. . . talking about shelf life, wow – even your local supermarket can of string beans says: BEST BY DEC 2012.
talk about a hot potato – expiration date !!
CAMPBELL SOUP CANS – MOVE OVER !!
speaking of which – CONGRATS !! – TO JIMMY FALLON & CREW & CAST !! – YOU GUYS ACED THE EMMYS – !!
– BEST AWARDS SHOW – HANDS DOWN – IN A LONG LONG – TIME – !!
ALL PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
FEELING THE HEAT – !!
OR: MY SUMMER OF 2010 & THE UP-SIDE OF UNEMPLOYMENT – MORE TIME FOR CELEBRITY MAGAZINES & DAYTIME T.V. !!
OR: THE CELESTIAL – SIGNS – I HAVE SEEN !!
JOSH HARRIS – INTERNET GURU, FOUNDING C.E.O. OF JUPITER COMMUNICATIONS and PSEUDO.COM – & – STAR – OF – 2009 SUNDANCE WINNER – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – a kind of bio pic on his adventures in the internet bubble – and the hardcore gang of artists – he surrounded himself with . . .
JOSH HARRIS . . . LANDS BACK IN NYC – WILLIAMSBURG – AND IN SO DOING – ALONG THE WAY – SAVES ALFREDO MARTINEZ – A SORRY BROOKLYN NATIVE SON – IF THERE EVER WAS ONE – FROM THE BLACK HOLE OF SECRET PRISON DETENTION – IN CHINA.
JOSH & ALFREDO MAKE LIKE ANDY (WARHOL) and JEAN MICHEL (BASQUIAT) – TAKE ONE !!
but really all Josh wants to do is paint. now that his huge internet fortune has (pretty much) burst – along with the rest of that fun bubble – it seems he can no longer contract-out his painting ‘concepts’ – to Ethiopian street artisans – the Gilligan’s Island paintings that pop up in WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – and so, its hands-on !! for now !! but actually not without – still landing, as ever – on the proverbial – dot.
I probably might not have found these painting so interesting 10 years ago – but now – how time flies and things change – and voila – you couldn’t find a better cross – between evolutionary pictograms – and ‘MAD MEN’ retro chic !! you could just imagine them up there – on the background walls – of any one of those ‘MAD MEN’ sets with their vintage bric- a-brac and huge ceramic ash trays !! talk about retro color palettes.
but, it’s the evolutionary pictogram angle – ‘internet guru – me have message’ – that sets them apart. and makes them damn spooky. not to mention – popular culture signifiers.
First, if you ever watch any of those new daytime HISTORY CHANNEL science programs – that are now up-market geared to the new T.V. audience of over-educated under-employed at-home masses – like moi and perhaps vous – you know it’s a super great time to be watching science programs, esp those on archaeology, geology, astronomy, and yes, even – space travel !! and it’s no wonder – it’s these sciences that have been making the huge great amazing leaps. and it’s mostly because of the new hi-powered state-of-the-art hi-definition digital orbiting photography – beaming back. not only up-close images of way distant planets and stars – but helping us locate new archaeological data – such as immense pictograms – that can only be seen from aerial heights !! – carved into mountains on earth – that cannot be denied (and who made them ?) – and locating otherwise overgrown, eroded, and for centuries overlooked – and apparently absolutely accurate cosmically-aligned free-standing monuments – newly attributed to the Mayans, who are turning out to have been much more far-ranging travelers – than previously thought . . . and are now – the ‘it’ culture. in a kind of – spooky – proverbial – karma-like way – wouldn’t you know – in our very own historically overlooked-as-primitive cultural backyard – Mexico and the South Americas !!
Mexico – what a 21st century hot potato !!
of course. the fact that – aerial pictograms – in very contemporary-style graphics – of earth animals such as a spider and a pelican speak to – ‘outer-world-visitor-was-here’ – they can only be seen from a great height over the globe – as opposed to caveman pictograms that speak to the first humans – is freaky enough. but the Mayan texts, inscriptions, and monuments – which turn out to be 3-D pictograms – pointing to planetary alignments – like Stonehenge – absolutely parallel with pinpoint accuracy – the newest conclusions of the hardcore science – American astronomers !!
and, damn if those ancient MAYANS – weren’t right. according to the programs – the newest scientific data tells us – some kind of huge – cosmic event – which will greatly affect our planet – will result from a huge gravitational pull of a major celestial alignment – to occur – Dec 21, 2012. the very day the Mayan Long Calendar ends.
and Age of Aquarius aside – which is also tapped to occur that very same day – it doesn’t look to be shaping up to be – a nice new age Woodstock party – as much as it’s looking to be a huge global wipe-out. so big – they say – a gravitational pull on earth – that we are feeling the effects now. as in extreme weather. double dip recession. global gridlock. war. conflict.
