Art Box
We like to pay attention to the Maison & Objet Creator of the Year prize every year. Usually, its recipients wind up museum halls (if they aren’t already!) and influence the creation of some of the great art spaces in the world. Édouard François, the last year’s recipient is one of most renowned green art designers on the planet, and this year’s victor is…Tokujin Yoshioka who’s even more renowned.
Yoshioka’s works are already in the collections of Musée d’Orsay, MoMA, Centre Georges Pompidou, and Cooper Hewitt. The Japanese great is celebrating winning the prestigious prize by putting on a “Crystalized Project” show that showcase his key pieces that draw relationship between “power of nature and human beings”. The highlights of the exhibition will include his astounding “Venus- Natural Crystal Chair” among other coveted pieces.
In case you didn’t notice, second annual Rob Pruitt’s 2010 Art Awards got downgraded this year. Despite the fact that Guggenheim Museum partnered with the artist on the project, the dinner was relegated to Webster Hall last night – one of least tolerable event spaces in all of Gotham. Calvin Klein dropped their sponsorship, and meal was prepared by Roberta’s pizzeria. Yes, creating a legitimate art ceremony is tough, but despite the obstacles, we have to give it up to Mr. Pruitt. He’s on the roll this year. Aside from this giant headache, his recent joyful collaboration with Marc Jacobs at P.S.1 was a true (albeit brief) highlight of this fall. Pruitt did everything to get people through the door last night…and plenty of amazing art faces showed (hello Marina, Marilyn, and John!). But after three hours of award-giving, Glenn O’Brien’s light jokes, and James Franco’s crooning, everyone was still as confused as ever about the meaning and relevance of the event. Here’s the recap and the full list of winners…
Most unexpected Oscar preview: This year’s Academy Award host James Franco pairing with Kalup Linzy for a little number named “Asshole” (among others). Will Kalup ever make it to the Kodak theatre?
Most expected celebrity guest: James Franco. We love you James, but we think you kind of already earned your art street cred. Does like Justin Bieber want to collaborate with Matthew Barney or something?
Biggest relief: Absence of those awful, champagne light bulb trophies from the inaugural honors.
Biggest upset: Trisha Donnelly’s (Casey Kaplan Gallery) win in the Solo Gallery Show category over power showcases in Gagosian and Gavin Brown, that also works with Pruitt by the way.
Best prop: Few naked bodies on stage, paying tribute to Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
Biggest category domination: Jerry Saltz, who already has two of these things thanks to his supremacy in the Critic category. Next year, Linda Yablonsky.
Heath Ledger Moment Alert: Wonderful Louise Bourgeois winning the big prize of the night, posthumously despite being the favorite LAST year. Marina Abramovic was thrilled with her deserving Solo Museum Show honor.
Most red carpet ready couple: Rachel Feinstein and John Currin. Beautiful Feinstein is totally channeling Cate Blanchett lately which is a great thing.
Rob Pruitt’s 2010 Art Awards honorees:
- Artist of the Year: Louise Bourgeois
- Solo Show of the Year, Gallery: Trisha Donnelly, Casey Kaplan Gallery, New York
- Solo Show of the Year, Museum: Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, Museum of Modern Art, New York
- Blogger or Critic of the Year: Jerry Saltz
- Curator of the Year: Chrissie Iles
- Alternative Space of the Year: Artists Space, New York
- Alternative Project of the Year: INDEPENDENT, New York
- Exhibition outside the United States: John Baldessari: Pure Beauty, Tate Modern, London (in association with Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
- Group Show of the Year, Gallery: Primary Atmospheres: Works from California 1960-1970, David Zwirner, New York
- Group Show of the Year, Museum: In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art, 1960-1976, Museum of Modern Art, New York
- New Artist of the Year: Tauba Auerbach
- The Rob Pruitt Award: Lena Dunham
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Jonas Mekas and Martha Rosler.
- The Artist-Educator Achievement Award: Marilyn Minter.
Photo – EUGENE MIM/PatrickMcMullan.com
Art Awards (17)
Awards (34)
Guggenheim Museum (42)
Hope Atherton (2)
James Franco (20)
Jerry Saltz (29)
John Currin (8)
Kalup Linzy (18)
Klaus Biesenbach (13)
Linda Yablonsky (10)
Louise Bourgeois (7)
Marc Jacobs (10)
Marilyn Miniter (5)
Marilyn Minter (7)
Marina Abramović (39)
P.S.1 (19)
Rachel Feinstein (9)
Rob Pruitt (16)
Ryan McNamara (3)
Webster Hall (1)
Linda Yablonsky, Mary Heilmann, James Franco
Once upon a time, Rob Pruitt had an unflinching dream. While watching the telecast of the Oscars (or MTV Movie Awards or Latin Grammy honors or very prestigious Daytime Emmys) he thought to himself: Why shouldn’t the art folks have the same democratic opportunities to make self-indulgent acceptance speeches and shamelessly borrow tuxedos and clutches during THAT time of the year? After all, everyone likes to win something or at least be nominated for something whether they work in the Senate or at the suburban Burger King. So, Pruitt’s productive realization of The First Annual Art Awards is certainly admirable. On Thursday, he brought the very first event of its kind to Guggenheim while Calvin Klein Collection sponsored. We could have had an informal ceremony at a local YMCA funded by Nabisco.
