Established 1973 The Independent Voice of the Visual Arts Volume 34 Number 5, July 2020 ART in the Time of COVID-19 $15 U.S. ART IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 Cover: Mosher, The Basic Steps for Hand Washing, 2020. Mural. Photos courtesy of the artist. Established 1973 Vol. 34, No. 5 Spring Quarter 2020 Contents 3 Editorial: 35 Walls of Prophecy and The Need for Systemic Protest Janina Ciezadlo lauds Jeff W. Hueb- Change ner’s Walls of Prophecy and Protest: William Walker and the Roots of a Revo- 5 Art in the Time of lutionary Public Art Movement. COVID-19— Introduction 38 “Desmadre Berlin” Michel Ségard examines Norbert Bisky’s “Desmadre Berlin,” a virtual ex- 6 COVID-19 Vs. The Art hibition from Galerie Templon in Paris. Field Phillip Barcio presents a provocative antithesis: maybe, just maybe, some 43 “Touch Your Mirror” of the art world’s smaller players will Emily Rapport considers “Touch Your emerge from the pandemic stronger Mirror” from Logan Square’s EXTRA than ever. Projects, which brings together works from Taylor Morgan and Jessica Fran- ces Martin that engage with the female 12 Virtual Visual Culture experience of adolescence. Emelia Lehmann ponders online exhi- bitions from the Art Institute of Chica- go, the Catherine Edelman Gallery, and 45 “The Allure of Matter” the Renaissance Society. Rebecca Memoli visits this touring show, which showcases material art by contemporary artists working in China. 18 The Plague Review K.A. Letts reviews the eponymous journal, a new project from Detroit’s 50 “Legacy of Decency” Rotland Press. Neil Goodman takes in this exhibi- tion at Solvang, California’s Elverhøj Museum of History and Art; it pairs 22 Culture in Quarantine: Rembrandt van Rijn’s paintings of Jewish subjects with documentation Seven Interviews of the rescue of Danish Jews during from Chicago World War II. Evan Carter talks to members of Chicago’s large and diverse arts com- munity, asking how they have adapted 53 “Artoma: to life after coronavirus. In this issue, The Art of Cancer” he interviews Quenna Barrett, Jessica Having battled cancer himself,Michel Stockholder, and Lori Waxman. Ségard is moved by “Artoma: The Art of Cancer,” an exhibition at the Chicago 32 “Latent Tapestries” Art Department. Francine Almeda looks at “Latent Tap- estries,” a remarkably timely exhibition 56 “Chicago Streets of works by Nate Lewis. and Ways” Emily Rapport enjoys “Chicago Streets and Ways,” a show of pieces by William Dolan and Karen Perl at Hofheimer Gallery. 1 NEW ART EXAMINER NEW ART EXAMINER The Need for Systemic Change NEW ART EXAMINER STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The New Art Examiner is published by the New The New Art Examiner is a publica- As artists, writers, critics, and all around cultural thinkers, we at the New Art Art Association. The name “New Art Examiner” tion whose purpose is to examine the Examiner believe in free expression as a core value. Everyone in this country is a registered trademarks of the New Art Asso- definition and transmission of culture ciation. Copyright 2020 by New Art Association; deserves the equal right and opportunity to stand up and speak out when they in our society; the decision-making pro- all rights reserved. Authors retain copyright to are not treated equally under the most basic tenets of public safety, civil rights their essays. cesses within museums and schools and the agencies of patronage which deter- and the law. mine the manner in which culture shall For far too long people in America have been told that their lives are not some- Editorial Staff: thing they can fight to protect. They are told they are going about it wrong, need Editor in Chief—Michel Ségard be transmitted; the value systems which Managing Editor—Nathan Worcester presently influence the making of art as to be quiet, or aren’t allowed to be angry in the face of injustice. This is antitheti- Assistant Editor—Evan Carter well as its study in exhibitions and books; cal to what we believe. Detroit Editor—K.A. Letts and, in particular, the interaction of these At the New Art Examiner, we work hard to dig deep into art, culture, and public Editorial Advisor—Tom Mullaney factors with the visual art milieu. life here in Chicago and beyond. Nevertheless, we do so from our own position of Contributing Editors: privilege. The arts, after all, is a privileged cultural space to which not everyone Philip Barcio, Chicago has access. That is why it is so important that we do the work to advance arts Rebecca Memoli, Chicago and culture within and across communities. It is also why in the face of so much Ann Sinfield, Milwaukee oppression and injustice against the people who make up these communities