On View October 3, 2013 January 12, 2014 State of Mind: New California Art circa 1970 opens on October 3, 2013, at the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art. Organized as part of the landmark Pacific Standard Time initiative by the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) and the Orange County Museum of Art, State of Mind: New California Art Circa 1970 is the first in-depth survey of conceptual art in California. It examines this formative period and the enduring legacy it has left for succeeding generations of artists. It includes the work of sixty artists and collectives, including Ant Farm, John Baldessari, Chris Burden, Lynn Hershman, Bruce Nauman, Martha Rosler, and Ed Ruscha. Organized thematically, the exhibition showcases more than 150 works of artinstallations, photographs, videos and films, artists’ books, and extensive performance documentationthat demonstrate the critical role of California artists in the development of conceptual art and other new genres. The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive publication that offers a comprehensive study of a time when California became a vibrant center for original art and exhibition making. The publication offers itself as an extensive source of rare primary images and fundamental essays by co-curators Constance M. Lewallen and Karen Moss, Julia Bryan-Wilson, and Anne Rorimer.
Free Public Programs
At the Threshold Thursday, October 3, 2013, 5 pm with a talk by curators Constance Lewallen and Karen Moss Family Day: Makin’ Waves Saturday, October 5, 2013, 1-4 pm presented in collaboration with The Big Draw Chicago Third Thursday: Extra-Ordinary Thursday, October 17, 2013, 5:30 pm appreciate the art of the mundane and make your own conceptual art inspired by State of Mind Bookmakers Thursday, November 7, 2013, 5:30 pm a two-day program studying Ed Ruscha’s books in State of Mind and going on a photo hike in Hyde Park, presented in collaboration with the Center for Book and Paper Arts Third Thursday: Inflatable U Thursday, November 21, 2013, 5:30 pm Using Ant Farm’s 1973 Inflatocookbook as a guide, build inflatable sculptures to awe and surprise Family Day: Lights Up! Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1-4 pm use funky lights and colored films to change the way you see the world and then make crazy yellow helmets and pink sunglasses to take home. Inspired by Barbara T. Smith’s work on view in State of Mind Object/Subjective Friday, December 13, 2013, 12:00 pm explore the relationship between body, action and documentation in the work of Bruce Nauman with Sarah Mendelsohn and Faye R. Gleisser Third Thursday: Darkness and Light Thursday, December 19, 2013, 5:30 pm banish the darkness of winter with luminescent artworks by Bruce Nauman and Barbara T. Smith Performance: Anthony Pateras Saturday, January 11, 2014, 8:00 pm presented by the Smart Museum of Art in collaboration with Lampo All events are free and open to the public To view the Smart Museum of Art’s free public programs in detail, click here
