Artists Space

Traditions: Five Painters, Charles Clough, William Fares, Sidney Goldberg, John Lees, Ann Thornycroft

May 13 – June 10, 1978

3 large paintings hang on the wall to the right. The foremost is rectangular, then further away is a rhombus shaped painting and lastly a circular piece.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [3 large paintings hang on the wall to the right. The foremost is rectangular, then further away is a rhombus shaped painting and lastly a circular piece.]

Traditions/Five Painters opens at Artists Space May 13 and runs through June 10. The exhibition includes work by Charles Clough, William Fares, Sidney Goldberg, John Lees and Ann Thornycroft and was guest curated by Linda Cathcart, Curator at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.

This exhibition represents the first serious effort by Artists Space to specifically look at recent painting in order to consider its direction and implications. It comes after a number of exhibitions dealing with art in media as diverse as film, audio and performance.

As Ms. Cathcart has stated in her catalogue introduction, these artists have been brought together because, "...they share a similarity of attitude and approach to painting," rather than stylistic similarities. Cathcart further explains the context when she goes on to say that each of the artists "...has a strong commitment to the drawing upon and extension of a visual tradition." The catalog text discusses each of the artists individually, pointing out their great diversity of influences and intents.

Charles Clough lives in Buffalo, New York; William Fares lives in New York City; and Sidney Goldberg, John Lees and Ann Thornycroft each live in Los Angeles.

3 paintings hang on a wall. The painting to the left is circular, the center painting is rhombus shaped. The painting to the right is square.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [3 paintings hang on a wall. The painting to the left is circular, the center painting is rhombus shaped. The painting to the right is square.]
Various paintings hang on the walls to the left and right.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Various paintings hang on the walls to the left and right.]
Various paintings hang on the walls to the left and right.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Various paintings hang on the walls to the left and right.]
A row of square paintings hangs on a wall.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [A row of square paintings hangs on a wall.]
5 paintings hang in a corner with 3 on the wall to the left and 2 on the wall to the right.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [5 paintings hang in a corner with 3 on the wall to the left and 2 on the wall to the right.]
A large rectangular painting hangs on a wall to the left.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [A large rectangular painting hangs on a wall to the left.]
Two pieces hang on a wall.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Two pieces hang on a wall.]
Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.]
Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.]
Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.
Traditions: Five Painters. Installation View, Artists Space, 1978. [Various paintings hang on the walls as guests enjoy the exhibition opening.]