SINGULARITY CHRISTOPHER KURTZ
S IN G UL A R ITY CHRISTOPHER KURTZ
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CHRISTOPHER KURTZ
i n thi s n e w e xhi bi ti o n, “si n gul ari ty”, i hav e created a nu mb er of s cu lptu res made up o f c o n struc te d an d carv e d pi e ce s o f wo o d. the forms ap pear to elongate and stre tch o ut i n to dynam i c c o m p o si ti o n s. the e f fect is that of s tru ctu res ap pearing to be e l asti c , an d he ld i n a d e li c ate bal an ce . the forms often evoke rays of light, as w e ll as m o re tan gi ble structure s. the pi e c e s may b e u nders tood on an intimate s cale, re fe rri n g to fo rm s suc h as spi d e r w e bs, c rac ked ice, or thorns from a locu s t tree. e q ually, the sculpture s sugge st e xpan se s o f space that are greater than ou r hu man e xpe ri e n c e : i n te rste ll ar e v e n ts, the c o ll apse and ex plos ions of s tars, and light trav e li n g i n fi n i te ly thro ugh space . i n e i the r c ase , the physi c al pro p o rti o n o f e ach s cu lp tu ral form rel ates back to the scale o f the hum an bo dy. w he the r the pi e ces are s u s p ended from the ceiling, fre e stan d i n g o n the flo o r, pe rche d ato p a pe des tal, or mou nted on the wall, the y all c o n si d e r bal an c e an d ge sture that i s familiar to this world. natu re is an i n e v i table i n spi rati o n fo r an y cre ati v e pro ce ss, and s ou rces of natu re can b e fou nd i n all o f thi s wo rk. i am m uch m o re pre o c cupi ed with the b u ilt environment; how hum an s m an i pul ate an d re fi n e m ate ri als, an d h ow we interact with the world. the m e tho d s o f how struc ture s are d e si gn e d an d bu ilt - and then the way they inevitab ly surre n d e r to grav i ty o v e r ti m e , i s an e n d le ss sou rce of ins piration. i als o look at dan ce , balle t i n parti cul ar, i n a si m i l ar way. t o leap and to l and on p oint, to s tretch an d e lo n gate an arm o r a le g, to ho ld the p o sition, and yield to gravity with grace, i s the e sse n ce o f m y i n te re st i n sculpture . the act of making s cu lp tu re is a p rotes t agai n st grav i ty. to e re ct so m e thi n g an d m ake it s tand u p is an act of hu b ris - b u t it is e sse n ti al to hum an s affi rm i n g the i r e xi ste n ce.
m y med i u m i s wo o d, a nd m y a p p r oac h to sc ulpture i s o n e o f re strai n t an d dis c ip li ne . i h ave c h o se n t o l i m i t my m e d i um to thi s m ate ri al, an d li m i t m y stud i o t o a r e l at i ve ly si m p l e se t o f t o o l s. i m o stly wo rk alo n e an d m y ri c he st ho urs o f c r e at iv i t y a r e ve ry e a r ly i n t h e m o rn i n g, usually be fo re daw n. Â the sc ulpture p ie c e s a r e t yp i c a l ly a c o m b i nat i o n o f co n structi o n an d c arv i n g. the structure s ar e c ar p e nt e r e d a nd jo i ne d, o f t e n w i th an arm ature ho ld i n g the co m p o si ti o n i n p l ac e. t h e r e a r e m a ny h o u r s o f wo rk w he re the fo rm s are be i n g bui lt, an d take n apart t o c a rve , a nd r e -a sse m b l e d. i n thi s pro c e ss o f bui ld i n g, c arv i n g, an d un bu ild in g, u ne x p e c t e d p i e c e s w i l l e m e rge . e ach pi e c e starts w i th a ske tch o r a wir e m o d e l , b u t i n o r d e r f o r e ac h wo rk to be suc ce ssful, so m e thi n g surpri si n g an d u n e x p e c t e d m u st b e d i sc o ve r e d alo n g the way, gi v i n g way to an un scri pte d obj ec t. w i t h i n t h e se g u i d e l i ne s, i hav e fo un d a d e e p an d c o n ce n trate d way o f e x p lor ing sc u l p t u r e . t h e g r o u nd i n g se n se o f pl ace that the stud i o pro v i d e s i s also param ou nt t o m y p r o c e ss. w i t h i n t h i s co n tro lle d e n v i ro n m e n t, i fe e l the fre e d o m t o take r i sk s.Â
