~SHEPARD FAIREY
on the street – SHEPARD FAIREY – (WILLIAMSBURG) BROOKLYN, NY. JUNE 10, 1009
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~MoCCA/TYPHON CAROUSEL/to-nite !!
. . . hey, when the going gets tough – read COMICS !!!
MoCCA – MUSEUM of COMIC and CARTOON ART – PRESENTS: TYPHON CAROUSEL !! – THURS JUNE 18/7PM
. . . an evening of dazzling cartoon slide shows featuring work from the critically-acclaimed comics anthology:
TYPHON Volume One !!
brought to you by TYPHON editor DANNY HELLMAN and Carousel host R. SIKORYAK !!
also, a select group of TYPHON contributors will be on hand to present their strips, including:
GREGORY BENTON, RUPERT BOTTENBERG, VICTOR “Bald Eagles” CAYRO, NICK GAZIN, HAWK KRALL, HUGO, PSHAW, HANS RICKHEIT, plus HELLMAN & SIKORYAK !!
“come meet the artist whose cutting edge artwork brings the pages of TYPHON to life” !!
ADMISSION: $5
NOTE: FOR MATURE AUDIENCES, ONLY.
MoCCA – MUSEUM of COMIC and CARTOON ART – 594 BROADWAY – bet PRINCE & HOUSTON – 4th FL – SOHO, NYC
yo, its a rainy rainy – they friggin fucked the climate day !! that’s the former NORTH POLE !! raining down on us, you know that, right ?
so here’s a little fun TYPHON !! tour – with lots to look at !!
check out: HAWK KRALL !!
check out: DANNY HELLMAN !!
and, don’t miss: the DANNY HELLMAN ILLUSTRATION – BLOG !!
you can read more about: TYPHON !! a 198 page full-color cartoon anthology featuring 40 artists – also, on Danny Hellman’s site !!
and, where you can find 13 sample images of TYPHON art !! each one – just as good as it gets !!
some of our favs:
ARTWORK BY DANNY HELLMAN
ARTWORK BY DJ BRYANT
ARTWORK BY HUGO
ARTWORK BY PSHAW
ARTWORK BY STEAK MTN.
ARTWORK BY RICH TOMMASO
ARTWORK BY DALTON WEBB
. . . and, . . . . just for fun – check out !! THE FIRST – TYPHOON !!
check out some comic book history: THE FIRST TYPHOON !!
~BOBO PLAYS SECRET PROJECT ROBOT/to-nite !!
here’s just what the underground doctor – calls for:
BOBO PLAYS – SECRET PROJECT ROBOT – TO-NITE !! -WED JUNE 10, 2009
bands begin at 9 PM – think BOBO plays at something like 10 PM ?
the line-up includes: FANCIE, ANA LOLA ROMAN, NATHAN WHIPPLE, RAXTSFK-JAG & BOBO !!
SECRET PROJECT ROBOT – 210 KENT AVE – WILLIAMSBURG – BROOKLYN
check out: BOBO’S ON 9th ST. – website !!
check out: BOBO/myspace !!
UP-DATE – WED JULY 29, 2009 /5:33 PM:
ok. here’s some pix from the nite !!
TED & JESSE of RAXTSFK – JAG.
TED of RAXTSFK – JAG.
JESSE is JESSE GREENBERG.
He has just been accepted into NYC’S COLUMBIA UNIV. MASTERS FINE ARTS (STUDIO/SCULPTURE) PROGRAM.
and must be excited – to start school this SEPT 2009.
congrats, Jesse. you can find Jesse’s work documented in several places – in the artlovers archives.
. . . we first meet Jesse at ‘BOBO’S on 27TH ST.’ – that way wild SUMMER GROUP SHOW at FOXY last summer (2008).
see: BOBO’S ON 27TH ST – SUMMER 2008 !!
we also posted something for him – when he showed up at last year’s (NOV 2009) SCOPE NYC ART FAIR, courtesy of – OKAY MOUNTAIN GALLERY – outta AUSTIN, TEXAS !! the coolest artist-run gallery collective around right now, looks like, hands down. in the article we posted a link to Jesse’s – website, (and at that time – a newly re-vamped).
see: JESSE A. GREENBERG !!
we also posted a link to: OKAY MOUNTAIN !!, and also – featured an image from their website – on the home page – for the next 2 weeks !!
the artist photos & gallery pix on their website – in whatever category – are great, as in KNOCK-OUT !! – as usual.
go back, and hit that – link !!
summertime even looks, fun, back on down there.
YO, SHOUT OUT – TO: COLBY BIRD – ‘COLD END’ – JULY 11-AUG 8, 2009 – at OKAY MOUNTAIN. AUSTIN, TEXAS.
FANCIE.
FANCIE – COVERING for BOBO – while they played – at their small – MERCH table !!
FANCIE outta PHILLY. at SECRET PROJECT ROBOT, BROOKLYN, NYC. JUNE 10, 2009.
BOBO had some low-fi posters, xeroxed copies of a group drawing. they were coated on both sides in plastic – like contact sheets. they were being sold for $7 a piece. they were not signed, but – you might have been able to get one signed ?? there ?? not sure, at that price ?? didn’t ask. paying the $5 to get in and support the bands – broke me.
sadly, there weren’t too many takers. the economy is that bad. esp in the gritty alleys of NYC.
no wonder .. COURTNEY & CHLOE (KARDASHIAN, duh!!) opted for MIAMI !!
another no-brainer: if you don’t have a (signed !!) BOBO artifact or poster – its, now, or – forever – keep your mouth shut.
yeah, of course … I got one. I bought that big ‘C.H.U.D.’ POSTER, wrapped in bubble wrap that they had at last year’s NY ART BOOK FAIR !! ($100 – cash !!). but it took me a year – to chase down all 3 signatures !!
actually, here’s a link to the piece – its called: ‘MURKY CHUD’ !!
NATHAN WHIPPLE !!
TAYLOR McKIMENS.
TAYLOR McKIMENS (center) and MATT LEINES, at right.
MATT LEINES, at left – who is based in PHILLY came in for the show …. and, here’s the joker – who s-t-a-r-t-e-d the ‘artlovers’ firestorm – !! – this summer – RUDY !! – aka BRIAN BELLOT. and, this is even when …. he pissed me off – Dude, its too tough to play games, this summer.
1. if you stiff someone, by commissioning photo work, and then do not follow-thru on promised payment. yo, have a little respect, and stay back in the shadows. don’t jump up at me – 2+ years later, like it’s a big joke – and, have the chutzpah – to ask me to promote your next show !!
2. if it all boils down to – ya don’t want to pay for (extensive) PR – then don’t make business contracts – ECONOMICS 101 – and, then – at least – have some backbone – and stay outta my face !!
…. let’s not even get into – how much … $400 at least ? was wasted on those oversize, and pathetic, really – shi**y is the right word – invite/cards. dude, its your money – if that’s how you want to spend your money – OK, but, then don’t come to me – cryin’ and empty-handed.
