Glenn Lewis
8 March–3 May 2014
Opening: 8 March, 5–8pm
BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
Opening: 20 March
Kunstverein
Gerard Doustraat 132
1073 VX, Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T +31 20 331 3203
M +31 6 24 22 43 47
office [at] kunstverein.nl
Other dates:
6 March at 7:30pm: Glenn Lewis and Luis Jacob in discussion at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam as part of the ongoing lecture series of ArtEZ/Stedelijk titled “Common Grounds, Common Practices” initiated by the Werkplaats Typografie.
8 March at 4pm: members preview
20 March at 10:30pm: Glenn Lewis swim performance at the Zuiderbad swimming pool
Glenn Lewis
With the over-full yet highly concentrated retrospective of Glenn Lewis, Kunstverein continues to highlight distinct practices, trudging along plugging the small holes it encounters on a trajectory in avant-garde art history.
This show is many things: ceramic bowls, botany, food preparation, cooking classes, letters, postcards, video, photos, sponge prints, murals, street cleaning, the wrapping of critics, the wrapping of a street corner, Hitler, Flakey, a lily grower, a Kim Chi cook, a dusty worker, Mickey Mouse as Julia Child, Cézanne on his way to shake Manet’s hand and live shark fin synchronized swimming.
Glenn Lewis studied ceramics under Bernard Leach, the well-known studio potter whose practice combined Western and Eastern crafts and philosophies. He was co-founder of Vancouver’s first artist-run space, Intermedia, as well as the historic artist-run center, the Western Front, and the live-work production space, New Era Social Club, where events like dinner parties were explored as alternatives to art-making and presenting.
In 1970 Glenn Lewis created the mail-art exchange group known as the New York Corres Sponge Dance School of Vancouver—part of a network of artists that included General Idea in Toronto, Ant Farm in San Francisco and the New York Correspondence School under Ray Johnson. The NYCSDSOV camouflaged its meetings as performances at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, featuring synchronized aquatic routines and shark fin swimming caps designed by artist Kate Craig.
Glenn Lewis continues to work with ceramics, sculpture, photography, video, performance and texts, and often times in combinations as installations, determined through, what he calls, poetical thinking.
BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
What can be said about BOB’S YOUR UNCLE is that it’s open once a week, that it’s designed by Robert Wilhite, that it offers one special drink per night or a special host—or both, if you’re lucky. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE will also hold regular painting exhibitions.
Further announcements:
The Kunstverein franchise is growing
Kunstverein Toronto, initiated by artist Kara Hamilton and curator Kari Cwynar, will be operational in early summer 2014. More information at www.kunstverein.ca.
Kunstverein attaches two new features to its membership
The Salon Hang is a yearly exhibition open to all and only members. Information and scheduling to follow.
The Annual Members’ Meeting is a closed meeting for members only where program and events are discussed openly. The first KVAMM will take place in July 2014.
Kunstverein introduces a new performance festival
The Annual Spring Performance Festival (SPF) is hosted by Galerie Juliètte Jongma and Kunstverein and will start each year on the first day of spring. SPF 2014 will take place on March 20, 21 and 22 and will include Glenn Lewis’s swim performance.
Kunstverein wishes to thank its (Gold) members, Stadsdeel Zuid, the Zuiderbad, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and WT/ArtEZ Institute of the Arts.
For further information, please contact:
Maxine Kopsa or Carlotta Guerra: office [at] kunstverein.nl and visit www.kunstverein.nl
