Brendan Fowler at Untitled Gallery

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Brendan Fowler will show his ‘crashed’ photographs, for which he meticulously merges framed photographs into what looks like the disastrous results of careless art shipping, in MoMA’s ‘New Photography’ showcase in Sept.  In the meantime, his solo show on the LES at Untitled Gallery ups the ante in terms of destruction and obfuscation as Fowler covers the photos and their frames with purple or black silkscreens.  (Through June 16th).  

Brendan Fowler, Shipper in Jail – Something Something Adris Hoyos Something, silkscreen on archival inkjet prints, silkscreen on frames, plexi, 2013.

Judith Schaechter at Claire Oliver Gallery

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For a commission at the Eastern State Penitentiary, now a Philadelphia-area museum, renowned glass artist Judith Schaechter showed excess and austerity at battle in a gloriously colorful, somewhat comic update of Pieter Breughal’s 1559 painting ‘The Battle of Carnival and Lent.’  (At Claire Oliver Gallery in Chelsea, through July 6th).  

Judith Schaechter, ‘The Battle of Carnival and Lent,’ stained glass lightbox, 2012.

Gedi Sibony at Greene Naftali Gallery

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Known for highly conceptual sculpture and installations using traditionally non-art materials, New York artist Gedi Sibony takes a step towards legibility in his latest show, which offers carpet painted with five images (an acorn, snowflake, seedling, sun and butterfly) that evoke the seasons.  Before them a scuffed, arc-shaped form recalls an empty stage – a platform signifying the potential to communicate.  (At Chelsea’s GreeneNaftali Gallery through June 15th.)  

Gedi Sibony, foreground sculpture: The Porcelains, wood and mixed media, 2013.  3 wall panels: Ceaseless Episodes of Blossom, carpet, primer, 2013.

Betty Woodman at Salon94 Freemans

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To her repertoire of vessel shapes and flat ceramic wall pieces, Betty Woodman adds carpets created from ceramic off-cuts she calls ‘bones’ in her latest solo show at Salon94 Freemans on the Lower East Side. She uses every available piece of gallery real estate (ceiling next?) to immerse visitors in colorful exuberance in both 2-D and 3-D space.  (Through June 14th).  

Betty Woodman, installation view at Salon94 Freemans of ‘Windows, Carpets and Other Paintings,’ May 2013.

Tim Bavington at Jack Shainman Gallery

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Las Vegas-based artist Tim Bavington has painted geometric, abstract canvases which translate musical notes into lines of color for years.  Recent paintings on view at Jack Shainman Gallery’s new 24th Street location were inspired by The Who’s Quadrophenia album and let loose from his usual grid in swirling flowers of color.  Too much like computerized music visualizations? (Through June 29th)  

Tim Bavington, 5:15, synthetic polymer on canvas, 2013.