Rashid Johnson. “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” 2008. Blackened gunmetal steel. Courtesy the artist and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA. Photo by Nettrice Gaskins.
In this week’s roundup Rashid Johnson deconstructs false notions of identity, James Turrell is at Louis Vuitton, Mike Kelley is celebrated in Italy, Cindy Sherman shocks and confuses, Latoya Ruby Frazier converses about her work, and more.
- Rashid Johnson‘s first major solo museum exhibition has arrived at the High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA). In Message to Our Folks the artist explores the work of notable black intellectuals in order to consider his own, and to reflect on the individual identities of black Americans in the face of assumed cultural homogeneity. This work is on view through September 8.
- Do-Ho Suh‘s has work on view in the Dieu Donné gallery (NYC). For Thread Drawings the artist explores personal and collective identity in colorful works of thread. The show closes June 29.
- Mary Reid Kelley in collaboration with her partner Patrick Kelley presents new videos at Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects (Los Angeles, CA). Priapus Agonistes features new videos and drawings with costumed protagonists, “caught in still moments between their eloquently delivered ruminations.” The show closes July 6.
- Ellen Gallagher‘s first major exhibition at a New York museum will be at the New Museum of Contemporary Art (NYC). Don’t Axe Me will examine the artist’s handling of “image, text, and surface—drawing equally from modernism, mass culture, and social history.” The NYC show will be on view June 19 – September 15 and will run concurrently with the artist’s exhibition at the Tate Modern, London (through September 1).
- Mika Rottenberg and Lynda Benglis are wrapping up a group show at Andrea Rosen Gallery 2 (NYC). Lynda Benglis, Sean Bluechel, Jean Dubuffet, Mika Rottenberg, Axel Salto contrasts Rottenberg’s sculptures with the surfaces of other artists’ work. Benglis states, “I am involved with bodily response so that the viewer has the feeling of being one with the material and that action, both visually and muscularly…in other words, you draw out the complete body through the work.” The exhibition closes June 22.
- James Turrell‘s permanent installation opened at Louis Vuitton at Crystals (Las Vegas, NV). Akhob, in which light gradually and repeatedly shifts within two rounded halls, is the largest of Turrell’s light field installations
- Mike Kelley‘s Eternity is a Long Time is on view at at HangarBicocca (Milan, Italy). The exhibition presents six years of Kelley’s installations along a wide path. This work is on view until September 8. A series titled Mike Kelly E Il Cinema celebrating the artist’s love of cult films runs until September 5.
- Cindy Sherman: Untitled Horrors is on view at the Astrup Fearnley Museet (Oslo, Norway). The exhibition focuses on the dark and disturbing identities Sherman assumed in series like Disasters, Civil War and Horror & Surrealism. The show closes September 22.
- In Conversation: LaToya Ruby Frazier will take place at the Brooklyn Museum (Brooklyn, NY). LaToya Ruby Frazier will discuss her current solo show, A Haunted Capital with Laura Wexler, professor of genders studies at Yale, Lesley Martin of Aperture Foundation, and Hershini Bhana Young, professor at the University of Buffalo. The event will take place June 27, and the exhibition closes August 11.
- LaToya Ruby Frazier: Witness will be on view at the Contemporary Art Museum (Houston, TX). The exhibition will feature Frazier‘s black and white images, and new politically-charged videos and prints. The exhibition will run June 22 – October 13.
- Laurie Anderson will participate in multimedia events at Rockefeller Park (NY) for the River To River Festival 2013. She will curate projects supporting New York City’s artist community and reflecting her involvement in it. These events take place June 18 – 22.
- Carrie Mae Weems was honored for her artistic achievement for the Gordon Parks Foundation gala held in NYC earlier this month. The Foundation “preserves the work of Gordon Parks, makes it available to the public through exhibitions, books, and electronic media and supports artistic and educational activities that advance what Gordon described as ‘the common search for a better life and a better world.'”
- Ursula von Rydingsvard is working on a bronze sculpture that will be displayed at Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY). According to Complex magazine, Ona will be a “19-feet installation made with a circular saw and many 4x4s. The sculpture, which will sit in front of the subway that leads to the arena, looks like a natural occurring land formation in the shape of a bowl.” A video interview of the artist can be viewed here.
- Raymond Pettibon is the subject of a new documentary by MOCAtv. The Art of Punk: Black Flag looks at the history of Raymond Pettibon’s iconic artwork, with commentary from the artist, plus interviews with members of Black Flag and others. The full documentary is online.
- Charles Atlas‘ work and new collaborative performances are featured in the BMW Tate Live 2013 series. It included a new version of MC9 (2012), a multimedia piece on dance, and a video about the show has been posted online.