“Linda Mussmann’s Artistic Journey: A Dedicated Labor of Love”
**Linda Mussmann and Time & Space Limited: A Half Century of Art, Activism, and Community Engagement**
HUDSON, New York — To discuss Linda Mussmann’s dual exhibitions, *New Work by Linda Mussmann* and *Spaces in Places*, at Time & Space Limited (TSL) is to step into a time capsule showcasing five decades of bold creativity, political activism, and community engagement. The exhibitions, hosted in celebration of TSL’s 50th anniversary, are a testament to Mussmann’s enduring and evocative exploration of art as a vehicle for change.
### The Birth of TSL and a Lifelong Partnership
Founded by Mussmann in 1973 in a storefront on 22nd Street in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, TSL began as an experimental theater company with a visionary mission to challenge artistic norms. Just three years later, Mussmann met Claudia Bruce, a writer for *MAJORITY REPORT*, a women’s newspaper. Their connection soon evolved into an inseparable creative partnership. For Bruce and Mussmann, love served as the backbone of their innovation — not only for each other but for art, community, and the experimental ethos that would define TSL.
By 1991, TSL had relocated to Hudson, New York, where the nonprofit flourished as an avant-garde cultural hub. Today, TSL operates as a gallery, independent movie theater, vintage bookstore, and community center — a mosaic that reflects Mussmann’s and Bruce’s interdisciplinary approach to art and life.
### **A First for Mussmann: The Dual Exhibitions**
Though Mussmann has been the heart and soul of TSL for decades, this is the first time her artwork has been exhibited extensively within its walls. The exhibitions juxtapose her theatrical photography (*Spaces in Places*) with her politically charged paintings (*New Work by Linda Mussmann*) — a marriage of her wide-ranging creative practices. While her photographic works document decades of meticulously designed theater sets, her paintings radiate an urgent call for sociopolitical introspection, reflective of a world teetering on the edge.
### **Spaces in Places: Rediscovering Theatrical Landscapes**
The *Spaces in Places* series features color photographs documenting Mussmann’s theatrical set designs from 1981 to 2014 in venues ranging from La MaMa to the Whitney Museum. These visual records capture luminous, nontraditional environments where light and space intertwine with Mussmann’s interpretive genius.
One noteworthy image, “Silent When Loaded” (1985), was taken in the studio of Merce Cunningham and features teacups dramatically stacked in a soft, backlit haze. This piece serves as a nostalgic marker of Mussmann’s connection to Cunningham and composer John Cage, who admired her experimental artistry. Another photograph, “Lenz” (1982), displays Bruce performing in a minimalist tin-clad installation Mussmann designed from materials salvaged from her family farm — a testament to her resourcefulness and boundless imagination.
### **New Work by Linda Mussmann: Painting Activism on a Grand Scale**
*New Work by Linda Mussmann* introduces audiences to her visual artwork, revealing her forceful interrogation of 21st-century issues. Her monumental, unstretched canvases are layered with urgent text fragments such as “time to run” and “the missing is missed,” echoing an existential urgency. Pieces like “Yes I Know This” (2024) and “Is God Sleeping?” (2024) question authority, responsibility, and societal apathy in times of crisis.
“These canvases are about expressing the enormity of what we’re facing today,” Mussmann explained during an interview. Her large, politically charged paintings, bold both in scale and message, stand as direct challenges to complacency in the sociopolitical climate.
### **A Legacy of Radical Creativity**
Mussmann’s career evokes the creative spirit of 1980s New York, where she occupied a cultural moment alongside figures like Keith Haring and Rene Ricard. Her ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with the questions and challenges of contemporary life elevated her work to prominence in both theater and art circles.
A particularly memorable project documented in *Spaces in Places* is “Harbors Wait” (1985), an installation and performance staged in the sculpture garden of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Rarely open to experimental happenings, MoMA’s endorsement of Mussmann’s work speaks to its impact. “I showed a movie of a cow,” she joked, recalling the delightfully anarchic nature of the event, which also included music, performance, and visual installations that defied categorization.
### **Fifty Years and Counting: TSL as a Community Beacon**
TSL, much like its founder, continues to evolve with the times while maintaining a commitment to enriching Hudson’s artistic life. Through its year-round programming and eclectic offerings, TSL challenges audiences to embrace diverse perspectives and engage with art outside the mainstream.
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