DREW GILLESPIE, of BOBO – is a funny guy. He seems most comfortable in disguise … and, a few steps back.
He is an amazing artist. all of BOBO is good art-wise. even PHIL COTE, who does a lot of their super great – large block lettering/calligraphy !!
DREW makes the big posters – such as ‘MURKY CHUD’. (above) He signs his name: DREW DREW DREW.
DREW GILLESPIE takes in the show.
BOBO’S PHIL COTE.
and, NICK PAYNE of BOBO. there’s 3 of them.
DREW GILLESPIE is vocals. and sings.
DREW GILLESPIE.
PHIL COTE plays (a very intense) guitar.
there’s no words I know -to explain – NICK PAYNE – keyboard. low-key, inspired & super smart ??
bye the way the art that was up – was courtesy of TOM FRUIN !! looked pretty good, too !!
you had to be there, light shows and ‘videos’ worked against taking digital images, but here’s the card – also pretty good.
TOM FRUIN – SECRET ROBOT PROJECT CARD/INVITE – FRONT
NO PREY – NO PAY!!! / ‘PONEROS – FRUIN!!!
MAY 16TH-JUNE 14TH 2009 OPENS SATURDAY MAY 16TH 8-10PM
SECRET PROJECT ROBOT:ART EXPERIMENT Corner of kent and Metropolitan
Brooklyn, NY 11211 Hours: Thursday thru Sunday 2-6pm
SECRETPROJECTROBOT.ORG—-PORKNEWYORK.COM—-TOMFRUIN.COM
yeah, go back & check out those last 3 links !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
p.s. yeah, you are welcome – TOM FRUIN !! r-e-a-l-l-y nice to catch the show.
~MBW/MISTER BRAINWAVE
. . . but, MBW, otherwise known as MISTER BRAINWAVE, knows what’s up – he’s got his latest stuff plastered all over the Meat Market aka the outer fringes of trendy Chelsea.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, CHELSEA, NYC JUNE 6, 2009
~GLENN O’BRIEN OUSTED !!
former INTERVIEW editor and BRANT PUBLICATIONS Editorial Director – GLENN O’BRIEN, at the height of his brief glory days, with his wife GINA NANNI, of PR firm COMPANY AGENDA, at the RICHARD DUPONT opening at LEVER HOUSE, MARCH 13, 2008.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
see: the original post/MARCH 14, 2008
. . as if we didn’t see that coming !! when was it ? not so long ago, actually. just back in December 2008 – at the RICHARD PRINCE opening at GOGO’s – that we noticed GLENN looking shocked and awed, because he didn’t seem to be invited back behind the velvet rope to the gallery’s inner sanctums to party with the big boys !! he looked like such a loser, as opposed to the well-groomed winner above, that we didn’t even feel inclined to snap his pix. what a fall !! (bye the way Peter Brant came to that opening with his younger mop-headed son, instead of Stephanie – so guess things were wobbly on that front, as well. personally thought things got a little tacky over there – when pix of the naked bust of Stephanie Seymour Brant by Mauritzio Cattelan surfaced – in VOGUE last summer – but, hey what do I know ?)
so Glenn’s tenure lasted what, FEB 08 till June 09 – 19 months . . . well, like we said back then – good luck turning that big ole boat around. guess blanket coverage of ELIZABETH PEYTON at the NEW MUSEUM and touting KATHARINE BERNHARDT, LOL !! as the next big thing – didn’t really go over !! not to mention the bogus website.
and p.s. the much bally-hooed FABIEN BARON, positioned as the INTERVIEW creative director left earlier this year. guess those covers weren’t really as great, or cutting edge – as they were made out to be – by plastering them at one point, last summer – on billboards all over the city.
UP-DATE: FRI JUNE 12, 2009 – so, ERIK FOSS & BRENDT BARBUR – LOSERS !!
what ya doing having INTERVIEW plastered as a sponsor on your supposedly green and clean – BFF – BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL flyers ? according to GLENN O’BRIEN they haven’t paid their contributors, i.e. those lowly writers and photogs – who make a magazine go round, in months !! not cool.
like being “doored” by a cab in NYC traffic . . .
that news – that INTERVIEW is not paying its staff – surfaced mainstream WED JUNE 10, 2009 in the NEW YORK POST, Pg. 34 – I guess they hoped it would be buried – since most of the art word, or at least the crusty upper crust – are in Basel at the art fairs over there. which must be pretty b-o-r-i-n-g – cause no news is making it back – even as a trickle – over the big pond, and back to these shores.
GLENN also said. quote: he has NOTHING nice to say about PETER BRANT – just for the record. I guess that means he didn’t get fired – he quit ? hate to tell ya, GLENN – BUT when you ain’t getting paid – that means you’re fired !! – artworld style, nice and sneaky !! or, did you just quit outta sympathy for the hard working staff – getting stiffed !! yawn – sounds just like NYLON MAGAZINE & BLACK BOOK, esp. back in the late 90’s. in fact, sounds just like every other magazine in this town – incl. artnet. how do I know ? been there – done that . . duh. sorry, correction – at least WALTER ROBINSON at artnet – tells ya upfront – they won’t pay ya.
FROM THE HOME PAGE JUNE 26, 2009:
artovers’ contributor-at-large SIMON CERIGO, just back from his usual Fri morning taping of the MARK KOSTABI CABLE ACCESS T.V. show – ‘NAME THAT PAINTING’ – couldn’t wait to report that he had just witnessed the “triumphant” return of GLENN O’BRIEN – back to the show – now that his schedule is once again clear of INTERVIEW duties – and is back to his position as the number 1 money-maker on the show, and guess what !! KOSTABI pays more than INTERVIEW. Glenn walked off with over $500 bucks in cash. Our pal Simon, a little upset to his see his own cash flow cut into by Glenn’s reappearance – still had to concede in all fairness, that Glenn did come up with some pretty good titles. ohhow the mighty fall.
you can watch the shows here: KOSTABI/NAME THAT PAINTING !!
though the show now seems to be titled: “TITLE THIS” – !!?
GLENN O’BRIEN returns to the MARK KOSABI CABLE SHOW, – ‘NAME THAT PAINTING’, now called: ‘TITLE THIS’.
June 2009.
p.s. MARK !! what did ya go and change the title – ‘Name That Painting’ was great. better than ‘Title This’, anyways.
~CASEY JEX SMITH/LaVIOLA BANK opens to-nite !!
illus: CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘Crowns’, 2009. (detail), pen on paper, 25 x 22 in.
