ICA Philadelphia launched its 2007 program with thunderous and near-comical pomp on Friday night with ‚ÄúLocally Localized Gravity.‚Äù It‚Äôs a massive project that hopes to replicate the quotidian strategies of artists‚Äô collectives‚Äì‚Äìpresenting four from Philly, four from elsewhere, and a lone individual artist‚Äì‚Äìin a mega-exhibition and two-month program of over seventy-five ICA-endorsed events, not only in the institution but in homes, bars, and libraries and on street corners. I say “thunderous” because the scene most resembled the hormonal chaos of a rock club, with smashed beer bottles, prowling youth (from hip-hop heads to burnouts to now-ubiquitous freak-folk folks), and frantic individuals on cell phones trying to find estranged friends or avoid ex-lovers. It was clubby, and, man, this club has gotten big. At least a thousand people crossed the threshold over the course of two hours, more than I have ever witnessed here or indeed at any other art venue in five years in this city.

This is awesome, and feels huge.
ArtForum: Party Out Of Bounds

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 25th, 2007 at 4:01 pm.