Cottingham Curates Exhibition For National Academy

By Carol Sims

The National Academy of Design, the preeminent American artists’ organization founded in New York City in 1825, is exhibiting “A Fine Line: Drawings by National Academicians” through January 4. What most Newtowners probably don’t realize is that one of their own, Robert Cottingham, was responsible for putting the show together.

Living not too far from Newtown’s flagpole, Robert Cottingham has been a member of the National Academy’s Exhibition Committee since 1998, and is serving as its chairman this year. The committee decided on doing a series of annual exhibitions to show the drawings of Academicians, and this show is the first one.

“Curating was a challenge that I couldn’t refuse,” Mr Cottingham recently said. “Especially since this was the first time for me to curate a show. The challenge was in finding a theme [line], and selecting work that would demonstrate that theme.” Mr Cottingham also came up with the title for the show and the wall text.

“Since it was first drawn in ancient sand, the line has prevailed as man’s most basic visual mark. Its power derives from the combined forces of immediacy, intimacy, and economy. Line drawing represents the merging of these forces with art,” wrote Mr Cottingham for part of the wall text.

An unassuming friendly man, Robert Cottingham is an internationally known artist with works in most major museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, The Tate, and more than could possibly be listed here.  A series focusing on city signs and buildings was very important to his career, but perhaps his most iconic works are his gigantic close-up paintings of antiquated typewriters.

As curator for the National Academy exhibition, Mr Cottingham worked with most of the artists directly, but he also had the opportunity to visit galleries to borrow work for the exhibition.

“It got me out of my studio and in to see some galleries,” said Mr Cottingham. One of his first stops was Allan Stone Gallery, a landmark for contemporary (but not necessarily abstract) work since 1960, to select work by the Academician Wayne Thiebaud.

Known for his luscious paintings of desserts (and now landscapes), Mr Thiebaud has sketchbooks full of ink drawings along with notations on his observations. Two of these sketchbook sketches are included in the National Academy show. Mr Cottingham refers to Mr Thiebaud’s sketches as “a dairy of his visual world,” in the wall text.

After the work was selected, Mr Cottingham had to decide what would hang where within the National Academy’s exhibition space. All members of the National Academy, about 400 strong, were invited to submit work. From their slide submissions, Mr Cottingham selected 31 pieces from 29 artists. Arranging art within an exhibition space is an art in itself. The 31 pieces needed to be arranged to complement each other in a balanced interesting way.

“I had to find the best solution for exhibiting their work,” explained Mr Cottingham. He carefully observed as a professional installation crew hung the show he had arranged, and National Academy staff adjusted the lighting.

“This was an energizing experience. I’m glad I did it,” said Mr Cottingham.

“A Fine Line: Drawings by National Academicians” has works by William Bailey, Jake Berthot, Mary Fank, Frank Gehry, Philip Grausman, Jonathan Shahn, Wayne Thiebaud and many others. Also included art portraits by Sigmund Abeles, Bernard Chaet, and Burt Silverman. The National Academy of Design is at 1083 Fifth Avenue in New York City. For information, call 212-369-4880.

(Carol Sims is an assistant editor for Antiques And The Arts Weekly.)