CASEY JEX SMITH: ‘Gird Your Elves, and Be Broken in Pieces’ – opens to-nite – SAT JUNE 6 / 6-9 PM
the show runs: JUNE 6 thru JULY 11, 2009
LaVIOLA BANK GALLERY – 179 EAST BROADWAY – LOWER EAST SIDE – NYC
UP-DATE: TUES JUNE 9, 2009
. . . going to see the CASEY JEX SMITH and DAVID MAZZUCHELLI shows, on the Lower East Side, last Saturday, was a study in contrasts. While you could say that both artists are representational, graphic, with a taste for the ‘human’ condition – imagined – !! – and, expressed through fine line draftsmanship mostly in pen and ink, on paper, that is: black and white – that’s about where the similarities begin and the differences – dialog !!
First of all, this is the difference between two different kinds of graphic artists by definition, even though both – draw. MAZZUCCEHELLI is a graphic cartoonist and social commentator, his dramatic visuals are at the service of deeply told narratives. Tales of good and evil. Heroes against criminals. Humans against the modern city and alienation. CASEY JEX SMITH, is a artist. His black and white pages are unique ‘stand-alone’ images, or stand-alones – within a series. His drawings are not about specific stories, but more ‘questions’ into the nature and mythology of the human race, good and evil. and with reflection upon biblical religion – as much as fantastical myth-making. The ‘big question’ – human nature, the human condition, in the global meltdown/renewal of year 2009, and in some drawings – also looking back, even to Biblical times.
MAZZUCCEHELLI, an older artist at his peak, now teaching at SVA – with serious publishing world accomplishments dating back to when his career began, (when he was 21 in 1982 !!) was a retrospective – we could see different styles and concerns, different ambitions evolve. It was a pinpoint, not to to mention archival feast – for comic book ultra-fans and art lovers, in general !!
CASEY JEX SMITH is a young artist – just starting out – but it was fascinating to see his show unroll as a kind of immediate, or mini-instant ‘retrospective’, as well, in that it displayed biographical existence . . . here and now – on the face of this earth.
The other interesting contrast was the locations of the shows themselves. LaVIOLA BANK, with its huge glass and metal storefront, high ceilings, and sleek professional interior feels like the definition of – a small ‘museum’ – MoCCA, The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art – located on the 4th floor of an commercial building at the gateway of Soho and the Lower East Side – on the other hand – feels more like a larger, yet just as dark, typical re-modeled Lower East Side ‘clothing’ store !!
As back-to-back gallery crawling/opening experiences – they couldn’t be beat.
LaVIOLA BANK on upper, or rather – way east – East Broadway. deep into the Lower East Side – almost at the East River.
from left: ALLEGRA LaVIOLA a co-director/founder of the gallery, artist CASEY JEX SMITH, and next to him his wife, AMANDA, who is also an artist.
Casey Jex Smith and his wife currently reside in San Jose, California.
MICHAEL BANK CHRISTOFFERSEN, the other co-director and gallery co-founder, with his pretty wife MAJ ANYA DeBEAR – who also has serious Danish ties.
the wall of framed fighter ‘card’ game – cards !!
my fave – the FRODO look-alike !!
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘FRUMGORN BEESTINGER’, 2009. unique !! drawing, pen on paper. 9 x 6 in. ($500)
so, of course the super interesting note – is that, they really aren’t cards, per se, in that they are not printed. They are unique drawings, they are not multiples – and so, that makes the $500 price tag – a steal, by anybody’s definition !!
the artist and the gallery are obviously very focused on selling the work, not just showing it – a refreshing professional position – even, but especially well considered – in these in these days, and when you can still find aspiring young artists – who won’t even sign even – unlimited open-ended posters for ya !!
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘Jamlamin Ogrecrush the Thunderer’ !!
this card really intrigued me as well, as much for my new found Viking friends over in Berlin and, Norway – as my own use of black and white cardstock ABC (Biblical !!) cards – to title my own recent show, at OTHER MUSIC.
CSEY JEX SMITH, ‘Nephihah’, 2008. a large ink drawing.
this was one of several (mostly) larger graphic works – that seemed to speak to our environmental world on earth today – and what we are doing to it – or where it is going, but in a pastoral non-urban – vision of re-newed awareness, and super-reality – and fantasy, surrealism ? – as opposed to bleak desolation, though not sure about that conclusion – it might just reflect my own wishful – thinking !!
and it seems it does – LOL, reflect my 2009 art bearings – I just googled NEPHIHAH. it is in fact, in Mormon teachings – a city that is destroyed for becoming evil. see: BOOK OF MORMON/SEIGE OF NEPHIHAH !!
so it turns out, after getting a (wonderful) chance to speak with the artist, directly, and in person – at the opening, that his titles, some, like above – referencing MORMON teachings – are really, though personal, part and parcel of his work and his defining self – as he is a practicing Mormon – who was raised in Salt Lake City.
so, you get a feeling as you cruise the exhibit – of an imaginative life closely lived – in a childhood immersed in bible stories, Morman narratives, and myths, epic takes on: good and evil . . .
This aspect – stayed with me – and dialoged with the – MAZZUCCHELLI exhibit I was next to experience – DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI, seemingly also a guy who seems to have grown-up immersed in picture books, and the eternal battle of good and evil – except in his case – it was comic books !! and one-to-one combat in modern urban wastelands !!
this series of drawing in particular spoke to myths !!
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘Dragon’, 2009, pen on paper, 20 x 22 in. ($2,200)
detail, ‘Dragon’.
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘Jew, Gentile, Dwarf’, 2009. collage on paper. 11 x 8.5 in. a seminal piece, very unique and very keystone – in the show’s context. and priced at $500. (I’d spring for it, in anano-second – if I could !!)
so, now we are getting to the more Biblical aspects !!
and apparently – that’s where the controversy lies. just as MAZZUCCHELLI had his Achilles heel – or moment of supreme in-your-face – truth, or, if you will, how about just plain – personal affront – to the public at large – ? – his Japanese sailor-shirted school-girl S&M porn – CASEY JEX SMITH – brought with him some references to Jews and Gentiles, that seemed to spook him – in person – knowing they found their way to exposure – LOL – in the heart of the Lower East Side – an historic Jewish immigration portal – in NYC !!
detail, ‘Jew, Gentile, Dwarf’ the images are cut from old vintage Biblical Children’s story telling books.
. . . in a neighborhood where you can see run-down yet, proud old synagogues converted to Pentecostal temples with huge metal crosses, that really look like militant sharp pointed swords, covering up, or superimposed on top of the Jewish 6-pointed Star of David stained glass windows, (ex. corner Delancey and Allen) – this pictorial reference didn’t seem that offensive – until I googled Mormons and Jews – and found out what a thorn in each sides – they were !!
detail, ‘Jew, Gentile, Dwarf’.
