In Defense of Concepts

Click here to read an interesting article on the state of contemporary art -- and, more generally, of concepts -- by Ben Davis. He alludes to the op-ed by Denis Dutton that ran a few weeks ago in the New York Times and is on the blog here. He refers to a recent article in the Guardian by art critic Adrian Searle, which can be read here.

Full Circle

As you know, Martha Schwendener will be joining us for final critiques on December 11th. Martha is an independent curator, critic, and writer, writes regularly for the New Yorker and the Village Voice, among other places. Here is where we come full circle: below is the opening graf to her piece on Paul Chan that ran in April 2008 in the Voice:

On my way to the New Museum, I ran into a young curator. I told him I was looking forward to seeing The 7 Lights, a series of video projections and drawings, "because we all love Paul Chan."

He looked at me funny. "That kind of consensus," he said, "makes me really nervous."

I'd meant it as a joke, although it contained a kernel of truth. In a brief half-decade, Chan, an artist-activist, has racked up some powerful art-world supporters.

Click here to read the rest of the review.

Julia

NYTimes vs. Art vs. Design vs.

Here's a link to Roberta Smith's review of the Modernism and Art20 shows at the Park Avenue Armory this weekend:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/arts/design/13modernism.html?_r=1&ref=design

Taylor, Ambereen, and Colin

Kai, Michael, and Sooeun

James, Mimi, and Phoebe

Sonia, Jin, and Ryan

Nell, Lisa, and Greg

Andrew, Yoshi, Courtney

Failure is the Goal! Presentations - Michelle Kuo, Senior Editor, ArtForum - Visiting Critic

Levi, Duhirwe, Rose

New York Trip No. 2 - Smart Design

New York Trip No. 2 - Pucci Collection

New York Trip No. 2 - Dieu Donné

Where Art and Design Meet

Here's a slide show from the New York Times purporting to show where art and design meet:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/11/12/arts/z20091113-mode_index.html

Objects worthy of the vaunted Pucci collection!

Nell

Today's New York Times Magazine (1 November 2009) includes an article on the author of one of our readings, Orhan Pamuk, that also relates to his visual concerns: "The Objects of the Exercise: Which Came first--Orham Pamuk's Museum or His New Novel, 'The Museum of Innocence'?" Pamuk's key words are "Never forget the objects as you write," a fitting motto for artists as well as designers.

Nell