A Little More from Chelsea

I took another stroll through the Dan Flavin installation at David Zwirner this past week, and it's a rare and fragile beauty. The fluorescent tubes he used are no longer produced, so how many opportunities remain to experience this particular glow? It's up through the 19th.

Another glowing exhibit in a ghostly way is Bill Viola's shifting lights and shadows from video projections at James Cohan. Viola was invited by Pope Benedict XVI, along with other cultural figures, to the Sistine Chapel for a dialogue on the relationship between faith and art. He originally declined the November 21st event but later decided to attend, stating, "In these times of instability and conflict there is growing recognition by both secular and religious institutions that peace and understanding will not be possible without the universal language and common vision that only art can provide. Artists of all cultures and traditions have a vital role to play in envisioning this new future and inspiring the creative dialogue necessary for its success." I wonder what was served for lunch?

Just opened at Andrew Edlin's new space is a 34-artist mash titled Out Of Order, which looked very interesting as the crew was installing it. I shall return.

Next door at Alexander and Bonin, watercolorist and etcher extraordinaire Sylvia Plimack Mangold summons the inspiration of a little-known German artist, Lovis Corinth (1858-1925), for a dual exhibit. Their temperaments are quite different, other than a devotion to nature, especially trees, but what a fabulous display of drypoint etchings. The haunting Mangold drypoint, an aquatint self-portrait, would make a nice Christmas present -- ahem...

The Whitney Museum announced the names of the artists exhibiting in the 2010 Biennial: only 55 artists, down from 100 in 2006, a reflection of the lean times maybe. The event, organized by the Italian-born curator Francesco Bonami and Gary Carrion-Murayari, 29, a senior curatorial assistant at the museum, runs from February 25 through May 30. As usual it's heavy on NYC-based artists but has an age range from 23 to 75. I knew all important art is made in the city, but it's nice to know that it can be made past the age of 30. I'll be at the preview and will post lots of pictures and tweets.

And speaking of Christmas, Walton Ford's new work at Paul Kasmin will bring that joyful spirit to you! Red just says Christmas to me.