H.C. Westermann
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
Installation view of H.C. Westermann: See America First: Works from 1953-1980, New York, Venus Over Manhattan, 2015
H.C. Westermann: See America First – Works from 1953-1980
November 2, 2016 - January 16, 2017
Opening: Monday, November 2nd, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
VENUS
980 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10075
(New York, NY) – VENUS is pleased to present H.C. Westermann: See America First – Works from 1953-1980 an exhibition of sculptures and works on paper by American artist, H.C. Westermann (b. 1922, Los Angeles, CA - d. 1981, Danbury, CT).
Westermann was an influential post-war artist, though his work historically existed outside the popular mainstream. Audiences and critics have often attempted to situate Westermann’s works within various art historical movements ranging from Surrealism and Minimalism to Neo Dada. Though Westermann incorporated elements from these movements into his work, his oeuvre resists definition; Westermann stands alone as an eccentric art world maverick.
Much of Westermann’s work speaks to his own personal history, specifically his time serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during both World War II and the Korean War. Westerman’s view of America was both nostalgic and romantic, and his work reflects his yearning for an era that favored traditional values. The America that emerged after World War II stood as a global super power that thrived on growth and abundance, spawning a new culture in a changed nation. Pop artists at this time, such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, were influenced by the proliferation of new media and mass culture. Westermann chose to use his skills as a carpenter to confront the brutal realities of his time at war and the general post-war psyche. Often with notes of humor and irony, Westermann’s sculptures engage with a sense of loss both in his own life and of the values of pre-World War II America. See America First takes its name from a series of prints and unique works on paper made by Westermann in 1968. The series was inspired by a road trip taken across the country in 1964. It also refers to the importance of nationhood in Westermann’s overall body of work. The exhibition will include roughly 80 works by Westermann, including sculptures, works on paper, and a series of 19 illustrated letters written to the artist’s longtime dealer Allan Frumkin.
ABOUT H.C. WESTERMANN
H.C. Westermann was born in Los Angeles, California in 1922. He attended Los Angeles City College for two years beginning in 1940 before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, from which he went on to fight against Japan in the Pacific Theater aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Following the war, Westermann enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago where he studied painting. From 1951 to 1952, Westermann served a tour of duty in Korea. In 1958, he was given his first solo exhibition at the Allan Frumkin Gallery in Chicago, entitled H.C. Westermann: Recent Work. Frumkin would continue to represent Westermann for the next twenty years. Westermann was selected for inclusion in the show New Images of Man at MoMA in 1959. He has had retrospectives at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1968, at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1978, and at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago in 2003.
For further information about the exhibition and availability, please contact the gallery at info@venusovermanhattan.com
For all press inquiries related to the exhibition, please email press@venusovermanhattan.com
H.C. Westermann
Boy in the Forest, 1953
casein on veneered plywood
23 3/4 x 34 in
60.3 x 86.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Man Animal, 1953
oil on canvas
25 1/2 x 37 in
64.8 x 94 cm
H.C. Westermann
Untitled (Unusual Physician), 1957
pine, metal, aluminum
8 1/2 x 12 x 9 1/4 in
21.6 x 30.5 x 23.5 cm
H.C. Westermann
Object Under Pressure, 1960
douglas fir, metal, pressure gauge
72 3/4 x 14 x 16 3/8 in
184.8 x 35.6 x 41.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Silver Queen, 1960
pine, plywood, pine moulding, galvanized metal weather vent, iron fittings, enamel, aluminum alkyd enamel
79 3/4 x 20 7/8 x 21 1/8 in
202.6 x 53 x 53.7 cm
H.C. Westermann
Swingin’ Red King, 1961
pine, pine moulding, plywood, enamel
