Gone Formalism

Exhibition Walkthrough: Friday, January 20, 5-6pm, ICA Members Only, join on-site
Opening Reception: Friday, January 20, 6 - 8pm, free and open to the public

December 21, 2005

This winter, the Institute of Contemporary Art is pleased to present Gone Formalism on view in ICA’s Eleanor Biddle Lloyd Gallery January 20-March 26, 2006.

Gone Formalism addresses new ideas about formalism as they relate to contemporary art by a small group of artists. This group exhibition asks, "What is formalism now?" Even as it continues to define art objects by properties of line, color, and space, contemporary formalism is variously described as intuitive, psychologically resonant, metaphysical, self-conscious, or neo-romantic. While socially relevant and even empathetic, the work does not overtly or visually reference popular culture.

ICA’s exhibition features new work by six artists who are keenly invested in form, but also humor, personal history, and politics, among many other ideas. Mark Grotjahn (b.1968, lives in Los Angeles) makes paintings and drawings that through repetitive mark making attempt a rare clarity. Evan Holloway (b.1967, lives in Los Angeles) uses the potential symbolism of color in sculptural works that meld diverse materials, as well as figurative and abstract elements. Jessica Jackson Hutchins’ (b.1971, lives in Portland, Oregon, and New York) papier mache and found-object sculptures attempt to capture, through form-making, the ephemerality of the natural world. Liz Larner (b.1960, lives in Los Angeles) is known for addressing the history of sculptural form from a feminist perspective. Her work is consistently innovative with regard to materials and ideas. Charles Long’s (b.1958, lives in Los Angeles) practice has radically changed during the past several years, but form making is still paramount, especially as portrayed in, and filtered through, the natural landscape. His recent work takes its inspiration and materials from the Los Angeles river. Gitte Schafer (b.1972, lives in Berlin) accumulates found objects, both man-made and items from nature, and coerces them into formalized arrangements that often resemble installations.

Gone Formalism will demonstrate poles of formalism, from work that is deeply entrenched in the history of formalism, or for instance, sculptural practice, to work that might be considered the furthest extension of formalism. Historically resonant forms, such as the cube, are reassessed, reused, reconfigured to create new forms. The same might be done with color, and even, to really push the idea of formalism, with materials. This exhibition taps a new trend while at the same time questioning whether trends, schools, or shared practices really do cohere as ways of understanding art. This exhibition will be accompanied by a brochure publication with an essay by the curator and images of selected works. Gone Formalism is curated by ICA Associate Curator Jenelle Porter.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of ICA’s Leadership Circle: Sotheby's Institute of Art - London/New York, Meredith & Bryan Verona, Floss Barber, Ann & David Brownlee, Jill & Sheldon Bonovitz, Emily Chen & Christopher Carrera, Anthony B. Creamer, III, Cecile & Christopher D’Amelio, Liad & Jonathan Diamond, Glenn Fuhrman, James G. Fulton, Jr. & Eric B Rymshaw, Beth & Jason Johnston, Peter J. O’Dwyer, Jeanne Scandura, Howard J. Weiner, Kirk Kirkpatrick & John Wind, Thomas Miles, Ellen & Stephen Burbank, Bunni & Paul Copaken, Paul M. Curci, Deena Gerson, Peggy & Rich Greenawalt, Linda Holliday, Paula & Robert Hoy, Gabriele W. Lee, Margery P. Lee, Norma & Larry Reichlin, Leslee Halpern-Rogath & David Rogath, Allison & Neil Rubler, Cindy & Gary Schwartz and Kimberly & Aaron Tighe. Additional support has been provided by The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Dietrich Foundation, Inc., the Overseers Board for the Institute of Contemporary Art, friends and members of ICA, and the University of Pennsylvania. (Information complete as of 12/02/05)

General Education/Outreach Programming

ICA is grateful for support provided by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, The Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation, The Honickman Foundation and The Barra Foundation Inc. Additional support has been provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Dietrich Foundation Inc., the Overseers Board for the Institute of Contemporary Art, friends and members of ICA, and the University of Pennsylvania. (Information complete as of 11/28/05.) All programs subject to change.

ICA is located at 118 South 36th Street at the University of Pennsylvania. ICA is open to the public, except during installation, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm on Wednesday through Friday and from 11:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for students over 12, artists, and senior citizens; and free to ICA members, children 12 and under, PENN card holders, and on Sundays from 11:00am to 1:00pm. For more information, call 215-898-7108/5911

ICA
Founded in 1963 as part of the University of Pennsylvania, ICA presents a year-round exhibition schedule that defines, analyzes, and explores the contemporary visual arts. A non-collecting museum, ICA offers one-person, thematic, and group exhibitions, including commissioned works. ICA diversifies its examination of art to include interdisciplinary work such as film, video, performance, architecture, and design. ICA plays a vital role in introducing American audiences to rising international artists and is also committed to the regional arts community. ICA has been at the forefront of contemporary art for 40 years, presenting the first museum solo exhibitions of artists Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Lisa Yuskavage, Charles LeDray and many others.

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