~VENUS OVER MANHATTAN lands in NEW YORK
PHOTO OF DASH SNOW – ARTIST CREDIT TO BE POSTED
IMAGE: VENUS OVER MANHATTAN – INAUGURAL CATALOG, MAY 2012
note: . . . and yes those are his REAL day of the dead tattoos, T-SHIRT, NOT !!
JEFF KOONS, ‘Violet Ice (Kama Sutra)’, 1991
IMAGE: VENUS OVER MANHATTAN – INAUGURAL CATALOG, MAY 2012
ART MAVEN SIMON CERIGO was at the inaugural opening of New York City’s latest addition to the art world’s big money stratosphere – and reports:
ADAM LINDEMANN’S NEW EXHIBITION SPACE TO OPEN WITH ‘A REBOURS’ on MAY 10, 2012.
the gallery, titled VENUS OVER MANHATTAN, ‘V over M’ for short – is located at 980 MADISON AVE, between East 76th and 77th Streets on the 3rd floor – and is open to the public Tuesday thru Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. the inaugural show, ‘A REBOURS’ runs thru JUNE 30, 2012.
SIMON RELATES:
to catch the hi-end auction crowd from the SOTHEBY’S CONTEMPORARY SALE, and to be in-your-face, the opening started at 10 PM to rivers of champagne, absinthe, tiny gourmet chocolate, and beautiful women. With this enterprise, ADAM LINDEMANN, that very vocal collector who pens a column on the art world for the OBSERVER – is out to make a ‘hopefully’ compelling aesthetic statement.
Besides the work, the tone of the presentation was very downtown, not uptown. The interior of the approx. 6,000 sq. ft. space was left raw, and the lighting was as dark as a nightclub, except for spotlights trained on the work. The ‘faux antique’ catalogs were also haphazardly stacked on the floor at the right of the entrance, just like you might find in Brooklyn !!
Leaving behind all the other art world baggage Mr. Lindemann brings to the already over-wrought New York art scene, VENUS OVER MANHATTAN is the latest example of a new trend, “collector turns into dealer”, joining the MUGRABIS and PETER BRANT. With this show, Mr. Lindemann is staking out a position – as an “arbiter of taste”.
Like his writings, this ‘romantic’ show which features work from the 19th century to the present, and from primitive, a ‘Royal Hawaiian feather cloak’, c. 1750, to Mr. Jeff Koons, aspires to achieve a ‘shock’, in that all the work presented expresses an extreme emotional state. There is a lot of poetry here, enough to sustain the opening night, but whether it’s enough to make a whole program – is what everybody is talking about.
An opinionated blue chip player, who looks and acts like a young Marlon Brando in a leather biker jacket, in a sea of suits, he is out to rattle the establishment. he’s on record for writing that the ethics of the art world – are worse than those on Wall Street. But, he also creates his own controversy. A recent example would be that he was famously called out for slamming MIAMI BASEL, as being played out, but then shows up. (!!)
One thing’s for sure – the spirit of downtown, was definitely uptown – at this inaugural party. Lindemann’s wife, the well-known art dealer AMALIA DAYAN, was a stand-out at the opening in her skin-tight one piece couture jump suit. by the time I noticed her, I was already a little drunk, so I can’t quite remember if it had fishes, or were those trees ? printed all over it. Fashionistas, sorry to let you down on the details, but stunning – is the final word.
see: VENUS OVER MANHATTAN
~PIX from the CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. opening at TEKSERVE
ART@TEKSERVE PRESENTS:
‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ – ‘IMAGES FROM AN ONGOING JOURNEY by CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.’
this in-store exhibition of a selection of documentary photographs by Chester Higgins Jr. is up thru JUNE 13, 2012
see more info: on Mr. Higgins & the show
TEKSERVE – 119 WEST 23 ST – CHELSEA, NYC
PIX – FROM THE CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. OPENING PARTY – at TEKSERVE. SAT MAY 5, 2012
CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. with the show’s poster – outside the TEKSERVE store.
Brooklyn-based CHESTER HIGGINS Jr., a staff photographer for the NEW YORK TIMES since 1975, grew up in Alabama before and during the Civil Rights era. Since his first trip to Africa in 1971, he has returned for 6 weeks every summer, returning more than 30 times . . . to photograph the people, ancient sites, ceremonies and small town life in ETHIOPIA, MALI, SENEGAL and GHANA.
some friends stop to congratulate Chester on his show. with Chester Higgins Jr., JUANITA BROWN (in back at left) with her family, a young JAH’SUN in front, his sister MICAELA LANDELL in the (lovely) hat, and beside Mr. Higgins, their mom, CHAPELLE.
left, documentary filmmaker & media consultant ERIC V. TAIT, Jr – a long time friend of
Mr. Higgins’. with him, BILL RANDOLPH.
back in the store: CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. with DJ UNIVERSE, who was spinning (great) African beats.
many photographers, and media people attended the (super) lively & packed event.
DJ UNIVERSE PRESENTS: THE LUXURY W.H.I.T.E. PARTY – SATURDAY JUNE 2ND, 2012 @TORO LOUNGE/NYC @THE SMYTHE HOTEL (!!)
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are stunning, and absolutely intriguing large scale full color prints arrayed along the wall – above the store’s stock shelves, whose top most shelf display the store’s famous vintage radio collection !!
PHOTOS BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
“As a 25-year old, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that I was not traveling to Africa to see the animals.” – CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
note: the beer bottle – ‘cap’ headdress. (!!)
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are also multi images running in short loops – on the store’s display screens.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are also display cases throughout the store with selections of smaller black & white prints . . . which in many ways were even more astonishing for the feelings they conveyed – despite the smaller size and limited palette. the thing about Mr. Higgins’ work, is not only is it an amazing record, a ‘talking’ pictorial & archival history – but the images are meaningful – in the deepest sense.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Grand Mosque. Djenne, Mali. 1993.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Hebrew Wedding at Commandment Keepers Synagogue, Harlem. 1982
perhaps the most intriguing of the black and white photos – is the small series found in the display cases near the TEKSERVE PRO-AUDIO room. titled: ‘FINDING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN NYC’ – it showcases very intimate and moving portraits of the African-American Hebrew community, here in NYC.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Beth Shalom Synagogue, Brooklyn. 2010.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Bar Mitzvah preparations at Binah, Bronx, 2005.
‘TEKSERVIANS’: from left, SESIMA KAMARA and MAUREEN COOTER. Maureen helped produce the show, alongside curator JAN ALBERT. Sesima and Maureen are both wearing African print dresses, handmade and designed by – Sesima. (!!)
SESIMA KAMARA at the CHESTER HIGGINS JR, ‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ opening party, an exhibit of documentary photographs – proudly presented by ART@TEKSERVE, as as in-store exhibit, which is up thru June 13, 2012.
SESIMA works in the finance dept at TEKSERVE, but apparently aspires to be a dressmaker. she picks up the material, and sometimes has her African-inspired dresses stitched, in Liberia – which she visits very often to check in with family. a nice last look at the opening party, for a show with deep spiritual roots – that also manages to sit, right on the cutting edge.
PHOTOS OF THE OPENING & INSTALLATION: NANCY SMITH
~PLEATED SKIRTS – SWEEPING FASHION
PLEATS, PLEATS & MORE PLEATS !!