83 3/4 x 29 1/4 x 25 in
212.7 x 74.3 x 63.5 cm
H.C. Westermann
Where the Angels Fear to Tread, 1962
pine, enamel, metal, rubber bumpers
18 1/4 x 10 3/8 x 3 1/2 in
46.4 x 26.4 x 8.9 cm
H.C. Westermann
L.B., 1963
wood, plate glass, mirror, enamel, ink
14 x 13 7/8 x 3 in
35.6 x 35.2 x 7.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
19 Illustrated Letters (From H.C. Westermann to Allan Frumkin), 1963-1970
ink, watercolor on paper
17 3/4 x 22 1/2 in
45.1 x 57.2 cm
H.C. Westermann
A Human Condition, 1964
pine, masonite, brass
37 7/8 x 24 x 13 in
96.2 x 61 x 33 cm
H.C. Westermann
Aluminated, 1964
marine plywood, masonite, aluminum alkyd enamel, reflectors, enamel, mirror, rubber bumpers
18 3/4 x 21 3/4 x 22 in
47.6 x 55.2 x 55.9 cm
H.C. Westermann
Clean Air, 1964
walnut, plate glass, putty, brass plate, and rubber bumpers
15 3/4 x 22 1/4 x 14 5/8 in
40 x 56.5 x 37.1 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Beginning of a Brand New City, 1964
aluminum, pine, plywood, plate glass, aluminum alkyd enamel, enamel, mirror, and rubber bumpers
21 3/4 x 19 1/2 x 6 in
55.2 x 49.5 x 15.2 cm
H.C. Westermann
Walnut Box, 1964
walnut, walnuts, plate glass, brass chain
10 3/4 x 13 3/8 x 11 in
27.3 x 34 x 27.9 cm
H.C. Westermann
Shark Board, 1965
cedar, ebony, pine, rubber bumpers
3 5/8 x 29 7/8 x 15 1/2 in
9.2 x 75.9 x 39.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Suicide Tower, 1965
mahogany, brass, ebony, postcards, and metal
43 3/4 x 15 1/4 x 13 7/8 in
111.1 x 38.7 x 35.2 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Ball and the Jack, 1965
ash and ink
27 3/4 x 24 3/8 x 10 7/8 in
70.5 x 61.9 x 27.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
Death Ship Runover by a ‘66 Lincoln Continental, 1966
pine, plate glass, ebony, US dollar bills, putty, brass, ink
15 5/8 x 32 1/2 x 11 3/4 in
39.7 x 82.6 x 29.8 cm
H.C. Westermann
Homage to American Art (Dedicated to Elie Nadelman), 1966
douglas fir, ash, cast lead, antique shovel handle
48 1/4 x 18 x 18 1/4 in
122.6 x 45.7 x 46.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Le Keeque (after Jockomedy), 1966
chromium-plated solid cast bronze
36 x 19 x 9 in
91.4 x 48.3 x 22.9 cm
H.C. Westermann
Le Ronaire, 1966
wood and brass
27 x 37 x 8 1/4 in
68.6 x 94 x 21 cm
H.C. Westermann
March or Die, 1966
pine, redwood, leather, ebony, metal, felt, ink
30 3/4 x 20 x 10 3/8 in
78.1 x 50.8 x 26.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Mr. Goo #1, 1966
chrome plated bronze
14 x 11 x 4 5/8 in
35.6 x 27.9 x 11.7 cm
edition 1 of 2
H.C. Westermann
Nothing is to be Done for William T. Wiley, 1967
wood
43 1/2 x 28 x 2 in
110.5 x 71.1 x 5.1 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Rape of Cracker Jack, 1967
maple, hemp rope with electrical tape, brass chain, rubber bumpers, ink
11 3/8 x 30 1/4 x 9 1/4 in
28.9 x 76.8 x 23.5 cm
H.C. Westermann
Six Illustrated Letters (From H.C. Westermann to Peter and Robert Frumkin), 1967- 1970
various dimensions
10 1/2 x 7 1/4 in
26.7 x 18.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Death Ship of No Port with a Shifted Cargo, 1968
redwood, ebony, amaranth (purpleheart), goatskin, brass, pine, and rubber bumpers
9 7/8 x 16 7/8 x 6 1/2 in
25.1 x 42.9 x 16.5 cm
H.C. Westermann
No Man Stands So Straight as When He Stoops to Help a Boy, 1968
bird’s-eye maple, cast bronze, cast lead, brass, stainless steel, copper, iron, paint, nuts and bolts, rubber bumpers, ink
15 x 22 1/2 x 9 1/2 in
38.1 x 57.2 x 24.1 cm
H.C. Westermann
See America First, 1968
watercolor and ink on paper
17 3/4 x 20 3/4 in
45.1 x 52.7 cm
H.C. Westermann
See America First (Untitled #7), 1968
ink and ink wash on paper
10 2/3 x 13 3/4 in
27 x 34.9 cm
H.C. Westermann
Frenchy’s Rocking Horse plus Artist’s Box, 1969
beech, douglas fir, white oak, zebrawood bolts, brass nuts, ink
16 7/8 x 10 3/4 x 23 3/4 in
42.9 x 27.3 x 60.3 cm
H.C. Westermann
Little Egypt, 1969
douglas fir, pine, oak, bronze
68 1/2 x 32 3/8 x 31 1/8 in
174 x 82.2 x 79.1 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Deerslayer, 1969
galvanized iron pipe and fittings, metal, wood, and antler
82 1/2 x 28 x 47 1/4 in
209.6 x 71.1 x 120 cm
H.C. Westermann
Walnut Log, 1969
walnut, tape
8 1/2 x 17 1/4 x 5 1/2 in
21.6 x 43.8 x 14 cm
H.C. Westermann
Billy Al 67X, 1970
sugar pine, vermillion, brass
12 5/8 x 13 3/4 x 10 in
32.1 x 34.9 x 25.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Strong Man’s Chair, 1970
douglas fir, leather, zebra wood, brass plate
