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Category: California

Double Standard: Ed Ruscha & Mason Williams 1956 – 1971 (Part 1) at Alden Projects

Published September 21, 2015

This exhibition explores the early dialogues, collaborations, and the creative relationship between Ed Ruscha and Mason Williams. Williams a life-long friend of Ruscha’s since fourth grade in Oklahoma City, moved from Oklahoma to Los Angeles with Ruscha in the mid 50’s.

This exhibition focuses on a small, but extraordinary body of art by Mason Williams as well as selected early highlights of Ruscha’s earlier work. Of particular interest is Williams 36 foot long Bus (1967)—a life-size, silkscreened image of a Greyhound bus (see above) and folded like a map—conceived around the same time as Ruscha’s silver-covered Every Building on the Sunset Strip (which also unfolds to over 27 feet).

William’s and Rucha’s interests intersect on co-mingle in ways during this show I had half a feeling that really the whole show was by Ruscha, clearly that was more of a daydream of my own, but the thought remains and I have a hard time getting away from it. While this is stuck in my head, don’t let that distract you from both a physically interesting and highly cerebral show.

Alden Projects
34 Orchard Street
New York, NY

Exhibition Dates: Thursday, September 10–Saturday, October 18, 2015

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Photo / Stoner

Photo / Stoner

Published February 14, 2012

In the mid-sixties Ron Stoner was the best surf photographer in the world. Every month, he would photograph what would become the classic archetypes of what we would come to know as the golden age of Southern California surfing. Then, at the height of his fame, he disappeared forever.

It’s easy to see the byline: Photo/Stoner and chuckle that there was a surf photographer named Stoner and of course he ended up as a casualty of the counter culture of the sixties. But, life isn’t quite that easy to pigeonhole. Stoner’s story arc is less about someone “turning on”, it’s more about trying to find a place where you fit and holding on to it. In Stoner’s case he found it, and then the world changed.

When you think about “surfers” you gravitate towards a certain archetype, Stoner seems to be the complete opposite of that. What becomes apparent in the story is that the work of the surf photographer is a curious thing – it’s near, but not part of the event. It’s present and without, it would barely exist, but it’s not surfing. Stoner was not a surfer in that iconic sense. His ability to tell the story and showcase the honesty of the session transcends that.

Matt Warshaw’s text is poignant and feels honest. It stays away from trying to build a myth, while at the same time it doesn’t tear him down. Its balancing act is finding that place in the middle and it does that superbly. Obviously, the stars of the book are the photographs, and they do not disappoint.

Photo/Stoner is available in better bookstores and surf shops. I got mine here.

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East Coast / West Coast

Published March 16, 2011

I’m currently in two shows that are both pretty interesting – funny enough they are on opposite coasts, so if you can see one, you will probably miss the other one unless you are some jet setting international man or woman of mystery.

Material World at Art DC in Hyattsville, MD is Curated by Stephen Boocks.

Material World features; Sherill Anne Gross, Michael Janis, J. T. Kirkland, Matthew Langley, Katherine Mann, and Marie Ringwald

The commitment these artists have for their materials and craft lets their processes inform the content of the work, not overwhelm it,” notes curator Stephen Boocks. “While viewers will inevitably wonder how the works were made and will marvel at the technical prowess, the pieces selected ultimately transcend the materials used, allowing each finished object to stand on its own.

Material World runs from March 17th – April 3rd

Life of The World To Come: Darkness Falls Upon Us, at NIAD, Richmmond, CA is curated by Timothy Buckwalter.

Shattering the conventions that have until now segregated artists with disabilities from their mainstream contemporaries, Darkness Falls Upon Us blends more than 70 works culled from artists and galleries across the country with those from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities studio program.

Darkness… features; Kate Bingaman Burt, Martin Bromirski, Bill Dunlap, Sylvia Fragoso, Stephen Hendee, Cliff Hengst, Eva Lake, Matthew Langley, David Martin, Tim McFarlane, Mike Monteiro, Rosita Pardo, Michele Pred, Kevin Randolph, Edmund Shea, Danny Thach, Vincent Villenueva, Billy White, Deirdre F. White, Jim Winters, and Michael Zahn

Life of The World To Come: Darkness Falls Upon Us is on view April 4 through June 3, 2010

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