From oversized swimmer sculptures in the middle of Manhattan to opulent garden installations, and mysterious ancient geoglyphs in Peru, we bring you all this and more in our monthly news roundup.
Multimedia Artist Ebony G. Patterson Entwines Nature With Artifice in a Thought-Provoking New Exhibition at the New York Botanic Garden
Jamaican artist Ebony G. Patterson has unveiled her exhibition, …things Come to Thrive…in the Shedding…in the Molting…, at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). The installation features a flock of 400 larger-than-life sculptures of turkey vultures, which serve as a metaphor for Black women and the labor performed by working-class people of color. Patterson’s works explore themes of transitory states, death, decay, and regeneration. The exhibition is the culmination of a yearlong immersive residency at NYBG, the first ever granted to an artist. Patterson’s vibrant and ornate artworks address social and political injustice while incorporating living plants and the garden’s landscape as an extension of her canvas.
‘We Charge You with Ecocide’: Climate Protestors Call for Ouster of Museum of Modern Art Board Chair at Gala
Climate activists gathered outside the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York during its annual “Party in the Garden” fundraiser to protest against Board Chair Marie-Josée Kravis’s ties to the fossil fuel industry. Kravis’s husband co-founded the Kohlberg Kravis Roberts private equity firm, which has invested billions in oil and gas companies. The activists called for Kravis’s removal and highlighted KKR’s involvement in the Canadian Coastal GasLink Pipeline, which has raised human rights concerns. They criticized MoMA for accepting donations from the Kravis couple, who have also donated to conservative political causes. The protesters demanded accountability from the museum regarding its funding sources.
Larger Than Life Swimmer Sculptures Take Over Park Avenue
Nine hyper-realistic swimmer sculptures by American artist Carole A. Feuerman are on display along Park Avenue in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood. Feuerman, a founding member of the hyper-realistic art movement, is the only female artist creating hyper-realistic painted outdoor sculptures. The playful series features swimmers in various positions and vibrant colors, adding a touch of summer fun to the streetscape. The installation is hosted by the Patrons of Park Avenue (POPA) and coincides with Feuerman’s solo show titled “Sea Idylls” at Galeries Bartoux. The sculptures and the gallery exhibition will be available for viewing until the end of 2023.
What Picasso’s Legacy Looks Like through a Feminist Lens
The Brooklyn Museum is hosting It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby, an exhibition curated by Hannah Gadsby, Lisa Small, and Catherine Morris. The show explores the complicated legacy of Pablo Picasso through a feminist lens, challenging the traditional narrative surrounding the artist. Over 100 works by Picasso and women artists such as Cecily Brown, Käthe Kollwitz, Dindga McCannon, Ana Mendieta, Marilyn Minter, Joan Semmel, Kiki Smith, and Mickalene Thomas are featured, creating a dialogue that addresses Picasso’s history of abuse and misogyny. The exhibition invites critical examination of male genius and redefines the concept of genius itself.
Four New Nazca Lines Identified by Artificial Intelligence in Peru
A team of researchers from Yamagata University in Japan has used artificial intelligence (AI) to discover four new Nazca geoglyphs in Peru. The Nazca lines are ancient UNESCO-protected geoglyphs dating back to between 100 BCE and 300 CE, depicting various figures such as humans, animals, and snakes. The purpose of these geoglyphs remains a mystery, with theories ranging from religious depictions to irrigation systems. The researchers trained AI-driven deep learning technology to identify the lines from satellite images, leading to the discovery of four previously unknown geoglyphs. This approach offers a new paradigm for combining field surveys and AI in archaeology.
JOHNY ISLAS/PERU’S MINISTRY OF CULTURE-NASCA-PALPA, VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
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