credits: Pheobe Washburn

True, False and Slightly Better

The Biennial is a helter-skelter explosion of art

Beginning Thursday, March 6th and running through June 1st, The Whitney’s 2008 Biennial takes over 4 of the museum’s 5 floors.

From the announcement:

“There is an evident trend toward creating work of an ephemeral, event-based character, in the form of music and other performance, movement workshops, radio broadcasts, publishing projects, community-based activities, film screenings, culinary gatherings, or lectures. Such projects do not stand in opposition to institutions; rather, considering each of these multiple platforms equally important, artists show objects in the museum or gallery even as they seek ways to complicate and transcend its parameters. In this spirit, from March 6–23 the 2008 Biennial continues at Park Avenue Armory with an extensive program of events and performances.”

What they really mean is that art DOES THINGS. It moves around, lurches and coughs. Good. Go sit in the front row with your legs crossed Indian-style. Everything fun in the world reminds us of summer camp.

Whitney Museum: 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street, Thursday  March 6th–June 1st, $15

Whitney.org