Hrag Vartanian

A blog of art, culture, photography, writing and ideas.

Entries Tagged as 'art criticism'

Marc Andre Robinson “Untitled (Rise and Fall of New Orleans)” (2008)

August 4th, 2008 · No Comments

The title isn’t really the one Robinson suggested at the Friday August 1 dinner at Like the Spice gallery, he said “Untitled,” but I decided to rename it anyway. He spoke about it at the dinner and as soon as he mentioned New Orleans it made a lot click. I think it’s important that the [...]

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Tags: American · Brooklyn · New York · art · art criticism · art news

Visiting Laurie Anderson’s “Homeland” in New York

July 23rd, 2008 · 2 Comments

I just came back from the opening night of Laurie Anderson’s latest performance piece (entitled “Homeland”) at the Rose Theatre in Columbus Circle. I have to admit that I was prepared to hate it but ended up at the end of show walking out with a smile on my face feeling as if I was [...]

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Tags: American · New York · art · art criticism · diaspora · pop culture · theatre

Catch Jess Before It Closes July 31 at Tibor de Nagy

July 21st, 2008 · No Comments

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend you catch the Jess show at Tibor de Nagy on Fifth Avenue. The show offers a good survey of the quirky Californian artist who has a unique place in the annals of Pop art and the formation of a pre-AIDS gay aesthetic. It closes at the end of [...]

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Tags: American · New York · art · art criticism · art news

The Breakaway Republic of Bushwick

July 18th, 2008 · No Comments

In last month’s Rail, artist/critic James Kalm shined a bright light on the long history of Brooklyn, and Williamsburg in particular, as a creative force in the city’s artistic life. He generously lumped Bushwick and Greenpoint together as a sort of “Greater Williamsburg.” The problem is that the Williamsburg empire isn’t always a benevolent one—evictions [...]

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Tags: American · Brooklyn · New York · art · art criticism · photography

Why Does the New Museum Suck?

July 13th, 2008 · 2 Comments

I headed to the Bowery to check out the Paul Chan show and realized that I was two weeks too late…shit! I admit I didn’t check the dates and did one of those things that most of us that frequent museums or galleries do– figured I’d see it at least before it closes…oh well.
Regardless, I [...]

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Tags: American · New York · art · art criticism