JOHN HODANY, ‘HOLY ROLLERS’, 2009. acrylic on paper inlay, 90 x 180 cm.
but, if you are in BERLIN !! – you can still catch:
JOHN HODANY – ‘HOLY ROLLERS’
MARCH 21 – APRIL 25, 2009
GALERIE LENA BRUNING – ALMSTADTSTRASSE 50 – BERLIN, GERMANY
the gallery has an amazing selection of photos from the show on their website: check here !!
including:
JOHN HODANY, ‘Echoe Location’, 2008, acrylic on paper inlay. 30 x 62 cm.
JOHN HODANY, ‘Yer Last Beaver’, 2008, acrylic on paper inlay. 60 x 136 cm.
JOHN HODANY, ‘Three Weazel Study’, 2008, acrylic on paper inlay. 60 x 136 cm.
it’s interesting to see the echoes & visual evolution onto paper – from the major installation sculpture JOHN HODANY exhibited last year, (FEB 19-MARCH 16, 2008), at ELEVEN RIVINGTON, here in NYC, on the Lower East Side.
its also funny to note that the ELEVEN RIVINGTON show of last year – a large 3-Dimensional piece – (see below) – as compared to this year’s many paper renderings – went from a (working !!) complex arcade-type game – and, which struck one as very non-humanistic and purely ‘machine-like’ – ‘abstract’ and ‘objective’ – to these drawings, which though again – very ‘plastic’, very abstract in their composition – are actual animals and their habitat landscapes – sinister, or deep, mysterious, and ancient – maybe the better words are – animal totems depicted in a civilization twilight ?
JOHN HODANY, (with ANNA CONWAY) at the ELEVEN RIVINGTON opening, Feb 19, 2008.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
see: more pix from that show !!
. . . the current show at GALERIE LENA BRUNING has posted a really interesting PRESS RELEASE/ESSAY on JOHN HOANY’S work.
“The oldest known paintings on earth are thought to be over 30,000 years old. Painted or drawn depictions of horses, hyenas, rhinos, lions, bison, some half-humans and also some extinct ones cover walls in ancient caves like Chauvet and Lascaux in France. No one knows exactly why they exist. Over 600 depictions of animals appear in the Lascaux cave alone.
Strangely, neither the landscape nor any vegetation is portrayed on the walls. Maybe the artists were storytelling, explaining themselves through pictures. Perhaps there were superstitions about animals and creating images of them was thought to bring good luck. Looking through the entire history of art, you have to wonder what it is about the relationship between animals and people that provokes these mysterious works? Are the homages? Are they symbols, or stand-ins of our own bodies and selves, our own mortality or even our spirituality as the Egyptians imply?”
it also goes on to state that: “John Hodany’s body of work contains many animals. Hodany has been preoccupied with depicting the faces and bodies of creatures for over a decade. Some of his paintings, drawings and sculptures represent animals in a manner reminiscent of the Egpytian drawings of animals: there is a bold simplicity of their form that gives them an appearance of a sign or a symbol. Sometimes the animals appear in such uniform abundance that theytake on a quilt, tapestry, or ven computer-like pattern.” . . . .
“‘Holly Roller’ (the title of the show and one of the paintings) is an American term used to describe Pentecostal Christians who it was said would literally roll on the ground when possessed with the spirit of God. Nowadays the term is often used as an expression of astonishment about strange or abnormal behavior in general.”
“There i almost always a quiet, possibly even apocalyptic atmosphere in Hodany’s work that hints at a shift in world order. Where are the humans? Why are the rocks, animals, and objects organizing themselves into patterns, disappearing and reappearing as fragments within the same work? . . . (and,) Using a self-invented method, Hodany cuts into the painted surface, carefully removing pieces of his paintings and attaches them to other ares within the same work on paper. This creates a ghost-like impression in which the trace of the image that has been cut and replaced seems to imprint on the background. The fractal nature of his repeated images echo the concept of ‘cutting and pasting’ computer software style, however never losing a tactile sensibility.”
~JOHN HODANY/HOLY ROLLERS |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 23rd, 2009, 10:17am
STEN ARE SANDBECK wrote us a little while back – about a show he was in, and we STILL !! like the ‘card’ image – so we’re posting the info, now, even though the show has come and gone.
