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

The Warbler, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
The Warbler, 1998–1999
Tiger Finch, Listening, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Horned Cowbird with Monkey, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Song Bird, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Song Bird, 1998
Zoot Horn Cormorant, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Tantric Kiwi, Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Nick Bubash; Big Cat Press; Teresa Mucha
Tantric Kiwi, 1999
Chromed Motorcycle Engine, Murray Alcosser
Murray Alcosser
untitled, Ynez Johnston
Ynez Johnston
untitled, 1950
Crop Duster, Thomas Coleman
Thomas Coleman
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
Constantine Manos
N.Y. to Frisco: Minutes by Rocket, Alex Ebel
Alex Ebel
Esquire in New Orleans, Chesley K. Bonestell
Chesley K. Bonestell
untitled (man with file drawers), Gervasio Gallardo
Gervasio Gallardo
Right of Assembly, Arthur S. Siegel
Arthur S. Siegel
Max Maxwell Landar (Uncle Sam), Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus
At the Time of the Louisville Flood, Margaret Bourke-White
Margaret Bourke-White
Housing Development, South Bronx, New York, Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt
A Husband and Wife in the Woods at a Nudist Camp, NJ, Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus
Triangulatur, Brian Sanderson
Brian Sanderson
Triangulatur, 1988
Ideal Realities, Jennifer Vogh
Jennifer Vogh
Untitled Metropolis, Charles Cohan
Charles Cohan
Preliminary Proposal for US Babel-Tower, Joseph Masheck
Joseph Masheck
Communism Comes to the Coast, Michael Sorkin
Michael Sorkin
New York (Brooklyn Bridge), Louis Lozowick
Louis Lozowick
High Hat Bombing Squadron, New York World's Fair, Eugene Carey
Eugene Carey
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters), Enrique Chagoya; Segura Publishing
Enrique Chagoya; Segura Publishing
Three Amish Girls, George Andrew Tice
George Andrew Tice
Native Alaskan Boy Scouts, Duane Michals
Duane Michals
"Frank", Tony Fitzpatrick; Landfall Press
Tony Fitzpatrick; Landfall Press
"Frank", 1992
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Blast Furnaces, Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Bernhard Becher; Hilla Becher
Watch out for Miracles...New hope for better babies, Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi
Twenty Traumatic Twinges, Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi
Astute sizing up perfume trends, Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi
Shemale, Philip W. Smith
Philip W. Smith
Shemale, 2004
Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square, Georgi Zelma
Georgi Zelma
The Bombardment of the Getty Center, Sandow Birk
Sandow Birk
A, I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; Paul Noble
I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; Paul Noble
A, 2002
Paul's Place, I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; Mike Ward; Hugh Stoneman; Paul Noble
I.C. Editions, a division of Susan Inglett Gallery; 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.