Last week we noted that a new exhibit was now taking place at 421 E. Sixth St., the former home-studio for Walter De Maria that Peter Brant bought for $27 million.
[Photo last Wednesday night by Shawn Chittle]
Andrew Russeth, co-executive editor of ARTnews, has an essay on the show, titled "Dan Colen: The L...o...n...g Count." For starters, this is NOT not a project of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center. Brant told the Times back in October that he plans on opening this space in a few years.
So we don't know if this is just some one-off show … or the first of many before the new space officially opens.
And now some thoughts via Russeth's article:
It will be hard for many — this writer not included — not to see the Colen show as the latest example of the relentless commingling of big money, new art, and real estate in present-day New York, but let’s just admit that there is a very slim silver lining: at least it wasn’t converted into condos.
And!
[M]y hope is that, when Brant opens the space, he will get weird in a major way. Yes, he should do some big-name exhibitions (the Urs Fischer and Karen Kilimnik shows at his Greenwich estate were superb), but he should also take some aggressive chances, inviting in marginal institutions and little-known young names. He should give artists, big and small, free rein and see what happens, establishing a legacy.
The Colen show, which Russeth described as "deeply mediocre," runs through Sunday here in the former Con Ed substation between Avenue A and First Avenue.
Previously on EV Grieve:
About that "giant-robot laboratory" on East Sixth Street
RIP Walter De Maria
What is your East Village dream home?
Walter De Maria's 'giant-robot laboratory' going for $25 million; inside is amazing as you'd expect
Walter De Maria's home/studio on East 6th Street is now on the market for $25 million
Rumor: The Brant Foundation buying Walter De Maria's E. 6th St. studio for an exhibition space (19 comments)
Confirmed: Peter M. Brant buys Walter De Maria's amazing East 6th Street home and studio
1st permits filed for renovation of Walter De Maria's former home-studio on East 6th Street
A soft opening at the Brant Foundation's new space at Walter De Maria's former East 6th Street studio