TAYLOR McKIMENS – PLANT ASSORTMENT – CeralArt booth/ARMORY FAIR – PIER 94
see: CeralArt
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
they’ve changed the name a bit, and are under new management/owners – it’s now called: ‘The Armory Show’ – plus they add on: ‘The International Fair of New Art’ – I guess as a way to distinguish it from the armory art shows at the actual armory building – where this one used to be – before it moved to PIER 94. though everyone on the street was calling it: “ARMORY FAIR/PIER 94” . . . leave it to New Yorkers to figure out their own working titles. (didn’t ex-Gov Pataki just say something like that, in reference to the Freedom Tower.. now called … something else !!)
. . . . it actually started off as a small alternative edgy ’boutique hotel’ fair – in small hotel rooms, with the art hung alongside the sinks and beds – with PAT HEARN, COLIN De LAND, (and later: PAUL MORRIS and MATTHEW MARKS) as the original founders, at the GRAMMERCY PARK HOTEL. now also – under new management – the original, or at any rate – the back-in-the-day – early 90’s – owner – committed suicide by jumping off the roof – in front of everybody. on the street, at the time . .
‘The Armory Show – The International Fair of New York’
New York City
March 27-30, 2008
Pier 94; 12th Avenue at 55th Street
see: THE ARMORY SHOW
ORIGINAL POST: THURS MARCH 27, 2008 – HOME PAGE
. . . things are going crazy here – NYC is wild !! THE ARMORY FAIR / PIER 94 – KICKED IN YESTERDAY for VIP’S & PRESS – it’s open to the GENERAL PUBLIC TODAY: THURSDAY running thru SUNDAY.
. . . CHELSEA is up and running too, with great shows in almost every gallery & so is BROOKLYN !! there are 12 ART FAIRS – in total – going on in MANHATTAN – see: MAP BELOW.
. . . SIMON CERIGO’S got the advance buzz on the ARMORY FAIR !!
FIRST UP: BILL BRADY at atm was sighted being interviewed by a huge T.V. crew – explaining the solemn solo totemic piece by HUMA BHABHA that occupies his large otherwise empty booth – to great effect.
NEXT: the CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS triptych at DAVID ZWIRNER was attracting a lot of serious buyer attention – possibly because of his great solo show, (that’s also according to Simon), currently up at the DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY on 19TH ST.
NEXT: the other standout piece to the blue-chip collectors was the CHAPMAN BROS. pastoral diorama, encased in glass and priced at 600,000 English pounds/about a million $US – at LONDON DEALER JAY JOPLIN’S WHITE CUBE booth.
changing gears: FOXY PRODUCTION has an exciting gallery selection, including a huge STERLING RUBY and a mesmerizing MICHAEL BELL-SMITH. CANADA was featuring a huge ‘beige’ monochrome painting – by JOE BRADLEY – wickedly smart – or – a ‘get-over’ piece if – YOU!! – were clueless. they say they will also be exhibiting a BRIAN BELOTT BOOK display, and a huge MICHAEL WILLIAMS painting by Sunday. (which they did & the MICHAEL WILLIAMS painting got great word-of-mouth reviews, & buzz off the street – “the new!! neo-impressionist par extraordinaire.”
DANIEL REICH had a knock-out piece by SEAN RASPET, an unpredictable AMY GARTRELL, and ‘teasers’ by TYSON REEDER & SCOTT REEDER, the next gallery exhibit opening APRIL 2nd . . (and 2 of the MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL ‘flames’ behind the DARK FAIR !!)
BELLWETHER had the only ‘real’ installation, a booth-wall to booth-wall – ramp – or – inclined wooden floor by DAPHNE FITZPATRICK. (her big shoe made the TIMES review). the ANDREW KREPS display was also very striking – for its RICCI ALBENDA & ROE ETHRIDGE array.
at the SWISS INSTITUTE AMORY booth: GIANNI JETZER, Director and PIPER MARSHALL, Assistant Curator.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
and, finally – the folks at the SWISS INSTITUTE booth – were already celebrating the great buzz that their DARK FAIR had already generated !!
. . . presented and produced by the MILWAUKEE INTERNATIONAL/ART FAIR CREW – ELYSIA BOROWY-REEDER, TYSON REEDER, SCOTT REEDER, JOHN RIPPENDORF & NICK FRANK – it opens this FRIDAY/MARCH 28, 2008 – 6-12PM – and will be open all day SAT MARCH 29 (12noon-9PM) only.
the inside buzz on the FRI opening is: get there early, like 5, (or else late) – when the doors will open to VIP guests, or possibly face a long wait.
they are definitely envisioning crowd control issues.
BRIAN BELOTT & LARISSA VELEZ will be presenting ‘THE WORDLESS CHORUS-LIVE at THE DARK FAIR’, on both FRI & SAT nites at 8PM.
PORTS BISHOP will be presenting a “glow sticks powered” – ‘PHOTO PORTRAIT BOOTH’ and CHRISTIAN HOLSTAD will be featured in the ‘INDOOR SCULPTURE GARDEN’ !!
update: THURS/APRIL 3, 2008 – it is now generally agreed by all – that JUSTIN SAMSON’S free standing – black light – reflecting – minamalist/futuristic/animalistic ‘sculpture’ – stole the scene in that back area. he was helped out by his sound track – a loop of loudly amplified ‘found’ insect noises – cobbled together by BRIAN BELOTT – on PETE PEZZIMENTI’S sound equipment . . .
back to the DARK FAIR: over 20 cutting edge galleries will participate !! for more on the DARK FAIR – a “subversive & experimental miniature art fair taking place without the use of natural or electric light” –
see: SWISS INSTITUTE/CONTEMPORARY ART
MAP of the MARCH 27-29, 2008 WEEKEND – ART FAIRS in N.Y.C.
map courtesy: THE CHRISTIANIA GUIDE TO NYC ART FAIRS
CHRISTIANA was providing its (free flowing) vodka, after 6PM, at the ARMORY PIER 94 – VIP opening – last nite !!
see: pix from the armory opening reception !!
~ARMORY/DARK FAIR/EARLY BUZZ |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 27th, 2008, 12:15pm
BENSON LEE’S – PLANET B-BOY is playing in NEW YORK at the LANDMARK SUNSHINE on DELANCEY, Lower East Side – looks like the last 2 days !! are today & tomorrow WED & THURS MARCH 26-27, 2008.
TIMES: 12, 2:20, 4:40, and 9:30
note: the showing has been extended thru beginning of APRIL – check with SUNSHINE !!
you’ve got to check out the film’s website – the film looks to be great !!!
and the site’s graphics are wow – !!
(do not miss hitting the VIDEO option – !!)
see: PLANET B-BOY/new official website !!
more info: LANDMARK SUNSHINE/DELANCEY ST.
specifically: PLANET B-BOY
PLANET B-BOY/IMAGE COURTESY: ELEPHANT EYE FILMS
PLANET B-BOY/IMAGE COURTESY: ELEPHANT EYE FILMS
P.S. – VASCO LUCAS NUNES is the cinematographer, (official title: Director of Photography) of PLANET B-BOY.
. . . here in NYC – JOSH HARRIS & MILLENNIUM 2000 QUIET PARTY PEOPLE – know him – as an associate of ONDI TIMONER’S – who filmed QUIET for JOSH. they are now married and have a small child. ONDI TIMONER went on to make DIG! – WINNER of the 2004 SUNDANCE GRAND JURY PRIZE. VASCO NUNES was the cinematographer and co-producer of DIG!. PLANET B-BOY looks to be another victory – VASCO !!
ONDI TIMONER, founder of Interloper Films (1994), who wrote, directed and edited DIG! – WINNER of the 2004 SUNDANCE GRAND JURY PRIZE – with VASCO LUCAS NUNES, the cinematographer and co-producer of DIG!, at the DVD RELEASE SCREENING, in New York City, APRIL 11, 2005
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
see: the original TIMONER/DIG! post
UP-DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008
PLANET B-BOY is still playing in NYC !!
