Thomas Ashcraft: Curated by Bruce Nauman by CUE Art Foundation

c u e a r t f o u n d at i o n

D e cember 9, 2004 - January 29, 2005 C u rated by Bruce Nauman

THOMAS ASHCRAFT

We are honored and grateful to present this exhibition generously curated by Bruce Nauman. For the CUE solo exhibition series, Mr. Nauman has chosen fellow artist, Thomas Ashcraft, who divides his time between, New York and New Mexico. Were it not for the opportunity that CUE gallery affords, it is unlikely that an installation such as this would be available for public viewing, whether in a commercial venue or not. We appreciate that artists often work tirelessly without thought or concern for exhibition. CUE is pleased to recognize such commitment by affording this opportunity, thus celebrating the efforts of artists such as Thomas Ashcraft.

c u r at o r’s s tat e m e n t

a r t i s t ’ s s tat e m e n t

N o te s :

The Time of the Gre at Co n to r t i o n

E ss ay

ass ay

(funny money ) M a ny people down here are medicated ( mood-swe e tened ),

( m o n ey laundry) seed laundry seed money

b u t I remain sober. The co l o ny self-mends and life goes on. I am happy to have my bunke r, labs and dream hole. The mood is buoyant and the ex t ra p o l ations are flow i n g .

cede laundry Things are kind of cool actually, especially in the shops. cede seed seed cake /cede cake c a ke wa s h /soap cake

We are getting traction and working in The Heliotown St y l e.

“If it can be dreamt it can be fa b r i c ated, if it can be dre a m t .” We are well equipped and unobst r u c ted. The kitchens are s h i ny and the pH is in balance. The blue grow-hole is blue

wash out/out take /t a ke out/t a ke o u t out source /seed source /cede source

and bluing. The Th i n ker's Blend p roject goes we l l .

We have butte r !

seek seed

All in all we are counting bless i n g s .

cede seek

Molecule by molecule the moment prov i d e s .

Thanks To m

Thomas Ashcra f t B r u ce Nauman

Thinker’s Gum

This request came into the Lab: The Thinkers wanted something that: staved off hunger, prolonged the thinking sessions, sustained illumination, is not a drug, and gives traction. We came up with Thinker’s Gum.

Thinker’s Gum “ I t ’s a good long chew, it’s an uptone chew, I t ’s a friend in the existential night.” If you’re a Thinker… please let us know what you think!

Mopus Chink & Oof Cosmodities

Coffee Helper

The De-Coders needed: a force multiplier, a nerve tonic, acute concentration, smooth focus, rapid refocus, and traction. We came up with Coffee Helper.

Coffee Helper

“Fortified with stamina!” It’s a coffee additive, a coffee helper.

Mo p u s C h i nk & O o f Cosmodities

H e misphere of Sap

When it comes to harvesting exudates, please know that : We don’t milk and we don’t score, We don’t bleed and we don’t gore… We don’t slice or eviscerate, When in doubt, we hesitate… We are k i n d l y Sapcrafters. We are f r i e n d s to plants and comets.

Hemisphere of Sap We are Universal Sap & Nectar. Port of Heliotown

M o p u s C h i nk & O o f Cosmodities

Hunk of Splice

We are entering our Splice into the County Fair this year and hoping for a ribbon! This is the Aromatic Splice, the Fragrant Splice and the admixture entrains wonderfully. Some comments received thus far : “Reminiscent.” “Stimulating and soothing at one and the same time.” “Sweet and grounding.” “Refreshing.” “… a delight.”

Hunk of Splice

Calibrate your diffusers because this blend has an optimum molecular release at 185 degrees F. *

“By the cube or by the hunk…”

* (Depending on elevation.)

M o p u s C h i nk & O o f Cosmodities

Hy-ee-na Butter

Civil or feral? Feral or civil? The very improbability of Hy-ee-na Butter turned out to be the key to its success. Its contrary nature fit the contrariness of the times. Originally the Skateboarders claimed it as their own special bop. They liked it for its feral stamina. Then the Surfers claimed it as theirs! As the ad sings: "199 waves (plus) per bar!"

Hy-ee-na Butter The tipping point came when the Students discovered it and it found its way into the vending machines. They like it for its clear and civil illumination. Whether civil or feral, feral or civil, most folks agree that Hy-ee-na Butter is a superior bop.

