mark bradford

ICA Boston | 19 November, 2010 - 13 March, 2011

Scorched Earth 2006

Bradford is a prolific LA-based contemporary artist. His art is made from aged billboard peelings and is generally in the vein of abstract canvas works, although he also experiments with multimedia. Scorched Earth is one of his more figural works, representing the race riots in Tulsa in 1921.

The exhibition currently at the ICA is well worth a look. Bradford has created a unique body of work that is stunning and distinctly African-American. His work is dynamic, but highly-focused on the slow process of making.

a work in progress

When I Last Wrote to You About Africa | the Davis. | planned Spring 2011

For my museum issues class we will be helping with an exhibition planned for this spring by the African artist El Anatsui (b. 1944, Ghana). He employs found objects, often trash, and puts them together to create something far greater than the individual parts. He focuses on the things that connect us together as human beings, migration, communication, and consumption.

Right now, we are engaged in discussions about the role of the museum and how the definition of a temporary exhibition affects the execution of this particular show. We are very much in the information-gathering stage, just starting to choose groups. I am hoping to work on the installation design and budgets.

calculated risks

the Davis. | September 15 - December 12, 2010
A show of new art work from the studio faculty at Wellesley, curated by Elizabeth Wycoff. The design for the promotional material (pictured above) is about the hiding and displaying objects. There was no overarching theme for the show, mostly because it was all new work, but the title suggests the feeling of vulnerability that the faculty felt exposing their work to the community. I was especially excited to see my former photo professor Christine Rogers' work, especially because it was never something we talked about much in class. Her photos are accompanied by a video and the entire presentation is overwhelming, uneasy, comical, and critical. Before the show officially opened, my museum issues class had a tour and we were able to focus on things like the space that the artists used, the hanging of the objects, and the diplomacy required to fit 13 artists with differing goals into a shared space.

chuck close prints: process and collaboration

Corcoran Gallery of Art | July 3 - September 12, 2010
An exhibition curated by Terrie Sultan that I really enjoyed. First, because Close's processes are so intricate, and second because I felt that, with the exception of one wall, the entire display did an outstanding job of visually describing how the artist creates his work. Maybe a diy project with finger prints is in order? I know one KD who'd be in.

read my pins

Smithsonian Castle | June 18 to October 17, 2010
Exhibition of pins owned by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and worn during her tenure, sometimes to convey political messages. Although the castle is stuffy, I enjoyed seeing all of the pins and then reading about the circumstances that make each one significant. Bottom right corner, above, was worn as retaliation for being called a 'serpent.'

This one represents the shattered glass ceiling as a result of her appointment.