The Dorsky will be hosting historically modern art next semester. Artist, poet and performer Mary Reid Kelley’s self-titled exhibit “Mary Reid Kelley: Working Objects and Videos” will be on display from Jan. 22 to April 13.
The exhibit will include video, sculpture and drawings that bring together Reid Kelley’s interests in art, history and popular culture, according to exhibit curator and art history professor Daniel Belasco.
A South Carolina native and former Fellow at the American Academy in Rome, Reid Kelley combines poetry, literature, cutting edge digital technology, sewing and costume design to create her pieces, Belasco said.
In her video short “The Syphilis of Sisyphus,” an 11-minute piece produced in 2011, Reid Kelley’s face is painted white, her features painted on in black.
In the video she plays a pregnant 19th century French woman who recites verse after verse of poetry filled with puns and historical references.
“My blistering wit and its deep lacerations are advanced forms of Syphilization,” Reid Kelley said in the video.
Although Reid Kelley has held numerous shows in New York, Los Angeles and London, this exhibit is the first which incorporates working parts of her pieces featured in a museum, according to Belasco, including displaying the costumes and sculptures she uses in her videos.
“In the past, she has only presented finished videos. This sort of peels back the process,” Belasco said. “She’s one of the most interesting contemporary artists.”
Belasco said he has been a big fan of Reid Kelley’s work for years and has worked with her in the past. He believes students can learn a lot from her work, one of the key reasons he decided on Reid Kelley.
“She’s integrating everything happening in the art world right now into her work, from the cutting edge to history and literature,” Belasco said. “She has a lot to say about contemporary time and her work is full of cultural references.”
Sara Pasti, the Neil C. Trager Director at The Dorsky, said that the museum likes to support artists who are beyond emerging but still moving ahead in their careers.
She said that is why Reid Kelley — who is receiving national and international attention but is still in the midst of her career — is such a good fit.
Pasti also mentioned The Dorsky has an area focus, holding an annual Hudson Valley Artists Exhibition every summer and striving to help and promote relatively local artists such as Reid Kelley, who lives in Ulster County.
“She does great work and deserves our support,” Pasti said.
“Mary Reid Kelley: Working Objects and Videos” will be held at the Alice and Horace Chandler and North Galleries and the opening reception for the exhibit will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will travel to the University Art Museum at SUNY Albany following its time at The Dorsky.
The Dorsky will be hosting historically modern art next semester. Artist, poet and performer Mary Reid Kelley’s self-titled exhibit “Mary Reid Kelley: Working Objects and Videos” will be on display from Jan. 22 to April 13.
The exhibit will include video, sculpture and drawings that bring together Reid Kelley’s interests in art, history and popular culture, according to exhibit curator and art history professor Daniel Belasco.
A South Carolina native and former Fellow at the American Academy in Rome, Reid Kelley combines poetry, literature, cutting edge digital technology, sewing and costume design to create her pieces, Belasco said.
In her video short “The Syphilis of Sisyphus,” an 11-minute piece produced in 2011, Reid Kelley’s face is painted white, her features painted on in black.
In the video she plays a pregnant 19th century French woman who recites verse after verse of poetry filled with puns and historical references.
“My blistering wit and its deep lacerations are advanced forms of Syphilization,” Reid Kelley said in the video.
Although Reid Kelley has held numerous shows in New York, Los Angeles and London, this exhibit is the first which incorporates working parts of her pieces featured in a museum, according to Belasco, including displaying the costumes and sculptures she uses in her videos.
“In the past, she has only presented finished videos. This sort of peels back the process,” Belasco said. “She’s one of the most interesting contemporary artists.”
Belasco said he has been a big fan of Reid Kelley’s work for years and has worked with her in the past. He believes students can learn a lot from her work, one of the key reasons he decided on Reid Kelley.
“She’s integrating everything happening in the art world right now into her work, from the cutting edge to history and literature,” Belasco said. “She has a lot to say about contemporary time and her work is full of cultural references.”
Sara Pasti, the Neil C. Trager Director at The Dorsky, said that the museum likes to support artists who are beyond emerging but still moving ahead in their careers.
She said that is why Reid Kelley — who is receiving national and international attention but is still in the midst of her career — is such a good fit.
Pasti also mentioned The Dorsky has an area focus, holding an annual Hudson Valley Artists Exhibition every summer and striving to help and promote relatively local artists such as Reid Kelley, who lives in Ulster County.
“She does great work and deserves our support,” Pasti said.
“Mary Reid Kelley: Working Objects and Videos” will be held at the Alice and Horace Chandler and North Galleries and the opening reception for the exhibit will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will travel to the University Art Museum at SUNY Albany following its time at The Dorsky.