factoring in the – Mayan take – it’s the end of their cyclical calendar – and, watch out. apart from the thought – that they might have been ‘visitors’ – and I’m inclined to agree – they were renown for their harsh world view – human sacrifice was aplenty – skulls tumbled down the steps of their temples – according to the early Spanish explorers – not to mention – I remember reading somewhere – that recently they found huge charnel houses, down there. for an artist – its very plain to see from their graphic inscriptions – and pictograms – that their culture was hard-edged, cruel and all about pretty much – just about war. I guess, well, what else is new. hello world. going all the way back to prehistoric times.
but very little poetry compared to say the earliest inscriptions of the playful Hindu culture. or the gentler Mother Earth lore of our Native Americans.
but, isn’t it – so fun – ironic – to find the ‘it’ ancient culture of the moment – in whose pinpoint observations – we now turn to for keys to the future – right here on this side of the globe – as opposed to all those previously way fawned-over Greek, Egyptian or even ancient Roman ruins – the previous fulcrum of all art history – so fought over and hoarded, in our museums.
Josh himself says the “paintings take about a week to do after much angst” . . . and aside from having titles like “dead mother” – he says “the paintings are an anamorphic representation of human consciousness that the singularity can process.” singularity – I think corresponds to the same primal ‘pictogram’ stick figure configuration found in each canvas. look it up – anamorphic means – “pertaining to gradual evolution from one type of organism to another” !! – so maybe we aren’t so off track. in linking his attempt – to primal code. artwise – think ZUNI . . .
of course Josh isn’t the the only art world mogul – feeling the heat – of the portending 2012 gravitational alignment !!
in today’s NEW YORK POST – real estate developer and big time art collector – ABY ROSEN – is outed for letting one of his properties – 400 PARK AVE. – go for the measly sum of $35 MILLION. he has been reported as having been caught in debt-driven financial straits on and off throughout the past year . . . but yikes. just $35 million – for a whole 21-story office building, in Manhattan !! a good Picasso at auction could net you more than that . . . what happened to the DAMIEN HIRST – shark or beef – in formaldehyde – tanks ? weren’t a couple of those supposed to net a sum close to that . . . guess not – or he wouldn’t be selling the building.
no wonder Deitch split the scene – to become a curator in la la land. not that I think Aby Rosen was a friend or even a client of Jeffrey’s – but Jeffrey obviously saw the writing on the wall – when these moguls hit the red side of the ledger books – it’s a sad bad day for the art scene. I’m not crowing – it’s bad. for us all. for the game in general. for the trickle down effect – to the people who make a living on the fringe – taking the pix and talking the talk- and – for the artists they collected in particular – who definite – look lame now, too.
see: ‘400 PARK GRABBED FOR $35M’/LOIS WEISS/NEW YORK POST – AUGUST 26, 2010
and then there’s newsprint mogul, INTERVIEW publisher, Andy Warhol pal, and major major art collector PETER BRANT – who seems to be a pretty nice guy – at least from a distance – fighting to keep his money and his sanity – in a huge messy hurtful mind spirit if not body-bashing divorce . . . from his wife of 15 years – and mother of his 3 youngest children – VICTORIA’S SECRET and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MODEL, PLAYBOY COVER GIRL model – STEPHANIE SEYMOUR. apparently the union was pretty real at the get-go and Mr. Brant did not get a pre-nup. the only up-side . . . Mr. Brant got into financial woes several, quite a several years back, that landed him a short stint in prison. the mainstream press, and some clueless bloggers – myself included – inferred from that – that he was a thief. he has gone on to say – notably in a recently published interview – that he was just stupid. guess what. a lot of people believe him on that, now !!
and in fact – he did recently sell, I believe at auction – a later Picasso for what – upwards of $20 maybe even $30+ million to shore up his businesses, lifestyle and I guess million dollar lawyer fees.
see: ‘DIVORCE CELEBRITY STYLE’/LAURA HOLSON/SUNDAY STYLES/THE NEW YORK TIMES/AUGUST 22, 2010
PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
EXCEPT FOR THE 2 NEWSPAPER SCANS
JOSH HARRIS and ALFREDO MARTINEZ – MAKE LIKE ANDY (WARHOL) and JEAN MICHEL (BASQUIAT) !!
UPON ALFREDO’S – SAFE RETURN – FROM A 3 MONTH DETENTION IN CHINA – AND A SWIFT 24 HR. DEPORTATION – BACK TO THE HOMELAND – OF – THE U.S.A. – AND – NEW YORK CITY !!
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN. SUN, AUG 15, 2010.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
OK . . . where to begin.
so, JOSH wants credit, and rightfully so, for putting out the initial – APB – ALL POINTS BULLETIN – alert that apparently saved Alfredo’s scruffy little 300+ lb. native Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican American neck !! yep the ENGER BROS – aka EXPLODING SKY – got it right – their friend was being held – in the dark, scary and creepy Chinese Prison system. and supposedly without anyone’s knowledge – !! it’s estimated by Alfredo that he was in there for approx 3 mos. and it was not looking to have a happy ending – any time soon. According to Alfredo – he was hauled off the streets – no reason was given – restrained, and deprivation-tortured, denied outside contact and kept literally in the dark – about where he was and how long he would be there. he was also told to keep his mouth shut about it – but since he is now out – here goes !!
back to the beginning. luckily Josh’s APB included Alfredo’s friend & patron in China – the so-called “rich kid” BYRON HAWES. and apologies to Mr. Hawes !! it seems anybody who can buy their own set of shoes – is termed a “rich kid” by Alfredo . . . anyways it turns out BRYON HAWES is a writer/contributor to TIME OUT MAGAZINE in CHINA and luckily besides being a huge fan of Alfredo’s artwork – he is diplomatically connected, in a way that Alfredo needed big time. Apparently he is the son of a former ambassador of Canada’s to China, and his mom was an ambassador to France (maybe) – or something like that – Alfredo also claims Byron dated the granddaughter of Chinese Premier DONG CHOU PING – but that’s another story for another time – anyways Byron, just like in the best B grade movies – knew exactly who to call to – to locate Alfredo, and surprise surprise, within a couple of hours of Byron’s well-placed phone call – Alfredo was unceremoniously deported and sent home – on a one-way flight on Quatar Airlines – courtesy of the Chinese government !! talk about a hot potato.
looking pretty weary, after his long flight, not to mention his black hole of a Chinese prison ordeal – Alfredo is happy to reunite with a New York Post – at Josh’s local headquarters in Williamsburg.
although you have to take everything Alfredo says with a grain of salt – he can spin as good as he can whip up a working gun from spare parts – a big part of the ‘hot potato’ problem – obviously. usually the weirdest parts of his stories – are the truest. at any rate – we had caught him – right upon arrival – not quite long enough for him to get rested enough to embellish any colorful details and – according to him – the facts were harsh enough to stand alone. He certainly looked shell shocked enough to support his claims of abduction, torture and illegal detention.
He thinks, or claims at any rate, that the whole thing was set-off by his rather arrogant statements regarding the handmade guns and weapons drawings that littered his hotel room – in a small rural area – in China – where he was a bonafide American artist-in-residence (hard to believe, but true) – that caused panic to the hotel maid – who in turn blew the whistle – that brought Alfredo an impromptu visit from the local cops. The ‘in-your-face-Chinese-cops-take-that’ exchange that played out, according to Alfredo’s macho telling – was repeated – verbatim – in that NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE – referenced in our preceding post – and that probably did not help !!
here’s that NEW YORK TIMES link again: “For China’s Western Expatriates…”
you can find Alfredo’s (notoriously stupid) quotes on the cop hotel visit – in the captions under his photo allotment – in the ‘more photos’ segment . . .
you can also evaluate for yourself – what the local Chines cops encountered. the fearfulness, awesomeness ? top drawer DIY skills ? hot potato for sure scale – of Alfredo’s gun making skills – in the pix posted in our previous post, ‘Where in the World is Alfredo’ ….
I would state that Alfredo’s gun making skills are self-taught – but he did tell me once he learned how-to – from guerillas in the South American jungle – so who knows – though I personally think, that was a small embellishment – but with Alfredo – trust me, you never know. I do know Alfredo’s gun making skills can come in handy. JIM JARMUSCH used him as the gun ‘consultant’ in his film – ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai’ (1999)
in fact, many of Alfredo’s friends saw him – in the title character played by the hulking and strange Forest Whitaker – though Jim has denied basing the character on Alfredo. but . . . many of the hand-made weapons that are bandied about in the film – are Alfredo’s handiwork, if not also his lumbering gait and shady, sketchy ? under-dog world view. to put in a kind word – yes, this the guy you would most want to be – beside you in a terror attack end-of-the world scenario. let’s leave it at that.
anyways – Alfredo says he was at his local rural internet cafe in China – and although he says yes he had overstayed his visa – that’s no problem – in China – you just pay a fee and life continues – that’s what he says – when he noticed the arrival of a very intimidating wave of all black-clad heavily armed extremely serious high level pumped-up big Chinese security force – in effect – a squat team – swarm the place. he was curious and drawn to the action – like a moth to a flame. when all of a sudden he realized – it was he – who was the object of the heavy-duty hunt – a burlap hood was thrown over his head – with no further ado, no warning, no questioning, no words. he was scared like he was never scared before and taken off – he knows not where, nor for how long. weeks. days. He was subjected to hi-tech hi-level deprivation torture. that is he was held in a cold cold small room – where he was strapped into a hard cold “stainless steel” chair … that … “looked like a Phillipe Stark design – if Phillipe Stark designed torture chairs” – he could laugh now – but being somewhat stouter than the average torture detainee, in China – they had to improvise restraining straps, he adds, but it was harsh. he was allowed no sleep. no movement. he had cramps and was harangued incessantly “to sign papers” and “squeal” on his “contacts” in China .. he says he kept saying he was just an artist and an American version at that – but that didn’t seem to go over too well. he said he truly feared for his life and this is the one fact I most certainly believe. he says being aware of the big gun power around him, their make, and even his “intellectual” knowledge of hi-level deprivation torture – did not make it any easier. he says he lost track of time . . . of how long he remained imprisoned there – in what he surmises was a high level high security secret detention center – till he was removed and driven away to a regular Chinese civilian detention center – where he was placed with . . . “you know, ordinary criminals like pick pockets . . . and the food was pretty good, well ok compared to the last place” – all in all, totaling almost 3 months of unlawful detention – as far as Josh can decipher from Alfredo’s last email – till he put the – APB.
it sure looks like Bryon Hawes, and Josh Harris saved Alfredo’s sorry Brooklyn ass . . . without Josh’s APB and definitely without that one well-placed (high-level we assume) diplomatic phone call of Bryon’s – Josh says, impressed: “Bryon knew exactly who to call” – Alfredo was looking to be eating mangy Chinese prison food – for the rest of his life. Once Byron made the call – it was less than 24 hrs and no questions asked – that Alfredo found himself on a one way ticket home.
now he just has to scramble, like rest of us among the sorry recession ruins of the 2010 NYC art scene !! welcome home – back to the real art world – Alfredo !! he got the most upset of the whole interview – when I asked him if he was eligible for food stamps.
Josh’s current digs, c/o Jeff Gompertz. the spare-to-bones – but wired – Josh Harris headquarters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. apparently, it’s funny to a lot of people, especially those who were at QUIET, or have seen WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – that Josh now finds himself in Williamsburg. and, why not / it’s pretty much the center of the world. or close enough. if you want to throw the near-by – Bushwick into the mix.
it’s basically – a nice empty loft space – with great light – on the top floor of a 5 story building – where Josh, ever the aspiring artist – for real – can paint. forget that internet guru bit. though his as yet un-realized project – the WIRED CITY – still seems to pop up in conversation.
one of Josh’s canvases.
another one. he says it takes about a week to realize – one.
I didn’t even know Josh knew how to stretch a canvas !!
the top floor place – has nice light coming in from the former ‘industrial’ use windows . . .
just in case you are wondering – a space like this – in the heart of currently super trendy Williamsburg – easily goes for about $2,500/mo.
you can look out – across the roof – past the East River to a bird’s eye view of midtown Manhattan !!
and sure enough, just in time to give credence to the claim that Williamsburg – is indeed the center of the world – or the center of all that really matters !! – in strolls – OBASH – !! – leader of the Iranian Ex-Pat band – the YELLOW DOGS !!
no surprise here – of course we knew him. in fact we caught the hard-driving band in one of their earliest NYC performances at the JASON GRUNWALD exhibit – closing party – they played along with SISTERS – at EASTERN DISTRICT – in Bushwick !! way back in March – March 21, 2010.
I’ve been meaning to get those pix up – maybe this will finally – seal the deal.
OK. I know – I’m about as good as Alfredo – with the real-time promises !!
and, sometimes – out of sheer stubborness – and maybe, hard times – I just like to keep the best pix – to myself.
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
T-SHIRT DESIGN & CONCEPT & PHOTO COURTESY: MATT ENGER/EXPLODING SKY
. . . the international search for ALFREDO MARTINEZ, who has been an artist-in-residence in China !! for the past several years which began last week, has been resolved. and MATT ENGER of EXPLODING SKY – called it right !! surprise, surprise, NOT !!
the week long search for Alfredo began last Sunday Aug 8, 2010 when – JOSH HARRIS, the star of SUNDANCE winner WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – sent out an intimate mass email asking if anybody had heard from Alfredo recently . . . apparently they have been regular email correspondents, and Josh had not heard from his old pal in a while. Alfredo made that huge big basement shooting gallery – equipped with real assault rifles – and a real movie props permit – to shoot them !! – featured in the film . . .
On Tuesday Aug 10, BYRON HAWES, who, the street buzz story relates as a “rich” kid with diplomatic connections who meet Alfredo in China a year or so ago – and had reportedly been his most recent collaborator and patron – and who now seems to be re-located in NYC – got in on the search . . and said he was also “a little concerned as well. . .” as he had not heard from Alfredo, either. in a long while.
Meanwhile, also on Tues Aug 10, 2010 – MATT ENGER of EXPLODING SKY – knowing Alfredo from way back – that is for at least 2 decades+ longer than Byron, and just about the same amount of time Josh has – jumped into the email game of search – with his take – the FREE ALFREDO t-shirt !!
looks like it doesn’t a take rocket science – to figure out what happened to Alfredo – already a convicted felon here in the USA for his notorious JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT scam of 2002 !! – that rocked the international art world of blue chip auction markets & “certificates of authenticity” – another story for another time !! – surprise surprise, NOT !! turns out MATT ENGER had his art world pal – down right !!
In his first email with the T-shirt image, dated Aug 10, 2010 12:16;33 PM EDT – MATT stated that “these shirts will be available on explodingskywear.com by this Sat nite Aug 14, 2010. all proceeds will be used to get Alfredo out of a Chinese Gulag (800. fine) and a ticket to the States (?). I suggest we fly him to L.A. with winter coming, it will be easier for him to survive and meet new friends.” ( I think Matt made up the gulag part ? esp the fine bit – and I’m pretty sure all proceeds will remain, LOL, at EXPLODING SKY !!
though you gotta put your hands together for Matt’s presentience – right on the mark !!)
though it took BYRON HAWES diplomatic connections to come up with the real nitty gritty.
this email from BYRON HAWES greeted me as I checked my email first thing this morning, it is dated AUGUST 12, 2010 1:28:03 AM EDT !!
“Just got off the phone with someone from the Consular Section of the US Embassy here, and they managed to locate Alfredo.
He’s been in custody here for a few weeks, and will be deported back to NYC the day after tomorrow (or thereabouts). Both the embassy and police have promised to let me know as soon as his flight arrangements have been finalized, and I will let you all know.
I spoke with Fredo, and he seems in pretty good spirits. In classic Fredo fashion he said the jail was quite comfortable, and that he has probably been eating them out of house and home. He laughed his big boisterous bear of a laugh for ages when I told him about your ‘free Alfredo’ t-shirts, Mark.” (sic) – (it was Matt who made ’em – oh well what can you do – Matt & Mark Enger – who are EXPLODING SKY – are identical twins – and its damn hard to tell anything about them apart – except that they are very touchy about their respective credits !!)
anyway – Byron concludes with “I’m going to meet him at the airport when he’s off (he apparently has no shoes, so I guess I’m going shopping). Updates forthcoming. B ”
ALFREDO MARTINEZ was profiled recently in the NEW YORK TIMES – in their big spread on EX-PATS in CHINA !!
see: ‘For Expatriates in China, Creative Lives of Plenty’ – by DAN LEVIN. Published Jan 8, 2010. THE NEW YORK TIMES
these 2 photos of ALFREDO – are in the accompanying photo ‘link’ . . .
the caption reads:
“While some expat artists find fame in China, others seek anonymity (sic). One afternoon in August 2007 the Beijing police burst into ALFREDO MARTINEZ’S hotel room, which was filled with drawings of guns and bombs, and demanded to know if he was a terrorist. The maid had found the sketches, which looked very much like blueprints, and the hotel alerted the authorities.” PHOTO BY MIKA MATTILA
“Mr. Martinez, a 6-foot-2-inch, 300 pound Brooklyn native, stood his ground. ‘You idiots,’ he said. ‘I’m an artist. Either artist me or get out.’ The men in uniform left, but Mr. Martinez, 43, did not. Today he remains in Beijing, spending time at a 24 hour Internet cafe and squatting ata friend’s countryside hut, where he assembles models of assault rifles and draws weapons on paper.” PHOTO BY SHIHO FUKADA/THE NEW YORK TIMES
so, just in case you are just joining us !!
~ here’s a brief summary of ALFREDO’S BASQUIAT CAPER !! as first reported by artnet !!
see: FBI BAGS PURPORTED BASQUIAT FORGER/6/25/02 !!
~ a quick pictorial flashback to the JOSH HARRIS / PSEUDO DOT.COM / QUIET GLORY – DAYS !!
