USCO: WHENTHEN

Ground-breaking multi-media art collective comes to the Walsh Gallery

November 2 – December 11, 2015

OPENING RECEPTION:  Thursday, Nov. 5^th from 5 to 9pm

POETRY READING BY GERD STERN – Thursday, Nov. 19^th at 7pm

USCO has been working continuously since the early 1960’s, and was one of the first communal art collaboratives. Their inter-disciplinary approach to art-making encompasses poetry, immersive environments, sculpture, and multimedia projects.  This exhibition, curated by Jeanne Brasile, features original and recent artworks from the period between 1965 to present, assembled by Michael Callahan and Gerd Stern, two of USCO’s founding members.  USCO’s work combines a number of sensibilities to critique contemporary culture by melding aspects of beat poetry, happenings and multi-media in assessment of mainstream values, intended to open their audiences to spiritual and mystical realities.  Their work consists of light projections, kinetic sculpture, sound scapes, performance, paintings, prints, and film collages.
During the sixties, USCO showed throughout New York City and San Francisco, as well as numerous college campuses across the country.  Their popularity was due to their ability to tap into the counter-cultural movements of the period.  After working together for over 50 years, their work remains fresh and provocative.  USCO was based in a church in Rockland County, New York, the location of their original commune.  Still actively making and exhibiting their art, recent shows include group exhibitions at The Walker Art Center, The University of California, Berkeley and The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville, Spain.  USCO has been exhibited at major museums worldwide including; The Tate Liverpool, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of Art, Kunsthalle Wien in Vienna and the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt.
Hours:  Mon – Fri, 10:30am to 4:30pm