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.
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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.
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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.
