One of the current exhibitions at OCMA presents an assemblage of art historical artworks made in California since the 1960’s. All the last fifty years of art movements are there in some example piece – pop, environmental, photography, video/film, light, installation, performance, conceptual, environmental, life as art, and some of the more recent esthetics using new materials and processes. The side text offers substantial documentation and description, enough to emphasize the experimental aspect as well as touch on its classification. On the whole this is good art history with proof that it was made in California, although never mentioning what is really innovative to California.
For the older public who lived those years, it’s a pleasant sentimental journey. However, most of the older work looks old and faded. The risk taking was daring to the point of using non-permanent materials, so that the immediacy of the art isn’t quite there any more. No Caravaggio’s, only Warhols as our legacy.
My favorite art in the show is processed sheets of glass by Kim Abeles. It combines concept, processes, scale and presentation that is inspiring and somewhat scary. That and the show on the other side of the museum are sufficient to recommend a visit.
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