Mar 14–Aug 12, 2012

First Among Equals

Wu Tsang, 2010, neon, acrylic on wood panel, 40 x 70 x 10 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Clifton Benevento.
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The Fist is Still Up

Wu Tsang, 2010, neon, acrylic on wood panel, 40 x 70 x 10 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Clifton Benevento.

Jim HodgesPaul ThekBodegaAlex Da CorteExtra ExtraMarginal UtilityKathryn AndrewsP&Co.Machete GroupMateo TannattWu TsangStudio Complex / Heaven’s GateSCENE TAKE SIX, Black & WhiteFirst Among Equals VisitorFirst Among Equals 1First Among Equals 2First Among Equals 3First Among Equals 4First Among Equals 5First Among Equals 6

In a moment of unprecedented social connection, how do artists work together outside of their individual practices? Focusing on Los Angeles and Philadelphia, First Among Equals considers the various modes that contemporary artists have developed to work with their peers and reach across generations. Cooperative, if at times contentious, contributions to the show include performance, publications, curatorial projects, and artworks that incorporate the work of other artists. Who comes first in these relationships? By highlighting the dynamics of negotiation, dialogue, influence, contingency, and competition at work in contemporary artistic practice, First Among Equals resists the notion that collaboration equals consensus. First Among Equals draws on the respective communities of the exhibition’s curators. Philadelphia participants include Bodega, Alex Da Corte, Extra Extra, and Marginal Utility and Machete Group. Los Angeles participants include Kathryn Andrews, P&Co., Mateo Tannatt, and Wu Tsang.
Serial KillerBaseball Player, Serial KillerThe Thinker, Serial KillerFir Tree, Serial Killer

Download the Game: Ditto SuiteFirst Among Equals / P&Co.Begin Where You Are features work by ICA preparators and artist-alumni“Hooverville Torqued Ellipse”: What’s In StarsSerial Killer: Performance / Sculpture in First Among EqualsStuff to Art: A Conversation with Alex Da CorteMan of Your Dreams: Installing First Among Equals and Stefan Sagmeister The Happy ShowDedication Monuments: Alex Da Corte and First Among EqualsSomething Comes Down, Something New Goes Up: Dog Days at ICAGallery within the Gallery: Marginal Utility in First Among EqualsGuest Post: Q&QWinter Salon: Strange New WorldsThe Golden Jester: A performance/sculpture in First Among EqualsOut of Hollywood: Bennett Simpson on William Leavitt and Kathryn Andrews on HerselfWu Tsang: WILDNESS ScreeningBodega: Performance Series with Xavier ChaBodega: Performance Series with Jen RosenblitMachete Group: AttentionMachete Group: UnsearchableKathryn Andrews: Performative SculptureBodega: Performance Series with Yve Laris CohenMachete Group: IntentionFree For All: Spring 2012Bodega: Performance Series with Elizabeth OrrOpening and Walkthrough: Spring 2012Bodega: Performance Series with Nick Paparone and Pooneh MaghazeheMachete Group: Dictionary of the PresentExcursus II: Tea & Conversation: Marina Isgro and First Among EqualsOpening and Walkthrough: Spring 2012

Wed, Mar 14, 2012, 6:30PM
Opening and Walkthrough: Spring 2012
Wed, Apr 4, 2012, 6PM
Opening and Walkthrough: Spring 2012
Wed, Apr 11, 2012, 6PM
Free For All: Spring 2012
Sat, Apr 28, 2012, 2PM
Machete Group: Intention
Wed, May 23, 2012, 6:30PM
Machete Group: Unsearchable
Sat, May 26, 2012, 2PM
Machete Group: Attention
Wed, Jul 25, 2012, 7PM
Wu Tsang: WILDNESS Screening
Books & Editions
First Among Equals book cover

In a moment of unprecedented social connection, how do artists work together outside of their individual practices? Focusing on Los Angeles and Philadelphia, First Among Equals considers the various modes that contemporary artists have developed to work with their peers and reach across generations. Cooperative, if at times contentious, contributions to the show include performance, publications, curatorial projects, and artworks that incorporate the work of other artists. Who comes first in these relationships? By highlighting the dynamics of negotiation, dialogue, influence, contingency, and competition at work in contemporary artistic practice, First Among Equals resists the notion that collaboration equals consensus and draws on the respective communities of the exhibition’s curators. Philadelphia participants include Bodega, Alex Da Corte, Extra Extra, and Marginal Utility and Machete Group. Los Angeles participants include Kathryn Andrews, P&Co., Mateo Tannatt, and Wu Tsang. This fully illustrated catalogue accompaniment to the exhibition features contributions from ICA curators Alex Klein and Kate Kraczon.

ISBN
9780884541264
Pages
144
Publisher
Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania
Year
2013
$20.00
ISBN 9780884541264
Publication Date
2013
Designer
Mark Owens, Other Means
Publisher
Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania
Price
$20.00
ICA acknowledges an anonymous donor for generous support of this exhibition. Programming associated with this exhibition has been supported by the Spiegel Fund to Support Contemporary Culture and Visual Arts and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation. ICA acknowledges Barbara B. & Theodore R. Aronson for their sponsorship of the exhibition publication. Additional funding has been provided by The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation; The Dietrich Foundation, Inc.; the Overseers Board for the Institute of Contemporary Art; friends and members of ICA; and the University of Pennsylvania. General operating support provided, in part, by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. ICA receives state arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. ICA thanks La Colombe for providing complimentary coffee at public events. We acknowledge Le Méridien Philadelphia as our official Unlock Art Partner Hotel.