The 2012 deCordova Biennial Curators Dina Deitsch and Abigail Ross Goodman take on Art | Basel

Co-curators of The 2012 deCordova Biennial, Dina Deitsch and Abigail Ross Goodman, blogged about their experiences at Art Basel Miami over the weekend for Art New England. Learn more about what they saw, what they liked, and where they went.

Read more on Art New England's blog.

Hannah Visits the Tang

Fall Curatorial Intern, Hannah Mode, recently visited the Tang Museum at Skidmore College.  Here are some of her thoughts. To read more on this topic, please visit hannahpmode.tumblr.com.

Whiting Tennis

Washer/Dryer, 2010

Plywood and house paint

Each 40 ½ x 27 7/8 x 24 ¼ inches

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of returning to beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY, home to the Tang Museum at Skidmore College (where I spent four years studying as an undergrad). Like deCordova, the Tang boasts an innovative exhibition space and an exciting curatorial program that provides each viewer with a unique, thoughtful art experience. On this trip, I was especially looking forward to seeing the exhibition, Opener 22: Whiting Tennis.

Whiting Tennis

The New Green, 2007

Wood, paint, and Visqueen

56 1/8 x 20 x 33 7/8 inches

Opener 22 is Tennis’ first solo museum exhibition and features sculpture, painting, drawing, and collage from the past twelve years. The Seattle-based artist is heavily influenced by everyday structures in the Northwest and often includes recognizable visual clues in his work that point to familiar items, like sheds, bits of plywood, signs, even mailboxes. Tennis breathes new life into discarded, overlooked objects by fusing many materials into a single work of art.

Drawing is the base of Tennis’ practice, and he also creates woodblock prints that he cuts and collages together. I especially enjoyed the way the texture of the drawings and collages emphasizes the landscape of the Northwest, and creates relationships with similar surfaces of the sculptures. 

Whiting Tennis

Boogeyman, 2007

Plywood and hot melt tar

83 x 44 x 32 inches

Courtesy of Derek Eller Gallery, New York

Two outdoor sculptures - Boogeyman (a black structure about seven feet tall) coated in what looks like tar, stands outside the main entrance, while title, a smaller, shingled piece rests on the back patio in the same mysterious, yet familiar vein as the sculptures in the gallery. In addition, painted wood replicas of a washer and dryer are on display in a birch grove on the museum grounds and serve to round out the exhibition. I love the thought of coming across these two domestic objects in nature, like escaped housebound creatures.

Whiting Tennis

Washer/Dryer, 2010

Plywood and house paint

Each 40 ½ x 27 7/8 x 24 ¼ inches

Ian Berry, Malloy Curator of the Tang Museum, organized Opener 22 in collaboration with the artist.