. . . apparently there are 2 major major, both very bitter – rifts.
one: to Jewish horror – Mormons insist on posthumously baptizing Jews, meaning after they are dead, and (key) without permission – the LDS – Latter Day Saints aka Mormons – are said to be putting into their archival record – that Jews converted to Christians !! with no indication – that this was done for them – by the archivists themselves !! and god forbid if the civilization goes kaput and future star voyagers, find only these Mormon records – they will think Jews turned on their faith willingly !! talk about epic cartoon battles, MAZZUCCHELLI !! The Mormons on their part – apparently rather arrogantly – believe they allowing the Jews their one and only chance at true salvation. To the Jews it is the worst insult, especially as LDS records have targeted holocaust victims – who died for their Jewish beliefs, rather than convert !!
see: The Issue of Mormon Baptisms !!
of course this polemic religious battle – isn’t the be-all, end-all of the show – as these innocent happy – biblical images seem to say – scattered throughout the gallery.
au contraire – it’s just as meaningful – as the fairy tale Sci-fi references, and like the MAZZUCCHELLI Japanese schoolgirl – maybe just another played-out cultural motif – for us to consider, and why ? or, maybe NOT !! you know .. I’m always a peace-maker – except when it comes to artists and galleries that cross me, translate: use me.
in fact its these religious references, that to my mind set this show apart, and really set it to taking on a one-of-a-kind good vs evil epic drama. like I said, this is a young artist and it will be interesting to see how he sets foot – again ?
but to my mind this wall is truly amazing to behold and think about. how rare – to see a young artist – present a wall of religious beliefs . . . if you don’t just walk right by them – they completely contradict – the ‘universal’ and mythical – feel of the show’s card image, ‘Crowns’, top, and most of the other works, i.e. ‘Dragons’ (above) – which are pretty beautiful, and intense and mysterious to look at, and I wouldn’t mind having one – but, these little gems – these are a whole other story. they are really honest. on a very individual level.
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘Kneeling’, 2009, collage and spray paint on paper. 11 x 8.5 in. ($350 !!)
first of all they really – reflect the artist’s deeply ingrained upbringing, and current practice – as Mormonism is above all else, an outreach to convert – and not keep the faith, silent and private !!
CASEY JEX SMITH, ‘YELLOW BOY’, 2009, collage and spray paint on paper. 11 x 8.5 in.
. . . this amazing one – with its Jewish child and looming cross – gets to the heart of the matter – of that other – major major burning MORON vs. JEW CONTROVERSY. simply put, as far as I could superficially research it, Mormons believe that they are descended from the 12 tribes of Israel. Jews say no, no DNA proof. and two, they are diametrically opposed. Mormons believe in outreach and conversion, not to mention Jesus. Jews say, if you’re not born into the cult, if your mom ain’t got Jewish ancestry, – well pretty much – we don’t want ‘cha. who is more insulting, I do not know. I’d rather ponder DAVID MAZZUCCEHELLI battles – I mean as religious theory, not art work, these are pretty amazing as artwork.
see: MORMONISM & JUDAISM !!
CASEY JEX SMITH.
of course, each to his own cult. I’ve heard some refer to the cult I follow – JOSH HARRIS & WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – trashed as a …. ‘crackhead’s’ last party !! so there, ya go. . this is the world vision – that his cult, culminates in.
maybe it’s best to end – the way the show does – with a universal ‘creation’ story wall mural. on the gallery’s back wall ..
Casey’s wife, Amanda helped paint the open hands !!
bye the way, another graphic pen and ink, line artist, New York City-based, WILLIAM CRUMP dropped by the opening, and said hello. his work is more American folklore based.
see: WILLIAM CRUMP/LONESOME GHOST !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
UP-DATE: JULY 28, 2009
ok. that was the strangest review. I don’t even want to look back at it – cause I’m sure I’ll erase – the best parts !!
I definite had a strange time writing it up – but, meant to say – the show – it’s real intense, the combo of myth-fantasy & the unexpected, religion bits – comes at ya – like nothing you’ve seen before. the little religious collages, the Mormon tableaux – are so simple. really childlike – they can get right by ya, slide right by ya, or just grab ya. floor you – esp. if you really stop to fully consider them in the context of a contemporary cutting edge art show.
In fact, I thought it was super interesting that a young artist putting his first foot forward in NYC, would not just stick to the ‘art’ path – but put his religious beliefs on the line, as well. googling Mormons & Jews and finding such a dramatic, epic otherworldly battle of beliefs and practice, not to mention worldview, more end-of-life, view – wildly raging – online – was just unbelievable. when little collages like this = provoke such conceptual firestorms – it makes you almost believe the apocalypse – is – !! really around the corner . .
~DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI/MoCCA/opens to-nite !!
NOTE: THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED – THRU SEPT 2009 !!
‘SOUNDS AND PAUSES: THE COMICS OF DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI’ – opens to-nite – SAT JUNE 6, 2009/7-9 PM
the exhibit runs MAY 19 – AUGUST 23, 2009
MoCCA – MUSEUM OF COMIC and CARTOON ART – 594 BROADWAY – SUITE 401 – SOHO – NYC
bet. Houston and Prince
GENERAL HRS: TUES-SUN 12pm-5pm
GENERAL ADMISSION: suggested Donation $5 / children 12 and under: free
“In celebration of the release of his highly anticipated book, ‘Asterios Polyp’, The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is [leased to present David Mazzucchelli’s first retrospective exhibition in the U.S. Mazzucchelli’s career encompasses early groundbreaking work in ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Batman: Year One’; idiosyncratic short stories in his self-published anthology, ‘Rubber Blanket’, and elsewhere; the graphic novel adaption of ‘City of Glass’; and his new graphic novel. For over 25 years, Mazzucchelli has distinguished himself with articulate storytelling and emotive drawings in service to comics in a variety of genres.
This show presents over 80 original comic pages, drawings, preparatory sketches and covers form the artist’s archives, allowing an invaluable loo at his artistic journey.” – MoCCA PRESS RELEASE
The exhibit is curated by DAN NADEL of PICTUREBOX.
Poster Illustration by: MOLLY CRABAPPLE & NICOLA BLACK
THIS WEEKEND – SAT and SUN – JUNE 6th and 7th – is also the date of the big MoCCA – ART FESTIVAL 2009 !!
Presented by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art it is a weekend of “comic and cartoon art exhibitors, panels, lectures, sketches, autographs, and more !! and, the museum adds: “Thousands come every summer to meet and purchase works from some of the world’s best cartoonists, animators, and graphic novelists.”
the action takes place at: the 69th REGIMENT ARMORY – 68 LEXINGTON AVE – bet 25th & 26th Sts.
HRS: 11am – 6pm
COST: $10 per day / $15 per weekend / MoCCA MEMBERS $10 per weekend
for more info: MoCCA ART FESTIVAL 2009 !!
and, check out the MoCCA ART FESTIVAL 2009 – poster’s designers – great job !!
UP-DATE: TUES JUNE 9, 2009 – PIX FROM THE DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI OPENING !!
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI.
“MAZZUCCHELLi’S comics career began in 1982 while he was still an undergraduate at the Rhode Island School of Design.