‘SIDESHOW’ – ‘TEN-IN-ONE’
with: KARE M. BERGH & SIMEN LAURITZEN STENSRUD, SVERRE GULLESEN, PAL JOMASS, TORIL JOHANNESSEN, FRODE MARKHUS, MARIUS MARTINUSSEN, LINN PEDERSEN & JAN FREUCHEN, STEN ARE SANDBECK, SVEINUNG R. UNNELAND, ARNE VINNEM.
MARCH 20 – APRIL 5, 2009
GALLERI GATHE BERGEN, NORWAY.
from the gallery website:
“‘TEN-IN-ONE’ offers a program of art from ten artists and artists’ collaborations . . . it is partly a freak show exhibiting “artistic oddities” (including “art freaks” such as painters.) However, for variety’s sake, the acts also include “live art” such as installation and video.”
STEN ARE SANDBECK sent some photos – of his work in the show. and beautiful they are !!
STEN ARE SANDBECK, ‘Magic Theatre (with Lion)’, 2009.
175 cm square stretcher. perforated canvas, acrylic.
the canvas from the back, with view of the ‘Lion’, a framed drawing, on the wall !!
STEN ARE SANDBECK, ‘Lion’, oil pastel on A3 paper.
PHOTOS COURTESY: STEN ARE SANDBECK
~STEN ARE SANDBECK/TEN-IN-ONE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 23rd, 2009, 9:52am
. . . to-nite – MONDAY – APRIL 20, 2009 – is the last chance to catch – ORLEANS GUNN – before MIKE PARE re-locates to NEW MEXICO !!
sample: ORLEANS GUNN !!
the line-up is: ORLEANS GUNN, LORD DOG BIRD & MICHA BLUE SMALDONE
MATCHLESS – 57 MANHATTAN AVE – CORNER OF DRIGGS / BROOKLYN -/ 9PM – 11:59PM
FREE ADMISSION.
~MIKE PARE & ORLEANS GUNN/last call !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 20th, 2009, 12:51pm
‘FROM RICHIE RICH TO WENDY THE WITCH: THE ART OF HARVEY COMICS’ – HAS BEEN EXTENDED !! THRU – SAT MAY 2, 2009 !!
in relation to the exhibit – THE MUSEUM of COMIC and CARTOON ART – MoCCA – is pleased to present:
FROM SCREEN TO SCREAM! – JERRY BECK on the HISTORY of HARVEY COMICS !!
TO-NITE !! – FRIDAY – APRIL 17, 2009 – 6:30 PM
ADMISSION: $5 – FREE for MoCCA MEMBERS
Animation Historian JERRY BECK (CARTOON BREW) will speak about the connection of HARVEY COMICS to the PARAMOUNT cartoon studio, and the creation of CASPER the FRIENDLY GHOST, BABY HUEY, LITTLE AUDREY, BUZZY CROW and HERMAN & KATNIP. He will show clips from the classic cartoons, and discuss the relationship between the comic book company and the animation studio, which was located in Times Square. Beck will also sign copies of the THE HARVEY COMICS LIBRARY, a series of reprint volumes which he co-curates for DARK HORSE BOOKS.
MUSEUM of COMIC and CARTOON ART – 594 BROADWAY – SUITE 401 – NYC
HRS: TUES-SUN 12-5PM
GENERAL ADMISSION: $5 / CHILDREN 12 + UNDER: FREE
PIX FROM THE OPENING:
‘FROM RICHIE RICH TO WENDY THE WITCH: THE ART OF HARVEY COMICS’ – MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART / MoCCA
DEC 18, 2008
MARK D. ARNOLD of FUN IDEAS PRODUCTIONS, based in SARATOGA, California.
‘From Richie Rich to Wendy the Witch: The Art of Harvey Comics’ originated at the Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco, curated by ANDREW FARAGO, with special thanks to MARK ARNOLD.
Mr. Arnold beside: ‘Little Sad Sack No. 11’, mid 1960s. Drawn by FRED RHOADES.
ink on board
the title lettering & spatial composition – seem very contemporary !!
sort of boxy – (almost) just like AD DEVILLE & SKEWVILLE.
the exhibit had concise but very informative & very interesting captions & wall texts.
. .. I found it interesting to contemplate that – FRED RHOADS – was an ex-marine.
artwork by – WARREN KREMER.
‘Devil Kids starring Hot Stuff No. 73’, cover rough, mid 1970s. color pencil on vellum.
WARREN KREMER (1921-2003) drew the majority of Harvey’s covers – from the 1960s onwards.
