~DASH SNOW MEMORIAL/EAST RIVER

dash memorial

MEMORIAL for DASH SNOW
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009 / 3:30-7 PM
EAST RIVER AMPHITHEATER – on THE EAST RIVER
3 BLOCKS SOUTH OF HOUSTON / 2 BLOCKS SOUTH of WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE / WALKING BRIDGE AT CHERRY ST.
see: MAP

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

ash bandshell
DASH SNOW MEMORIAL. EAST RIVER AMPHITHEATER/BANDSHELL. OCT 1, 2009
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH

does anybody else remember when the amphitheater, was a burned-out graff headquarters ?
a seriously broken down and abandoned building … a very scary clubhouse for countless generations of bad boys, across a wide spectrum – kids from the hood, some as young as 9 yrs., and their big bros – smoking cigs & weed with the hipster punks. sharing spray paint tips. looking to fall thru the cracks, or fly.

OCT 2: also having a bad week – PATRICK GRIFFIN and KATHY GRAYSON . . . the stress of the NYC art scene is often unforgiving on its most talented forces. tell me about it.

. . . tell DASH SNOW. the memorial was bittersweet. the weather was appropriately sad, cloudy and moody – but as if in respect for the small, diversely talented mostly downtown contingent – though always seeming on the verge of storm, the weather held, rain never came and the open air proceedings were able to progress unhampered. the stage was dominated by musician friends of Dash’s playing their music, sharing his fav songs and briefly relating affectionate remembrances … of happier times, and some wild times, too. T.V. BABY’S Matt and Brain closed the day … and then everyone, everyone was invited with great hospitality to the PINK PONY for food & drink. I think the most poignant aspect of the day, apart from the almost-rain, Jade’s presence and words, and seeing little round-faced baby Secret – was the sight of the 2 white flags that flanked the stage, fluttering in the wind, with Dash’s bubble tag stamped large upon them. one could sense the depth of the shared sorrow, love and respect for Dash – deep in the souls of these dark clad NYC hipsters who between them covered many different scenes, and came from both sides of the divide, those of privileged upbringing and those up from the hard streets. I don’t know if its unique to NYC, but I know this – at some point it’s only about talent. if you get past that guarded hipster exterior, on both sides of the divide – you will find a unique creative spirit – trying to navigate the city’s harsh reality. balancing talent, aspiration, and hurdles – of all kinds – and keeping up the party – is a tough balancing act for all . . . sometimes its exactly the most gifted who can’t make it through.

I know some doubt it, but I have no hesitation in adding DASH SNOW to the small but proud list of downtown live-hard play-hard legends. its always sad to watch them flame-out – but there is no mistaking the flare.

dash memorial # 1

dash memorial # 16
LIZZIE BOUGATSOS.

dash memorial # 1A

dash memorial # 2

dash memorial # 6
CHRISTOPHE DE MENIL.

dash memorial Dan & Agathe
DAN COLEN and AGATHE SNOW.

dash memorial hope
HOPE ATHERTON, MEREDITH DARROW.

dash memorial # 9
VITO SCHNABEL. (2nd row. in green)

dash memorial # 14

dash memorial # 8

dash boys
center: THE GRIFFIN BROS – PATRICK and SEAN.
(center 1st row)

dash memorial lizzie
LIZZIE BOUGATSOS.

dash memorial # 15

dash memorial standing

dash memorial aron
A-RON.

dash memorial nick

dash memorial nick
NICK.

dash memorial sean
WADE OATES of THE VIRGINS and photographer SEAN VEGEZZI.

dash memorial
photographer NAOMI FISHER.

dash memorial Terry
photographer TERRY RICHARDSON.

dash memorial - matt
at the PINK PONY – MATT of TV BABY.

dsah memorial jade
JADE and MATT.

dash memeorial karin nelson
KARIN NELSON, recently on board at V MAGAZINE, contributes to the PULSE – ‘WHAT I’M WEARING NOW’,
celeb fashion section in the NEW TIMES STYLE SECTION/WEEKENDS.
(She did that recent one with MILLA JOVOVICH !!/OCT 4, 2009)

dash memorial brain
BRAIN of TV BABY. not such a great pic – but you can see why he has the name.

dash memeorial - max
MAX SNOW.

dash memorial # 30
Dash’s friends made a commemorative CD of his fav songs – with an inset booklet of sweet pix.
which they gave out after the East River memorial.

