Kevin McNamee-Tweed at Little Berlin

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

(IMAGE: Image courtesy of The Internet)

 Responses by Kevin McNamee, Artist

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

This exhibition vacillates between two motives: first, and foremost in my mind, it is a presentation of the work on paper and, secondly, it’s an installation of a fake bookstore. When I showed this in Texas, I built a dark-walnut-colored cashier counter, had bunch of furniture, plants, and some sculptural things like a kombucha bottle gorilla taped to the floor, along with bookseller I brought in to perform that role. For this incarnation, the bookstore elements will fall away a bit, and will feel much more like a straightforward presentation of 2D work. The remaining bookstore elements still have to perform a bit and offer just a hint of context.

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

It’s father would be my alternate reality as literary idiot and it’s mother would be Dusk in Texas.

It’s children might look like a cloud of dust hanging above a dirt road leading towards a horizon that is the internet.

3. Describe one moment in this exhibition.

Feeling in on the joke, you carry some laughter inside you as you move on to look at the next book and find that it is awfully sad. You notice your existential burden lightening as these reactions mingle inside you. Someone farts audibly nearby and you realize that you love humanity.

4. This exhibition answers/asks the following question:

Can a book cover be judged by it’s cover? / yes

5. You should message this exhibition if…

you would like a copy of the forthcoming publication of all the book covers from Molasses Books (Brooklyn), Farewell Bookstore (Austin), and Raw Paw Press (Austin).

Responses by Stephanie Bursese, Editor, The S.Claire

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

Everything that’s real, or containing actual facts is hidden. Everything that doesn’t exist is in plain sight. On view are all your own shortcomings on romance, sex, making friends, learning about art, pooping, sharing true intimacy, and trying to reach your goals.

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

Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Robin Williams, Marc Maron, and Kyle Kinane would all make donations at the same sperm bank. They would make a master mix and spin it up in a centrifuge, or whatever equipment science thinks is appropriate. Then they would artificially inseminate Jerry Blank. When that baby was born, she would leave it in a Planned Parenthood waiting room.
The kid would be a complete social outcast until it was 17.
And then, it would rule us all.

3. Describe one moment in this exhibition.

There are many things that have been crossed out on the prints of the book covers. How you fill in those blanks could probably tell you everything you need to know about the universe.

4. This exhibition answers/asks the following question:

Am I really going to read all of these? How are these peering into the depths of my soul and saying exactly what’s in my heart of hearts? Why am I weeping? Does anyone have a tissue? Do you think anyone saw me weeping? Do you think I’ll be able to communicate better with Gary if I read “ You Want Me To What? Being Open With Your Super Square Sexual Partner”?

5.  You should message this exhibition if…

you like to wake up in the morning and dive right into existential crisis by “Comparing the black-out, confusion-oriented, fiery sadness of your youth to the expanding, even-keeled sadness of your passage into adulthood.”

BOOKS: Kevin McNamee –Tweed
kevinmcnameetweed.com/198542/3716028/projects/books

ON VIEW:
August 2014

Little Berlin
littleberlin.org