“Working the Unit”
A group exhibition of artists using smaller repetitive units to create a larger whole. Curated by Jeanne Brasile, the show includes artists influenced by Minimalism and its adherents’ emphasis on materiality, form and viewer experience. While influenced by this movement, the participating artists transcend the austerity associated with Minimalism by moving into new, fertile territory where artists are free to introduce color, non-industrial materials and overt subject matter, while maintaining an interest in repeated forms.
“Working the Unit” features eleven artists from the New Jersey tri-state region, including; Gregory Coates, William Corwin, Kate Dodd, Lorrie Fredette, Ruth Hardinger, Robert Lach, Hayoon Jay Lee, Lynn Koble, Karen Margolis, Matthew Nicolosi and Alexandra Phillips. The artists work in a variety of materials including plaster, cement, rubber tubing, wood, fabric and repurposed tape rolls. The themes addressed by each artist are as divergent as their chosen media.

The opening reception will feature a live string trio throughout the evening and a performance by artist Hayoon Jay Lee at 8:30pm.Also exhibiting – Index Side Gallery:
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEARTH: Emergency Care for the Art World
A solo exhibition by Darren Jones at Index Art Center
“A Matter of Life and Dearth: Emergency Care for the Art World,” a solo exhibition by Darren Jones. Curated by Jeanne Brasile, the exhibition takes a wry dig at the art world, suggesting improvements and alternatives to clichéd standards, threadbare names and aesthetic tropes. Jones’ role as writer and curator combine with his work as an artist so that all three practices inform these visual tweaks to the cultures of galleries and museums.
Brasile notes “Darren Jones’ exhibition is especially gratifying for me as a curator. I endeavor to develop exhibitions that reflect critically on the practices of art-making and the relationship between where art is made and displayed, while encouraging viewers to question the social function of art.” While the idea of institutional critique came into vogue in the 1970’s and 80’s, with such proponents as Hans Haacke and Fred Wilson, it seems that a systematic query into the inner workings of art institutions is still exceptionally poignant. Amidst a current environment in which populist themes, celebrity hijinks at art fairs and exorbitant auction prices are of more note than the art, Darren Jones’ take on the art world could not be more well-timed.

LATER THIS MONTH: A poetry reading on Thursday, June 25 at 7pm will feature published author, Jonathan Goodman.

Hours are Thursdays 6 to 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays 1 – 4pm and by appointment.
Admission is free and open to the public.

This event sponsored by our neighbors 27 Mix and Kilkenny Alehouse.
Featured artists at 27 Mix are Anna Ryabtsov and Sohoah Angela Lee