Dash memorial # 31
‘Dash Snow – This song’s for you’

dash & Secret
DASH and SECRET.
(photo from CD booklet – photographer not credited)

bye DASH SNOW.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH / unless otherwise noted.




~HARVEY KURTZMAN/MAD GENIUS OF COMICS

harvey kurtzman

THE MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART – MoCCA – and ABRAMS ComicArts invite you to join them for a celebration of the new book: ‘THE ART of HARVEY KURTZMAN: THE MAD GENIUS of COMICS’ – written by DENIS KITCHEN & PAUL BUHLE.

to-nite – THURS SEPT 24, 2009 at 7 PM !!

at the: MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART – MoCCA – 594 BROADWAY, SUITE 410 (bet Houston & Prince) !!

. . . . there will be a discussion featuring co-author DENIS KITCHEN and Harvey’s daughter, NELLIE KURTZMAN,
which will be moderated by Abrams Comicarts editor CHARLES KOCHMAN.
with a reception & signing with refreshments to follow.
admission open & free to all.

see: abramscomicarts.com !!

p.s. our friends over at MoCAA tell us HARVEY KURTZMAN is quite a comics icon !!
He discovered ROBERT CRUMB and gave “GLORIA STEINEM her first job in publishing when he hired her as his assistant.
TERRY GILLIAM also started at his side, met an unknown JOHN CLEESE in the process, and the genesis of MONTY PYTHON was formed.
ART SPIEGELMAN has stated on record that he owes his career to him. And he’s one of PLAYBOY publisher Hugh Hefner’s favorite artists.” !!
. . . as well, most interestingly . . . “Harvey Kurtzman had a Midas touch for talent, but was himself an astonishingly talented and influential artist, writer, editor, and satirist. KURTZMAN, the creator of MAD MAGAZINE and PLAYBOY’S “LITTLE ANNIE FANNY”, was called “One of the most important figures in postwar America” by the NEW YORK TIMES. His groundbreaking “realistic” war comics of the early ’50s and various satirical publications (MAD, Trump, Humbug, and Help!) had an immense impact on popular culture, inspiring a generation of underground cartoonists. Without Kurtzman, it’s unlikely we’d have had Airplane, SNL, or National Lampoon”.

the book includes hundreds of never-before-seen illustrations, paintings, pencil sketches, newly discovered lost E.C. Comics layouts, color compositions, illustrated correspondence, and vintage photos from the rich Kurtzman archives.




~HYPER REALISM/SAT SEPT 12 & 17

. . . going against the grain, or is it – just getting in touch with the times – there are a few very interesting, very stark, and mostly black and white – photographs & hyper-realist images – floating around town this week.

1. first up:

stellan holm William burroughs
WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS and STELLAN HOLM. PHOTO CREDIT: VICTOR BOCKRIS
IMAGE COURTESY: STELLAN HOLM GALLERY, NYC.

STELLAN HOLM GALLERY is using this archival black & white photo – as the flagship image for their first show of the new season.
how a young STELLAN HOLM came to be photographed with William Burroughs, the photo itself by a famous writer about town (see: VICTOR BOCKRIS) is unknown to me – and there is no info offered – but I bet therein lies a pretty good story. I guess he grew up in very fortunate and creative circumstances. I’ll say this though – the grown-up Stellan – still looks – pretty much the same !!

the show in question is: ‘William S. Burroughs – The Sky is Thin As Paper Here’.
running SEPT 12 – OCT 31, 2009 – it is a selection of abstract expressionist type works, some including collage components – completed between the years of 1982 and 1995 . . “when Burroughs was extremely prolific as a visual artist”. As he was born in 1914 – that would put him between the ages of 68 and 81 – you should only live so long, never mind still be … ‘out there’.

