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Indepth Arts News:
"No Contest: A Sculpted Installation by Adam Kurtzman"
2005-04-05 until 2005-07-02
ArtHaus
San Francisco, CA,
USA United States of America
ArtHaus directors, James Bacchi and Annette Schutz, are please to present NO CONTEST – a sculpted installation – by Los Angeles artist Adam Kurtzman, beginning April 5, 2005. The inspiration for this sculpted installation came from the classic chalk Kewpee Dolls from the early 20th century, which the artist has been collecting for the past decade or so. What first struck Kurtzman about these kewpee figures was their odd blend of infancy and sensuality, and how they seem to straddle an odd pederast borderline.
Kurtzman decided to address this concept in early 2000 with his first doll, whereby he pushed the fetish aspect of the sensuality in the figure. “She had the classic ‘kewpee’ pose, and reticent, innocent expression. After sculpting the prototype, the artist produced 21 of these in cast pulp papier-mâché, and treated them in a variety of colors. According to the artist, “the effect was much like walking into a GAP Store. The array of colors on the same hypnotic nymph made them irresistible, much like the Tee Shirts in the store. The promise of happiness, derived from owning one of the many colors, same as a new box of Crayolas…it’s all 64 crayons that make each one so desirable.”
Several series later, his 4th edition, the doll is pushed farther and farther. “In NO CONTEST the figures have a severely attitudinal stance; a Venus…a fertility goddess with a chip on her shoulder, who knows herself and loves herself.”
The title of this installation came from the question viewers proposed to the artist upon seeing it in his studio. “Which is your favorite color?”
“For me”, says Kurtzman…”It’s always been any or all of them. There indeed is NO CONTEST.
Adam Kurtzman earned his BA at Cooper-Union in New York where he began making his mark on the Art World more than 25 years ago. At that time he primarily worked in papier-mâché, and continued with this media for more than 25 years. Over the years, his work has been exhibited world-wide in leading museums and galleries, including the Victoria & Albert and The Louvre. Commissioned works have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone and Metropolitan Home to mention a few. Reviews and feature stories about Kurtzman have
appeared in the New Art Examiner, Art & Antiques, American Style and Good Morning America.
IMAGE
NO CONTEST (detail)
an installation of 22
enamel on cast cement
sculptures by Adam Kurtzman
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