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| Bruce Conner, Bombhead, 2002/1989 |
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 560 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Feb. 7 - May. 16, 2015
On February 13th a couple friends and I made the trip to San Jose for the opening of the Bruce Conner "Somebody Else's Prints" exhibit in the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. The pieces included in this show were selected Bruce Conner works over the last 60 years. It was primarily his work with printmaking though there was a video piece, photography collages, and a large textile created from a collage.
I hadn't really been exposed to much of Conner's work before this exhibit so I went in with very little expectations. First impression: OVERWHELMED.
The highlight for me were his very complex lithographs similar to this (photos were not allowed at this exhibit, so I'll have to rely on Google a bit):
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| Bruce Conner, Untitled No. 113, Lithogaph |
The complexity and enormity of these prints en mass were enough for an exhibit unto themselves. I saw them as worlds, swirling and teeming, chatotic but obsessively ordered. This image conjures up images of mandalas and spirituality while others like this one:
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| Bruce Conner, Untitled, Lithograph |
are fields of blackness, threatening, ominous, otherworldy. When I attept to describe these works, I find myself using words that are contrasting: dangerous, safe; simple, complex; chaos, order. I think this is a testament to how much depth was in these prints.
In addition to these drawings, there were a number of collage pieces, masterfully pieced together which, when reprinted, became a completely new image. They were done carefully and nearly seamlessly. I'm currently taking a collage class and have a newfound appreciation for the skill required to make the individual elements of the collage shed their origins and become part of the world created by the artist.
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| Bruce Conner, Blindmans Bluff, 2003/1987, Jacquard Tapestry |
Ashley, it's fabulous that you went, but there is no proof you were actually there in the pictures or text. You must include photos of you in the museum/art space to get class credit for going. Why was the show titled "Somebody Else's Prints"?
ReplyDeleteI believe it was because there were several prints showing that Bruce Conner created under a pseudonym.
DeleteI went there last semester and saw an awesome show called "Relics" that had to do with outdated and archaic technology - in the back space on your way to the restrooms there was an installation that called for people to bring in their used technology and add them to the growing sculpture (eventually to be recycled). Overall, I thought the gallery was a great space and their want for interaction from the public was fantastic and refreshing!
ReplyDeleteBruce's work looks awesome and I love your first impression: "OVERWHELMED". Glad you got to go to the opening reception - that had to be fun! =)
There was a simiar interactive space in this one that had visitors add a thumbprint to the wall facing the entrance. I had a moment of panic before I did it thinking I was defacing something!
DeleteThe keynote speaker at the symposium will talk about Conner's sources in Bay Area 'fifties and 'sixties art.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, thank you for the info. I also updated the post with the show flier and the postcards they had in the gallery (with my thumbprint, done at the gallery) in case this can be substituted for a photograph of me.
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