NEW YORK.- White Columns presents "Fast Forward: Twenty Years of White Rooms," curated by Lauren Ross, on view through December 7, 2003. This exhibition celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the White Room program; project spaces that present solo exhibitions by artists unaffiliated with a commercial gallery.  Fast Forward will present a small selection of the close to 300 White Room alumni.  Each artist will be represented by a work from his or her original White Room showing, juxtaposed with a new piece.  Featuring: Lisa Beck, John Currin, Peter Edlund, Jim Hodges, Glenn Ligon, Marlene McCarty, Sean Mellyn, Alix Pearlstein, Aura Rosenberg, Lisa Sigal, Oliver Wasow, and Randy Wray. 

The program, started in 1983, introduces the work of unknown artists to the public and gives participating artists an opportunity to show work free from the pressures of the commercial market. In its twenty year history, White Rooms have identified and helped launch the careers of some of the country’s most significant artists. Close to three hundred artists have had White Rooms since the program’s start.  

Fast Forward will present the work of a small selection of White Room alumni. Each artist will be represented by two works: one from his or her original White Room showing, and a recent piece. This juxtaposition of old and new will help trace the course of change that has occurred in the work of each artist. For some, dramatic transformations in medium, style and approach have occurred. For others, a consistency in visual vocabulary over time is apparent. The artists in the exhibition were selected from a broad chronological range, and currently are at different points in their careers. Their work is in a variety of styles, including both abstraction and representation, executed in such media as painting, sculpture, video and photography. The artists featured in Fast Forward are: Lisa Beck (White Room 1985); Oliver Wasow (1987); Alix Pearlstein (1988); John Currin (1989); Aura Rosenberg (1989); Marlene McCarty (1990); Jim Hodges (1991); Glenn Ligon (1991); Randy Wray (1993); Peter Edlund (1995); Sean Mellyn (1995); Lisa Sigal (2000). 

A 64 page, fully illustrated catalog published by White Columns will accompany the exhibition. The catalog features an introduction with history of the White Room program and texts on each of the artists written by the curator, as well as the complete list of artists who have had White Rooms from 1983 to present. A curator-led tour of the exhibition will be held on Wednesday November 5th at 6:30 pm. This tour is free and open to the public. Fast Forward is sponsored by Martin and Rebecca Eisenberg. The accompanying catalog has been funded by Corrie Sandelman. About the curator: Lauren Ross is the Director/Chief Curator of White Columns.