that we support the recent protests and continued calls for systemic change that Correspondents: Rusty Freeman—St. Louis have emerged after the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Kelli Wood—Nashville Rayshard Brooks, and so many others whose names have been spoken out in calls Neil Goodman—Los Angeles WANTED: that have been met with silence and inaction for years and years. Sara Rouse—Los Angeles WRITERS We are a small group at the New Art Examiner, but we are a community. And until all communities are treated fairly and equally in this country, no one can Design and Layout—Michel Ségard The New Art Examiner is looking for writers truly be free. It is our hope that in the days ahead progress will manifest itself in interested in the visual arts in any major Web Site: metropolitan area in the U.S. You would as many forms as possible. It is our goal to contribute to that progress not only by www.newartexaminer.org start with short reviews of exhibition in your continuing to explore every corner of the arts that we can, but also by elevating area. Later, longer essays on contemporary visual art issues could be accepted. voices that are not heard often enough. We will do so in concert with the greater Office: collective purpose that we see moving hearts and minds every day now. Black and 5555 N. Sheridan Rd., Unit 1415A, Please send a sample of your writing (no Chicago, IL 60640, USA. more than a few pages) to: brown lives matter to us. Queer and trans lives matter to us. The lives of all faiths and identities that are marginalized matter to us. We cannot lose momentum. We Michel Ségard Inquiries: Editor in Chief must not stop or get distracted. Together we must continue to stand and speak [email protected] New Art Examiner loudly and freely to define who we are as community, as a country, and as a cul- All Letters to the editor are printed. Send to: [email protected] [email protected] ture. Art belongs to everyone and can connect anyone. It has a role to play in this fight, this journey. For us, it starts here. The Editors 2 3 NEW ART EXAMINER NEW ART EXAMINER Art in the Time of COVID-19—Introducion SUBSCRIPTIONS The has a long history of pro- New Art Examiner Nobody can really experience art. bitions from three different spaces—the Art Institute of ducing quality and independent art criticism. Let’s back up. Anybody can experience art. Anybody Chicago, the Catherine Edelman Gallery, and the Renais- Subscription rates include six issues, print and can turn on a computing device, go to a search engine, sance Society. K.A. Letts reviewsThe Plague Review, a digital version sent by email. and look up, say, Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus1. For many topical new literary and arts journal launched by Detroit’s USA/Canada $55 postage incl. of us, this pales in comparison with seeing art in person. Rotland Press. Finally, in part one of a multi-part series, Rest of World $80 postage incl. But who’s to say that seeing art in person is a richer and Evan Carter asks members of Chicago’s large and diverse Please send checks, along with your name and more authentic experience? In a crowded museum or gal- arts community how they have experienced life under address, made payable to: lery, you must bustle past the exhibits, barely registering lockdown. In this issue, Carter interviews Quenna Barrett, New Art Examiner each individual piece. Unless you go by yourself, the art Jessica Stockholder, and Lori Waxman. 5555 N. Sheridan Rd., Unit 1415A is competing against your social obligations—and you’re Kicking off our reviews, Francine Almeda looks at Chicago, IL 60640. USA. probably more interested in impressing your date than in “Latent Tapestries,” a remarkably timely exhibition of really understanding and appreciating the work in front works by Nate Lewis (many of Lewis’s pieces dissect mon- Or log on to our website, newartexaminer.org, of you. Your computing device, on the other hand, creates uments to Confederate soldiers). Next, Janina Ciezadlo and use our PayPal button. no such demands. Zoom in—zoom out—look up informa- analyzes Jeff W. Huebner’s Walls of Prophecy and Protest: tion about the artist. The screen, our new and universal William Walker and the Roots of a Revolutionary Public Art mediator, is also and inescapably disintermediating. Fully Movement. Walker’s murals commemorated Nat Turner, ADVERTISING RATES 2020* liberated, fully individuated, the screen user is fully and Malcolm X, Amiri Barka, and other cultural icons from his completely alone—“a beast or a god,” or, in some cases, the own African-American community. Michel Ségard exam- FULL PAGE Inside front cover $500 plaything of screen-mediated mass movements.