JOSH HARRIS (center) and ALFREDO MARTINEZ (at right) – when they strode the streets of downtown NYC – as the kings – they were – of the underground art scene – supported by Josh’s multi-million dollar, as in $86 million !! – internet gold pile, (Josh founded and IPO’d – JUPITER COMMUNICATIONS – the very first internet trend tracking company – for those of you who read the business pages !!). and yes !! they ruled !! this was the start of QUIET – Josh’s million dollar Millennium party – later to become the starting point of Ondi Timoner’s Sundance winning (2009) WE LIVE IN PUBLIC. This photo footage was taken in Dec 1999 – as QUIET was just evolving from the seed of an idea, a distraction to offset Josh’s chagrin – that his girlfriend had taken off to go skiing in Aspen without him !! – to the full-blown mind-boggling party and first 24/7 live streaming surveillance internet all-artist, as in hard-core artist, not Bravo baby-steps artist !! – ‘reality’ show – mother of them all !!
PHOTO COURTESY: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC
ALFREDO MARTINEZ (center) designed, built and ran – the QUIET shooting gallery featured in the film. He acquired all the legal permits to run it as a movie ‘prop’ with all the necessary safety regulations. anyone could come in and learn to shoot – assault rifles, real ones of course. under supervision, of course. and everyone did !!
PHOTO COURTESY: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC
see: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – THE MOVIE / OFFICIAL WEBSITE !!
NANCY SMITH. since people always ask me – here is the earliest photo I could find – of me – when I first hooked up with Alfredo – some time pre-1999. in the streets of Soho. I did his p.r. and helped him build his guns and papier-mached the big pieces on paper – for his early shows. I had met him at an early Mariko Mori show – and was willing to work for trade of (his) artwork – so there ya go !! the galleries would also kick in, sometimes several thousands of $$ – to make sure my organizational skills – kept the shows on track !! it was Alfredo who brought me to Josh – when Josh wanted to buy a mint condition historically important – Early American quilt for a pal’s wedding present – and the rest is history. I guess. I actually brought him a Mennonite antique wool Log Cabin quilt – from the 1880’s !! (it cost $5,000 at the time.) I even remember Josh’s first words on learning about those early American quilts – “are you telling me – this is a spiritual artifact ?” Josh was nothing – if he wasn’t a quick study !! you guys – still really haven’t caught up to him !!
PHOTO: VALERIA
(note: I’m clutching the protective pouch – of my just beginning-to-be ubiquitous 35mm camera !! which my friend Valeria – had used to take the photo.)
~and, more to the point:
below are some pix Alfredo sent me last year or so, from China. I believe they were taken in the heyday of his time with BYRON HAWES – !! though no credit was given for the photographer.
meanwhile, closer to home – MATT BUA has an ‘organic’ site specific art project – installation/event – going on upstate !! in the Catskills !! and, most strikingly – it’s in the shape of a cat !! a big cat, a bobcat !!
it’s an open-to-all ground-root’s up – “people’s museum” !!
. . . “a handmade People’s Museum has been constructed in Catskill, NY in the form of a lounging bobcat using discarded tree branches and cut offs from local mills. The interior of this over-sized Lynx Rufus houses a collection of materials and displays celebrating the people, stories and history of the Catskill Mountains. Content for displays are collected from both historical organizations and the surrounding community. The museum has a unique focus of seamlessly blending the stories, visions and personal collections of residents with the voices of historians The folk legends, urban myths and favorite, almost forgotten tidbits on display make this new public space a place to soak in what this area is really all about.
Do you you have a favorite story your grandfather told you ? An old photo of the state that you really like ? A memory of a building that once stood ? . . . A vision of the future ? Bring it ! Tell it !”
you can see & read more of Matt’s “new museum”, as well as go back thru his initial sketches, thoughts and research,
here: bobcathouse.blogspot.com !!
MATERIAL COLLECTION DAY: SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2010 / noon – 3 PM !!
when – you can get a sneak preview of the town’s newest museum – and make sure to bring your OWN !! local stories, ideas, books, xeroxed notes of interest, photos and artifacts to add to the museums growing collection . . .
THE OPENING DAY – CELEBRATION – WILL TAKE PLACE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2010 / noon to 6 PM !!
you can find a map to the area here: THE CATAMOUNT PEOPLE’S MUSEUM !!
p.s. this calls for another – little flashback – from the artlovers’ archives !!
the very first time we encountered MATT BUA was at a funny great show in the summer of 2005 !!
it was called – SASQUATCH SOCIETY !!
