Shredded and twisted fabric create the bark on a 60-foot tall tree by renowned street artist Swoon that fills the Brooklyn Museum’s fifth floor rotunda. The tree anchors a stunning installation that features huge portraits of the artist’s friends and family along with rag-tag boats that once plied the waters in New York and Venice. (On view through August 24th).
Swoon, installation view of ‘Submerged Motherlands,’ at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, April – August, 2014.
As part of a residency at Philadelphia’s Fabric Workshop and Museum, New York artist Mika Tajima created textiles with a fascinating back story. Taking recordings from factories using Jacquard looms (a precursor to digital) and from server co-location sites (representing new technologies), she translated the sound waves into patterns woven on fabric which was then mounted on acoustic panels to create an object that simultaneously is cutting edge and historical. (At Eleven Rivington on the Lower East Side through April 13th).
Mika Tajima, Negative Entropy (Caledonia Dye Works, quad), cotton, wood, acoustic baffling felt; made in collaboration with the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, 78 x 54 inches, 2014.
Sheila Hicks’ brightly colored, sculptural waterfall of cords now on view at the Whitney Biennial may have more dramatic impact, but this installation at Sikkema Jenkins of 98 balls shaped by wrapping string around fabric – all found materials – has a quiet but no less enchanting appeal. (At Chelsea’s Sikkema Jenkins through April 5th).
Sheila Hicks, Lares and Penates, found materials, 98 elements, 117 x 115 x 5 inches, 1990 – 2013.
Iconic abstract sculptor Richard Tuttle has turned his focus to textiles in his exhibition at Pace Gallery’s 57th Street location, a prelude to his October 2014 commission for the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. Here, a seemingly casually placed brown fabric at center sets off the texture and color of a branch at bottom while a colorful pattern of material roughly wrapped around a life-ring-like shape draws the eye in. (Through March 15th).
Richard Tuttle, Looking for the Map 10, fabric, branch, paint and plastic, 39” x 24” x 10 1/2,” 2013 – 14.
Critics have unanimously praised Sarah Crowner’s colorful installation, ‘The Wave’ at Lower East Side Gallery Nicelle Beauchene, for chasing away the winter blahs with a gorgeous aqua-colored tile, stage-like floor. Here, Crowner quotes textile designs from Alexander Girard that enhance the folksy beauty of this installation. (Through Feb 2nd).
Sarah Crowner, installation view of ‘The Wave’ at Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, Jan 2013.
