Rodney Graham the Canadian born Art Star visited Chicago last night for the opening of his exhibition at Donald Young gallery in the West Loop. The exhibition included a large scale installation sculpture that was recreated from the Black Sabbath video paranoid from 1970. The large scale recreation was used by Graham during a music performance he recently gave.
The sculpture is in black in white because he re-created from old black and white footage of the band performing paranoid for Belgium TV. The new creation has the addition of a stationary bike that powers the gears and sets the over-sized sculpture into motion. The "Rotary-Psycho-Optican" is a little like a giant Kalidiscope. The whole structure can be broken down and fit into music crates used by bands-- a throw back to Black Sabbath.
Juxtaposed with an awesome light box that looks liked stills from a west film the whole exhibition was a jaring collision of eras and genres.
This is the final exhibition in the Donald Young space in the West Loop-- they are moving on up to Michigan Avenue.
Thomas Robertello had an opening that was politcally charged with a candy coated American Flag and a code orange jump suit. The evening went long at Robertello's after party with some awesome late night dim sum.
Obama was in the air and we played who would you rather-- Michelle Obama or Laura Bush. You make the call.
