Two new exhibitions will be opening this Friday at the Mercer Union gallery. The gallery is located at 1286 Bloor Street West on the corner of Bloor and St. Clarens:
November 06, 2009 - December 12, 2009
Opening Reception: 6 November 2009, 7PM
Front Gallery
WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM
Curated by Sarah Robayo Sheridan with Steven Leiber and Ted Purves
The artworks grouped in this survey exhibition originally circulated by alternative distribution, appearing through the platform of a magazine ad or TV spot rather than through the formal avenues of gallery or museum display. Many evidence a conceptual tendency, preferring to disseminate ideas over objects and each performs a disruptive function, whether an antagonistic stance or an afirmation of the poetics of art for the millions.
The selection includes work by Keith Arnatt (UK), Skip Arnold (USA), Walter Battiss (South Africa), Marinus Boezem (The Netherlands), Daniel Buren (France), Lynda Benglis (USA), Chris Burden (USA), Herman de Vries (The Netherlands), Jan Dibbets (The Netherlands), Stan Douglas (Canada), Jim Eller (USA), Valie Export (Austria), Hamish Fulton (UK), Dan Graham (USA), David Hall (UK), Stephen Kaltenbach (USA), Jeff Koons (USA), Joseph Kosuth (USA), Yoko Ono (USA), Ed Ruscha (USA), Endre Tot (Hungary), United Art Contractors (USA), Peter Weibel (Austria).
Back Gallery
THINGS THAT MEAN THINGS AND THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY MEAN THINGS
Ryan Gander
In this recent video by Ryan Gander, the artist imbeds a work within a work. Key elements in the hall of mirrors include an interview with writer and filmmaker Dan Fox, art students sketching Francis Bacon paintings installed at the Tate Britain and several on-camera appearances by the artist himself. The sum of the parts is a double-edge flirtation with the romantic notions associated with art viewing and a love-hate relationship with the now ubiquitous genre of the televised artist profile.
Ryan Gander lives and works in London. Recent solo exhibitions include the Stedelijk Museum Bureau, Amsterdam in 2003 and 2007, MUMOK, Vienna, and CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco in 2007. Gander was the winner of the 'Prix de Rome' for sculpture in 2003. He has recently been awarded the prestigious Zurich Art Prize.
