You can see the 2013 Carnegie International, The Mattress Factory, and The Andy Warhol Museum in one day!
 

If you live in the New York area, you can visit all three venues in a day. One has to get up early in the morning and leave from Newark to catch a United Airlines flight to Pittsburgh. The flight departs at 8:21 a.m!
 

The Carnegie International is an exceptional exhibition. Thirty-five artists are represented from 19 different countries all over the world. As we walked into the venue, we came across Pedro Reyes from Mexico. His work is astounding—he has built musical instruments and sculptures from voluntary donations of weapons from Mexico, which were displayed in the rotunda; they are truly fantastic. Reyes seems to be everywhere. He is also showing a huge installation at the newly renovated Queens Museum in New York at this moment.
 

British “Bad Girl” Sarah Lucas installed a large body of provocative work at the Carnegie International. Her sculpture reflects the narrative of how the female  body is viewed.
 
The Carnegie Museum of Art also displays pieces that were purchased from previous Carnegie Internationals, including works by such renowned artists as On Kawara, Agnes Martin, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Mark Grotjahn, and Tony Oursler.
 

The Mattress Factory is a foundation open to the public, which invites artists to join their residency program and exhibits their works. Artists such as James Turrell and Yayoi Kusama have been part of their program and their works are on view.
 

A “must see” when visiting Pittsburgh, The Andy Warhol Museum is a jewel of a museum. On view when we visited was a show of photographs by Yasumasa Morimura. No matter, one still gets a feeling that this is a Warhol shrine and his brilliance shines through.
 
We departed the museum to the airport and were back home by 7:30 p.m. A full and rewarding art day.
 
The  2013 Carnegie International runs from October 5, 2013–March 16, 2014 at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
 
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The art world came together, at least for a weekend, to celebrate the opening of a private art museum created by Eugenio López. Museo Jumex is a private art museum designed by star architect David Chipperfield. López’s collection boasts over 2,000 works of Latin American artists, as well as artists from Europe, Asia and the United States.

The architect, David Chipperfield, spoke to us at the opening preview about the natural light he utilized when designing the space. Fluorescent lights are used only at night. One star of the opening show has to be minimal artist Fred Sandback. His works divided the large gallery space in the most beautiful way. As one enters the building and experiences Damián Ortega’s kinetic sculpture on the plaza, it is immediately clear that something equally special awaits visitors inside the museum.

Speaking with artist Pedro Reyes for an hour was a highlight. Reyes seems to be everywhere.  His work was represented in the 2013 Carnegie International with his installation of musical instruments made from guns. He is opening the newly renovated Queens Museum with a very large installation in mid-November. Reyes is an architect, as well as a social and environmental activist. He is a man who encouraged us to eat grasshoppers because their carbon footprint compared to cows is so small, and they can be stored months without refrigeration. He is a genius with a wonderful sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye.

What could be more fantastic than chatting with artist Danh Vo all evening at Museo Casa de La Bola? His family came from Vietnam and emigrated to Denmark in the 1970’s. His parents wanted him to be an engineer and didn’t understand his need to be an artist.  Now they understand—his works are shown and lauded all over the world. He is thinking of moving to Mexico City, buying property and setting up his studio in this newly energized city.

Lunch at international art star Gabriel Orozco’s home was a memorable experience. Everything in his house, which was formerly a monastery, is aesthetic. It is like living in a sculpture. Besides being brilliant, Orozco is a lot of fun. He introduced us to Mezcal, a very potent and delicious drink.

We visited Damián Ortega’s two studios. One is for dusty, dirty work. For example, in this studio, he casts the interior engine of a Volkswagen in cement. The other studio is where he lives and creates some of his kinetic sculptures and installations. He shared with us his newest project, embroidering fabrics and charting the hours it took to do the work. They are very beautiful and meditative.

The commercial gallery scene in Mexico City is vibrant. Kurimanzutto is a an architecturally stunning gallery representing world class artists. Another noted gallery is Proyectos Monclova. It is one of the new, exciting galleries that should be visited.

There are two historical museums that are a “must see” when visiting Mexico City. One is The National Museum of Anthropology, which contains one of the largest collections of pre-Colombian artifacts. The other “must see” is the Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum, designed by the artist himself and completed after his death, it is devoted to the display of Rivera’s own collection of over 52,000 works of pre-Colombian art.

Another museum displaying a private collection is the Museo Soumaya, owned by Carlos Slim, noted for its many Rodin sculptures. It is situated next to the Museo Jumex.

It is almost impossible to see and do everything that is available in Mexico City—it is so vast. One must return again and again to experience the energy and excitement of this vibrant city.

