Abel Gutierrez, Notes on Looking - and upcoming show!
A delightful read on Abels' work (portrait artist for Get Hubbied) by Geoff Tuck, Notes on Looking.
"Where the hell will you be on Saturday, July 23? Say it aloud with me: “I’m going to Bergamot!”yesterday and I am excited. Try to repress an excited Geoffrey.
Abel Baker Gutierrez has an exhibition opening at Luis de Jesus in Bergamot on July 23. Swimming, Gutierrez’ show is called, and its opening coincides with Shoshana Wayne’s getting-to-be-notorious Christian Cumming-Doug Harvey-curated madhouse of an exhibition, Chain Letter.
Where the hell will you be on Saturday, July 23? Say it aloud with me: “I’m going to Bergamot!”
Ooh. Abel Baker G is showing a video, too. Guaranteed to raise the ire of someone out there, these images and a film of troublingly, if quietly, sexualized Boy Scouts and boys playing. It’s funny how context has become everything for us today – as the press release points out Thomas Eakins made similar images. He’s ok, a hero even. But he did it then, when we can presume an innocent audience. (Or can we?) And Eakins wasn’t queer. (Or was he?) And we (or “Them,” depending on your point of view) are more advanced and sophisticated about these things. (And also our culture has become a culture of implacable moralizers. Huh. Are we more advanced and sophisticated? Hell – I’m not. I haven’t even figured out Joseph Kosuth yet.)"
Do attend Abel's upcoming show:
Swimming JULY 23 – AUGUST 27, 2011
Artist Reception: Saturday, July 23, 5-8pm
Luis De Jesus
2525 Michigan Ave., Bergamot Station F2
Santa Monica, CA
http://www.luisdejesus.com/