I knew it !!
the very day after I posted that great photo by CHESTER HIGGINS JR. of the tough-looking street-wise flashlight totin’ fashion forward girls in Ethiopia – I caught a local beauty, on the 6 train – wearing a long pleated skirt, in much the same tone, and cut !! she told me she borrowed it from her mother !!, but “it was bought here, they have them everywhere !!”
these street-wise Maale girls, got their street-style fashion flair nailed down, no doubt about it !! pleats, colors, vibe and beads. they empty the batteries out of those flashlights and use them to carry all their essentials . . . and, maybe there’s even a couple of ‘loaded’ metaphors to be found, in that straightforward accessory re-adaption ? it’s pretty a pretty striking get-up, all in all. shine on, tough sisters. you rule.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS JR. IMAGE COURTESY/TEKSERVE
p.s. the CHESTER HIGGINS exhibit, ‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ is up through JUNE 13, 2012 – and yes, it’s wonderful.
PIX FROM THE OPENING – POSTING TUES MAY 15th . . .
more info: ART@TEKSERVE
PHOTO BY NANCY SMITH. . . . cutting edge street fashion rides the 6 train, NEW YORK CITY, MAY 6, 2012.
of course, if there was any doubt about the new pleats frenzy – sure enough, a few short tabloid days later – up pops a photo in the NEW YORK POST – of cutting edge super model & courtroom warrior LINDA EVANGELISTA – and, yes !! she’s wearing PLEATS !!
voila – the world in a nutshell . . .
PHOTO:AFP/Getty Images/courtesy: NEW YORK POST, Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
WE’RE ‘LINDA’ MONEY – Linda Evangelista arrives at court in Manhattan yesterday, after reaching a child-support settlement deal . . . with billionaire baby-daddy FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT, the CEO of the Paris-based conglomerate that owns GUCCI and YVES ST. LAURENT, among other top tier luxury businesses.
what’s really amazin’ is that, M. Pinault, a big time, as in mega art collector – and major art world player over in Europe, Paris and Venice – could time his court appearance – to auction week !!
FAB, FAB and, more FAB !!
read: all about it
~NOODLE BEACHES for MEETING WITCHES
heads up: JAMES MOORE is going to be SHOWING EXCERPTS from his upcoming VIDEO PROJECT – ‘SACRED RIVER’ – after Thursday’s APOCALYPTIC SUNSET !!
NOODLE BEACHES for MEETING WITCHES
THURSDAY – MAY 10, 2012 / 7PM – 12 PM
BIG SNOW BUFFALO LODGE
89 VARET ST – BROOKLYN – bet GRAHAM & HUMBOLDT
J/M to FLUSHING or L to MONTROSE
see: FACEBOOK
VIDEO: Amanda Wong, Ting Ting, James Moore, Berebere, Warra Hugh, EwE (Solyi Suh and Min Ji), Andrew H. Shirley
ARTISTS: Heather Benjamin, Aehee Kang Asano, Alex Dyck, Greem Jellyfish, Lindsey Elseasser, Dana Wood Zinsser, Asher Penn, Zoo Lion, Ian helwig, Richard Abel, Molly Stene, Fumie Ishii, Chanae Marie
MUSIC:
11:00 id m thft able
10:30 addbeefrrall
10:00 Jazz Massagers
09:30 ashcanorchestra
05:00 dj Noah Sparkles
UP-DATE: THURS MAY 10, 2012 / 9:04 AM
well, they sure nailed that, alright !!
everybody in NYC waking up to a beyond bright, sunny, super saturated sunny !! hot beach-ready day, after weeks of rain & cold and damp and drizzle. already the early morning has the feel of a blow-out beach summer day, with beyond, brilliant – blue skies !!
p.s. the FACEBOOK invite says: wear your best beach attire !!
o.k. noise music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – but when there are conjuring ‘chimes’ involved – and dead-on astronomy – you got to stop and count the planets. MERCURY & VENUS – doing their May magic. and creating the hyper luminous sunsets, and the week’s eerie bright, positively glowing, man-in-the-moon looking down at us.
I guess, witches ? yes !!
~ELI BROAD . . . PIX from the NYC BOOKSIGNING
PIX – FROM THE ELI BROAD – 92Y, NYC – BOOKSIGNING – MAY 6, 2012 !!
mega art collector & mega philanthropist – ELI BROAD, flew in from the West Coast for the big contemporary auctions – and while here, gave a low-key talk at 92Y, this past Sunday, May 6, 2012. CHARLIE ROSE moderated, and the easy flowing talk was followed by a booksigning for Mr. Broad’s newly published hardcover book, a semi-autobiography framed as an ‘how to succeed’ manual: ‘THE ART OF BEING UNREASONABLE’ – subtitled, ‘LESSONS IN UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING’, WILEY, (2012).
on the right: EDYE BROAD, Mr. Broad’s wife who shares his passion for art, and philanthropy big time – and the well-know curator, NORA HALPERN, at left.
see: NORA HALPERN
also present, DAVID MUGRABI of the WARHOL and BASQUIAT collecting & selling, NYC-based, MUGRABI clan, and a cutting edge collector in his right.
LA-based art world kingpin – ELI BROAD, now 78 – signs his new book.
the advance publicity for the event advised that the talk would center on ‘business’ advice – not the art world, but I was banking, NOT !!
and I was right !!
no matter what you may have heard about the guy – up close and personal, you could easily see he has a real deep-rooted passion for the arts – and not only did that sentiment dominate the stage, it was the final destination of many a sentence – that might have started out elsewhere !! CINDY SHERMAN and JEFF KOONS, in particular with their hyper-visual, yet super smart intellectually-infused work, seem to have really caught him hard. though he did mention in passing, that he had seen a young JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT’S work in the basement at ANNINA NOSEI’s now ‘infamous’ gallery on Prince St. in Soho, in the early 80s. which is also about the same time he first stumbled upon a young CINDY SHERMAN’s work at the original METRO PICTURES Gallery on Mercer St., also in Soho – which was really happening, hard and fast back then. and definitely the place to be.
In fact, he seemed very proud of the fact that he had purchased his very first Cindy Sherman photograph in 1982, from Metro Pictures, still her dealer, for $200. Charlie Rose then asked him: if he had seen the big CINDY SHERMAN retrospective, currently up through JUNE 11, 2012 at MoMA, and, what he had thought. Mr. Broad, could barely muster “of course” – the memory of that show, obviously being so awesome to him, he was rendered momentarily speechless.
so, there it was in a nutshell.
forget about ‘branding’ collections – as the reason to buy art, and/or business advice.
bye the way, he never once mentioned the money-making aspects of the art world, not once !!
but just mention CINDY SHERMAN, and there was the hard-nosed self-made businessman billionaire, to whom Charlie Rose termed, right to his face as: “tough, tough, and more tough. . . and if you want gracious, see Edye !!” – and you’d see the big guy fall fall falling into such a momentary state of transcendence, such a moment of pure delight and speechless reverie !! – it was almost tactile. and you wish it could only be contagious. I think it was seeing this head-on mix between the stubborn hard-boiled corporate number cruncher and the deep-ending visual dreamer – that shocked and awed me, the most. talk about 6 pack to heaven.
Mr. Rose also let drop, in a slightly more alarming ? enlightening ? phrase that: “negotiations with Eli Broad are said, never to be over – until they’re really over ” !! ha. in other words if you’ve ever inked a NYC lease – you know what he’s talking about !! just when you’ve shook hands, and you think the deal’s done, the guys tells you, and oh by the way, I want the . . . . . . . corner office, for life, for free. and the table in it !!
p.s. the big guy didn’t bat an eyelash. if butter could melt in his mouth it would. he was very charming throughout. and Mr. Rose did try to get a rise from him, every here and there. but no could do. but if you really looked hard – you could see a deep-rooted fierceness, down there hand-in-hand with the art passion, which made his total presence, his live persona – very compelling. you only wish you could put a cap on it, and sell it.
the book includes a few pages of archival photos. this is Mr. Broad with his striking beautiful wife, EDYE, still a lovely and very chic woman – and their young family. apparently Mr. Broad had been working on a more extensive autobiography, but it was “taking too long” – so he jumped straight to the chase – with this book. why do I get the feeling, that’s the story – of his life !!
