DASH SHAW, left, was introduced and interviewed briefly – by CHIP KIDD, the graphic design artist – who is also the editor-in-chief of PANTHEON BOOKS – which just published Mr. Shaw’s new hard cover book – ‘BodyWorld’.
the book signing took place at the STRAND BOOKSTORE – last night, Tuesday, April 14, 2010.
see: RANDOM HOUSE/PANTHEON/DASH SHAW – ‘BodyWorld’
Dash spoke entertainingly of his early experiences, in and out of school – but esp about being in school briefly in Japan, and working as a nude model for university art school drawing classes in Richmond, Virginia – to his more recent comings and goings through the SVA program here in NYC. On the technical side of things – he touched on how he generates his work, his stories have close connections to his real life world, and how he works, for immediacy, feedback and animation on the web – to his strongly expressed feeling that: hard copy books – will only become more and more beautiful – unique objects – to handle and behold – as opposed to becoming irrelevant & phased-out.
case at hand: his book !! – ‘BodyWorld’ is actually – top bound . . . like some sketch books,
– so it opens up – and works pretty much – as a kind of vertical hard cover flip book.
for a comic or graphic novel – it includes a large degree of art world visual ‘content’ cross-over – and, in fact – apart from naming GARY PANTER and DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI as two of his biggest comic world influences – he also made a strong point of referencing painter DAVID SALLE – whose image layering, and wide graphic nuancing, as well as abstract fields – can be easily picked out – esp once mentioned.
the graphics per se, text fonts and lay-out – were very high-tech, futuristic and – pretty much – far out.
the color palette was also very striking – from the reflective chrome-like detailing on the cover, the bright ‘label’ orange digital lettering on the page sides – to the actual story board narrations.
the drawing of the characters, and the page compositions – easily straddled both the comic, and the art worlds.
he spoke about ‘evolving’ comic style – as in, how he had come to appreciate most – those contemporary comic book artists who have ‘evolving’ graphic style. there was a funny, brief exchange between himself and moderator Chip Kidd – when pressed to elaborate a little further . . . Mr. Kidd seemed at first stunned, when Dash Shaw pulled GARY PANTER’S name seemingly out of the air in this context. but as everyone took 2 mins to internalize and contemplate the issue – you could almost see the mental light bulbs going off – across the room – as in, exactly so. get it.
art meets illustration . . .
of course CHIP KIDD himself, is a truly ‘seminal’ figure in the worlds of graphic design and comic book culture – or as they often call ’em now = graphic novels, and two of his books were on hand as well.
CHIP KIDD, ‘The Learners’ – ‘THE BOOK AFTER THE CHEESE MONKEYS’.
CHIP KIDD, ‘The CHEESE MONKEYS’ – ‘A NOVEL IN TWO SEMESTERS’.
after the introductory – Dash moved on to project, narrate, and explain some of the background – behind a chapter of the book.
like he said: his school experience in Japan – and his time in Richmond – as a drawing class nude model – seemed to have laid the seeds for much of the action !!
then, in what became immediately apparent – as a huge one-time treat – he projected a brief animated project.
it was made very simply – just some colored sharpies on plain white 8 x 10 copy paper . . .
that started off pretty simple and then went – far out !!
the animation – was the simplest you can generate by computer, just basically numbering the pages – essentially to screen – in a rapid order. that’s how they moved – they were ‘animated’ – in the truest sense of the word – by the visual logic of the sharpie drawing.
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI’S ‘HAIR NUDE’. ha ha came to mind !!
but whereas DAVID MAZZUCCELLI is so dark and twisted. socially and emotionally powerful. even scarring. think the Joker – DASH SHAW’S work is more compelling in a future shock highly mentally projected far out – alternative story-telling universe – new world kind of way.
still part of the brief, but b-r-i-l-l-i-a-n-t !! kind of thrilling really – animation – DASH SHAW: ‘The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.’ The story seems to bounce off his nude drawing model days and goes off into deep end contemplation of humans losing their individuality as they evolve into entities that “intoxicate” each others thoughts with a rampant dominant form of social telepathy !!
truly, for me – the drawing line – was just as fascinating as the story line . . .
after the projection – Dash Shaw was animated himself !! he had scored with the small but very happy audience. everyone there knew – you had caught a very special moment.
CHIP KIDD was wonderfully laid back, too. just watching the roll and flow. of his not easily defined young author/artist.
and then, let the book signing – begin !!
he had brought along – a nice array of colored markers.
BOOK SIGNING – DASH SHAW and CHIP KIDD
STRAND BOOKSTORE, NYC – APRIL 13, 2010
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~DASH SHAW/CHIP KIDD/STRAND BOOKSIGNING !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 14th, 2010, 6:29pm
the young comic artist – DASH SHAW designed this year’s MoCCA ART FEST 2010 poster. the MoCCA Festival, a benefit for the museum took place last weekend, APRIL 10 & 11 at the 69th REGIMENT ARMORY/68 LEXINGTON.
DASH SHAW spoke on a panel with FRANK SANTORO and BILL KARTALOPOULOS on Sat, from 12:45 – 1:30pm.
interesting note: the 2010 ‘KLEIN AWARD’ was presented to DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI by CHIP KIDD !!
DASH SHAW is the creator of ‘BodyWorld’, ‘Bottomless Belly Button, and ‘The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.’.
Born in Los Angeles, (Hollywood !!), California (April 6, 1983), he grew up in Richmond Virginia. He graduated with a BFA in Cartooning/Illustration from SVA/School of Visual Arts, NYC, in 2005 – and is currently Brooklyn-based.
for more info – see: WIKIPEDIA/DASH SHAW !!
DASH SHAW has a concurrent show up now at MoCCA/MUSEUM of COMIC and CARTOON ART – titled:
‘DASH SHAW MAKING THE ABYSS’ – running thru MAY 30, 2010. it is a survey – comprised of drawings from ‘BodyWorld’, ‘Bottomless Belly Button’, ‘The Uncanny Reproduction’ and ‘The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century’, as well as presenting a selection of animations, and some comic short stories.
DASH SHAW will be giving an ARTIST TALK at the museum – TUES MAY 25, 2010 – at 7 PM.
MoCCA/ MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART – 594 BROADWAY/SUITE 401 – BETW HOUSTON & PRINCE
HOURS: TUES-SUN 12pm-5pm
GENERAL ADMISSION: $5 / Children under 12 – FREE
~DASH SHAW/MoCCA ART FEST POSTER 2010 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 14th, 2010, 6:05pm
NEEDLES & PINS, SAN FRANCISCO – PRESENTS:
‘Don’t Take Vaccines’ – a solo art exhibit by – NICK MANN aka “Doodles”.
opening to-nite FRI APRIL 9, 2010 / 6-9 PM
the show runs thru MAY 9, 2010
NEEDLES & PENS – 3523 16th ST – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
NICK MANN aka Doodles – is “a San Francisco-based street artist … whose creations are a combination of delicately wheat-pasted pieces of paper, gritty spray paint, and eerie neon Nordic creatures . . . in a nutshell Nick is the anonymous person that pasted up that beautiful character that you admire everyday as you ride the bus to work.” – NEEDLES & PENS
~NICK MANN/NEEDLES & PENS/SAN FRANCISCO |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 9th, 2010, 11:52am
JULES DE BALINCOURT – ‘PREMONITIONS’
opened April 1, 2010
the show runs: APRIL 1 – 24, 2010
DEITCH PROJECTS – 18 WOOSTER ST – SOHO
SOME PIX FROM THE OPENING – THURS APRIL 1, 2010/6-8PM
JULES DE BALINCOURT arrives at the opening.
his mom, BEATRICE TESDORPF, and DEITCH DIRECTOR – KATHY GRAYSON, on the right.
JULES DE BALINCOURT, ‘Power Flower’, 2010. oil & acrylic on wood panel.
96 x 132 in.
JULES DE BALINCOURT, ‘Floating Through It’. 82 x 94 in.
the installation was very sparse & clean-lined – in a word: stylish.
and yet also, of the 6th sense !! . . .
JULES DE BALINCOURT, ‘Premonitions’ . . .
JULES DE BALINCOURT, ‘Speculator’, 2010. 65 x 96 in.
