chelsea forest mini reviews

as a follow up to mm's list from last week:

ADAM CVIJANOVIC (bellwether) - the show is great, i agree. so fun to look at. so many little moments, but such overall beauty, some funny parts, some poetic parts. in context of hurricanes it is very timely, this piece, which is a nerdy thing to say maybe but i just thought of it when i was there. a big thumbs up.

DZAMA (zwirner) - ok, i didn't hate this after all. i can't help but like his work. i took some notes in the gallery. let's see: too much to look at. overwhelming in a repetitive way. just too much. weight of images too even for comfortable viewing. "the forced macabre" i love the characters and the way they are drawn, the juxtapositions, the flowers, creatures, trees and squirrels but it is so all-over. where is the formal innovation? relies heavily on narrative with no narrative strategy thing which i like but what is the next step?. i just kept thinking these are FOR SALE. what is up with the papers stuck togethre to form larger piece? why? sculptures - no.

Psychedelic group show at Feigen - i should like this, right? but no. most of it major no like. a couple things in the front space were ok. wall drawing was ok. i like deanne cheuks' paintings & the mushroom lamps. but overall i no like , icky.

ATM. mike pare. no. sorry. i need more than that. yes it is clever to draw gurus meditating i guess? i don't know.

LARA SCHNITGER - i hated this overall, things about i liked, but just bleh. stupid. sorry. the fabric pulled sculptures and the trimmings and fabricy elements are good. but the slogans "i want a baby" and the stretched fabric/quilt "paintings" made me want to choke. grrr. why does all fabric work have to reference some outright feminist or women's issue? it is so obvious and dull. in back room, i like much better (Michael Joo)

SUE WILLIAMS (303) - worst of all. BORING POINTLESS NONONO

LISA SANDITZ (CRG) - i had commeted about the spirt in these being gone. i want to take that back. on second viewing i am still liking this work a bunch. actually, i think these paintings are kind of risky. they are ambitious. sometimes they fail but that makes them interesting to look at. i really really love the first one in the room (here is link:http://www.crggallery.com/index.php?a=artists&b=17&c=work&d=4"). the squishy blues and violets. the literal/cute elements are at war with something in these. there is a struggle between what is good looking and what is accomplished and what has been done before with the space. i don't know. after the hideousness out there today i was thrilled to see these paintings again. maybe not as good as the first show for me, but not bad at all. different.