I WILL NOT WASTE CHALK

Gary Simmons defined 90’s art by rejecting the video art installation trend and returning to basics. Inspired by American pop culture, cartoons and architecture, he  cited youthful brashness as the norm for any artist at the beginning of his career. ”You start off trying to kick some shins…and then after a while you say, ‘O.K., let’s slow things down here.’ ” Now well into his career, Simmons does not seem to be slowing down in the least. His “Erasure Drawing” installation is currently on display at Metro Pictures where he has turned three gallery walls into giant painted blackboards like the ones you had in highschool which he has then drawn onto in white chalk.  Its like a really creative chalk board punishment exercise. The single striking images are smudged, resulting in a strange mix of luminous clarity and gradual disappearance. Despite their expansive scale, the hovering forms appeared to be fading from view, making it seem that one approached them through a screen of faltering memory.