Janet Biggs
Encyclopedia
Janet Biggs is an American video artist, photographer and performance artist living in New York City.
Biggs' video works often include images of individuals engaged in obsessive and extreme activities. She has worked with miners underground, champion wrestlers, speed-obsessed bikers, synchronized swimmers and arctic explorers. Her earlier video work dealt with issues of psychosis and psychotropic drugs.
In addition to videos, her recent work includes multi-discipline performances, often including multiple large-scale videos, live musicians, and athletes.
Biggs' video work has been recently presented at the Gibbes Museum of Art
(Charlotte, NC), Conner Contemporary Art (Washington, DC), the McNay Museum (San Antonio, Texas), Smack Mellon (Brooklyn, NY), Lumen Eclipse
, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
(Ithaca, NY), North Sea Film Festival for Underwater Movies (the Hague, Netherlands), Videonale 13 (Bonn, Germany), and the Houston Center of Photography.
Her work is in the permanent collections of the High Museum of Art
in Atlanta, The Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
, Cornell University, Ithaca, and The New Britain Museum of American Art
, New Britain, Connecticut.
Janet Biggs was a recipient of a New York State Council on the Arts
grant in 2009. She received a funding grants from Art Matters, the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte, and the Goodrich Foundation. In 2004 she received the Anonymous Was a Woman fellowship
, and received a painting fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts
in 1989.
In Spring 2011, Interviewfest.com interviewed Janet Biggs on May 16, 2011 for their May 2011 video edition.
In Fall 2011, The Tampa Art Museum will present "No Limit: Janet Biggs," a mid-career survey of her video works.
Biggs travelled to the far Arctic in 2009-2010, where she captured images of individuals' interaction with the extreme environment. Biggs used this footage to create three videos, "The Arctic Trilogy." These videos were premiered at Ed Winkleman Gallery in Chelsea (New York City) in February 2011. This show was reviewed in the New York Times.
In January 2009, Janet Biggs premiered the 10 minute video Vanishing Point in New York City. This video, inspired by the film Vanishing Point
, combines images of Leslie Porterfield, the world's fastest woman on a motorcycle, with Harlem's Addicts Rehabilitation Center gospel choir. The video examines the struggle to maintain one's identity, the role of those who witness that identity vanishing, and a search for freedom that can end in destruction or transcendence.
On July 14, 2009, Biggs' piece Vanishing Point was screened at New York's River To River Festival. That same evening, Janet Biggs' videos accompanied an ambient performance by Anthony Gonzalez of the band M83
. In April 2009 a photograph by Biggs was used as the FIM, the Official magazine of Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
(FIM).
Contemporary Magazine profiled Janet Biggs in their March 2007 issue, and one of her photographs was used as the cover of Spot magazine's Summer 2007 issue.
In 2006, Hermès
commissioned Biggs to create a new work of art for their flagship New York store. Biggs installed 11 large monitors in the store's Madison Avenue windows, as well as photographs of equestrian-themed images.
Biggs lives and works in New York City, and is represented by Winkleman Gallery (New York City), Conner Contemporary Art
(Washington, DC) and Solomon Projects (Atlanta).
Biggs' video works often include images of individuals engaged in obsessive and extreme activities. She has worked with miners underground, champion wrestlers, speed-obsessed bikers, synchronized swimmers and arctic explorers. Her earlier video work dealt with issues of psychosis and psychotropic drugs.
In addition to videos, her recent work includes multi-discipline performances, often including multiple large-scale videos, live musicians, and athletes.
Biggs' video work has been recently presented at the Gibbes Museum of Art
Gibbes Museum of Art
The Gibbes Museum of Art is an art museum in Charleston, South Carolina. Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858, the museum moved into a new Beaux Arts building at 135 Meeting Street in 1905...
(Charlotte, NC), Conner Contemporary Art (Washington, DC), the McNay Museum (San Antonio, Texas), Smack Mellon (Brooklyn, NY), Lumen Eclipse
Lumen Eclipse
Lumen Eclipse is a public media arts gallery located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded to expand public awareness of local, national, and international artists. The gallery is situated on two mounted displays on the Tourism Information Kiosk, just outside the Harvard Square MBTA...
, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is an art museum located on the northwest corner of the Arts Quad on the main campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It is most well known for its distinctive concrete facade, its collection which includes two windows from Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin...
(Ithaca, NY), North Sea Film Festival for Underwater Movies (the Hague, Netherlands), Videonale 13 (Bonn, Germany), and the Houston Center of Photography.
Her work is in the permanent collections of the High Museum of Art
High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art , located in Atlanta, is the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States and one of the most-visited art museums in the world. Located on Peachtree Street in Midtown, the city's arts district, the High is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center.-History:The Museum was...
in Atlanta, The Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is an art museum located on the northwest corner of the Arts Quad on the main campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It is most well known for its distinctive concrete facade, its collection which includes two windows from Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin...
