ART CITIES:Wassaic-Appetite for Destruction

GURL DON'T BE DUMB, Brohole, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Wassaic Project’s
GURL DON’T BE DUMB, Brohole, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project

 

The Wassaic Project’s 9th Annual Summer Exhibition takes its title from Robert William’s painting, “Appetite for Destruction” (1978), as well as the 1987 album by the Guns N Roses. The exhibition includes 56 artists, 45 of whom are Wassaic Artist Residency Alumni, all of whom have lived and worked in Wassaic over the past 18 months.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Wassaic Projects Archive

The exhibition “Appetite for Destruction” represents a broad survey of contemporary emerging artists, and focuses on their interpretations of the untamed natural world, constructed landscapes, and human-made environment, both real and virtual. The two major themes that interweave through the exhibition are the celebration of natural beauty and reflection on the destruction of nature through natural and unnatural means. The exhibition space is in the former Maxon Mills building, a repurposed grain elevator saved from demolition in 2005 and now used for exhibition and programming space by the Wassaic Project.  The exhibition features major installations by Paul Outlaw and Jen Catron, Meghan Grubb, Jessica Machacek, Natalie Baxter, Sabrina Barrios, Holden Brown, Genevieve Lowe, J.D. Fontanella in the stairwell shaft, Chris Victor, Lily Dithrich, and David Grainger on the first and seventh floors, the artist began working on the elements of his installation as an Artist-in-Residence at Wassaic in 2011. Participating Artists: Justin Balmain, Richard Barlow, Sabrina Barrios, Natalie Baxter, Rachelle Beaudoin, Geoffrey Booras, Holden Brown, Fiona Buchanan, Daniel Carello, Jen Catron & Paul Outlaw, Caryn Coyle, Charlie Crowell, Jenn Dierdorf, Lily Dithrich, Meredith Drum, GURL DON’T BE DUMB, Gregg Evans, Brad Fesmire, Rebekah Flake, J.D. Fontanella, MaDora Frey, Cat Glennon, Lindsey Glover, David Grainger, Daniel Greenfield-Campoverde, Phoebe Grip, Meghan Grubb, Jenica Heintzelman, Dana Hemes, Will Hutnick, Roxanne Jackson, Kate Johnson, Fitzhugh Karol, Allison Kaufman, Juwon Lee, Michelle Leftheris, Genevieve Lowe, Jessica Machacek, Colin Matthes, Julia Norton, Paola Ochoa, Christopher Rodriguez, Marco Rosichelli & Ryan Peter Miller, Jason Schwab, Emilie Selden, Deborah Simon, Stephanie Skaff, Ryann Slauson, Madeleine Stern, Tiffany Tate, Alex Tsocanos, Brigitta Varadi, Chris Victor, Amelia Wallin, Brian Andrew Whitely, Alex Yudzon, Liz Zito.

Info: Curators: Bowie Zunino, Jeff Barnett-Winsby & Eve Biddle, The Wassaic Project, 37 Furnace Bank Road, Wassaic, New York, Duration: 12/6-18/9/16, Days & Hours: Fri 17:00-19:00, Sat 12:00-19:00, Sun 12:00-17:00, http://wassaicproject.org

Left: David Grainger, Deer In Headlights, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project. Right: Deborah Simon, Flayed Albino Rabbit, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project
Left: David Grainger, Deer In Headlights, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project. Right: Deborah Simon, Flayed Albino Rabbit, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project

 

 

Installation View. Left: Brigitta Baradi, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project, Right: Lily Dithrich, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project
Installation View. Left: Brigitta Baradi, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project, Right: Lily Dithrich, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project

 

 

Genevieve Lowe, Sun and Rocks, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project
Genevieve Lowe, Sun and Rocks, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project

 

 

David Grainger, The Endurance Awaits Release From the Pack Ice, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project
David Grainger, The Endurance Awaits Release From the Pack Ice, Photo: Jeff Barnett-Winsby, Courtesy Wassaic Project