6 The Visitors
The RISD Museum reopened a renovated main gallery in its Radeke Building and offered quality exhibitions of Henry Horenstein’s honky-tonk photos, Kenneth Jay Lane’s “Fabulous Fake” jewelry, and music videos and early avant-garde films, but the highlight of the school’s public programming was talks by two visiting artists. Chicago sculptor Nick Cave’s autobiographical address was punctuated by a dancer performing in one of his ravishing “Soundsuits,” and David Wilson, founder of Los Angeles’ Museum of Jurassic Technology, gave an astonishing, befuddling speech about miniscule sculptures and mosaics.
7 The New Joint
Stairwell Gallery, which opened late in 2006, came into its own this year as a stylish portal to the city’s underground scene. My favorite exhibition, “Creatures,” featured cute brut art-dolls by Brian Chippendale, Xander Marro, Jill Colinan, Paper Rad, CF, and others.
8 The Power Plant
AS220 continues to pump major energy, resources, and inspiration into the city’s art scene. The big news continues to be the landmark community arts center’s steadily expanding empire downtown. The Project Space gallery opened in the AS220-renovated Dreyfus Building in June, and plans are in the works to redevelop a Washington Street building.