, Cornell University, Ithaca, and The New Britain Museum of American Art
New Britain Museum of American Art
The New Britain Museum of American Art is an art museum in New Britain, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, it is the first museum in the country dedicated to American art....
, New Britain, Connecticut.
Janet Biggs was a recipient of a New York State Council on the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell , with backing from Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and began its work in 1961...
grant in 2009. She received a funding grants from Art Matters, the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte, and the Goodrich Foundation. In 2004 she received the Anonymous Was a Woman fellowship
, and received a painting fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
in 1989.
In Spring 2011, Interviewfest.com interviewed Janet Biggs on May 16, 2011 for their May 2011 video edition.
In Fall 2011, The Tampa Art Museum will present "No Limit: Janet Biggs," a mid-career survey of her video works.
Biggs travelled to the far Arctic in 2009-2010, where she captured images of individuals' interaction with the extreme environment. Biggs used this footage to create three videos, "The Arctic Trilogy." These videos were premiered at Ed Winkleman Gallery in Chelsea (New York City) in February 2011. This show was reviewed in the New York Times.
In January 2009, Janet Biggs premiered the 10 minute video Vanishing Point in New York City. This video, inspired by the film Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point
Vanishing Point is a 1971 American action-road movie directed by Richard C. Sarafian; starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger....
, combines images of Leslie Porterfield, the world's fastest woman on a motorcycle, with Harlem's Addicts Rehabilitation Center gospel choir. The video examines the struggle to maintain one's identity, the role of those who witness that identity vanishing, and a search for freedom that can end in destruction or transcendence.
On July 14, 2009, Biggs' piece Vanishing Point was screened at New York's River To River Festival. That same evening, Janet Biggs' videos accompanied an ambient performance by Anthony Gonzalez of the band M83
M83 (band)
M83 is a musical act by French musician Anthony Gonzalez. It is named after a spiral galaxy, Messier 83. The band was founded in 2001 by Gonzalez and former member Nicolas Fromageau in Antibes, France...
. In April 2009 a photograph by Biggs was used as the FIM, the Official magazine of Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
(FIM).
Contemporary Magazine profiled Janet Biggs in their March 2007 issue, and one of her photographs was used as the cover of Spot magazine's Summer 2007 issue.
In 2006, Hermès
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
commissioned Biggs to create a new work of art for their flagship New York store. Biggs installed 11 large monitors in the store's Madison Avenue windows, as well as photographs of equestrian-themed images.
Biggs lives and works in New York City, and is represented by Winkleman Gallery (New York City), Conner Contemporary Art
Conner Contemporary Art
Conner Contemporary Art is a fine art gallery in Washington, DC founded by Leigh Conner in 2000. The gallery represents diverse contemporary artists working in all media...
(Washington, DC) and Solomon Projects (Atlanta).
Selected bibliography
- Jeppesen, Travis: Janet Biggs at Mint Museum, Charlotte. Artforum, January 2011.
- Pollack, Barbara: Janet Biggs at Conner Contemporary Art, Washington, DC. ARTnews, November 2010.
- Wennerstrom, Nord: Janet Biggs at Conner Contemporary Art, Washington, DC. Artforum, October 2010.
- Finch, Charlie: Groundhog's Diary. Artnet, 13 February 2009.
- Kurzner, Lisa: "Videos explore adolescents' accomplishments." Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6 June 2008.
- Jenks, Debra: "Pulp Friction - Artists explore the underside of American culture." Chelsea Now, 14 December 2007.
- Maschal, Richard: "Newly Minted" Charlotte Observer, 19 October 2007.
- "Sport and Spectacle," Artkrush online magazine. 8 August 2007.
- Byrd, Cathy: "Janet Biggs." Contemporary, March, 2007.
- Matsumae, Ayano: "Janet Biggs" (review of Behind the Vertical at Hermés, New York ). Nileport Magazine (Japan). November, 2006.
- Dunning, Jennifer: "A Horse and Dancers in an Ode to Interspecies Ties." New York Times, 10 October 2005.
- Tommelleo, Donna: "Former UConn Players' Drills Become a Work of Art." Boston Globe, 27 November 2004.
External links
- jbiggs.com - Janet Biggs' web site
- Janet Biggs interviewed by Interviewfest
- Conner Contemporary Art (Washington, DC)
- Winkleman Gallery (New York City)
- Solomon Projects (Atlanta, GA)
- Biggs interviewed by MyArtSpace
- Slideshow of Biggs' videotaping at the 2008 Motorcycle Speed Trials at Bonneville Salt Flats.