From the collection of DAVE HOLT.
WARREN KREMER – ‘Little Lotta No. 68’, cover, 1966. ink on board.
JOE CERTA – ‘Joe Paloooka’, cover. late 1940s/early 1950s. ink on board.
From the collection of DAVE HOLT.
ARTIST UNKNOWN (POSSIBLY STEVE MUFFATTI). ‘Casper No. 59’, Comic book, August 1957.
STEVE MUFFATTI (1880-1968) established the “Harvey style”.
detail, ‘Casper No. 59’ – only – 10 cents !!
WARREN KREMER – ‘Little Audrey’ cover, late 1950s, ink on board.
WARREN KREMER, ‘Richie Rich and Jackie Jokers No. 9’, Cover rough. mid 1970s.
color pencil on vellum.
From the collection of DAVE HOLT.
detail, SID COUCHEY. ‘Little Lotta No. 114’, Little Dot Story Pages 1, 3 and 5.
‘A Real Pal!’ (Little Lotta), early 1970s.
ink & white gouache on board.
from the collection of SKEET ROSE.
WARREN KREMER, ‘Little Dot Dotland No.1’. Comic book, July 1962. 12 cents.
from the MoCCA notes: “HARVEY COMICS were approaching the zenith of their popularity in1962 . . .
[this is] one of the many sweet and beguiling covers drawn by the master hand of the late Mr. Kremer . . . ”
ERNIE COLON , ‘Little Lotta Foodland No. 1’, Page 1, 1963. Ink on board.
detail, ERNIE COLON, ‘Little Lotta Foodland No. 1’.
the exhibit also includes several – animated ‘loops’.
as well as display cases – with original comic books, and other HARVEY COMICS memorabilia.
ALFRED HARVEY, FRED RHOADS and GEORGE BAKER in NEW YORK CITY, ca. 1940s.
FRED RHOADS created many HARVEY COMICS pages from 1953 through 1977. he was “an ex-marine brought to work on the strip by its creator (George Baker) in 1953 too help adapt the character to his new, younger comic book audience. Rhoads’ humor was wild enough to amuse adults (enlisted or not), and gentle enough to make many a baby Boomer howl ith laughter as a child.” (MoCCA)
ALFRED HARVEY (1913-1994) was the founder of HARVEY COMICS and creator of Little Dot and Richie Rich.
see: ALFRED HARVEY/wikipedia & hit HARVEY COMICS, while there.
interesting enough, he was also an EAGLE SCOUT !!
a display case – full of HARVEY COMICS treasure !!
b’yall – from Little Lotta.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~RICHIE RICH/JERRY BECK ON HARVEY COMICS !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 17th, 2009, 12:40pm
. . . about time for a musical interlude, say what !!
VOILA !! – COCOROSIE SINGS – WEREWOLF – !! – LIVE – !! – ON FRENCH TV – on YouTube !!
P.S. LEIF RITCHEY helped make those costumes !!
WATCH IT: COCOROSIE/WEREWOLF/YouTube !!
BIANCA RAPS ….
the FRENCH TV – set !!
OMG – the FRENCH commentator is so poised, so beautiful – she’s crossed the line into – scary, as in vampire !!
yes, SIERRA sings like the beautiful ‘otherworldly’ out of – “FIFTH ELEMENT”.
or as hungboys writes: “sierra sings like an angel and bianca is too fucking cool for school.” amen.
~COCOROSIE/LIVE ON FRENCH TV !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2009, 6:11pm
all images courtesy/FACTORY FRESH
AD DEVILLE lays out his words, and I think they sell for $20 a pop, or word, & that is !! a most definite steal.
UP-DATE: . . . well maybe not, they aren’t signed.
and, the prices are more like $15 for smallest, then $30 and higher.
‘WORD UP’ – AD DEVILLE – ABOUT 100 CHOICE WORDS !!
silkscreened & then hand lined in a limited edition of about 10 each.
MARCH 28 – APRIL 18, 2009
FACTORY FRESH – 1053 FLUSHING – BUSHWICK – BROOKLYN
HRS: WED-SUN 1-7PM
and, definite check out AD’s website: When Dogs Fly !!
~SKEWVILLE/WORD UP/last call !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2009, 5:46pm
IMAGE: KIM BECK, ‘Closed’.Courtesy of the artist.
didn’t mke this show – but the card, I mean digital email invite -sure rings true !!
