OnTheCusp.org

Opening This Weekend

The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art (iMOCA) will continue its groundbreaking exhibition program with Adam Pendleton’s Rendered in Black and Events Are, opening January 18 at 6 pm. The Rendered in Black sculptural installation occupying the main gallery space will consist of approximately 100 ten-inch, black-ceramic cubes in an improvised arrangement. Their presentation will play with the ideas of minimalism and performance art. The Events Are series is made up of an expanding selection of culturally and historically significant images that are silk-screened and presented as small “paintings” with white backgrounds and black detailing. Works on display will include fragmented text from a Scalapino publication, an abstract painting by a student at Black Mountain College and a small Cy Twombly painting.

At 6 pm, Pendleton will speak about his work and participate in a casual Q&A with the public. Opening reception for the artist begins at 6:30. The artist talk is FREE and the reception is free for members, $5 public. Individual memberships begin at $30 and student memberships are available for $5.


January 18-March 1, 2008
Karl Wirsum: Winsome Works(some)
Public Reception: Friday, January 18, 5-8:00pm

Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Visiting Artist Lecture: Karl Wirsum, 6:00pm
"Karl Wirsum: Winsome Works(some)" celebrates the work of painter, sculptor and printmaker, Karl Wirsum, one of the most revered artists in Chicago. He was a notable participant in contemporary group exhibitions, but it was the landmark "Hairy Who" exhibition in 1964 at the Hyde Park Art Center that established his reputation. Wirsum was identified as a core member of that group that dominated the local art scene for decades, and informed much of contemporary visual art of the period. Wirsum's visual style was typical of the Imagist aesthetic and value-a combined graphic sensibilit-vivid, flat colors, simplified cartoon-like figures-with a sense of humor evident in the works themselves and also in titles that second guess and play with words. Wirsum's imaginary creatures and super hero characters enact bizarre scenes; figures from outer space perform domestic tasks such as mowing the lawn; and space men happily orbit starry objects. His work exists in the buffer zone between real and imaginary, mundane domesticity and super hero powers, day-to-day existence and daydreams.

His work can be seen in every major public art collection in the country, many of whom have lent work to this monumental exhibition of more than 100 pieces. As a special feature of his exhibit, Wirsum will conduct a workshop with Herron printmaking faculty and students to produce a limited edition print. Also, Wirsum will present the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Visiting Artist Lecture on opening night at 6:00pm in the Basile Auditorium. A catalog ($20) and a Karl Wirsum Paddle ($5) will be available for purchase.


Also on view Friday night at Herron, check out the new works of Chad Gallion.

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