|
| Mark Newport Explores Modern-day Heroes in Laumeier Exhibition |
|
|
Mark Newport, Batman 3, 2006, hand knit acrylic and buttons, 80 x 23 x 6 inches. Image courtesy of the artist.
|
ST. LOUIS, MO.- Laumeier Sculpture Park presents Mark Newport: Self Made Man, an exhibition that explores the role of modern man and modern-day heroes. Opening February 5 and continuing through May 9, 2010, Newport’s human-scale, hand-knit superhero costumes, photographs, video and embroidered comic book covers will be shown in the Park’s indoor galleries. The artist will perform “in character” at the February 5 opening reception and will also present a gallery talk on Saturday, April 3 as well as participate in the Knit-In @ the Park special event the same afternoon.
Mark Newport is a man who knits like no other. The Michigan-based artist creates human-scale, acrylicknit superhero costumes that question the role of heroes in contemporary culture. Some of these costumes reflect the comic book legends that many of us grew up with. Newport also expands on the genre with creations of his own. Batman and Captain America are presented on equal terms with Newport’s Sweaterman and Y-Man. The costumes present a great tension as they probe the unquestioned iconic status of the mythological superheroes and the obvious shortcomings of the knit suit to protect anyone who might chose to don it. Protection of self, family and society are all issues on the table.
“The knit costumes as well as the prints, photographs, altered comic book covers and video that will be included in the exhibition ask complex questions about masculinity, family and the myths and realities — the strengths and shortcomings of what it is to be human,” said Kim Humphries, Laumeier’s Director of Exhibitions and Collections. “Fueled in part by pop artists such as Claes Oldenburg and continuing a gender dialogue with feminist roots, Newport’s work forges ahead with an engaging 21st century discourse.”
Mark Newport is the Artist-in-Residence and Head of Fiber at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He earned his BFA at the Kansas City Art Institute in 1986 and his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1991.
He and his family currently live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Newport’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including solo exhibitions at The Arizona State University Art Museum; The Cranbrook Art Museum; The Chicago Cultural Center; and Here Gallery, Bristol, United Kingdom. His work has been recognized with grants from the Creative Capital Foundation, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Herberger College of Arts at Arizona State University. Newport’s work is included in the collections of The Whitney Museum of American Art; The Cranbrook Art Museum; The Racine Art Museum; 4Culture, Seattle; City of Phoenix Public Art; Microsoft; and Progressive Insurance. Newport is represented by the Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle and Lemberg Gallery, Ferndale, Michigan.
The exhibition will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2010. Throughout the free opening reception the artist will engage in a performance — knitting in a hand-made suit. The reception will end at 8:00 p.m. with the exhibition continuing through May 9.
|
Today's News
January 25, 2010
Christie's to Offer One of the Largest Old Master Paintings Ever at Sale This Week
Walton Ford Shows Paintings in Europe for the First Time
Katrin Bellinger of Colnaghi to Show Important Drawings at Le Salon de Dessin
Superb Flemish Illuminated Manuscripts on View at the Morgan Library
Solo Exhibition of Work by Elisabeth Subrin at Sue Scott Gallery
Olav Christopher Jenssen, a Contemporary Norwegian Painter, at Kiasma
Mini-Retrospective of Work by Bruce Conner to be Presented by Creative Time
Flo Peters Gallery Opens the Year with Exhibition by Three American Photographers
The Art of Contemporary Puppet Theater to Open at the Katonah Museum of Art
MCA Denver Presents Looking for the Face I Had Before the World Was Made
Maloney Fine Art Shows Small Group of Figurative Sculptures by Thomas Schütte
SFMOMA Artists Gallery to Open Two New Shows in February
Gasworks Presents the First Solo Exhibition in a London Public Gallery by Tim Etchells
Long Beach Museum of Art Celebrates 60th Anniversary of the Museum's Impressive Permanent Collection
As Part of Artology: the Fusion of Art and Science at Cranbrook
Wysing Arts Centre Launches "Year of the Improbable" with Mark Aerial Walle Solo Show
First Major Exhibition for Belgian Artists Jos de Gruyter and Harald Thys at Kunsthalle Basel
New and Powerful Exhibition Coming to London
Mark Newport Explores Modern-day Heroes in Laumeier Exhibition
Post-Minimalist Artist Miya Ando Honors Family History by Melding Steel and Meditation
|
Most Popular Last Seven Days
1.- Mexican Archaeologists Extract 10,000 Year-Old Skeleton from Flooded Cave in Quintana Roo
2.- Parched English Fields, Known as Crop Marks, Reveal Ancient Sites
3.- Jim Henson's Original Kermit the Frog Comes Home to Washington
4.- Stunning Nudes by Photographer Rankin at Annroy Gallery, London
5.- Mexico's Anthropology Specialists Identify Name of Maya Ruler
6.- While Digging in their Back Yard, Brothers Find 1,300 Year Old Pots
7.- "Nude Visions: 150 Years of Nude Photography" Opens at the Museum of Visual Arts, Leipzig
8.- 8-Year-Old Painting Prodigy "Mini Monet" is New Art World Star
9.- Archaeologists Discover the Tomb of a Teenager Buried for Over 1600 Years
10.- Frank Gehry Presents Luma: Parc des Ateliers Project at Venice Architecture Biennale
|
Related Stories
Laumeier Features Brandon Anschultz in 8th Kranzberg Exhibition Series
Marilu Knode Named Executive Director at Laumeier Sculpture Park
|
 |
Menu
Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week,  . |
|
|
Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:
|
|
|