At twenty-one he turned in a barely professional art job for Marvel Comics’ ‘Master of Kung Fu’, and followed it a year later with some much improved penciling for the ‘Indiana Jones’ comic book. By 1984 he’d found his footing with regular work for ‘Daredevil’ . . . ” – Dan Nadel
DAVID MAZZUCCELLI – ‘ASTERIOS POLYP’ – “the story of an architect’s journey towards self-awareness and slow revelation of the value of the world around him.” – Dan Nadel, May 2009/exhibition essay.
‘BATMAN – YEAR ONE’ – FRANK MILLER / DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI / COLORIST: RICHMOND LEWIS.
(interesting note: RICHMOND LEWIS is DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI’S wife.)
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI – ‘THE BOY WHO LOVED COMICS’, 2001.
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI’S – signature !!
one of my favorite pages !! . . . from ASTERIOS POLYP !!
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI, ‘STOP THE HAIR NUDE’, Zero Zero #2, 1995.
in this frame from – ‘STOP THE HAIR NUDE’ – you can see an homage to RICHIE RICH and the HARVEY COMICS – era comics through Japanese eyes !! !!
though, this particular cartoon strip – is definite NOT – for children eyes.
ok. this is one reason why !!
it goes on to depict a young Japanese student girl, sailor shirt and all, being raped and assaulted. I dunno it didn’t seem so funny to me – it kinda stopped me in my tracks, it hit a nerve. its probably a cultural thing – like how the super raunchy Robert Crumb is accepted – is over here. except there is one thing about in-your-face raunchy, and another thing about rape. whatever turns ya, on, I guess. cartooning hits some intense shores. it was cool to see the museum put it all out there. thanks, Dan Nadel.
I mean maybe its just a cultural cliche – that’s totally played out.
I once saw a young, teen, I think, Japanese girl – dressed in a school uniform – just like this – pimped out by a viscous looking local thug on the Lower East Side – back in the day – when all those Bowery buildings, that are now clubs – were heavily gated – camps of forced labor Asian sex workers. she didn’t look too happy – the guy was so tough – I just moved on – cause I wanted to live. that’s a true story.
UP-DATE: JULY 23, 2009 !!
MR. MAZZUCCHELLI was kind enough to write in, and correct us on this caption.
he says: “Although the protagonist’s actions are intended to be ridiculous and disturbing, there is no rape anywhere in that story. Just to clarify (I don’t find rape funny — see also my story ‘Big Man’.)”
. . . he is right of course, she just gets bound and has her public hair shaved off violently !! against her will.
I meant no disrespect. that’s just how – profoundly his work hits the dark side, running !!
I think that’s what you might expect from someone, an artist !! for sure – who contributed to ‘Batman’ – with its super entertaining – yet so twisted & scary – plot lines .. also seen to great effect in the ‘Batman’ movies . . and, obviously his take-no-prisoners graphic edge – is beyond my ability to characterize in words. so here’s some more of his ‘STOP THE HAIR NUDE’ – figure it out – for yourself !!
p.s. the show is still up – runs through AUGUST 23, 2009 – and I definite recommend it – whether you love comics, cartoons, movies, or art. He is the master of the cartoon/comic dark side !!
. . . pretty astonishing, how the intense graphics collide – the dark side and the ridiculous !!
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI, ‘STILL LIFE’ . . . “published in 1996, takes lessons from the manga avant-garde of the 1960s (especially the artist SEIICHI HAYASHI) with its open spaces and extreme quiet. Where Mazzucchelli had previously built up a heavy line, with ‘SILL LIFE’, he began a steady progression towards a smooth, seamless delineation. This surreal tale of memoryand rebirth slips away as easily as it arrived, more poem than story.” – Dan Nadel
detail, ‘STILL LIFE’.
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI – ‘Batman’ !!
DAVID MAZZUCCEHELLI worked on this book when he was 27 – in 1987.
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI signature in – ‘Batman One.’
. . . displays with original vintage copies.
looking at original pages from . . . . ‘Daredevil’ !!
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI was just 23 – when he began work on ‘Daredevil’ – in 1984 !!
from ‘Daredevil’ !!
DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI – ‘PHOBIA’, COCONINO PRESS
. . . “we had some flooding” !! – ASTERIOS POLYP
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/Ondi, Demi & Ashton !!
ONDI TIMONER, the Directer of ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ (center above) sent in this photo of her – with new ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ fans: ASHTON KUTCHER and DEMI MOORE !!
Ondi reports that “Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher recently joined the ever-growing army of ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ fans. They both tweeted about our film last week, calling it ‘brilliant’ and ‘amazing’ respectively, driving lots of views on our trailer, hits to our site and retweets”. . . . adding “We love when you guys go public on behalf of WLIP, so please don’t be shy. Shout out ! Our official film Twitter hashtag is #WLIP – join the conversation.”
Ondi also reports that: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce that ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ has been acquired into the permanent film collection of New York City’s own MoMA/Museum of Modern Art.” This Ondi’s second film to receive this honor – ‘Dig!’ was purchased by the museum in 2004.
bye the way, if you want to twitter ONDI – here’s the link: twitter.com/onditimoner
‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ was recently honored with two screenings at the “esteemed” SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL and, . . . some of the upcoming venues to feature WLIP screenings include events in: Australia, Silverdocs and the LA FILM FESTIVAL !!
‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ – the story of dot.com visionary JOSH HARRIS, won the recent SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2009 GRAND JURY AWARD – DOCUMENTARY.
you can always follow the parade at the: WE LIVE In PUBLIC/official website !!
~NANCY SMITH/OTHER MUSIC/LOW-FI PAR-TAY !!
NOTE: THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED THRU SEPT 2009
NANCY SMITH PRESENTS: ‘LOW-FI PAR-TAY’
A SELECTION OF HER: WATERCOLORS & PAPER BANNERS – a wall of artwork !!
MAY 21 – JULY 30, 2009
OTHER MUSIC – 15 EAST 4th STREET – NEW YORK CITY – BET BROADWAY & LAFAYETTE
HOSTED BY: OTHER MUSIC
SPONSORED BY: TEKSERVE
CURATED BY: SIMON CERIGO
. . . . some “blogger” has an art show up at OTHER MUSIC !!
if you are in the city – come check out the new music releases – incl. GRIZZLY BEAR !! , and . . .
some low-fi art !! it’s neat how the mylar-coated banners shimmer and reflect – just like the brand-new vinyl and CDs do !!
. . . if I don’t say so, MYSELF !!
bye the way, OTHER MUSIC, is not just a music store – it is the Indie music store.
check out: OTHER MUSIC/news !!
just in case you are in the DARK AGES,
NANCY SMITH is best known for running this site – ARTLOVERSNEWYORK.COM
This Spring 2009 she received national attention for her participation and founding role in ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ – the story of web visionary & dot.com guru JOSH HARRIS. Directed by ONDI TIMONER, ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ won this year’s 2009/SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL GRAND JURY AWARD – DOCUMENTARY, and had its NYC premiere at the APRIL 2009 ND/NF NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS SERIES at MoMA/LINCOLN CENTER.