DATA PANIC – CURATED BY AMANDA CHURCH & FRANKLIN EVANS
with: PEDRO BARBEITO, KIM BECK, JUSTEN LADDA, R FERNANDO MASTRANGELO, and PAUL THEK
MARCH 7 – APRIL 18, 2009
CUCHIFRITOS – inside the south end of THE ESSEX MARKET on the Lower East Side at 120 Essex St., between Rivington & Delancey.
HRS: TUES-SAT 12noon-5:30PM
~DATA PANIC/last call !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2009, 5:39pm
LAST WEEK TO CATCH – VIRTUAL INSANITY !!
the card – for VIRTUAL INSANITY – a small group show curated by MAXWELL WILLIAMS – with MICHAEL BELL-SMITH, JOHN MICHAEL BOLING, OLAF BREUNING, KATHY GRAYSON, JAMES HOWARD, LUCKY DRAGONS, JILL MAGID & TIFFANY MALAKKOTI.
the show opened on MARCH 21 and runs – just thru this SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2009.
CINDERS GALLERY – 103 HAVEMEYER – WILLIAMSBURG – BROOKLYN.
HRS: WED-SUN 1-7PM
the show’s card – above – has got to be the best card for the year, so far !! dunno bout the show – it had a strange all-over feeling – maybe that was the point !! – but the card is a poppin’ classic !!
the show has scored 2 reviews.
check out: VIRTUAL INSANITY on FLAVORPILL !!
and, check out: VIRTUAL INSANITY on FADER !!
. . . we were !! at the OPENING – & – here’s the OPENING PIX !!
well, this was a strange enough show. it wasn’t like it was the most poppin’ show I’d ever seen, esp at Cinders. but maybe that was the counterintuitive point !!: virtual insanity is not dramatic – like a hand-made woodcut by CANNONBALL PRESS (aka MIKE HOUSTON & MARTIN MAZORRA) – or even the crazy screenprint world of BRIAN CHIPPENDALE – but more like – digital – blanket invasive. as in – too many emails !! hold the info. and please next time – pass on the OLAF BREUNING – he’s way too over-exposed !!
MICHAEL BELL-SMITH contributed a beautiful little loop projection, ‘Return to Forever’, 2009
Courtesy the artist and FOXY PRODUCTION.
MICHAEL BELL-SMITH, ‘Return to Forever;, 2009
HD video loop (edition of 3), Dimensions variable.
well, it was projected small – but dimensions are variable – so imagine it big. on the wall facing your bed !! forever.
would you ever need to go outside, again. well that’s a thought – that makes a beautiful digital thing: turn and go wrong.
of course that’s insane. or might make you insane. but if you weren’t captive on a spaceship – or almost as bad – an inner city housing complex with no patch of sky in sight – and could walk out a door anytime in the real world, and hopefully every now and then be witness to a real sunset – on water well, then it’s not so scary. but what can you really see from your window ?
and, when’s the last time you saw a sunset on water ?
KATHY GRAYSON, ‘Lava Life’, 2009. oil and acrylic on panel. 16 x 20 in.
Courtesy the artist and KIM LIGHT/LIGHTBOX, Los Angeles.
Kathy calls these . . . “self portraits of bad photo booth green screening” !!
WHAT !! green screening / gone wrong ? LOL. too many digital options !!
KATHY GRAYSON, ‘Lost’, 2009. oil and acrylic on panel. 16 x 20 in.
Courtesy the artist and KIM LIGHT/LIGHTBOX, Los Angeles.
KATHY GRAYSON, ‘Ray Man’, 2009. oil and acrylic on panel. 16 x 20 in.
Courtesy the artist and KIM LIGHT/LIGHTBOX, Los Angeles.
TIFFANY MALAKOOTI, Gmail (Self Portrait)’ 1 & 2.
most curious – to come around the virtual curve – simulated – digital – drawings.
TIFFANY MALAKOOTI, ‘Gmail (Self Portrait) 1’, 2009
Graphite on paper, 11 x 8.5 in.
Courtesy the collection of M. Ernest Williams
TIFFANY MALAKOOTI, ‘Gmail (Self Portrait) 2’, 2009
Graphite on paper, 11 x 8.5 in.
Courtesy the collection of M. Ernest Williams
JAMES HOWARD, ‘Neurotransmitter Warehouse (Yukiko Version)’, 2009
Print on paper (Edition of 3), 59.1 x 39.4 in.
