Bellwether Gallery's 2008 exhibition explores mourning through contemporary art and traditional death rituals
Between July 10 and August 8, 2008, the Bellwether Gallery in New York City hosted an exhibition called 'If Love Could Have Saved You, You Would Have Lived Forever,' curated by Becky Smith. This exhibit combined contemporary art with traditional death-related artifacts, featuring works from various artists like Vanessa Albury, Tammy Rae Carland, and Patricia Cronin. Standout pieces included Cronin's 'Memorial to a Marriage,' floral arrangements by Marc Swanson and Joe Mama-Nitzberg, a video collaboration by Tanyth Berkeley and Todd Chandler, and Albury’s projection from her grandmother's funeral. The exhibition delved into themes surrounding impermanence and how mourning rituals are maintained.
Key facts
- Exhibition ran July 10 to August 8, 2008
- Curated by Becky Smith
- Held at Bellwether Gallery, 134 Tenth Avenue, New York City
- Featured works by 14 contemporary artists
- Included traditional mourning objects like Victorian hair wreaths and Joss paper effigies
- Patricia Cronin's 'Memorial to a Marriage' served as both artwork and grave marker
- Tanyth Berkeley & Todd Chandler's video commemorated Brad Will killed in Oaxaca, Mexico in 2006
- Exhibition explored connections between art-making and mourning rituals
Entities
Artists
- Vanessa Albury
- Tammy Rae Carland
- Patricia Cronin
- Amrita Das
- Leela Devi
- Rob Hauschild
- Paa Joe
- Marc Swanson
- Joe Mama-Nitzberg
- Roy Kortick
- Lisa Ross
- Tanyth Berkeley
- Todd Chandler
- Becky Smith
- Deborah Kass
- Darby Crash
- Anna Nicole Smith
- Brad Will
Institutions
- Bellwether Gallery
- Woodlawn Cemetery
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Oaxaca
- Mexico