NANCY SMITH is also known for her art world photos, first featured on artnet, in the PEOPLE SECTION, as:
‘ART LOVERS NEW YORK – PHOTOS BY NANCY SMITH’, which ran 2002 thru 2004, and brought a whole new wave of art and artists, usually termed … the “underground” – to the mainstream’s attention, and which can still be found in the artnet archives.
She is also a professional, self-taught repairer, re-cycler, and archivist of early American quilts and loves nothing better than to stitch all day on some old quilt. artlovers is just her day job, hate to tell ya, guys.
She’s also always been into low-fi art, esp watercolors, banners, paper cutting, and origami.
an insider outsider/folk artist/cutting edge participant. yo, it’s all good.
. . . that being said, since I don’t have my own website !! and since a good part of the artlovers audience is international, and very curious !! re: all things NYC !!
WELCOME TO MY SHOW !!
love how the windows say: “OM” !! – in blue and orange, yet . (for OTHER MUSIC – duh.)
that’s my work – up on the wall, paper banners to the left, watercolors to the right.
so, the deal about showing in venues outside the art world gallery scene – is you have to be flexible and present the work according to the givens. nobody is going to remove their store displays and product shelves to give you a gallery-like wall.
to me that was the fun – to come up with a way to make the best of the dynamic !!
plus I loved being honored for this, pretty much – first real art show at OTHER MUSIC – and, my first real show in more than 7 years, by fans from the music world. how friggin’ cool.
don’t even get me started on how retarded – the art world proper is. even in NYC !!
I had eyeballed it just right – my watercolors fit just so, on that shelf.
even the folks at OTHER MUSIC loved how the work looked like … art. as in A-R-T !! even in the midst of all the album & CD cover art, not to mention the super graphics of the cutting edge Indie music industry.
In fact, that was one of the things that most interested and motivated me, that these super talented musicians with their cottage industry of self-made, and friend-made, and even professionally designed – vinyl album and CD covers – would be in ‘concert’ – all around my own stuff. so cool. the best part about the whole thing, in my mind – was to be considered relevant to – and have my OWN work – recognized and respected by this community.
again – how friggin’ cool.
it’s amazing how much one can contribute to the art world, and still not be acknowledged by the broader base.
well, here’s a bit of an insider’s joke !!
on the night of the opening (Thursday May 21, 2009) – I almost jumped when I came in and saw – the brand new LEONARD COHEN releases on the wall directly under my work . . . LOL x 1,000 !!
who would have ever thought, growing up in MONTREAL, a few generations later, and listening to his music – I would find myself, and Leonard Cohen – on the very same wall – in a music store in NYC.
LEONARD COHEN in the house !!
life is so bizarre.
ok. back to the show.
of course, the downside to this kind of alternative exhibit – is – it’s not the optimum presentation for catching the details, so here’s a close-up of 2 of my watercolors. they are 18 x 24 in. they are on top-quality arches paper.
I can make out the narrative – but you can come to your own conclusions.
this watercolor was completed way back in like 1994 – so, I guess it was still about being super-observant and willing to collect, and to dish it back up and at ya. just visually. not via the web.
and, in my own color range. kind of Tibetan sunset meets early American sunrise – !!
NANCY SMITH – watercolor ca. 1994.
of course, the other downside to showing in an alternative venue – is … who’s gonna sell the stuff ?
there is a price and contact sheet – near the OTHER MUSIC desk.
the watercolors are priced at $1,400 (framed). if interested, contact me/artlovers homepage has the link.
think about it – how could the handi-work of the person behind this site – not be worth something ?
beats me. the banners go for $80 to $400 ea. each is signed and unique. a steal as they say in these pages, for long and often enough – to have a proven track-record, or what !!
that I have to promote my own – work – well, c’est la art vie 2009 – and right on.
some people are just born to just fly over the heads and radar of everybody – else, that’s why I started artlovers, to help give them a voice !! – seems like everybody around here was always missing that top 2% – and, you know, I’m right. and so, in a weird, but exciting, PAR-TAY!! – way, these hard times – are actually good times for all the rock-hard, dyed-in-the-blood – indies !!
art rebels – take back NEW YORK !!
before, I get into the low-fi stuff – proper – the banners !!
these long, strung-out black and white ‘streamers’ – made from – a ‘found’ – alphabet kid’s coloring deck – they used to sell at the MET – are my way to define the space, and put my name on the wall – without being obvious, or is that: obnoxious ? but, I concede they are a little hard to read – but so what !! what’s great art – without a little mystery !!
they spell out my name, and the show’s title, ‘LOW-FI PAR-TAY’, and on the other side, its says: artloversnewyork.com.
. . . “N – A – N -C – Y ” !!
NANCY SMITH / LOW-FI PAR-TAY.
ARTLOVERS . . .
NEW YORK . . .
that’s – the dot !! . . . for “dot” . . .
. . . com !!
note that: that OM/OTHER MUSIC hand-made sign, already there: “FEATURES LOCAL ARTISTS” !!
tarot card reading, or what !!
you know: the expression – wall of sound ?
this is my wall of art.
to me – LOW-FI doesn’t mean – just bad photo-copies !! artwork that can just as easily be downloaded or even sent by computer – au contraire – LOW-FI – is art that is made from ‘thin’ materials: usually ingenious, as in totally simple but never thought of before – like alot of the art featured on these pages !! from hand-made zines, like those of … ALEX BARRY, that pretty much crack you up !!, to the “I Ms. Grandpa” sculpture of JORY RABINOVITZ and GEORGIA GRAY, up in a day and down; to the ZERO LIABILITY of the recent JAMES HUGHES construction signs slash political ALERTS !!
. . . and, bye the way – re: web pages.
don’t these artlovers’ “pages” – like most blog formats – unscroll – just like banners ?
really, what’s a blog – if not a BANNER.
for that matter, what’s the web – if not, a community – BELL.
so I even put little bells, on the banners too. also for music. music store. OM.
and yes, Maxwell Williams, that is a cut-out of your ‘VIRTUAL INSANITY’ – card for CINDERS !!
I’ll let someone else write – about what – virtual insanity – might meant to me !!
well, surprise surprise, that – I’m so into MY OWN WORK !!
especially considering I’ve been covering everybody else’s, duh !! for how many years now, since 2002 counting artnet !!
well. its been a great exciting trip. I’ve been witness to, and helped kick off – so many amazing careers.
these are pix I took – of DEVENDRA BANHART, and ZACH CONDON of BEIRUT !! at OTHER MUSIC.
next to them, my most fav pix – those of my family !!
that’s my daughter Kate – when she was a typical early 90’s L.E.S. punk – at what 8 or 9 yrs. old !!
