Over the past few years, I've come to recognize Jack Shainman as one of my favorite galleries in NYC, representing a number of my most highly revered artists, including Nick Cave, El Anatsui, Barkley L. Hendricks, Carrie Mae Weems, Kay Hassan, and others. When Shainman opened The School, an outpost of the gallery upstate in Kinderhook, NY last year, I couldn't wait to visit.
I finally had the chance to go over the weekend, on a trip to the Catskills. It was a beautiful late summer day, and the little town of Kinderhook was bustling. Not only was I anxious to experience a larger, more remote Shainman Gallery, but couldn't wait to see the exhibition of works by El Anatsui, one of my favorite artists.
Upon entering The School, a giant Anatsui globus was suspended from the ceiling. Throughout the space, there were dozens of Anatsui works; the exhibition just seemed to go on and on and there were two or three more large scale pieces around every corner. It was interesting to note the ways in which the pieces interacted with the space, some occupying intentionally "unfinished" rooms or corridors. There were also earlier works that I had never seen, such as the Market pieces from 2004 (the room of little boxes, pictured above).
Visiting The School was such a welcome interlude to the weekend, and it renewed my love of El Anatsui's work and the expertise of Jack Shainman. The exhibition is open on Saturdays until September 26.
Blouse: Goldhawk, thrifted
Shorts: Banana Republic (available here)
Photos of me by Meri Feir; other photos by me.
