Art Box
Cory Arcangel had enough to deal with during a week leading up to his first major retrospective at the Whitney, Pro Tools. During the first unveiling of his show on Wednesday, he also revealed that he turned 33 the very same morning. “But it’s just hard to process everything,” he said. “I’ve been working non-stop on the show since August, when I found I was getting this opportunity. And since vast majority of the work is new, I had to really focus.”
The show by all means is very pleasing. What it lacks in overall thematic polish, it makes up in joyful creativity. The centerpiece is the self-playing hacked digital bowling alley, the happy silver dancing stands, and a giant installation of 10 packed 55-inch HDTV’s. Arcangel’s signature, buyer friendly Photoshop pieces look great on the Whitney walls. Our highlight, however had to have been Since U Been Gone, screen-print and foil series that attempts to trace to pop genius roots behind the Kelly Clarkson hit. “I’ve been obsessed over that song ever since it came out,” assured Arcangel. “And I had to get to the bottom of its roots.”
The Washington Street Whitney is still good five to six years away from the game-changing reality, but on Thursday we got a preview of things to come. Two giant tents were erected on the museum’s future site to celebrate the Groundbreaking week of the institution as well as to hand out the 2011 American Art Award to Marissa Mayer. Here’re the details:
The army of artists: Roni Horn, Cory Arcangel, Richard Phillips, Laurie Simmons, Lorna Simpson, Christo, Irit Batsry, Shirin Neshat, Claes Oldenburg, Thomas Otterness, Andrew Lord, and Richard Tuttle, among many others.
Big shot supporters: LVMH’s Renaud Dutreil, Susan Hess, Cinidi Lieve, Anne H. Bass, André Balazs, Jacqueline and Vito Schanbel, and Brooke Garber Neidich.
Most popular guest: John McEnroe, who’s still being teased about his match winning record that’s being challenged by Novak Djokovic right now at French Open.
Best dressed: Josephine Meckseper who’s heading to Venice next.
Sure sign that this American gala: Meat loaf and mac’n’cheese was your main course.
Best surprise: Debbie Harry and the Blondie taking the stage (and complaining about the dump they were performing in).
Welcome unofficial after-party cameos: Chelsea Handler, Olivier Zahm, Ann Dexter Jones, who were all spotted at Boom Boom after with some high-dealing Whitney socials.
Photos – CLINT SPAULDING/PatrickMcMullan.com
André Balaz (1)
Andrew Lord (1)
Ann Dexter Jones (1)
Anne H. Bass (1)
Brooke Garber Neidich (1)
Chelsea Handler (1)
Christo (5)
Cinidi Lieve (1)
Claes Oldenburg (2)
Cory Arcangel (7)
Debbie Harry (3)
Google (7)
Groundbreaking (1)
Irit Batsry (1)
John McEnroe (2)
Josephine Meckseper (20)
Laurie Simmons (2)
Lorna Simpson (5)
Marissa Mayer (1)
Novak Djokovic (1)
Olivier Zahm (1)
Renaud Dutreil (2)
Richard Phillips (45)
Richard Tuttle (1)
Roni Horn (6)
Shirin Neshat (8)
Susan Hess (2)
Thomas Otterness (1)
Vito Schnabel (13)
Washington Street (1)
Whitney Museum of American Art (31)