STELLAN HOLM GALLERY
– 524 West 24th ST. NYC.

you can view the exhibit online: STELLAN HOLM GALLERY/exhibits !!

2. then opening, to-nite – SAT SEPT 12/6-8 PM !!

dennis Hopper shafrazi
ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG, 1966 – PHOTO: DENNIS HOPPER

TONY SHAFRAZI is using this souped-up archival black & white photo of ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG by DENNIS HOPPER – as the poster image for their first show of the season:
‘DENNIS HOPPER – SIGNS OF THE TIMES’
the show runs: SEPT 12 – OCT 24, 2009
TONY SHAFRAZI GALLERY – 544 West 26th St, NYC.

and, OMFG !! you can see some of the exhibit online !! talk about: a-m-a-z-i-n-g archival photos.
see: DENNIS HOPPER/SIGNS OF THE TIMES !! (hit ‘Images’/left hand margin)

3. then also opening to-nite, but in WASHINGTON, D.C !! – a show of realist PAINTERS !!

‘NEW REALISMS: A New Generation of Contemporary Realist Painters’
opening SEPT 12, 6-8 PM – the exhibit runs thru OCT 24, 2009
IRVINE CONTEMPORARY – 1412 14th Street – NW WASHINGTON, DC.

featuring the work of: EDWARD DEL ROSARIO, ADAM STENNETT, NICOLA VERLATO, BARNABY WHITFIELD & ERIC WHITE.

note: there is a public panel discussion with the artists at GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY today, Sat Sept 12 /2-3:30 PM
LEAVEY CENTER, Program Room (First Floor).

Adam Stenett - paregoric dropper
ADAM STENNETT, ‘Paregoric Dropper’, 2008. Acrylic on paper. 22 x 22 in.
check out more of ADAM STENNETT’S work: on his website !!

check out more on the show: ‘NEW REALISMS’/IRVINE CONTEMPORARY/WASHINGTON DC !!

yeah, go back & hit that link !! here’s another sample:

eric White new realism
ERIC WHITE, ‘ORGONOMIC FUNCTIONALISM CONFERENCE 1973’, 2003. oil on canvas, 48 x 60 in.

4. and finally, back in glorious, NYC – STEVEN KASHER GALLERY will be inaugurating their new ground floor storefront space – with what looks to be an amazing exhibit of archival NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photographs. The first display and sale of vintage prints from the vast and varied archives of the National Geographic Society – with – “over 150 unique vintage black and white prints representing the earliest days of the society (founded in 1888) through the 1940s”.

RANDY KENNEDY already posted an very interesting piece on the collection in the NEW YORK TIMES …
see: ‘TREASURES FROM AN UNDERGROUND TROVE’/NYTIMES. AUG 18, 2009 !!

the show opens next SAT SEPT 17 – 6-8 PM

‘THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE’ – ‘VINTAGE PRINTS FROM THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE’
SEPT 17 – OCT 17, 2009
STEVEN KASHER GALLERY – 521 West 23rd St. NYC

steven kasher national geographic
B. ANTHONY STEWART. Coal Miner, Omar, West Virginia, 1938.
Vintage Gelatin Silver Printed 1938. 9-1/4 x 7 in.
ARCHIVAL PRINT FROM THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION AND
PART OF THE SERIES OFFERED FOR PURCHASE THOUGH STEVEN KASHER GALLERY, NYC.
IMAGE COURTESY: STEVEN KASHER GALLERY.




~IDENTITY BY DESIGN, NATIVE AMERICAN DRESSES

in production.




~NANCY NOW

I’d like to thank MARTIN BROMIRSKI of ANABA and JON KALISH of NPR – who both were kind enough to write up my show at OTHER MUSIC. thanks guys.

the show is still up – until the first week of OCTOBER 2009, or so. I tried to use the format of ‘banners’ to showcase examples of – my own art, photography, and artisan skills.
as well – those 4 framed watercolors – on the top shelf to the right – are mine, too.
OTHER MUSIC – 15 East 4th St. NYC

see: NANCY SMITH on ANABA !!

see: NANCY SMITH on NPR !!
and, yes I loved being called a ‘wheeler dealer’ !!

but, right now, I’m feeling more like – a Tricoteuse, …. as in Madame Defarge.
I did a lot of knitting and stitching and repairing of quilts over the summer …

tricoteuse
TRICOTEUSE !! WIKIPEDIA
“WILLIAM-ADOLPHE BOUGUEREAU’S painting ‘Tricoteuse’ ironically depicts a young girl knitting …”
. . . and, check out: Madame Defarge !!




~WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/DON’T LOOK BACK !!

coming up soon.




~WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/PLAYS NYC

JOSH in SHOWER

JOSH HARRIS in the communal shower. WE LIVE IN PUBLIC.
and yep, the shower – like everything else – was under 24/7 camera surveillance.
and yep – the footage was broadcast live – in real-time video streaming.
so, you could look up at one of the many multi-channel monitors – scattered about EVERYWHERE !! let’s say from – your seat at the dinner table – and pretty likely – you’d find yourself watching someone .. who had just stepped in !!

WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – after winning big at SUNDANCE this year – and, having its NYC premiere at MOMA this past Spring – opened its first ‘COMMERCIAL’ run – in NYC – last week, playing at the IFC CENTER downtown – AUG 28 thru SEPT 4th.
see: IFC CENTER !!

nancy & Theo
the film’s poster: NANCY & THEO.

AUG 28: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – JUST SCORED A HUGE WRITE-UP in the NEW YORK TIMES !!
. . . titled: ‘EMBRACING LIFE UNDER SCRUTINY, BEFORE THE DAWN OF NONSTOP TWEETS’ and written by MANOHLA DARGIS !! – it can be found on PAGE C6 of FRI AUG 28th’s WEEKEND ARTS . . . one correction, under that small photo – of one the of film’s poster images, titled “Volunteers in the 30-day bunker … ” – that’s me and my son THEO. and, no I was NOT a volunteer – I was a paid member of the crew – my salary: $10,000 … that included both my 24/7 work as an in-house crew member, and my 24/7 participation as an exhibiting artist.

you can catch – the NYT review: online !!

our film reviewer JAN ALBERT also just posted her take !!
see: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/artlovers movie reviews !!

catch the WE LIVE IN PUBLIC OFFICIAL WEBSITE & TRAILER: here !!

. . . and, small world – convicted BASQUIAT FORGER & current artist-in-residence in CHINA !! – ALFREDO MARTINEZ – emailed to say he had caught my recent INTERVIEW – on NPR !!
how ALFREDO, also a big ‘player’ in the JOSH HARRIS glory days – he ran the infamous ‘SHOOTING GALLERY’ at QUIET – prominently featured in the WE LIVE IN PUBLIC film – ever got into CHINA – with a 2 yr. prison rap sheet – for art fraud – still has all his friends – mystified.
come to think of it . . . it was ALFREDO who first introduced me to Josh. to do artworld P.R. and to find Josh a super special antique American quilt – which he wanted to give away as wedding present !! and indeed, I did find him a most beautiful mint condition guilt. a rare wool Mennonite log cabin (furloughs) circa 1880 . . ($6,000). after I told Josh somewhat about the quilt’s origins and pattern – on top of what he paid me to find the quilt (10% commission) – he then paid me another $1,000 bucks to write up what I had told him – as an essay to accompany the quilt – to its new owner. the very definition of cool, or what . . .

whatever anybody says about Josh – he was a great art patron and he threw the best parties ever. all the time.
the downtown temperature definite went down – when he did. in fact ‘downtown’ is now pretty much just a hollow term, usually affixed by NEW YORK MAG to celebrity spawn wannabes . . in puff pieces that are paid for. what can I say – that’s pretty much the truth. the hood that gave birth to BASQUIAT is long since – dead & gone.