20 13
WO R K S
SINGULARITY
hand carved basswood and milk paint h 81” x w/l 144” x d 36”
“ T h e re are ma ny h o urs of wor k w h ere t h e for m s are be ing bu il t , a nd ta ken a p a r t to ca r ve, a n d re-asse mb le d. I n t h is p rocess of b u i l d i n g , carving, an d un-b u il d in g , u n ex p ec ted p i eces w i l l e merge.�
ACT TOGETHER
cedar root, hand carved cedar, maple and milk paint h 80” x w/l 23” x d 62”
A L LO N G E ( S M A L L )
hand carved basswood and paint h 30” x w/l 12” x d 10”
A L LO N G E
hand carved bl ack walnut h 91.5” x w/l 40” x d 24”
U N T I T L E D ( FA L L E N S TA R )
hand carved basswood and paint h 28” x w/l 27” x d 27”
UNTITLED
hand carved walnut h 30” x w/l 15.5” x d 7”
MERIDIAN
hand carved basswood and paint h 36” x w/l 31” x d 16”
UNTITLED
hand carved redwood h 83” x w/l 7” x d 8”
UNTITLED (LIGHT)
hand carved basswood and milk paint h 21” x w/l 21” x d 21”
M A N Y S TA R S
hand carved basswood, paint and monofilament h 45” x w/l 18” x d 15”
EN POINTE
hand carved basswood, milk paint and monofilament h 64” x w/l 40” x d 40”
UNTITLED
hand carved redwood h 73” x w/l 1.5” x d 5.5”
E D U C AT I O N
1998 1994-1996
n y s c c s c h o o l o f a r t a n d d e s i g n , a l f r e d u n i v e r s i t y b . f. a . a l f r e d , n y h a rva r d u n i v e r s i t y g s d c a r e e r d i s c o v e ry p r o g r a m , c a m b r i d g e , m a k a n s a s c i t y a r t i n s t i t u t e , k a n s a s c i t y, m o
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2005 - Present 2010 2009 1999-2004
christopher kurtz studio, sculpture/furniture new york foundation for the arts (nyfa), advisor in the field of crafts new york foundation for the arts (nyfa), guest panelist s t u d i o a s s i s t a n t t o a r t i s t m a r t i n p u r y e a r , h u d s o n v a l l e y, n y
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2013 2012 2009 2007 2005 2004 1998
h e d g e g a l l e r y, s a n f r a n c i s c o , c a t o m l i n s o n k o n g c o n t e m p o r a r y, n e w y o r k , n y a rt wa r e e d i t i o n s, n e w yo r k , n y m a t i n g a l l e r y, l o s a n g e l e s , c a roswell museum and art center, roswell, nm, catalogue maiden lane exhibition space, new york, ny “a n e l l i p s i s w i t h i n a p a r e n t h e s i s ,” a l f r e d u n i v e r s i t y, a l f r e d , n y
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012
2011
“a g a i n s t t h e g r a i n : w o o d i n c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t , c r a f t a n d d e s i g n ” m u s e u m o f a r t a n d d e s i g n, n e w yo r k , n y “pulse miami” tomlinson kong, miami, fl “ h o u s t o n f i n e a rt fa i r” t o m l i n s o n k o n g , h o u s t o n, t x “pulse new york” tomlinson kong, new york, ny “the armory show” tomlinson kong, new york, ny “boffo show house” represented by hedge gallery at the madison jackson building new york, ny “pulse miami” tomlinson kong, miami, fl “ s f 2 0 / 2 1 a r t f a i r ” r e p r e s e n t e d b y h e d g e g a l l e r y, s a n f r a n c i s c o , c a “mattermade new america, collection no. 2” matter new york, ny “a r t w a r e e d i t i o n s g r o u p s h o w a t n e w b o w e r y l o c a t i o n ”, n e w y o r k , n y “ d a l l a s a r t f a i r ” r e p r e s e n t e d b y h e d g e g a l l e r y, d a l l a s , t x
2010 2009