RYAN McGINNESS dropped by.
AUREL SCHMIDT.
AUREL was with L.A. based musician/songwriter MIGUEL MENDEZ.
see: his MySpace page.
downtown legend – KENNY SCHARF . .
and, new want-to-be kids on the block . . . ERIC & JEFFREY LEISER.
along with their pal – TEKSERVE hommie – ADAM TYSON – they will be doing some kind of performance/reading in a pop-up space – at 269 BLEECKER ST, 7-9 PM – this SAT, APRIL 10th , 2010.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~JULES DE BALINCOURT/Premonitions |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 9th, 2010, 10:07am
SAT – APRIL 3, 2010 – APRIL FOOL’S JOKE ?
FILE THIS UNDER: WHERE’S WALDO !!
GUESS WHO’S BACK IN TOWN – and supposedly holed up in Williamsburg ?
the leader of the pack himself, and my former boss – JOSH HARRIS.
$10 bucks to the first emailed-in confirmed sighting – send a photo – use your phone, dummy.
and we’ll post it !!
MARK ENGER of EXPLODING SKY – just scored himself his 2nd STUDIO VISIT – on artlovers !! for the tip !!
GPS HINT: Mark says Josh is staying rent-free with JEFF GOMPERTZ in Williamsburg – last I heard, that would be around BERRY ST. / WHYTHE ST. and N.7th !! so maybe you can stake Josh out on BEDFORD ST. – he’ll be looking pretty stupid.
come on – he’s been outta NYC for 10 years !!
JEFF on the other hand will look wary. JEFF designed and pretty much built the 99+ artist/residence ‘pod’ hotel in WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – the QUIET part.
here’s a recent photo of Josh to help with the quest – Ondi & her team – just sent some in from the recent WLIP DVD launch !!
(another fun fact, all my hommies – MARK ENGER – made Josh’s custom-screened WLIP jacket . . .)
PHOTOS FROM: THE MARCH 1, 2010 – DVD LAUNCH – of WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – CHICAGO !!
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY/WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/INTERLOPER FILMS
if you never saw the WE LIVE IN PUBLIC trailer – you can catch it here !!
yep, that’s Alfredo, on the right – strolling down the streets of Soho – with JOSH – ca 1999 – like the kings they were.
Josh was worth about $86 million smackeroos at the time – so, go figure !!
I’m in the trailer too – I’m the one who got into the fight – and kicked out. how many times do I have to say it.
yep. the one quiet ‘quilt’ maker – caught up in a whole bunch of high octane hardcore high performance fanatics – was the one who threw a mighty wicked punch.
more a blow to the throat and down she went, that stupid little bimbo of a trust fund baby. or something like that.
p.s. Ondi didn’t catch that !! just the aftermath !!
so what I am saying is – this is MY crew !! y’all – making film & internet history !!
the pix are from the MARCH 1 – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – DVD launch in Chicago – an interactive web audience of 77,000+ checked in !!
” ….. we linked 6 live audiences together across North America and hosted a live show on our website” . . . while 6 separate live virtual audiences across the country watched the film – “Ondi and Josh ran the internet audience of 77,000 through clips of the film and answered questions as they rolled in form the web, battling it out on a bed from a bunker in Chicago. Then we linked all the cities together into a Q&A with Ondi and Josh – hosted by ADRIEN GRENIER at ARENA in NYC, and ELIZA DUSHKU at the EGYPTIAN in LA !!”
Though apparently the tech gods both smiled and frowned – the experimental interactive launch drove “our beloved film” – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC from #43 to #2 on iTunes – overnight !!
as of today – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – is holding strong at #6 !! – in its fourth week – out there in the world.
Ondi says INTERLOPER is releasing clips everyday from this “moonwalking” event, see: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/media !!
here’s some of the ‘critical’ – nationwide – DVD review/feedback !!
see: ‘EPIC WIN’ – by GENE NEWMAN/MARCH 1, 2010 – on PREMIERE !!
see: DVD TALK – by BILL GIBRON/MARCH 23, 2010 !!
note: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC is now available via Video-on-Demand, rental and/or purchase through virtually every major outlet, including iTunes, Amazon, all cable TV, Dish, Direct and the company store >>>.
