PaperCity Magazine

October 2012 - Houston

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ON THE HORIZON FOR YOUR NEW BUILDING. An exciting mix of solo and thematic exhibitions including first museum exhibitions and surveys of RussianAmerican artist Anton Ginzburg and Texan Andy Coolquitt; the presentation of "Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art," which examines the role and importance of the meal as an idea generator and medium in contemporary artistic practice; and the generation of "Time/Image," which looks at time as a culturally specific experiential condition. HOW YOU AND JIM PETERSEN JR. COOKED UP THE "WINDOWS" SERIES. The director's personal jewelry collection mirrors objects also found in the MFAH's Helen Williams Drutt Collection. Shown are works by Gijs Bakker, Manfred Bischoff, Doug Bucci, Peter Chang, Georg Dobler, Hermann Juenger, Fukuchi Kyoko, Bruno Martinazzi, Eleanor Moty, Breon O'Casey, Judy Onofrio, Iker Ortiz, Wendy Ramshaw, Gerd Rothman, Bernhard Schobinger and Janna Syvanoja. Spring 2011. "Window into Houston" was the outcome of a happy convergence of interest. Jim was seeking to turn the windows of his residence into a platform for artists, and I was looking for an off-site programmatic platform. The plan was In the bedroom, the present and the past rub shoulders: Josef Hoffmann chair, photograph by Tseng Kwong Chi, painting by Gabriel Vormstein, Breon O'Casey rug. Dress by The Row, at Tootsies. hatched over dinner and implemented in less than two months. It has been such a success that we would both like to see it continue and expand. Next at 110 Milam: Debra Barrera, Clarissa Tossin. YOU'RE KNOWN FOR SCHOLARLY COLLABORATIONS SUCH AS YOUR RECENT TONY FEHER EXHIBITION WITH GILBERT VICARIO AND THE DES MOINES ART CENTER. We travel two to three exhibitions at a time. Tony Feher will travel to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and the Bronx Museum after its presentation in Houston. I am also hoping to travel Anton Ginzburg, and the before-mentioned exhibition "Time/Image" developed by Blaffer's Curatorial Fellow Amy Powell. LAST TRAVEL DESTINATION. Kassel, Germany, in June for Documenta (13). Since then, I have been trying to get a building finished! NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION. Simple: New York. It's been too long. FAVORITE MUSEUM. I am partial to MoMA. I will always cherish my years there and still admire the dedication to scholarship and excellence that marks the curatorial endeavors of that institution and its curatorial staff. In the contemporary arena, I look more to Europe than the United States. I still think that the more interesting artistic positions have opportunity to be first articulated in municipally or state-funded kunsthalles. MUST-ATTEND ART FAIR. No question, Basel is the best in terms of modern and contemporary art. It is not to be missed. Stairway to tomorrow: Days away from its opening, Schmuckli, center, joins her staff on the Blaffer's new entrance designed by WORKac. Left to right: Teresa Munisteri, Youngmin Chung, Matt Johns, Katherine Veneman, Karen Zicterman, Emily Church. Foreground Mike Guidry, Amy Powell, Jim Rosengren. PERSON YOU MOST ADMIRE IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD. Anyone who can truly make a difference and put their mark on an institution, a community and a time, in particular women like Kathy Halbreich, Maria Lind and Ann Philbin. Above: In front of a print by Sarah Morris, dress by Martin Margiela, at Leap. In Schmuckli's home, the living/dining floor plan features seating from Ligne Roset's classic Togo collection, contemporary Chinese wooden carved side-tables, a Jens Risom dining table, and George Nakashima chairs. PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT. Conceptualizing, funding and implementing a truly transformative renovation that will reposition the Blaffer as an intellectual and social hub on and off campus and enhance Houston's national profile as one of the most important and progressive cultural centers of this country. MOST FASCINATING TREND. I am more interested in individual artistic positions that articulate acute concerns of our times. Trends are generally identified after the fact and tend to fizzle out quickly. Good work doesn't. It outlasts the trend. Left: At Schmuckli's modernist high-rise, Paul Cadovius shelving brims with art books and collectibles. NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR REVAMPED BUILDING, WHAT'S NEXT ON YOUR WISH LIST FOR BLAFFER. An engaged audience. We have been working off-site and without a dedicated space for the presentation of art for a year and a half. I can't wait to be surrounded, inspired, and transformed by art again on a daily basis and share that experience with everyone who comes through the door. I live for it and I want our audience to feel the same. OCTOBER | PAGE 57 | 2012 For additional dish from the Blaffer's decisive director, tap papercitymag.com.

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