Exit Art is pleased to announce our final exhibition EVERY EXIT IS AN ENTRANCE: 30 YEARS OF EXIT ART. Founded in 1982 by Executive Director Jeanette Ingberman and Artistic Director Papo Colo, Exit Art has grown from a pioneering alternative art space into an innovative cultural center. We have supported and fostered a vibrant, interdisciplinary artistic community in New York, organizing over 200 exhibitions, events, festivals and programs featuring more than 2,500 artists. Consistently challenging social, political, aesthetic and curatorial norms, Exit Art has organized historical exhibitions; presented the work of young, emerging, under-recognized and mid-career artists; produced experimental theater and performance works; and organized national and international film and video programs. Committed early on to experimenting with the intersections of film, video, performance, music, publications, design and visual art, Exit Art remained steadfast in its mission to provide new possibilities and opportunities for both artists and audiences alike.

At the heart of the institution is the relationship between Co-Founders Ingberman and Colo, who met in the late 1970s during a studio visit, fell in love, founded Exit Art, and dedicated their lives to nurturing a cultural center that responded to some of the most prescient issues of our time. EVERY EXIT IS AN ENTRANCE: 30 Years of Exit Art explores this rich history, from its founding in a loft apartment on Canal Street in 1982 to its years in SoHo at 578 Broadway (1984-1992) and 548 Broadway (1992-2002) and to its current Hell’s Kitchen location.

The retrospective exhibition will feature extensive documentation from Exit Art’s archives, including posters, promotional graphics, photographs, and elements of the innovative in-house exhibition designs employed in past exhibitions, as well as the work of a selection of artists championed over the years. In conjunction with the exhibition, Exit Art is organizing a series of events including film screenings, theater and performance programs, live performance and music, artist talks, curatorial presentations, panel discussions, and more. The exhibition will also include a reading library of materials Exit Art has published. Co-Founder Papo Colo will present a personal exhibition of photographic materials that celebrate the spirit of Exit Art, with a focus on the life of co-founder Jeanette Ingberman who passed away in August 2011.

CONFIRMED ARTISTS (as of February 9, 2012): John Ahearn, Candida Alvarez, Suzanne Anker, Sonia Balassanian, Alvin Baltrop, Brandon Ballengee, Luis Camnitzer, Michael Chernishov, Papo Colo, Jimmie Durham, Ming Fay, John Fekner, Judy Fox, Rico Gatson, Jane Hammond, Jason Lujan, Jerry Kearns, Carrie Mae Weems, Melissa Dubbin & Aaron S. Davidson, Antoni Muntadas, Iván Navarro, Joyce Pensato, Juan Sanchez, Cindy Sherman, Francesco Simeti, Anton van Dalen, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Cecilia Vicuña, Martin Wong

FINAL EVENT AT EXIT ART

Trickster Farewell Saturday, May 19, 2012 / 6-10pm Live performances by the Trickster Theater organized by Papo Colo. The event will be followed by Colo’s final performance at Exit Art, “Sweeping Memories,” a ritual cleansing of Exit Art’s space that acts as a metaphor for Exit Art’s closing and Colo’s retirement as Artistic Director.

More events to be announced.

EVERY EXIT IS AN ENTRANCE: 30 Years of Exit Art is curated by Senior Curator Rachel Gugelberger and Assistant Curator Lauren Rosati with Curatorial Assistant Lauren Graves in collaboration with Artistic Director Papo Colo. Film programming organized by Curatorial Assistant Candice Strongwater.

Also on view through May 19: Collective/Performative, a research exhibition and event series focusing on performance practices that require the participation of an audience.

ABOUT EXIT ART

Exit Art is an independent vision of contemporary culture that is prepared to react immediately to important issues that affect our lives. We present experimental, historical and unique programming of aesthetic, social, political and environmental issues. Founded in 1982 by Directors Jeanette Ingberman and Papo Colo, Exit Art has grown from a pioneering alternative art space into an innovative cultural center that is committed to supporting artists whose work reflects on the socio-political transformations of our time. Exit Art is internationally recognized for its unmatched spirit of inventiveness, curatorial innovation and depth of programming in diverse media. Exit Art is always changing.

GENERAL EXHIBITION SUPPORT

Provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; Bloomberg LP; Foundation for Contemporary Arts; The Greenwall Foundation; Jerome Foundation; Lambent Foundation; Lily Auchincloss Foundation; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn; and public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.