Ad Reinhardt and Tony Smith, "A Dialogue," at PaceWildenstein, 32 East 57th Street, December 12, 2008 – January 24, 2009

Of course art historians have detected political leanings even in avowedly apolitical abstraction, but we include this interplay between two giants of minimalism as a reminder that there’s plenty of art on show in this post-election season in New York that doesn't concern itself with our theme. Today Reinhardt and Smith’s world seems almost as distant from our own as the one that spawned Wingate Paine’s girlie photos, yet the simple power of these masters’ dark geometries remains utterly relevant to anyone willing to give them more than a few minutes’ attention.


Ad Reinhardt, "Abstract Painting" (1960–66) and Tony Smith, "Smoke" (1967)

Reinhardt photo by Maggie L. Kundtz, Smith photo by Ellen Page Wilson, courtesy PaceWildenstein