MR. BROAD, rhymes with road, went on to relate that he and his wife have 2,000 artworks in their ‘private’ collection, by 110 different artists . . . and that they buy a new piece every year, from Cindy and Jeff. and, he told Charlie, of course, one of his big thrills is being invited back to an artist’s studio. Mr. Broad did credit his wife with being an important force behind the collecting – he called it an “addiction”. yep, when you can really get the art – it sure can sweep you up, and hit you hard.
one funny story he related was how early on in the making of his fortune, they started collecting art in 1972, EDYE had seen an early ANDY WARHOL soup can that was going for $100. but she hesitated on buying it, thinking her husband would consider her nuts. he admits that he didn’t really get Andy right away, but eventually came to see him as a modern master, big time . . right up there with Duchamp, etc. Flashforward, they were both at a big contemporary auction when one of those very soup cans came up for bidding. someone won it for $10 million !! and Mr. Broad relates that Edye turned around to him and said: “what idiot just bought that, and for that much ?” and it was – him !! and, he lamented to us . . . it was a torn one, too.
the FRANK GEHRY-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. Photo source: TOM BONNER
of course, Mr. BROAD is justifiably proud of how he has contributed to, and led the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles, including the souvenir postcard-ready WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, above, a project that had been stalled, until he came onboard . . . and the art scene as whole, down there. he says, and it’s quite true, that before he came on the scene, you had to be a New York-based artist – if you wanted to make it, and now that isn’t quite true anymore, and even as a New York-centric scenester, I’d have to concede – that, yes, that was indeed correct, though with not quite as much conviction. and, the artist that I have in mind, RETNA !! is probably not one that Mr. Broad is referencing – though RETNA did benefit from the big street art push at the ELI BROAD supported – MOCA. but yes, this was unthinkable a decade ago.
Mr. Broad went on to say, that he and his wife live in a Frank Gehry-designed home, and “they love it”. but, as a quick-to-read between the lines, character myself – I gather there was / is some incredible controversy / power struggle, and why not !! or maybe: how not !! that ensued between these two powerful men !! because Charlie Rose kept on trying to catch him, trip him up, from time to time, saying things like: “are you sure, you two are good friends ?”, or “you guys are on speaking terms ?” to which Mr. Broad would always counter: yes, of course they were on speaking terms, it fact they were good friends “who meet for dinner once a month” . . ” or something like that . . . ha. if only to be a fly on in the wall – in that game !!
Mr. Broad did let slip, things like delays with construction papers for building permits, and that he had slowly come to realize that every time Mr. Gehry said he needed to make an adjustment – “it meant he was gonna change the whole design from top to bottom” !! in other words one might surmise – that whatever a non-stoppable bulldozer Mr. Broad was in the business world, as he amassed his two huge FORTUNE 500 companies and vast billion+ dollar empire – that when he hit the art world – he hit the wall. ha. welcome to the art world. and the mind of the creative genius. though he did also footnote that: he thought architecture was a true art form, unlike the sculptor RICHARD SERRA, who he related, did NOT. though he did clarify that Serra was a great “sculptor”. and Gehry obviously a genius.
(it’s funny to consider how they both, Serra and Gehry, share a love of huge curved metal forms.)
“JEFF KOONS has become one of Eli and Eyde Broad’s dearest friends and (one of the) most treasured artists in their collections. The Broad collections have 27 works by the artist.” – the caption under the archival photo in the book.
one: collections – plural is right. apart from their very own private collection of 2,000 contemporary, they only collect contemporary, artworks that are hung in their homes, (homes – plural, I’m assuming ?), Eli and Edye Broad have, maintain, and/or otherwise support and bankroll several other major collections in many other guises and housed in other institutions, mostly museums, and they are instrumental in the leadership and even the building of those other museums. as tonight’s talk went, these offshoots – did not get that much specific attention.
though he did say that he moved to L.A. in 1963 because of the wide open housing market, one of his key businesses, and mostly that he liked that L.A. was in his words a “meritocracy” where talent and ideas, not who you knew, could get you ahead. he and his wife are big into philanthropy, and have contributed immensely to the education, science, medicine, and art platforms in California. and we are talking like 400 million here, an additional $200 million there, etc. etc. he seems to have taken educational reform to heart, and he believes in giving away your wealth in your lifetime, (as he put it: “at least you know where it’s going that way”) and putting it back into the community. in other words, as he sees it, the real race to succeed and accumulate all that wealth – is really – just to give it way in a meaningful and focused way. He referenced ‘NATION AT RISK’ (1983), as a great inspiration.
two: I, personally – used to think not so much of Mr. Broad’s collecting because it seemed to stop with the 80′s, and it’s 2012 !! it seemed not to go forward from that point on, as if not much had happened past Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons . . . but the one really BIG thing I took away from this talk – was how much, and it’s a huge amount dollar-wise & commitment-wise, the Broads direct to supporting fine art and design education in California, the number of colleges, universities, and design schools that receive their support – is almost a truly blanket reality.
SO, SERIOUSLY, if you’re not so much in touch with the cutting edge happening art, yourself – how great, not to just continue to be cherry-picking from the elitist & narrow gallery-commerce scene . . . which in effect – is just putting the money pack into the FEW private pockets, of a few chosen artists or dealers – but to seriously spread the wealth among the entire creative scene, by endowing, supporting and nuturing a whole web of higher education and museum platforms for the arts, especially one with an eye towards what’s – popping !! hot !! getting the art world: the art experience, the art skills, the whole creative brain wave – out there – in the broadest, pun intended – way possible.
case in point: one of the most impressive young artists I’ve come across recently, DEREK WEISBERG, who was NOT showing his on-point porcelain sculptures in any of the predictable and established art venues here, but at the Greenwich House Pottery’s small storefront gallery (!!), has a resume that seems to mark him as a product of that BROAD-inspired California arts educational landscape. Mr. Weisberg received his BFA from California College of Arts and Crafts in 2005, and even if that school is not a direct recipient of the Broads inspired largesse, I’m not sure specifically, though I’m thinking yes ? – I’m sure that Derek Weisberg benefited from the cultural richness – that the Broads have brought to that part of the country. same with RETNA. who showed at that big street art exhibit that happened at MOCA.
and, so I’m down with that. I guess keeping it real, is the key.
three: ok. just to get back on point !! and bring everything back home !!
it was truly shock and awing !! to see this tough as nails, brilliant, apparently hard as diamonds businessman, who built two Fortune 500 companies, from the ground-up, present himself so humbly – in the face of what we all live and breathe for – the art world !!
here’s a guy who started off as a cut-and-dry C.P.A. in Michigan – and goes on through the housing business, to build up SUN AMERICA INSURANCE, based on retirement funds (!!) – and sells it to AIG (Hank Greenberg, ha – would have liked to have seen those two in motion, just saying . . .) for 18 billion – and Jeff Koon’s stainless steel ‘Rabbit’ will bring him to his knees – every time.
footnote, FILE UNDER: MAYBE, YOUR TIGER MOM ISN’T ALL THAT RIGHT, AFTER ALL.