Courtesy the artist
. . . seamless digital manipulation.
JAMES HOWARD, ‘Large Victory Game’, 2009
Print on paper (Edition of 3), 59.1 x 39.4 in.
Courtesy the artist
detail, James Howard, ‘Large Victory Game’.
LUCKY DRAGONS, ‘Peace on earth’, 2009
Customized electronics, software, Dimensions variable.
Courtesy the artist.
JOHN MICHAEL BOLING, ‘Twenty Years Ago Today’, 2007
Quicktime screen capture of website (Edition of 4)
Infinite loop, Courtesy the artist.
on the right, MAXWELL WILLIAMS – the show’s curator.
KATHY GRAYSON (right), with PATRICK GRIFFIN.
PATRICK GRIFFIN was wearing a g-r-e-a-t button.
center, snappin snaps – NICK KUSZYK !!
on the left, STO, and at the right, the curator of ‘VIRTUAL INSANITY’, MAXWELL WILLIAMS>
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~VIRTUAL INSANITY/last call !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2009, 12:56pm
NATE LOWMAN & LEO FITZPATRICK, COLLECTIVE HARDWARE, LOWER EAST SIDE. MARCH 8, 2009
. . . we scored that photo of NATE & LEO, at COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – at a ‘little’ party ERIK FOSS threw to close SCOPE during ART FAIR WEEK. COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – 169 Broadway – is kind of a multi-service building – that aims to serve up art, music and film events. It’s kind of like a newborn deer trying to get up on its feet, some of it works, some of it’s wobbly, and some of its completely unknown – and … let’s see what happens !!
LEO FITZPATRICK – a West Orange, New Jersey native.
best known for his role as Telly, the main character in KIDS, but also – he was in the WIRE !!
see: LEO FITZATRICK/WIKIPEDIA
see: LARRY CLARK/ KIDS/Wikipedia
LEO FITZPATRICK – he is also a DJ and a good one, of which there is no doubt.
there is a funny Q&A with him on: aNYthing/HOCUS POCUS FOKUS/LEO FITZPATRICK
COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – the best spot in the house.
COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – artwork by PORK
COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – artwork by PORK
COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – aartwork by PORK
COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – wall mural by NECKFACE
STUART BRAUNSTEIN – the man behind COLLECTIVE HARDWARE.
for background, see: STUART BRAUNSTEIN/BLACKBOOK
photographer RONY RIVELLINI.
TATE STEINSIEK – special effects, monster builder – has a studio space/production shop at COLLECTIVE HARDWARE.
a shelf in the TATE STEINSIEK monster shop at COLLECTIVE HARDWARE.
HIROE works on a monster face.
MIRA BILLOTTE of WHITE MAGIC !! they were to perform a little later.
DOUG SHAW of WHITE MAGIC – checking equipment.
MIRA BILLOTTE of WHITE MAGIC – has star magic !! no doubt about it.
y-e-s !!, check out: WHITE MAGIC/on MySpace !!
MIRA BILLOTTE of WHITE MAGIC.
WHITE MAGIC’S – DOUG SHAW is a pretty talented guy, too.
yes, that is BiCYCLE FILM FESTIVAL FOUNDER/DIRECTOR – BRENDT BARBUR !!
this year BFF hits NYC – JUNE 17-21, 2009 !! WATCH OUT !!
for the latest, see: BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL !!
also at the COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – SCOPE CLOSING PARTY – LANCE E LOS REYES.
Lance had work in the recent ‘BETTER HISTORY’ group show at THE AMERICAN STANDARD GALLERY, that just ‘popped’ up on 10th Ave. in Chelsea.
artist ERIK FOSS, of LIT & FUSE – produced the party for COLLECTIVE HARDWARE.
with him – BRIAN DeGRAW, artist and musician (GANG GANG DANCE).
ERIK FOSS has a small painting studio – on the top floor of the COLLECTIVE HARDWARE.
new work, still in progress by ERIK FOSS.
ERIK collects, by buying them !! – cards from the homeless.
