~TOMOO GOKITA/at ATM !!

tomoo card

and the really big opening to-nite:

TOMOO GOKITA – OPENS – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ !! – FRI MARCH 13 / 6-8 PM
the show runs: MARCH 13 – MAY 2, 2009
ATM – 621 WEST 27th ST – CHELSEA – NYC

atm logo

PIX FROM THE OPENING – TOMOO GOKITA – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ – ATM – MARCH 13, 2009 !!

Tomoo # 1
TOMOO GOKITA came in from Japan – where he is based – for the opening.

Tomoo # 2

Tomoo # 3

Tomoo # 4
TAYLOR McKIMENS drops by to pay his respects to his friend, Tomoo.
believe Taylor introduced TOMOO GOKITA’S work to NYC, and the wider international audience with his landmark curatorial survey show, of 2005 – ‘STRANGER TOWN’.
see: ‘STRANGER TOWN’/JAN 2005

Tomoo # 6
also at the opening, CAROL BOVE and daughter, THEA !!

tomoo # 7
DAVID ARON in town for his show at MOUNTAINFOLD.

Tomoo # 8
MICHAEL LAZARUS – he has a show up at ELIZABETH LEACH GALLERY, in OREGON.
see: ELIZABETH LEACH GALLERY, PORTLAND, OREGON.

tomoo # 9
MICHAEL LAZURUS shows his card, with ‘push’, 2008-09, acrylic, collage & mirror on wood. 36 x 23.5 in.

tomoo # 10
TOMOO GOKITA – ‘NEVER SAY DIE’, 2009. acrylic gouache on linen, 76.4 x 63.8 in. ($25,000)

tomoo # 11

tomoo # 12
we catch BILL BRADY, ATM’S founder/director – with an array of TOMOO’S 3-D all-black figurine multiples – an over-the-top medium-sized female figure at top, and, a much smaller crouching male series – in the ATM front office.

tomoo # 13
TOMOO’S – ‘Night and Day’ – is the big canvas that greets you – when you enter ‘Champion Carnival’ !!
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Night and Day’, acrylic gouache on linen, 2009. 63.8 x 63.8 in. ($25,000).

Tomoo # 15
Tokyo-based fashion designer, YASUKO, was among the several close friends that accompanied Tomoo over from Japan for the NYC opening.

tomoo # 16
a smaller, but equally striking canvas !! very ambivalent, m-y-s-t-e-r-i-o-u-s !! – until you check the title !!
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘Shower Time’, 2009, acrylic gouache on canvas. 18 x 21 in. ($4,500)

tomoo # 17
TAYLOR McKIMENS, MATT LEINES and KATHY GRAYSON – luminaries of the human canvas, as opposed to the Tomoo painted kind !!
KATHY GRAYSON showcased TOMOO GOKITA’S work, in her critically well-received, widely traveled and widely documented curatorial survey show: ‘MAIL ORDER MONSTERS’ !!

In fact, TOMOO’s work graced the poster – for – the show’s debut opening at PERES PROJECTS, BERLIN.
(JULY 1-AUGUST 4, 2007).
see: ‘MAIL ORDER MONSTERS’ !!/PERES PROJECTS

and, for all you detail fanatics, the same great TOMOO GOKITA image, ‘Orthopedic Surgery’ graced the poster – for the NYC installment of the show – at DEITCH PROJECTS (SEPT 6-SEPT 29, 2007) – except in this version, TAYLOR McKIMENS was talked into doing the poster’s lettering !! (Taylor was also in the show.)
see: ‘MAIL ORDER MONSTERS’ !!/DEITCH PROJECTS

Tomoo # 18
TOMOO GOKITA – another large canvas in the show – ‘COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN’, 2009.
acrylic gouache on linen, 89.5 x 71.5 in. ($30,000).

Tomoo # 19
revered guest, CHUCK CLOSE – gets close-up – to TOMOO GOKITA’S – ‘COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN’ !!

Tomoo # 20
CHUCK CLOSE at the opening of TOMOO GOKITA – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’, ATM, NYC.
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2009.

tmoo # 21 chuck & bill
BILL BRADY greets CHUCK CLOSE at the ATM – TOMOO GOKITA opening: ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’.

BILL BRADY gave TOMOO GOKITA his debut NYC solo show at ATM in 2006.
see: TOMOO GOKITA-‘DRUNKO’ !!

Tomoo # 22
a smaller, but just as ‘stranger’, piece – TOMOO GOKITA, ‘A CRITICAL DANCE’, 2009.
acrylic gouache on linen, 28.5 x 23.75 in. ($8,000)

Tomoo # 23
‘stranger’ again, a little larger !! TOMOO GOKITA, ‘RIDDLES ARE ABOUND TONIGHT’, 2009.
acrylic gouache on linen, 57.3 x 34 in. ($18,000)

Tomoo # 24
whoa !! TOMOO GOKITA , ‘TROPIN’, 2009 – is actually a shaped canvas, with a shallow bowl-like depth !!
acrylic gouache on linen, 13.75 x 12 in. (SOLD)

Tomoo # 25
TOMOO GOKITA, ‘TROPIN’.

