Tom Friedman's hypnotically labor intensive sculptures, works on paper, photographs and site-specific installations are the subject of his first museum survey exhibition. Often taking the art of process to absurd extremes, Friedman uses everyday materials such as sugar cubes, chewing gum, aspirin, and spaghetti to make extraordinary objects.
Tom Friedman's hypnotically labor intensive sculptures, works on paper,
photographs and site-specific installations are the subject of his first
museum survey exhibition. Often taking the art of process to absurd
extremes, Friedman uses everyday materials such as sugar cubes,
chewing gum, aspirin, and spaghetti to make extraordinary objects.
Thirty-five works by Friedman, with influences ranging from pop art and
minimalism to process art and conceptualism are presented in the
exhibition at the New Museum. The installation, designed by Friedman
himself, includes early works such as Hot Balls (1992), a meticulous
arrangement of 200 bouncy balls all stolen by the artist over a six-month
period. For 1000 Hours of Staring (1992-1997) and for his most recent
work, Untitled (2000), Friedman created a gruesome, life-sized self
portrait as if just after a motorcycle wreck, entirely from construction
paper.
Friedman's modest and humorous works rekindle a sense of childlike
wonder at even the most familiar objects and, in so doing, remind us of
art's remarkable power to transform and transcend.
Tom Friedman was organized by the Southeastern Center for
Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Funding for this
exhibition is provided by The Lannan Foundation, the Elizabeth Firestone
Graham Foundation, and Art for Art's Sake.
Hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-6 pm
Friday 1-9 pm (6-9 pm pay-what-you-wish admission)
Saturday-Sunday 11 am-6 pm
Admission
Adults $10
Senior citizens (62 and over) and students with valid ID $8
Photo credit: Tom Friedman, Hot Balls (1992). Stolen balls