B-BOY stands for Beat-boy or breakdancer. this film’s got the real juice – 100% – and its really all about the B-boys. the footage is incredible. Vasco must have loved this assignment – big time !! the story is really & truly told by the photo footage.
first: what’s great about the film, from the point of view of an artist – is the way the filmmakers really focus on the skills, and try to break down for the viewer, the individual crew styles of the 18 different competing international teams – which helps the audience to truly comprehend the range & evolution of beat dancing. so we see the crew from FRANCE is very musical and very ‘kid friendly’ in way that couldn’t be believed until seen, here !! – the Japanese & Koreans are like – ACROBATIC DEATH MATCH TO THE WALL – combatants, and the USA team from Los Vegas – is kind of like – showmanship-in-motion fluid. They are all super super great & hyper dedicated 24/7 performer/athletes. it’s kind of heart breaking to see them compete. they all pretty much put their entire lives on hold to train (& develop heart stopping routines) – at very grass level starting points, (translation: no real financial funding whatsoever) and they are all so engagingly ego-pumped up & driven from all the physical training & dedication – esp. with the B-boy stress on street smarts and one-upmanship – that to watch them face-off – to the music and with the ‘moves’ – is just plain outright – amazing.
the camera says it all: you watch this kid – who you know is the best !! – and he knows he is the best – but his jaw just drops – when he sees – what the next crew lays down. I left thinking – wow – I’m just glad that kind of highly charged competition doesn’t exist in my world – I’d be screwed. I just have to face off against, who: a pretty tame ‘writing’ crew to put it politely.
second: they should take some of that mainstream big bucks they throw at figure skaters – and throw it at the B-boys.
third: as well as highlighting the individual crews so well, the film also pinpoints the individual stars within the crews, flashing their names on the screen – and giving them plenty of individual air time. like one contestant says: whenever you see a JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE up there, on stage – better believe – there’s always an un-named and un-recognized beat boy off-stage – showing him the moves. the film definitely tries to address that.
fourth: the final throw-down – when the 4 top crews – compete – is the kind of war dance – you wish all wars could be decided on. individual crew members just spontaneously spring into action, and get literally, in-the-face of the other crew – with improvised riffs that defy my writing ability – just skills skills skills onslaught no-stop – to the beat of the tough street kid music.
these guys should be running the world, not just b-dancing the streets.
~PLANET B-BOY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 26th, 2008, 3:28am
. . . caught the totally kickin’ BROOKLYN EXPRESS DRUMLINE a few weekends ago.
you could hear the big drum pulse from blocks away – and then they came down 14Th STREET – struttin’ into sight. great sound. and then, every so often, the marching suddenly stops – as if, on a dime – and they offer up an awesome precision display.
seeing is believing – check out !! an early clip/on myspace !!
from their press release:
“BROOKLYN EXPRESS DRUMLINE is a slowly yet rapidly growing drumline. In the beginning, we started out with only three of us, Directors Errol, Karl, and Kevin. Our ambition and goal was to set up a drumline that serve the community and entertain those around us while having fun ourselves.
We started off by raising money in Central Park, and on train rides home on our spare time. People thought we were trying to pocket their money especially when they always saw us, but we knew that the money was going for a good cause. Today, over 5 months later, we can proudly say that we have grown … including supporters like Mr. Brian Figeroux, radio station WHCR 90.3FM and presidential candidate Barack Obama.
We are still looking for financial support and a practice location.
The drumline has 20+ members with only about 7 drums…. We are slowly and gradually growing in membership. In the year 2008 we plan on expanding our drumline into a band so that more kids from the communities can join and have something to do after school to better their lives and skills other than looking for trouble.
DONATIONS are welcome. It takes thousands of dollars to purchase equipment and drums and to maintain a good drumline.”
check out their very cool site –
they’re on the web at: Brooklyn Express Drumline
BROOKLYN EXPRESS DRUMLINE DIRECTOR – ERROL A. BROWN Jr. –
check out his bio !! – here !!
this is just how it begins: . . . “I never use to like drumming at all, but at the age of 9, I was sent on a mission to learn how to play drums. My old church sent me to learn how to play drums from another church and I was suppose to come back and teach the kids from my church. Surprisingly my new skill brushed off on two of my close friends, Rockcliff and Karl. Soon it also brushed off onto people like Tristan, Jodiane and two other friends of mine, and it kept on spreading..
My life was really taken to another level when I joined The Brooklyn “Steppers” Marching Band. I was a part of the re-known percussion line, “black Fire Percussion . . .
I have been drumming for about 9 years now.” Errol currently attends Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, majoring in flight operations, and aspires to become a pilot.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, NYC, MARCH 22, 2008
~BROOKLYN EXPRESS DRUMLINE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 26th, 2008, 3:21am
PINK / AIKO – ‘BRICK LADIES OF NYC’
MARCH 21 – APRIL 20, 2008
AD HOC ART – BROOKLYN – NYC
PIX FROM THE OPENING – FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008 – AIKO !!
AIKO, branding, AD HOC ART
AIKO signs books for fans, AD HOC ART
that’s AIKO, on the right. with her, performance artist, AKIRA, AD HOC ART
AIKO speaks with a fan, her work behind her, AD HOC ART
AIKO, large canvas, AD HOC ART
AIKO, large painting on canvas, AD HOC ART
detail, previous painting, check put the AIKO tag at bottom right, AIKO, AD HOC ART
AIKO, large painting on canvas, AD HOC ART
detail, AIKO, large canvas, AD HOC ART
AIKO, small canvas, with DJ/artist JOHN BREINER spinning at the opening, AD HOC ART
AIKO, ‘chaos came’, AD HOC ART
AIKO, small canvas painting, AD HOC ART
AIKO, large canvas, AD HOC ART
detail, AIKO, large canvas, AD HOC ART
detail, same painting, AIKO, AD HOC ART
AIKO, merch display, AD HOC ART
AIKO, yellow bunny, merch display, AD HOC ART
the back wall was a collage/array of small shaped paintings on masonite board, by LADY PINK and AIKO, AD HOC ART
the back wall, paintings by LADY PINK and AIKO, AD HOC ART
AIKO, small shaped painting on board, back wall, AD HOC ART
AIKO, small shaped painting on board, back wall, AD HOC ART
AIKO, ‘pig’, back wall, AD HOC ART
AIKO, ‘bunny’, back wall, AD HOC ART
from left, PMP/AD HOC CO-FOUNDER GARRISON BUXTON, with AD HOC ART GALLERY DIRECTOR ANDREW MICHAEL FORD at the opening. ANDREW MICHAEL FORD curated the show – ‘PINK /AIKO – BRICK LADIES OF NYC’, AD HOC ART, MARCH 21, 2008
ALISON BUXTON, behind-the-scenes VIP, PMP & AD HOC ART, at the ‘LADY PINK / AIKO BRICK LADIES OF NYC’ opening, AD HOC ART, MARCH 21, 2008
at the AD HOC ART opening, cosmic maven, and art lover – EL – who swears the reason the world is going to hell – is because recently deceased – BAIRD JONES is pulling the strings from the afterworld !!!
FUTURE BEN aka YOUNG KID – shows us his IMAGE NODE ELECTRONIC ARTS T-SHIRT, and – it is pretty cool. AD HOC ART
see: IMAGE NODE here & PMP, too
TODD POLENBERG of IMAGE NODE – catching up on some dinner, the back room, ‘LADY PINK / AIKO THE BRICK LADIES OF NYC’ opening, AD HOC ART
art fans, STEPHEN KEY & C.J. at the AD HOC ART opening
designer C.J. at the afterparty, ‘LADY PINK / AIKO BRICK LADIES OF NYC’, AD HOC ART
spotted at the afterparty – a custom rider, AD HOC ART
some home style break dancing, afterparty, ‘LADY PINK / AIKO BRICK LADIES OF NYC’, AD HOC ART
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
AD HOC ART
~AIKO |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 26th, 2008, 3:20am
PINK / AIKO – ‘BRICK LADIES OF NYC’
MARCH 21 – APRIL 20, 2008
AD HOC ART – BROOKLYN – NYC
PIX FROM THE OPENING – FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008 – PINK !!
