In January I went to White Columns to see, “Looking Back,” an exhibit surveying artwork shown in New York in 2010, curated by Bob Nickas. The work was a mix of mostly New York-based artists, young and old, living and dead. One piece that caught my attention was by Candy Jernigan: Candy Jernigan, Found Dope: Part II, 1986 (detail) Found objects on paper 28 in. x 39 in. Broken bits of used crack vials are pasted into into grid formation on a large poster, sealed behind glass, like the butterflies of a 19th century natural historian. Beneath each artifact in the grid is small even block handwriting, marking the date, time and location of its collection, e.g. June 11/Second Avenue at Third street/west side/10…
Tagged: 1980s, archival practice, Art, Bob Nickas, Candy Jernigan, crack, East Village, method, New York, trash, walking