Mark Morrisroe Opening at Artists Space, March 5, 2011

DATE: 3/8/2011 | BY LUKE P. BROWN

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, the first U.S. retrospective exhibition of Mark Morrisroe's work opened at Artists Space in New York. The heartbreaking show features photographs, polaroids, and ephemera, including issues of the punk zine Dirt, which Morrisroe co-founded with friend Lynelle White around 1975. A major monograph published by JRP accompanies the exhibition which, in a different form, was first mounted at the Kunsthalle Zurich under the direction of Beatrix Ruf. A contemporary of Jack Pierson, Nan Goldin, and David Armstrong, Morrisroe (1959-1989) documented his life and the lives of friends, hustlers, and lovers in photographs - Polaroids, "sandwich prints," hand-painted photograms - which beautifully capture the urgency and ephemerality of the post-punk scene in Boston and New York in the 1970s and 80s. In attendance at Saturday’s event were intimates such as Jack Pierson (known to Morrisroe as Jonathan) and admirers Collier Schorr, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, and Joan Jonas. The evening ended underground at the SubMercer lounge.

Artist Jack Pierson and photographer Collier Schorr

Artist Joan Jonas

Writer Linda Yablonsky and architect Miggi Hood

Pin-Up Magazine Editor Felix Burrichter and artist Thomas Dozol

Teresa Gruber, Artist-Photographer Philip-Lorca diCrocia and David Yarritu

Artists Jack Pierson and Paul Mpagi Sepuya

For Your Art's Karen Marta with artist Joan Jonas