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Katherine Bernhardt, "Shark Attack," 2022. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas. 96” x 120.” Courtesy of the artist and Canada, New York. JOE DENARDO
Feel like a laugh? The Church’s summer 2024 exhibition considers humor and contemporary art, focusing solely on the work of female-identifying artists. Conceived and organized by chief curator Sara Cochran, “Are You Joking? Women & Humor” features the work of 40 artists across all media installed across The Church’s main floor and the mezzanine level. The show opens with a reception on Saturday, June 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and is on view from June 23 to September 1.
The goals are twofold. The first is to counter the tired stereotypes and clichés about women not being funny or able to take a joke. The second is to illustrate the different forms and topics of humor in contemporary art, from artistic jokes, political outrages, bodily functions and appearances, cultural stereotypes and sex and death, to the absurd and surreal, puns and slapstick as well as poking fun at sacred cows of art and its institutions.
For example, Katherine Bernhardt’s colorful and playful 2022 canvas “Shark Attack” takes on the traditions of paintings. Ignoring illusion, perspective, or scale, her paintings flatten any sense of hierarchy or relationship between its elements. A smattering of absurdly raucous images emerge: sharks, half-smoked cigarettes, donuts, a lost Croc and a sad face juxtaposed with a reclining Pink Panther.
This exhibition gathers works that are satirical, serious, sweet, self-deprecating, ironic, mocking, strange, surreal, angry, subversive and even gross. It takes art off its pedestal and puts the viewer in a position to laugh or shake their head.
“Humor is deeply personal, and viewers will respond in individual ways to each of the works,” Cochran said. “It is exciting to hear all of these female voices in the exhibition. Humor is one of the best ways to speak truth to power and foster shared experiences.”
Artists in the exhibition include: Eleanor Antin, Katherine Bernhardt, Deborah Buck, Patty Chang, Pipi Deer, Pippa Garner, Carly Haffner, Louise Lawler, Judith Linhares, Tala Madani, Joyce Pensato, Wendy Red Star, Heji Shin, Denise Silva-Dennis and Laurie Simmons among others.
The Church is at 48 Madison Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit thechurchsagharbor.org.
Staff Writer on May 8, 2024