DONNA FERRATO took this photo. it’s me and my son, THEO, at ‘QUIET’ – the JOSH HARRIS MILLENNIUM party that is the back bone of the film – ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’. first it appeared in some articles and then it became the poster for the film festival screenings !!
. . . it was probably the most freaky experience of my life – to be sitting in the MoMA theater and see my ‘self’ – flash up on the screen – as ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’ – had its NYC premiere.
why do I talk so much about ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’, ‘QUIET’ and JOSH HARRIS ? I guess it was a defining moment – not to mention the most lucrative time I ever had, just for doing what I loved most !!
it was the first and, apparently – only !! – time somebody really took me seriously as an artist, and not only showcased and bought my work – but funded my visions and concepts. as well as, gaving me a credit card to buy $5,000 early American quilts, AND !! hired me as an art world liasion for his million dollar dot com.parties !! those were the days, were they not !! I guess some people have it that way: all or nothing, once in a lifetime – in one big grand gesture. they went from calling me the ‘Quilt lady’ to the ‘canary’ – because they thought my art instincts were that sharp and prescient. that time at ‘QUIET’ actually catapulted me into the artworld photography gig at artnet, 2 years later.
who’d athunk it. from hand-stitching worn-out quilts – to calling the art world ‘underground’ shots !!
as the banners evolved, I began to think of them, not only as a ‘presentation’ solution – but, as way to – showcase – my own art.
a lot of people never knew I was an artist – yo guys: artist first; photog second; blogger last. trust me.
this is a pen & ink drawing from 1997. it says: “I saw you in a blazing light”. !!?
you can catch me at 27 – an artlovers fan – before there even – was – an artlovers.
thanks to the power of photo shop !!
a watercolor sketch forms a paper lantern – made for the ‘QUIET’ – ‘WE LIVE In PUBLIC’ – millennium par-tay – back, in the day . . .
some of the banners are ‘found’ cards from the immediate world. shows I’ve seen. that’s actually how they started out.
except for the cards, the other elements are all coated with mylar. and have little charms, like my black and white ‘QUIET’ bunny. magic rabbit. black and white. good and evil. logo. it all comes down to that.
.
this one actually has real origami flowers, not photo-copies.
these are laser copies of actual embroidery cross-stitch samplers – I do.
those reversible black & white bunnies are cut-outs from a card I did for a show I was in with: with JOSH HARRIS and ALFREDO MARTINEZ, in SUMMER 2001. my last real show. it was called: ‘GUIET, GUNS and QUILTS’. it was at the DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY, CHELSEA, back in the day.
Danny got a little flipped out, just a few months later, watching the “jumpers” on the WORLD TRADE CENTER, up close and personal, when the towers came down – a few blocks away from his hi-tower downtown apt. – didn’t we all – who happened to be eye witnesses to history. I saw it from my 20th floor terrace – bird’s eye view.
AMERICANA – whatever, gave you that idea.
that’s a found . . . . PRINTED MATTER poster – cut-up.
here’s a close-up of that photo of my daughter Kate. yep, she grew up in a storefront on the Lower East Side, back in the day when it was for REAL !!
5 RIVINGTON ST. – EAST STOREFRONT.
we were on landlord tenant strike for 9 yrs. (translate: paid NO rent !!) – but we had a really nice garden in the back.
we actually originally sublet the place from RICHARD HAMBLETON !! aka ‘the shadow man’. the scariest crack-head tagger of them all. JEAN MICHEL, as in BASQUIAT, lived just around the corner. when she was a toddler – running around at his openings – he’d sign posters to her: “4 KATE”, all, now long sold for fairly big bucks – well, in the 4 figures. not bad for a crummy low-fi poster.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
note: some pix are studio shots.
UP-DATE: FRI JUNE 5, 2009
. . . can’t help thinking about HOLLAND COTTER’S recent, and depressing, ramble on the ‘generational’ shows at the MET and NEW MUSEUM. (THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 – ART SECTION – PG 1 & PG 25).
FIRST OF ALL – GENERATIONAL SHOWS are bullshit, if in the one case – re: the MET – they are going to be revisionist – meaning the curator didn’t have the smarts or ‘eye’ to get it right the first time – and, two, in the case of the NEW MUSEUM, the GENERATION – they claim to be catching – is really the sum of the curators’ lack of imagination, smarts, and eye !!
the ‘generation’ and the artists are out there – it’s the curators who are off the mark. and in the NEW MUSEUM’S case – that also calls into account the leadership. LISA PHILLIPS, I’m talking bout ya – and it’s not good.
Instead of being a dynmaic force showcasing the talent, of any kind or age !! in this town – the NEW MUSEUM is looking more and more to be it just a wasted monument to a bunch of rich people who got conned. Who knows what their ulterior motives were, maybe they are East Village landlords, 3rd or 4th generation who wanted to keep the real estate values high. . , who knows, but I bet its ugly – and its taking a whole ‘art’ neighborhood down with it. The a saddest part of it all – are the young artists – and really, the ever incoming waves of relevant and bright – artists, new, young, or just coming into play – who are really are here – but who can’t find a voice, let alone exhibition support or funding. . regardless of age – who are left to scramble instead of flourish. come on, get real !! – friggin’ NORWAY shows better NEW American art then this place, and besides having this super new building, multi-curators on full-time salary – most of the NEW MUSEUM is supposedly right in the heart of the action. so what gives ?
SECOND OF ALL – I PERSONALLY – having lived long enough to have claims to having had BASQUIAT running around as a neighbor, as well as KEITH HARING, and on that very same Lower East Side !! have issues with ‘generational’. some generations are just defined by one or two people – shooting stars – no doubt – but still – what’s at play here – market forces or equal opportunity for creative output ? and, hey, some people are just way ahead of their generation – or – better put – the institutional deadbeats called ‘curators’ – for short – in place at the time.
THIRDLY – OK. its alright to have a generational show, for a joke – though this show sure upset anybody 34 or older !! as well as anybody 33 or younger with talent – !! cause they were left out !! – but the deal is – bottomline – where’s the beef, where’s the inspiration. where’s the dialog ? its never just the idea or the format – its always the talent & the content – that really seal the deal – esp in the art world.
I MEAN – NATIONALMUSEUM, a small, and looking more brilliant, all the time – international, sort of – artist collective in BERLIN – had an arbitrary show – curated solely on height !! you had to be over 6 ft. or ovr – a giant !! – to get in. but the deal was – you had to over 6 ft. and good. duh. basic art 101.
