Michael Workman

Über-conceptualist Marcel Duchamp serves as the source for the "Infra-thin" show's conceptual theme, and it's more than worth a daytrip to the College of DuPage to check out. As a way of thinking about his work, Duchamp cast his concept of the "infra-thin" in terms of the warm seat of a person who has left the room, but is therefore still somehow present or as the "distinction between a work of art that was created and one that was found." You can characterize this distinction as a matter of bare perceptions when considering, for instance, that the signature of R. Mutt should serve as license enough to transform a urinal or (later) an unsigned Brillo box into a sculptural object. Curated by Dan Devening, a professor in the Department of Painting and Drawing at the Art Institute, this show's a virtual roundup of some of the city's more talented and underappreciated artists, including Mark Booth and M.W. Burns, whose "Sound Canopy" audio installation at the corner of State and Adams was one of the more brilliant local public art efforts in awhile.

Much has also been made of the difference in, say, brands of soda and the infamous "taste test" commercials of the eighties that pointed out the otherwise "infra-thin" distinction between consumables. This point gets raised in the experience economy of tourism through DePaul University professor Susan Giles' "Glitches, Hitches and Hiccups." A variation on the standard tourist video, her visit to the Parthenon has been whittled down to the "accidental" frames that she shot on her visit, the swift turns of the lens or long, unconscious pans of the sidewalk. Booth contributes "Annagrammatic Drawing #3," a pen-and-ink that depicts a fleshy tubular structure divided into chambers only describable as "speech stomachs," filled in with short punny texts such as "Camp Dame Churl" or "Cedar Map Mulch." But what could they possibly mean? Relax. It's all in good fun.

Quick video
As a walkable destination, the Acme Artists housing complex on Bloomingdale offers up a few compelling shows this weekend, starting with the Garden Fresh-curated exhibition at Studio 207. It's the group's second annual video survey (full disclosure: this columnist gave a hand in the selections); last year's projected on a scrim stretched across one member's back porch and was viewable from the El station at Western and Milwaukee.

If last year was any indication, having premiered such works as the Saddam Show--a video in which Jorge O. Aguirre Jr. chained a portrait of Saddam outdoors on the UIC campus, then sat back to film as it was attacked by students--then this second annual installment should satisfy. This year they've moved indoors and have a few decent candidates for best new find, including Andrew McAllister's video of passengers traveling to and fro in a London Tube station, with an ominous green video screen mounted on a tall metal pole in the background. Does it represent the watchful eye of a terrorized government or merely a helpful source of information? After watching awhile, the video starts to break up, scenes cut and blend together, the screen's ominous green eye now powerfully aglow. There's also a nice if somewhat simplistic piece by Magaly Ponce made for viewers with a short attention span. Hang out the sixty seconds or so it takes to view the whole piece. It's a peach.

Breaking the mold
For a new twist on an old tune, check out the "Implicit Plasticity" show at the Art Institute's Betty Rymer Gallery. Curated by Pilsen gallery owner Dubhe Carreño (pronounced DO-bey), the show includes a few up-and-comers such as wood and paper sculptor Ben Chickadel. Much of the work has the stated aim of removing associations of utility with clay objects--in other words, showing that clay is good for making more than just pots and bowls. Taking the malleability of the materials as their starting point, the artists in this show have attempted to use ceramic in unusual ways, including several attempts at installation art.

Radio stars
And finally, a short note on the Third Coast Audio Festival's "Lend Us Your Ears" of audio installations opening this weekend at the Chicago Cultural Center. Who'd have thought radio was an art form? Well it is. This year's selections include Rick Moody's spectacular "The Color is Black" with music by Jerome Schmidt.

"Infra-thin" shows at the Arts Center of the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, (630)942-2000. Through October 30. "Exhibition and Video Screening" shows at Studio 207, 2418 West Bloomingdale, (773)772-8968. October 8, 7-10pm. "Lend Us Your Ears" shows at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street, (312)744-1424. Through December 5. "Implicit Plasticity" shows at the Betty Rymer Gallery, 280 South Columbus, (312)443-3703. Through November 19.

(2004-10-06)

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