SO: it was so jolting to see two young, well, twenty-something, Asian-American girls in the small audience, (figuratively) jump on Mr. Broad during what was supposed to be a Q&A. the first aggressively challenged Mr. Broad to look at her work right then & there, after the talk. that really woke up a spark in Mr. Rose, who immediately got right in there, and told her how rude it was for her to ask this of his guest, and he refused to allow her put Mr. Broad on the spot like that – and he was right !! and, then wouldn’t you know, just 10 mins. later – the second girl, like as if the rebuke had never happened, jumps up and starts with the ‘how amazing you are, you changed my life’ approach, will you look at my work after the talk, and if not, why not !! and what do I need to do, to make this happen, and, will this huge stuffed animal, I think it was even a rabbit !! I have brought along to give you, help ?
of course, the on-a-scale of 10, rating not-even-a-fraction, SUZE ORHMAN wannabe. cropped mannish hair, beige khakis and suspenders !! in other words – the whole deal. was even more scary. she seriously inquired of Mr. Broad, what she should do – she was moving to Arizona !! and would he recommend she buy a house, and when he said, of course, the best time to buy a house is a down market, she went on, so persistently we all thought, what ? is she was going to pull out her income tax file . . . and go down it, line to line. just shows you how desperate every one is for the big idea, the big fortune.
as for myself, after the signing I did get in a question, too !!
so, are you gonna buy that JEFF KOONS LOCOMOTIVE hanging from a crane, the response:
“I don’t know – he wants $25 million” !!
PHOTOS & TEXT: NANCY SMITH, NYC, MAY 6, 2012
~ELI BROAD . . . in NYC / 92Y, to-nite !!
KINGPIN art collector & philanthropist - ELI BROAD - & – 92nd Street Y – celebrate the launch of Mr. Broad’s new book, ‘THE ART of BEING UNREASONABLE’ / ‘LESSONS in UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING’ – with a talk – to-nite at 92Y UPTOWN.
ELI BROAD in CONVERSATION with CHARLIE ROSE – SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012 at 8 PM. (tix from $29.)
for more info: 92Y
for more info on the talk: A Conversation with ELI BROAD . . . 92Y
image: WILEY
(yep, that’s the JEFF KOONS, trademark bunny, – inflatable, NOT !!)
ELI BROAD – ‘THE ART OF BEING UNREASONABLE’ – ‘LESSONS IN UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING’
FORWARD BY MICHAEL BLOOMBERG
WILEY, MAY 2012, HARDCOVER & ebook. ($24.95)
~THOMAS DEMAND . . . a look back !!
PATTY CAKE, PATTY CAKE – !!
THOMAS DEMAND, at the opening of his exhibit: ‘YELLOWCAKE’, which ran NOV 3-DEC 22, 2007 at 303 GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH, NYC. NOV 3, 2007.
see more pix from the show’s opening: artlover’s gold !! – NYC NOV 2007 !!
in fact, that’s a real fun – run !!
includes lots of other young art worker bees – making the news today, besides on Demand, such as ? STO !! DUKE RILEY !! MORIKO MORI !! & MISAKI KAWAII !! . . .
and, TAKE NOTE: don’t miss that final B&W shot of the DUKE in his submersible ‘Acorn’ with the STATUE OF LIBERTY in the background horizon by – street doc !! I mean photog !! CHUCK D !!
and yeah, I’m a doc !!
~FRIEZE, NOT !! DEMAND, HOT !!
ART WORKER BEES – REVOLT !!
the art world show generating – the most buzz – this weekend ?
the new THOMAS DEMAND show that just opened at MATTHEW MARKS – 522 W 22nd ST – in Chelsea.
one: it’s not a big schlep, two: it’s for free, and three: you can always stroll on the Highline, afterwards – esp if you’ve been locked up indoors all week manning the computers & getting four-eyes staring at screens all day, if you’re a young chic(k) art worker, or schleping art – if you’re a young guy artist/art handler, working for the big auction houses, fairs & galleries. there’s more art truckin’ going on, than art – actually worth the trucking. you know things are bad when the lead-in article – on the fair weekend . . . is all about how that big white ‘worm’ of a tent – went up – on Randalls Island, former home to juvenile delinquents, Idiots and Children, and just the plain ole poor !!
where’s R. CRUMB when we really need – him !!
but keep on truckin . . . esp. if it’s the only way – to keep the $ trickling down the food chain. and I mean t-r-i-c-k-l-i-n-g. micro drip drip by eyedropper drop.
that . . . and for sure !! you’d rather plunk your hard earned dough – $40 !! – down on a good drink & dinner with pals, in BROOKLYN !!
esp in NYC – when you can just stroll around, and check out the freshest stuff – restaurants (!!), bars (!!), and art (!!) – for free ?
party on young artists !! – you make the city go round.
read more: ‘THOMAS DEMAND’ – running MAY 5-JUNE 23, 2012 – at MATTHEW MARKS, CHELSEA
IMAGE: THOMAS DEMAND from the MATTHEW MARKS WEBSITE.
the buzz ? it’s cutting – the edge !! NYC-style !! just the way we like it.
hey, BLAMMO here’s a little help with the art coverage: take note – ‘docs’ rule !! in fact – even, pseudo docs, rule !! ha.
~BIRDS IN WEATHER . . .
FLY INTO – BROOKLYN !! – at SPIKE HILL – 5/5/2012 – 9PM – FREE !! – ROCK ON, BROOKLYN !!
THE ART FAIRS, BLAMMO ? more like busto. pre-cooked, past expiry date & and canned at that. afc – u got that part, right. FRIEZE TIX: $40 a pop. long trek & serving up stale fare !! fashion forward, NOT !! no wonder all the trendsetters & hipsters plan on staying home, BROOKLYN !! the un-fair.
bye the way. ‘nother crazy thought. whatever happened to MARIKO MORI ?
she could take that whole fair biz, uptown tent & Chelsea dia !! put it into the palm of one hand, spin it around a little bit with her other hand, and then blow it all away. with one breath. I’m thinking TOM ECCLES, did you leave your body, and mind – a decade ago, never to return. I mean, and Bard, who ? as in: who cares, and for shame right in the middle of the hugest most happening city in the world. maybe, NOT. . . with friends, I mean curators, plural !! – like that. and the graphics, it all looks worse than tourist brochure grade, just sayin’. . . not ONE image to surface, unless you want to count the aerial of the tent ? with any real buzz – out of the whole damn pack.
just some lousy six pack smart ass rating, oh gee – that’s real swift. that was an eye opener. but you can’t call the art, can you.
guess it takes a doc-umentary photographer – to do that ?
BRITS, go home. you’re busted.
birds of a feather.
p.s. message to MOJO: a picture is worth a thousand words !! – and that’s why docs . . . rule !!
and yeah, I’m a ‘doctor’ !!
so, take the L train BACK to BROOKLYN. and ROCK ON.
SPIKE HILL – A GREAT DIVE BAR – THE REAL DEAL – 186 BEDFORD – BET N 6th & N 7th – WILLIAMSBURG.
COME CELEBRATE MEXICO DEFEATING THE FRENCH at the BATTLE of PUEBLA !! – with DRINKING & DANCING & GENERAL, as in HUGE – DEBAUCHERY.
THE LINE-UP:
8 PM ZACH ORION ALBUM RELEASE !!!! (yeah, I’ve caught him down in the L train.)
9 PM BIRDS IN WEATHER
10 PM THE PLANES
11 PM THE SENORS OF MARSEILLE oh, yeah. ‘BIG’ !! no doubt, it’s my body & – play it loud.
THIS is a FREE SHOW – and SPIKE HILL will be serving up $4 MARGARITAS & $1 OFF CORONAS – ALL NITE LONG.
check out: BIRDS IN WEATHER & SAMPLE THE DEMOS . . .