AD HOC ART, in the back room, some PINK on the walls.
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
the show’s sign in the gallery proper – ‘BRICK LADIES of NYC’ – PINK / AIKO, AD HOC ART
‘PINK’ , AD HOC ART
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
LADY PINK, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
and – check out her: website !!
CHRIS/CYCLE, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
DANTE ROSS, LADY PINK OPENING, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
(google this guy !!) and – check out his: website !!
from left: mare 139, Jennifer, and Eric HAZE, LADY PINK OPENING, AD HOC ART, BROOKLYN, NYC, MARCH 21, 2008
meres (CEO/5POINTS/LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS) and DIZM, LADY PINK OPENING, AD HOC ART, MARCH 21, 2008
NIC 707 – LADY PINK OPENING, AD HOC ART, MARCH 21, 2008
VEE BRAVO getting a close-up of the ‘ACB’ memorial on the LADY PINK painting.
ACB died at the age of 26, in 2006. more about ACB, start here !!
close-up: ACB memorial on LADY PINK painting – there are several references to ACB – on many of the LADY PINK paintings.
painting by LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
painting by LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
detail, above painting by LADY PINK
‘QUEEN MATILDA’, LADY PINK, AD HOC ART
detail, ‘QUEEN MATILDA’, LADY PINK
detail, at the bottom, ‘QUEEN MATILDA’, LADY PINK
detail, ‘QUEEN MATILDA’, LADY PINK
detail, LADY PINK, from the back wall. AD HOC ART
clothes designer, C.J. – at the after party.
a huge LADY PINK canvas at the after party
detail, bottom/above canvas, LADY PINK, AD HOC ART after party
from left: AD HOC ART GALLERY DIRECTOR, ANDREW MICHAEL FORD, who curated the show, ‘THE BRICK LADIES of NYC – PINK / AIKO’ with AD HOC ART co-founder RAY CROSS. at the after party
photographer and graphic designer, TING-HSIN WANG, who takes the ‘party’ photos for the AD HOC ART website, at the after party
one of TING-HSIN WANG’S animal photos – she is currently working on display designs at the BROOKLYN ZOO !! SWEET.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
AD HOC ART
Probably temporary – so, for what it’s worth – if you’re bored today !!
p.s. – PAGE SIX MAGAZINE – ISSUE MAR 30, 2008 (PRIMA GALLERINAS) – re: there’s “nothing happening in BROOKLYN .. in art” – right. stick to what you do best: trust fund baby gossip & celebrity spawn profiles – !! and keep your paws off the art scene – or look as stupid as MADONNA.
well, who is gonna take PAGE SIX seriously about the art scene – anyways. its fun if you keep it as that, a mindless read while you slog thru breakfast. think half that stuff is “paid for” P.R. anyways – who do you think bankrolled that article. 2 guesses, maybe that last ‘profile’ ? as they say – “just asking”.
and while we’re at it: RANDY KENNEDY over at the New York Times didn’t seem that enamored of the WHITNEY BIENNIAL, either, but they hid it in the DINING SECTION !!!
(WED, MARCH 26, 2008 – PAGE F6 – ‘ART MEETS FEAST, AND FEAST STEALS THE SHOW’)
~LADY PINK |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 26th, 2008, 3:19am
LADY PINK / AIKO – ‘BRICK LADIES OF NYC’
OPENS To-NITE – FRIDAY – MARCH 21, 2008 – 7-10PM
the show runs: MARCH 21 – APRIL 20, 2008
AD HOC ART – 49 BOGART ST – UNIT 1G – BUZZER 22 – BROOKLYN, NY
(EAST WILLIAMSBURG INDUSTRIAL PARK)
HOURS: WED-SUN 1-8PM
see: AD HOC ART for directions, BACKGROUND INFO on the artists & advance images !!
