JASON RHOADES at the opening of his one man show, ‘Meccatuna’,
DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC, Sept 12, 2003
Photo: Nancy Smith
Los Angeles based installation artist JASON RHOADES dies at the age
of 41, on Tuesday, August 1, 2006. According to the DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY,
Jason fell ill at home and was brought to the hospital, where he passed away.
An obituary
by Diane Haithman, LA Times Staff writer, was published on August 3.
One of the saddest notes in the article was the fact that .. “according to
the David Zwirner Gallery, Rhoades is survived by his wife, artist Rachel Khedoori,
and daughter Rubi, 3.”
There were immediately rumors circulating that Rhoades had died of a
heart attack, but cause of death has not been officially confirmed. According
to the obituary, an autopsy is pending. Other rumors circulated that Rhoades
died of a heart attack at a club, and specifically at a club performance, or the
installation of one of his recent “Black Pussy Soirees” but the David Zwirner
Gallery reports that he was …”not at a club, nor was he at one of his Black Pussy
soirees … the LA ones actually wrapped up in LA a month ago” – guess art fans
couldn’t resist the provocative associations, but it seems the gallery took
offense at the rumors, and said they were hurtful to his family. But getting
‘in-your-face’ seems to be an aspect of his work that was just truly taking off,
and successfully so, on many levels, garnering him not only critical acclaim,
but mainstream media attention as well. It was more a case of …wanting
to visualize him ‘going down with the ship’ …than anything really malevolent
on the part of the rumor mongers.
His ‘Meccatuna’ show in 2003, in NYC, at David Zwirner was pretty tame, visually,
even though conceptually it was very controversial .. because of Islamic references.
The highly detailed production, realized in a playful spirit, and as a site-specific installation,
had at its core – the issue of women in Islam.
The overall effect although purely visual, was based on consumer products and
logos – the big center of attention, a room-sized block constructed from
toy ‘legos’ – at first impression, hardly the stuff of controversy – was in fact,
a representation of the most sacred object in Islam.
When a talented artist dies too soon, especially right on the
brink of mainstream success, its shocking … but if Jason Rhoades could look down, I’m
sure he’d find something awesome about an obit that had to deal with
his recent performance in LA like this …
“…Los Angeles art lovers may connect Rhoades’ name most recently with
his series of interactive art exhibitions this year that he dubbed “soirees”.
The series included such provocative and provocatively titled invitation-only
events as the “Black Pussy Soiree Cabaret Macrame,” a combination
exhibition and dinner party that featured violet neon signs with
African, Caribbean, Creole and hip-hop slang for female genitalia”.
– Diane Haithman, LA Times Obituary, Aug 3, 2006
further, in the obit it states: …”At the time of his death, Rhoades
was preparing a live event for Aug 12 in Portland , Oregon with
curator Majories Myers. It was to feature a wrestling match involving
homeless teenagers wallowing in a plastic pool filled with bath soaps, lotions
and sexual lubricants.” … sounds like sometime we’d like to experience
‘head-on’ …not just imagine from the depths of an obituary … looks like
there is a big sadness, and loss, in the artworld, today.
artist JASON RHOADES, with MONICA ZWIRNER, the wife of art dealer,
David Zwirner, at the opening of his one-man show, ‘Meccatuna’,
David Zwirner Gallery, Chelsea, NYC, Sept 12, 2003
from left, gallerist ANDREW KREPS, and sculptor, RACHEL HARRISON,
center, JASON RHOADES opening, ‘Meccatuna’, David Zwirner Gallery,
Chelsea, NYC, Sept 12, 2003
young artists, JUSTIN SAMSON and ROSSON CROW, at the JASON RHOADES
opening, ‘Meccatuna’, David Zwirner Gallery, Chelsea, NYC, Sept 12, 2003
Justin Samson worked as a production assistant on the installation – in fact he helped
build the giant ‘lego’ toy building block construction.
All above photos: Nancy Smith
davidzwirner.com
~JASON RHOADES dead at 41 |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | August 3rd, 2006, 4:56pm
KATE CERIGO, a 3rd year Graphic Design student at SVA (School of Visual Arts, NYC)
went with a whole group of friends from the Lower East Side – to the recent – JULY 1st –
Target First Saturday event at the BROOKLYN MUSEUM.
There’s free !! music, movies and special events, including a dance party !
plus access to exhibits – sponsored by Target – on the First Saturday of
each month, from 5-11pm.
Kate reports that the recent July 1st Saturday evening event was a great
party – and everyone had a really great time. They spent alot of time
in the ‘Graffiti’ exhibit – which they all really enjoyed – even though
the group of friends had very diverse backgrounds, and Kate was probably
the only serious ‘art’ student among them. Several films were shown including
Style Wars, the acclaimed documentary about New York City
graffiti writers, and Wild Style, featuring Lee Quinones
and Lady Pink. The night ended with a Dance Party, featuring
The Black Underground Show, which Kate said was the most fun,
after the ‘Graffiti’ exhibit – itself – which she ranked first – as the best part
of the night.
‘Graffiti’ remains up at the Brooklyn Museum until Sept 3, 2006.
Here are few of Kate’s photos of her favorite works in the show.
Marvin Ramirez in front of ‘Mr. Potato Head’, 1983, by Fred Brathwaite, aka Fab 5 Freddy
(American, b. 1959), Spray enamel on canvas, 72 x 9 in.,
Gift of Schorr Family, in the exhibit, ‘Graffiti’, at the Brooklyn Museum.
‘Untitled’, by Melvin Samuels Jr., aka NOC, (American, b. 1961), Spray paint on canvas,
78 x 96.5 in., Gift of Carroll Janis and Conrad Janis, in the exhibit, ‘Graffiti’,
at the Brooklyn Museum.
‘Geisha’, 1984, by Chris Ellis aka DAZE, (American, b. 1962), Spray paint on canvas,
68-1/4 x 70-1/4 in., Gift of Carroll Janis and Conrad Janis, in the
exhibit ‘Graffiti’, at the Brooklyn Museum.
All Photos: Kate Cerigo, ‘Graffiti’, Target First Saturdays, Brooklyn Museum, July 1, 2006
The next Target First Saturday is August 5th. It appears to have a focus on
immigration, and the dynamic & lively cultural diversity it brings to New York City.
Among the many events offered:
Ivor L. Miller, author of ‘Aerosol Kingdom: Subway Painters of New York City’,
will lead a tour of the ‘Graffiti’ exhibit – with a focus on “how immigration
helped make aerosol art possible”.
there will be 2 film screenings – and these look really interesting:
at 5pm – MY AMERICAN GIRLS: A DOMINICAN STORY
(Aaron Matthews, 2002) documents a year in the life of an immigrant
family from the Dominican Republic, now living in Brooklyn.
at 6:30pm – SUGAR CANE ALLEY, (Euzhan Palcy, 1983) tells the story
of a woman who tries to keep her grandson from a life of work in the
sugar cane fields in 1930’s Martinique.
THE DANCE PARTY, from 8:30 -11pm will feature DJ Reborn and Mary Mac
spinning music that ‘spans’ the Caribbean.
check out the museum website below for details.
note: although all the events are free – some of the events – due to
limited seating capacity – e.g. some of the film screenings –
require (free) seating tickets available in the lobby – usually about 1 hour prior
to the schelduled start time.
brooklynmuseum.org
~Target First Saturdays/Photos by KATE CERIGO |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 28th, 2006, 12:28pm
Abe Linclon, Jr. Proudly Announces His First Toy Design with Kid Robot’s Dunny Series 3 !
… let the man, speak for himself :
“Hey everybody. I am pretty freaking excited to announce that I’ve got a design coming out in Kid Robot’s Dunny Series 3. As if that’s not cool enuff, my design was selected to be one of the “chase” figures in the series (meaning they’re produced in smaller runs and they’re top secret til someone gets one and posts it on some internet message board).
HINT: Mine is the blacked out one with the “fez” looking hat, but its not a fez.
… lastly before I leave you alone is that on JULY 27th ( that’s this THURSDAY !!) Kid Robot will be having a Dunny Trading Party at all of their stores. I’ll be at the New York store with stuff to trade if anyone wants to come down and meet up with me and MishkaNYC. Check here for more details.”
Kid Robot NYC – is located at: 126 Prince St., Soho.
girlsbike.com
~Abe Lincoln, Jr./Kid Robot |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 5:10pm
Abe Lincoln, Jr. – the ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC) live painting jam, at Chashama Center Gallery, Times Square, March 25, 2006
Photos: Nancy Smith
more ELC photos
Abe Lincoln, Jr. – TAQUERIA PENDEJO
~Abe Lincoln, Jr./ELC |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 5:01pm
the very cool and endlessly, totally talented, MARK RUFFALO – dropped by the closing party for the ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC) live painting jam, at Chashama Center Gallery, on 44th Street in Times Square, NYC, March 25, 2006.
He was in rehearsals for his starring role in the new presentation of Clifford Odet’s 1935 ‘Awake and Sing’ at the Belasco Theater, directly across the street. CELSO one of the organizers of the ELC event, said Mark was a real fan of street art and had been dropping by on a regular basis throughout the week of the ELC live painting event.
(‘Awake and Sing’ – opened a couple of weeks later, on April 17th and received a review in the New York Times the very next day, by Charles Isherwood – whom deemed it a “stirring revival.”)
the dude with the afro-puffy is by Celso – ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC) live painting jam, Chashama Center Gallery.
Photos: Nancy Smith, Chashama Center Gallery, NYC, March 25, 2006
more ELC photos
~MARK RUFFALO/Celso/ELC |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 4:34pm
on the left, MARK ENGER with JOSH HARRIS. they dropped by the ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC), live painting jam, just before Josh split for Spain – the latest word is that Josh has already gotten bored with Spain … a new sighting just in, reports him to be in LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, helping ONDI TIMONER of INTERPLOPER FILMS, (and SUNDANCE 2004 GRAND JURY AWARD WINNER … for her rock documentary ‘DIG!’ ) – with the final edit on the documentary on his big – Pseudo funded – Millennium Party – the notorious ‘QUIET’ 2000, NYC.
Photo: Nancy Smith, Chashama Center Gallery, Times Square, NYC, March 25, 2006
more ELC photos
Ondi Tomoner – DIG! photos
~JOSH HARRIS /MARK ENGER/ELC/&/new sighting |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 4:16pm
CHRISTELLE IMPERIAL De CASTRO visiting NYC from her home base in San Francisco, drops by the ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC) live painting jam at Chashama Center Gallery, March 25, 2006.
Photo: Nancy Smith
Christelle was in town for the opening of an exhibit of her photos at THE SHOWROOM NYC. Called ‘FOOLS GOLD’ – Candid Portraiture by Christelle Imperial De Castro – it laid claim to “bringing San Francisco to New York City” … & … “Frisco city by means of snap photography”. The show ran from March 30 – April 6, 2006.
below is one of her photographs – the image on the card for the show – ‘FOOLS GOLD’.
more ELC photos
THE SHOWROOM NYC
~Christelle Imperial de Castro/ELC/THE SHOWROOM NYC |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 4:00pm
from left, Vera Souvorova, studying art at PRATT, Catlin Smith, and Destiny Matta at the closing party for the ENDLESS LOVE CREW (ELC) live painting jam, Chashama Center Gallery, Times Square, NYC, March 25, 2006. Destiny goes to high school on the Lower East Side.
Photo: Nancy Smith
more ELC photos
~Destiny Matta/ELC |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 25th, 2006, 3:34pm
mint … just cause we liked it .. sorry you gotta be a real insider for this one.
Photo: Nancy Smith, Downtown Manhattan, April 29, 2006
~mint |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 18th, 2006, 10:40pm
Photos: Nancy Smith – OBEY, different locations, Downtown Manhattan, March 2006
don’t know about where you live, .. but if you live in Manhattan you know this face. alot of people thought it was a caricature of ALFREDO MARTINEZ when it first surfaced. NOT!
The work of SHEPARD FAIREY – now becoming a bonafide artist, ‘who sort of had to re-locate to SAN FRANCISCO’, abruptly, … OBEY has now been ‘hijacked’ by a major advertising firm, with no imagination of its own, the slogan: ‘OBEY’ , in almost exactly the same typeface & scale … rides the city buses in banners for some godawful banal consumer product like a soda or something. the product too banal to be remembered – the hijacking of the artwork – priceless !
more OBEY/ SHEPARD FAIREY art at the McCaig=Welles temporary Manhattan space – ‘fountain’.
~OBEY/Shepard Fairey |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | July 18th, 2006, 10:06pm
