Rainey Knudson and Christina Rees on aphrodisiacs, unnecessary umlauts, and hardcore propaganda.
1. American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood
Amon Carter Museum of American Art (Fort Worth)
February 6 – May 1
Read our review here
An exhibition highlighting the link between Thomas Hart Benton’s art and Hollywood movie making. This show brings together nearly 100 works by Benton and juxtaposes them with “scenes from some of Hollywood’s greatest films.”
2. Salvador Dalí: Les Diners de Gala
International Museum of Art and Science (McAllen)
March 10 – June 12
An exhibition of lithographs by Salvador Dalí. The works in the show were produced as illustrations for a 1973 cookbook published by a secret chef.
3. Jeff Shore and Jon Fisher: Drip Machine
Blaffer Museum’s Window Into Houston
February 3 – April 27
“Drip Machine is an automated electro-hydraulic system that produces sound. It is composed of four repurposed aquariums, water pumps, electric valves, water sensors, plastic tubing, custom electronics and speakers.”
4.1. Robert Langham III: Blackfork Bestiary
Old Jail Art Center (Albany)
March 5 – May 14
An exhibition of photographs by Robert Langham. The artist rescues wild animals and then poses them in his studio using simple and arbitrary props. In many images, the human hand is also present, suggesting dominance of humans over nature.
4.2. Exile and Isolation
Old Jail Art Center (Albany)
March 5 – May 14
An installation of work created by self-taught artists. The show includes pieces by Hector Alonzo Benavides, Robert Adale Davis, Helen Burkhart Mayfield, Ike E. Morgan, Royal Robertson, and Rev. LT Thomas, and is curated by Julie and Bruce Webb.
5. Ana Fernandez: New Watercolors
Silkwörm Studio and Gallery (San Antonio)
March 12 – 31
An exhibition of new watercolors by Ana Fernandez.
2 comments
ok, out on a limb here, but… wouldn’t any award for most exquisite & sullen art critic have to go to ms. rees? oui, non?
A metal umlaut is a diacritic that is sometimes used gratuitously or decoratively over letters in the names of hard rock or heavy metal bands—for example those of Queensrÿche, Blue Öyster Cult, Motörhead, The Accüsed, and Mötley Crüe.
Among English speakers, the use of umlaut marks and other diacritics with a blackletter style typeface is a form of foreign branding intended to give a band’s logo a Teutonic quality—denoting stereotypes of boldness and strength commonly attributed to ancient northern European peoples, such as the Vikings and Goths. Its use has also been attributed to a desire for a “gothic horror” feel.[1] The metal umlaut is not generally intended to affect the pronunciation of the band’s name.
These decorative umlauts have been parodied in film and fiction; in the mockumentary film This Is Spın̈al Tap, fictional rocker David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) says, “It’s like a pair of eyes. You’re looking at the umlaut, and it’s looking at you.”