Camnitzer, Nozkowski and Sillman

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (M-6), 2006 at Senior & Shopmaker Gallery

i recently saw shows of the above mentioned and realized that if i could create my dream grad school experience, these artists would be my teachers. i can't afford grad school and don't think it's fiscally sound to incur $30K debt. i've taken the route of the autodidact, but if the 3 artists happen to be up for teaching/mentoring me i could afford a monthly lunch at le pain quotidian, belgian beers included!...any takers?

i've had critiques before w/luis camnitzer while he was the drawing center's viewing program curator. during one of my first critiques w/him he silently looked at my work then said, "i can see your fear." YIKES! but he was nice about it, wasn't condescending in the least. his critiques were short but packed. he asked good questions, made insightful observations and truly gave constructive criticism. nina katchadourian has replaced him and she's excellent also. i recommend that artists submit to the drawing center's registry and take advantage of the viewing program. i've also heard amy sillman speak a few years ago at triple candie. also excellent. she played a slideshow of the progress of a painting. loved seeing how wildly different each stage was; how much she let go, returned to and reinvented. haven't had the opportunity to hear thomas nozkowski, but damn his paintings are good! god bless loretta bourque for turning me on to him! below are some images from their shows in chelsea.

Luis Camnitzer, Memorial, 2009 at Alexander Gray Associates

from the press release: Camnitzer replicates the Montevideo telephone directory, in which he has meticulously inserted the names of the Disappeared in Uruguay. During the military dictatorship that ruled the country between 1973 and 1985, nearly 300 Uruguayans were victims of forced disappearances. Working with lists of names culled from public resources, Camnitzer used digital techniques to create space in the ready-made phonebook and added lines of type, resulting in the reappearance of hundreds of names that are now indistinguishable from the names in the original phonebook.

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (M-10) 2006, at Senior & Shopmaker Gallery

senior and shopmaker specialize in works on paper. some of the paintings on view were unique prints/AP's, but several were limited edition prints at really great prices.

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (Q-2), 2001 

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (M-20) 2006

Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (M-7), 2006

Amy Sillman, Blue Diagram, 2009 at Sikkema Jenkins & Co

damn sikkema jenkins for NOT having more images on their site of sillman's show!!!!! there is a big, beautiful, badass orange painting in the back gallery that i wanted to take home with me. this show inspired me to buy some oil sticks - thanks amy! ...like how i'm on a first name basis w/her? she had many drawings up too. jerry saltz commented how they had a guston-esque feel/look to them, i agree. the drawings in the front room even had his red and orange colors. these seem to be obscure drawings of deconstructed bike. love the quality of her lines; strong, bold and little clumsy. she also created a little DIY zine, The O-G available on the honor system for just $1!