Twice Drawn

Two drawings by over forty artists comprise this eccentric survey of the last half-century of modern and contemporary drawing. Artists included range from mid-century stalwarts like Philip Guston, Roy Lichtenstein, Lee Bontecou, and Ellsworth Kelly, to established draftsmen such as Robert Gober, Nancy Grossman, Brice Marden, and Jim Nutt, to younger artists like Ernesto Caivano, Kate Shepherd, Patrick Lee, and Yun-Fei Ji. The over eighty drawings represent a wide array of genres and styles, from portraits and landscapes to surreal scenes and conceptual experiments. As a counterpoint and complement to the breadth of the show, the presentation of two drawings by each artist introduces a contextual depth that is at times lost in large group exhibitions. In some cases the two drawings represent distinct phases of the artist’s career, while in other instances the works constitute a continuous series.

The second half of the exhibition will be on view at the Tang from October 7—December 30, 2006. In this alternate view, a selection of works from the first installation will be joined by new works from other artists. Thematic concerns will guide the organization of this new display. Taken together, both versions of Twice Drawn reveal ways context can influence our understanding of these drawings.

Twice Drawn is organized by Ian Berry, Malloy Curator of the Tang Museum and Jack Shear, artist and independent curator.