peripheral pleasures

I've been thinking about some of the peripheral pleasures of curating. When exhibitions are open to the public, the greatest part of my work is seeing and hearing people respond to the art.
What do they think or feel in the gallery? Are they stimulated, confused, curious?
This is the viewer's 50% contribution to the art experience that Marcel Duchamp spoke of.
But there is a hidden aspect to exhibit-making too, and this includes the spirited discussions with artists in studios and restaurants, the opening of crates, hoping for positive reviews, and shooting documentation. What follows is a gallery of images that sheds some light on this part of the process.



Here is Matt Bryans playing with his first Krispy Kreme doughnut in October of 2006.





Here are Anissa Mack and Russell Maltz enjoying some ribs at Fatt Matt's Rib Shack this February.

Soon after these lip-smacking pictures were taken, Russell and I rented a helicopter to document his tandem installations at the Contemporary, and on real estate developer Tim Schrager's construction site at Decatur Street and Hill Street. While we were up there, we flew over Sol Le Witt's 54 Columns, which was an inspiration for the project.




The Contemporary pavillion.



Decatur Street site.



54 Columns




Tim Schrager in the helicopter.
Tim and Perennial Properties were essential to the success of Maltz's installations.
A heartfelt thanks to him for donating materials and the downtown site.

Considering views from above, here is artist Daniel Duford and his daughter Devlin in Portland, Oregon. Daniel will be exhibiting drawings and sculptures in our Main Gallery this summer.

posted by the Contemporary