“Begin Where You Are” at Crane Arts

The Form Review is a simple attempt to increase dialogue within art journalism and highlight the subjectivity of a traditional exhibition review.  Artists/curators/responsible parties of an exhibition are invited to respond to five short prompts.  In turn, a representative of the St.Claire views the exhibition and independently responds to the same five prompts.  Both sets of “form answers” are published in tandem on the St.Claire website. To participate drop us a line at hark@the-st-claire.com

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(IMAGE: Opening reception, “Begin Where You Are”. Image courtesy of the Tim Belknap)

 

form_review_eye1 Responses by Tim Belknap, Co-Curator, Begin Where You Are

 1. What is hidden in this exhibition?  What is in plain sight?

HIDDEN:All the amazing studios we visited that really rejuvenated my own personal practice.
PLAIN SIGHT: A snapshot of Philly’s rich art scene and numerous moments within the show. Some quite big and others more of a challenging nudge.

 

2. Who would be this exhibition’s parents?  What might it’s children look like?

The parents would be Christopher Columbus and Robert Smith from the Cure. All I want is that the show’s children don’t care about the new Royal pregnancy.

 

3. Describe one moment in this exhibition.

I enjoy seeing viewers staying in the space for a much longer time then usual. It’s tough being a part of a space and always looking to define some sort of definition of success.

 

4. This exhibition answers/asks the following question:

Does anyone want to see in a year or two a similar exhibition?

 

5. You should message this exhibition if…

You want to see the show in it’s final week.

 

Responses by Ryan McCartney, Co-Curator, Begin Where You Are

1. What is hidden in this exhibition?  What is in plain sight?

Words and language alternately.

 

2. Who would be this exhibition’s parents?  What might it’s children look like?

Parents: everyone who has participated. Kids: we’ll have to wait and see

 

3. Describe one moment in this exhibition.

There is a pause at the center of the space.

 

4. This exhibition answers/asks the following question:

How relative are we speaking?

 

5. You should message this exhibition if…

You can start today.

 

form_review_eye2Responses by Suzanne Seesman, Co-Director, The St.Claire

1. What is hidden in this exhibition?  What is in plain sight?

Innumerable causal conversations, an untold number of studio visits and months of intentional research are Packed up into a clean finish of extra tall walls focusing attention on concise and discrete works of art, individuated material moments – locutions that excavate the “fine” and place it back next to art.

 

2. Who would be this exhibition’s parents?  What might it’s children look like?

The exhibitions parents remain unknown and its children are not yet conceived. Like The Boxcar Children, the Snickets and the Crendell’s of Don’t tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, this exhibition has the agency of an intergenerational youth group charged with caring for themselves and each other. It is an exhibition of strength and magnetism that will never be understood by the overly parented or the outright neglected.

While it’s parents are out of the picture, vestiges of visits by its wealthy aunts, influential uncles, long lost siblings, and surrogate grandparents are everywhere apparent. Complex networks of relations figure heavily. Most importantly, the show is undyingly dedicated to its close friends – peers it calls relations. Because, know how It goes …
When you spend enough time with your friends, once imagined family resemblances manifest as “real” and at that point it’s just easier to say that they are cousins.

 

3. Describe one moment in this exhibition.

The purply/fuchsia of Eric Abaka’s video “Performance by eriKa baCa” reflecting off of the surface of Virgil Marti’s mirror-like “Vesper”.

 

4. This exhibition answers/asks the following question:

(Person M and Person N standing in the exhibition “Begin Where You Are” standing over Micah Danges’ “2 Towels (grey, green)” turn to face the wall with Sarah Gamble’s “70’s collage”, “PRINCE”, and Tyler Kline’s “IF WE COME BACK” as they walk into the next room)

Person M: What would it be like if this here were the center of the art world as we know it?
Person N: Oh, wait… Is this the center of the art world as we know it?
(Long silence as they round the corner and consider the work in the next room. Standing in front of Becky Suss’ “Bedroom”)
Person M: Hm…. No. Wait. I don’t know….
(Now walking out through the heavy open doors of the icebox. They turn back toward Karyn Olivier’s “Danger Sign”)
Person N: Why not… I mean, look at it this way: It could be the center of our art world especially if we consider that there are many art worlds existing simultaneously on many dimensions.
Person M: For sure.

 

5.  You should message this exhibition if…

1. You believe that we have it all together and that together we have it all.
2. You don’t just clean up nicely, you clean up flawlessly.

Begin Where You Are

ON VIEW:
August 14 – September 13, 2014

Crane Arts Building
1400 N American St
Philadelphia, PA 19122

 



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