2/8: Chuck Close: A Couple Of Ways Of Doing Something

I when I heard the Wichita Art Museum was bringing an exhibit of Chuck Close photography to town, I was thrilled. I thought, “Finally, a contemporary art show that doesn’t have to do with the landscape!” Excitedly, I bustled down to the museum only to have my high hopes dashed.

Chuck Close explores the translation of the photographic image into several different mediums. The basis of the show is Close’s beautiful and haunting daguerreotype portraiture. From these photographs, tapestries, digital prints and photogravures are made. The faces of Close’s art world friends and colleagues are repeated throughout the gallery in these various formats. Alongside the digital prints, poet Bob Holman composed a poem for each individual photo.

The thorn in my side about this show is the audio component. Upon entering the gallery, the visitor is greeted a man’s voice reading poetry. I can only assume it is Holman. This presentation immediately recalled the recent Supremes exhibit, but audio for Close’s show is wholly unjustified.

As I traveled through the gallery, the omnipresent voice made it impossible to engage with the photographs or read the accompanying poem. As I stood in front of Phillip Glass’ portrait, I synced up with the pervasive voice. As he began reading the poem, my eyes followed the words. Much to my chagrin, this took all thinking out of the experience and was simply intellectually insulting. This is not story hour. Museum visitors are capable visual interpreters– and literate, so I would encourage the Wichita Art Museum to think more highly of their audience.

After 30 minutes, I was unable to hear myself think. I decided it was better to go to the museum shop, buy the book, and enjoy Chuck Close’s gorgeous portraiture and Holman’s captivating poetry in refreshing, contemplative silence.



A Couple of Ways of Doing Something is on view at the Wichita Art Museum through April 15.