Preview Berlin - Lyons Wier - James Rieck
Berlin's youngest Preview Berlin will be held at Templehof Airport September 28 through October 1, 2007. James Rieck will be showing some of his newest work there. Initiated by 4 Berlin galleries, this art fair began in 2005. In 2006, there were 12,000 visitors. Its focus is on emerging artists and the 2007 exhibit promises to be even more exciting than previous times.
You will enjoy looking at some of Jim's recent work. Currently James is represented by Lyons Wier, a New York gallery recently relocated to 171 Seventh Avenue at 20th Street in New York.
You will enjoy looking at some of Jim's recent work. Currently James is represented by Lyons Wier, a New York gallery recently relocated to 171 Seventh Avenue at 20th Street in New York.
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