Jaunted

Fall Culture Travel :: The Whitney Gets Wordy

11/30/2007 at 12:30 PM
Tags: Fall Culture Travel, Fall-Culture-Travel-Map, Museums, Art (all tags)

Epigrams and snippets of sentences replace the Whitney Museum of American Art's usual contemporary and postmodern visuals this winter. The words, which are painted and printed directly on the walls of the museum, are part of a career-spanning exhibit of the work of US conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner. Though well known and respected in Europe, this is the first retrospective for 65-year-old Weiner held in his home country.

While staring at phrases on white-washed walls might seem like an odd museum experience, Weiner's works exude the type of optimism inherent to the conceptual artists working in the '60s. The exhibit's title, "As Far As the Eye Can See," takes its name from the opening phrase of Weiner's exhibit, and sets the tone for the rest of the work, which also includes the occasional poster and small object.

If you're still hesitant about paying the museum's $15 general admission to stare at semi-haikus, take a cue from Time Out New York art critic Howard Halle, who wrote this in the magazine's most recent issue:

'The occasion of receivership'--i.e., how and why we look at art, what we get out of it by looking at it, and what it may ultimately mean or not mean--has been the focal point of Weiner's ouevre for more than 40 years

Got it? Now go get conceptual.

Related Links:
· Lawrence Weiner: As Far As the Eye Can See [Official Site]
· Fall Culture Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Fall Culture Travel Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Whitney Museum]