when you are out on your Lower East Side Sunday crawl - don't forget to check out LaVIOLA BANK - the first new glass house - as in proper gallery space - to forage deeper, think Eastern outpost !! into the old hood. up until Dec 5th, 2009 - JASON McLEAN - 'AUNT JEAN'S BUNS' !! LaVIOLA BANK - 179 EAST BROADWAY at JEFFERSON
note: the show has been extended thru SAT, JAN 9, 2010 !!

the first thing you see when you enter - a school bus. the first thing you think ? this guy knows TAYLOR McKIMENS and MISAKI KAWAI - or at least their work !!
JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jeans' Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

. . and he likes to have 'conversations' with other artists !! drip on - Taylor !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009
. . . when we asked Mr. McLEAN about this - he said: yes, he like to dialog and follow the work of other artists. and yes indeedy - he did indeed know Taylor, (who showed up at the opening !!) and Misaki - but he himself was worried this piece was too reflective of the work - of BARRY McGEE ??!!

drive on, MISAKI !!
JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

a big 'light' painting brought to mind JUSTIN SAMSON - except Justin uses no words. and his paintings have a more profound steelier edge. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

upon closer inspection - we saw that Mr. McLEAN's humor - and funny scribbley - drawing - saved the day. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

Toronto-based JASON McLEAN makes lots of gentle poking fun references to his homeland - CANADA !! at the tip of the USA - it's hard not to feel the huge cultural waves !! crashing in through the border. tell me about it. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

now this JASON McLEAN light painting - blew us away. JASON McLEAN,
LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

it had amazing presence. it was pretty much the most sinister and dark piece in the whole show. even though it was a 'light' - as in electric lightbulb !! painting !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

detail. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

. . . "IN THE BEGINNING" - in fact this show was the first of several that followed - that spoke with words - some of the others: TRACEY EMIN, MIN KIM, and OLAF BREUNING. (Min Kim positions feathers to form words.) JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

was that a shadow of R. ROBOT ? JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

like this galley-goer - we weren't quite sure what to think. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

til we got sight of this - and then it all - just clicked into place !! JASON McLEAN, LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

true dialog !! - JASON McLEAN apparently is an ace at scribbling over vintage photos & prints !! JASON McLEAN, LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

detail. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

that being said - this was obviously our favorite wall - a whole assemblage of worked over vintage photos !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
Oct 28, 2009

. . . some were just plain crazy, fun & over-the-top !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

others spoke - and, well - to the issues of today !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

others were stark and brooding, little gems of graphic design. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

this set - was a knock-out. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

another great set. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jeans' Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

color that - mine !! - 'Listen !!' - JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009
it actually reads in full: "LISTEN & WATCH IT ALL COME DOWN" !!

we caught ALLEGRA LaVIOLA - enjoying the show, as well. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

and beside her, the man of the hour, himself - Toronto-based JASON McLEAN. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

while downstairs we ran into Toronto gallerist and NYC wheeler & dealer - PAUL BRIGHT. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

here's a close-up detail - of that painting he is standing in front of. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

another detail, same painting. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

'killer' - detail. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jeans Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

the best, what !!? JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

ok. the whole painting. on paper. yes, it's large. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

MICHAEL BANK and gallery artist - BRIAN MONTUORI. at the JASON McLEAN opening, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

STO - of CINDERS & many other projects - chumps down on a candy cig !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

JASON McLEAN's son, FELIX, 5, ran a candy bar - downstairs for his dad. it was HALLOWEEN weekend, after all. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns',
LaVIOLA BANK, Oct 28, 2009

TAYLOR McKIMENS showed up. JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

STO and TAYLOR - get the final word !! JASON McLEAN, 'Aunt Jean's Buns', LaVIOLA BANK,
Oct 28, 2009

though it was funny to stroll down the street after the opening - and see this poster - in the CAKESHOP window. Wednesday, October 28th, Liz Durrett, with Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, Golden Bones, Spider. CAKESHOP, 152 Ludlow, NYC !!