It is common knowledge that (for all of the usual reasons) artists often become pigeonholed in a particular style, or that the ever present curatorial "trend," "theme" or "concept" can become somewhat tyrannical in terms of dictating the way in which artworks take shape. For this exhibit LACDA curator Rex Bruce invited selected artists to try something new or show some un-exhibited work that they would like to have seen. In one sense the exhibit is curated, in that the artists for the show were selected, and in another it is self governing in that the artists were allowed to choose the works they wish to show. The only influence would be that this choice came with a healthy dose of encouragement to experiment. In this spirit of experimentation this show is also an inversion of the practice whereby a gallery doles out wall space to the precious few, thus shortchanging artists as well as their audience the experience of the vast wealth of creativity our global culture in fact produces. A very large group exhibit allows more variety and vibrancy and makes a more accurate representation of the massive quantity of art that exists in the contemporary moment. This is especially true for a digital gallery that aligns itself with the electronic free-for-all that constitutes our time; a world replete with social networks, mobile communications, ubiquitous cameras, ubiquitous editing software, uploads, downloads, blogs, vlogs and the extremely open and rapid-fire discourse they engender. www.lacda.com |
