Drawing a blank

The temptation to start off this piece by paraphrasing Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is simply too strong to resist. "Big Nothing," a citywide art happening spearheaded by Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art, involves more than three dozen venues in shows, programs, cafes, speeches, installations and exhibits, most of which run through Aug. 1 and beyond. If this is "nothing," then surely it is Seinfeldian.

Since opening and closing dates are varied and arbitrary, it is impossible to stop in every location and sample that much nothing. Thus, an overview and preview seemed in order.

Two notes: From the variety of ancillary programs, hotel packages and travel discounts available, this seems more for the out-of-town than the homegrown. Second, it seems clear from the theme that many a curatorial tongue in firmly set in cheek.

In South Philly, a number of venues are taking part in the project. Among them is the Fleisher Art Memorial, which is partnering with the Philadelphia Print Alliance to offer a show called "Several Steps Removed" that runs July 5-Aug. 6.

According to the partners, "Sequences of prints reveal the concept of the void as central to a process, in which an image is determined by the negative space of the plate, block or screen. And infinity is implied by the act of replication." Buzz Lightyear could take this one to infinity and beyond.

The Borowsky Gallery at the Gershman Y has "Subtle Nothings," comprising multimedia work of two artists together known as the Antenna, as well as that of Andy Holtin, David McQueen, Meredith Monk, Liz Phillips, Ray Rapp and South Philly engineer/artist Chris Vecchio. This show reportedly captures "extraordinary nuance."

Curator Cheryl Harper says the artists have the common thread of providing "elusive pleasant sensory experiences through multimedia works." The advance notice on the show carries the following description:

"Meredith Monk’s piece is the earliest work of the group with an operatic suitcase. Antenna [Sigi Moeslinger and Masamichi Udagawa] will be represented by an interactive piece that produces bubbles on a previously inert box, responding to the viewer’s breath. David McQueen, an emerging New York artist, brings slow fluttering bird wings to the gallery as well as his piece that has hundreds of tiny fans that seem like insects landing and flying in slow progression. Andy Holtin’s works draw lines that erase themselves as they progress, producing nothing in seemingly perpetual motion. Liz Phillips, a nationally renowned sound artist, exhibits a shallow water-filled pool that makes subtle sounds and patterns in response to a viewer’s movements. Ray Rapp in his two works has 1) figures jumping or descending in fleeting motion to and from tiny monitors and 2) images slowly spread as color blobs from one screen to the next, mesmerizing the viewer with cloud-like shapes. Local artist Chris Vecchio has a new work — a playful cube with unexpected consequences when handled by the viewer."

In earlier shows, Vecchio showed great skill in producing what appear to be authentic machines or thingamabobs that actually carry an emotional grace. Still, the Y wants to make a big point: "None of the art in this exhibition is tangible. Each work contains ethereal moments that one must pay attention to notice, as in nature. If one rushes, it will be missed. The gallery setting will offer enough room for each work to be discovered, encountered and enjoyed like a gentle breeze."

Other goings-on around town in support of the "Big Nothing" are a series of white plaster cats placed around the Eastern State Penitentiary, a tour of empty space at the Edgar Allen Poe House and, for those looking for the cutting edge in nothingness, the Fabric Workshop will show a David Hammons video of a man kicking a metal bucket down the street.

The big guys are involved as well, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art taking cleverness to new heights with "Find Nothing At the PMA." In fact, this show is nothing more than specially designed labels on certain works that "speak to the theme of nothing." One of the pieces will be Duchamp’s 50cc of Paris Air.

The home base for the project at the ICA is the exhibition "Big Nothing," whose organizers offer this definition for their vision: "The void, the ineffable, the sublime, nonsense, nihilism, zero — all are encompassed by ‘nothing.’" The definition notwithstanding, the show of 60 works takes up two floors.

I have nothing more to say.

Big Nothing
Various venues,
including Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St.
Call or check Web sites for dates and admission info