IN CONCLUSION – MR COTTER’S last paragraph really haunts me. I guess when there’s not much real art to write about – art writers become visionaries, seers, and wishful dreamers !! but. the thought he was lead to pull seemingly out of his hat – like some bewildered musician – only hoping it made sense – and was a rabbit, not a rat – actually and, really rang true, so here it is:
“Isn’t the point of art, though, to acknowledge that some questions can never be answered, but to ask them anyway? Isn’t part of the job of artists to refuse smoothness and to keep opening up space, formal, temporal, psychic, emotional, whatever you want to call it? In the end the generational model may be most useful for showing us the artists who don’t fit, who aren’t interested, who think old when they’re young and young when they are old, to whom it may or may not occur as they walk past the hall of fame, ‘not me, not here, not yet.'” – right on, thank you MR. COTTER.
and . . . thank you OTHER MUSIC and the music world – for being to the Lower East Side, and NYC – what the NEW MUSEUM is not !! and looks to be: never will be – its just one big professional exhibition space gone to waste. and people wonder why NYC artists are seeking alternate venues, its not just the economy – its also the severely impoverished academics and poser deadbeats – ‘curating’ – usually with a trust fund baby running a quote unquote non-profit – at the top – oops, did I really say that. that day-glo sign should be: WHAT THE HELL, – certainly not, HELL YES ?!! or maybe, yes, as in HELL IS US !!
and, yo LOWER EAST SIDE – its not just the anemic academics and administrative socialites – in the hood – taking so many of you down – I have never seen so many wannabes, without a single original thought, let alone original art thought – in their heads – in my entire life. who wants to see art in a warren on Clinton St, that even the locals wouldn’t have rented for their pit bulls to crash in. if you want to know who the losers are on the LES – just check out the recent back issues of ART FORUM. well back to DEC 2008 , at least. forget about being able to call talent, let alone new, young or old – forget about tapping the real juice – all these guys care about are their names in ART FORUM !! as if they get there on merit in the first place – LOL !!! if I have to hear another – “Oh I just got my first ad in ART FORUM ” one more time – I’ll see BASQUIAT’s ghost !! coming round the corner of Prince and Elizabeth !! yeah you got your name in ART FORUM – you’re still going down.
ok. so apart from being pissed off, and feeling like the FORREST GUMP of the art world – seriously, have you been to OTHER MUSIC. It’s a great scene. its a great cross road of art and music. when I’m down and that’s often, and when I’m up. too up – – to function in this world – the only thing that sustains me is music. I think 99.9% of America is like me. the best thing America has going for itself – is its music, and its art, including movies. and its early folk art, esp the Shakers and the quilts !!
in particular 2 groups, BEIRUT and ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, and esp PANDA BEAR & PERSON PITCH are the backbone of my listening – the stuff that I run on. I’ve heard tell, that OM – OTHER MUSIC is the unofficial headquarters of Animal Collective .. I believe it. and when I feel down about just about everything and everyone else in this stupid art world town – when I think that a member of ANIMAL COLLECTIVE has strolled in and seen my work – whoa – the sunshine comes out into play. never mind that we’ve obviously ruined the entire geo-climate.
and of course the best part was making it:
so here’s a little more of my OTHER MUSIC – ‘NANCY SMITH – LOW-FI PAR-TAY’ – but, from behind-the-scenes !!
and, hey, one: YES, I am really into my own art. two – didn’t you know, or couldn’t you tell – an artist was behind this site, and three – if you don’t like it – go buy an ART FORUM. . or check out ARTNET – you know the site that claims ROBERT LONGO is the hottest ticket in town !! – still. if ever ?
p.s. just case anybody is really reading this far – don’t tell anybody, but the BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL, at least the art part – is looking to be lame this year, last year’s was great, this years, I’ll (yawn) skip. hopefully not everybody is coming up with “homeless chic”. I’m down – but at least, I’m not making homeless chic !!
WELCOME TO MY STUDIO – IN MY HOME:
NANCY SMITH – WATERCOLOR – 18 x 24 in. low-fi cutting edge / the EMPEROR WHO WORE NO CLOTHES – or going right over yer head !! your call.
all the photo-copies were adhered to a thin mylar, back and front – low-fi, 3-D, and durable.
not to mention in synch with the store’s music product.
ART WORK & PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~HELLE MARDAHL/LaVIOLA BANK/last week
from nature stitching to drama stitching. large scale hand-sewn puppets and all, from DENMARK.
hey, its a big world out there. even among those who hand-stitch – there’s a vast terrain with extreme polarity !!
HELLE MARDAHL – ‘An Orgy’, limited edition print. 2009
last week to catch:
HELLE MARDAHL – ‘The Largest Possible Audience’
APRIL 29 – MAY 30, 2009
LaVIOLA BANK GALLERY – 179 EAST BROADWAY – LOWER EAST SIDE – NYC
HELLE MARDAHL (b. 1976) was formally educated as a fashion designer, obviously with an eye towards fashion, and serious seamstress and all-around sewing skills, at the Centre Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London.
Apparently, she currently plies her sewing skills, and creativity – not as a fashion designer, but as an artist.
and a fairly dark dramatic one, at that !!
Helle is currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
HELLE MARDAHL – ‘The Ego Queen’, 2007. mixed media, including a lot of stitching. 104 x 47 x 43 in.
she’s also a graphic artist, as in illustration and painting.
HELLE MARDAHL – ‘The Balancing Pixie’, 2009. acrylic on linen. 65 x 28 in.
HELLE MARDAHL – ‘The Dependent Woman’, acrylic on linen. 76 x 27 in.
obviously – not !! a low-fi show !!
but she is coming out of somewhere. a contemporary deep dark collective unconsciousness.
see: MARNIE WEBER’S current show/MARC JANCOU !!
you can see more of the exhibit: here !!/HELLE MARDAHL
actually, we had a chance to stop by and see the exhibit in person.
there was a big, elaborate and highly detailed ‘tableaux’ against the back wall.
can you make out the 3 large puppets, in ‘gangsta’ pose !!
apparently Helle arrived with a 5 or 6 person crew to help her hand-stitch the final details of the installation.
‘The Ego Queen’.
a cut-out, colored, hand-stitched, and stuffed !! fabric piece.
like how Helle has put her name on the piece, and the way the shallow depth of the 3-D fabric piece is highlighted by the frame’s mounting.
delicate hand-stitching, even on the backgrounds.
HELLE MARDAHL – a painting on linen.
was told that Helle has a tradition of ‘mounting’ her name – in different ways for her shows. nice.
MICHAEL BANK CHRISTOFFERSEN . . .
and . . . ALLEGRA LaVIOLA – are the co-founders of the gallery which bears their names, and which is one of the brighter spots on the Lower East Side. The gallery space is a bit further out, but beautiful and spacious. high ceilings and all.
very modern.
ALLEGRA LaVIOLA.
. . . actually had a chance to meet HELLE MARDAHL !! – at center – when she was so nice to find time to drop my recent opening at OTHER MUSIC. we’re both into black and white, and stitching. esp hand stitching – so we had a lot to talk about.
she’s seems very sweet and very very smart.
ALLEGRA LaVIOLA and MICHAEL BANK CHRISTOFFERSEN are on either side.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH