Some 25th anniversary shows are merely inventory clearance sales while others are smartly curated celebrations of a gallery's accomplishments. Elizabeth Leach's 25th is an example of the latter. (Gallery-goers in Atlanta got a taste of the former last year.)
What I liked:
1. The fact that Leach coupled her anniversary with a survey of a particular genre (collage) over roughly the same period. Despite the fact the Leach calls the show "A Century of Collage", most works were created in the last 25-35 years.
2. The gallery had a mix of original works by the masters of the genre (Rauschenberg, Cornell) along side Leach's gallery artists.
3. The show explored how broad the idea of collage could be. There were a number of times I said to my self "that 's not collage," only to reconsider my conclusion shortly thereafter.
4. Historical references (Matisse, Bearden) added to the already impressive roster, giving the show its necessary historical underpinnings.
As someone who once showed with Elizabeth, I can say this, she is a trooper. She has a great history, legacy, and she gave many, and gives many artists, a fantastic venue to show at. Congratulations Liz!
Posted by: harold hollingsworth | November 29, 2006 at 04:44 PM