His recent work at SCOPE – was a huge American flag – fashioned from just such placards.
a sign of the times. if I ever did see one.
y-e-s, check it out: ERIK FOSS at SCOPE 2009 !!
ok. it was such a great piece – we are posting it again – ERIK FOSS – ‘HOMELESS AMERIKA’ !!
exhibited at SHOOTING GALLERY,SCOPE ART FAIR, MARCH 2009
PHOTO/COURTESY: ERIK FOSS
just as we leave – we catch ALEX ARCADIA – our fellow veteran of the late 90’s JOSH HARRIS/PSEUDO crew – he made the awesome ‘Meditation’ temple featured in the film – ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ – the ONDI TIMONER/Interloper Films bio on JOSH HARRIS – dot-com visionary and art party thrower non pareil – that had its NYC premiere at MOMA last weekend.
‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ won the Grand Jury award for Documentary at this year’s (2009) SUNDANCE.
JOSH HARRIS’ million dollar+ MILLENNIUM PARTY – the legendary ‘QUIET’ !! – (also in a 5 story warehouse downtown – with many widely ranging & diverse ‘underground’ artist/participants) was the ‘grandfather’ to this nascent ‘COLLECTIVE HARDWARE’ model – except for one really important detail, now missing, – and that was the man himself – JOSH HARRIS – his eye for raw talent – and his willingness to throw his dot-com mega bucks – and big-time – to fuel it !! well, in the face of the new Depression, in stark contrast to the dot-com circus days – you gotta hope COLLECTIVE HARDWARE – can help keep the faith !!
just down the street – MBW aka MR. BRAINWASH !!
NEVR LIE DOWN !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~COLLECTIVE HARDWARE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2009, 10:58am
NATE LOWMAN, LEO FITZPATRICK, COLLECTIVE HARDWARE. LOWER EAST SIDE, MARCH 8, 2009
NATE LOWMAN, COLLECTIVE HARDWARE. MARCH 8, 2009
you may think its jaded – but NATE LOWMAN hit the nail on the head, way back in 2005 !!
with – this card for his NOVEMBER 2005 show at MACCARONE. not only was the message an early warning – civilization as we knew it – death threat come true – but it was one of the all-time ever, great NYC show invite cards. in fact – it wasn’t even technically a card – it was a super glossy decal sticker !! (7-1/2 x 3/3/4 in.)
see: the original post !!
of course, par for the course, right now – anyways – there was NO card as last month’s Nate Lowman outing !! cards are going the way of HUMMERS – and too friggin’ bad !! o.k. paper kills forests, and costs more money, in every kind of way – but still cards were nice souvenirs – I hope they aren’t dead dinosaurs altogether.
it wasn’t so long ago that galleries were competing – on who handed out the hardest biggest cards. ok. we’ll leave it there. connect your own dots !!
but you could get a low-fi xerox-type mass-quality paper – press release at the gallery desk. I guess that was fitting enough. (see next image.)
there’s great PIX of the installation on the: gallery website !!
left hand margin/PAST EXHIBITIONS.
NATE LOWMAN, ‘Nipton Road’, 2009. Alkyd on canvas, 66 x 46 in./IMAGE COURTESY: MACCARONE WEBSITE
some of the the canvases, the grave-yard headstone – TOMBSTONE !! – series – were carefully hand-painted to look like blown-up newspaper images – assuming a very low-fi (pixalated) technology profile, in fact – much like the cheaply printed gallery press release !!
alkyd paint, a form of industrial paint – seems to be very suited to be diluting, and here appears – looking just like – like black ink drips on the succulent canvas bed. in fact at first, I thought they were silkscreens.
the first thing that greets you, is Nate’s personal ‘logo’ – over-sized.
if RY ROCKLEN’s show was about ritualistic magic, homelessness & society in tatters – NATE LOWMAN’s was more like a crazy personal corporate society death wish. ok. don’t hate me, but kinda like HEATH LEDGER going out as the JOKER.
they felt like sculptures, but they were really paintings, painted on shaped canvas.
the one above was titled: ‘Thank you for’, these two are called: (left) ‘Thanks for nothing’ and, (right) ‘Rules Drools’.
you have to give Mr. Lowman credit – his titles are – just as drop dead smart as his paintings.
it was strange to see – how different the ‘logos’ looked – up-close. even though they were so seemingly simple graphics. or glyphs, really.
a classic abstract painting gone bad !! upside-down – it said: ‘BRING BACK MONICA LEWINSKY’.
you knew from that moment – you were in the presence of a bad boy / thinker.
NATE LOWMAN, ‘The Grass is always meaner’, 2006. Bumper sticker and latex on linen.
you know, like the pirates have their flag – the bad boys have theirs !!
what the hell – the show was completely off the wall – crazy and stupid – just like America.
in fact what I loved best about the show was – how much it was about: AMERICA.
