Curiously Creative
"I don't want your stupid award anyway," said artist Wayne White if he were offered $25,000 and a space in a joint exhibition at the New Museum's new building on the Bowery--or something like that. The New Museum recently announced the newly-established Altoids Award, a biannual award, sponsored by Altoids, the Curiously Strong Mints® that grants four emerging artists chosen by a panel of their peers, $25,000 cash and a joint exhibition at the New Museum.
Eleven artists, selected for their pioneering, often subversive works and commitment to promoting the art community, will serve as nominators who may choose up to five artists who they feel are pushing through the cement as emerging, young artists. Nominators include Edgar Arceneaux, Los Angeles; Allora and Calzadilla, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Mitch Cope, Detroit; Trisha Donnelly, San Francisco; Harrell Fletcher, Portland, OR; Jay Heikes, Minneapolis; Matt Keegan, New York; Rick Lowe, Houston; Frances Stark, Los Angeles and Michelle Grabner, Chicago. Duly noted is Edgar Arceneaux's works at Philosophy of Time Travel, a current exhibit at the Studio Museum in Harlem and Rick Lowe, founding director of PRH.
Since artists need bread and water too, we hope that the Altoids Award will live up to its by-the-artists, for-the-artists promise. Otherwise, we don't need your stupid award anyway.
10 April 2007