Robert Longo in Milwaukee; Jim Dine in Vienna

Art is an attempt to try and understand our own contemporary situation through  making images that are completely personal, while also addressing our social context. - Robert Longo

 Drawings, sculptures and videos created by Robert Longo (b.1953) over the last ten years are currently on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum. 

 

 

Robert Longo: The Acceleration of History opened on October 25th and will be on view through February 23, 2025.

 

The New-York based artist’s large, hyper-realistic charcoal drawings, for which he is best known, are inspired by photographs and films. 

 

In 1995, Longo directed the cult classic, Johnny Mnemonic. The film is based on the story written by William Gibson in 1981. Set in 2021, the film follows Johnny, played by Keanu Reeves, a data courier who has undergone cybersurgery to have a data storage system implanted in his head. The procedure was done to prevent sensitive information from being hacked. Only the customer that has poper code can retrieve the information. Johnny runs into problems when a Japanese crime syndicate tries to retrieve the information from Johnny’s head…without the code.

 

 

Longo remade the film in black and white and released the new version in 2021. Some of the most interesting things about the film, aside from the visuals, are the predictions, in both the story and the film, about the perils of technology that society is currently experiencing. The original version of the film was not well- received by critics, but still managed to become a cult classic. The new black and white version was sold out when shown at the Tribeca and Rockaway Film Festivals in 2021.

 

Works by Robert Longo are also currently on exhibit at the Albertina Museum in Vienna until January 26, 2025.

 

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 An upcoming exhibit at the Albertina will feature works by Jim Dine (b. 1935). The Albertina has a large collection of Dine's work and the exhibit will showcase highlights from the collection.

 

 

 Dine has  permanent studios in Walla Walla, Washington and the West Village in New York. He still travels extensively and sets up temporary studios in when he travels.

 

 His use of tools, hearts and other repeated images, in a variety of mediums, has created a body of work that is very recognizable, very comforting and has universal appeal.

 

The work of Jim Dine will be on exhibit at the Albertina Museum from 8 November 2024 to 23 March 2025.

 

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 The current entrance fee to the Whitney Museum in New York is $30 for adults and $24 for students…a 20% increase from last year…making it one of the most expensive museums to visit in New York.

 

Faced with rising costs and slowing attendance rates, the museum initiated a Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays program a while ago. The free programs brought in thousands of visitors…younger and more diverse than ever.

 

Thanks to a more than $2 million gift from artist Julie Mehretu, who is a Whitney board member, and an undisclosed amount from a second board member, the Whiney has initiated a three-year program that allows visitors who are 25 years or younger free entrance to the museum, beginning in mid-December.

 

Taking photos at the Whitney, for personal use, is permitted…but no selfie sticks.

 

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October 31, 2024