SHOUT OUT TO: HANS VIETS !! HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO !!
~CHESTER HIGGINS JR. at TEKSERVE . . .
FILE UNDER: DOCS RULE, as in DOCUMENTARY !! and give me those flashlight totin’ Maale girls – any day.
ART@TEKSERVE is pleased to present an in-store exhibit of the private and – way glorious – photographs of NEW YORK TIMES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER – CHESTER HIGGINS JR.
titled: ‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ – ‘IMAGES FROM AN ONGOING JOURNEY’ – the exhibit will run MAY 5 – JUNE 12, 2012.
TEKSERVE cordially invites y’all to an opening celebration reception – tomorrow, SAT MAY 5, 2012 – from noon to 2 PM.
ETHIOPIAN treats will be served, as well as specially brewed Ethiopian coffee. (and just between us !! – there might also be something just a ‘tiny’ bit stronger served up in plastic cups – to go along with – the party spirit.) as well, DJ UNIVERSE will be in the house – rocking out all kinds of African beats.
and of course, MR CHESTER HIGGINS JR. himself, will be present for the party !! so feel welcome to come by, and say hello.
further on WED MAY 9, 2012 – there will be an ARTIST’S TALK & SLIDE SHOW with Chester Higgins – that will begin at 6:30 PM and is also open to all.
in the talk, titled: ‘In the Divine Spirit of Africa’ – Mr. Higgins will discuss the sacred rituals and ceremonies he has witnessed and photographed.
TEKSERVE – 119 W. 23rd ST – just a couple of doors west of 6th AVE – in CHELSEA
CHESTER HIGGINS JR. in EGYPT – PHOTO COURTESY: TEKSERVE
ABOUT CHESTER HIGGINS:
JAN ALBERT, the show’s curator, tells us:
A staff photographer for the The New York Times since 1974, Chester Higgins’ photographs have also appeared in Look, Life, Newsweek, Fortune, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and Archaeology.
He has had one-man exhibitions at the ICP/International Center of Photography, The Museum of Photographic Arts, The Smithsonian Institute, The Museum of African Art, Musee Dapper, The Schomburg Center, NYU’s Kimmel center, and The New York Historical Society.
Every year, for about the past 40 years (!!) – he travels through AFRICA for 6 weeks, camping out in the mountains and desert, and training people he meets along the way to help operate the portable studio he uses to “capture authentic moments” that resonate with people around the world.
“AS a 25-year-old, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that I was not traveling to Africa to see the animals.”
Chester Higgns Jr., who has been called “the preeminent photographer of the African Diaspora” grew up in ALABAMA before and during the Civil Rights era. The media images that dominated his childhood and a revelatory trip to AFRICA in his 20s were two events that helped crystallize his ambitious mission as a photographer, to “redefine the visual document as it relates to people of color.”
Since 1975, he’s returned to Africa more than 30 times to photograph the people, ancient sites, sacred rituals, and small town life in ETHIOPIA, MALI, SENEGAL & GHANA.
FROM MAY 5th – JUNE 13, 2012, a selection of Higgins’ photographs from 40 years of travel up the River Nile, plus some portraits of our African neighbors up the River Hudson, will be on view at TEKSERVE.
for more on Mr. Higgins & his work, see: CHESTER HIGGINS JR. – PHOTOGRAPHY
P.S. TALKING ABOUT . . . FASHION FORWARD – !! – STREET FASHION – !!
CHECK OUT – THESE COLORFUL GIRLS, from the MAALE TRIBE in ETHIOPIA – PICTURED BELOW – they EMPTY the batteries out of those FLASHLIGHTS – !! – they have in their hands – and CARRY their CASH and ESSENTIALS – inside. COOL, or what !! flashlight ‘totes’ . . . better watch – how you say that. whoa they look tough, the real deal. street smart.
dig those expressions, to die for – !! plus, we all know a young fashionista or two, even a Brooklyn one – who’d kill for those killer beads. so in, now. where’d ya get them ? ha. PLEATED SKIRTS !! you just know – that’s up next !! and the colors, shoo-fly, girl – you rule. footwear ? a little dusty, but right on point. except here those laced oxfords go for plenty. well into the 3 figures, and made in Italy – just saw them featured in the style section last week. and so, did you !! and you know it.
PHOTO: CHESTER HIGGINS JR. – GIRLS from the MAALE TRIBE, ETHIOPIA / image courtesy: TEKSERVE
PHOTO: CHESTER HIGGINS JR. – SURMA CHILD, WESTERN ETHIOPIA / image courtesy: TEKSERVE
ALL PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
~MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA . . .
the PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHS of NEW YORK TIMES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER – CHESTER HIGGINS JR.
~PARIS vs. BROOKLYN !!
. . . just as we write of the endangered street art scene in BROOKLYN, Brooklyn’s own BROOKLYN STREET ART writes of the big surge in PARIS !!
in PARIS: JEF AEROSOL – PHOTO BY SANDRA HOJ. source: BROOKLYN STREET ART/NEW STREET ART FROM PARIS
with (great !!) PHOTOS and on point / ON-SITE reporting by – photographer SANDRA HOJ, who seems to hail from Copenhagen, Denmark – and who starts off by saying:
“I was overwhelmed by the amount of street art. It was not just limited to a single area, but all over the place, in every crack and corner.”
~NYC’S BACK YARD . . . BROOKLYN !!
well, r-r-really, WILLIAMSBURG !!
new construction going up, everywhere.
metal, glass, steel-ly, modern and twisted ? as in unsymmetrical . . . or is that: asymmetrical . . .
no diff. it going up. anyways. hey, at least it tapers off, and you can still see that blue blue Brooklyn sky !!
every block is like a patchwork quilt. between the new, the old, and the in-between.
converted industrial lofts . . . and ground level warehouses.
the new construction homes are super clean. blinding-ly white.
what happened to all that ole red clay brick. gone, gone, and more gone.
unless – it’s gentrified – !!
and then it gets the modern sheen, too. super clean, spit polished. power-hosed ?
but, KEY ISSUE: you can still turn a corner – and find the graff.
for now.
note: the ‘AVAILABLE’ – as in: ‘FOR SALE – KALMON DOLGIN REAL ESTATE’ sign at the left.
the writing’s on the wall, sweet dudes & dudettes. it’s only a matter of time, and it all comes tumbling down.
they should save this block – like the pyramids. as if.
dreamer, dream on.
SHEPARD FAIREY . . . red, white and black.
making spray paint – look like some kind of simulated ole-time embossed, flocked ? vintage velveteen wallpaper.
note: the barbed wire running like rusty ole-time – tumbleweed, across the top. and, the (shiny) new construction at the left. (!!)
sharp vs. shiny. ouch.
in fact, I kinda like how the new buildings – are so shiny and white. they work well against the ole-time grit !!
and they reflect the sunlight – like nobody’s business. where’s Winslow Homer, when you really need him.
it’s just the sad downside is they spell: gentrification. no more grit, or graff.
better live in the moment, in-between . . . while you can.
OBEY.
what if, I don’t want to ?
every respectable backyard hood – still needs its gas stations . . . and motorcycle mechanics.
motorcycle mechanics – art patrons, no diff.
in fact probably better & more important . . . keeping, it real !!
and on the streets, Free. and for all . . . where it belongs.
Somebody put that wall under a piece of glass. where’s Jeffrey Deitch, when you need him ?
well seriously, they should – at least landmark it.
you just know – it’s not long for this world. g-e-n-t-r-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n.
imagine if the city had let people buy up some of those saturated spray painted, super tagged 70s subway cars . . .
just a crazy thought. but for real, they should have at least kept a few choice ones.
that would have been one museum – people would be pouring into, now.
probably be the city’s #1 tourist attraction.
bringing in tons of $$$.
man, they’d be selling at auction for tens of millions of dollars. no brainer.
what’d they do, like bury them underwater ?
yeah, that was some real forward urban thinking, wasn’t it.
tear down a tree, put up a parking lot.
wow. Brooklyn. what was that ???
did we just go from OBEY to un-OBEY in the space of one block. yes, we did !!
BROOKLYN – the un-FAIR !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. BROOKLYN, NYC. APRIL 29, 2012
~BROOKLYN’S BACKYARD . . . 2-UP at SOLOWAY
YO YA’LL !! artlovers going mighty locavore for the upcoming art fair weekend.
first up: BROOKLYN.
a local indie gallery, run by local artists, NO LESS.
showcasing a young NYC-based indie art collective, NO LESS.
PHOTO: ANNETTE WEHRHAHN, SOLOWAY
SOLOWAY INVITES YOU – TO AN EVENING of ART, MUSIC & PERFORMANCES – in their BACKYARD
to-nite: SUNDAY – APRIL 29, 2012 / 7-9 PM
SOLOWAY – 348 SOUTH 4TH ST – BROOKLYN, NY
note: REGULAR GALLERY HRS: SAT + SUN 12 – 5 PM
SOLOWAY invites you to ‘PERFORMANCE FOLIO’, an evening of performances and readings by members of 2-UP in the backyard of the gallery. This event will celebrate the conclusion of 2-UP’s exhibition ‘FOLIO’ currently on view in the gallery.
ABOUT 2-UP:
over the past few years 2-UP has produced a series of poster publications. This has been the first group exhibition of the individual members’ work in a gallery space. The exhibition is structured in two parts: a free newspaper that disassembles into 7 double-sided posters, and corresponding works in the gallery. Members of 2-UP participating in the exhibition are: COLLEEN ASPER, MATTHEA HARVEY, CHRISTIAN HAWKEY, CATHY PARK HONG, ZEREK KEMPF, BENJAMIN KRESS, NATHAN LEE, PAUL LEGAULT, JEN LIU, MORES McWREATH, ADAM SHECTOR, JOE WINTER, and MONIKA ZARZECZNA.
see: 2-UP
for sure, check out: their ARCHIVE PAGE / 2-UP
Still from GOLDFARB’S ‘DEEP CYCLE’ project/courtesy: 2-UP ARCHIVES
UP-DATE: TUES MAY 1, 2012
PHOTOS FROM: ‘PERFORMANCE: FOLIO – presented by 2-UP
at the closing party for their gallery show & newspaper poster project – at SOLOWAY, BROOKLYN, N.Y.
SUN APRIL 29, 2012
the 2 year old SOLOWAY artist-run gallery space, located at 348 South 4th St., just off Keap St. – in Williamsburg, BROOKLYN.
in the storefront window: black and white poster/newspaper sheets from the ’2-UP: FOLIO’ collaborative show inside.
the show ran April 7 – 29, 2012. to-nite was the closing party.
detail: ADAM SHECTER, ‘Exercise: Problem Behaviors / Group Dynamics’. (!!) (!!) and more (!!). ha. tell me bout it.
2-UP – a New York City based art collective – produced a double-sided multi-page (unbound) ‘newspaper’ for the show. each contributor was given a 2 page spread – essentially a poster – and the newspaper was free – available inside the gallery & yours for the taking !!
the 2-UP – logo. nice graphics – all around.
very what’s happening in NYC right now – on the cutting edge.
inside the gallery: a poster on newsprint by BENJAMIN KRESS.
also on view: the ’2-UP:FOLIO’ / SOLOWAY APRIL 2012 edition . . . production screens.
standing on piles of the finished newspapers – that open up into double-sided posters, with a mission statement and a key to the contributors – in the centerfold.
on the table a set of ‘tarot’ cards by ADAM SHECTER.
above them, some really funny great plastic bag ‘drawings’ by JEN LIU. ink on paper – their correct title: ‘potato heads’ !!
heading into the gallery’s backyard – for the evening’s performances.
MUNRO GALLOWAY and TOMER ALUF – two of the 4 SOLOWAY directors.
PAT PALERMO is another director, and ANNETTE WEHRHAHN rounds out the group of 4. it’s her living space at the back of the gallery that you move through – to get to the backyard. and that’s her free-standing, glass enclosed studio popping up – in the backyard.
a guest.
the first performance . . .
PAUL LEGAULT read-singing from his ‘Translation Manifesto’ accompanied by poet JOSEPH BRADSHAW on the banjo.
yes, I did hear the words: ‘singularity’ (!!) and ‘love’ mentioned in the very same sentence.
as well as: ‘order’ and ‘void’. it all made sense to me. future – present.
2-UP’S JOE WINTER, CATHY PARK HONG, and ADAM SHECTER.
CATHY PARK HONG had just delivered up a very dry, often quirky-funny take, mostly on being a stand-up comedian. and a woman, and a Korean, with a little bit of Canadian, thrown in for good measure.
ADAM SHECTER – a co-founder of 2-UP . . . a “collaborative poster project” – that was founded in Feb of 2010.
and yes, Adam says: “we are NY based, and nomadic (i.e. operating out of our apt).”
that’s a great term for a long-standing NYC alternative-art tradition – nomadic (!!) love it.
even the gallery space, SOLOWAY, seems to take place in the middle, o.k. front of … co-director ANNETTE WEHRMAN’S living space. a classic NYC – railroad apartment. (!!)
a lot of alternative ‘storefronts’ back in the day, the early 80s, when the Lower East Side – really made its claim to glory and really was the mecca, and not the trendy mall: boutique, bar and restaurant scene it has morphed into – started out that way. 5 Rivington St. and the Bowery – hello !!
and, JOE WINTER – the other co-founder of 2-UP.
see: THIS IS 2-UP
AARON CAMPBELL and JEN LIU played a zen-like musical piece – on 2 halves of a ‘split’ cello.
yes, a cello – split right down the middle.
AARON CAMPBELL on the split cello.
the ‘split’ cello at rest, in its 2-sided case.
JANE BENSON, who was present in the background, acting as the performance’s ‘conductor’ – made the split cello, as part of her body of work: the Splits.
(I’d like to see what else – she splits . . .)
the strangely compelling ‘split’ music was performed to a projected slide of poetry/philosophy/futurism by JANE BENSON, who pointed a laser at the text during the performance.
or in their own words: JEN LIU and JANE BENSON . . “present a piece about the indefinable present, through a palindromic text score and shepard tones played on the 2 split halves of a cello.”
2 guests enjoying the evening’s – unique – and very unpredictable playlist . . .
which included performance artist MORES McWREATH serving up some pretty funny deadpan one-liners – to a variety of hand-made and very ‘creative’ slide images – a ‘digital slideshow’ – which also included some pretty funny & very in-your-face – brief autobiographical video loops.
in a nutshell: still frames interspersed with action. accompanied by a drop-dead narrative that cut to the (unexpected) bone of all existence.
MORES McWREATH – slide projection.
MORES McWREATH – slide projection.
MORES McWREATH – slide projection.
MORES McWREATH – slide projection.
was this, the one about – ‘domestic’ abuse ?
MORES McWREATH – slide projection.
or was it this – one.
