C.F. (CHRISTOPHER FORGUES) and BRIAN CHIPPENDALE launched two new illustrated books at the STRAND BOOK STORE in Manhattan – last Thursday, Nov 18, 2010.
. . . I’m not sure calling them comic books, or graphic novels does – or does not do them justice !! – but considering the sorry state of the art world – it just might be better to label them – comic artists – though clearly both wear many hats – including comic book artist, artist, and musician. and both are basically wizards in all realms they touch !! who better to take over the parched scene – and storm over the vast wasteland – then these young masters of the graphic arts, not to mention – the imagination.
it was such a top drawer nite, not only because the product was sooooo good, and the artists sooooo interesting – but because intense as they are – and they are both Providence-based – the books, put out by PICTUREBOX – were completely opposite in format and take. and style. and story. how fun.
that’s Brian Chippendale signing a pile of books for the Strand in the background.
C.F.’s slim tome – in the foreground.
CHIPPENDALE’S book was wide and thick – like a little phone book or an over-size pocket dictionary – yeah. a pocket dictionary thru his head, alright !! it’s titled ‘If ‘n Oof’ – yes !! and, it goes for $23.95 at the Strand.
it has a soft but solid-bound cover – and feels really great to handle. it is exactly 2 in. high. yes, I just measured it.
of course I bought one – to take home. it’s beautifully made. no doubt about it. it’s an artist’s book.
the cover is shiny with parts that stand out – as decals !!
the back is a trip – see it for yourself !!
inside in the front page – it says the book was designed by Brian – and that’s the way it feels.
with production credits, and well deserved to: Jon Vermilyea & Raymond Sohn.
I don’t know how many pages it has – alot. but the pages not being numbered feels damn right too – it’s like an infinity book.
you know, infinity pool, infinity book. in the head. on the page & now you are in there, too.
it’s way fun to flip through too.
the Strand has it down right on the bar code sticker: art-comics/graphics !!
there’s an explosive, wild range of style and narrative – not one dull moment. both dense and linear. hyper inventive. just what you would expect from Chippendale – if you have been so lucky as to have followed his stuff . . . going back to his early days – as one of the founding ringleaders of the legendary Fort Thunder . . .
each page is a story . . .
each page is a gesture . . .
each page is an artwork. a travel into the mind as well as an adventure into the dimensions . . .
just when it gets classic . . .
it blows up – funny !!
a flip to another page brings up this thought:
who’s here! – Just a fan of the lingering light that fades into the greed of the splintered one above . . .
and 2 pages, later:
do you know how me and my friend got here ? – There’s a screw in the front door to the Almost Oasis !
dig dug !!
get yourself your own copy !! and re-enter this Chippendale universe – at your own whim & wonder !!
now C.F.’s book is more like code – really dig that cover, dude.
that’s: POWR MASTRS – 3 !!
in iridescent raised copper lettering imprinted on a beautiful opaque as opaque can be – dull green – as green as grass.
also, with a totally wild back . . .
also with the unmistakable look & feel of an artist’s book – C.F. designed his own book, too. of course.
with production credits going to: Jon Vermilyea, Tumoni & Raymond Sohn.
likewise listed as: art-comics/graphics.
it sells for $14.40 at the Strand.
I am hard pressed to compare the two books. it’s like night and day – both beautiful. hey, do what I did. get both.
the C.F. book is slim – 109 pages – in comparison – and yet also with a wonderful weight in the hands. but instead of a flip effect – it’s got more of an open to page and look into it – feel. it’s kind of, more ‘luna’ – is that descriptive word ?
it has a wonderful elegantly linear technical graphic stance . . . but it’s completely nuts . . . . as you dig deeper.
it gets very unpredictable, and even dark. the visual range also goes very deep, way deeper than I am showing ya . . .
kind of an introverted exuberance ?
but trust me – it also travels to alternative universes . . . and unknown reaches . . .
and gets pretty far out there.
chasing Moebius, along the way . . .
journeying . . . into pure graphics.
and coming back to center.
and then, going completely whacky . . .
I don’t scare easily . . .
but you do make me laugh !
O>K> next up: the SLIDE PRESENTATION !! yep – it was that good !!
ALL PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH
BRIAN CHIPPENDALE & C.F. – BOOKSIGNING & SLIDE PRESENTATION – THURS, NOVEMBER 18, 2010/7PM
If ‘n Oof – & – Powr Mastrs 3
STRAND BOOKSTORE – 828 BROADWAY at 12th ST. – NYC
PICTUREBOX
~C.F. & CHIPPENDALE STORM THE STRAND |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 1st, 2010, 10:00am
FILE UNDER: CRACKULA MEETS DUMBLEDORE !!
. . . UNDESIRABLE No. 1 – GHOST OF NANCY PAST – AKA CRACKULA – WANTED . . .
CONTACT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION . . . . CONCERNING HER WHEREABOUTS.
FAILURE TO REPORT WILL RESULT IN IMPRISONMENT. REWARD 10,000 GALLEONS
THE GHOST OF DUMBLEDORE PAST !!
wow – “these are dark times – there is no denying . . ”
straight up from the intro – we are off and running . . .
and for love-starved, action-starved artists of all kinds – the magic literally begins with the first title graphics. the letters – grow large and eerie – rusted old iron gates – and we are inside the action and transported right up – onto the big screen – ourselves – before we knew it. talk about absolutely thrilling, perfectly calibrated animation. nice fonts, too. the whole production ticks this way – brilliant, and subtle. fire on the lowdown. it almost plays out in black and white – as the fingers of evil, entwine their clammy little paws – around your throat.
helping make this, the 7th in the series – esp earmarked for visual artists – are the huge horizontal screenshots of unbelievably breathtaking mythical British landscapes – and the gorgeous light that subtly changes from day to night, and flickers – albeit with an eerie cold heart – from season to season. a shout out has to go to EDUARDO SERRA – the film’s Director of Photography. in fact this is the first film in the beloved franchise – to take our 3 heros away from Hogwarts and its familiar surroundings. in fact Hogwarts is never seen, Dumbledore is referenced but with growing conflict and doubt, and so – the film casts its spell in a whole new realm of sets, and mind-sets !! this is esp powerful and haunting – as it lets the 3 young Brits – Danile Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint – who we’ve watched grow up – through the series – really ‘grow’ into, or ‘become’ as they say – the fictional characters who may have taken over their real lives, or is that visa versa . . . hard to say. what’s most def – is that their new dynamics still hold forth on the big screen, larger than life – and most magically telling the story. Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry has become more of a nerd !!
trying to become more of man-boy and less of a wizard. but still just as intuitive. and ready to go for it. all. Hermione Granger is just awesome. Emma Watson, even . . . Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander – brilliant as she is – has nothing on you. where you walk in the film – there goes my heart – on tiptoes of fear. and Rupert Grint – oh my god – what a hunk, Ron Weasley grew up to be !! of course Alan Rickman scores as the dark Severus Snape, and Brendan Gleason, is the sad Mad-Eye Moody – straight out of Mad Max – or Brooklyn’s own Black Label tall bike club – whichever comes first to your mind – who gets knocked out pretty much from the get-go. does that guy remind of me – of the Enger bros – or what ? kind of a twisted out made evil but good – version of a midwestern Army brat – gone underground and highly skilled – who likes to party hard – gone batty and mad – but brilliant, street-wise and military hardened.
