Whitney Biennial tries Wisconsin on for size
Badger State art, cheese, beer sampled in New York
Artwork from Milwaukeebased artists Sky Hopinka and John Riepenhoff will be shown at the Whitney Biennial in New York City when the exhibition opens Friday.
The 2017 survey of contemporary art in the United States features 63 artists from across the country. The exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s downtown home on Gansevoort Street runs through June 11.
Curator Chris Lew said one idea found throughout the show is thinking about self in relation to a community. “How do artists and non-artists come together?”
“The biennial is really reflecting on the times that we’re in which is super divisive in social political ways but also shows new ways of looking at the world and society,” Lew said.
Hopinka, a filmmaker, addresses identity and belonging. With images filmed from his car window and audio of Hopinka’s dad, the video “Jáaji Approx.” explores his identity as a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and connection to his father.
Three of Hopinka’s films will be shown: “I’ll Remember You As You Were, Not As What You’ll Become,” “Jáaji Approx.” and “Anti-Objects, or Space Without Path or Boundary.” His films will be screened at 6 and 8 p.m. March 25 and 3 p.m. March 26.
He also was selected for the 2016 Wisconsin Triennial at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.
Riepenhoff takes on roles as an artist, curator and gallery coowner in his wide-ranging art practice. He was awarded the Nohl Fellowship for established artists in 2014 and named artist of the year by the Milwaukee Arts Board in 2015. He also coowns the Green Gallery.
His work presenting art made by others will be on view at the New York museum. His “Handler” series plays on a backstage moment during installation when people carry paintings through galleries and museums. Each work in the series is a pair of legs made from wood and fiberglass wearing Riepenhoff’s clothing with hardware to display another work created by someone else. The Whitney will also show a few of his trademark “John Riepenhoff Experience” works where viewers need to climb a ladder and stick their head in a box to see the art.
Other works from both Riepenhoff series will be on view in Milwaukee at the Suburban in Riverwest in an exhibition opening March 19.
To show some Wisconsin hospitality, Riepenhoff also brought his beer and cheese to New York for the celebration. With the help of local experts, Riepenhoff brews the Poor Farm Pilsner and conceptualized a double cream colby.
Riepenhoff teams with George Bregar and Company Brewing to craft beers inspired by local artists and organizations. The Poor Farm Pilsner was inspired by Poor Farm artist center in Little Wolf. Proceeds benefit the organization through a Beer Endowment established in 2014.
The conceptual cheese, inspired by the oldest cheese in the state, is executed by cheesemakers at Clock Shadow Creamery. The idea was to double the cream in Wisconsin’s oldest cheese to celebrate the state’s identity and culture.
The beer and cheese were served at an artist party before the opening, but Milwaukeeans can pick them up anytime. Poor Farm Pilsner is on tap at Company Brewing. The cheese can be purchased at grocery stores around town.