IN CONCLUSION, FILE UNDER:
VIDEO GOLD – OR – SOME PIX FROM THE PAST – TO HELP YOU FIND OUR ELUSIVE LEADER !! in WILLIAMSBURG !!
ok. 2006 NYC SIGHTING – JOSH HARRIS – CHINATOWN.
that’s Josh in the center, top row – with MATT ENGER on the left and MARK ENGER – on the right.
that’s JEFF GOMPERTZ – in front, kneeling.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
JEFF GOMPERTZ – AUG 2, 2003. at the back of his latest ‘venture’ at time of photo – the now defunct ? nightclub – Volume – perhaps you heard of it ? GPS hint: it was on Whythe St – in Williamsburg.
JEFF
~where’s waldo: JOSH HARRIS SIGHTING/NYC !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 5th, 2010, 3:52pm
ok. this is so lame – but here goes.
talking about polaroids – just by total coincidence an old friend from grad school, back in Montreal – TERRY EWASIUK – just sent me some polaroids – she took of me – back in 1977.
and happy birthday Nancy – hardcore Aires to the very last drop.
here goes:
and, FILE UNDER: the 2 sides of Nancy !! circa 1977 — MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.
NANCY SMITH, MFA PROGRAM, CONCORDIA UNIV. MONTREAL, ca 1977.
POLAROID PHOTOS BY: TERRY EWASIUK, now based in Vancouver, B.C., CANADA.
~the 2 sides of Nancy/archival polaroids |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 5th, 2010, 3:15pm
TOMOO GOKITA at the opening of his last show at ATM – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ – MARCH 2009 !!
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
IMAGE COURTESY/BILL BRADY~ATM GALLERY
TOMOO GOKITA – ‘WILDEST DREAMS’
DEDICATED TO HIS FRIEND – MR. CHIBA (1964-2010)
opened Thurs March 25/6-8 PM
show runs MARCH 26 – MAY 1, 2010
BILL BRADY~ATM – 542 WEST 24th ST. – CHELSEA – NYC
the opening was fab. it’s always fun to be around Tomoo. plus it was really exciting because all the pieces, all pretty much large canvases – were new – and a big departure from his last show – in that, unlike last March – where the canvases were hand-painted and gestural – with many tonalities of gray, as well as black and white – these new works – were starkly and glossily only black and white – the images achieved with spray paint and stencil !! Tomoo has been enjoying much recent international success – and the opening attracted a wide media presence, from TIME OUT to ART FORUM.
TOMOO GOKITA, just in from Tokyo for the show – with friend KURUMI, who has come by to celebrate with him.
Kurumi is currently an intern at 303 Gallery.
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Mask’, 2010. acrylic enamel, spray paint on canvas. 162 x 162 cm. ($12,000.)
stark black and white – these new paintings are done with the use of stencils !! spray paint and cheap Japanese house paint.
Tomoo’s imagery is always inscrutable !! open to interpretation, super intelligent. super, make that – hyper !! visual !! and most fun.
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Classic Recycling’, 2010. Acrylic enamel spray paint. 194 X 130.3 cm. ($10,000.)
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Hot Dog’, 2010. acrylic enamel, spray paint. 194 x 162 cm. ($14,000.)
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Dance’, 2010. acrylic enamel, spray paint. 259 x 196 cm. ($18,000.)
the surface was very shiny. almost reflective.
detail, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Dance’.
detail, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Dance’.
this digital shot – is most true to the actual color.
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Punk’, 2010. acrylic enamel, spray paint. 194 x 162 cm. ($14,000).
detail, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Punk’.
detail, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Punk’.
detail, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Punk’.
TOMO GOKITA, ‘Hot Dog’.
this one was really inscrutable – it had me fascinated from every angle.
it seemed to change expression and stance at every moment.
quelle bizarro fun !!
MATT LEINES showed up at one point.
so did Taylor !!
TOMOO GOKITA and TAYLOR McKIMENS.
Taylor featured Tomoo in his history-making group show – ‘STRANGER TOWN’, (now it seems…) so, way back in the day !!
TOMOO greets KATE !!
ANDY CLARK and TOMOO GOKITA.
TOMOO GOKITA, happy to see QUENTIN CURRY !!
HIRO – in a TOMOO GOKITA T-SHIRT !!
BILL BRADY – has one too . .
it says: “THE END” !!
also dropping by, photog PETER SUTHERLAND, just back from assignment in Africa – with friend JENNIFER SHEAR.
ROSSON CROW.
Simon’s new pals: SETH McBRIDE and JAMIE JOHNSON were happy to make the scene as well.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~TOMOO GOKITA at ATM !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 1st, 2010, 2:17pm
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Untited’, Acrylic on board, 9 x 7 in. 2010
IMAGE COURTESY/F+V GALLERY
ANDREW GUENTHER – RECENT WORKS ON PAPER
opened Thurs March 25/6-8 PM
show runs MARCH 25 – MAY 1, 2010
FREIGHT + VOLUME – 542 WEST 24th ST. – Chelsea – NYC
the opening was really fun. got lots of nice pix of Andrew and Tiffany and their little baby girl – 5 mo. old EASTER LILY !!
it wasn’t just a show of works on paper – Andrew had a little desk in there as well, with a chair and some objects and some paper and crayons – so it was also a small corner to be interactive in and expressive in – for all comers !!
in the midst of a fraying world – a moment to think and draw – as you gazed and considered, related to Andrew’s thoughts and images.
very poignant.
very touching. very real.
what can I say, I’ve known Andrew for a pretty long time now, ever since he was the lowly ‘go-fer’ at DANNY SILVERSTEIN’S, pre yr. 2000.
way back when Simon, who was then the gallery’s director – finally convinced Danny to give Andrew a shot.
ANDREW GUENTHER arrives.
soon after comes new baby – EASTER LILY – with mom TIFFANY on the right. Easter Lily was born Nov 10, 2009.
holding her is family friend REBECA RANEY.
little EASTER LILY, not all that comfortable with her close-up !! she is beautiful.
putting some finishing touches, actually adding a copy of the small book FREIGHT+VOLUME published for the show,
to the ‘drawing’ table.
the table was covered with a sheet of paper to draw on. that’s a ‘white noise’ machine on the right, from Target I think.
I think they use it to help put Easter Lily to sleep.
the artworks were small in scale and looked like this – on the wall in the small back alcove.
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘A Kind of Science’, Pencil on paper. 2009. 12 x 9 in. ($1,400.)
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Untitled’, Colored pencil on paper. 2009. 12 x 9 in. ($1,500.)
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘The Painter’. Squid ink on paper. 2008. 8 x 6 in. ($1,100.)
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Untitled’, Watercolor and ink on paper. 2009. 6 x 4 in. ($850.)
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Whale, Provincetown’. Ink and acrylic on photo. 2008. 11 x 14 in.
the low-fi limited edition artist book – FREIGHT+VOLUME produced with Andrew – for the show.
titled: ‘Hotdog in a Banana Costume’ – it is dedicated to Easter Lily.
QUIET ?????
guests at the drawing table.
can that be –
KATE CERIGO, yes !!
she’s also known Andrew since way back, when dad Simon worked at the DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY.
she has her own fave pages – in his small book.
“Cool! Gets! You! Dead!”
ANDREW GUENTHER & ole buddy from way back, too – MATTHEW DAY JACKSON.
another ole buddy – from the Silverstein days – JOHN NEWSOM – who had just bought this piece.
John was later to tell us – he had just caught WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – the JOSH HARRIS story – on MOVIES ON DEMAND on TV – and, that, he thought it was: “brilliant”.
KEVIN KAY, the new FREIGHT+VOLUME managing director.
A working artist who pursues many mediums, he is especially active in video and photography, and especially in Polaroid format . .
He was thrilled to bring us up to date on Polaroid’s ‘re-launch’ and recommends this site: Polanoid.net !!.
meanwhile – the drawing table Andrew had provided – had begun to fill up.
and we left wondering – was that bee – the work of TAYLOR McKIMENS, sighted at the gallery, with TOMOO ?
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~ANDREW GUENTHER at F+V !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 1st, 2010, 2:10pm
