July 1, 2014
Beyond Manhattan / Beyond the Supersquare
Earlier this week, our office was treated to a private tour of the Bronx Museum of Art’s new exhibition “Beyond the Supersquare” with Executive Director and co-curator Holly Block. The show includes dozens of works by contemporary artists responding to the distinctively Modernist architecture of Latin America and the Caribbean, from both complimentary and critical perspectives.
Of the 30+ artists featured, some reference specific architects in their work, often with an air of reverence. In “assembled, moved, re-arranged and scrapped continuously,” artist Leonor Antunes honors the legacy of Lina Bo Bardi, a Brazilian modernist known for working with indigenous materials. Of the other pieces, some are fairly condemning in tone, such as “Bunker Series” by Maria Martínez-Cañas and Rafael Domenech. To create this series, the artists collaboratively explored the numerous unrealized building projects in their hometown of Havana, whose sites can be recognized by their abandoned bunker-like foundations.
The trip was organized by Joan Krevlin, a longtime advocate of the arts as well as a trustee of the museum. During our visit, Joan shared with us the museum’s new master plan, for which BKSK provided pro-bono services. Our tour concluded with a small reception, including a hearty meal of quesadillas, Spanish rice, guacamole, and tres leches cake, prepared by a local Latin restaurant. And needless to say, we enjoyed the chance to lift a figurative glass with colleagues, particularly since we supported a local business in the process.
Learn more about the exhibition, which runs through January 11, 2015, via the Bronx Museum of Arts. You can also check out more photos of our visit on Facebook.
