Learn to Read Art: A History of Printed Matter
Badischer Kunstverein
Karlsruhe, Germany
July 03 – September 06, 2009
Printed Matter.Learn To Read Art
MUSAC
Museo de Arte Cotemporáneo de Castilla y León, Spain
July 11, 2009 – January 10, 2010
Printed Matter is pleased to announce two exhibitions in Europe this summer. While varying in size, both exhibitions focus on Printed Matter as an idea as well as a history, showcasing thirty-three years of publications, editions, and ephemera.
Learn to Read Art: A History of Printed Matter at the Badischer Kunstverein, curated by AA Bronson, presents a comprehensive overview of the organization, focusing on the philosophy established by its founders in 1976. Printed Matter was intended as an experiment in art as democratic form: from the modest books published in the late 70s to the most recently produced Artist and Activists pamphlet by The Center for Tactical Magic (published just last week!), the publications demonstrate an interest in a broad distribution, and an openness to critical content. The sequence of galleries follows the organization from storefront to storefront over more than three decades, featuring installations by Lawrence Weiner, Josh Smith, Jenny Holzer and Scott Hug. The number of artists who have helped support Printed Matter is astonishing: editions by John Baldessari, Barbara Bloom, Larry Clark, Liam Gillich, Jenny Holzer, Terence Koh, Barbara Kruger, Christian Marclay, Jack Pierson, Richard Prince, Ed Ruscha, Felix Gonzales Torres, Christopher Wool and many more animate the rich history. An architecture of book-shaped platforms by Gareth Long contains the project and provides seating, display, and storage for the project.
Printed Matter is the focus of a second exhibition as part of MUSAC's "Showcase Project." Curated by Catherine Krudy, Printed Matter.Learn to Read Art is part reading room, part exhibition; the installation features a large selection of Printed Matter publications available to be read by visitors to the Museum, and highlights from thirty-three years of editions. As if that is not enough, MUSAC is distributing free of charge a new zine by Ari Marcopoulos titled Catchin' Bodies, as well as a new pin by Lawrence Weiner titled Aprender A Leer Arte, both published especially for this occasion.
The Baden Art Association (Badischer Kunstverein) was founded in Karlsruhe in 1818, and is the second-oldest art association in Germany. It has actively presented and promoted contemporary art since the beginning of the 19th century. The continuity of its program and its professional work have earned the Baden Art Association a reputation in regional and international art circles and have substantially contributed to the cultural image of the city of Karlsruhe. More information on Badischer Kunstverein can be found at http://www.badischer-kunstverein.de.
The MUSAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, located in the city of León, was created with the aim of becoming a Museum of the Present. MUSAC focuses exclusively on the present time, influenced by recent memory. The museum is based on the idea of developing a new behavior when approaching 21st century art. The latter years of the past century represent the beginning of a time frame that acts as a starting point. In this way, the MUSAC introduces itself as a clear exponent of a new cultural stage, in which aesthetic values and artistic behavior that were considered revolutionary in the past have already become well established. More information on Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León and its programming can be found at http://musac.es.
For more information on these exhibitions, please contact AA Bronson at aabronson @ printedmatter.org.
Printed Matter, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1976 by artists and art workers with the mission to foster the appreciation, dissemination, and understanding of artists' books and other artists' publications.
Printed Matter, Inc. has received support, in part, through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Altria Group Inc, the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, The Gesso Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Schoenstadt Family Foundation, The Roy and Niuta Titus Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and individuals worldwide.
Printed Matter, Inc.
195 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
www.printedmatter.org
T: 212 925 0325
F: 212 925 0464
