Voyage of the Beagle, Two on view through November 15
Opening Reception October 13, 5 to 7 pm
Miami Beach, FL, (September 21, 2015)…. The Bass Museum of Art will launch its new satellite gallery space bassX, with a photo series by American artist Rachel Harrison. Voyage of the Beagle Two, 2008, will be on view through November 15 in the museum’s pop-up gallery in the Miami Beach Library (227 22nd Street, Miami Beach, FL, 33139.) Harrison’s is the first of seven artist projects that will be presented as bassX during the 2015-2016 season while the museum’s galleries are closed for renovation.
Rachel Harrison’s Voyage of the Beagle is a study of modern-day ‘menhirs’, the prehistoric standing stones that represent the oldest figurative sculptures on earth. The artist initiated this project in 2006 during a trip to Corsica when she discovered contemporary menhirs in sources as diverse as pop culture, nature, and even sculptures by other artists. Voyage of the Beagle, Two is the second of the series, which came about during a return trip in 2008.
Harrison portrays the objects as portraits, which are then lined up, into a forced narrative.
The title of the work refers to the observational notes Charles Darwin made during his scientific excursions aboard the HMS Beagle, which led to his theories on evolution. “Just as Darwin conducted his research, this is the artist’s fieldwork,” explains Bass Curator of Exhibitions José Carlos Diaz.
Rachel Harrison, who is best known for her colorful and witty sculpture, is considered one of the leading artists of her generation. Her work has been included the 2003 and 2009 Venice Biennales and the 2002 and 2008 Whitney Biennials, and is in the permanent collections of some of the most prestigious contemporary art museums in the U.S. and Europe. Harrison is currently featured in a major exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art: Gloria: Robert Rauschenberg and Rachel Harrison.
bassX Address, Hours and Admission
bassX is located on the first floor of the Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The gallery is open during the public hours of the library: Monday and Tuesday, 12 to 8 pm and Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is free.