In the last ten years there has been a major shift in the general public’s interest and perception of Latin American Art. The driving force behind this shift is that many significant collectors have been sharing their collections with the world. One such collector is Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, whose collection of modern and contemporary art has traveled the globe. The Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC) works to support innovation, education, creativity, and research in the field of Latin American Art, with initiatives like their recently-launched bilingual e-books series.
 

 
Axel Stein, Senior Vice President and head of the Department of Latin American Art at Sotheby’s, explained that while themes in Latin American art were very politically charged in the first half of the 20th century, during the second part, many artists went to Paris where they were embraced by that art community. There was a fertile exchange of ideas and new directions, especially exploring kinetic and abstract art. This helped to make Latin American artists true players in the world market. “Abstraction and kinetic art are like music, a universal language,” says Stein.
 
The Museum of Modern Art started collecting Latin American artists in the 1930s, and Diego Rivera was the subject of the museum’s second  exhibition in 1931. Even museums that were late to collecting in this area have recently begun actively pursuing Latin American works, such as the Louvre, which launched its initiative with a show of colonial-era Mexican paintings last March. In 2002, the Tate appointed their first Associate Curator of Latin American Art, and expanded their acquisition efforts, showing their continued commitment in 2012 upon hiring Colombian curator José Roca. Stein said “museums started doing their job,” referring to the groundbreaking 2004 exhibition “Inverted Utopias: Avant-Garde Art Latin America” at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as the “fireworks” signaling a shift in the public view of this genre.
 
The process of collecting Latin American Art is exciting because collectors discover artists that have been overlooked on every level and the material is fresh. Swiss philanthropist Ruth Schmidheiny started collecting in this domain 15 years ago, and in 2013 opened Casa Daros in Rio de Janeiro. Curator Hans-Michael Herzoy explained in a press conference “In Europe at that time there was zero interest because people knew nothing about Latin American Art.”
 

 
This is changing, with many Latin American artists rapidly ascending to the heights of the international art scene. Contemporary Mexican artist Pedro Reyes is featured in the 2013 Carnegie International in Pittsburgh. Ninety-eight year-old Cuban-born artist Carmen Herrera was “discovered” just in the last five years. Her gallery in London is the renowned Lisson Gallery, which also represents Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor and Sol LeWitt. In Mexico City, Eugenio López’s Colección Jumex will find a new home at the Museo Jumex, a private museum that will house one of the largest collection of Latin American art. The David Chipperfield-designed museum will open its doors in mid-November of 2013.
 
Collectors are opening their own museums and foundations highlighting Latin American artists. These artists are now part of the “global art network,” producing exciting works and are a force to be reckoned with.
 
Visit the  seventh-annual PINTA New York fair opening to the public November 15th.
 
Images from artsy.net.

Visiting the Istanbul Biennial is like going on a treasure hunt.

In response to the demonstrations earlier this year, the Biennial’s curator, Fulya Erdmci, withdrew the art works from public spaces and placed them in five “private buildings” throughout Istanbul which are open to the public and free to all.

 

After visiting many of the biennial spaces, my favorite artist is Maider Lopez, whose work is shown in two different Biennial sites. The first work we encountered was “The Traffic Jam” (2005), with photos and a video.  Lopez choreographed a traffic jam in a small Basque village and shot the work from high above.  The colorful cars are like paint pigments giving a unique design and form to her composition.

The video accompanying the photographs shows interviews with people who participated in the making of the art work.  We learned that she put an ad in the newspaper and radio asking people to bring their cars to join this art project.  Some car owners said it was a family affair, bringing their children and having a picnic in the countryside.  There were many volunteers as part of her team trying to navigate cars into perfect positions, as in any traffic jam worldwide.

 

The second work we encountered of hers were photographs, diagrams and a written strategy of how to cross a very, very busy street in Turkey, titled “Making Ways” (2013). She gives the viewer 10 steps on how to cross a very busy street, that could also be used in cities all over the world, such as Rome and Cairo. A few of her important tips are: “Visualize the destination and make a plane,” “Find the right moment,” “Seek eye contact,” and “Taking action is easier when a group is generated.”

 

In Istanbul all the museums and foundations that show contemporary art are privately owned by wealthy families and corporations that support the arts.  Even the Sakip Sabanic Museum, which had a blockbuster show of Anish Kapoor, is privately owned, as is the Istanbul Modern.

 

An especially unique location is The Borusan Collection, an art-filled private office building during the week and private museum open to the public on the weekend. We have discovered at least six private museums in Turkey, and it is worthwhile to make the effort to experience these collections.

I met many artists while visiting studios and seeing works in their galleries. One artist that I met said that she was imprisoned for six months because of her art. Another artist was brought to trial, but not convicted. What a contrast to the freedom an artist can enjoy in America!

