From September 8 until January 6, the exhibit 3- Doings: The Imagist Object in Chicago Art, 1964-1980, is up for viewing at the Tang Museum. The exhibit is organized by Tang Museum Dayton Director Ian Berry and Chicago- based curators and scholars John Corbett and Jim Dempsey. 3-Doings features work from 20 different artists, all perceived as imagists in Chicago. These works of art come together to produce an exhibit that flows, despite its differing works.
At a discussion given by Berry, Corbett and Dempsey, the question “Who is an imagist?” was asked. Corbett replied by explaining that the “term has come to be applied to a group of 17 artists who came together as a different group in 1966.” It was then that the artists were recognized as the Chicago Imagists. Thirteen of those 17 artists’ work is represented in the exhibit.
Corbett said that although the artists all produced different works of art, the pieces all looked “very comfortable together.” This feeling could be due to the fact that Chicago Imagism and funk art has a lot in common; they’re both warm and funky, in contrast to the coolness of pop art.
When stepping into the gallery, one may notice that there are no walls or dividers separating the pieces—a deliberate choice by Berry. He explains that the the show is designed with a series of stages, so one can see many different artists and pieces in the same view. The exhibit also portrays art of various sizes because, according to Dempsey, “in Chicago, scale doesn’t matter.”
Living in a bustling city, small living becomes essential. It is because of this that most of the pieces in the exhibit are small, and fit accordingly in the spaces available. However, no matter the size or the differing pieces, Berry, Corbett and Dempsey all agreed on one matter: the work “never lost an ounce of energy since when it was made,” alluding to the way the art acts as a time capsule.
Some works featured in the gallery can be seen in pictures below, but the entire exhibit can be found at the Wachenheim Gallery in the Tang Museum.
Left to right
Karl Wirsum with Ed Flood
Drink Hearing Ade, c. 1968-1969
Mixed media
Collection of Cheryl Cipriani, New York
Karl Wirsum
Armpitss, 1963
Acrylic and fur on canvas
Collection of Lawrence and Evelyn Aronson
Left to right
Gladys Nilsson
Jim’s Bunnie Egg, 1973
Acrylic on metal
Collection of Jim Nutt
H.C. Westermann
Memorial of the Idea of Man If He Was an idea, 1958
Pine, bottle caps, cast-tin toys, glass, metal, brass, ebony, and enamel
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Susan and Lewis Manilow Collection of Chicago Artists, 1993.34
Roger Brown
The Diner, 1973-74
Acrylic on wood, metal construction
Collection of Michael J Robertson and Christopher A. Slapak
Ted Halkin
A Case of Gloves, 1970
Mixed media
The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, gift of Dennis Adrian in honor of the artist, 2012.53
Art Green
Protective Coloration, 1969
Mixed media on canvas
Courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago
Left to right
Barbara Rossi
3-D Do, 1973
Fabric, acrylic on plexiglass, hair
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Albert J. Bildner, 1974.8
Barbara Rossi
Sky Wheel, 1974-75
Mixed media on plexiglass
Collection of Lawrence and Evelyn Aronson
Barbara Rossi
Sky Dice, 1973
Acrylic on plexiglass
The Art Institute of Chicago, Twentieth- Century Purchase Fund, 1973. 301
Karl Wirsum
Jimmy Jones Brother Jack, Jimmy Jones Junior, Tree Son, 1973-74
Acrylic, papier- mache, light fixtures, soldering iron, wood, fabric
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Funds provided by Robert and Frances Coulborn Kohler and Museum Purchase, 2016.9.1a-h
Left to right
Suellen Rocca
Mm…, c. 1968
Oil on Leatherette purse
Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Suellen Rocca
First Kiss, c. 1968
Oil on leatherette purse
Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Suellen Rocca
Ah!, c. 1968
Oil on leatherette purse
Courtesy of Matthew Marks Gallery, New York
Karl Wirsum
Gargoyle Gargle Oil, c. 1969
Acrylic on mirror and wood
Collection of Philip Hanson
Left to right on wall
Jim Nutt
Andy Groth, 1968
Acrylic on reverse plexiglass, sheet metal backing, miscellaneous hardware
Collection of Robert H. Bergman, Chicago
Don Baum
Lucky Lady, 1966
Mixed media, decals
Courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago
Jim Nutt
Summer Salt, 1970
Acrylic on vinyl window shade, enamel on wood
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, gift of Dennis Adrian in honor of Claire B. Zeisler, 1980.30.1
Left to right on table
Karl Wirsum
Genuine Genie Wine, 1968
Acrylic on paper- mache
John Michael Kohler Arts Center Collection, gift of the Raymond K. Yoshida Living Trust and Kohler Foundation Inc. 2011.010.0112
Christina Ramberg
Mask, 1974
Acrylic on paper- mache and cloth
The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, gift of Dennis Adrian in memory of the artist, 2011.112
Karl Wirsum
Palm S. Tree, 1968
Acrylic on paper- mache
The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, gift of Dennis Adrian in honor of the artists, 2001.513.1
Ted Halkin
House 10, c. 1971-75
Castable material or concrete, metallic paint, embroidered pillow with lace trim
Illinois Legacy Collection, Illinois State Museum, goft of the artists, 201.22.40
Ted Halkin
House 6, c. 1971-75
Plaster, pillow with painted cotton case, woven mess with cellophane
Illinois Legacy Collection, Illinois State Museum, gift of the artists, 2001.22.39
Ted Halkin
House 7, c. 1971-75
Fake fur over armature, fiber, found metal case with plastic handle
Illinois Legacy Collections, Illinois State Museum, gift of the artists, 2001.22.37
Roger Brown
Twin Towers, 1977
Paint on wood
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Brown Family, courtesy of Kavi Gupta
Left to right
Ed Flood
Zero Dead Hero, 1970
Acrylic on plexiglass and wood
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine arts, Joseph E. Temple Fund, 2010.10
Ed Flood
Tiger Eye, 1970
Acrylic on plexiglass and wood
Collection of Joseph J. Rishel, Philadelphia
Ed Flood
Silver Crown, 1969
Acrylic on plexiglass and wood
Roger Brown Study Collection, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Green
Risky Business, 1980
Oil on canvas mounted to panel
Courtesy of the artists and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York
Left to right
Karl Wirsum
Mary O’ Net, 1972
Acrylic on wood, fabric
Collection of KAWS
Karl Wirsum
Chris Teen, 1972
Acrylic on wood, fabric
Collection of KAWS
Karl Wirsum
Nurse Worse, 1972
Acrylic on wood, fabric
Collection of KAWS
Left to right
H.C. Westermann
The Silver Queen, 1960
Pine, plywood, pine molding, galvanized metal weather vent, iron fittings, enamel, aluminum, alkyd enamel
Collection of KAWS
H.C. Westermann
Swingin’ Red King, 1961
Pine, pine molding, plywood, enamel
Collection of KAWS