NATE LOWMAN, ‘Lump Sum’, Alkyd on canvas. 84 x 125.5 in.
what was also cool – was how this part of the exhibit was pushed over to one side of the too-huge front space – all the happy faces cavorting and mirroring our wrecked havoc of a lifetime’s playground – and then the other series – the headstone/tombstone graveyard paintings were all flung out like rural tumbleweed in the too-huge back room. like the people in the cities all living close together, and the people in the country all flung out on rural roads – but, both dying.
portrait of a slice of American city . . . and commercialism, mass media gone wrong, duh.
NATE LOWMAN, ‘Pecker’, 2009. Alkyd, mixed media on canvas. 17.5 x 20 in.
if you don’t get the reference – you need to read the tabloids, media pages. can’t spoon feed you babies every little footnote.
this what the BOWERY really used to look like, before all the celebrity Japanese DJs and hip hop clubs took over. you could live in a storefront on Rivington – for zip – while the locals OD’d around ya. or the bums set small trash fires for fun. I know, cause I did. live there, not set fires !! till they bought me out.
fridge.
ok. the back room . . . . and I mean – back – as – in – backwoods – room.
the neon sign says: “SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT”.
NATE LOWMAN, ‘I shit you not’, 2009, neon sign, plastic box. 84 x 53 in.
crosses are so big this season. revise. JESUS is so big – this season. yo, its not me, being unsacred – what the hell. The NEW MUSEUM’s current show is titled: ‘THE GENERATIONAL: YOUNGER THAN JESUS’ – meaning only artists 33 or younger were allowed in the show. as if that weren’t bad enough – the NEW YORK TIMES review on the show was subtitled: ‘YOUNG ARTISTS, CAUGHT In THE ACT’ – as if, you know – caught in the act usually means – walking in on somebodies having illicit SEX !! what the hell.
I like Nate’s cross reference – so so so so much better. its a really stark – what the hell. all the more so since these steel crosses are actually straight off the back of – NYPD tow trucks !!
. . . A LITTLE ASIDE BACK to HOLLAND COTTER’S review of: ‘YOUNGER THAN JESUS’ (NY TIMES APRIL 10, 2009) – well the work struck me as wishy washy – what do I know – but loved how Mr. Cotter ended his article; “In any case, a generational challenge has already been taken up elsewhere. A small commercial gallery called BLT, on the Bowery across from the New Museum, has announced that its May exhibition will consist exclusively of artists born before 1927. Louise Bourgeois, Lucian Freud and Ellsworth Kelly will be among the participants. The show will be called ‘Wiser Than God.’ ” !!
of course, our good friends JOHN HODANY and LARS MONRAD VAAGE, of the artist/gallery collective, NATIONALMUSEUM, over in BERLIN, GERMANY – trumped all this arbitrary curating – months ago with their groundbreaking, and now eriely presentient show: ‘FUCK THE LITTLE MAN’ – also know as – the ‘TALL ARTIST SHOW’ !! where, it wasn’t age – but height – that got you in – or left you out !!
Curated by LARS MONRAD VAAGE and GEORGE BARBER, DECEMBER 2008. you had to stand 6 ft – to get in.
see: FUCK THE LITTLE MAN/opening
see: more background !!
“I’m a loser – so why don’t you kill me ” – Beck !!
NATE LOWMAN, ‘Loser’, 2009. Alkyd on canvas. 40 x 30 in.
. . . is this ‘Gallow’s humor’ ?
it’s so – DEATH WISH !!
it’s so COWBOY !! it’s so AMERICANA !! in fact, we’re gonna start calling him – ‘TOMBSTONE’ Nate !!
L-O-S-E-R – !! – love it !!
seems everyone around me is a loser, or else losing their jobs, late in their rent, moving to New Mexico where whole houses only cost $450 a month. people here are rolling their own cigarettes, and counting their subway money like never before. it just used to be mad money, loose change. not anymore. now its like $10 bucks – before you even turn around. its like: go to Brooklyn, or eat. I choose: eat !! and everybody’s a joker.
HELLO !! ENDLESS LOVE CREW – ENDLESS LOVE – I GUESS, NOT !!
.
LOSERS UNITE !! we need a LOSERS – UNION !! JOKE, NOT ME!!
homeless encampments are creeping up everywhere. unlike California, no tents here – that’s West Coast middle class homelessness – ours just down and out in cardboard boxes, and in piles of rags and old dirty clothes.
and the locals ? they’re socking you in the face & running off with your cellphone. cellphones & iPods – the flavor flav crime of the city streets.
its one or the other – if you have a job – you’re facing losing your hard-earned iPod / if you don’t have a job you’re facing losing your home. no doubt about it. its pretty much a generational thing too – wow – just like the NEW MUSEUM !! cause everyone wants $10/hr entry level kids taking over the jobs. even in the art world. case in point – PACE GALLERY – is rumored – well, more than rumored – to have let go all of their long time art handlers, some of whom have been there for years – to let a new lower-paid bunch jump the gate. sad but true, even the lowly art handlers, a traditional survival slot for young artists in this city – have to watch their backs. in this trickle down economy. even the printers, who used to print those glorious art cards of not so long ago – must be going belly-up. where are all these people going to go / not everyone can fit into New Mexico !!
detail, NATE LOWMAN – ‘LOSER’.
. . . Tombstone – Americana, or what !!
detail, NATE LOWMAN – ‘LOSER’ .
. . . Americana, or what !! fading away.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH – MARCH 21, 2009
FROM THE ARTLOVERS’ HOMEPAGE: WEEK OF APRIL 13-19, 2009 !!
* well, thinkin’ bout the RY ROCKLEN SHOW – got me thinking bout he recent NATE LOWMAN show. It was up at MACCARONE – and it just came down to make way for a VITO SCHNABEL PRODUCTION – see: MACCARONE *
* there aren’t any images from that new installation – up on the gallery website, yet – but here is an interesting link to a great photo of VITO SCHNABEL – “at home” !! *
VITO SCHNABEL at his home in the West Village, NYC. artworks by RON GORCHOV.
PHOTO BY: AEUICHI CHULKIN/THE NEW YORK SUN
(p.s. I like the GORCHOV pieces – they look great, here.)
* but the projected gallery spaces spoken of in the article by ERICA ORDEN (APRIL 30, 2008) – posted almost a year ago – to the day – don’t seem to have materialized. perhaps in a wiser move, considering the times – the young Mr. Schnabel looks to be working out deals to present his shows in already established venues. as for his current project – artist VAHAKN ARSLANIAN – here is the best link ? – out there on the web, for now *
* can’t say the title of this VITO SCHNABEL PRESENTATION at MACCARONE really rocks – it’s way too played out, and never mind CAPT. SULLY SULLENBERGER, what’s with JESUS !! – this month ? the only image available looks or falls a littel flat, too. sorry – but, that’s just the truth. I dunno, maybe it would look better in a grander setting, like the “at home” one, above ? *
* if I wanted – found art – from discarded windows, but esp cardboard – I’d much rather spring for local homeboy – CONRAD CARLSON !! see: SECRET ROBOT PAR-TAY – scroll down !! *
ARTWORK on FOUND MATERIAL – by CARL CARLSON – SECRET ROBOT/BROOKLYN. OCT 11, 2008
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
* so, that brings the circle back round to NATE LOWMAN – whose recent MACCARONE SHOW – really – !! – was a r-e-a-l-l-y
great show. it definitely withstands a serious look-back. not only was it on par with RY ROCKLEN’S recent NYC debut, but it had a great title, too: ‘A Dog From Every County’ !!
see: installation shots/gallery website/PAST EXHIBITIONS/RIGHT HAND MARGIN !! *
one of the coolest animated graphics around – HOKUS POKUS FOKUS on aNYthing’s GLOB !! – (scroll down GLOB – til you find one) – not to mention underground-type questions – the kind, that really matter !!
* as for LEO FITZPATRICK – who really is a good DJ – aNYthing posted a sweet little Q&A with him – a little bit – back in MARCH of this year !! in their HOCUS POKUS FOKUS column !! *
* in fact – aNYthing’s GLOB – is on a roll !! *
* check out the latest – HOCUS POCUS FOKUS: it’s Q&A time with AGATHE SNOW !! *
* and, if you have a (really) strong stomach – don’t miss their take on:
the recent TERENCE KOH after-party – which they charmingly title – ‘THE SWEET SMELL Of SUCCESS’ !! *
~NATE LOWMAN/A Dog From Every County |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 15th, 2009, 10:47pm