I was too caught up in the deadpan/one-liner moment to take notes !!
though, this piece in particular, and the extreme anti-eloquence of the whole deal – reminded me of the early ‘concrete’ and dry humor of the once young too, JOE BRADLEY – when he first started out. confounding all the usual, and predictably clueless (!!) mainstream art world – suspects.
i.e. the so-called “critics.” you know, pass the (jerry) saltz. and go on to . . . collect.
one last look behind at the Brooklyn storefront – window.
newspaper poster by NATHAN LEE. yo, CASPER – the friendly ghost !! NYC ca. 2012 – sure loves its ghosts !!
UNDETECTABLE – think on that – for a moment.
and, on the reverse side – just shadowing through, the ‘flower/fan’ by MONIKA ZARZECZNA.
ALL PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, at SOLOWAY in BROOKLYN, N.Y., APRIL 29, 2012
~HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND . . .
COVER: ‘HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND’ – ART BY JOSEPH REMNANT. INTRODUCTION BY ALAN MOORE. IMAGE: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
“I come into the picture in 1939. I lived on a street where I was the only white kid. For the first few years of my life I didn’t have any friends, or acquaintances, for that matter.”
PREVIEW Pg 2 – ‘HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND – ART BY JOSEPH REMNANT. IMAGE: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
“Both of my Polish-born parents worked long hours in their mom-and-pop grocery store a few blocks away. I stayed home, sometimes talking Yiddish to my grandfather, who at least had a sense of humor . . . . “
PREVIEW Pg 3 – ‘HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND’ – ART BY JOSEPH REMNANT. IMAGE: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS: “A Lifelong resident of Cleveland, OHIO, HARVEY PEKAR (1939-2010) pioneered autobiographical comics, mining the mundane for magic since 1976 in his critically acclaimed series ‘American Splendor’.”
our roving correspondent, and indie music reviewer, SIMON CERIGO, and now ex-underground comic book collector – says that: ” ‘American Splendor’ was a large format comic book series, and ROBERT CRUMB did the covers for the first few early issues.” In fact Simon had the whole series, about 15 issues, which he bought in the early 80s for about $4 or $5 dollars a pop. Regretfully he had to sell the whole lot, “to feed the kids, Kate & Theo . . when we lived back on Rivington St.” when he could realize a profit of about $35 – $40 a piece. He says, obviously they go for way more now, with the R. Crumb artwork cover issues – taking the premium bucks.
‘HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND’ – ART BY JOSEPH REMNANT / INTRODUCTION BY ALAN MOORE
CO-PUBLISHED BY ZIP COMICS & TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS (2012)
Hardcover Graphic Novel with B+W interiors, 128 pages, 9.3″ x 7.3″ ($21.99)
see: TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS – where you can get more info, and if you hit on the book cover image – you can view 9 preview pages, incl the cover.
THE NYC LAUNCH PARTY for ‘HARVEY PEKAR’S CLEVELAND’ – is to-nite SAT APRIL 28, 2012 – as part of the 2012 MOCCA / MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART FEST OFFICIAL AFTER-PARTY.
7 pm to 10 pm
$5 donation at the door (with proper ID; this event is 21+)
VILLAGE POURHOUSE
64 Third Avenue (corner of 11th St)
the event will also feature a performance by DANIEL JOHNSTON
HI, HOW ARE YOU – DANIEL JOHNSTON
see: MoCCA
see: MoCCA FEST 2012
~DEREK WEISBERG: Porcelain Promises
the card for: DEREK WEISBERG – ‘Porcelain Promises’
Storefront Gallery / Greenwich House Pottery – 16 Jones St, btw Bleeker & West 4th – GREENWICH VILLAGE, NYC
the show ran: March 1 – March 29, 2012
yes, there were a few really striking shows this past winter, though most were off the beaten track.
case in point: the DEREK WEISBERG “figurative sculpture” exhibit at the Greenwich House Pottery’s Storefront Gallery.
it still haunts me, and nothing much has come close, except perhaps the recent MELISSA BROWN show at KANSAS. and that was painting. this is clay. this is 3-D. but ‘ghosts’, and seers, history and visions – do come to mind. and even more, in particular – the show had the tactile & philosophical !! – feel of the day. the inky, murky, deep angst, even anger everybody is expressing, and of whose preponderance in the blogsphere – even CATHY HORYN, the first-person fashion writer for the NEW YORK TIMES, addressed recently.
DEREK WEISBERG, at the show.
“I create works of art that are emotional and psychological self-portraits. Through my work I make sense of my life, my experiences, and the times in which we live. I do not make photorealist portraits, instead I endeavor to achieve an interiority. I create sculptures that are accessible and allow the viewer to have an experience that cannot be articulated – simultaneously igniting contemplation, reflection and a lasting relationship with the work. The works reflect humanist ideology; searching for truth and universal morality based on the commonality of the human condition.” – Derek Weisberg.
DEREK WEISBERG received his BFA from California College of Arts and Crafts in 2005. In 2008, he was named a “Searching Artist” selected as one of ten nationally emerging craftspersons. He has work in the collections of the Oakland Museum of California and the Glasshoff Sculpture Ranch and has shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States.
His most recent solo exhibitions ‘Auroral Dreaming’ and ‘You Were Almost Extinct Again’, were held in California in 2011.
WEISBERG has been artist assistant to STEPHEN DE STAEBLER, URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD, and MANUEL NERI. He has co-owned a gallery in Oakland – and is now a studio technician at Greenwich House Pottery, where he maintains a studio.
DEREK WEISBERG. in fact – the Greenhouse Pottery’s ‘romantic’, and very ‘historic’ architectural storefront – was a very poetic setting – that set the work off nicely, not to mention providing a wonderful prism of natural light – to play off the nuanced surfaces.
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Who Flew Too Close to the Sun II’, 2011, porcelain. life size.
($1,600.)
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘One Day You Just Appeared, It Was So Beautiful’, 2012.
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Who Flew Too Close to the Sun I’, 2012.
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Porcelain Promises XI The Constant Push for Something Just Past the Point of Attainability’, 2011.
($1,800.)
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Porcelain Promises VII, (I Was Stone Now I’m Dust)’, 2011.
yes, scrimshaw, DUKE RILEY, and even the inscribed lap tops of MICHAEL DINGES – come to mind . . . as ongoing dialog.
see: ‘Dead Lap Tops and other artifacts of the recent present’, TEKSERVE, FALL 2011
DEREK WEISBERG, detail, ‘Porcelain Promises XIII (Between the Message and the Motive)’, 2011.
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Porcelain Promises XIII (Between the Message and the Motive)’, 2011.
DEREK WEISBERG, ‘Untitled mask I’, 2012
($400.)
DEREK WEISBERG, a close-up of one of his ‘accessorizing’ low-tech hand-made silver foil ‘flowers’ – a gently startling contrast, and a lyric narrative note – but all-in-all a very nice mix – especially as regards highlighting the play of light – on the foil, and then back to the main work: the smooth white alabaster-like surface of the porcelain heads, often embellished with black, sometimes word-engraved – detail.
DEREK WEISBERG, detail, ‘Untitled mask I’, 2012.
want – to see more, he runs a great website: DEREKWEISBERG.com
GREENWICH HOUSE is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, NYC. MARCH 1, 2012
~HO’S UNITE . . .
HORT + HOLE = HORTLE !!
hey, what’s a benefit – without a little fun. HORTLE the Ho ? I mean WHO !!
damn, Where’s Dr. Seuss when you really need him the most ?
