Thursday, September 06, 2007

Material Presence


Many of you may have wondered what has been keeping me so busy these past days or even weeks. Well, after a year and half in the planning, I am proud to present Material Presence, an exhibition of abstract art by emerging artists from as far away as Dusseldorf. I have been following these artists works for a while now and find them to be some of the most interesting artists working with abstraction today. The process of curating this exhibition has kept me busy and I do hope that the audience here in Indianapolis will come out, see the work and enjoy the work by these artists as much as I do.

Material Presence, features recent work by seven emerging artists each exploring issues concerning abstraction today. Through an emphasis on materials and process these artists explore the boundaries and possibilities of abstract art and the expanded definition of painting. The artists in this exhibition blur the perceived barriers between painting, sculpture, and installation through the potential of their materials. The artists in the exhibition include: Scott Grow (Indianapolis, IN), Michael Just (Dusseldorf, DEU), Joseph McSpadden (Lawrenceville, GA), Danielle Riede (Richmond, VA), Eric Sall (Brooklyn, NY), Christian Tedeschi, (Santa Monica, CA), Wendy White (Brooklyn, NY).
OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th, 5pm-8pm
Marsh Project Gallery,
Herron School of Art and Design
735 West New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

The gallery is open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Thursdays till 8pm or by appointment. Admission is free and public parking is available in the IUPUI garage west of Herron. The exhibition will be on view through September 29th.

I would like to thank each of the artists, Leo Koenig Inc., ATM Gallery, Irvine Contemporay, Big Car Gallery, and especially the Efroymson Fund, a CICF Fund. With out the help of these individuals and organizations, this show could not have happened. Thank You.

UPDATE (SOME IMAGES FROM THE SHOW)

Christian Tedeschi











Wendy White











Michael Just, Eric Sall (back wall)









Danielle Riede








Danielle Riede (detail)








Joseph McSpadden











Joseph McSpadden (detail)








Scott Grow








Scott Grow

14 Responses to “Material Presence”

Anonymous said...
September 7, 2007 at 9:25 AM

Interesting choices.


Anonymous said...
September 8, 2007 at 7:01 PM

I find it a little self servant that the curator includes his work in a lot of the exhibits he curates and at this time he actually lists his work first on the list. Just kinda funny really. Oh what people can get away with in Indiana...


Anonymous said...
September 8, 2007 at 7:38 PM

Maybe the previous anonymous poster didn't notice, but the artists are listed alphabetically.


Anonymous said...
September 8, 2007 at 9:23 PM

I doubt this has anything to do with being able to get away with something in Indianapolis. Do you think the rest of the artworld rides high on ethical rails? Pssst.... it doesn't.

I think you should give Scott some credit for putting this engaging show together, and go look at the work that is there and then, yes after that, judge.

Judge away after that(anonymously, of course).

There are some interesting pieces in that show.

The Dude.


Scott said...
September 9, 2007 at 11:09 AM

I would like to say thank you to all of you who came out and saw the show. I do hope you liked it. I could not be happier with how the show came together. (I do regret running out of exhibit lists but will be reprinting more tomorrow.)

For the record, I discussed including my work in the show with the artists and afterwards we decided it would be appropriate with this show. I am not being paid for any of the work I did for this show and have never curated an exhibition which included my work before. That said, I did include my work at the Bridge Art Fair along with all the artists that Recent Projects was currently representing (not exactly curated if everyone was included). Aside from that the only other group projects I have put together where my work would have been seen along with other artists was the Collectors Kit and the Everyday Inventors Coloring Book. Both of which were intended as nothing more than collaborative artist projects, so I do not count those as curated exhibitions either.

I do understand the concern and issues surrounding curators exhibiting their works in shows (particularly when they are in a paid position) and also realise that there is a time and place where it may be ok for this to happen. I felt that with this show it would be appropriate as did the other artists. I did in fact question putting my name first on the card but felt alphabetical order was the only clear option. Perhaps I should have gone alphabetical by first name, but who really does that...

For those who have not seen the show yet I do hope that you get the chance. Have a good day everyone.


Anonymous said...
September 10, 2007 at 1:50 PM

It's funny how anonymous 9:23pm criticized the other comment for being anonymous and yet won't put his face to it. If this blog does not want to have anonymous comments then it should take that option out. Otherwise it should be used if the people want to. I do. The art world is too small to be a hero. But I do agree with the other poster about a curator plugging in its own work. I don't care what the ethical standards out there are, it does not make it ok in my opinion. I think at some point he should choose, either an artist or a curator. Otherwise it gets too incestuous. Asking the other artists if your work could be in the same show is the same as asking the guy who you’re going to shoot if h wants a glass of water. I would love some water if I had a gun in my head.


Scott said...
September 10, 2007 at 7:58 PM

I must say that your analogy (a gun to the artists head) is quite absurd and unfair. It implys that the artists were forced into a show, had little input and that there was a lack of democracy. I am not of the mind that you have to agree with the decision I made but at where do we draw these lines. Big Car, Flux Space, Galerie Penumbra, Harrison Center for the Arts, Community Museum League (among others) are all local galleries owned and/or operated/curated by artists. Take away the venues that are started or run by artists in this town and we practicaly have nothing. Artists around the world are putting on their own shows, solo, group, or otherwise. In well known galleries, artist studios, warehouses, rented out storefronts, and in friends apartments or garages. I find these sort of events exciting, often much more so than typical gallery shows as there is no expectation to pay the rent and sell work. It is about the show, the art and the comraderie amongst artists. The artist as curator is not a new thing and has become quite normal in todays art world. Who should have a better perspective or understanding of the art being made today if not the artists themselves? Perhaps these are the topics we really need to address.


Anonymous said...
September 11, 2007 at 10:43 PM

Indianapolis is a small town and art (administrative and artists) are pretty mediocre. When there is talent here, the roles and opportunities overlap. Actually they do almost everywhere. I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the curator showing his own work. It actually makes sense. Compare Scott's show (could hold its contemporary own nationally) to Art vs. Art (another excuse to swig beer?) and there is no comparison. Congrats to Scott for uplifting the City's visual arts scene. Watch Scott.


Anonymous said...
September 11, 2007 at 11:48 PM

I am The Dude, not anon, Mr. Anon 1:52 pm. Read the whole post at a time.


Anonymous said...
September 12, 2007 at 1:53 PM

Congratulations Scott... Great show!

The only thing I wish the pieces are labeled(artist,title,materials/process).


Scott said...
September 12, 2007 at 4:05 PM

Thanks Diong,

Point very much taken on the labels. The night of the opening I printed out several exhibit lists with plans on posting one on the wall for all to see. I started to chat with someone about the show and when I got back to hang the exhibit list, they had all walked away with visitors. Good news is, I now have a new exhibit list and will be posting it in the gallery tomorrow. If anyone has any particular questions, let me know.


Anonymous said...
September 13, 2007 at 10:13 AM

curator = artist = farmer = father = dancer = mother = stuntdriver = tour guide = artist = curator

liberate the distinctions so that we can truly engage with environments and communities in ways that subvert the oppressive paradigms of cultural norms

congrats scott the artist/curator

no shame in that game


Anonymous said...
October 8, 2007 at 12:59 PM

I'm wondering if the curator will be represented in the Focus Midwest Show.


Scott said...
October 8, 2007 at 1:08 PM

No. Being the curator for Focus Midwest, I can say this, my work will not be a part of the Focus Midwest show or any other exhibition in which I am hired to curate.


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