AFTER PARTY:
featuring DJ Painted, DJ $mall change, & Doc Delay
FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 10PM – late !!
MARBLE & STONE INC – $5 suggested donation
8 INGRAHAM STREET – BROOKLYN, NY
LADY PINK, ‘QUEEN MATILDA’, 6 x 4 ft., acrylic on canvas, ($36,000)/PHOTO:COURTESY AD HOC ART
LADY PINK, ‘WHITE HEART DRIPPING’, 75 x 35 ins., acrylic on wood, ($1,000)/PHOTO COURTESY/AD HOC ART
LADY PINK, ‘HEART PORTRAIT’, 52 x 66 ins., spray enamel on canvas, ($7,600)/PHOTO COURTESY: AD HOC ART
AIKO, ‘untitled’, 37 x 22 ins., ($1,900)/PHOTO COURTESY: AD HOC ART
a card for: PMP – which runs AD HOC ART – and is also PERIPHERAL MEDIA PROJECTS – silkscreen freelance & collaboration
see: PMP
AD HOC ART
~LADY PINK & AIKO/AD HOC ART/to-nite !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 21st, 2008, 12:07pm
THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008 – MUSIC & REVELRY BEGINS at 8 PM !!!
THE REDEMPTION CENTER – 987 PACIFIC ST. – BTWN CLASSON + GRAND – BROOKLYN !!!
and – it’s: F-R-E-E !!!!!
with hometown favorites BRIAN BELOTT & ANNIE PEARLMAN performing as PRIVATE TIME !!
see: PRIVATE TIME/myspace
and Orgy Aztec – of the – JUSTIN SAMSON/LABANNA BLY – John Connelly Presents – ‘New High In Getting Low’ – OPENING !!
see: ‘New High in Getting Low’
and . . adopted NYC hometown faves – BOBO !! from Philly !!!
see: BOBO on artlovers last Spring !!
see: BOBO/myspace
and also featuring: RAXTSFK, DJ Waste Money, and performance art by: KATE LEVANT, JACQUES VIDAL & ANAIS DALY
C or G train to CLINTON/WASHINGTON STOP is CLOSEST ROUTE
UP-DATE: MON APRIL 7, 2008
. . . hear FOXY PRODUCTION, on 27TH ST – is going to have a BOBO exhibit !! – this summer, JUNE 2008 – that should be worth seeing !!
~PRIVATE TIME, BOBO & ORGY AZTEC/to-nite !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 21st, 2008, 11:42am
CHICAGO 10 (Playing at the SUNSHINE THEATER)
Film Review
March 16, 2008 by JAN ALBERT
It’s hard to distance myself from personal memories of the late 1960’s and early 70’s and judge the new film, CHICAGO 10, entirely on it’s own merits. The film revisits the demonstrations in the streets of Chicago during the Democratic Party Presidential Convention in 1968. Dubbed a “Festival of Life” by Yippee Party leader, Abbie Hoffman, one of the main organizers of the event, the gathering was meant to expose the self-congratulatory, politics-as-usual “Festival of Death” being held inside the Convention Hall and protest the expansion of the Vietnam War. The protest turned into a violent confrontation with Chicago’s police force as the world watched on TV. In the aftermath, Hoffman and seven other counterculture leaders were put on trial for conspiring to cross state lines and incite a riot.
I have mixed feelings about the film itself, but before I get to that, here’s a brief disclaimer: I used to babysit for Abbie and Anita Hoffman’s baby son, America. I thought they were both bright spirits and admired Abbie’s great sense of humor; thumb your nose at ‘the system’ attitude and theatrical approach to political consciousness-raising in the USA. It was a very sad day when Abbie went underground and changed his name after a well-orchestrated cocaine bust by the feds and an even sadder one when he was found dead of a prescription drug overdose in 1989 at the age of 52.
