Carter, Curtis

English

epublications@Marquette

Marquette Universitye-Publications@MarquettePhilosophy Faculty Research and Publications Philosophy, Department of1-1-1996Introduction to Smoggy Abstraction : Recent LosAngeles PaintingCurtis CarterMarquette University, curtis.carter@marquette.eduPublished version. "Introduction," in Smoggy Abstraction: Recent Los Angeles Painting. Ed. JamesScarborough. Milwaukee, Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University,1996: 2. Publisher Link. © 1996 Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art, MarquetteUniversity. Used with permission.ND :235 .L(o Slot" I ~ ttfp C I d-Introduction The urban landscape, whether viewed with the serenity found in EI Greco's View ofToledo (c. 1600) or in the tumultuous mode of Ludwig Meidner's Apocalyptic Landscape (1913), has fascinated artists through the ages. James Scarborough's exhibition Smoggy Abstraction: Recent Los Angeles Painting represents a poignant attempt by contemporary artists to come to terms with a late twentieth-century urban environment. In this instance, the exhibition has a double edge. It reflects the efforts of a group of younger Los Angeles artists to address the turbulent post-riot vitality of a city that exudes creative opportunities and at the same time portends disaster, whether natural or social. Concurrently, this exhibition shows the artists engaged in the century-long debate concerning abstraction and figuration endemic to painting itself. Such an undertaking is not without risk for the artists, as it might have turned out that they had little to add to an already extended art historical debate. Scarborough achieves a curatorial triumph by showing how the artists in this exhibition fruitfully bring the two issues together. While working on solutions to the painterly problems of abstraction and figuration, they also provide visual metaphors that address the matter of human presence and survival in a media-driven, often threatening, and impersonal urban space. Such an undertaking warrants commendation, both for its curatorial vision, and for the cooperative efforts that it represents. It has required the generosity of the artists as lenders and also the support of collector Heidi Steiger of New York. The staff members at Margo Leavin Gallery, Christopher Grimes Gallery, and Bennett Roberts Fine Art were indispensable to this effort. Finally, the exhibition could not have gone forward without the collaborative efforts of the entire Haggerty Museum staff who worked diligently toward making it a success. Curtis L. Carter Director Smoggy Abstraction: Recent Los Angeles Painting © 1996 Marquette University All rights reserved in all countries. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical , including photocopying and recording , or by any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author and publisher. ISBN: 0·945366·01-9 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-78174 Catalogue printed by Schroeder Printing Company Catalogue designed by Paula Schulze Photo credits: page 9 (cat. no. 9) and page 13 (cat. no. 10), © Douglas M. Parker; page 13 (cat. no. 6). Francis Ford; page 14 (cat. no. 14), Tony Cunha Cover: Detail from Douglas Meyer, My One Night Out (cat. no. 16) Title page: Linda Burnham, Burble (cat. no. 4) Haggerty Museum Staff Curtis L. Carter, Director James Scarborough, Assistant Director/Curator Beth McGaffey, Curator of Education and Public Programs Allison Smith, Registrar Shelly Goldsmith, Administrative Assistant Paula Schulze, Curatorial Assistant Michelle Mahoney, Communications Assistant Jason Rohlf, Assistant Preparator Clayton Montez, Security Officer 

Introduction to \u3cem\u3eSmoggy Abstraction : Recent Los Angeles Painting\u3c/em\u3e

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Introduction to \u3cem\u3eSmoggy Abstraction : Recent Los Angeles Painting\u3c/em\u3e

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