CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITS 2006-07

April 1, 2008

In this last session of the course we reviewed the categories into which contemporary art could be placed, despite the claim of the artists that there are no categories since the 1960's, and that all styles are equally acceptable. The categories with which we have been looking at art this semester indicate the intent of the artist. All art is "message" art, in that art is a visual language that communicates. Some artists want to give the viewers social and/or political messages, often as representatives of minority groups that have been "invisible" in the culture. Others, experiment with different materials to expand experimental possibilities. Still others communicate aesthetically, with color, line, space, texture, light, and gravity.

We looked, first, at minority artists such as the African American woman, Adrian

Piper, and the African American man, David Hammons. We then looked at Jimmie Durham, a Native American, and John Coplans who photographed his own aging for a culture that "hates old people". We looked also at Eleanor Dickinson's book of line drawings showing intimate relations between aging people. The controversial artist, Mapplethorpe showed male homosexuality.

Cindy Sherman, who photographed herself while making comments about society, and Barbara Kruger, who used texts and images in an advertisement style, are contemporary message artists. Wayne Thiebaud, however, was primarily concerned with paint and texture, but more recently turned to aerial views that showed patterns and colors. Jay deFeo sculpted through thick paint as in her huge work, The Rose.

Looking at recent exhibits we mentioned the Brooklyn Museum's Elizabeth A.Sackler Center for Feminist Art that opened in 2007 with Judy Chicago's Dinner Party as a centerpiece, and "WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution that went from L.A. to P.S. 1 in Queens, New York. We then looked at works from 3 exhibits at the remodelled San Diego Museum of Art: Morris Louis, Richard Serra, and Ernesto Neto. The Berkeley Art Museum had an exhibit of Bruce Nauman's work of sculptured space and of Allen Ruppersberg's installation of texts from Ginsberg's "Howl" embedded in posters, ads, and signs. Gregg Renfrow's color paintings embued with light were at a S.F. Gallery.

The S.F. Moma showed Brice Marden's color paintings that played with changing light, and his calligraphic paintings of lines dancing on the canvas. We also looked at Hundley's works which were whole scenarios that he created out of a variety of materials. Two artists who dealt with Abu Ghraib were also on exhibit last year: Clinton Fein, who staged copies of photographs and then photographed them, and Fernando Botero who drew and painted, robust figured perpetrators and victims, showing strength and power. Tara Donovan's movable sculpture, made of sawed off pencils, showed how art seen from different perspectives has different meanings. And, finally we looked at Tony Oursler's work that merged video with sculpture and sound.

The last part of the session was devoted to the artists in the class who brought in some of their own work to share. The variety of styles and media was perhaps the best demonstration of the Post Modern art world. Thanks to all who brought in their work.