Back in 1969 and 70, I was also working at WBAI, New York City’s underground radio station and I remember Abbie calling in virtually every night and updating Bob Fass and his listeners about what had happened that day in court at the Chicago Conspiracy trial. (Bob Fass happily is still broadcasting his legendary show, Radio Unnameable, on WBAI [99.5FM] Thursday nights at midnight.) One call I remember like yesterday was when Abbie told Bob that he had received a letter that day addressed simply: Abbie Hoffman: Chicago, Illinois. Bob said, “Well, you’re famous now Abbie”.
He was a real star.
Anyway, it’s great to see Abbie and Bob back together again, this time on the big screen, thanks to Brett Morgen, who sprinkles their phone conversations throughout CHICAGO 10. Like the terrific THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE, (about the life and times of film producer, Robert Evans) Morgen’s first film, this movie takes a different approach to telling a true story. It intersperses standard documentary footage of the 5-day protest with a cartoon version of the surreal trial that followed. (Morgen counts the two defense attorneys, William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass, who were cited for contempt of court, in with the eight defendants to make the CHICAGO 10). Since cameras weren’t allowed in the courtroom, Morgen got great actors (like Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Wright, and the late Roy Scheider who plays Judge Julius Hoffman) to give voice to actual sections of the trial transcript. It’s a pretty ingenious solution that brings a lot of energy to the proceedings. I found the rotoscoped animation jarring and ugly, but then again, the actual event wasn’t exactly a pretty picture.
The best part of the film experience for me was watching it with young activists and college students brought together by the Generation Engage, Campus Progress and takepart.com. The audience was clearly engaged by the sheer number of Yippees and hippies and lefties – old people and young – who traveled to Chicago to stand up against the status quo. They were alternately amused and horrified by the outrageous travesty of justice at the trial, which truly plays like a piece of theater of the absurd, with Abbie and Jerry Rubin wearing their own judicial robes, blowing kisses to the jury, while Judge Julius Hoffman regularly forgets the defendant’s names and generally acts like a crazy old coot.
Seeing how attentive the audience genuinely was shook me out of the slough of complacency I have sunk into during the Bush League. Gradually I settled in and found myself also admiring the spirit and insolence of the merry pranksters, at first having fun ‘fighting the establishment’ with their presence, then courageously holding their ground as they were confronted with tanks and tear gas and Billy clubs.
Hearing activists say things to television cameras like, “we are not all going to be good niggers”, “young people are not going to stay uninvolved”, made me proud of my generation. I remember Walter Cronkite (truly the great white father of TV News anchors) remarking in disgust that the Democratic Convention was taking place in what could only be described as a “police state.” Forty years later, it is still a very powerful moment.
There are also many genuinely funny moments in this horror show – a youth worker answering the defense headquarters phone with a blithe – “Conspiracy!” Abbie Hoffman responding to a question from a reporter about what he thinks of the trial with, “well, I’ve got a good seat”. Watching Defense Attorney William Kunstler patiently explaining to Judge Hoffman that witness Allen Ginsberg is trying to calm the courtroom by chanting “Ohm”, then hearing a local news reporter analyze the day’s events by describing how the poet, Ginsberg, kept humming, “Ummmmm”, is priceless. Morgen effectively connects the moment to present day concerns by playing songs by Eminem and The Beastie Boys over the demonstrators, rather than wallpapering the vintage footage with period music.
The film’s momentum grows in fits and starts until no one is laughing anymore by the time the sole black defendant, Bobby Seale, (who was reportedly in Chicago during the convention for only 2 hours!) is actually bound and gagged in court to prevent him from speaking in his own defense. Morgen ends the film with Bobby Seale addressing a post trial demo by saying to the crowd, “You don’t need a leader telling you what to do – you know what to do. Power to the People.”
This is the kind of history lesson high school kids don’t get and I believe they are the ones for whom Morgen (born in 1968) made this film. Judging by the response from my 21-year-old daughter – (“Why didn’t they let the demonstrators sleep in the park?” and “I knew the Vietnam War was a bad thing and that people were against it but I never realized it was anything like that1”), I’d say CHICAGO 10 succeeds. It underlines that moment 40 years ago to illuminate the situation we find ourselves in today and may inspire the current generation to come together and make their move.