The Four Seasons Bosphorus; with beautiful views of the water is a fabulous place to stay in Istanbul. Dinner at Mikla is a glamorous experience—they have panoramic views of Istanbul and delicious food. For a casual authentic dining experience, try Iskele Restaurant, with gorgeous views of the water and bridge. Treat yourself to Turkish Air—voted Europe’s best airline in 2013—if you want an incredible luxurious experience in their VIP lounge at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

To view these and other Turkish foundations, you can visit our Directory.

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The Cloisters museum and gardens is on most people’s “To Do” list when they move to New York or visit the city as a tourist, but many never return. The museum, which is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, highlights the art and architecture of medieval Europe.
  
This fall, there is a new and compelling reason to revisit the museum, or make the trek to upper Manhattan for the first time. Janet Cardiff’s “The Forty Part Motet” opened at the Fuentiduena Chapel on September 10, and will remain on view through December 8. The first time that contemporary art has been shown at the Cloisters, the installation consists of forty speakers set up in a circle outlining the circumference of this gorgeous twelfth-century chapel from Spain. The continuously playing work featuring a three minute interlude and an eleven-minute motet by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis, is sung by individual unaccompanied voices, each emanating from one of the forty speakers.
  
The speakers on stands take on a lifelike appearance. As one circles the room standing before each speaker some voices become “favorites” and one returns to that voice as an old friend.
  
There are many lovely galleries and gardens to discover after enjoying the music.
  
Our recommendation for lunch is New Leaf Restaurant located in Fort Tryon Park, just a short walk or 3-minute car ride from the Cloisters. In addition to the beautiful and tranquil location and the quaint 1930’s cottage, the food is absolutely delicious and fresh as can be. Perhaps most notably, the restuarant is part of the New York Restoration Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to reclaiming and restoring New York City’s parks, community gardens and open space—all net proceeds support the organization’s cleaning and greening efforts, making a dining experience at New Leaf charitable and environmentally responsible!
  
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We were warned that we would have to take off our shoes when invited to photographer Laurie Simmons‘ home because her floors were newly stained; but no one cared because we were all interested to hear what she had to say about her work.
  
Her apartment is warm and chic. There is a large open kitchen next to the living room where she served us lovely wine, cheeses and sweet cakes.
  

Image: Still from Tiny Furniture, Simmons (left) and daughter Lena Dunham (right) with some of the tiny furniture in Siri’s office. Via www.dwell.com
  
Simmons is extremely organized and has archived her work in a professional manner—there are library shelves filled with rows and rows of her images in binders. Simmons said, “every image that was ever shot, the finals, are all in a safe.” She feels that it is satisfying to have her work in order, “It is like having your house in order.”
  

Image: Laurie Simmons. Walking Petit Four, 1990–91. Lithograph, four colors. Via Artsy
  
Jenny Blessing, Senior Curator of Photography at the Guggenheim introduced Simmons and posed questions. In her introduction, Blessing said that Simmons came from “The Pictures Generation.” Simmons was raised with the myth that photographs always tell the truth, though later had a “light bulb”moment when she realized that pictures can lie and you can trick the viewer. Many of her pictures reflect media and gender roles, and when Simmons photographs objects like toys or dolls and they seem to come alive, that is her gift.
  

Image: Laurie Simmons. Lying Objects, 1992. Suite of 4 offset photographs. Via Artsy
  
Simmons sees herself as an artist not just a photographer—an artist who uses a camera.
  
And, if you’re in New York City this fall, see Laurie Simmons’s Two Boys, a new exhibition at the Arnold & Marie Schwartz Gallery Met; presented in conjunction with the North American premiere of Nico Muhly’s opera of the same name. Simmons has created 4 original photographs for the show, which will be on display in Gallery Met through January 15, 2014.
  
Simmons is represented by Salon94 Gallery. She is having a very big year—in addition to her Met Opera show, she was featured in WSJ Magazine’s August issue in the spread, Portraits of the Players From This Year’s Venice Biennale. Simmons is also a guest editor of Wallpaper’s October issue. On November 14, Brooklyn Museum is going to honor Simmons and her daughter, Lena Dunham at their Women in the Arts Luncheon.
Top Image: Laurie Simmons (detail), from The Journal. Via www.lauriesimmons.net

As summer in the Hamptons draws to a close, we decided to take a local excursion to Martos Gallery in East Marion, New York—a stone’s throw from our house in Water Mill. To get there, we drove to Sag Harbor, took a ferry to Shelter Island, then took another ferry to Greenport—easy and fun! First we checked out Greenport Village, which is a charming old town with a New England feel. As we drove to visit the gallery we found the most wonderful handmade candy at The Candy Man in Orient. This store is a MUST to visit! I bought boxes of candy as gifts.
 
