By JRS
True Self: A Group Exhibition Curated by Gary Baseman
Saturday marked the opening of Gary Baseman’s newest oeuvre, True Self, at Manhattan’s Jonathan LeVine Gallery. The group exhibition brings together the work of 40 artists, including Baseman, Ron English, Boris Hoppek, Eric White, Mark Todd, and others. Baseman left the theme open to encourage individual interpretation and there are no size or medium restrictions, so that each participating artist has complete creative freedom on the subject at hand.
"Temptation" by Gary Baseman
In his own words, Baseman elaborates: “In this exhibition, I have invited a group of painters, photographers, and sculptors, to look deep inside themselves and create an image that they feel represents their own passion or obsession. They might imagine themselves as anyone or anything—a wolf, a cupcake, a mermaid, even a skyscraper. I am requesting each artist to create an artwork that represents his or her true self. I am not asking for (nor do I want) a self-portrait. Rather, I’m requesting that the participating artists pick an icon, metaphor, or symbol that they feel represents their true essence. The desired result is a breaking of boundaries to allow a space and time where we can discover, accept, and love our true selves, feeling nirvana and heaven on earth.”
"Good Grin" by Ron English
Sharing the LeVine Gallery space is Make Room For The Emptiness, a solo exhibition of new works by Philadelphia artist, Jim Houser. Consisting of paintings, sculptures, and a musical score to accompany the exhibition, this is Houser’s third solo show at the gallery.
Make Room For The Emptiness marks a subtle departure in style and sophistication for Houser, resulting in a cleaner, simpler, more mature approach to his installation. For the past several years, his work has been heavily influenced by intense physical and emotional pain due to a congenital health problem and grief suffered from personal tragedy. Honoring the memory of his late wife, while also suffering from health issues, Houser’s work has often been a practice in cathartic meditation, driven by memory and mourning.
"Doses" by Jim Houser
Shepard Fairey says of Houser’s work: “When I think of Jim houser and his art, I’m alway struck by the bond he consistently forges with his audience, the way every work of his shows me a piece of myself while at the same time reflecting his own catharsis. Jim’s paintings and installations span the entire spectrum of human emotion, but he never seems to pass judgment, leaving the bias up to the viewer’s discretion. Being Jim’s friend is synonymous with being a collector of his art – no one is more generous when it comes to requiting the admiration he gets from the people around him. The pieces in my collection all stand out individually, but there’s something about the gestalt of his installations, the way that each compartment melds seamlessly into the integrated whole, that creates an atmosphere of a bigger picture. Maybe that’s just my interpretation of it.”
"The Hit Taker" by Jim Houser
Both shows are running through November 21st.
