Josiah McElheny- Some Pictures of the Infinite

Ready for a glance at infinity? The new exhibition "Some Pictures of the Infinite" by Josiah McElheny opens tomorrow (June 22nd) at the Boston ICA (through October 14th 2012) 
Born in Boston in 1966, Josiah McElheny lives and works in New York City today and creates stunning pieces out of glass, mirrors and chrome.

Trained under master glassblower Ronald Willkins, McElheny worked as an apprentice to renowned glassblowers Jan-Erik Ritzmna, Sven-Ake Caarlson, and Lino Tagliapietra. 


His often massive sculptures are inspired by the enormity of the universe, and phenomena of astronomy, a fascination that was nurtured through a long-term collaboration with the astronomer David Weinberg. Their partnership has resulted in multiple artworks, like the sculptures below, picturing his interpretation of  the origins of the universe, in particular the Big Bang theory. 

Josiah McElheny, Island Universe, 2008. Handblown and press-molded glass, chrome-plated aluminum, electric lighting, rigging. Dimensions variable; largest element: approx. 12 feet in diameter; smallest element: approx. 7 feet in diameter. Photo Credit: Todd-White Art Photography, London

Josiah McElheny, Scale Model for a Totally Reflective Landscape (Industry), 2007. Handblown mirrored glass, low-iron industrial mirror, wood, 13 x 44 x 20 inches. Private collection. Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde

Josiah McElheny, "Island Universe" (installation view), 2009. Courtesy the artist, Donald Young Gallery, Chicago, and Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York.

Josiah McElheny: Some Pictures of the Infinite 
On view from June 22nd through October 14th 2012
Institute of Contemporary Art 100 Northern Ave.Boston, MA 02210(617) 478-3100

WATCH YOUR STEP in Chelsea

Stop looking at facebook for a moment, don't update your twitter and refrain from checking in on fourssquare. Be careful where you put your feet at the new exhibit of the FLAG Art Foundation at the Chelsea Towers.
You have  until August 24th to check out (and stumble over) some great pieces like the ones below.

Grimanesa Amoros, Uros, 2012. LEDs, diffusion material, vinyl, custom lighting sequence, electrical hardware, 5 x 7 x 1 ft

“Watch Your Step” examines the relationship of the work to the floor and how the viewer experiences the work, shifting one’s perspective from eye-level to start from the ground. Various works emanate directly from the floor, while others use the space between ground and wall to increase one’s perception of the horizontal plane and the architecture. " 

So put that phone away for a while and enjoy works by: Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Polly Apfelbaum, Lynda Benglis, Patricia Cronin, Tara Donovan, Steven & William Ladd, Richard Long, Michael Phelan, Kiki Smith, Julianne Swartz, Richard Serra, and Corban Walker.

Lynda Benglis, Untitled , 1970 Pigmented polyurethane foam; Courtesy Cheim & Read, New York

Michael Phelan, Tomorrow's a new day... (No.5) , 2009-2011. Glass; Courtesy of the artist

Kiki Smith, Untitled , 1992. bronze with patina; © Kiki Smith, courtesy The Pace Gallery Photo by: Sarah Harper Gifford / Courtesy The Pace Gallery

FLAG Art Foundation
June 7 - August 24, 2012
Watch Your Step 
545 West 25th Street, 9th Floor

HOURS: During the Summer FLAG is open to the public every Wednesday through Saturday in June and Tuesday through Friday in July and August, 11am to 5pm.

Casey Jex Smith at Allegra LaViola

Originally from Detroit, Casey Jex Smith graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute and has since showcased in numerous exhibitions all over the U.S and since last Thursday you can see his work here in NYC.
Intricate drawings combined with bold colors and influences from his ex-Mormon missionary past set his work apart and are just fascinating to look at. 

Smith is represented in NYC by Allegra LaViola  Gallery and his new exhibit "Gird Your Elves, and Be Broken In Pieces "  opened last Thursday (through July 11th)

From the Press Release:

"In ‘Gird Your Elves And Be Broken In Pieces’ Casey Jex Smith deals with personal identity and finding meaning in three seemingly disparate worlds; religion, sci-fi/fantasy, and “high-art”.
The individual pieces become blends of appropriated imagery and ideas from illustrated Bibles, Dungeons & Dragons manuals, Durer etchings, Agnes Martin paintings, Mormon architecture, NASA photos, The Lord of the Rings, and Sunday School flannel-board cut-outs which are all entered into semi-cohesive narratives. Finally these are framed within stories and inspiration taken from Scripture as well as Casey Jex Smith’s personal experience."

Altar, 22 inches x 22 inches, pencil and color pencil on paper

Church Drawing, 8 x 6 inches, pen on paper 

Church Drawing, 8 x 6 inches, pen on paper

So check out his new work at Allegra LaViola on the LES.
The gallery is conveniently located about 5 minutes from Babycakes NYC. Just saying...




Casey Jex Smith 
Gird Your Elves, and Be Broken In Pieces 
June 6 - July 11, 2009 


Allegra LaViola Gallery
179 East Broadway  New York, NY 10002
(917) 463-3901

Deconstructing the Habit at Spattered Columns

Deconstructing the Habit, a group exhibition curated by Angela Washko that opens today at Spattered Columns, investigates how advertising and media have influenced routine, lifestyle structures, and the personal search for fulfillment.


Participating artists include: Pauline Bastard, Yana Dimitrova, Hannah Heilmann, Ann Hirsch, Zehra Khan and Tim Winn, Kristoffer Orum and Anders Bojen, and Nathaniel Sullivan

Drunk Drunk Bed Rat by Zehra Khan, 2010, inkjet print, 20” x 27”

There is also going to be a video festival "HABIT" featuring works by 
Pauline Bastard, Mike Bonanno,Kerry Downey, Ann Hirsch, Jaime Iglehart, Sunita Prasad, Robby Rackleff, Nathaniel Sullivan, and Angela Washko. 
There's a 5$ suggested donation and considering that won't even buy you a movie ticket in NYC anymore you should definitely check it out. 

Spattered Columns 
491 Broadway, Suite 500, 646-546-5334
Soho
June 6 - June 28, 2012