“The Last Picture Show” Exhibition
Churner and Churner
This event has ended.
Churner and Churner presents The Last Picture Show with work by twelve artists with whom we have worked closely over the past several years: Joianne Bittle, Jude Broughan, Anthony Campuzano, Jaime Davidovich, Dave Hardy, Karen Heagle, Nick Hornby, Jordan Kantor, Nils Karsten, Daniel Levine, Taylor Mead, and Lisi Raskin. This will be the gallery’s final exhibition.
Four years ago, we brought Joianne Bittle’s trailer diorama from Marfa, Texas, to 10th Ave. in Chelsea for the gallery’s inaugural exhibition. From the beginning, we were committed to showing artwork that was captivating, challenging, and commanding. We introduced audiences to Nick Hornby’s monumental sculptures, Danny Lyon’s China series, and Ander Mikalson’s collaborative performances, and delved into the archives with Jaime Davidovich and Judy Henry’s Wooster Enterprises and Paul McMahon’s Project, Inc. We screened films and videos, and hosted book launches, readings, performances, installations, and artists’ talks. Above all, Churner and Churner provided a platform for solo exhibitions, giving exposure to emerging artists and those who are historically relevant but perhaps under-recognized, with an emphasis on creating dialogues between several generations of exceptional artists. In particular, we wanted to connect those artists who came of age in the early ’70s, the so-called Pictures Generation, with those reaching their stride now. Both groups confront and contest the prepackaged nature of artistic production and manage to create work that is informed and delicate. We are returning to West Texas—albeit figuratively—for this exhibition by borrowing Larry McMurtry’s title. The Last Picture Show is its own coming-of-age story, one that we want to celebrate along with the many achievements of our artists.
I want to thank the artists in this show, all the others we have exhibited, director Renee Bovenzi, and the collectors, curators, writers, interns, supporters, and art lovers who have made having the gallery such a pleasure. You have given me the gift of daily, sustained interaction with objects and ideas, of looking again and again and then once more; you have taught me how to hold simultaneously the often conflicting positions of art as an idealistic and as a practical endeavor, and to treasure it nonetheless. Words cannot express my gratitude.
The Last Picture Show is lovingly dedicated to my artists. —Rachel
Media
Schedule
from November 06, 2014 to November 29, 2014
Opening Reception on 2014-11-06 from 18:00 to 20:00