42 x 21 3/4 x 20 5/8 in
106.7 x 55.2 x 52.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Untitled, 1970
ink and wash on paper
22 1/4 x 29 3/4 in
56.5 x 75.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
An Old Indian Implement, 1971
douglas fir, Connecticut fieldstone, pigskin, walnut
10 x 18 x 10 3/4 in
25.4 x 45.7 x 27.3 cm
H.C. Westermann
Human Fly, 1971
ink and watercolor on paper
29 3/4 x 22 1/4 in
75.6 x 56.5 cm
H.C. Westermann
Black Death Ship, 1972
ink and watercolor on paper
22 x 30 in
55.9 x 76.2 cm
H.C. Westermann
The Airline Pilot, 1973
copper, screen, solder
27 3/8 x 26 3/4 x 21 1/8 in
69.5 x 67.9 x 53.7 cm
H.C. Westermann
Untitled (First Peanut), 1973
eastern pine, walnut, rubber
13 5/8 x 24 3/8 x 10 1/2 in
34.6 x 61.9 x 26.7 cm
H.C. Westermann
I’m Goin’ Home on the Midnight Train, 1974
purpleheart (amaranth), hickory, zebrawood, ebony, brass, steel, pine, ink
5 1/2 x 23 x 7 3/4 in
14 x 58.4 x 19.7 cm
H.C. Westermann
Untitled (“Walnut Death Ship in a Chestnut Box”), 1974
chestnut, walnut, zebrawood, galvanized sheet metal, copper, and ebony
17 7/8 x 24 7/8 x 8 1/2 in
45.4 x 63.2 x 21.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
Connecticut Ballroom, 1976
seven woodblock prints on natsume paper
each: 24 x 30 in
each: 61 x 76.2 cm
H.C. Westermann
Ed’s Varnish, 1976
pine, three one-quart cans of Man O’War Ultra Spar Marine Varnish, bird’s-eye maple, brass, ink
9 7/8 x 18 1/2 x 8 1/2 in
25.1 x 47 x 21.6 cm
H.C. Westermann
U.S.S. Franklin Arising from an Oil Slick Sea, 1976
pine, enamel, ebony, granadillo (cocobolo), and brass
10 1/2 x 33 x 7 1/4 in
26.7 x 83.8 x 18.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Female Figure, 1977
southern pine, aspen, hemlock, douglas fir, beech saplings, oak, plate glass, watercolor on paper, photograph
79 3/4 x 24 1/8 x 31 1/4 in
202.6 x 61.3 x 79.4 cm
H.C. Westermann
Texas Cactus, 1979-80
douglas fir, plywood, sugar pine, enamel, masonite, sapling
56 5/8 x 20 1/2 x 23 5/8 in
143.8 x 52.1 x 60 cm
H.C. Westermann
15 Decorated Envelopes (From H.C. Westermann to Allan Frumkin)
various dimensions
Ed Ruscha
Bloated Empire, Stuffed Regime, 1997
acrylic on shaped canvas
76 x 77 1/2 in
193 x 196.9 cm
A cross-shaped wooden box on a pedestal faced the entrance to this exhibition of H.C. Westermann’s sculptures, prints and drawings at Venus (formerly Venus Over Manhattan).
Lined three deep on a massive table, the H. C. Westermann sculptures in this exhibition were stunning in their craftsmanship, blistering in their satire, and sometimes, as in the case of Walnut Box, 1964—a walnut box filled with walnuts—just plain funny.
Asked what one of his blazingly original assemblages meant, artist H.C. Westermann (1922–1981) replied, “It puzzles me, too. How can I explain a work like that?”
Mark Manders’s work makes a good argument for banishing the term “contemporary.” It’s a silly term.
Now on view at Venus Over Manhattan, See America First is an exhibition of over 80 sculptures and works on paper by H.C. Westermann created between 1953 and 1980.
Consider that Westermann was a veteran of two major battles of the twentieth century - World War II and the Korean War - and those "charming little robots and Shaker-style objects that people call "nice" and "cute suddenly seem a lot more funereal, prosthetic, terrified.
H.C. Westermann: 'See America First: Works from 1953-1980' (through Dec. 19) No one who cares about contemporary art should miss this terrific exhibition of sculptures, drawings, prints and illustrated letters by H.C. Westermann.
"See America First," a comprehensive exhibition of sculptures and drawings by the late, great H.C. Westermann, is on view now at Venus Over Manhattan. The installation features a wide range of Westermann's work, spanning from 1953 to 1980. Here are 11 Things You Need To Know about the artist before you visit the exhibition:
“Homage to American Art (Dedicated to Elie Nadelman)” is one of 38 sculptures in “See America First,” a terrific exhibition of works by the great American visionary H. C. Westermann (1922–1981) at Venus (formerly Venus Over Manhattan).
What does America look like? It depends on your perspective.
Check out our suggestions for the best art exhibitions you don’t want to miss, including gallery openings and more
NEW YORK, NY.- Venus presents See America First, an exhibition of sculptures and works on paper by American artist, H.C. Westermann (b. Los Angeles, 1922–1981).
