WOW! A deep bow to Holland Cotter for her brilliant writing. Likely enough to get me in my most-hated space, an airplane, to travel to this show.
That's a first in 69 years of being in Zoe Leonard's alliances from HIV/AIDS advocate to teaching an all-black HS tiered-classroom James Baldwin's messages. For those students who could not read, a volunteer was paired to read out loud. Only 23 of 170+ who showed up on class day one stuck around to discover what they could learn from a 20-yr old white girl teaching Harlem Renaissance writings.
1
The “Wax Anatomical Model,” from 1990, could also be called "a wax anatomical model" [without the capitalization and introduced with an indefinite article]. Looks like a model by Susini from the early 1800s. The actual models are pretty disturbing. Worth a visit to Bologna.
I used to want to understand contemporary art.
Now I just don't care.
I think that's the trick.
4
Schopenhauer, as cited by Borges' essay "El tiempo circular" (since I don't read German):
"Nadie ha vivido en el pasado, nadie vivirá en el futuro; el presente es la forma de toda vida."
No one has ever lived in the past; nor will anyone ever live in the futuro. Life is always lived in the present.
1
i would like to update that Pres. wish list by including a Priestess.
1
... and Zoe let’s us know what the present really is. If only we could notice before the future starts.
Cambell's soup cans look better every day.
Why not instead give us the words and ask for images?
1
"if ms leoanrd has stong ideas about this (obsolescence or any of the number of cticial speculations herein) the aren't spelled out," in her work.
so, let it be.
alas, perception of the work, striking as it is, according to the viewer's lights (and darks) is limited by such speculations, imposition or critical overlays, if you will...let's go to the gallery together but spare each other our conclusions until tea after.
1
I had the great privilege to see and write about Zoe Leonard's collaborative piece with Cheryl Dunye—at SITE Santa Fe—about the fictitious African American actress Fae Richards.This strange and haunting installation of photographs remains one of the most subtle, brilliant, and expansive art works I've ever seen. What was entirely fiction had its own veil of "truth" and Leonard's photographic techniques rendered the images of Fae Richards entirely plausible as an historical figure. Although Fae Richards was a persona of artifice incarnate, an attentive viewer could not help but believe in her as an archetype chafing against social and historical conditions—a kind of radar that the iconic Fae Richards and, by extension Zoe Leonard, flies either below or above depending on your perspective.
2
Loved seeing this installation. “You see I am here after all” (2008) was astounding. And the Whitney space is beautiful.
3
Compare "Strange Fruit" to this famous "messy floor" mosaic from ancient Rome, now held by the Vatican Museum:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Messy_floor_mosaic.jpg
8
A true artist; a work from decades ago strikes a tone of being current and grabs your attention and your mind, while visually you know it is old... and you are pulled into her world wondering... will the things that are familiar and important to me have relevance in the future. I hope so. The beauty of art. Fabulous!
3
These are beautiful and evocative works--I wish I could see them in person.
3