Online art events to feature Malcolm Gladwell, Mary Weatherford, other artists

20201007 Malcolm Gladwell
Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell is collaborating with Gagosian on a new digital venture. Image: YouTube.com/Gagosian via AFP Relaxnews.

Art galleries have been struggling to survive for the past few months. While an Art Basel UBS report showed that their turnover is down by 36% on average, many galleries are organizing digital events to do some damage control. For instance, the Gagosian Gallery is collaborating with celebrities like Malcolm Gladwell and Thurston Moore on a new digital venture.

The online series “Gagosian Premieres” will allow art lovers to discover backstage events related to exhibitions organized by the mega-gallery. Virtual tours and conferences as well as musical performances inspired by certain works exhibited at Gagosian will launch Oct. 9.

This new multidisciplinary venture will take place on the gallery’s website. Contemporary artists will also be highlighted such as American painter Titus Kaphar, New York photographer Gregory Crewdson and British queen of neon tube paintings Mary Weatherford.

These acclaimed artists will share the spotlight with celebrities like author Malcolm Gladwell, Wilco bandleader Jeff Tweedy and former Sonic Youth member Thurston Moore.

While Gagosian has not unveiled any details concerning “Gagosian Premieres,” the gallery has announced that Gregory Crewdson, Malcolm Gladwell and Jeff Tweedy will host a discussion about making art today.

According to Artnet News, Moore will also perform an original concert from Gagosian in London, where the American star will share the stage with works from Weatherford’s acclaimed series “Train Yard”.

“The thought was to have a musician based in London but who was totally fluent and well-versed in that tradition of music play the exact songs that she [Mary Weatherford] is inspired by and reinterpret them in relation to the show itself,” said Sam Orlofsky, Gagosian director, to Artnet News.

“Gagosian Premieres” is in the continuity of the digital initiatives that the mega-gallery launched in recent months, including the weekly “Artist Spotlight” that showcases a work by an artist exhibited by Gagosian.

“It’s really important that we make the exhibition as tangible and accessible to the audience as possible,” said Orlofsky. CC

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