Mark Newport: Self-Made Man
February 5 – May 9, 2010
Laumeier Sculpture Park Indoor Galleries
Laumeier Sculpture Park presents Mark Newport: Self-Made Man, an exhibition that explores the role of modern man and modern-day heroes. Newport’s human-scale, hand-knit superhero costumes, photographs, video and embroidered comic book covers will be shown in the Park’s indoor galleries.
Mark Newport is a man who knits like no other. The Michigan-based artist creates human-scale, acrylic-knit superhero costumes that question the role of heroes in contemporary culture. Some of these costumes reflect the comic book legends that many of us grew up with. Newport also expands on the genre with creations of his own. Batman and Captain America are presented on equal terms with Newport’s Sweaterman and Y-Man. The costumes present a great tension as they probe the unquestioned iconic status of the mythological superheroes and the obvious shortcomings of the knit suit to protect anyone who might chose to don it. Protection of self, family and society are all issues on the table.
“The knit costumes as well as the prints, photographs, altered comic book covers and video that will be included in the exhibition ask complex questions about masculinity, family and the myths and realities — the strengths and shortcomings of what it is to be human,” said Kim Humphries, Laumeier’s Director of Exhibitions and Collections. “It’s tough territory but Mark Newport, is just the man for the task.”
Mark Newport is the Artist-in-Residence and Head of Fiber at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He earned his BFA at the Kansas City Art Institute in 1986 and his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1991.
He and his family currently live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Newport’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, including solo exhibitions at The Arizona State University Art Museum; The Cranbrook Art Museum; The Chicago Cultural Center and Here Gallery, Bristol, United Kingdom. His work has been recognized with grants from the Creative Capital Foundation, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the Herberger College of Arts at Arizona State University. Newport’s work is included in the collections of The Whitney Museum of American Art; The Cranbrook Art Museum; The Racine Art Museum; 4Culture, Seattle; City of Phoenix Public Art; Microsoft and Progressive Insurance. The Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle and Lemberg Gallery, Ferndale, Michigan represent his work.
Exhibition Opening Reception: February 5, 2010, 6–8 PM (Free)
Artist Gallery Talk: April 3, 2010, 1 PM (Free)
Laumeier Sculpture Park Indoor Galleries
Knit-In @ the Park: April 3, 2010, 2 PM (Free)
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Media Coverage:
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Mark Newport, Sampler: Batman/Dead Robin, 2007, embroidery on comic book cover, 10 1/4 x6 3/4”, loan courtesy of Ted L. and Maryanne Ellison Simmons, image courtesy of the artist.
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