If aliens visited earth a thousand years from now – What would they find? Artist Ellen Harvey’s Corcoran Museum exhibit explores the power of architecture from the sci-fi perspective of extra-terrestrials who come to earth long after human beings are extinct. Harvey questions cultural values and, specifically, the way architecture, even in ruins, expresses these values. The sci-fi exhibit was reviewed in this month’s ARTnews, and it does leave one scratching the head and wondering, Why are pillars so popular? Or, as Harvey puts it, “What is it about classical architecture that makes democracy in Athens a cultural meme?
Johns Hopkins adds an Art Minor… In the past, the Johns Hopkins University has not been known for being particularly supportive of the arts or art majors. Ten years ago, the Mattin Center, home to art studios, darkroom, and performance spaces, was funded by a donor who insisted the arts be given their own building or the funding would be revoked. However, a new era is dawning and the university has realized the value of a fine arts practice, even for those destined to be doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Next year, Johns Hopkins is adding a visual art Minor, good news for art-starved students at the school. More info here.
The Washington Post’s Mark Jenkins reviewed Knowing, a group exhibit at Area 405 which asked nineteen participating artists to consider Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Apparently nakedness was a big theme. Jenkins is a perceptive fellow, so he noticed something Bmoreart’s been saying for years: that the venue’s cavernous and rather unfinished veneer was an excellent environment to showcase installation, performance, and video. The critic highlighted works by Laure Drogoul and Al Zaruba. The review is kind of short and choppy, but it’s kind of a big deal for the Washington Post to cover anything in Baltimore, so arguably it’s worth a read.
The Baltimore Sun covered Congregate at MICA before I did. I’m fine with that. Read about this epic collision of community, faith, and curatorial practice at the Baltimore Sun: here.
Sharon Butler at Two Coats of Paint says Charline von Heyl’s seventh solo show at Petzel in NY is a fantastic must-see.
Check out a few more images of von Heyl’s ‘composed inventions’ here.
Sara Barnes at the Brown Paper Bag Blog shares Pinks, Reds, and Blue: stuff that she’s seen and liked lately.
Back at The Baltimore Sun, more art related news from Larry Perl. Benjamin Schulman, a MICA professor and former director of the Baltimore Clayworks has opened a new commercial art gallery on the Avenue in Hampden. The gallery, Schulman Projects, will specialize in clay, metal, sculpture, and other types of ‘visionary’ work and will include retail and curated gallery shows.
And, last but not least, the New York Times’ Roberta Smith levels her judgement on Detroit‘s “get out of debt quick scheme” – to sell off valuable works from the Detroit Institute of Arts and underfund the museum. It’s a bit squalid and depressing, a more complicated tragedy than you’d expect.
*The Sunday Reading List is put together by Cara Ober, Editor of Bmoreart. If you have a link you’d like to share, send it to [email protected].
