Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia
Olena Chervonik, curator
January 30, 2010–May 23, 2010
20/21 Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Works of art

The Warbler, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
The Warbler, 1998–1999
Tiger Finch, Listening, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Horned Cowbird with Monkey, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Song Bird, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Song Bird, 1998
Zoot Horn Cormorant, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Tantric Kiwi, Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press
Tantric Kiwi, 1999
Chromed Motorcycle Engine, Murray Alcosser (1937–1991)
Murray Alcosser (1937–1991)
untitled, Ynez Johnston (1920–2019)
Ynez Johnston (1920–2019)
untitled, 1950
Crop Duster, Thomas Coleman (1935–1971)
Thomas Coleman (1935–1971)
Crop Duster, 1964
"...Six Germans, one Australian, one American and five Frenchmen smoke pot and sing 'We Shall Overcome' in a deserted house in Paris", Constantine Manos (born 1934)
Constantine Manos (born 1934)
N.Y. to Frisco: Minutes by Rocket, Alex Ebel (1923–2013)
Alex Ebel (1923–2013)
Esquire in New Orleans, Chesley K. Bonestell (1888–1986)
Chesley K. Bonestell (1888–1986)
untitled (man with file drawers), Gervasio Gallardo (born 1934)
Gervasio Gallardo (born 1934)
Right of Assembly, Arthur S. Siegel (1913–1978)
Arthur S. Siegel (1913–1978)
Max Maxwell Landar (Uncle Sam), Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
At the Time of the Louisville Flood, Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971)
Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971)
Housing Development, South Bronx, New York, Charles Pratt (1926–1976)
Charles Pratt (1926–1976)
A Husband and Wife in the Woods at a Nudist Camp, NJ, Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
Diane Arbus (1923–1971)
Triangulatur, Brian Sanderson
Brian Sanderson
Triangulatur, 1988
Ideal Realities, Jennifer Vogh
Jennifer Vogh
Untitled Metropolis, Charles Cohan (born 1960)
Charles Cohan (born 1960)
Preliminary Proposal for US Babel-Tower, Joseph Masheck (born 1942)
Joseph Masheck (born 1942)
Communism Comes to the Coast, Michael Sorkin (born 1948)
Michael Sorkin (born 1948)
New York (Brooklyn Bridge), Louis Lozowick (1892–1973)
Louis Lozowick (1892–1973)
High Hat Bombing Squadron, New York World's Fair, Eugene Carey
Eugene Carey
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters), Enrique Chagoya (born 1953); Segura Publishing
Enrique Chagoya (born 1953); Segura Publishing
Three Amish Girls, George Andrew Tice (1938–2025)
George Andrew Tice (1938–2025)
Native Alaskan Boy Scouts, Duane Michals (born 1932)
Duane Michals (born 1932)
"Frank", Tony Fitzpatrick (1958–2025); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004)
Tony Fitzpatrick (1958–2025); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004)
"Frank", 1992
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Blast Furnaces, Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Bernd Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934)
Watch out for Miracles...New hope for better babies, Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Twenty Traumatic Twinges, Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Astute sizing up perfume trends, Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)
Shemale, Philip W. Smith (born 1952)
Philip W. Smith (born 1952)
Shemale, 2004
Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
The Bombardment of the Getty Center, Sandow Birk (born 1962)
Sandow Birk (born 1962)
A, Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963)
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963)
A, 2002
Paul's Place, Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963)
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963)
Paul's Place, 2002

Events

February 18, 2010
Talk
Third Thursday @ the Spencer
6:00–7:00PM
Gallery 317 Central Court

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 210 Mar-2010, Olena Chervonik, Director's Intern I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. A current Spencer exhibition, Utopia/Dystopia, brings together works by artists who investigate dimensions of utopian and dystopian thinking in various spheres of modern life. Many of us strive for perfection. We try to better ourselves and the world around us. Whether through educating ourselves, advocating for social causes or simply exercising and eating right, we engage in activities driven by our belief in progress and our desire for improvement. But will we ever arrive at a perfect place? Does such a place exist? The word “utopia” denotes a perfect political, economic, religious, or scientific community. However, the concept is double sided. It may signify an unattainable ideal, thus reflecting the centuries-old anxiety about the improbability of attaining a state of perfection. Featuring some forty works drawn from the Spencer’s permanent collection, the exhibition invites the viewer to contemplate various signs of utopianism, intermingled with dystopian and apocalyptic imagery as a counterweight to utopian enthusiasm. With thanks to Olena Chervonik for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.