Tomoo # 26
from the side, TOMOO GOKITA, ‘TROPIN’.

Tomoo # 28
opening guest – CAROLINE CHU beside TOMOO GOKITA’S ‘TROPIN’ !!

tomoo # 29
the big the bad the ugly and the small.
TOMOO GOKITA’S ‘TROPIN’ at left, and ‘NEVER SAY DIE’, at right !!

Tomoo # 30
in front of: TOMOO GOKITA’S ‘NEVER SAY DIE’ – ERIK PARKER, (currently with a show up at PAUL KASMIN), and, NYC-based Japanese independent curator, and art book editor – TAKA KAWACHI.
TAKA’S wife, HIROKO, at right.

TAKA KAWACHI is behind ART CITY LLC – whose first SERIES of LIMITED EDITION HIGH QUALITY ART PRINTS – is by TOMOO GOKITA.
see: TOMOO GOKITA/ARTCITYLLC.COM
see: ABOUT/ARTCITYLLC.COM

Tomoo # 31
the boys !! TAKA KAWACHI, ERIK PARKER & TOMOO GOKITA !!

Tomoo # 32
another meeting of minds !! TOMOO GOKITA greets PETER SUTHERLAND.

tomoo # 34
behind them the wonderful: TOMOO GOKITA: ‘HEMORRHOIDS’ !! 2009.
acrylic gouache on linen, 89.5 x 71.5 in. ($30,000)

Tomoo # 33 A
HISHAM BAROOCHA, foreground.

Tomoo # 36
ERIC SAL (left) introduces us to that other web terror – NYC art world look out !! – MARTIN BROMIRSKI !!
MARTIN BROMIRSKI posts: ANABA / SOCIAL SCULPTURE ?
that’s a definite – check it out !!
and, yeah, I agree. SARAH BRAMAN’S work is beautiful.
yur pix on her stuff at MUSEUM 52 – at THE ARMORY – were great.

tomoo # 37
JUSTIN WALDRON and MISAKI KAWAI. Justin is Misaki’s studio manager.

Tomoo # 38
CECE COLE and JAMIE BOLING.

Tomoo # 39
MELISSA BROWN and LAN TUAZON.
Melissa took down our 6 numbers for her ARTIST LOTTERY POOL.
yep, we’re gonna big time – just you wait & see !!

tomoo # 40
TOMOO GOKITA – ‘SOLID STATE SURVIVOR’, 2009.
acrylic gouache on linen, 89.5 x 71.5 in. ($30,000)

tomoo # 41
JAPANESE photographer, MASAYUKI SHIODA, a friend of Tomoo’s – who also came in from Japan for the opening, strolls past – TOMOO GOKITA’S – ‘SOLID STATE SURVIVOR’.

tomoo # 42
NYC-based painter – QUENTIN CURRY.

tomoo # 46
ANDY CLARK

tomoo # 47
collector ERIC FOX jumped on TOMOO GOKITA’S – ‘THE BIRTH OF A ROOKIE MANAGER’, 2009 – right away !!
acrylic gouache on linen, 35.8 x 28.6. ($10,500)

tomoo # 48
it’s such a great one – gotta show ya – the whole canvas !!
TOMOO GOKITA – ‘THE BIRTH OF A ROOKIE MANAGER’, 2009.

tomoo # 49
CAROLINE CHO WAVES BYE !! – or – is HI !! from TOMOO GOKITA’S – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ !!

PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH


UP-DATE: WED MARCH 18 2009 – HIROSHI IGUCHI – WAS ALSO AT THE OPENING !!

Hiroshi # 1
the opening was so crazy great with artists !!
almost forgot – JAPANESE-based artist/designer – HIROSHI IGUCHI – was also there, visiting from Japan.

Hiroshi # 2
he had his new book: ‘CULT JAM’ !!

hiroshi # 3
HIROSHI IGUCHI – ‘CULT JAM’

Hiroshi # 4
a look inside: HIROSHI IGUCHI – ‘CULT JAM’.

Hiroshi # 5
HIROSHI IGUCHI – ‘CULT JAM’

Hiroshi # 6
HIROSHI IGUCHI – ‘CULT JAM’.

hiroshi # 7
I believe he was signing this copy for PETER SUTHERLAND !!

Hiroshi # 8
HIROSHI IGUCHI at the TOMOO GOKITA – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ opening. ATM, NYC.
MARCH 13, 2009.

Hiroshi # 9
PETER SUTHERLAND with his copy of: HIROSHI IGUCHI – ‘CULT JAM’ !!

Hiroshi # 10
with HIROSHI IGUCHI’S – ‘CULT JAM’ – PETER SUTHERLAND and QUENTIN CURRY.
at the openign of: TOMOO GOKITA – ‘CHAMPION CARNIVAL’ – ATM GALLERY, NYC.
FRIDAY the 13th of MARCH, 2009
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH


hiroshi Z

and for all you graphic designers – esp. FONT FREAKS !!
this is the “Z” – HIROSHI IGUCHI – composed for: DESIGN TIDE/TOKYO 2007 !!