For Alexander Blank, having a moment to enjoy an artist’s residency is pleasure enough. But add in the hectic pleasure that is New York City, and the experience becomes a blend of curiosity, sensation, and surprise.
Blank is the latest recipient of the 92NY jewelry artist-in-residency program, and the venerable organization is hosting an exhibition of his work through Sept. 17. The exhibition is being shown inside the 92NY’s Hall of Mirrors on the first floor of its location at 1395 Lexington Avenue in New York City.
Blank says he plans to have a selection of his work over the past 15 years as an introduction to his jewelry and thought process when it comes to art. As part of his residency, Munich-born Blank also will host an all-day workshop for the public. Registration is required.
Blank was awarded the residency earlier this year, and he came to the 92NY in August to use the facility’s jewelry studios and enjoy the city. Blank, who has exhibited his work in cities across Europe, Asia, and Australia, says his experiences in New York overwhelm him and stay with him long after his visits.
“There is always so much to see that is different from Munich, where I come from. It took me until more or less now to get beyond the excitement of being here,” Blank says. “Especially since the pandemic, where traveling was not possible as usual. Right now, I am filtering my impressions that I already had from the last days to try to see what might inspire me.”
Residencies like this are invaluable to artists to have time and space, Blank says.
“Having the opportunity of time and space that the residency offers also opens me up to think about what I’ve done so far and reminisce where to go from here. It´s great to be able to do that at the moment,” Blank says.
Where does he go from here? Blank says that is still up in the air, as it were.
“I started working on something that I do not know [what] it will develop [into],” Blank says. “On one hand, it plays with the formality of street art/graffiti and as well with architectural elements and interior, but I will take the chance to play around and maybe try out a few more things.”
Having an artist like Blank in the building has proven inspirational for him as well as the 92NY, said Jonathan Wahl, the Jewelry Center director.
“Blank’s work has consistently pushed the boundaries of contemporary jewelry,” Wahl said in a statement. “His current series, EnVague, which he will continue working on while in NYC, is the perfect jewelry for our post-COVID moment of uncertainty and questioning.”
Blank agrees. “NYC is just an amazing place to visit and dive into for any creative person and, of course, for everyone else as well,” the artist says. “92NY offers a wonderful chance to stay for a while and not just coming here as a tourist. I can only be thankful for this opportunity.”
The 92NY Jewelry Residency provides time and studio space for the selected artist to “create, research, experiment, and cultivate new direction in their work,” the organization said. 92NY board member Kathy Chazen supports the residency, which is the only one of its kind in New York City.
Previous Jewelry Center artists in residence are Claudia Lepik in 2019, Ineke Heerkens in 2018, and Göran Kling in 2017.
Top: Alexander Blank’s work will be on display for a special exhibition celebrating his monthlong artist’s residency at the 92NY’s Jewelry Center. He also will teach a class, which is open to the public, on Sept. 16 (photos courtesy of 92NY).
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