. . . but my absolute fav is the long haired – straight to his shoulders, white-haired and gorgeous – RHYS IFANS – as the new character – XENOPHILIUS LOVEGOOD, the father of the moonstruck for real – Luna, who else ? what a name . . . what a brilliant stroke of casting. absolutely eccentric, creative, revealing, and deceiving – it is he – whom the whole story turns on . . . at this point. we first meet him at the wedding . . . where is just slightly dwelt on – as the father of Luna. but turns out his was wearing the symbol – yes, the code !! – a circle within a triangle with a line through the middle – the symbol of the DEATHLY HALLOWS – as a charm on a chain – around his very neck.
p.s. talk about production details – for artists – not just kids – there is a credit to GUCCI – “for letting the filmmakers base Fleur’s wedding dress – on the work of ALEXANDER McQUEEN” !! I thought there was something unearthly and absolutely fashion-forward happening there – as soon as I saw it . . .
p.s.s. Luna makes some small talk at the wedding – that would make many a gallery-goer blush !!
did I mention – he is also an editor !!
yes, Xenophilius Lovegood – is the editor of THE QUIBBLER an “underground publication that bravely champions Harry . . .” and in their search for the answer to the code – of the DEATHLY HALLOWS – that they remember as the pendant he wore around his neck – Harry, Ron and Hermione journey to his house. another great part of the visual impact of the film – are these ghostly eccentric patchwork houses conjured up on lonely moors – where we are treated to the detailed chaos of a creative mind – a storehouse of fable and witchery – gone the more crazy as we are to learn – by the dark side – suits if suits were bad wizards – who have kidnapped his precious Luna. oh no. oh yes !!
there is his early century printing press on the tumbling-in topsy-turvy ground floor – the walls lined with art work by Luna. (the equally magical in real life too,we suspect – EVANNA LYNCH. yep. real name . . in fact I believe it was she who wrote the winning essay – in a contest to gain a role in the film – and thus: Luna Lovegood – comes to life most strangely, is it not) . . . but, back to Xenophilius – did I mention – several people have already told me – his hand knit garments, some patched and most creative to say the least – and esp his knit fringed overcoat – reminded them of my handiwork – 0 what a babbler. and he is one too. not just an editor and writer. keeper of secrets. champion of good. he draws.
. . . he draws and explains the code – with a nib pen in ink – the symbols. the magic symbols of the Deathly Hallows and it is he – who opens the way for the most beautiful animation almost ever – the fable of the Deathly Hallows – itself – the ancient tale of three men who try to cheat death. done in animated hand puppets – ala Kara Walker – if she hadn’t already mined the genre – the invisibility cloak being the most sublime graphic to come to mind, almost forever . . . while all the while – seeping tea in pots without water – he is thinking that when push comes to shove – Harry Potter aside – justice does just trickle down to him, and beloved lost Luna. his daughter.
the very last thought: XENOPHILIUS LOVEGOOD – the very first blogger !!
if I ever did see one – weren’t those guys who ran the early one-man printing presses – bloggers ? come on. yes, they were.
and he drew. and he told stories. and made tea. and held keys to secret codes !! not to mention wore hand-knit eccentric one-of-a kind pieces !! and had a talented lovely daughter he loved and doted on – to no end.
(hope Kate doesn’t read this. don’t tell her I said so.)
how great that J.K. Rowling – let this guy wear so many hats !!
and that long white hair – is so divine – I think he’s gonna start a trend . . . oh how I yearn to change my name from Smith to Lovegood – though it’s close. Brit like. and all.
but, what do you think – should I change artlovers for . . . . THE QUIBBLER, or what !!
so o.k. – long story short:
action junkies and young men, even older men film reviewers, I’ve found – might find the telling a tad extended, and maybe too intense – “get me to the finale” !! the big face-off.
but, anybody with even half-an0artist in their souls – will be lost spellbound . . . up to the very last blood drop. if not even the very last font of the closing credits.
and oh yeah. I did see two quilts in the movie !! yes. real antique ones – a testament to the great and ingenious British handicraft tradition that came with the very first wave of colonists to
populate our country of USA. the first was an old patchwork bed quilt – looked to ca. colonial times – a tiny diamond pattern – kind of genre we call – postage stamp. the othr was a victoan era Crazy quilt.
and I liked the music too. just brooding enough. chilly and underplayed, yum . . . here’s a final and closing shout-out to the movie’s composer – ALEXANDRE DESPLAT.
the whole production team & esp the animators and graphic artists, set designers. you name it, they did it.
check it out: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1/official website !!
all pix – generated from the official HARRY POTTER WEBSITE.
yep, look around – you too, can make an interactive WANTED poster !!
archival photo of NANCY SMITH – ENEMY No. 1: copyright NANCY SMITH
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS/PART I |
Posted in Movie Reviews, The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 30th, 2010, 12:58pm
or: THEY SHOOT P.R. WOMEN IN L.A., DON’T THEY ?
veteran film publicist RONNI CHASEN was shot dead – in a drive-by “professional” hit – in Los Angeles last Monday, Nov 21, 2010.
reference: THE MURDER THAT ROCKED HOLLYWOOD/slaying of New York-born PR diva . . ./NEW YORK POST
wow. my pre-holiday post elicited some serious email response. who knew ?
1. first-off: about 10 seconds after it posted – in came a one-word rave from CHARLIE FINCH, my mentor and I guess the guy who eggs me onto even greater literary heights. he wrote: “CRACKADOODLE-DOO” – and I was down with that !! the most I thought was wow – some guys have all the luck – they just have to come up with that one sweet phrase – that one-word wonder – that says it all – and cracks you up – at the same time. while I do all the heavy lifting . . .