The Martos Gallery’s fourth annual exhibition, LAT. 41° 7′ N., LONG. 72° 19′ W, showcases artworks both inside the 1902 Victorian home and outside on its large lawn. The show was fun and had a couple of surprises. There is artwork all over the house—one can walk up vibrant neon stairs decorated by Jim Lambie to the second floor and encounter 24 plaster heads by the amazing sculptor Barry X Ball. There are familiar artists names that one would know and others that may not have shown before.
 
 
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Created by genius designer Jack Larsen, Longhouse Reserve is a “not to be missed” art experience in the Hamptons. Walking through these gardens, one feels the breathtaking marriage of art and nature, and one is transported into a state of peace and tranquility.
 
Longhouse gardens are divided into many garden “rooms,” with 35 rooms in total. Toshiko Takaezu‘s “The Gateway Bell” welcomed us into the gardens as we passed through a sand dune area with a Bryan Hunt sculpture.
 
Highlights are “Maelstrom,” a white sculpture by Alice Aycock, and a Buckminster Fuller dome titled “Fly’s Eye Dome.” Do not miss Ai Weiwei ‘s “Animal’s Zodiac Heads: Gold” that are shown in the Pavilion area close to the main house.
 
If you want to laugh, look at the bronze trees with shoes (Migrant, 2010) by Cuban artist Yoan Capote.
 
Magdalena Abakanowicz’s twin sculpture overlooks a lotus-filled pond which could give the famed Giverny pond competition.
 
Be sure to locate the Dale Chihuly, “Cobalt Reeds” that are near the Pavillion and Yue Minjun’s spectacular bronze “Chinese Contemporary Warriors.”
 
Visitors love to climb on Sol LeWitt’s tower sculpture; you will always find children interacting with this piece, titled Irregular Progression, High #7.
 
A first time visitor may be overwhelmed by the many sculptures and installations, but be sure to search out the Willem de Kooning bronze “Reclining Figure” and Yoko Ono’s “Play It by Trust ” chess board.
 
The best surprise was coming across the Red Garden. The simplicity and elegance is memorable.

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Friday night, we attended a cocktail party to benefit Guild Hall, honoring Chuck Close’s opening at the museum. The soirée was held at philanthropist, über collector, and largest shareholder of Barnes & Noble, Leonard Riggio’s home. On his vast property there was a sculpture garden that had many works by Isamu Noguchi, Jean Dubuffet, Donald Judd, Niki De Saint Phalle, etc. He even has a large Richard Serra in his front yard!

 
Saturday afternoon at Guild Hall, there was a “Conversation with Robert Storr and Chuck Close.” The dialogue started with them sipping two large glasses of Scotch in paper cups. Close is face blind, and cannot recognize faces that are in three dimensions. He can see faces which are flat like a photograph and then he commits that image to memory. It is very ironic that with this disability he is still one of the most important portrait painters of this century.
 
 
Close is overwhelmed by the “whole” and breaks projects down to pixels (pieces). After 40 years of therapy, he felt there was nothing more to learn. Then he told the audience of a breakthrough. His psychiatrist asked him about his grandmother. He lived with his grandmother and she was an agoraphobic nervous wreck and didn’t leave the house. She crocheted little star and flower squares and then sewed them together. Her life work was an example of doing an activity and breaking it down into pieces and then creating something large from the little squares.
 
 
It was a gift to see Chuck Close’s show at the Museum at Guild Hall and then hear the artist speak about his work and the process of creating portraits. The exhibition, “Chuck Close: Recent Works” runs until October 14th.
 
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Global art star Idris Khan’s studio is located on a charming lane in Northeast London. The young artist creates his own unique work in a shared creative space with his wife and talented contemporary artist Annie Morris.
 
On Khan’s side of the studio, pieces are being geared towards the artist’s upcoming solo show at Victoria Miro Gallery. Khan has created a series of purple works consisting of aluminum panels, primed with black gesso, with text stamped in oil-based ink. He is also making a series of works with text stamped onto paper, and will produce a site-specific drawing in the gallery using the same technique but stamped directly on to the wall. The show opens in London on September 19th.
 
 
Khan’s next exciting project is creating the set designs for a production of ‘The Four Seasons’ in collaboration with composer Max Richter and choreographer Wayne McGregor, which will show at the Zurich Opera House next March.
 
Idris Khan is internationally represented by prominent galleries Yvon Lambert in Paris, Galerie Thomas Schulte in Berlin, Fraenkel Gallery in San Francisco, Sean Kelly in New York, and the previously mentioned Victoria Miro Gallery in London. Khan has also exhibited at such renowned institutions as The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, SFMOMA, The Saatchi Gallery, and The Centre Pompidou.
 
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Photographs by Larry Sosnow
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