2006 2005 2004 2002
“ p u l s e a rt fa i r” r e p r e s e n t e d b y a rt wa r e e d i t i o n s, n e w yo r k , n y “mattermade collection no. 1” matter, new york, ny “ t h e a r m o ry s h o w ” r e p r e s e n t d b y a rt wa r e e d i t i o n s, n e w yo r k , n y “kips bay show house” new york, ny “bodanna kraft” bodanna, new york, ny “ t h e r e a l w o r l d” at t h e d e l i s t o r e r o o m , b r o o k ly n, n y “ s q u a r e o n e : i n a u g u r a l g r o u p e x h i b i t i o n ”, t h e a r t m i n e , p o r t h a d l o c k , w a s h i n g t o n , d c “ z o o ,” l a k e g e o r g e a r t s p r o j e c t , l a k e g e o r g e , n y “ r o s w e l l a r t i s t i n r e s i d e n c e f o u n d a t i o n : c u r r e n t f e l l o w s ,” s a n t a f e c o m m u n i t y college, santa fe, nm “ l i n e s a n d f a b l e s : c a r l a n d c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z ,” d o l p h i n g a l l e r y, k a n s a s c i t y, m o “ 2 0 t h a n n u a l j u r i e d e x h i b i t i o n ,” p l e i a d e s g a l l e r y, n y “ h u d s o n v a l l e y a r t i s t s ”, s a m u e l d o r s k y m u s e u m o f a r t , n e w p a l t z , n y
AWARDS/ RESIDENCIES
2009 2007 2005 2004 2002 1998
v i s i t i n g a r t i s t , l e c t u r e r , g u e s t c r i t i c , k a n s a s c i t y a r t i n s t i t u t e , k a n s a s c i t y, m o new york foundation for the arts fellowship (lily auchincloss fellow) l o u i s c o m f o rt t i f fa n y b i e n n i a l awa r d r o s w e l l a r t i s t i n r e s i d e n c e f e l l o w s h i p, r o s w e l l , n m v i s i t i n g a rt i s t i n r e s i d e n c e , b e n n i n g t o n c o l l e g e , b e n n i n g t o n, v t new york state council on the arts, strategic opportunity grant c u m l a u d e , a l f r e d u n i v e r s i t y, a l f r e d , n y d i v i s i o n a l h o n o r s , o u t s t a n d i n g s e n i o r , a l f r e d u n i v e r s i t y, a l f r e d , n y
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS t h e f e d e r a l r e s e r v e b a n k , k a n s a s c i t y, m o a n d e r s o n m u s e u m o f c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t, r o s w e l l , n m roswell museum and art center, roswell, nm s p r i n t c o r p o r a t e c o l l e c t i o n , k a n s a s c i t y, k s h a l l m a r k c o l l e c t i o n , k a n s a s c i t y, m o
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2013 2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2006 2005
2004 2002
n i c o l e g at e s a n d e r s o n, “ t w o b y t w o” m o d e r n m ag a z i n e , w i n t e r s i m s a n d k i r r a n e , “a g a i n s t t h e g r a i n : w o o d i n c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t , c r a f t a n d d e s i g n ” m u s e u m o f a r t s a n d d e s i g n , n e w york. catalogue, monacelli press karen grover, “carpentry at the service of art: christopher kurtz at tomlinson kong, artcritical, (sept 12.) r o b e rt c . m o r g a n, “ l o n g h a n d” t h e b r o o k ly n r a i l , s e p t e m b e r 1 a l l e s e t h o m s o n , “ c r i t i c ’s p i c k s . l o n g h a n d r e v i e w ”, a r t f o r u m . c o m , a u g u s t 2 9 e d i e c o h e n, “ b a l e ta l e ” i n t e r i o r d e s i g n, n u m b e r 3 2 0 1 2 k a t e b u t l e r , “ s c u l p t u r e a n d s e a t ”, m o d e r n m a g a z i n e , s p r i n g k a t h e r i n e b r o o k s , “ 2 0 1 2 b o f f o s h o w h o u s e a t t h e m a d i s o n j a c k s o n ”, h u f f i n g t o n p o s t , m a y 3 1 l a n c e e s p l u n d , “a - r o d c a g e s o w e n w i l s o n a m i d u g l y