On Saturday, May 17, Jack Shainman inaugurated The School, his new gallery in Kinderhook, New York, with a performance by Nick Cave. Shainman, who runs two galleries in Manhattan, originally set out to find a storage space for his growing collection. After a change in plans, he enlisted Spanish architect Antonio Jiménez Torrecillas to convert the former Martin Van Buren Elementary School into a gallery. Outfitted with the requisite white walls and poured concrete floors, the space retained some of its original features, including the proscenium arch that once towered over the auditorium’s stage.
The 30,000-square-foot gallery, which is currently open by appointment only, is hosting an abbreviated Cave retrospective. Cave, a former dancer who trained with Alvin Ailey, is best known for his Soundsuits -- wearable fabric sculptures that are brightly colored and otherworldly, often made from found objects. The exhibition at The School also includes tondos sculpted out of fabric, mind-bending wallpaper, and bricolage sculptures. Cave’s performance on Saturday night featured dancers from nearby Williams College wearing his Soundsuits and traditional Ghanese music courtesy of the Agbekor Friends Society. In addition to hosting exhibitions, The School also houses Shainman’s growing permanent collection.