A CODA to the review:
After the lights came on, Kevin Powell who is planning to run for Congress, interviewed Morgen. The first question came from a young man who said he loved the film but wondered, “Where were all the women leaders?” He was so used to the presence of female comrades, it took a moment for him to comprehend that 1968 was pre-feminist revolution and women were still deep background.
Maybe progress is incremental but things do change, occasionally for the better. That was the most hopeful sign I saw all night.
view: the TRAILER
see: the official website
~Chicago 10 |
Posted in Movie Reviews | By Jan Albert | March 16th, 2008, 2:03pm
GLENN O’BRIEN interviewed JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT on his cable access TV show: TV PARTY – way back in the day (1978-1982). what a great historical archive.
OMG – Glenn was sooo cute ! He was so serious, and way way cool – and they were giving him such a hard time. First Jean Michel, (note the mohawk !!) comes down on him for not pronouncing his street tag – SAMO – right. “it’s SAME-oh !!”
and then the callers-in.
if they were guys – they just wanted to know how to get into the MUDD CLUB. if they were girls they just wanted to hook up with Glenn !! so much for art content. but give Glenn credit for trying – at least he got the goods – Jean Michel – just as his star started to really catch on fire – but before he flamed out – on tape forever – and now on YouTube.
JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT on the left, and yep, that’s a young Glenn O’Brien on the right !!
p.s. SAMO – stood for: same old same old – shit. It was scrawled all over SOHO – big – at the time.
images/COURTESY:YouTube/GLENN O’BRIEN TV PARTY
watch the clip: here !!!
more on: TV PARTY
check out: the TV PARTY website !!
more on: GLENN O’BRIEN
see: GLENN O’BRIEN/PAUL McCARTHY/Chocolate Santa opening/NOV 15, 2007
see: GLENN O’BRIEN with WALTER ROBINSON/KOSTABI-Name That Painting-taping/OCT 13, 2006
~GLENN O’BRIEN INTERVIEWS JEAN MICHEL |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 15th, 2008, 11:44am
RICHARD DUPONT – ‘TERMINAL STAGE’
MARCH 14 – MAY 3, 2008
LEVER HOUSE LOBBY GALLERY – 390 PARK AVE – NY
Nine figures, ea. approx. 80 ins. tall in cast polyurethane resin
these larger than life-size free standing self-portraits – started with a full body laser scan, and then through the use of computer programming, DUPONT maneuvers the forms into surreal shapes which were then converted into a three dimensional model and cast.
ABY ROSEN, of LEVER HOUSE has indeed assembled a stunning public art piece with this show of RICHARD DUPONT’S eerie futuristic polyresin figures – presented with flair and audacity in the transparency of the building’s street level floor-to-ceiling glass walled entrance lobby.
a view inside the LEVER HOUSE LOBBY
RICHARD DUPONT, in a classic stance, with one of his sculptures at right
from left, PER SKARSTEDT, the man who made RICHARD PRINCE, and LARRY GAGOSIAN, the man who made everybody else.
on the right, BOB COLACELLO, ANDY WARHOL associate, and INTERVIEW Editor for 12 years, starting in the early 70s. with SYDIE LANSING.
GLENN O’BRIEN the newly appointed co-editorial director for Brant Publications, including INTERVIEW, where he is the new editor-in-chief, with his wife, GINA NANNI, of COMPANY AGENDA, a P.R. firm.
Glenn O’Brien was previously an editor, and (art director!) at INTERVIEW back in the day, “when he was about 24” – before the COLACELLO reign. He left to go work for ROLLING STONE, as their NY bureau chief.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
see: more photos from the opening
read: about LEVER HOUSE
it has an interesting architectural history – it was the first modern structure to be built on the New York City grid.
check out: the LEVER HOUSE website !!
RICHARD DUPONT is represented by TRACY WILLIAMS LTD, New York
see: TRACY WILLIAMS LTD
~RICHARD DUPONT/LEVER HOUSE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | March 14th, 2008, 9:52am
