Looks Good (10.25.08)

Will Cotton on YouTube: Cotton is included in the exhibition Wall Rockets (see below) with a small oil painting on stretched linen that reads "INSATIABLE" in candy cane font. This video, added to YouTube just 5 days ago, gives an overview of his candy land oeuvre. The artist's work will be on view at Mary Boone Gallery in February 2009.

Political Food for Thought: In the LA Times, writer Jenn Garbee considers the American dinner table as metaphor for the national electoral process. Garbee writes, "For a dessert to satisfy that sweet tooth and also give a nod to Obama's paternal heritage, [Gale Gand, cookbook author and executive pastry chef at Chicago's Tru restaurant], would make deep-fried calas, a sweet Creole rice fritter with ties to African akara (bean fritters)." Gand is directly quoted saying, "These little cakes were an important part of American history, which feels appropriate for Barack . . . only I'd have to do a pumpkin version as I've heard he's a pumpkin fan." Add calas to your election party menu.

Ed Ruscha, "WALL ROCKETS", 2000. Oil on canvas, 64" x 72 1/2". Image courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery.

Wall Rockets: Contemporary Artists and Ed Ruscha: This multimedia exhibition aims to illuminate the effect of Ruscha’s legacy on both his peers, as well as a younger generation of contemporary artists. The only unfortunate thing about this show is that few people will be able to see it, as the Flag Art Foundation is only open Fridays from 11am to 3pm. There are some real gems on view (actually the whole exhibition is a sparkler) by Mark Bradford, Ken Solomon, Roni Horn, Charles Ray, Tom Sachs, and Robert Therrien.

Interview Magazine: M.IA. and Kehinde Wiley converse in the current issue.

Critical Studio: Dialogue with South Asian Artists: An exhibition that addresses the politics of national, social, religious, and gender identities, as well as the politics of producing and teaching art within the contemporary cultures of South Asia. On view in the Macy Gallery at Teachers College, Columbia University through November 1.

NeoHooDoo: Art for a Forgotten Faith at P.S.1: I'll be taking a little break from posting while I write a review of the exhibition for ...might be good. In the meantime, the homemade macaroons in the museum's cafe are pretty good; a lightly toasted shell with a soft center. They're a little sweet, which coming from me means they might be too intense for the average sweet tooth. If you have time, take the train a few stops to Jackson Heights to sample Indian sweets (made with a base of butter and sugar, and may include milk, flour, nuts, or paneer/cottage cheese). The family behind the neighborhood landmark Shaheen Sweets was recently profiled in New York Magazine. Read the article here.