Exhibition Highlights Erika Rothenberg

1 exhibition highlights

1.1 work
1.2 morally superior products 1980–1990
1.3 freedom of expression national monument 1984/2004
1.4 narratives 1987-2008
1.5 fame , (un)fame 1988-2001
1.6 america perfect country 1980-1990
1.7 freedom of expression products 1989-1990
1.8 signboards 1990–present
1.9 greeting card works 1991-2015
1.10 death 1993-2015
1.11 sex lives of animals 1995-1998

exhibition highlights
early work

for “atomic salon” (1982) @ ron feldman gallery, exhibited cardboard simulation of nuclear missile bunker included control buttons offering employees choice between “launch” , “lunch.”

morally superior products 1980–1990

in addition publishing morally superior products: new! idea advertising, printed advertising storyboards progresso, sauce fights racism , right life chicken. first solo exhibition @ p*p*o*w, michael brenson noted bleakness “that suggests view of america in best works of f. scott fitzgerald , joan didion.”

freedom of expression national monument 1984/2004

in 2003, ‘‘new york times’’ architecture critic herbert muschamp recommended 1984 public work, commissioned creative times art on beach, rebuilt @ ground 0 in lieu of proposed freedom museum. , next year, creative time reinstated freedom of expression national monument, collaboration between rothenberg, architect laurie hawkinson , activist john malpede, founder-director of los angeles poverty department. during 2004 election season, occupied foley square surrounded several manhattan courthouses.

narratives 1987-2008

rothenberg’s monument bear (2002-2003, edition of 2) on permanent display outside museum of contemporary art san diego in la jolla, california. sculpture memorializes bear burnt paws rescued firefighters end legally hunted after released wild. sat in chair (2002), series, adorned chair photos of scores of people once sat on it. .

fame , (un)fame 1988-2001

regarding santa barbara’s 1988 “home show,” rothenberg wrote, “i turned waidner’s family room anti-media room – paintings satirizing viewing habits , special device designed give ordinary people power , respect reserved people on air: celebrity simulator…. if want family , friends pay attention say, can on tv, right in own home.”

commissioned make los angeles metro station green line’s lakewood boulevard station, rothenberg produced wall of un(fame)(1995). play on hollywood’s walk of fame, wall immortalizes names, handprints , footprints of on 650 residents of nearby communities bellflower, downey , paramount.

in 2001, rothenberg completed work hollywood shopping center adjacent kodak theatre, home annual academy awards. road hollywood: how of got here features actual stories of wannabes , made it, recorded in black , white marble mosaics, embedded in winding red-concrete carpet.

america perfect country 1980-1990

for 1989 newport harbor museum of art exhibition “america perfect country” exhibited posters displaying quirky statistics americans challenge many myths underlying american ideology. center piece putt putt golf game inviting players choose best country, though 1 option blocked. los angeles times critic cathy curtis credited rothenberg “co-opting seductiveness of media establishment quick fixes , intellectual pabulum out discount.”

freedom of expression products 1989-1990

her 1989 exhibition “have attacked america today?” in new museum’s windows displayed pharmaceutical-like products meant ease citizen dissent (anti-apathy ointments, protest pills , flag-burning kits). game plan succeeded, since vandals tossed metal garbage can through window , looted of these goods, replaced.

signboards 1990–present

to date, has produced 3 different signboards, each edition of ten, announcing daily church activities belie societal ills.

greeting card works 1991-2015

for 1992 museum of modern art exhibition, “projects 36: erika rothenberg,” exhibited house of cards, included 90 greeting cards, displayed alongside others fit particular categories hope, religion, crime, art , culture, sexual abuse, abortion, civil rights, health, education plus 4 more. in 2015, exhibited expanded version @ zolla|lieberman gallery in chicago. writing in ‘‘artforum’’, michelle grabner described “irony in rothenberg’s hands [as] barbed weapon, , wields underscore real injustices observes in daily life.”

death 1993-2015

“bad times,” 1995 exhibition in collaboration los angeles costume designer tracy tynan @ centre contemporary arts in glasgow, scotland featured suicide notes appended body bags. local bishop’s calling boycott led 4 bbc news programs focused on ensuing controversy.

sex lives of animals 1995-1998

for series, rothenberg juxtaposes enigmatic animal drawings animal testimonies.