Museums and Culture

I broke all of my norms the other day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I hardly ever venture into any modern art exhibits, as I much prefer the classics, and I never go to museums with people I don’t really know (I usually go with my mother or grandparents).  Sometimes, I think it’s good to step away from your comfort zone and experience something different.  Just like when I went to the Brooklyn Museum and visited the El Anatsui exhibit, Ken Price really surprised me and had me second guessing my dislike for all modern art.  And going with a new acquaintance and art friend, Adam Kuhn, really opened my eyes to a lot more in the art world, as he is studying Fine Art and has a different perspective than a mere appreciator of art.

Kenneth Price is well known for his clay sculpture and print making.  Recently having passed away in 2012, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LA County Museum of Art, and architect Frank Gehry decided to work together and feature the artist’s various styles throughout his career (1959-2012).  Price had a gift for working with clay.  Playing the word association game, when I think of clay I think of pottery, glaze, earthenware, and ancient artifacts.  Price’s work moves away from the traditional uses of clay and creates amorphously shaped sculptures out of the dense and often heavy looking material.  He somehow was able to take the grounded material and make it ephemeral and floating.  He often avoided using glaze, and instead painted with acrylics, a paint that creates a matte finish rather than the shiny surface of a glazed work.  Using a sander, he scraped away at the many layers of paint, creating fantastical patterns on the smooth surface of his sculptures.  Although I loved these lava lamp-esque pieces, Ken Price also demonstrated various other styles of working with clay.  Some of the amorphous pieces featured abrupt, geometric cutouts with penetrating black holes.  At times, the colors he used were so matte that it was difficult to tell whether the hole was real or painted on!  The security personnel in the museum didn’t hesitate to let us know, as they were worried that viewers might touch the sculpture to find out.  Price experimented with geometric, stiff shapes outside of gaping holes as well.  There was a wall of sculptures that was a study on balance and harmony.  I loved these works because of their shiny glaze, which contrasted with many of his other sculptures.  You could see the intricate detail he put into his work!  The last style of clay he experimented with was very organic in nature.  The pieces almost looked like rocks and slate with their rough edges and mineral-looking interiors!  I also really enjoyed his paintings and drawings.  Though featured minimally, his watercolor and ink drawings were simple and beautiful.  The opacity of the black ink contrasts with the cloudy nature of the watercolors.  It’s quite an interesting combination!

What really enhanced my visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was my museum companion, Adam.  Though I dabble in painting and drawing, I have never taken any legitimate classes in technique, and I thought it was so interesting to hear about all that one can learn in art school – from color theory, to anatomical proportion in portraiture!  Though I’m lucky to have many friends who appreciate the arts – music, theatre, and fine arts – I have never met someone who could actually carry on a day long conversation about art itself, let alone get excited about various artists and art history!

Ken Price Sculpture – A Retrospective
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
June 18 – September 22, 2013

Marina B. Nebro