MATT BUA – beside his ‘collective’ piece (made with JESSE BERKOWETZ) – it’s the crazy wooden hand-built framed canvas to his right – in the background !! SASQUATCH SOCIETY, Sixtyseven, Chelsea, NYC.
opening night reception, JULY 28, 2005.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
in fact, here’s the link to the report: GOOD-BYE TO SUMMER 2005 !!
it’s only a short 5 years ago, but how things have changed !! – but, it’s a definite fun trip back – !!
and yeah, even there among the bigfoots – you can find some seeds – to this summer of 2010’s hand-made ‘wood-based’ – harvest !!
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
and in a funny reverse –
FREE LIFE CENTER – A TOURING – MODULE DIY – ART INSTALLATION by MARK WARREN JACQUES & SETH NEEFUS !!
out of PORTLAND, OREGON !!
OPENS – AT NEEDLES & PENS – in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA !! TO-NITE – FRI AUG 6, 2010 / 7-10 pm !!
with musical performances by PIONEER, TEMPIST FUGIT & OLD FRIEND as well as VALERIE GEORGE !!
check out: the NEEDLES & PENS website for the details !!
the show runs thru AUGUST 31, 2010.
also most def !! check out the FREE LIFE CENTER website – !! – which features a quick-time video of the FREE LIFE CENTER going up, at a previous gig – along with some great banjo-sounding gui-tar strumming – !!
see: FREE LIFE CENTER !!
from the NEEDLES & PENS press release:
“MARK WARREN JACQUES and SETH NEEFUS are two Portland-based artists embarking on a dream. Free Life Center houses their optimism and creativity, and you are invited to join them as they take their mobile art center on a nomadic journey.
Inspired by the community of free thinkers around them , they bring knowledge of earthy spirituality and simplicity to encourage others to share the ‘free life’ through hosting an experience of music, art, skillshare, storytelling, and creativity.
Free Life Center is a large scale freestanding installation crafted from salvaged building materials. the one-room structure emanates the artists’ homespun aesthetic and their commitment to a high level of DIY craftsmanship. The construction is modular (built in sections) and can be adapted to suit a variety of configurations along their journey, whether it is a traditional gallery space or a site-specific event outdoors.
These vagabond dreamers will host community events, musical performances, workshops, drawing parties, and more within the walls of the Free Life Center at all stops along their Art-tour starting in June 2010. From the structure itself, to the art, inspiration, collaborations and experiences of their newest project, mark and Seth hope to spread ideas that can lead to a more healthy, happy, and creative free life.” – Leslie Miller, Pacific Northwest College of Art
HEADS UP !!
YACHT PLAYS THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT/NYC – TO-NITE – FRI AUG 6, 2010 – at 8 PM !!
ADMISSION FREE – IN AN OPEN AIR CONCERT – PRESENTED BY THE RIVER TO RIVER FESTIVAL !!
we first caught the awesome YACHT – aka JONA BECHTOLT !! – out of Portland, Oregon – when he played at CINDERS – way back in 2007 – !!- SAT APRIL 14, 2007 – to be specific.
it was an amazing night – the other band up – was the also awesome beyond belief: TELEPATHE out of Brooklyn !!
the artwork on the wall was by art collective – SPACE 1026 – out of PHILLY !! no kidding the night rocked !!
art + music = BELIEVE IN ME !!
here are some archival pix – from the night !!
YACHT = aka JONA BECHTOLT – says hi – just before he goes on “stage” !!
there was just enough time for him to show us some of his recent CD releases . . .
some of which included or featured – some of his own far-out intense artwork !!
more – early CD artwork by YACHT !!
onstage – YACHT – was a one-man – explosion of energy, word, and song !!
it got hot – in the small CINDERS storefront gallery. real quick . . . the place was packed.
SPACE 1026 – out of Philly – artwork on the wall.
CINDERS co-founder KELIE BOWMAN at the small venue – but super intense, out-size YACHT performance !!
among the for-sale offerings – on the CINDERS bookshelf that night . . .
BRIAN CHIPPENDALE’S – BIG HARD COVER COMIC BOOK !!
and CINDERS co-founder – STO’s limited edition print – ‘BELIEVE IN ME’ !!
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH. NYC, APRIL 14, 2007
see: the original post: YACHT / TELPATHE at CINDERS !!
see: the post on YACHT’S CD artwork !!
see: YACHT on MYSPACE !!
so, yep here is the MOMA – MUSEUM OF MODERN ART NYC – BROCHURE OF EVENTS FOR JULY 2010 !! – starring JOSH HARRIS !!
in the see-thru custom built – community !! – shower – he had designed and built for QUIET – the Pseudo Millennium Party – featured in WE LIVE IN PUBLIC !!
