Joanna Malinowska at Canada Gallery

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Six tons of dirt from the Yukon and a giant papier-mache bear – part of a solo show by Polish-American artist Joanna Malinowska – launch Canada Gallery’s much-awaited new LES space.  Known to source objects from around the world (e.g. a liter of water from the Bering Straight and a sweater from Bolivian president Evo Morales in a previous piece), Malinowska gathers far flung references – intriguing if obscure – to the North American land.   (At Canada through Oct 20th).

Joanna Malinowska and Michael Crockford, Falsely Humble (background), wood, papier-mache, 2013.  Joanna Malinowska, 6 Tons of Yukon Dirt (foreground), soil from Yukon Territory, miner’s pan & bucket, 2013.

John McCracken: Works from 1963 – 2011 at David Zwirner Gallery

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Southern Californian minimalist John McCracken’s retrospective exhibition at David Zwirner Gallery is better seen in person – where sleek objects like this one (hand-crafted from plywood covered in polyester resin & fiberglass) reflect the people, objects and light conditions surrounding them.  But the color contrasts alone between the richly green ‘Minnesota’ in the foreground and the sky blue of ‘On Stream’ in this photo set the mind thinking of nature.   (At the gallery’s 20th Street location through Oct 19th.)

John McCracken, Minnesota (in the foreground), polyester resin, fiberglass and plywood, 1989.  On Stream (background left), polyester resin, fiberglass and plywood, 1998.

Kerry James Marshall at Jack Shainman Gallery

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We knew that there was big money in the art world, but Kerry James Marshall makes it explicit with his installation of coins, constructed in brass.  Though the value of the coins adds up to $.99, the piece’s title reveals that fabrication costs were approximately $136,000.  And the selling price?  The gallery “…would prefer to not have that published,” a position that reinforces Marshall’s point that culture and money are entwined, sometimes secretly. (At Chelsea’s Jack Shainman Gallery through Oct 12th).  

Kerry James Marshall, 99 cent piece (One hundred thirty six thousand dollars in change), cast resin with brass overlay, 2012.

Maria Berrio at Praxis International Art

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Using colorfully printed Japanese paper, New York based Colombian artist Maria Berrio creates a collage homage to Gauguin’s ‘Ia Orana Maria,’ but lets nature take over in this imaginary garden bursting with flora and oversized fauna. (At Chelsea’s Praxis International Art through Oct 12th).  

Maria Berrio, El jardin de mi corazon, collage with Japanese paper and watercolor.

Jonas Wood at Anton Kern Gallery

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LA-based artist Jonas Wood builds his paintings from photos, sourcing them in the digital.  At the same time, his memories supply more details as in this painting of his father’s house in Boston in which the bird and flower paintings are depicted as Wood remembered them from childhood rather than how they actually are.  (At Chelesa’s Anton Kern Gallery through Oct 19th).  

Jonas Wood, Yellow Front Hall, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2013.