The idea of responsible criticism is, of course, predicated on the existence of public art criticism, period, a body of writing that has yet to reach critical mass. There are various factors responsible for the present near vacuum.
To Live an Idea: A Conversation with Mario Merz
Merz’s igloos and spirals often incorporate a site’s scale, materials, and objects…see the full review in December’s magazine.
Alice Aycock: Public Artist
Aycock places the complexities of our uncertain moment within a larger history…see the full review in December’s magazine.
Defining Cultural Value: A Conversation with Toland Grinnell
Voltaire wrote that “the superfluous is a very necessary thing.” The most luxurious items are necessities—a shoe, a shirt, a handbag—transformed into the seemingly superfluous, making them essential elements of elite consumer vocabulary. Toland Grinnell uses this vocabulary in sculptures that simultaneously mirror and subvert consumer desire.
David Smith: Poetry and Perfidy
Smith’s formal inventiveness is not limited to a single style, medium, or approach….see the full review in November’s magazine.
Alain Kirili: Sculpture as Living Dialogue
Kirili’s work forges a dialogue with Julio González, David Smith, and other sculptors…see the full review in November’s magazine.
