I went to see some gallery shows yesterday, in particular Dana Schutz at
Petzel Gallery, Judy Pfaff at
Miles McEnery, and Brenda Goodman at
Sikkema Jenkins.
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| Judy Pfaff, detail of Quartet II |
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| Judy Pfaff, Quartet II, 2018, Photographic inspired digital image, steel frame, acrylic, expanded foam, aluminum discs, lightbulbs, wood, melted plastic, Styrofoam. 128.5” x 160” x 60” |
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| Dana Schutz, Trouble and Appearance, 2019, Oil on canvas, 90 x 96 inches |
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| Brenda Goodman, Let the Match Begin, 2017, oil on wood, 60 x 72 inches |
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| Brenda Goodman, Possibility of Age, 2018, oil on wood, Two parts: 80 x 144 inches overall |
WOW. These three artists are kicking ass with uncontained, unbridled energy, intention, and material-love. Monsters of color, detail, and form. I saw the shows in that order, Schutz, Pfaff, and Goodman. I left the Dana Schutz exhibition feeling like I should just give it up right now. The work
feels so big, and a lot of it
is so big. Big and bold and juicy. I imagined my paintings next to hers like little puny specks. Then I walked into Judy Pfaff's show and just started smiling uncontrollably. She is total exuberance! I was still smiling when I got to the Brenda Goodman show. Goodman has been at it for so long, I think of the saying, slow and steady wins the race. She is persistence. The surface details and little unexpected moments everywhere are too marvelous!
These women are laying it all out there. Led by a very personal, intuitive layering of material and meaning. I am so inspired. I feel like I have to go back and soak up some more.
These shows prove that seeing is believing. Visual art NEEDS to be experienced in person. Not one online image I viewed of any of these artworks came even close to what it feels like to be in a room with them.
Both the Dana Schutz and Brenda Goodman exhibitions end tomorrow, so if you haven't been, high tail it over there. Judy Pfaff's exhibit runs through March 9th.
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Dana Schutz, Painting in an Earthquake, 2019, Oil on canvas, 94 x 87.75 inches
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| Brenda Goodman, Bringing it Home, 2018, oil on wood, 16 x 20 inches |
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| Judy Pfaff, Quartet I, 2018, Photographic inspired digital image, wire frame, acrylic, melted plastic, aluminum discs, fungus, paper, glitter, Styrofoam, florescent light. 120.75” x 156” x 32” |
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| Judy Pfaff, detail of Quartet I |
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Dana Schutz, Washing Monsters, 2018, Oil on canvas, 94 x 87.75 inches
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Dana Schutz, Boatman, 2018, Oil on canvas, 88 x 75 inches
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Dana Schutz, Smoker, 2018, Bronze, 28 x 30 x 12 inches
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| Brenda Goodman, Pink, 2018, oil on wood, Two parts: 50 x 72 inches overall |
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| Brenda Goodman, Pushing Through, 2018, oil on wood, 14 x 18 inches |
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| Brenda Goodman, Say It's So, 2018, oil on wood, 12 x 16 inches |
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Dana Schutz, The Visible World, 2018, Oil on canvas, 108 x 140 inches
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| Judy Pfaff, Quartet III, 2018, Photographic inspired digital image, acrylic, expanded foam, aluminum discs, Melted plastic, paper, acrylic, melted plastic, Styrofoam, lightbulbs. 121” x 149” x 21” |
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| Judy Pfaff, Installation view |
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Dana Schutz, Washing Monsters, 2018, Bronze, 44 x 38 x 17 inches
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Dana Schutz, detail of Strangers, 2018, Oil on canvas, 88 x 84 inches
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