Barry McGee is the lead guest on this week’s Modern Art Notes Podcast! Click here to download the show; click here to see (more) images of the art discussed on the program.
Barry McGee at the Berkeley Art Museum
Last night was perfection at the Berkeley Art Museum thanks to the host and Director, Lawrence Rinder. The first solo museum show for Barry McGee since 1992 was an undertaking of a 2 1/2 month installation. You can tell by the care taken for the show by looking at the chicken wishbones in this photo that spell out “McGee”. There’s a curious Adobe Art Centre, eponymously named after Andrew McKinnon’s book shop and community jam on 16th st. (for those who don’t know). Don’t miss the dude on the couch through the back window!
Where the Matrix program normally occurs on the first floor there is an amazing McGee work that sent me back to the first time I saw his installation at SFMOMA and knew the tides of change were happening. And of course, there are painted liquor bottles (dammit I wished I could have bought / afforded one from the Luggage Store back in the 90’s for like 75 bucks). There are some surprises in the form of Hawaiin Tiki-like wood sculptures (pictured above) with one particularly looking like a small Margaret Kilgalen throwing up her tag in a back corner, one banging his head against a gallery wall, and collected detritus from other artists in vitrines.
The Filth Mongers rocked. Lorin was cool. And the after party was scrumptious. I really enjoyed dining with Curator, Director, and just wonderful overall gentleman, Renny Pritkin and the very knowledgeable Judy Moran who is a consultant for the SF Arts Commission. Don’t miss out on this show and come by for some interesting L@te events to coincide, a talk with Jeffrey Deitch (we always happen to be in line together), and a zine workshop with the legendary Vale!
