McElheny pays homage to musicians including Pauline Oliveros, Julius Eastman, John Cage, Milford Graves, Big Mama Thornton and Sun Ra, with works that hum, rotate and pulse. Paintings are embedded with vibrating black glass gongs playing sound composed by David Grubbs, and a blood-red cable feeds a synth heartbeat to a hand-made drum. If you like art you can hear, this free Chelsea show is a standout.
What to expect
Expect The Kitchen's loft transformed into a space of image, sound, motion and light, where pieces unpredictably activate. One plywood sculpture lets you sit and listen through blue glass 'speakers' to a rediscovered Julius Eastman recording. Family art-making workshops run on select Saturdays.
Good to know
- Free gallery admission
- Open four afternoons a week; check hours before visiting
- Family kaleidoscope workshops run on select dates
- Some works activate unpredictably, so linger
- Quiet visitors will hear more of the sound works
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Common questions
Is Instrument Object free?
Yes. The Kitchen lists gallery hours as free.
Which musicians does the show honor?
Ten artists including Pauline Oliveros, Lucia Dlugoszewski, Julius Eastman, John Cage, Milford Graves, Big Mama Thornton and Sun Ra.