Mopus Chink & Oof Cosmodities

Mineral Lick

H o w ’s your salt? H o w ’s your minerals? Are your cells topped up? Whether you’re getting ready to head out across the Great Expanse, or whether you’re intending to bunker up… (…just like in the old days, Friend… ) …you’re going to need salt, …you’re going to need minerals.

Mineral Lick

So don’t forget your Mineral Lick!

Mo p u s C h i nk & O o f Cosmodities

artist’s biography A s h c ra f t, Thomas: aka “Tom from Heliotown”, aka “Tom”; ex t ra p o l ato r, gum and tra d e c a ke designer, ex p e r i m e n te r, specimen tra d e r, pre c i p i t ato r ; P ractitioner of the scientific method; P ractitioner of slant vision, of micro-monumentalism, of ultra-logic and chance ; S c u l p to r, artisan, money st y l i st: Red Money Iss u a n ce; C u l t i vator; E l e c t ro - Re ce p to r ; Re s e a rch Dire c tor: Jupiter Pulse and Power: Energy Utility Born : Rub City, 195 1 I n te rcept: heliotow n .co m

Yab Yab Gum

c u r at o r ’ s b i o g r a p h y Born in 1941 in Fort Way n e, Indiana, Bruce Nauman has been re co g n i ze d s i n ce the early 1970s as one of the most innovat i ve and provo c at i ve co n te m p o rary artist s . N a u m a n ’s most re cent acco l a d e, the Praemium Imperiale Prize fo r Visual Arts from Japan in 2004, belongs to a long line of awa rds he has re ce i ved since the late 60s. He is re p re s e n ted in every major art museum i n te r n at i o n a l l y, and has co u n t l e ss solo and group shows to his name. A M o p us C hi n k & O o f Cosmodities

re t ro s p e c t i ve of Nauman’s work opened at the Museo Nacional Ce n t ro de A r te Reina Sofia, Madrid in 1993 befo re traveling to Minneapolis, Wa s hi n g ton D.C., New York and Zurich, Sw i t zerland. Curre n t l y, The Tate Modern in London is showing “The Unilever Series: Bruce Nauman.” B r u ce Nauman lives in New Mex i co with his wife, Susan Ro t h e n b e rg .

c u e a r t fo u n d a t i o n m i s s i o n s tat e m e n t

CUE Art Foundation, a non-profit organization, provides educational programs

B OA R D O F D I RE CT O R S

for young artists and aspiring art professionals in New York and from around

G regory Amenoff

the country. These programs draw on the unique community of artists, critics,

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and educators brought together by the Foundation’s season of exhibitions,

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public lectures, and its in-gallery studio program. Gallery internships and

Brian D. St a re r

stipends afford the next generation of art professionals intimate, working knowledge of the art-making and exhibition processes. CUE’s 2000 sq. ft.

A DV I S O R Y C O U N C I L

gallery and offices, located in New York’s Chelsea gallery district, serves as the

G regory Amenoff

base for the various educational programs conducted by CUE.

Vi c ky A. Clark

The Foundation’s exhibition season gives unknown or under-recog-

William Co r b e t t

nized artists professional exposure comparable to that offered by neighboring

Meg Cra n sto n

commercial galleries, without the usual financial restraints. CUE does not

James Dra ke

promote a particular school of artistic practice or regional bias; we only require

B r u ce Fe rg u s o n

that exhibiting artists must either not have had a solo exhibition in a commer-

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cial venue, or have received minimal recent public exposure.

Dana Hoey

CUE’s Advisory Council, an honorary group of artists and leading figures from the arts education, applied arts, art history, and literary communi-

G A L L E RY D I RE C TO R

ties, has the responsibility of selecting exhibition curators. The curators, in turn,

J e re my Ad a m s

nominate artists to exhibit at CUE, and continue to play a role throughout the exhibition process, helping the artists catalogue their work for exhibition. Both

G A L L E R Y C O O R D I N AT O R

the Advisory Council and the exhibition curators actively participate in the

Sandhini Po d d a r

public lectures and educational programs. G A L L E R Y A S S I S TA N T

Beatrice Wolert-Weese