Endurance: Daring Feats of Risk, Survival and Perseverance
September 10 – November 29, 2009
Ever since Bas Jan Ader hung over a stream or balanced on wooden blocks and Chris Burden asked a friend to shoot him, artists have figured as dare devils. “Endurance: Daring Feats of Risk, Survival and Perseverance” at Abington Art Center focuses on actions from the newest generation of action heroes, but these daring feats of artwork are parts of larger stories, not mere risky actions that stand alone.
Curated by Sue Spaid, “Endurance” is a group show mostly of video and photography on view September 10 to November 29, 2009.
Some of the works put the viewer in a moment of intense anticipation. Others put the viewer through what could be described as repetitive stress. Perseverance can be quite beautiful and choreographic, as other works show. Overall, “Endurance: Daring Feats of Risk, Survival and Perseverance” is an experience that suggest the “x-games” of art.
Included in the exhibition are works by Phyllis Baldino, Janet Biggs, Johanna Billing, Patty Chang, Caryl Davis, Emily Jacir, Nikki S. Lee, ManosBuckius Cooperative, Renzo Martens, Laurel Nakadate, John Pilson, Alysse Stepanian & Philip Mantione, and Type A.
Download the curator’s essay: “Filmed Actions with Movies in Mind: Extreme Art for Extreme Times”
artist: Johanna Billing
artist: Laurel Nakadate
artist: Nikki S. Lee
artist: Janet Biggs
artist: Emily Jacir
artist: Caryl Davis