IMAGE: DR. SEUSS/CRACKED.COM
MY BAD !! – it’s HORTON !!! – but I got the ‘LOVE’ part right – didn’t I !!!!!!!
and, actually a HORTLE – is for real. well rock my soul.
a HORTLE is a predatory WHIPRAY, a . . . species of STING RAY !! and it sounds pretty damn ugly, too.
found in the shallow waters off southern NEW GUINEA, it grows to 28 in. across (!!) and “has a heart-shaped (!!) pectoral fin disc with a long, pointed snout and minute eyes. It has a wide dorsal band of dermal denticles extending from in front of the eyes to the tail, as well as scattered sharp denticles on the snout.” (omg . . . u-g-l-y.)
“The underside of the disc is a distinctive bright yellow in color . . . ” (!!) wouldn’t you just – know it.
see: HORTLE… WIKI
and not only that – they’re taking over !! like I always said: art world / bio world – no diff.
A HORTLE: SMITHSONIAN WEBSITE
who knew the art world could be so fun, . . . . and scientific !!
see: ‘SEEK NADA . . .. GET DADA / UP-DATE – JUST POSTED !! – scroll down 3 posts !! – or hit: here !!
~THE N’ERE DOWELLS – REVIEWED by SIMON CERIGO
LISTEN UP – NYC & EVERYWHERE ELSE, as in BOSTON !!!!!!!!!
IT’S A RED – FEVER – SPRING !!
THE N’ERE DOWELLS – REVIEWED BY SIMON CERIGO, April 20, 2012.
THE N’ERE DOWELLS – a new indie group based in Brooklyn, New York are an up-tempo jangling guitar foursome that contrary to their name – make great music.
Their music is akin in spirit to the early CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY YEAH sound – in its forward drive.
My favorite songs from their 5 song demo are: “Jungle” and “Spend Time”.
sample: The N’ere Dowells – 5 song demo . . . “yeah I wanna scream” – & – play it loud !!
The N’ere Dowells comprise:
GIO – guitar/vox
JACK – guitar
THEO – bass
DEXTER – drums
they have 2 gigs upcoming in the New York area:
SAT MAY 12, 2012 – YIPPIE CAFE in Manhattan, NY
SAT JUNE 2, 2012 – BIG SNOW BUFFALO LODGE in BROOKLYN, NY
NOTE: earlier that week of MAY 12, 2012 – the band will be heading to BOSTON, where they are going to play on CAMBRIDGE RADIO on MAY 9th – and then will be playing a show at MIT – on MAY 10th.
ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY – THE N’ERE DOWELLS
~RED FACE, YELLOW HALO ? JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, of course.
FILE UNDER: SO, WHO’S GOT A RED FACE, now ?
TAG IT.
this red – face – tag just went up in the Heights. it’s pretty awesome. just saying. JERSEY !!
it’s on the corner of ZABRISKIE and SANFORD.
hey. just the messenger, not the tagger. but just in time.
I was just so dying for something RED !! – to go up on the site.
esp after all that RED CHINA – news . . . and it’s really blowing up, big time. apparently BO had over a 100 mistresses. count ‘em. and then there’s the playboy son at Harvard. The NEW YORK TIMES says he’s the “grandson of revolutionary heroes”. wow. that’s real ‘red’ blood for ya. well, there ya go, funny how – power and dough ($) will come back and bite your butt, every time !!
and SOUTH WEST CHINA (!!) – that’s right smack where DUKE RILEY staged his CHINESE ZODIAC RIVER RACE RE-MATCH !!
leave it to the Duke – to land in the hot spot !! rats, snakes and all.
it’s also funny – how the red and somewhat (added-on) yellow colors of the street tag . . .
echo the highly – un-green !! – ‘bargain’ flyer lying on the street !!
must be the new colors of SPRING 2012: red and yellow.
watch out for them – in your next ‘cutting edge’ fashion spread . . . coming soon.
p.s. wasn’t that D.H. LAWRENCE quoting – EVERGLADES LIZARD – red and yellow, too ? yes he was !!
see post below.
and so are CHINESE LANTERNS !! scroll down. wow. red and yellow, the colors to beat. SPRING 2012.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, JERSEY. APRIL 20, 2012
UP-DATE: WED MAY 2, 2012
could it be new gen-eration KENNY SCHARF ? the folks at BROOKLYN STREET ART, think possibly, so !!
see: some super great KENNY SCHARF PIX & TEXT/POUL WEBB ART BLOG !!
~OWEN GRAY
o.k. back to ‘reading’ our ‘world’ – through the eyes of the animal kingdom. you know, the usual suspects: rats, snakes . . . and, toads.
FILE UNDER: a story as old as the very hills – never loses it’s poetry.
OWEN GRAY at his long time studio in HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY. hey, tell me Jersey ain’t a happening place.
while some artists reach for the stars, others are content to continually plod a path through the natural flora and fauna – on the geo planet’s natural unification of chaos . . . evolutionary food chains and all.
there are futuristic ‘systems’ artists working in truly !! cutting edge online – wide world web technology.
the very Rev LUKE MURPHY comes to mind, of course. as the best of the best – in that field.
and then there are the wonderfully naive yet prescient neo-folk artists, like DUKE RILEY – re-matching the mother goose animals of the ancient, and very much enduring – Chinese zodiac, on the very banks of the Caogang River in Zhujiajiaso, CHINA, near the legendary and nefarious Shanghai !! as if – right on cue.
yep, DUKE RILEY done been stirring up the ancient gods – right smack dab in hot button China, where some big politico party boss named BO, has a wife named GU, there’s a dead Brit named NEIL HEYWOOD, rumors of illicit affairs, money-laundering, and even the word ‘cynanide’, as in ‘poisoning’ – playing out a nice and most eternal fable – in the current world headlines.
and, yes, the word rat, and rob – does does comes to mind.
see: Chinese murder puzzle thickens – Poisoned British businessman . . . NEW YORK POST – APRIL 18, 2012
yep, there’s Brooklyn’s own pied piper of tattoos and ancient seafaring arts, scrimshaw anybody ? the DUKE RILEY bringing the ancient wisdom of the Far East – back home for the US of A.
ONE: there was, and still is, real truth – in those age-old bestiary adages: a rat is a rat is a rat, and watch your back. cheaters and lowlife win.
and TWO: don’t ask me why, but even the most simple of scrimshaw folk artists – be shamans and seers.
if you just let the hands do the drawing, connecting the dots is easy. it’s all about reading the ‘pictorial’ code.
from the earliest cavemen – to the most far-out ‘systems’ – guys around today.
hey, does LUKE rhyme with DUKE – or what. just saying.
and then there are the guys, like Owen – who just like to stick with the basics. the code of the jungle, river and forest.
you know, the usual suspects: snakes. bugs, and toads. the occasional forlorn human, and/or water sprite.
it’s called: allegory. as in: all the gory . . . of nature.
bringing it back home, to planet, Mother ? – Earth: “EVERGLADES – THE STORY BEHIND THE SCENERY” !!
“A lizard ran out on a rock. . . ”
“A lizard ran out on a rock and looked up listening no doubt to the sounding of the spheres
. . . if men were as much men as lizards are lizards, they’d be worth looking at.” (too !!)
D. H. LAWRENCE.
OWEN GRAY CURRENTLY HAS SHOW UP of HIS ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM’ PAINTINGS – at BLUE MOUNTAIN GALLERY, 530 W. 25th ST in CHELSEA, NYC.
note: the show comes down this weekend, APRIL 21, 2012.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, HOBOKEN, N.J. APRIL 15, 2012.