I shoulda known right then and here – ‘trouble’ is my middle name.
2. the next day – oh oh – the first email from Gavin, as in GAVIN BROWN, in about 6 months – the subject line read: “i’m sorry” – I just assumed it said . . . sorry your mom died. and let it go at that, unread. then a couple of hours later – the thought began to slowly dawn on me – maybe it actually said: i’m sorry – you are not allowed in my gallery any more !!
wow. I don’t know who’s living in an a bigger bubble. me or Gavin.
Gavin for not knowing the word on the street was that his ROB PRUITT – ‘Rumspringa’ Fall spectacle was the spectacle that wasn’t. or, as the simple and prevalent, not to say lively – one liner that bubbled up from the street – so neatly summed up this over-hyped & low in oxygen non-event: Rumspringa was – a fizzle.
and, that’s also why – the mainstream critics in this town – scribble so many purely descriptive phrases in their ‘reviews’ – or, art ‘criticism’ as the genre used to be called. back in the century when the big boys could throw as good a punch as they got, and nobody got shot. or de-friended. de-listed. or un-invited. well there were probably a lot of drunken fisticuffs, if truth be told . . . a couple of suicides by over-dose, whatever.
the problem with the Pruitt show was, one – it was over-hyped. there’s nothing New Yorkers hate more than being told a restaurant is 4 stars – and then trek over only to find a fair to average meal on their plates. not that there weren’t brilliant moments – but the effect was not united – even among the highs. I liked the work in Maccarone’s space – still like the Panda paintings. alot. and the ‘Kitler’ wallpaper. ha. Simon’s camp thought the Pandas played-out, and the Kitlers dumb, not to mention: ‘been there seen that’. his crew liked the segmented self-portraits in the GBE space proper. everybody hated that cinnamon bun wall, thought the gilt chairs were stupid. nobody even bothered with the black and white tires offering up $50 worth of candy. and don’t get me started on all his ‘quilt’ research. as if . . .
though one heavy breathing art critic did call the show: “dickswinging” ? (he likes Marilyn Minter, too – so go figure.)
but, then what to do about the recent Pruitt P.R. – that popped over the Thanksgiving weekend ? in the New York Times. written up by Carol Vogel, no less. maybe some guys do need – getting hit with a swift kick – to the side of the head – every now and then, and Rob Pruitt just might be one of them. he does seem to enjoy saying – every chance he gets – how much he had to rebound – re critical mass ostracism – for that legendary ‘cocaine line right down the middle of gallery floor’ jig – and, then that still not to mentioned – politically incorrect black African art gaffe – of a few years back. !! though wow – too bad I wasn’t taking pix – then – cause both those sound like rockin’ scenes – to me. in fact – they top – my ‘wish I had been there’ list. of all time. for sure. double dutch for sure.
I mean, if I am (imaginary for now – but maybe) banished – should I play sour baby back – and just put it down, at best, ignore it – or at worst, ‘fake’ trash it ? no. it’s too good of a game. esp after coming hard upon the heels of a grand fizzle wipe-out. bottomline – ya gotta give credit where credit is due – and the projected – ROB PRUITT – ANDY WARHOL MONUMENT – scheduled to go up in Union Square – this Spring 2011 – is Rob Pruitt back in ‘Viagra Falls’ – fine form. top form – esp if he gets the fabricator to make the supposedly 10 ft. tall bronze sculpture – really and truly – Andy Warhol life-like. brilliant. right-to-the-edge hard core fun.
3. but then, of course, yesterday, Sunday – Simon had to go and burst my bubble – completely – when he came back from his usual morning bagel and coffee read-the-papers – jaunt – to tell me that the RONNI CHASEN L.A. murder – was lookin more and more to be a professional hit – not a random act of violence or your typical road rage thing. in fact these were his very words: “I don’t think Gavin is out to get you, but I bet KATHY GRAYSON is . . ”
. . . or, I’m thinking – her backers. better hope they’re not Russians.
I should only be so lucky. well, maybe that’s not such a joke.
on the eve of such epic battle – of course, the only logical course of action left – was to go see the new HARRY POTTER movie. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS !! – wow. one of the best. if you wanted one concrete vindication that the art world in New York City, is for the most part in a vacuum, is in fact a wasteland except for the solitary bright light every here and there — you need go no further than purchase a movie ticket.
but we’ll give and Andy & Rob – the last word !!
the projected ROB PRUITT bronze sculpture for Union Sq. – Spring 2011 – ANDY WARHOL !!
IMAGE COURTESY/NEW YORK TIMES
reference: CAROL VOGEL/NOV 25, 2010/’THE PUBLIC WARHOL in a PUBLIC SQUARE’/NEW YORK TIMES !!
and come to think of it; not only is ‘Warhol’ a great a name for a Harry Potter villain – but – hey it actually breaks down into – War and Hole – get it ?!! my theme song for 2010.
yeah, I got some serious revenge issues – better believe it.
or: catch this – if you can.
one of my pix – is greater than all 160 of your pix – on twitter . . . double dutch. high five me.
bout Joe Grillo. not only – been there done that – but made that baby. period.
lookin’ around – don’t see anybody else – taking up the slack, either. dude. talk about vacuum. top 10 tunes about ‘soul sisters’ – done & over – it’s all about ‘too school for cool’ – now. in the popular culture.
on the musical air waves.
what are they – mind readers ?
~FAN MAIL |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 29th, 2010, 2:47pm
FILE UNDER: current state of the art . . . scene.
or: if you have a nickname – may as well live up to it . . . and mine is: CRACKULA.
(with much thanks to Charlie Finch for the bon mot.)
ANSELM KIEFER/’NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM’/INSTALLATION DETAIL/GAGOSIAN GALLERY/24TH ST./CHELSEA
PHOTO COURTESY: GAGOSIAN GALLERY/VIDEO INSTALLATION SCREEN GRAB
well, what happened ?
Gavin Brown and The Hole were supposed to be the hot spots of the Fall scene – as declared by a New York Times art reviewer, a while back – or was that just for the summer session ? – at any rate, both fizzled out. Gavin seems to have lost his mojo completely – let’s hope, its just temporary. while The Hole, despite its colorful name – just ain’t down and dirty enough.
The Hole: how fun to finally have an easy target to ridicule – is about the best you can say about the place. there’s cool – but. then there’s – too cool for school. and sorry to say that’s where The Hole is stuck, and it looks to be forever . . . call in the deep hole mine rescue team somebody, please. and soon. the air is running out over there.
the best review that their current holey schmoley mess of a glue show has scored has been a bit blurb in the Village Voice: “go stoned” . . . who knew it could be possible to miss the cartoonish, socially challenged – Jeffrey Deitch ? Been there done that – and friggin 10 years ago – the quickest thought that comes to mind – to sum up their current lost and found dreck fest – and it looks like it might be mighty hard to scrape all that second-hand crap from the walls, when it’s over too. what a nightmare. in day-glo. no less.
‘Been there done that’ – it is a term – that no matter the unpopularity of the man – could never be pinned on Jeffrey. you gotta give credit where credit is due – and Jeffrey, great showman that he was – did bring the newest circus acts to town, big time. and they did really, for the most part rumble the scene, inspire the artists, and critics, bring in the tourists – and flat out rock and roll. now we see it wasn’t just his leaps of faith and inspired dumb gut feelings – we have to consider – in his ability to pull off bringing in – the brand newest – often completely off-the-mainstream art radar – thank god – often street, skater and even design world talents – who were hitting the popular culture dead-on – splat – and that we would have completely missed out on otherwise – (esp as most of the bone-dry, academic and short-sighted just-write-descriptions critics in this funny art town – turn their collective noses up at ‘trends’) – but now we need to realize – that Jeffrey was much more than an on-point showman – he was a great curator !! He didn’t just call in the talent – when it was factory fresh – no 10 year shelf life expiry dates for him – he got his acts to perform top notch for the Big Apple. totally top notch editing. just think back to his DEARRAINDROP – THE SIGN OF THE SYPHINX show – and you’ll get what I’m saying. and I guess the final thought, somewhat sobering and sad is: so what are we missing out on ? and, whose gonna put it on the Big Apple stage for us – with all the lights on.
it sure ain’t the Lower East Side – as vast a wasteland – as one could imagine. o.k. it has some cool bars and nightspots. but the amount of inspiration and talent over there – is about as inverse to the resources poured into the real estate, as you can get. or put this way – it’s as close to a dumbed-down miniature golf Disneyland – made in China !! – of the Lower East Side’s famous artist ran-the-streets glory days – as you can get. for tourists only and dumb ones, at that. the best thing that could happen over there – some new age severe weather tsunami roars in – and washes it all out to sea. and, yes. I do friggin’ have the credentials with which to confer this. having been a bonafide L.E.S denizen. back in the day. when it rocked.
guys – the best thing you could do is – scrap your game and let someone else take over – you’re making a mockery of us all . . . that Freeman’s Alley – I lived across from it – from 1986 til 1996 when we got bought out for $50,000 in the name of progress and gentrification. we sublet the 5 Rivington St. – East Storefront – apt/studio – from the notorious ‘shadowman’ aka RICHARD HAMBELTON. Freeman’s Alley was a no man’s zone – a scuzzy flea bitten corner – where junkies got $5 blowjobs in the dark corners and left the goo behind. along with their dirty needles. I’m not saying that was pretty, but it was real. if you are gonna go in there and slum it up, Jeanne – at least come up with something exciting and innovative, maybe even visionary and I don’t mean the art – as that’s patently not possible for you – but I mean interior and exterior design-wise, you know the kind of T magazine architectural style – big money should be able to buy. don’t you jaunt over to Europe ?
speaking of which. Europe, fashion, innovative style, and played-out icons, not to mention no-name ‘girls’ . . . maybe Kathy Grayson should have OLIVIER ZAHM black-and-white photograph her spread-eagled – on a Standard Hotel bed, with a smeared lipstick snarl, sheer pink undies – and messy hair. so cool. and vacuous – in a word: just what she is. and aspires to be. period. end of story.
so, speaking of vacuums – who would have thought – just a mere 6 months ago – that it would be LARRY GAGOSIAN sweeping it up. in the gallery sweepstakes. first with the awesome DAN COLEN show last month, and now with the doubleheader: JOHN CURRIN uptown, and the huge dense ANSELM KEIFER show downtown . . . though it’s hard to tell if these gangbuster shows are actually critically acclaimed. is it only me – or does anybody else out there question why our supposedly best critics fill so much of their required musings – with basic descriptions of the art work – when, not only has the medium of photography already been invented, but most galleries offer extensive websites filled with installation shots and still pix. Gogo even has a video of the Keifer show running on his website. though it loops without a soundtrack, which feels pretty damn creepy – though I guess that is a whole other can of conceptual worms – the practice and theory of adding a musical score to an installation video, grad students. welcome aboard.
at any rate, KEN JOHNSON concludes his NEW YORK TIMES – ‘take’ ? – on the John Currin show, thus: “The way Mr. Currin hides genuine feelings behind coy facades is irritating, but his paintings remain fascinatingly bizarre”. o.k. if you say so, well they are pretty compelling, and erotic always sells. no doubt about it, at least the first time around – tourists, students and blue chip players, rush over !! if it’s not really the cutting edge – well, at least it’s the biggest freak show in town – and, maybe the way things are going – that’s a good thing. at least it’s not a gooey thing . . .
see: KEN JOHNSON/NEW YORK TIMES/JOHN CURRIN REVIEW
while, his colleague ROBERTA SMITH writes up the ANSELM KIEFER show as a must-see over-the-top and deep-as-the-bible production, or was that deep as a German Wagnerian opera – though again, after many academic sentences and descriptive passages of the work – we still aren’t exactly sure of her inner most feelings ? but, she does open with: “Mr. Kiefer’s latest efforts take the ash-strewn, desiccated wasteland where his art has long dwelt to new enveloping extremes.” so I guess that’s a good thing. and come to think of it – I think her use of the word “wasteland” – was the inspiration for this whole essay !!
see: ROBERTA SMITH/NEW YORK TIMES/ANSELM KIEFER REVIEW
so, I guess I got my part of the game – the so-called cutting edge underground down – as in –
the KENT DORN shows at FREIGHT+VOLUME – called it right on the dot, as usual. I don’t know how I do it, Charlie – I guess I just look at the images people send me – and when I see something I like – well, usually where there’s a flame, a spark – there’s a fire.
and, looks like the big bonfire – is on 24th St !!
how fun, such a big town – and, really all you have to do – is run across the street, literally – 24th St. – ha – to see the two best shows in town: FREIGHT+VOLUME on the south side of the street representing the new, Kent Dorn; and GAGOSIAN on the north side of the street holding firm with that radical old guard, Anslem Kiefer. a tree might grow in Brooklyn – but, a flame glows bright in Chelsea.
and, speaking of CHARLIE FINCH:
did you really treat my big mouth contributor, roving party crasher and sometime music critic – SIMON CERIGO to a great meal of rack of lamb and all the fine wine he could drink – just to ask him – his ‘esteemed’ take on the state of the art – world ? it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to divine that Gagosian is making a clean sweep – and that on the other side of the ledger, I mean street – the Kent Dorn show is the best that’s out there. I hear tell – that was exactly what Simon told you. too. even though we had not exchanged notes. and we are deadly rivals – so a double line-up – like that, is pretty much – a shoo-in.
I also hear you poured on the charm & food for another, perhaps more compelling reason, you sneak – you wanted the lowdown on the Kathy Grayson, aka the Hole – glue show.
com’ on, Charlie I know the hype is hard to decipher . . . and the glam context, or the supposed glam context – is so desperately wanted in this tough town. but, forget it, man. not to be. maybe only for artinfo.
heard even Simon told you . . . “been there done that ” !! ha. exactly my words. too.
ha. double dutch – high five me !!
how do I know ? I have a spy on the payroll – at Bottino’s !! HAPPY THANKSGIVING, turkeys.
next time take me out to eat !! I’ll set you straight, too.
SIMON CERIGO, and NANCY SMITH – with little Kate and Theo Cerigo – aged 4 and 1 – in front of their storefront home/studio – 5 Rivington St. East Storefront – just 1/2 a block up from the Bowery. Lower East Side, NYC. SPRING 1990.
PHOTO BY: NANCY SCOT ROBINSON.
listen up all you losers, like I already told you a hundred times before – all street cred – esp all art street cred – really does bubble up – from the ‘critics’ on the street . . . the writers, artists, and party crashers sharing the vie – if not the fame. Lower East Side in 80s, Soho in the 60s. Lower Manhattan below Canal in the 50s. maybe it’ll be your hood – next !!
~CRACK TALKS. money walks. say what ? |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 21st, 2010, 8:58pm
yes, outta MONTREAL . . . have a listen !! – bet addiction will hit you, too.
sample: ‘Don’t Be The Cloud’, BEHOLD, THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL !!
while we were in Montreal last May 2010 – we came across this great little music venue called CASA del POPOLO – on St. Laurent – or St. Lawrence as we used to call it – back in the day – before the French language rights issue – cast it’s chilly spell. that was like the hood – like exactement – the Lower East Side – of Montreal.
the first thing that greeted you inside the doorway – was this converted cigarette dispensing machine . . .
for your two buck coin – or tooney – as Canadians call their 2 dollar coins . . . they only have bills starting at the $5 denomination . . .
(singles, or $1 coins are called ‘looneys’ . . . get it: looney and twoonies. Looney tunes – I swear to god.)
(ya gotta know what Looney tunes are, right ? you know Bugs Bunny. Elmer Fudge ? T.V. before reality shows ?)
you can choose a limited edition handmade artist zine – or even some artist produced buttons !!
yes, check these guys, out: distroboto
anyways – CASA del POPOLO, in keeping with its Montreal location – seemed to be more of a European bar/coffeehouse than the kind of more down-to-earthy coffee shop with cupcakes and muffins that our CAKE SHOP is – but just like our NYC Lower East Side – Cake Shop – their music venue was also in the deep dark basement . . . with its own bar downstairs, too.
check out: CASA del POPOLO, Montreal
check out: CAKE SHOP, NYC
some small cartoon drawing in a local alternative newspaper – spread on a table – did momentarily catch my eye.
shark bite, Montreal style ?
don’t tell her I said so, but Kate loved it there. she would have gone back every night . . . if other matters at home weren’t more compelling.
here’s the poster for the 3 bands that were playing that night – and did we luck out or what – THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL was 2nd on the bill !!
frontman, songwriter and lead singer/guitar/synths – JON COHEN sets up. we had no idea what we were in for.
this guy was just an amazing fireball of intensity – Montreal spawns a few of these every now and then – even back in the day – when my crew ruled the streets and cafes.
you can read more about him: here/indie music reviews/adequacy.net
the band begins to play . . and immediately the room is quiet. transfixed and on fire, all at the same time . . .
a very cool but smooth and beat worthy – SEBASTIAN COTE is on the drums, and a wonderfully intellectual and extremely musical KEN MARTIN plays the bass.
JON COHEN plays and lites fires at the same time. live – it was surreal. intense is not the word. and yet golden.
spun out and surprising.
after the gig – JON COHEN at right, with his bass player – KEN MARTIN.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. 13 MAI, 2010. MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.
found this little early clip:
THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL/’Hold the Fire’/technorati
but . . . here’s their, pretty much only video clip, on YouTube:
yep, most def, HIT: THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL – PLAYS – ‘BRAIN POLLUTION’ – LIVE AT DUNCAN GARAGE SHOWROOM/YouTube
hit this link, to watch: the recent – JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL INTERVIEW/PKG on YouTube
o.k. but, I’m still stuck on: Don’t Be The Cloud !!
I could run that song thru my head on a loop 24/7 – for real.
if artlovers had a sound track – that would be it – for this month, anyways. love it. just can’t get enough of it.
you can find their home page, here: THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL on myspace
~Don’t Be The Cloud/THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews, The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 20th, 2010, 6:30pm
BETTY SMITH.
o.k. my mom died, too. Oct 16, 2010. She was 86 years old and she lived in Montreal, where I was born.
I left for NYC in 1981 and I never looked back.
(p.s. trouver – means: find.)
actually last May 2010 – was the very first time I went back. Kate and Theo came along – it was their first time – ever – in Montreal.
we all brought cameras, and we had a lot of fun, especially eating out.
this was all of our’s favorite piece of visual art in the city, otherwise the city’s art scene is pretty much dead and gone.
it says: NON AUX OLYMPIQUES SUR DES TERRES VOLEES / NO OLYMPIQUES ON STOLEN NATIVE LAND.
www.dominionpaper.ca
no2010
no2010.com
art aside, the music scene in Montreal is pretty happening – and so were their posters.
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS – were playing JUNE 17, 2010 – at Le National.
and we caught a super great band, esp live – THE JON COHEN EXPERIMENTAL – at CASA del POPOLO – kind of like our CAKE SHOP – more on that, with pix & links – next post !!
there were also several great art cinemas. we caught Banksy’s ‘EXIT THRU THE GIFT SHOP’ and that great new JIM MORRISON documentary – ‘When You’re Strange’ – narrated by JOHNNY DEPP, and chockful of vintage clips and archival video footage – which came out the very week – we were there. coming home like that, for the first time in over 30 years – the wild child who split for NYC – it seemed a very potent film to watch at the time. a big connecting dot – on the real-time stream of life.
(and, yeah I made Kate’s sweater.)
see: JIM MORRISON/DOORS/WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE !!
although the city is kept beautifully clean, esp the landmarks – and I mean that profoundly. I did catch an un-obtrusive tiny MR. STIKMAN, on the street right under my very feet. yes. surprise. and guess where ? right in front of the International Newspapers store – downtown on Ste. Catherine St., near Peel – where I went to grab my daily fix – of the NEW YORK POST – maybe MR. STIKMAN, did too ?
this was one vintage window design that really stopped me. I guess it was a synagogue. and then there was a tag job higher up – that reminded me of home, NYC – and yeah I was glad there wasn’t – more of it. there is an art to tagging. this wasn’t it.
Montreal is a city that grew up on an island just like New York, but the island is really a mountain – Mont Royal – and the view from the top – the easily accessed “look-out” – is just as awesome as ever.
“OCTOBER 2, 1535 – JACQUES CARTIER DISCOVERER OF CANADA CLIMBED THIS MOUNTAIN UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE VILLAGE OF HOCHELAGA AND, IMPRESSED WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPE DISPLAYED BEFORE HIS EYES, HE GAVE IT THE NAME OF MOUNT ROYAL. FROM WHICH THE CITY OF MONTREAL TOOK ITS NAME.”
KATE almost gave me a heart attack – perching on the guard rail. unlike the good ole US of A – I was amazed to realize – there was not, absolutely not – one security guard in sight.
BEAVER LAKE, just a short stroll from the look-out. we had many a family picnic there, when I was growing up.
the most curious part was seeing all my early art work on my mom’s apt walls. work I had done more than 30 years ago . . . I hadn’t known she had surrounded herself with my work. I was the bad girl. what can I say ? but apparently – she loved my work. I never did tell her about my recent somewhat starring role in ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’, ha. I didn’t think she’d get it. but she always wanted me to be a journalist, instead of an artist, so go figure. in fact she never had a computer, and she never really knew what artlovers was. she’d be kinda freaked, I guess to see her photo posted on the web !!
I did a whole series of drawings, pencil on paper, 4 x 6 in. re-imaging myself into Japanese 18th C. woodblock print culture – as my graduate thesis.
I know it doesn’t seem very radical now – but you have to go back to the context of when they were done and art school culture – back in the 70’s.
back then, it was all about AGNES MARTIN, minimalism, abstraction, and huge huge color field paintings – so this was very out of left field – on every level. scale, intimacy, pictorials, narrative, drawing. pencil. etc. it was at Concordia University, actually the very first graduating class of the very first MFA program in the country – they almost didn’t pass my thesis – but I remember clearly – when I just shrugged my shoulders and walked out the door – they stamped it approved. the famous Canadian Quebecois color-field painter GUIDO MOLINARI was my mentor and teacher. I had a nickname back then, too . . . but it wasn’t – ‘crackula’ – it was: ‘guido baby’ !!
Simon was his studio assistant. (connect the dots for yourself.)
my mom took me and my brother to Paris, France in 1964. like many tourists, she had her portrait done in oil pastels by a street artist. it’s signed, Langford. after all these years, I was pretty amazed at how well it had stood the test of time. the best memory of my mom ? she bought me the very first BEATLES album – ‘TWIST AND SHOUT ‘ – to come out in Montreal, the moment it dropped – and I was absolutely the very first on my block, even in my school, to possess it . . . talk about a point . . . in space . . . nowhere boy meets nowhere girl. for one of the few times in her life – she vibed it – right on the dot – and bestowed a little solace – on her wild child.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~of Montreal |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 20th, 2010, 4:54pm
ok . . . so after proclaiming it – the YEAR OF THE BOY !! – of course, along comes a little girl – to steal the spotlight !! tiny GALEN HOPPER, above with her dad, DENNIS HOPPER at the last known public sighting of her famous artist/photog/collector/actor rebel dad . . . at the opening of his one-man retrospective show – ‘Signs of the Times’ – at the TONY SHAFRAZI GALLERY, last SEPT 12, 2009 – in NYC.
GALEN HOPPER – obviously the apple of her dad’s eye, is apparently his majority heir. PAGE SIX reports today, that: “the Dennis Hopper estate cleaned up this week at a Christie’s contemporary-art auction. The ‘Easy Rider’ star, who died in May (2010), was an avid collector as well as a painter and photographer himself. Forty works he owned, including pieces by ANDY WARHOL, JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, and KEITH HARING, fetched more than $10 million, almost double the minimum estimate. Hopper’s oldest daughter MARIN . . . confirmed that Hopper’s youngest child, 7-year-old GALEN, will receive 40 percent of the estate to be held in trust.”
HENRY HOPPER, the youngest son of DENNIS HOPPER, from a different mom – was also at the opening.
He seemed like a really sweet, smart kid too. studying painting at Cal Arts, at the time.
see: more pix from the SEPT 12, 2009 opening !!
DENNIS HOPPER at the opening of his New York City retrospective: ‘Signs of the TImes’, SEPT 12, 2009.
as far as I know, these are the very last (public) photos of Dennis Hopper . . . he did not make it to the opening of the last minute ‘copy-cat’ show in L.A. he was too ill, by then.
‘DENNIS HOPPER DOUBLE STANDARD’ , Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, JULY 11 – SEPT 20, 2010.
see: DENNIS HOPPER EXHIBIT/THE INDEPENDENT
at left: DENNIS HOPPER, as we like to remember him best – the whacked-out paparazzo – in ‘APOCALYPSE NOW’ !! there were short video clips of his most famous roles – looping in the exhibit, as well some of his large billboard sign paintings, of famous contemporary artists – based on his black & white photographs – and my most fav – his early band photos. including NEIL YOUNG, and the BYRDS !!
yeah, go back & follow that artlovers archival link !!
poignantly, on the way home I caught this wall mural by street artist – KNOW HOPE – that seemed to say it all.
detail, KNOW HOPE, signed & dated 6/2009 in the right hand corner.
detail street mural – painted on a metal storefront gate . . . KNOW HOPE – 23rd St. and 6th Ave. in Chelsea – just before you hit the HOTEL CHELSEA. it’s not there any more.
PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH
~little Galen steals the show !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 14th, 2010, 1:51pm
yo, I gotta split for a week – you know – it’s a thing called life !! and I have one . . . and it’s calling – me home.
so, good luck trying to find yourself entertained and informed – as well as making dough – if you are smart enough to follow the bread crumbs . . .
should be back up and running – by mid November – til then, if you get bored – go see: ‘NOWHERE BOY’ !!
yeah. it’s that good.
it’s – THE YEAR OF THE BOY.
NOWHERE BOY – OFFICIAL WEBSITE !!
yep, it’s the best movie about an artist – since Julian Schnabel’s bio-flick – ‘BASQUIAT’ – no doubt about it.
probably – because an artist made it: SAM TAYLOR-WOOD – and a Brit at that.
sure saved that young actor’s sorry self – AARON JOHNSON – otherwise doomed to be playing type-cast versions of KICK ASS, for-ever. or at least for the rest of his life. no wonder he fell in love with her.
Sam Taylor-Wood.
connect the dots yourself – got to run.
~STAY TUNED/NOWHERE BOY |
Posted in Movie Reviews, The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 9th, 2010, 1:33am
the after-party was fab – with lots and lots of trays of the good stuff – you know things like mini sushi rolls with chocolate sauce – that kept on coming, and never stopped. and a full bar.
on 23rd St. – on the way to the after-party – came across a small film crew – and found 2 Brits !!
on the left HOUMAN, recently arrived in town to film a documentary on the NYC art scene, he is associated with a high profile, super slick – as in, FORMULA ONE high octane – film, branding, and special effects production group with international offices: the mill . . yes, check it out. it’s a great change of gear. very swift and forward reaching, totally ambitious. with him, photog TOM WHITE who is in NYC teaching at the ICP – International Center for Photography. and, yes he knows PORTS. PORTS BISHOP. you can view his portfolio at: TOM WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY. one of my favs: is this shot from Vilhena, Brazil.
talk about high octane:
STUART BRAUNSTEIN, FREIGHT+VOLUME FOUNDER/DIRECTOR NICK LAWRENCE, KIM YON, and ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST.
NICK will be putting out a new book of Anthony H-G’s caricatures, called ‘Mean Time’ at this year’s Miami Art Fair . . . you know STUART BRAUNSTEIN from COLLECTIVE HARDWARE . . . whose art parties, Anthony H-G was often heard to rave about. he’ll be setting up shop again, soon. in about two weeks time at the GREENHOUSE bar/club on Varick St. so, if you miss the COLLECTIVE HARDWARE action – you know where to go. in fact it was Braunstein’s mention of the GREENHOUSE – that made me jump. wow, so glad, I had taken hold of that split second moment impulse, and had grabbed that snap of DAMIAN SHAIR, below – the hardcore denizen from GREENEHOUSE VERSION O.1 !! I almost didn’t – since that scene got so shut down. years ago.
just goes to show, after talent – timing and radar is everything. it’s a freaky biz. it’s a New York moment.
NICK LAWRENCE, JOHN NEWSOM of the “been rapping with the Wu-Tang Clan all day” hoarse voice, photographer ROBERT BANAT, and collector/art world fan ERIC FOX.
ROBERT BANAT screened me up some of his photos – stored on his I-Phone. he does serious portraits of artists in their studios. and they were pretty good, esp liked his recent series with ROSS BLECKNER.
ok. I got a little jealous.
NICK LAWRENCE, TOM SANFORD, CESARE DeCreDico and ERIC FOX – trust me this was just the start of their night !! after this little bash – was the after-after-party back at the gallery, and then on eastwards, to hit up the clubs in NoLita !!
DAMIAN STAMER, JOHN NEWSOM, F+V managing director KEVIN KAY, NICK LAWRENCE, KENT DORN, and JOHN BUFFALO MAILER.
KENT DORN was definitely the man of the hour – everyone, esp in in this crew – knows a good thing when they see it. you can always tell when a show hits home run – the collective vibes just start bouncing off the walls.
PETER HUCHINSON, a friend of ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST’S.
Anthony introduced me as “the archivist” – hey. I’m down with that . . .
KATRINA EUGENIA, painter and photographer. the sweetest, and cutest – must be this season’s It-girl for surest. she was with JOHN BUFFALO MAILER . . .
and yeah, her mom made her sweater !!
JOHN BUFFALO MAILER, a writer about town – but, his truly wow factor – he played Shia LaBeouf’s BF in ‘WALL STREET II’ . . .
YASHA WALLIN who is helping produce Anthony’s book, ‘Mean Time’ – for Nick.
and ELLEN ROBIN ROSENBERG, the newest intern at FREIGHT+VOLUME, who just by some very lucky draw of fate – finds herself in the middle of the scene’s new hot spot.
and maybe not quite by chance, either.
. . . just like that – she pulled out this really funny little tome, to show me . . .
‘I LIKE YOUR WORK: ART & ETIQUETTE’ – edited by PAPER MONUMENT. it was super fun – from the very first random page. swift and funny. very funny. and pretty much right on. what a way – to end the night.
but we’ll give the final parting shot – to the face-off between ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST and KATRINA – a kodak moment, if there ever was one.
PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH
~KENT DORN/F+V 10th ANNIVERSARY: THE AFTER-PARTY !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 6th, 2010, 9:16pm
so, DONALD BAECHLER made the KENT DORN opening. Thurs, Nov 4, 2010. FREIGHT+VOLUME.
beside him: KENT DORN, ‘Untitled’, 2010, mixed media on canvas . . .
so, Donald does buy contemporary art. besides making his own well known brand . . . so when you see him out and about – something is afoot. or maybe even – aflame . . . as in – hot.
he was looking amused because we told him we heard ALFREDO MARTINEZ had been to his studio and tried to hit him up for cash . . . but only walked away with one skimpy $20 bill . . . Donald was like: how did you know that ? and laughed when we claimed a spy in his camp . . . connect the dots: BB gun wanting to get back in the artslovers groove – speaks to SIMON CERIGO and so the big mouth chain begins . . .
Alfredo used to work for Donald back in the day – o.k. that’s ca. 1997. he used to gesso Donald’s biggest canvases. suffice to say the big Puerto Rican/Brooklyn-bred pyromaniac – o.k. maybe firearms fanatic is a better descriptive – almost blew himself up with a home-made pipe bomb on the beach near Donald’s Amagansett house. he showed up to openings for months after – with big dark bruises all over his face. this is not made up. this is completely true.
haven’t looked at Donald’s website in a while. a long while. it looks to have been: re-charged ?
see: DONALD BAECHLER STUDIO
yeah, Donald’s into quilts and vintage material. which he then slaps onto his canvases, but he will on occasion keep any super special pieces – safe and whole. I used to bring him stuff, quilt remnants and consult on origins & value of the special stuff – back then too. He actually paid top dollar for the good stuff – though it was still hard to part with. once I sold him a super great mariner’s compass piecework quilt square – for like $75 and I still regret it.
here’s: a great example of his quilt ‘work’, year of the quilt and all !!
