Books
A Tribute to New York's Wilting Flower District
If cities had such things as official botanicals, New York City's might be the flower bouquet.
Review
Art
The Indefatigable Curiosity of Norman Lewis
PHILADELPHIA — While teaching at Jefferson School of the Social Sciences in New York around 1949, Norman Lewis began to draft an artist’s treatise in which he laid out his teaching theories, and, more intriguingly, his ideas about the role an artist should play in society.
Books
A Rabid and Neurotic Worldview in a Suffocating Graphic Novel
Providence, Rhode Island-based multi-hyphenate Brian Chippendale is best known as the masked drummer and howling vocalist of noise-rock duo Lightning Bolt. He’s also a RISD dropout, cartoonist, and artist.
Art
Visually Mining the History of Guano Off the Coast of Peru
In the mid-19th century, the Chincha Islands were at the center of a now-forgotten resource war that involved major world powers.
Books
Reader's Diary: Mary Mothersill's ‘Beauty Restored’
Last summer I found this copy of a book I’d long been curious about on the “discard” shelves of the East Hampton Library.
Art
Fresh Geometry: Gary Stephan and Alina Tenser
You know something is going on when you stare at work hanging on one wall and forget to look at what is on the gallery’s other three walls.
Art
Why David Hammons Might Find It Necessary to Be Elusive and Difficult
Many writers – including, most recently, Peter Schjeldahl in the venerable magazine, The New Yorker – have characterized David Hammons as “elusive” and “difficult.” According to Schjeldahl: “The artist spoke with me, bracingly and delightfully, for a column in this magazine, in 2002. He wouldn’t do
Art
Paint Is the Language of God: The Gospel According to Gustave Moreau
What’s Gustave Moreau doing hanging out with John Currin, Wade Guyton, and Damien Hirst?
Performance
Camera Obscura: Jackie Sibblies Drury's 'Really'
Really by Jackie Sibblies Drury had its world premiere at Abrons Arts Center on March 18.
Art
Space, Containment, and the Realms of Existence: Berlinde De Bruyckere at Hauser & Wirth
The experience of De Bruyckere’s work is not unlike confronting monumental works of Minimalism, such as Richard Serra’s leaning or torqued sculptures, which create a sense of unease and endangerment within the gallery space.
Music
Techno Mix: Madrid Plastic, Chicago Minimal, Intergalactic Maximal, and Detroit Analog
El Guincho's "Hiperasia," DJ Slugo's "Cocaine Music," "Star Wars Headspace," and Moodymann's "DJ Kicks."
Art
Take Me to the River: William Buchina’s Redemption Paintings
Buchina keeps us guessing without falling into obscurantist traps, if for no other reason than the horror he depicts is steadily being eclipsed by the horror of actual events.