Opening Reception: Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 7-9 PM
Wednesday, May 25 – Sunday, August 14, 2016
Schindler House
835 N Kings Road
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Routine Pleasures brings together artists working in a variety of media to explore "the termite tendency," a concept introduced by artist and film critic Manny Farber (1917–2008) in his 1962 essay "White Elephant Art vs. Termite Art." Whereas the original essay applied these labels to the work of filmmakers, exhibition organizer Michael Ned Holte finds manifold parallels in contemporary art.
In today's overheated art world, it is easy to see a preponderance of "white elephant" art, defined by Farber as "yawning production of overripe technique shrieking with preciosity, fame, ambition." Routine Pleasures presents practitioners who embrace a quieter, more process-oriented approach. Like termites, these artists focus closely on what is before them, and follow the work wherever it may lead, often in diffuse directions. To locate and expand upon Farber's construct of the termite tendency, the exhibition features works by: James Benning; Jennifer Bornstein; Center for Land Use Interpretation; Harry Dodge; Manny Farber; Judy Fiskin; Magdalena Suarez Frimkess and Michael Frimkess; Galería Perdida; Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer; Simon Leung; Lucky Dragons; Roy McMakin; Carter Mull; Newspaper Reading Club; Pauline Oliveros; and Steve Roden.