* above, the card for: 'THE SUM AND ALL ITS PARTS' *
* at an alternative venue in BROOKLYN ...*
* see: REVIEW & LOCATION INFO - BELOW *

* THURS JULY 2/1:32PM: ok. so Gavin threw a huge party at his summer group show opening last nite !! - it was an open air BBQ on the street - and Gavin himself was grilling up the burgers all night long. He is a great host and everybody was having a great time. the only complaint was the long line for the beers inside. but, upside: you got to stand under the URS FISCHER piece !! - my fav piece ? - the DAN COLLEN broken glass plate glass door on the floor . . .
. . . so, GEORGIE said hello, looks like he doesn't read artlovers. (that's GEORGIE as in GEORGE CONDO !!). I dunno his piece actually looked ok - esp in the setting. on the other hand, BRIAN BELOTT who DOES read artlovers - was there and took me to task for my recently posted harsh words. that's what happens when a bonafide business deal goes south. duh. short story: he meet me for dinner, asked me to cover a specific event extensively on artlovers, and in return promised a specific piece from the show as payment - to be delivered when the show came down. I did the work, I never rec'd the piece. that was over 2 years ago. I chased it up to a point - and then I just got sick of chasing it. well, one thing's for sure - not keeping your end of a deal - is never a good way to stay on friendly terms .. in any scene. reality check anyone ? he didn't deny the business deal - but, he also DIDN'T say ... I'm shipping it out tomorrow. he just offered some lame excuse like what "a lousy unorganized person" he is - and he "can't do business like that" ?? and, he emphasized that from his side of things - he thought it was unfair for me to bring him to task, esp in public !! . . . because, quote - . . . "he had helped me out so much".

* anyways - the weather held up for Gavin's BBQ - which was great. to-nite it looks to be stormy for the 'BLACK ACID CO-OP' DEITCH/WOOSTER ST. OPENING - but I just heard from someone who had checked in on the installation last night - that . . . "it was awesome" !!
. . . and, yeah luckily the bad weather looks to be clearing up - just in time.

LATER: well, it pretty much poured buckets until clearing up enough to make a trek to the last 1/2 hr of the 'BLACK ACID C0-OP' doable. actually that was probably a good thing - cause it was a veritable 'maze' that was much better navigated with lots of space and personal freedom. it was claustrophobic empty. the dense & detailed installation covered every inch of the DEITCH space. that alone was awesome. I guess. apparently it took the 2 artists, and 10 interns, a whole month of 24/7 to complete. but overall, it was uneven. there were some amazing parts, there were some static parts, there were some dead zones. it lacked the animation of the MICHEL GONDRY 'RE-WIND' installation - which created much more fire - on a lot less labor and parts !! though one had to marvel at how hard these artists had worked to create their detailed grimy environs, is that an end to itself ? though, I did love the METH LAB kitchen !! - and the various openings into the different spaces. the experience became unrelenting. the dirty bathroom was just a little too "shabby chic", and in fact the whole show became a kind of JEFFREY DEITCH vs GAVIN BROWN ... enterprise, at least - in my head. whereas Gavin provided a huge welcome-all BBQ, and all the beer you could drink - with picnic tables and even an overhead tent in case of rain !! hard-core art fans who made it through the super heavy rains found naught to greet them at the DEITCH 'BLACK ACID CO-OP' - except the spectacle of the unsocial and uptight DEITCH 'leader' in his yellow linen suit, reveling in his private self-congratulatory state - amidst the uncool smugness of the disproportionate insiders - who made sure to tell you they were waiting around for the, I guess - supposedly posh - and private after-party !! it left a bad taste to the FREEMAN-LOWE INAUGURAL NYC night - only pointed up by the generous offerings of about 2 dozen homemade chocolate cupcakes some very cool dude was handing around in honor of his girlfriend's birthday !!
. . . yeah, I had been really looking forward to seeing what those 2 METH LAB guys were all about in person, but dudes - if you are going to have a party - have a party !!
. . . better to have deleted just one of those overly worked-on grimy dead-end trash-dump corners - enough already !! and, at the very least budgeted for some beer, ... even maybe - some stacks of your own cup-cakes ??
. . . as the night progressed with very little flair - I found myself wishing .. it had come off with a just a little more inspiration - and, a lot less detail. It ultimately devolved into such an unrelenting - look at me me me. look at what I can do and how smart I am .. experience. it took NO really new leaps - for NYC. I hated the white room. the bookcase-surveillance room was cool - but totally under-served. I dunno, maybe some old-time deck chairs spread about - for people to hang out in would have made it a lot more accessible, and less stifling, physically and intellectually. after a while it got to be - ... "so what?" o-v-e-r-l-o-a-d. which was too bad - esp when you hit that 'upstairs gallery' old time lab, or the crystal/herb store . . . maybe it needed just some more art. come on, you can walk directly out from the gallery, and see the same dirty corners, on Wooster St - and, they have the added value - of being absolutely authentic - for real. like I wanted to see just one CLARE ROJAS painting. or a hand-made quilt. the naked lady t-shirts in the Chinese herb store - were a welcome sight !! when you finally got to them. like I said the METH kitchen was great - but a real party, going on around it - that would have been something. and, back to that bathroom, though amazingly grimy and well-reproduced !! it couldn't come close to toppling the history-making BARRY McGEE one made for DEITCH. in concept or visual richness. look it up in the archives. if you saw it - you know what I mean ... and thinking about it - the show brought to mind another GAVIN BROWN comparison - that awesome - RIRKRIT TIRAVANJA - slummy apartment re-creation - that was also lived in, as it went on - in the old GBE gallery on 15th St. you know what - at the end of the night - for all its mighty labor - the entire 'BLACK ACID CO-OP' - blockbuster tourist destination - its sure to be - was co-opted - by the simple low-fi piece, MICHAEL E. SMITH had thrown down - with no fuss and all statement - on the GAVIN BROWN gallery floor - a vomit stained black T-shirt !!
. . . 'The living and the dead' was not a huge mega-show - but, at least it was ahead of the curve. it had the promise and mystery of fresh starts - for the many new young artists who were given a (big) chance; a good time for all who came by - and, a hard take - if you could really use your eyes and your mind. 'BLACK ACID CO-OP', for all its labor and parts - felt like an over-wrought conceptual 'grind', an overbearing re-creation that had left - its initial party - way behind.

* WED JULY 1/3:38PM: - ok - so, the big opening to-nite !! - is a big group show at GAVIN BROWN'S - where you'll find new work by BORIS RASIN, KENNY KOMER & JERRY BLACKMAN, among the usual, and some unusual suspects. Gavin must have ties to the MUGRABI/BRANT machine, duh, from way back !! and hey why not, DUDE - he's gotta move a lotta art, just to stand still - you only wish you had those kind of BFFS. cause they're gonna pull out - speak of the devil !! - GEORGE CONDO - not seen around these parts - for many a year !! ... the show is called 'The living and the dead' - I think that's just a metaphor - I'll have to inquire as to who's (really) dead ? ... though I might just need a bodyguard myself - talking bout life and death - having so rude-ly called some of those participating, apart from the curious re-surfacing of GEORGE CONDO !! - the 'living' dead, myself - recently !! ... bad girl *

* tomorrow nite - THURS JULY 2 - sees an opening at DEITCH PROJECTS on WOOSTER. Jeffrey D is probably gonna wipe the summer must-see block-buster spotlight - right out from under Gavin - unless URS FISCHER provided a mega-work ? - with the opening of his brand new NYC version of the JONAH FREEMAN & JUSTIN LOWE - ELEANOR CAYRE - MIAMI STATION HIT - 'HELLO METH LAB' - resurrected here as 'BLACK ACID CO-OP' !! bet both openings will be huge mega-crush - events, so bring your own water *

* so funny, how its such a small world - here's YOUR chance to come to your own conclusions re: GEORGE CONDO !! GEORGE CONDO, better than vomit ? maybe we should take a poll ? should art criticism be democratic. American Idol, anyone ? maybe we should get with the rest of America - send in your thoughts & we'll - print 'em !! *
* hey, that's not such a bad idea - maybe we can set up artlovers 'pay-to-vote' phone lines, just joking, NOT !! watch some DUDE with better tech skills - is gonna pick it up and .. another bright idea bites the dust & feeds someone else, what else is new !! *

* BREAKING NEWS !! FRI JUNE 26/4:32PM: ARTLOVERS CONTRIBUTOR-AT-LARGE - SIMON CERIGO, JUST BACK FROM HIS USUAL FRI MORNING TAPING OF THE - MARK KOSTABI CABLE SHOW - 'NAME THAT PAINTING' - !! - COULDN'T WAIT TO REPORT THAT: HE HAD JUST WITNESSED the "TRIUMPHANT" RETURN OF - GLENN O'BRIEN - to the show, and it's number 1 - money-making spot !! and, guess what !! KOSTABI pays more than INTERVIEW !! GLENN WALKED OFF with over $500 in cash. SIMON, a little upset to see his own cash flow cut into by Glenn's re-appearance - still had to concede in all fairness - that GLENN did come up with some pretty good titles.
... oh how the mighty fall. or NOT !! *

* so the KOSTABI game show is now called: 'TITLE THIS'. (how come the name change, MARK ? - 'NAME THAT PAINTING' was way catchier !!)
anyways - they tape one week in advance - so today's show won't post till next week, but GLENN O'BRIEN actually surfaced in the recent MAY 27 video called: 'LOVE WITHDRAWAL' - how appropriate for the recently deposed, or as they say, FORMER - INTERVIEW editor. though he was still in his position at the time. but maybe the writing was on the wall ? you can find the shows archived here: KOSTABI GAME SHOWS !!, scroll down the right hand index for 'LOVE WITHDRAWAL' !!,
or check out: MARK KOSTABI OFFICIAL WEBSITE !!

* 'THE SUM AND ALL ITS PARTS' - BROOKLYN *
* a group show of young artists curated by JENNY BORLAND & BEAU RUTLAND *
* incl works by KENNY KOMER & BORIS RASIN !! *
* as well as: PAUL BRANCA, GORDON FAYLOR, RYAN FOESTER, JAIME GECKER, DAVID ROTHENBERG, RYAN ROWLETT, KIRBY SALVADOR, LANYA SNYDER, LeROY STEVENS & HEIDI TURPIN !! *
* the show explores: "the concepts of multiples - highlites incl a vinyl recording of a NYC record store clerk's favorite screams !!, a painting series of roadside explosions, and a site-specific installation in an abandoned stairwell."
* opened last THURS JUNE 18/7-10PM !! *
* looks to be a really nice PARTY !! and, it was !! *
* 427 MANHATTAN AVE at BAYARD ST *
* L to LORIMER or G to NASSAU / BROOKLYN - if you can't make the opening *
* the show runs: JUNE 18 - JULY 26 *
* hrs: TU, TH, SAT, SUN 12-6PM *
* THURS JUNE 25: well, if YOU are visiting NEW YORK CITY & want to see the REAL deal - THIS is the show to see. . . . real live NEW YORK CITY artists, and, not one wannabe. funny, brilliant, quirky, smart ass. even scientific !! almost every piece makes you stop in your tracks to ponder what the hell is going on .. if they ain't melting pennies by sunlight, then they are taking your dollar bills by machine !! .. it's way the hell out in the middle of nowhere - except that wasteland just happens to be home to the famed McCARREN PARK, awesome, YES !! even in the rain. s-p-o-o-k-y. plus, if you get hungry you can stroll over to MATCHLESS, a local fav band & dive bar - and no wonder !! it's just a block away and serving up the best MAC and CHEESE - this side of heaven, and a big helping, which is only a half-order !! sets you back just $4 - all around the best deal in town. art, food and park. PIX go up soon - its just I'm so bummed out by all the usual suspects I can't get down to it - oh well - hey, they ... that's - CHARLIE FINCH - don't call me - 'CRACKULA' - for nothing. I'm taking the weekend off !! - check back - Monday for all the PIX !! !! *

* BREAKING NEWS - WED JUNE 17/5 PM - well BELLWETHER closed - as if we didn't see that coming - nobody's gonna miss that stupid cow - she was one nasty piece of work. that's just the friggin truth. got her number way back in 2001 - when she tried to make it as an artist - and it never changed. sorry can't tell it any other way, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I bet she ripped off a lot of artists - on the long way down. ... if you bought from her - you lost !!
. . . I guess - its a SORRY sign of how desperate things are - when you see PHIL GRAUER FROM CANADA - COMIN' AROUND SNIFFING FOR FREE BUZZ - hey PHIL - where's ART FORUM when you need them - you mean those ART FORUM ADS don't produce - hey does FREIGHT & VOLUME have an opinion on that. FREIGHT & VOLUME !! double page ads, my foot. the only people in ART FORUM these days - are the VANITY TRUST FUND BABIES, yeah - that's you NICK LAWRENCE - what a fake ...
the only thing worse - BRIAN BELOTT !! its ok to be RUD-Y - until you actually might want something from the person you've been bad mouthing ... ever see BRIAN play 'choirboy', ya should been at the BOBO concert - he was there all humble - Brian Belott brown-nosing - priceless !! . . . we're gonna start giving out the BIGGEST FAKE awards around here !! and we're gonna call them - KB's - for KATHERINE BERNHARDT !! well, at least its good for a laugh !! unless you bought in, loser. and, no NEW YORK MAG - they don't look good on your wall. and neither do XYLOR JANE'S bullshit, for that matter. close death encounter or not. and if you're buying KELTIE FERRIS cause she's some charismatic dyke that really looks like a cute guy - good luck - re-selling that crap. awesome, NOT !! don't get me wrong - I'm not against the race - makes fascinating t.v. - it's just - not - the right reason to buy the art.
well, hey ERIK FOSS and BRENDT BARBUR already cleaned up on the LOSERS of the MONTH award - what more do you want? INTERVIEW stiffing its writers was last week's news. what? I'm picking on the underground, hey we haven't even started in on the BUSHWICK losers - who's that dumb chick who runs FACTORY FRESH. she's number 1. oooh. you mean underground as opposed to blue chip. sorry. yep, I CAN be an equal opportunity disser - THE MUGRABIS take FIRST place - in that world - they came off as the biggest fools of all time in their recent NEW TIMES MAGAZINE OUTING - I'd rather stare at vomit without blinking - than glance at a GEORGE CONDO for a second, and I don't know one single person - who doesn't agree. . and no, no, no - no one is going to be into wanting, let alone plunking down millions for - DAMIEN HIRST pieces that have to be "drained and the cows put into freezers". duh, that's what happens when you jump from selling schmattas to WARHOLS, and miss ART 101.that means you too, ABBY ROSEN. shame shame - haven't you figured it out, (apart from going down with the INTERVIEW ship as well ...), from your spoiled kids' misadventures destroying HAMPTONS wetlands with their ATV's last summer - that the new age world is green - not frozen full-grown cow and shark carcasses that need to be placed in freezers - and friggin' OVERSIZE FREEZERS at that - what kinda home freezer holds a cow ? not to mention running up huge electric bills . . Yeah. I got a DAMIEN HIRST - but I gotta keep it in the freezer with the hamburgers. plus, they are filled with FORMALDHYDE - you probably need a HAZ MAT team - to drain the damn thing ? and what do you do with the empty industrial-sized tank - maybe you can convert into a couch ? yo, people want art they can be proud of, not embarrassed by - and, you know - art they can display. I'd say: like PAULA HAYES - but, hey I'm not paid for - by the MARIANNE BOESKY/JEANNE GREENBERG big bucks trust fund pr machine.
... and don't even get me started on BASEL !! how sick, sick, as in really sick, absolutely jewel-drippingly FAKE !! as in HIRST wannabe - not cool - is that PHARRELL WILLIAMS/MURAKAMI no-talent piece that sold for 2 million. and what about that Brad Pitt, art collector extraordinaire - not !! at least that makes his way-behind-the-curve purchase at ZWIRNER look half-way good. he still got ripped. big time. and everybody knows MATTHEW DAY JACKSON - affectionately known around here by all, as: "took the wrong way off the Whitney Biennial" boy, and for good reason !! - is a has-been. yet, he gets written up as the last great hope, well - that's what happens when you let CAROL VOGEL cover the contemporary art scene - ain't they ever gonna learn ? no wonder the art world is tanking. DAMIEN HIRST - no pun intended !!