(and ya, you better believe there were a plenty of live action camera feeds – directed on that baby.
you coudld watch the action, 24/7 – in the bubble dining room – in real time !!
and yah, I took showers in it – but alone – and, with a huge fleece blanket wrapped around me !!)
it had huge hot water aplenty – unlike Josh’s multi-million dollar custom-built Broadway at Spring St. loft !! but, that’s another story !!
THE BIG QUESTION: does Josh finally feel – like he’s being taken – seriously – for – a bonafide artist – ala JEFF KOONS and DAMIEN HIRST – ?? – gracing the MOMA brochure thus – instead of the C.E.O. of a ‘fake’ company – let alone the “biggest internet guru – you’ve never heard of” – !!
hope so !! and yo, Josh – try to remember your pals on the way, up. as if !!
ok, if you are truly on a shoestring collecting budget – there is still plenty of opportunity to score !!
name one place? MY PLASTIC HEART – 210 FORSYTH – in the Lower East Side – almost right next door, if not exactly next door to the HALF GALLERY & right around the corner from the LANDMARK SUNSHINE MOVIE THEATRE !!
where they seem to have plenty of MATT SIREN – GHOST GIRLS – at $45 a pop !!
and in an amazing ‘right on’ range of colors.
the black head, on the right – that’s the way the MATT SIREN – GHOST GIRL looks – inside the package !!
it’s the very last few days to catch the current featured show – here’s a little sampling.
‘Slippery Slope’ by Robots Will Kill (RWK).
mixed media, 11 x 14 in. ($150).
‘I AM THE FUTURE’ – Dacosta !!
digital print on archival stock, 13 x 19 in.
detail, ‘I AM THE FUTURE’ – Dacosta.
‘Billi Kid Sinatra Stencil’ – by Billi Kid
spray paint & stencil on wood. 12 x 12 in.
more MATT SIREN – GHOST GIRL boxes – line the wall.
talk ’bout color range – would be hard-pressed – to choose a box !!
and love love the graphics. the lay-out. the font. the shadows. and, the muted off-colors !!
apparently, I’m not the only one with a ‘make a choice’ dilemma !!
ALL ABOVE PHOTOS – COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
. . . and opening – this FRIDAY – JULY 30, 201O !!
‘CHAPTER ONE – THE CONFRONTATION – ROHBY VS PHU’ – !!
the show runs JULY 30 – AUGUST 13, 2010 !!
check out: MY PLASTIC HEART !! NYC !!
ANNE EASTMAN has really got her ‘mobile’ art – down. it still might be beyond the reach of most of ya – but that’s your problem. and at $4,000. (!!) – it’s a no-brainer, probably the sleeper of the season.
ANNE EASTMAN, ‘The Importance of Doing Nothing’, 2009.
Iridescent plexi mobile, wood frame, stretched fabric. 24 x 24 x 24 in. ($4,000)
BILL BRADY/ATM GALLERY – 542 West 24th St – up thru July 23, 2010.
also at ATM – in the back room: PETER SUTHERLAND, ‘Ice Cream and Tacos’, 2010. two different looping videos . . .
and don’t miss the small TOMOO GOKITA, in the office !!
across the street, a big ROY LICHTENSTEIN offering – brought the desire to get back to ATM, and re-check that ANNE EASTMAN mobile out again !!
ROY LICHTENSTEIN, ‘STILL LIFES’, up till JULY 30, 2010 – GAGOSIAN GALLERY, 555 W. 24th St.
also on the way to check out the Lichtenstein show – JOE BRADLEY with his new baby son, BASIL, and baby mama VALENTINE !!
later on 23rd St – NATE LOWMAN.
and, MELISSA BROWN.
. . . they were on their way to the opening of ‘Shred’ at Perry Rubenstein – where we caught, for the first time, the elusive, but mighty talented BRIAN DOUGLAS aka ELBOW-TOE !!
he was way happier hanging out with fans – than being photographed !! no kidding.
but his piece was really great.
BRIAN DOUGLAS (ELBOW-TOE), ‘Bears’, 2010. cut paper glued on birch panel.
35 x 48 in. ($12,000.)
the show also featured a nice SHEPARD FAIREY .
SHEPARD FAIREY, ‘Big Brother is Watching You’, 2010, retired stencil, mixed media on paper.
44 x 30 in. ($20,000.)
though I preferred the SWOON offering, ‘HELICOPTER’, 2010.
screenprinting on collaged paper with handpainting. 73 x 52 in. ($14,000.)
esp the access to checking out the collage work !!
along the border edges of the piece.
and the draftsmanship of the screenprinting.
‘Shred’ was curated by CARLO McCORMICK and runs thru AUGUST 27th at PERRY RUBENSTEIN on 23rd St.
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH