don’t miss this . . beacon of LED LIGHT / at FRIEZE
LUKE MURPHY, ‘BENT FIRE WALL’, LED LIGHT SCULPTURE
CANADA NEW YORK BOOTH C1 / Level 4 – FRIEZE ART FAIR, The Shed.
image via Instagram @lukemurphy49
~LUKE MURPHY . . ‘BENT FIRE WALL’ / CANADA / FRIEZE / LET THERE BE . . LIGHT !! | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 6th, 2021, 12:45pm
PROLIFIC BROOKLYN STREET ARTIST, BAST . . HAS LEFT & DEPARTED.
& WILL BE . . SADLY MISSED BY HIS MANY FRIENDS.
FLASHBACK:
from left:
LANCE de los REYES, JOE GRILLO, and . . . BAST.
at the closing party for TAYLOR McKIMENS’ 2015 exhibit – at THE HOLE, The Bowery, NYC.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH / Oct 14, 2015.
~BAST . . . OCT 14, 2015 | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 4th, 2021, 8:47am
all that being said:
the bio of it / as in both: (virus) / (human) biology -&- (self) (future/survival) (climate change/world) biography
recycling & small gestures / pictorial scaling . . . .
BILL BRADY – HAS RETURNED TO NYC & PRESENTS:
KYOKO HAMAGUCHI / ‘LONG STAY’
OPENS THURS APRIL 29 / 4 – 8 PM
and runs thru . . . MAY 30, 2021.
ATM GALLERY NYC / 54 HENRY ST / CHINATOWN / LOWER EAST SIDE / NYC 10002
hrs: WED – SUN / 12 – 6 PM
see: ‘template’ to make an appointment / gallery-contact
looks to be a ‘simple’ / as in: anything but simple pictogram !!
– our collective bio-future – is at hand. . . !!
a simple diagram / drawing / pictogram of a home,
on a (recycled) well-designed / industrial design / transparent / commercial . . hand sanitizer dispenser.
but, still made of . .. plastic. so hard to figure this stuff out.
but, still better to find a home on your wall – than in the ocean, or a landfill, eventually.
hopefully, after much long, good use, sanitizing !!
plastic & plastics & plasticity – all of them / is/are such an irony.
don’t get me started.
Ms. HAMAGUCHI was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1989 / and currently lives & works in NYC.
she has an MFA from Hunter, NYC (2002), & a BFA from TOKYO UNIVERSITY of the ARTS (2015).
see: KYOKO HAMAGUCHI – ARTIST PORTFOLIO WEBSITE
see: KYOKO HAMAGUCHI on Instagram @kyoko.hmg
~KYOKO HAMAGUCHI . . ‘LONG STAY’ / ATM GALLERY, NYC / OPENS THURS APRIL 29 | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 29th, 2021, 10:38am
‘BAD BOY BILLY’ . . might not exactly be . . your cup of tea,
but, 2021 – isn’t the year to be . . shy.
in fact – that might actually be . . a YOU PROBLEM.
or: BILLY MAKES – LIKE A SQUIRREL !!
BILLY GRANT at SPIDER GALLERY / WITCHITA, KANSAS
BILLY GRANT . . makes like a squirrel / video
see: BILLY GRANT VIDEO at SPIDER
BILLY GRANT, drawing of a baby in flour.
so, flour baby . . . !!
I find this simple image so frighteningly compelling.
first off, I had to ask – what is this ?
there’s no knowing right off the bat / i.e. Instagram, but any digital image in general.
so there’s a big potential for fear – right there.
real, fake ? appropriated ? constructed . . photographed, etc etc.
are we on another planet, or just looking down – on ours from outer space – a huge site specific man made land/work ?
and, that brings us to – scale / dimension.
today – there is just really: 2 scales.
one: you know it’s a pants pocket lining, so, no matter how big the digital image / you get, as in you can comprehend & factor in the – the actual reality dimensions.
two: there is no way to know the dimensions – unless you ask.
which is where Billy’s image lies, and, I’m pretty sure – that’s by design. by deliberation.
plus, it’s so damn surreal & of science fiction, and not actually so much pretty – as formative.
what if this was drawn, huge – on the dark side of the moon ?
so I asked.
and was told, “it’s a drawing of Conner’s baby, I did in flour.”
which again, brings several thought to mind.
in end times, or at the very least . . any stressful present / future times – well, you mind has got to go human survival, biology & babies.
for example: how will socially-driven human babies / survive enforced social distancing, and school closures, viruses, vaccines, etc etc.
is it ?
also all about artists today – responding to climate change challenge by scaling down, and using / recycling simple materials.
is it about: not holding on / not making art to frame and archive and hold ‘forever’ in museums.
will there even be museums, or will they all crumble too, eventually. like they always have. ancient cultures / civilizations.
is the whole point ?
creativity, not the resultant creation.
is it . . an outsider vs insider war / esp re the status quo art world.
is it: a kind of unwritten poetry ? a thought ?
just ask the ancient Tibetan scrolls – how powerful a thought / can be.
just think on: how far away we have come from the Impressionists, the Expressionists, the Hudson School of Landscape painting ?? . . the Jackson Pollocks, and Rothkos – with their heroic statements on manknind, choice, the m-o-m-e-n-t.
the profiund moent.
have we reached: the ultimate profound singularity / moment.
in effect, a point of unity – before the great cell divide / of life.
the moment of the living organism – the baby.
all images via Instagram / courtesy @spider.gallery
~BILLY GRANT . . SPIDER GALLERY / some images & thoughts | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 29th, 2021, 10:09am
oh yeah, bubble bubble & trouble !!
the eternal rebel child . . is outta state !!
BILLY GRANT OPENED . . a solo show at the very indie, rebel
SPIDER GALLERY, a “domestic exhibition space in Wichita, Kansas”.
images via Instagram @spider.gallery
follow: @spider.gallery on Instagram
~BILLY GRANT . . at SPIDER GALLERY / WICHITA, KANSAS | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 25th, 2021, 10:38am
one of the interesting facets of this solo show, besides its startling originality,
and . . pocket poetry !!
is seeing the images of the work posted up large, yet still comprehending the true scale /
knowing that they are comprised of old linings torn from denim jeans pockets.
TIM JOHNSON – ‘TRANQUILIZER’ / at . . A.D.NYC /
thru . . . MAY 22, 2021
HRS: SAT 12 – 5 PM / OR BY APPOINTMENT
TIM JOHNSON, ‘Butterfly 40’, 2021
sharpie on pants pockets
image via Instagram @qd.nyc
watch: a video of the installation on Instagram / @ad.nyc
~TIM JOHNSON . . ‘TRANQUILIZER’ / A.D.NYC | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 25th, 2021, 10:19am
seriously, an artist going after . . my own heart.
rip those old denim pockets out, dude !!
and, let the . . tattered poetry begin !!
‘TIM JOHNSON: TRANQUILIZER’
OPENS SAT APRIL 17 / 1 – 8 PM
and runs thru . . MAY 22, 2021
A.D.NYC, 19 MONROE ST., CHINATOWN / 2 BRIDGES
A.D.NYC . . . presents ‘Tranquilizer’, a solo exhibit by Detroit-based artists TIM JOHNSON.
” . . made of seam ripped pocket linings cut and splayed open, Johnson’s marker on fabric works takes
the silhouette of a butterfly as form. Originally conceived as a project to mark each year of the artist’s life,
the series has since extended beyond that original constraint.”
~A.D.NYC
read more: “Tim Johnson, ‘Tranquilizer’ – A.D.NYC
see: TIM JOHNSON / @timmj on Instagram
~TIM JOHNSON . . ‘TRANQUILIZER’ / A.D.NYC / OPENS SAT APRIL 17 / 1 – 8 PM | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 16th, 2021, 9:29am
NATURE MORTE . . a ‘still life’ painting depicting objects, esp dead flowers, that might still be in bloom – but, NOT FOR LONG !!!!!
TAYLOR McKIMENS . . has a big painting – in this 60 artist show !!
‘NATURE MORTE’
OPENS THURS APRIL 8 / 6 – 8 PM
and runs thru . . . MAY 9, 2021
THE HOLE / on THE BOWERY
312 Bowery, N.Y, N.Y. 10012
HRS: WED – SUN / 12 – 7 PM
see: mission statement / THE HOLE / ‘NATURE MORTE’
TAYLOR McKIMENS, ‘SEE THE U.S.A.’, 2021
acrylic, metal leaf & glitter on canvas
75 x 120 in. / that’s approx 6-1/4 ft. x 10 ft. !!!!!
($30,000.)
image: courtesy The Hole
check out: TAYLOR McKIMENS on INSTAGRAM / @taylormckimens
ARTLOVERS FLASHBACK:
not . . one of my earliest photos of Taylor, my photos of him & his work started posting on artnet – in 2003 !!
but, def one of my . . . FAV !!!!
TAYLOR McKIMENS . . . in front of his painting,
at the opening of . . . ‘TAYLOR McKIMENS COMMISSIONS by BRIGHT LYONS 2008-2015’, a pop-up show in Chelsea /
produced by PAUL BRIGHT, winter 2015.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH, Feb 3, 2015.
~TAYLOR McKIMENS . . in ‘NATURE MORTE’ / THE HOLE, THE BOWERY / OPENING TO-NITE / THURS APRIL 8 | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 8th, 2021, 7:44am
if, you want to know the difference, between a line drawing vs. a painterly surface /
a work of straight imagination vs. a poetic re-creation . . .
then, this exhibit – is your joyful mission /
last week’s post was all about the (freestyle) line drawing / this week we’re all about . . the (studied) painterly / composition.
NOTE: this week is the last week, so don’t blink !!
TIM WILSON, ‘Between Either and Or’
March 2 – SAT APRIL 10, 2021
NATHALIE KARG GALLERY, 291 Grand St., NY, NY 10002
HRS: TUES – SAT / 10 AM – 6 PM
see: great installation shots & background info – NATHALIE KARG GALLERY
TIM WILSON, ‘Stairway III’, 2021
oil on paper mounted on linen stretched panel / 18 x 12 in.
note: that most lovely left hand wall & the light reflection.
TIM WILSON: works his painterly ‘retro’ magic . . .
“portraying domestic interiors gleaned from television and film.”
~gallery website
TIM WILSON, ‘Nightable’, 2020
oil on paper mounted on linen stretched panel / 16 x 12 in.
it’s obviously, the lamp / especially the base, that rocks this ‘retro dreamscape’.
Photos: courtesy Nathalie Karg Gallery
see: TIM WILSON – ARTIST PORTFOLIO WEBSITE
~TIM WILSON, ‘Between Either and Or’ / NATHALIE KARG / last week !! up thru SAT APRIL 10 | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 6th, 2021, 1:22pm
‘HEAVEN’S TAB’ – TOM FORKIN, RAUL de NIEVES & COLETTE
this weekend / is the last day: SAT APRIL 3, 2021
A.D.NYC GALLERY
19 MONROE ST, TWO BRIDGES / CHINATOWN, LOWER EAST SIDE, NYC
check out: great images & background text / ‘Heaven’s Tab’ – on the gallery website
this 3 person show .. !!
it was kind of bewildering, at first.
been thinking about it – for a while. how to define ?
what about: . . . a return to industrial / fantasy ?
the fresh, neon pastel color palette – in the Justin Beiber ‘Peaches’ video /
is what finally broke down the walls, on this exhibit – for me.
I had already cracked the Tom Forkin code:
wryly funny, but still New Age . . . Industrial /
subtext: clay, skills, functional / yet . . in a fictional ‘narrative’.
also, only after I had my mind-blown by the Beiber video, did I lock onto the saturated, but vibe-y color !!
of the RAUL de NIEVES work. very ‘fast-forward’ color Industrial, plus the ‘micro-bead’ fabrication. check, check.
though, there’s definitely a very dark edge, that I personally would not want to interface with, too casually.
no, no & no.
and, Colette ?
well, she’s just someone I always wrote off, as just. . another old school East Village local.
colorful, but always way too predictable. though in truth – I really only knew her for the outlandish, though not very varied costums, big hats, big platform shoes.
kind of like a Christo, but on a smaller scale.
wrapping her body, and not buildings.
but then, my longtime friend . . fearsome curator / gun artist / and fake BASQUIAT forger / ALFREDO MARTINEZ, told me he’s planning to present . . a big ‘WOMEN’S GROUP ART SHOW’, and COLETTE will be included !!
so that piqued my interest / with regard to this current A.D.NYC show.
and, it was: check, check, check. all good.
who knew.
at any rate:
‘HEAVEN’S TAB’ / is a really great, and very apt . . title.
people are really into titles – these days, have you noticed ?
TOM FORKIN, ‘Untitled’, 2021
Travel bar, epoxy clay & acrylic paint / 17.25 x 8.5 x 15.75 in.
looks to be some metal hardware, too.
damn, that’s good.
note: all 3 photos via Instagram @ad.nyc
‘Heaven’s Tab’ installation shot, with TOM FORKIN (foreground) & RAUL de NIEVES (background)
Photo: courtesy A.D.
RAUL de NIEVES, ‘Rhythmic Red’, 2019.
plastic beads & plaster on wood panel / 24 x 24 x 6 in.
one word: scary intense. ritualistic, too. industrial re: assembly of parts.
let’s, hope not: functional.
Photo: courtesy A.D.
‘Heaven’s Tab’ / installation shot with TOM FORKIN / foreground, surrounded by COLETTE.
Photo: courtesy A.D.
COLETTE, ‘Justine joins La Rocka (Modelling Agency)’, 1981.
Photograph, polyurethane, fabric & glitter / 19.5 x 26 in.
which just goes to show:
nothing is written in stone – in the art world / long live the 1980s NYC art scene.
Brava, Colette !! the young kids – dig ya !!
Photo: courtesy A.D.
~TOM FORKIN, RAUL de NIEVES & COLETTE / ‘HEAVEN’S TAB’ / A.D. NYC . . SAT APRIL 3 / last day / don’t blink !! | Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 2nd, 2021, 3:21pm