* posted: THURS JUNE 18 *
* FUN EVENT at MoCCA - MUSEUM of COMIC & CARTOON ART - TO-NITE *
* 'TYPHON' ANTHOLOGY - SLIDESHOW !! *
* check: THE BOMB *

* so, GOOD NEWS - don't miss ANNE EASTMAN - 'MOBILES' at ATM - its been extended thru Sat June 20th !! a show that really really grows on ya. what's the matter - NEW YORK MAG - not cool nuff to get - what's really cutting edge ? always just missing it, what else is new ... *

* and definite - check out the HIGH LINE !! while you are in Chelsea - YES !! it's just as great as they say !! it's a real urban design triumph *
* its gonna be everybody's new favorite place *
* its landscaped beautifully - they kept its original wild flower feel !! its the definite - real deal !! *
* starting point is: GANSEVOORT ST & WASHINGTON - near the SPICE MARKET/just south of 14th St & 10th Ave !! *
* see: THE HIGH LINE !! *
* see: THE HIGH LINE/background !! *

* also check: THE BOMB *
* posted: WED JUNE 10 *
* BOBO PLAYS NYC & GLENN O'BRIEN IS OUSTED FROM INTERVIEW !! *

* posted JUNE 9: *
* CASEY JEX SMITH OPENING PIX - this is probably the most intriguing and intense drawing/collage show around !! - definite worth a visit !! *
* at LaVIOLA BANK - Lower East Side *
* had a strange time writing it up - but meant to say - its real intense and its combo of fantasy & religion - comes at ya - like nothing you've seen before - and that's a good thing !! *
* its intense, and yet very light-handed - you've just gotta see it for yourself - its the kind of visual experience that is hard to put into words. talking about the deeper themes - really doesn't do it justice ... *

* DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI OPENING PIX/at MoCCA - MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART - also a definite - don't miss it - also top notch !! *
* plus they have a great & free invite/poster for the show !! don't forget to pick one up *

* posted: JUNE 6 *
* 2 GREAT !! OPENINGS on THE LOWER EAST SIDE - TO-NITE !! *
* CASEY JEX SMITH at LaVIOLA BANK & DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI at MoCCA ! *
* plus: ANTON KUTCHNER & DEMI MOORE - TWITTER for WE LIVE IN PUBLIC !! *
* check: THE BOMB for details !! *

* posted: THURS MAY 28 *
* more pix from the HELLE MARDAHL show/LAVIOLA BANK *
* more pix from the ANNE EASTMAN SHOW at ATM !! which I'm loving more & more *
* check: the BOMB *

* also: LARS MONRAD VAAGE just sent in some pix from the LASZLO GIRGASZ - NATIONALMUSEUM OPENING !! *
* v-e-r-y interesting !! *
* scroll down the BOMB/or hit: UP-DATE !!

* re: ANNE EASTMAN/MOBILES at ATM !! *
* a very fine - low-fi sculpture show *
* with the lightest of touches & reflections !! *
* what's in the water !! *
* I've had to think on this one a little bit - its simplicity belies its utmost beauty *

* HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2009 !! *
* MORE PIX FROM C.H.U.D.Z. - ALEX BARRY, RICHARD COLMAN & JOSH SLATER *
* featuring some - industrial strength humor from ALEX BARRY !! *
* posted !! see: ART LOVERS PHOTOS !! *

* p.s. - if you missed it - you blew it !! *
* 'I, Ms. Grandpa' - new works by GEORGIA GRAY & JORY RABINOVITZ !! *
* at PETER COOPER PARK at COOPER UNION *
* this past SUN MAY 17th - was a one-day morning glory !! *
* best one day outdoor sculpture 2 person indie show - ev-ah !! *
* and yes, it was pretty much - low-fi, get-in, get-out super imaginative hi-grade - yet, easy to install sculpture !! *
* easy on the eyes, too *
* just ask PATRICK GRIFFIN, he was there !! *
* it was also self-produced/alternative location *
* YAH !! I got the photos - will post soon - hopefully - end of this !! week !! *

* the DIRTY PROJECTORS - 'I PITY THE POOR IMMIGRANTS' - YouTube link *
* posted - its SUPER/BRILLIANT !! - check the BOMB !! *
* thanks, SIMON !! *