KENT DORN, ‘Untitled (cabin)’, 2010. mixed media on canvas, 45 x 60 in. ($7,800) – was the next painting over.
super or what ? it’s one of the few that don’t have people.
the gushy thick paint between the logs – really works. double time. and reminded me a bit of Urs Fischer’s bread house. the green scenery works well: thick and gooey – too.
JEFFREY R. ALBUS and BEN ACKERLEY – bookcase the van !! a favorite for many . . . and, for me too.
KENT DORN, ‘Untitled (Van)’ , 2010. mixed media on canvas. 45 x 69 in. ($9,000)
the squishy thick stuff really works the narrative well, here too. coming at you like you just witnessed a bad bad accident, or maybe just the old seat foam – pouring out !!
a wheel on the van. you almost have to photograph his paintings – sideways – to get the whole effect.
looking good – KENT DORN, at the extreme right, greets some guests:
from the left: STEPHANIE WOLCOTT, JENNIFER ANDRADE and STASH BELLON.
FREIGHT+VOLUME FOUNDER – NICK LAWRENCE with TATIANA BERG.
as the evening progressed – it became apparent that Tatiana was a mover and groover – in her own right.
when I stepped outside, to collect my thoughts, I ran into a most interesting person, right off, and of course he was part of Tatiana’s circle of bright lights. that’s pretty much the way it is in New York, you turn a corner, and you bump into a huge whole other scene – you never even heard of, even though you may stomp the streets 24/7. this is ANDREW HAARSAGER – he writes and runs a blog called No Smarties – mostly centered on design, as in furniture, and alternative art musings. and guess what. he hails from IDAHO originally – there’s a lot of talented Idaho ex-pats in NYC right now. funny. must be those farmland ‘quilt’ genes.
chatting with him, MATT HAXBY – an industrial designer. in fact, TATIANA BERG, ANDREW HAARSAGER and MATT HAXBY – all meet up while studying at RISDI/RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL of DESIGN. they represent the next wave generation after the legendary FORT THUNDER days – and in fact, Andrew Haarsager told me his studio/office was on the site of the former FORT THUNDER complex – an old warehouse that had been razed. in the spirit of urban rejuvenation.
back inside. KENT DORN, ‘Fall’. mixed media on canvas. 45 x 32 in. ($4,500)
a lot of guys were into this painting. it made me start thinking, maybe it’s yin yang. maybe, it isn’t just the year of the quilt – maybe it’s also – the year of the guy. The Year of the Boy.
speaking of which – BEN FURGAL told me he had just quit his five year stunt, I mean stint !! as head doorman at the CAKE SHOP – and has saved up enough $$ to go make art full-time in a warehouse in PHILLY !! Ben originally hails from Baltimore – and he helped spawn the big music scene down there. we spoke of mutual pal – the often cranky but brilliant recently departed photographer and artist DAN ASHER. I knew Dan well in the 80s and 90s – was his studio assistant for several years. when he had dough. worked on all those iceberg photos. Ben used to hang with him more recently. drawing together. we both agreed and cannot emphasize enough – listen up losers: leave your work to your artist pals – even if you think they are losers. or better, hopefully in the hands of galleries. and a few big galleries wanted to get their greasy little paws on Dan’s work, believe me. not your relatives. like Dan did. He always had issues with his businessman-type super straight brother and somehow felt leaving him all his work – jumped the shark. not. as Ben told me – the only show he is getting now – is “the garage” show. if not actually landing in the garbage dump. so, if you have any of Dan’s work – hold on – the value just went up. add scarcity to the price factor. big time.
I don’t even want to think about it, Dan blew so many things – so, what else is new.
EVIE FALCI – just came back from a one month artist residency upstate at the WASSAIC PROJECT – and is currently working as a studio assistant for TARA DONOVON – interestingly enough.
this was her favorite painting in the show.
KENT DORN, ‘Drifter’, 2010. mixed media on canvas. 32 x 24 in. ($3,000)
this is his paper-collaged – eyeball – up close.
AMBRE KELLY and ANDREW GORI – filmmakers, liked the ‘Fall’.
you can check their stuff out on: thetheyco.com
now, here’s a face only the truly initiated will know. painter DAMON SHAIR – Alfredo’s sidekick, from the notorious GREENEHOUSE DAYS !! and I don’t mean the bar – GREENHOUSE on Varick St. – I mean the SQUAT !! on Greene St. !! in Soho. the short-lived dark urban legend if there ever was one – if it wasn’t a filthy squat – with a drunken leader who would suddenly turn around and pee on any unwitting and clueless tourists, esp Japanese or Austrian – who had innocently strolled in – attracted by the randy often loud impromptu live music and wild off-the-chart art. you could have called it, and rightfully – the first pop-up !! (ha)
hardcore is not the word. the current Greenhouse probably took its name, unwittingly from the deep underground street chatter – that filtered down. Greenehouse/Greenhouse, ha. more like: scare house/fright show. it was right next to a high-end fashion boutique too. quelle fun. you know – street cred and shabby chic – all for one, and one for all . . . Soho – the way we used to – like it.
I might have a link – OMG x 1,000 – here it is: scroll down and you’ll even catch the notorious GREENEHOUSE ringleader, JERRY FOUST – I kid you not – real name – pullin’ it out !! and spraying the crowd below !!
back to the show. dudes liking the work, big time.
JENNIFER SULLIVAN – was was presenting her video loop – ‘One Week Walden” – in the front projection room.
Jennifer is kinda funny – in strange way – like maybe unwittingly so ? you just don’t know.
she says she wanted to to “re-create Waldon” so she made it – happen in her dad’s up-state backyard !!
and she says . . she wasn’t going ‘commando’ – “it was painted pink” – or something like that.
o-kay. if you say so . . .
whatever – it a was a rockin’ nite.
KENT DORN, ‘Song’, 2010. mixed media on canvas. 28 x 40 in. ($4,200).
is it my imagination – or do all his paintings have full moons, or is that big round yellow suns – in them. or what.
right on. cosmic code. the universe – decoded !!
PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH
~KENT DORN/JENNIFER SULLIVAN/F+V/more opening pix |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 6th, 2010, 9:14pm
