Meyer Schapiro, when asked why James Joyce united the Irish and the Jew in Ulysses, responded that both were indestructible in the fury of history. This is the sense of everyday heroism and sacred survivalism?neither Geva nor Bloom aspire to martyrdom?that is part of Jewish prudential wisdom. There is an ardent clarity even in the […]

As John Wood so forcefully states in his introductory essay to Songs of Innocence and Experience, a newly published book which pairs William Blake’s poems with Joel-Peter Witkin’s photographs, "No visual artist since Blake himself is better suited to illustrate Blake’s Songs than Joel-Peter Witkin. Songs of Innocence and Experience: Showing the Two Contrary States […]

The Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria is off the beaten path for both gallery and museum viewing. Situated directly across the street from Grand Central Station, the annexed museum space once known as Whitney Philip Morris has gone through a recent publicity-driven make over. The New Breed Jason Murison Ivan Witenstein, installation view: […]

This time it was the ride making the attractions. Rosemarie Fiore?s recent exhibition, "Scrambler Drawings," excited viewers with its playful exploration of time, chance, choice, and fun. And the circus came to town? Ron Johnson Rosemarie Fiore, "Scrambler Drawings" (installation shot).This time it was the ride making the attractions. Rosemarie Fiore?s recent exhibition, "Scrambler Drawings," […]

The Sideshow gallery in Williamsburg is a true work of love supported by artist/founder Richard Timperio, who has been showing some consistently terrific work for some time. Thornton Willis and James Little: Raising the Bar Vered Lieb James Little. Portrait of a Star, 2002. 78" x 96" Oil and Wax on CanvasThe Sideshow gallery in […]

Oakland artist Squeak Carnwath is a mystery. During her opening reception for her October solo show at the Oakland Art Gallery, she remained camouflaged among the many visitors who were examining, discussing and pointing at her work. The Personal Universal Petra Bilbeau Squeak Carnwath, Something Else, 2004, oil and alkyd on canvas over panel, courtesy […]

This year the Venice Festival of Cinema will explore beyond the more interesting cinematic production of the last two years. Director Marco Muller has dedicated considerable space in the festival to a history of cinema which continues to be marginalized. Baruchello and Grifi: "Verification Uncertain" Montage and Displacement Between Art and Cinema of the 1960?s […]

Site Matters: Edited by Moukhtar Kocache and Erin Shirreff / Published by DAP, Inc., 2004 / 317 pgs. / ISBN: 0-9726973-1-4 The connection between a space and a memory is a tenuous one, confounded and fragile, contingent at best. This connection makes a place into a site, and then transforms a site into a context. […]

"A search is always, in a sense, "trouble." In order to search, one leaves familiar territory, questions himself and his surroundings, commits himself to discovery, and to the possibility of action and change," wrote architect Max Abramovitz, after more than 30 years of involvement in building corporate America. Abramovitz’s career grew primarily through his partnership, […]

The recent opening of the Istanbul Modern unveiled a collection tracing the artistic movements and achievements of Turkey from the beginning of the 20th century. Istanbul–which with approximately 15 million inhabitants is the largest city in Turkey–is also the country’s cultural and artistic capitol. New Museum Jazzes Up Istanbul Art Scene Rana Ozturk Courtesy of […]