h o o k e r s a t m i a m i b a s e l ”, b l o o m b e r g n e w s , d e c e m b e r 5 j a v i e r a b i o , “ n e x t i n t e r i o r s ”, n e o 2 , j u l y 2 0 1 1 a n i t a h a c k e t h a l , “ r e d e m p t i o n t a b l e ”, d e s i g n b o o m , j u l y 2 0 1 1 r e g i n a c o n n e l l , “ p r o f i l e : c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z ”, h a n d f u l o f s a l t , j u n e 2 0 1 1 r i m a s u q i , “ b r i d g i n g t h e w o r l d s o f a r t a n d c o m m e r c e ”, n y t i m e s , m a y 5 , 2 0 1 1 r i m a s u q i , “ t h e n e w y o r k t i m e s h o l i d a y g i f t g u i d e ”, n y t i m e s , d e c e m b e r 2 “ m a t t e r m a d e , n e w y o r k d e s i g n w e e k ”, d w e l l , o c t o b e r 2 0 1 0 j i l l s i n g e r , “a m a t t e r o f s t y l e ”, w m a g a z i n e , s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0 f r a n c e s c a f o r n a s a r i , “ d e l i c i o u s ”, v a n i t y f a i r i t a l i a s a r a h e c k e l , “ c o l d w e a t h e r c o m f o r t ”, m a r t h a s t e w a r t l i v i n g jordan kushins, “dwell people” a r i a n n e n a r d o , “ c o v e t ”, i n t e r i o r s m a g a z i n e s a n d r a b a l l e n t i n e , “ i n - s t o r e , m i n i c o o p e r ”, n e w y o r k t i m e s s t y l e m a g a z i n e a l i s o n a r i e f f, “ t h e s c u l p t u r e o f c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z ”, h o m e b y s u n s e t j o a n n e m o l i n a , “ e x h i b i t i o n s b e v e r l y h i l l s . c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z ”, t h e c u r a t e d o b j e c t j o y c e l o v e l a c e “ l o s a n g e l e s : a h e a d o f t h e c u r v e o n c r a f t ”, a m e r i c a n c r a f t m a g b o g g s , j . d . “ r e d i s c o v e r i n g r o s w e l l ”, n e w m e x i c o m a g a z i n e t h e l o u i s c o m f o rt t i f fa n y f o u n dat i o n, 2 0 0 5 awa r d s c ata l o g u e k u r t z , c h r i s t o p h e r , “ c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z : n e w m e x i c o s c u l p t u r e s ” a r t i s t ’s b o o k i n a n e d i t i o n o f 4 0, w i t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e a n d e r s o n m u s e u m o f c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t, r o s w e l l , n m l a u r a m a l b e r t , “a n e w k i n d o f z o o ,” t h e l a k e g e o r g e m i r r o r c a t h d e d e , “ z o o a t l a k e g e o r g e a r t s p r o j e c t ,” l a k e g e o r g e c h r o n i c l e m e l i s s a h i l g e m a n , “ r o s w e l l a r t i s t i n r e s i d e n c e ,” r o s w e l l d a i l y r e c o r d e l i s a b e t h c o o k - r o m e r o , “ l o o k w h a t l a n d e d i n r o s w e l l ,” p a s a t i e m p o m e l i ss a h i l g e m a n, “ r e s i d e n c y a rt w o r k i n s a n ta f e , r o s w e l l da i ly r e c o r d r i c h a r d t o b i n , “ r a i r s h o w,” t h e m a g a z i n e c h r i s t o p h e r l e i t c h , “ f a t h e r a n d s o n : c o m m o n p a t h s , i n d i v i d u a l e n d s ”, r e v i e w r o b i n t r a f t o n , “ f a t h e r - s o n e x h i b i t m e l d s f o r m , d i m e n s i o n ,” t h e k a n s a s c i t y s t a r k a t e h a c k m a n , “ l i n e s a n d f a b l e s : c a r l a n d c h r i s t o p h e r k u r t z ”, r e v i e w b l a i s e s c h w e i t z e r , “ h u d s o n v a l l e y a r t s h o w c a s e d ,” d a i l y f r e e m a n , k i n g s t o n , n y
H E D G E 501 pacific avenue san francisco, ca 94133 h : tuesday - friday 11-6 saturday 11-5 t : 415.433.2233 f : 415.433.2234 W W W. H E D G E G A L L E R Y.C O M