Gloves Off: Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, SUNY Stony Brook
Bringing together recent video, sculpture, and photography, Sara Greenberger Rafferty furthers her ongoing fascination with domesticity, the body, consumer culture, fashion, violence, and stand-up comedy in a kaleidoscopic view of contemporary culture on the edge. The boxing term “gloves off”—frequently used as a metaphor to characterize brutal political campaigns and post-9/11 military interrogation—aptly describes the subtle aggressions in American popular culture Rafferty lays bare. The exhibition features installations on walls and floors, a new video and multiple works, including one measuring 20 feet long, consisting of prints on acetate, painted and mounted on hand-cut Plexiglas. Rafferty presents these Plexiglas pieces as a "rogue's gallery" of high-fashion figures. Like a row of mug shots in a police station, Rafferty mediates and exhibits figures in designer clothing sourced from retail websites.
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Phyllis, 2009C-print mounted to Plexiglas24 x 20 x 1/8 inches; (61 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm) -
Phyllis II, 2009C-print mounted to Plexiglas24 x 20 x 1/8 inches; (61 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm)
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Curtain, 2014Polysilk, leather, cotton, fine Italian vinyl, clear thread, and hardware240 x 24 inches (609.6 x 61 centimeters)
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Untitled, 2014Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 83 ¼ x 60 ¼ x 2 ½ inches (182.9 x 102.9 x 6.4 cm)
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On Aggression, On Agression, 2016Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareTwo objects, each irregular, overall 24 x 41 ½ x ½ inches (61 x 105.4 x 1.3 cm)
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Untitled, 2014Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 83 ½ x 40 x ½ inches (212.1 x 101.6 x 1.3 cm)
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Untitled, 2014Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 91 x 40 x ½ inches (231.1 x 101.6 x 1.3 cm)
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Phyllis Diller, 2009C-print mounted to Plexiglas20 x 24 x 1/8 inches; (50.8 x 61 x 0.3 cm)
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IDENTIFY, 2017Digital video18 minutes, with sound
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Bills Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas12 ½ x 13 ¾ x ½ inches (31.8 x 24.9 x 1.3 cm)
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Chicken Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas27 x 11 x 1/2 inches (68.6 x 27.9 x 1.3 cm)
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Cuffs Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas5 ¾ x 16 ¾ x ½ inches (14.6 x 42.5 x 1.3 cm)
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Double Apple Prop, 2011Direct substrate printed plastic on Plexiglas and hardware10 x 13 x 1/2 inches (25.4 x 33 x 1.3 cm)
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Double Gun Prop, 2011Direct substrate print on Plexiglas9 1/2 x 45 x 1/2 in
24.1 x 114.3 x 1.3 cm -
Glasses Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas13 ½ x 12 ½ x 1/2 inches (34.3 x 31.8 x 1.3 cm)
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Mic Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas11 x 15 ½ x ½ inches (27.9 x 39.4 x 1.3 cm)
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Peel Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas10 x 16 3/4 x 1/2 inches (25.4 x 42.5 x 1.3 cm)
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Pie Prop, 2010Direct substrate print on Plexiglas15 ¾ x 12 ½ x ½ inches (40 x 31.8 x 1.3 cm)
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Lights, 2011Direct substrate print on Plexiglasdimensions variable, 90 x 52 x 1/2 inches (228.6 x 132.1 x 1.3 cm)
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Jokes On You, 2016Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareSix components, irregular, approximately 40 in x 19 ft. x ½ inches
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Testing I (Whisk), 2009Microphone stand and whiskvariable, approx 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) high
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Testing II (Baster), 2009Microphone stand and bastervariable, approx 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) high
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Testing III (Spoon), 2009Microphone stand and slotted spoonvariable, approx 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) high
