This morning (June 28), the Hammer Museum announced the five finalists up for the $100,000 Mohn Prize, selected from the roster of 60 emerging or under-recognized Southern California artists featured in the Made in L.A. 2012 exhibition—the first Los Angeles biennial organized by the Hammer and LAXART.
The finalists up for the Mohn Award are: Meleko Mokgosi, CalArts alumni Liz Glynn (Art/IM MFA 08), Erika Vogt (Film/Video MFA 03), Karla Diaz (Critical Studies MFA 04) of the art collective Slanguage and dancer and artist Simone Forti, who substitute taught at CalArts for founding School of Art faculty member Allan Kaprow.
Jury members—Anthony Huberman, independent curator and writer; Doryun Chong, associate curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York; Cecilia Alemani, curator and director of High Line Art Program; and Rita Gonzalez, curator of contemporary art at LACMA—were asked to collectively select the artists that had the “strongest presentation” in the show.
The jury issued this statement:
Each of the five artists selected presented ambitious projects that intrigue the viewer and offer a compelling example of the concerns and working methods that inform and drive their art-making. Their installations and performances showcased in Made in L.A. 2012 demonstrate the ways in which these artists are pushing the boundaries of their respective mediums, activating the gallery in thoughtful ways, and sometimes even going beyond it through performances, workshops, and other means of engagement. Beyond their strong contributions to the exhibition, we feel confident that these artists will continue to contribute to the field and participate meaningfully in the conversations and debates that characterize contemporary art practices well into the future. While the selection process was completely open, we are pleased that this selection of artists exemplifies the range of materials, ethnicities, gender, and age represented in the overall exhibition. Because we appreciate the efforts of all the artists in the exhibition, this was a tough decision to reach and one that required much discussion and debate. We offer our congratulations to the finalists.
Beginning today, visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to vote for the eventual Mohn Prize winner. Voters may register to vote (with a photo ID) onsite at all three exhibition venues (Hammer Museum, LA><ART, and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery). Once registered, a voter may cast his or her single vote onsite or online.
Voting ends Aug. 12 at 11:59 pm, with the prize winner announced soon after.
Made in L.A. 2012 remains on view through Sept. 2.