Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Conversation VII: Utopia/Dystopia
Olena Chervonik, curator
20/21 Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Works of art

Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, The Warbler
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, The Warbler
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
The Warbler
1998–1999
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Tiger Finch, Listening
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Tiger Finch, Listening
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
Tiger Finch, Listening
1999
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Horned Cowbird with Monkey
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Horned Cowbird with Monkey
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
Horned Cowbird with Monkey
1999
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Song Bird
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Song Bird
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
Song Bird
1998
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Zoot Horn Cormorant
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Zoot Horn Cormorant
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
Zoot Horn Cormorant
1999
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Tantric Kiwi
Nick Bubash (1949–2021); Teresa Mucha; Big Cat Press, Tantric Kiwi
Nick Bubash , Teresa Mucha
Tantric Kiwi
1999
Murray Alcosser (1937–1991), Chromed Motorcycle Engine
Murray Alcosser (1937–1991), Chromed Motorcycle Engine
Murray Alcosser (1937–1991)
Chromed Motorcycle Engine
1970
Ynez Johnston (1920–2019), untitled
Ynez Johnston (1920–2019), untitled
Ynez Johnston
untitled
1950
Thomas Coleman (1935–1971), Crop Duster
Thomas Coleman (1935–1971), Crop Duster
Thomas Coleman
Crop Duster
1964
Constantine Manos (born 1934), "...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), "...Six Germans, one Australian, one American and five Frenchmen smoke pot and sing 'We Shall Overcome' in a deserted house in Paris"
Constantine Manos
"...Six Germans, one Australian, one American and five Frenchmen smoke pot and sing 'We Shall Overcome' in a deserted house in Paris"
1965
Alex Ebel (1923–2013), N.Y. to Frisco: Minutes by Rocket
Alex Ebel (1923–2013), N.Y. to Frisco: Minutes by Rocket
Alex Ebel (1923–2013)
N.Y. to Frisco: Minutes by Rocket
circa 1953
Chesley K. Bonestell (1888–1986), Esquire in New Orleans
Chesley K. Bonestell (1888–1986), Esquire in New Orleans
Chesley K. Bonestell
Esquire in New Orleans
circa 1948
Gervasio Gallardo (born 1934), untitled (man with file drawers)
Gervasio Gallardo (born 1934), untitled (man with file drawers)
Gervasio Gallardo
untitled (man with file drawers)
circa 1966
Arthur S. Siegel (1913–1978), Right of Assembly
Arthur S. Siegel (1913–1978), Right of Assembly
Arthur S. Siegel
Right of Assembly
1939
Diane Arbus (1923–1971), Max Maxwell Landar (Uncle Sam)
Diane Arbus (1923–1971), Max Maxwell Landar (Uncle Sam)
Diane Arbus
Max Maxwell Landar (Uncle Sam)
1961
Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971), At the Time of the Louisville Flood
Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971), At the Time of the Louisville Flood
Margaret Bourke-White
At the Time of the Louisville Flood
1937
Charles Pratt (1926–1976), Housing Development, South Bronx, New York
Charles Pratt (1926–1976), Housing Development, South Bronx, New York
Charles Pratt
Housing Development, South Bronx, New York
mid 1900s
Diane Arbus (1923–1971), A Husband and Wife in the Woods at a Nudist Camp, NJ
Diane Arbus (1923–1971), A Husband and Wife in the Woods at a Nudist Camp, NJ
Diane Arbus
A Husband and Wife in the Woods at a Nudist Camp, NJ
1963
Brian Sanderson, Triangulatur
Brian Sanderson, Triangulatur
Brian Sanderson
Triangulatur
1988
Jennifer Vogh, Ideal Realities
Jennifer Vogh, Ideal Realities
Jennifer Vogh
Ideal Realities
1988
Charles Cohan (born 1960), Untitled Metropolis
Charles Cohan (born 1960), Untitled Metropolis
Charles Cohan
Untitled Metropolis
1988
Joseph Masheck (born 1942), Preliminary Proposal for US Babel-Tower
Joseph Masheck (born 1942), Preliminary Proposal for US Babel-Tower
Joseph Masheck (born 1942)
Preliminary Proposal for US Babel-Tower
circa 1980
Michael Sorkin (born 1948), Communism Comes to the Coast
Michael Sorkin (born 1948), Communism Comes to the Coast
Michael Sorkin (born 1948)
Communism Comes to the Coast
circa 1980
Louis Lozowick (1892–1973), New York (Brooklyn Bridge)
Louis Lozowick (1892–1973), New York (Brooklyn Bridge)
Louis Lozowick
New York (Brooklyn Bridge)
1923
Eugene Carey, High Hat Bombing Squadron, New York World's Fair
Eugene Carey, High Hat Bombing Squadron, New York World's Fair
Eugene Carey
High Hat Bombing Squadron, New York World's Fair
1939
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Enrique Chagoya (born 1953); Segura Publishing, El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters)
Enrique Chagoya (born 1953); Segura Publishing, El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters)
Enrique Chagoya
El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters)
1999
George Andrew Tice (1938–2025), Three Amish Girls
George Andrew Tice (1938–2025), Three Amish Girls
George Andrew Tice
Three Amish Girls
1960s
Duane Michals (born 1932), Native Alaskan Boy Scouts
Duane Michals (born 1932), Native Alaskan Boy Scouts
Duane Michals
Native Alaskan Boy Scouts
circa 1969
Tony Fitzpatrick (born 1958); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004), "Frank"
Tony Fitzpatrick (born 1958); Landfall Press (active 1970–2004), "Frank"
Tony Fitzpatrick
"Frank"
1992
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher (1931–2007); Hilla Becher (born 1934), Blast Furnaces
Bernhard Becher , Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces
1996
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Watch out for Miracles...New hope for better babies
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Watch out for Miracles...New hope for better babies
Eduardo Paolozzi
Watch out for Miracles...New hope for better babies
1970
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Twenty Traumatic Twinges
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Twenty Traumatic Twinges
Eduardo Paolozzi
Twenty Traumatic Twinges
1970
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Astute sizing up perfume trends
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), Astute sizing up perfume trends
Eduardo Paolozzi
Astute sizing up perfume trends
1970
Philip W. Smith (born 1952), Shemale
Philip W. Smith (born 1952), Shemale
Philip W. Smith
Shemale
2004
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984), Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984), Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square
Georgi Zelma
Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square
1936
Sandow Birk (born 1962), The Bombardment of the Getty Center
Sandow Birk (born 1962), The Bombardment of the Getty Center
Sandow Birk (born 1962)
The Bombardment of the Getty Center
2000
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963), A
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963), A
, Mike Ward , Hugh Stoneman , Paul Noble
A
2002
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963), Paul's Place
Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Paul Noble (born 1963), Paul's Place
, Mike Ward , Hugh Stoneman , Paul Noble
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.