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Testing IV (Whisk), 2009Microphone stand and whiskvariable, approx 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) high
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Testing V (Scoop), 2009Microphone stand and ice-cream scoopvariable, approx 60 inches (152.4 centimeters) high
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Untitled (for stage), 2014Direct substrate-printed acetate, and hardware83 ⅜ x 52 inches (211.8 x 132.1 cm)
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Untitled, 2014Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 60 x 57 ½ x ½ inches (152.4 x 146.1 x 1.3 cm)
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Harold's Clock, 2006C-print16 x 16 inches (40.6 x 40.6 cm)
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Lucy Not Funny, 2006C-print24 x 16 inches (61 x 40.6 cm)
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Shecky, 2006C-print20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
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It Starts with a Poke, 2006C-print16 x 20 inches (40.6 x 50.8 cm)
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Sparring Partner, 2006C-print20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
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Y2K Moschino Dress, 2016Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 76 ½ x 40 x ½ inches (194.3 x 101.6 x 1.3 cm)
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Untitled, 2013Acrylic polymer and inkjet print on acetate, Plexiglas, and hardware35 ¾ x 24 x ½ inches (90.8 x 61 x 1.3 cm)
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Dress, 2016Acrylic polymer and inkjet prints on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 50 x 18 x ½ inches (127 x 45.7 x 1.3 cm)
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Untitled, 2013Acrylic polymer and inkjet print on acetate, Plexiglas and hardwareIrregular, 55 x 40 x ½ inches (139.7 x 101.6 x 1.3 cm)
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Grid, 2016Acrylic polymer, inkjet prints, and paper on acetate on Plexiglas, and hardwareIrregular, 70 ½ x 24 x ½ inches (179 x 61 x 1.3 cm)
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White Curtains with Flies, 2014Polysilk, inkjet printed silk, fine Italian vinyl, clear thread, and hardware20 ft. high x variable width
November 2 – December 17, 2017
Artist Talk with Sara Greenberger Rafferty: Thursday, November 2, 1pm, followed by a reception
Art Crawl: Friday, November 3, 3-5pm; 4:30pm at Zuccaire Gallery
Reception: Friday, November 3, 5-7pm
Salon with curator Andrew Ingall: Wednesday, November 8, 12pm
Click here for a pdf of the exhibition catalog.
Bringing together recent video, sculpture, and photography, Sara Greenberger Rafferty furthers her ongoing fascination with domesticity, the body, consumer culture, fashion, violence, and stand-up comedy in a kaleidoscopic view of contemporary culture on the edge. The boxing term “gloves off”—frequently used as a metaphor to characterize brutal political campaigns and post-9/11 military interrogation—aptly describes the subtle aggressions in American popular culture Rafferty lays bare. The exhibition features installations on walls and floors, a new video and multiple works, including one measuring 20 feet long, consisting of prints on acetate, painted and mounted on hand-cut Plexiglas. Rafferty presents these Plexiglas pieces as a "rogue's gallery" of high-fashion figures. Like a row of mug shots in a police station, Rafferty mediates and exhibits figures in designer clothing sourced from retail websites.
Sara Greenberger Rafferty: Gloves Off is curated by independent curator and scholar Andrew Ingall and organized by The Dorsky Museum, SUNY-New Paltz where it premiered before traveling to the University Art Museum, SUNY-Albany. The Stony Brook University presentation is organized by Karen Levitov, Director and Curator, Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery. Sara Greenberger Rafferty: Gloves Off is accompanied by a fully illustrated, 84-page catalogue co-published by The Dorsky and UAM. It includes a new essay by exhibition curator Andrew Ingall and an artist interview by editor Jonathan Thomas. Designed by Zheng Hu, the catalogue is available online at SUNY Press.
Sara Greenberger Rafferty received her MFA from Columbia University in 2005. She has exhibited solo projects at The Kitchen, New York, MoMA PS1, New York, and The Suburban, Illinois. She has participated in many group shows at venues such as the Aspen Art Museum, Colorado; Neuberger Museum of Art, SUNY Purchase; Gagosian Gallery, New York; and the Jewish Museum, New York; and was included in the 2014 Whitney Biennial.