Art Talk
Stretching Art Too Far?
Art reviews from art critics Edward Goldman and Hunter Drohojowska-Philp.
By Edward Goldman • • 4m ListenSTRETCHING ART TOO FAR ?
Talk about persistence and perseverance. I attempted to see the exhibition of the well-known Brazilian sculptor Ernesto Neto, but failed on my first two trips to the MOCA satellite gallery at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. I can never remember the museum's hours of operation. The first time I arrived, it was five minutes after closing. The second time, it was not open either. There is a new schedule in which the museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, probably in response to a financially difficult time. On the other hand, admittance to MOCA is free every Thursday, when the museum is open until 8pm.
I had high expectations for the exhibition, considering how enamored I was by Ernesto Neto's site-specific installation at the Venice Biennale two years ago. Imagine gigantic ladies' hosiery made out of translucent, stretchy Lycra. Now try to envision each of the many legs stretched ten, fifteen, even twenty feet from the floor to the ceiling. Stretched and pulled in many directions, the porous fabric forms multiple bulbous enclosures filled with materials usually not used in artistic practice: "aromatic spices such as clove, turmeric, pepper, cumin and curry-." I can still remember the smell permeating the space.-
Ernesto Neto
September 28, 2003 - January 12, 2004
MOCA at the Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
213/626-6222
"nano"
December 14, 2003 - September 6, 2004
LACMALab
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6010