~BROOKLYN BLOCK PARTY & C215/AD HOC/to-nite !!
‘BROOKLYN BLOCK PARTY ‘ !! – OPENS TO-NITE – FRI DEC 12 / 7-10 PM
the show runs: DEC 12, 2008 – JAN 4, 2009
AD HOC GALLERY – 49 BOGART ST – BROOKLYN, NY
L TRAIN TO MORGAN
HRS: WED-SUN 1-8 PM
artists featured:
RICHARD MOCK, SWOON, DAVID ELLIS, MIKE HOUSTON, MARTIN MAZORRA, DENNIS McNETT, JUDITH SUPINE, ELBOWTOE, GAIA, c.damage & IMMINENT DISASTER.
“AN EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL HAND CUT BLOCKS, BOTH WOOD AND LINO, ALONG WITH THE PRINTS PULLED FROM EACH BLOCK – (get it ?!! BLOCK PARTY !!)” (PRESS RELEASE)
. . . SOME OF THEM are really large in scale – such as GAIA’S – using one large continuous piece of lino (3.5 by 7 in.) – likewise DENNIS McNETT, whose hand cut woodblock – is approx. 67 x 44 in. Whereas, the large collaboration piece by MIKE HOUSTON & MARTIN MAZORRA is actually composed of 8 individual wood cut blocks, 23 x 48 in. ea., it is presented as one continous print, total area: 8 ft x 8 ft.
MIKE HOUSTON and MARTIN MAZORRA are also know as: CANNONBALL PRESS out of BROOKLYN.
C215 – ‘JUNK STORE’ – C215 WILL BE IN – FROM FRANCE – FOR THE OPENING.
ALSO OPENING – at AD HOC – FRI DEC 12 / 7-10 PM !!
the show also runs: DEC 12, 2008 – JAN 4, 2009
but, it’s DEFINITE !! NOT !! an ‘also ran’ show – it’s an ‘equal opportunity’ great show !!
whereas – ‘BLOCK PARTY’ – is a small select group offering – C215 – (that’s: C-two-one-five, losers !!),
‘JUNK STORE’ – is a site specific – stencil – BOMB !!
and, while you are there – ask to see a copy of ‘HISTORY X’ !!!!
. . a photographic history of stencil art by – SAMANTHA LONGHI – also of PARIS, FRANCE.
(and GF of C21). She was also at the opening.
UP-DATE: WED DEC 17, 2008 – PIX FROM THE OPENING !!
. . . although we are begrudged to say so – these were some of the prettiest cards, ever.
above, the front and the back. this card was short, 4 x 4 ins. which worked the design really well,
the card stock was quite hard & the finish on both sides was super glossy.
DENNIS McNETT and MIKE HOUSTON.
DENNIS McNETT’S work. Woodblock at left – print, on muslin at right.
at right. DENNIS McNETT, hand printed and hand painted block print on muslin with sewn edges, edition of 15,
approx. 67 x 44 in. ($1,600 ea.).
detail, DENNIS McNETT. block print – notice “DM” mark. and sewn edges.
DENNIS McNETT, hand cut woodblock, approx 67 x 44 in. ($6,000)
detail, DENNIS McNETT, woodblock.
detail, DENNIS McNETT, block print.
MIKE HOUSTON.
MARTIN MAZORRA. MIKE HOUSTON and MARTIN MAZORRA run: CANNONBALL PRESS.
MIKE HOUSTON & MARTIN MAZORRA, hand printed and collaged block print on archival paper,
one of a kind, 8 x 8 ft. ($2,5000)
detail, MIKE HOUSTON & MARTIN MAZORRA, unique hand print
detail, corresponding wood block, approx 23 x 48 in.
they cut the wood blocks individually. this is the unique print off a MIKE HOUSTON block.
detail, corresponding MIKE HOUSTON wood block.
the wood blocks are available individually at $1,000 a piece. unless someone snaps up – all 8 for $5,000.
MARTIN MAZORRA wood block.
Mr. Mazorra’s work is more stylized, while Mr. Houston’s is more expressionistic.
MARTIN MAZZORA wood block.
the C215 card was pretty good too, the back just as interesting as the front.
it was standard card stock and standard card dimensions (4 x 6 in.) with a more matte finish.
stencil artist – C215 (CHRISTIAN GUEMY) visiting from France, for the opening of his AD HOC/DEC 2008
show – ‘JUNK SHOP’.
C215
C215
C215
C215 #5
a wall sign admonishes: “THIS IS NOT A MUSEUM – THIS JUNK IS FOR SALE” !!
C215
C215
C215 – you can can just make out the rat stencil on the floor.
a large multi-hued stencil – spray painted directly on the wall.
IO – of OVERSPRAY MAGAZINE
C215
C215 – the framed piece is actually – double sided.
and this just happens to be the framer – MEG – aka MARGARET HITCHCOCK, of ‘f 4 a’ aka framing4artists.com
C215
C215 shows his shoebox-shoeshine kit to NYC-based, American stencil artist – CHRIS STAIN, at right.
C215 – in ‘JUNK STORE’
C215 – inside the shoeshine kit box !!
CHRIS STAIN !!
also visiting from FRANCE for the C215 opening – his girlfriend – SAMANTHA LONGHI.
They currently live in Northeast Paris.
SAMANTHA LONGHI – is the author of ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – an international photographic survey of stencil art – an independently published softcover book – which was available at AD HOC ART GALLERY, that night. They might still have a few copies.
C215’s young daughter is the subject of several of the stencil works – she wasn’t there in body – but her signature checkered coat – was !!
C215
‘STENCIL HISTORY X’, copyright C215. first published 2007. paperback ($20)
ART DIRECTION & TEXTS by SAMANTHA LONGHI.
COVER DESIGN by SADHU. DESIGN & LAYOUT by STEW.
Ms. Longhi told us that street stencil art started in the 1970’s, maybe 1977 – in Sao Paulo, BRAZIL, and by 1981 was surfacing in FRANCE – one of the first stencil artists there – being BLEK Le Rat.
see: STENCIL HISTORY X/myspace !!
from ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – BANKSY, UK, BRISTOL, 2000
see: BANKSY
from ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – ZINO, FRANCE, Lyon 1993.
see: ZINO
from ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – FAILE, USA, NYC, 1999
see: FAILE
from: ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – NANDA NAHU, BRAZIL, SALVADOR. ca. 2005 (?)
see: ANAHU MULTIPLY
from: ‘STENCIL HISTORY X’ – BROKEN CROW, USA, MINNEAPOLIS, 1996
see: BROKEN CROW
. . . just before leaving, back at the main gallery – we’ve seen that TALL BIKE GIRL JACKET – before !!
yes !! its TAARNA of the CUTTHROAT BIKE CLUB of BROOKLYN, NYC
TAARNA shows a patch DENNIS McNETT designed – which she has just sewn on – her shirt.
outside AD HOC – a 2 seater – tall bike – built by the BLACK LABEL BIKE CLUB, BROOKLYN, NYC
on the AD HOC GALLERY exterior wall – a red stencil by C215
EINE left his mark, too.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH