This past Thursday was our annual spring Art Department field trip to Chelsea, the arts district of New York. Being an Arts Administration student, I love these trips to explore what is happening in the NYC galleries.  Lucky for me there was some really great shows happening.

Cube, #131107/15, 2014

One artist I discovered in Chelsea was Ewerdt Hilgemann. In the 1980s he spent weeks polishing a cube of marble to absolute perfection. Then he rolled it down a steep slope at a quarry. This mathematical cube and the use of chance gave Hilgemann a unpredictable new beginning and technique for many of his future sculptures (including this one!) I was immediately drawn to this 12 x 12 stainless steel piece because of its tough minimal form and the contrasting delicate folds. Hilgemann’s process of chance is similar to avant-garde artists such as John Cage. Hilgemann also has public art installations in New York City; these pieces range from 8 to 20 feet tall.

Some Assembly Required at The Curator Gallery on 23rd street was a really strong show. Our Painting Professor, Steven Alexander, was exhibiting his pieces along with 5 other artists. One artist in Some Assembly Required I really connected with was Don Voisine. He is informed by architecture, which I find very prevalent in his works. I enjoy his use of symmetry and bold pops of color that activate a minimal composition. I also loved the sharp angles of the black shapes which give a sense of energy to his works. One day when I have $4,500 I would love to own one of his pieces; until then I will admire from a far.

Overall, it was such a successful trip to Chelsea. There were some really strong shows that have inspired me to think differently about utilizing uncluttered planes in both painting and sculpture. I can’t wait to travel back to Chelsea sometime soon!