~LaVIOLA BANK/last summer show still standing !!

the LaVIOLA BANK SUMMER SALON runs JULY 16 thru MON SEPT 7, 2009 !!
179 EAST BROADWAY – F TRAIN TO EAST BROADWAY – LOWER EAST SIDE

a big group survey – it was exciting for its range and drama !!

here’s some pix from the opening night – THURS JULY 16, 2009.

laviola summer # 1
BRIAN MONTUORI . . . in front of the big wall of his work.

Laviola summer # 2
we saw WES LANG come by to congratulate BRIAN MONTUORI, on his work – so we asked Brian,
if he had any Wes Lang tattoo work – yes, he did !!

laviola # 3
WES LANG.

Laviol asummer # 4
BRIAN MONTUORI’S wall of work – was pretty – awesome.

Laviola summer # 24
BRIAN MONTUORI, ‘Electric Tower Study 02’, 2009.
oil on paper, 15 x 15 in. ($750.)

laviola summer # 5
ERIK JEOR.

Laviola summer # 6
ERIK JEOR’s wall – totally diff – equally awesome.

Laviola summer # 18
. . . on the wall – ERIK JEOR.

Laviola  summer # 19
ERIK JEOR, ‘Saccharin and Melanin’, 2009.
watercolor on paper, 43 x 60 in. ($4,800)

laviola summer # 13
ALLEN GRUBESIC, ‘I was young …’, 2007.
silkscreen on Scandia 2000 vida paper. Edition of 250. ($100)

laviol asummer # 17
KASPER SONNE, ‘Logo (Angst)’, 2009.
neon sign, 9 x 28.5 in. ($3,000.)

laviola summer # 10
MAJ ANYA DeBEAR – totally obsessed with NAPOLEON !!

Laviol asummer # 11
MAJ ANYA DeBEAR – her ‘popcorn’ popper – housing a Napoleonic vista !!

laviola summer # 12

laviola summer # 23
MAJ ANYA DeBEAR, ‘Re Treat’, 2009.
mixed media, 35 x 25 x 12 in. ($2,600)

Laviola summer # 25
. . . large ‘femme’ photos – by VIRGINA INES VERGARA.
and towards the left – the small machine-like images – mixed media collages – are by ESKE KATH.

laviola summer # 15
also really loved this wall by BRIAN RAVNHOLT JEPSEN.
‘8 Kitchen Scenes – Point of No Return, From Here On It’s Straight to Hell’, 2009.
color inkjet on board, 19.5 x 16.5 in each. ($400 ea.)

Laviola summer # 16
inkjet photo – BRIAN RAVNHOLT JEPSEN.

Laviola summer # 20
there was also a wonderful & funny – display of HuskMitNavn work.
(a Danish street artist – his name means – Remember My Name.)
this is: ‘Untitled (Two People on the Floor)’, 2008.
acrylic on canvas, ($9,900).

laviola summer # 21
HuskMitNavn. limited edition silkscreen print, 2009.
24 x 21 in. ($1,300).

laviola summer # 22
from the same series – HuskMitNavn !!

laviola summer # 29
the exhibit – continued, downstairs !!

laviola summer # 26
it was fun to shift through work – on the flat files.
mostly HuskMitNavn – but catch that !! CASEY JEX SMITH – MORMON TABLEAUX – collage – bottom right, ($350).
what a strange mix !!
what a strange world we live in, 2009.

laviola summer # 27
HuskMitNavn.

Laviola summer # 28
on the wall – a more ‘traditional’ art world – CASEY JEX SMITH drawing, ‘Stella’, 2007.
still leaves you, w-o-n-d-e-r-i-n-g.
pencil and color pencil on paper, 20 x 16 in. ($1,500)

laviola summer # 30
one last image – JASON McLEAN, ‘Saltybook of Love (in Fall)’, 2009.
ink on paper, 15 x 11 in. ($425).

PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH