Pulse 2010 Recap

This year’s Pulse art fair was in the same location as last years… sort of. Although it took a minute to realize it was not next to the soccer fields like last year. It was in a considerably smaller space across West Street. It seemed to be only a handful of galleries, but I was in a much better place to tour these spaces, which included some great new work. The highlights included:

Caren Golden had two photographs from the Sanchez Brothers, who are still creating highly disturbing settings that make the viewer very uncomfortable. Although the two she had were not my favorite (see Pink Bathroom, Misuse of Youth, and a Motive for Change). The prints are large, especially for my little Hell’s Kitchen apartments, making them even more stunning and provocative.  Prices were not insane for a limited run and also considering the size: in the $5,000 range. Some have said the pictures are too staged, but I see them more cinematic then trying to be realistic. A comprehensive look at their work can be found here - http://www.thesanchezbrothers.com

The aperture foundation had some very interesting photographs in a very compromised space near the café in the back of the space. Although I didn’t stay more then a minute to appreciate some of the work, I am interesting in learning more about the organization and to see their upcoming show. The organization appears similar to Lumas, only with a focus on the art of photography instead of the sale of it. http://www.aperture.org/

In one of the back corners of Pulse there was a fantastic collection from a Pilipino gallery. They had fun playful images that were over the top and kitsch, but still beautifully produced and conceived. http://silverlensphoto.com/main.html

There were a couple of Los Angeles galleries with interesting pieces including Kopli Del Rio out of Culver City with new pieces by Kerry James Marshall, who I forgot was a man (but the gallery girl quickly reminded me in a mildly bitchy tone). I first saw Marshall at the Art Institute in Chicago where he has a whole room of four massive pieces that feel similar to Kara Walker but with colors and hidden imagery but that also deal with issues of race and gender. The Chicago-based artist is went to school in Los Angeles and for this gallery he had both new and older pieces that were fantastic. Prices ranged up to $150,000, if not more for his work. More info on the gallery and additional images can be found here http://www.koplindelrio.com/

 Canada also had a strong showing with intriguing work from both Toronto and Montreal. The first great find was Stephen Abbly-Barr and his petite paintings at the Nicholas Metivier gallery. The artist is inspired by fraternity culture and takes an old-school approach to his paintings that seem like updated versions of classic paintings.  Of the two, this work of a small boy in a very large chair with a vey suggestive eye mask was my favorite, both for its style and texture.  The title “Little Lord Dulac” made it perfection. 

The Montréal representation was Laurent Craste who created “affordable”, beautifully smooth yet damaged pottery. The pieces were playful, imaginary and beautifully conceived. My two favorites were the main piece – a large vase damaged by the impeding hammer that caused graceful folds in the drying process. Another favorite was a video within a plate located on top of a bookshelf filled with books and other knickknacks.  I felt I had been transported to the Haunted House ride in Disney World. And the price, under $10,000, seemed reasonable even though it was still well beyond my reach.

It was also refreshing to see a new medium in pottery; as a lot of taxidermy was going on this week in New York (Damien Hirst, I am blaming you). So it was a nice reprieve to see a more visually pleasing texture. Not that I wasn't loving the walrus head covered in enameled beetles wings shinning on Spinello’s white walls. (btw- how interesting is their upcoming show, reason enough for a quick Miami weekend) http://www.spinellogallery.com/

Other highlights: