LIO MALCA – the anti-JOSH !! – in the news !!
you gotta love it !! life, as in – real-world – truth – is always way better than fiction !!
you couldn’t make this stuff up – in your wildest dreams. so, yes – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC, or what !!
some background: LIO MALCA is the guy who bought Josh’s Spring St. loft when Josh’s web bubble burst and he went belly-up – and Malca still lives there. LIO MALCA is also famous – as a footnote character – in the WE LIVE IN PUBLIC annals – as he is the collector who dropped the dime on the ALFREDO MARTINEZ phony BASDQUIAT CAPER – after a brief trial – the feds sent Alfredo away to the big house for 2 years !! on interstate wire fraud charges.
much thanks to CHARLIE FINCH for the heads-up !!
FILE THIS UNDER: what goes around – comes around.
as per: COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE – MONDAY FEB 8, 2010 – LIO MALCA SUES KATZUHITO YOSHII for $500,000+ OVER A ‘BORROWED’ BASQUIAT !!
JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT – ‘Untitled (Football Helmet)’ – the piece in dispute.
PHOTO COURTESY/COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE – ‘COLLECTOR SUES GALLERY OVER BASQUIAT’ – by SARAH HULL 02/08/2010 Manhattan (CN)
“An art collector claims a Manhattan gallery owner said he wanted to [borrow] a Basquiat painting to show it “to his family,” then sold it for $300,000 without permission. Lio Malca sued Katzuhito Yoshii and his Yoshii Gallery in New York County Court.
Malca claims the gallery at 980 Madison Ave. [uptown] sold his Jean Michel Basquiat artwork known as ‘Untitled (Football Helmet) which Yoshii had in bailment. Malca says he did not consign the work to the gallery, and it was ‘not offered as collateral against any debts,’ but was merely on loan to defendant Yoshii as a favor.
Malca claims that while Yoshii had the piece he offered to sell it to the gallery but Yoshii refused to pay the asking price of $300,000.
A few days later, Malca says, he asked for the art back, but the gallery told him it had been sold “without title”. Malca says he demanded that the gallery ‘return the artwork immediately,’ without success.
He demands damages for breach of duty as bailee, conversion, and fraud, and wants the art back or $500,000 (the “actual value of the piece”). Malca is represented by Larry Kramer with Kramer & Pollack of Mineola.
LIO MALCA – attends the opening of ‘Furniture & Architecture by Jean Prouve’ at SONNABEND GALLERY, NYC.
Feb 22, 2003.
PHOTO BY NANCY SMITH
KATZUHITO YOSHII – attends the PHILIPS CONTEMPORARY ART PREVIEW, NYC. Oct 22, 2002.
PHOTO BY NANCY SMITH
that’s so – NYC vs. LA in a nutshell – circa WINTER 2010 – 2 collectors, former partners, when I first encountered them – at each other’s throats over overpriced – decades old blue chip art now – Basquiats – and, neither of them known for their patronage. these guys are really ‘art’ bankers in the truest and saddest sense – are in the news here – while colorful and celebrated collector ELI BROAD is headlining the news out of LA !! at least Mr. BROAD is a known as a very far-reaching, influential trend-setting collector – a very generous patron of the contemporary arts, as well as a major philanthropist – albeit one with an “an iron checkbook” !! hey, from where I sit in NYC – a control freak patron is still better than a bunch of uninspired, one might even say, shifty couple of art bankers.
see: ELI BROAD – IRON CHECKBOOK SHAPES CULTURAL LOS ANGELES – JENNIFER STEINHAUER, Feb 7, 2010 – ART & DESIGN/NEW YORK TIMES !!
the thing is just how much the $$ bubble burst for the downtown art scene rebels when the bubble burst for JOSH. the sudden dead-end impact – couldn’t be more illuminated than the contrast between JOSH HARRIS and the man who bought his loft on Spring St – and, at a fire sale price I am sure – LIO MALCA. that’s why we called Lio – the anti-Josh !! (as in anti-Christ, get it ?)
Josh could also be an asshole – don’t get me wrong – I am the one who introduced the buyer Lio Malca to Josh – and they both stiffed me on the finder’s fee or any form of minimal commission – for the hook-up on a 2 million+ sale, and in very hard economic conditions – for Josh. but Josh was a patron, a true inspired independent-minded art patron – and the most amazing one that I know of so far. ok so he blew out on his tech side – but whiel the money flowed Josh fueld an art scene that was so wild – and far reaching – it became the subject of a documentary that stormed SUNDANCE – you know – that little SUNDANCE 2009 GRAND JURY PRIZE winner – WE LIVE In PUBLIC !! not only did Josh not to want to buy dead art, or even blue-chip art – he didn’t even want ya – if you were in a gallery or written up by the low-ceiling mainstream art press – Josh wanted pure juice – 100% alive and kicking. He did buy art for investment – he bought art – as part his own ‘art project ‘ – if you can follow that – a concept that went and still goes over many people’s heads !! for the artists on the scene at that time, and probably for all time going forward – this was the absolute ideal situation. a totally freak-ed inspired patron – a web visionary and internet guru no less – who paid you – and, big $$ well – to create on a huge scale – and you still !! got to keep most of the product – the product – to sell to someone else. (He did buy a few choice pieces from most of the artists – that he promptly put into storagae – he bought 2 watercolors from me, apart from shooting me his credit card for some pretty worthy antique American quilt purchases !!) but he was not into buying art for investment – his fever was all about the creative mode – in real time !! – and that was worth the $$ underwriting – and in fact – he was was kind of skeptical of it ever turning a return big bucks – at least back then, in his heart of hearts.
ok. click to the present. contrast that to ELI BROAD – one: his collecting is stale. I mean compared to Josh who – was of the absolute moment. two: his collecting begins with gallery and so-called critical ‘authentication’. three: his buying power speaks to institutions – note any similar rants, like mine to Josh – in his favor – bubbling up from the contemporary artists in LA & as a further indicator of his staleness on this level – he has to import JEFFREY DEITCH from NYC – to spark things up – he has fallen so far behind the curve – on that front, and lastly, four: just how much his headset is old school investment – he renegened on giving his collection away to the institutions he supported and now is creating a ‘lending library’. LOL.
but the contrast between JOSH HARRIS and LIO MALCA was brutal. I’m not the only one who used to pass by that former Broadway & SPRING ST loft – home of many parties and cry. unlike Josh who turned the tap on – LIO turned it off. and his kind of M.O. is pretty much indicative of the NYC collector head-set that has the downtown art scene is so bone dry and lonely – ever since. LIO was not a patron. I don’t even think you could really call him a collector. He is really an pencil pusher. an art investment banker for super rich people who want to create a diverse portfolio – one that aside from being more portable than the equivalent in gold bars – is , or was !! easily converted to liquid cash in a low profile way – and – that hopefully gains in value as well. the deal is Malca is supposed to buy them guaranteed no-lose positions. Kind of like the Mugrabis – except that family aspires to a higher profile as ‘cutting edge’ collectors – but, who really only buy a few proven (and for all accounts and purposes – art wise – dead) formulas. such as BASQUIAT, HARING, WARHOL, DAMIEN HIRST. Malca only bought WARHOLS and BASQUIATS – and, apparently – as this little legal matter – between Lio and Yoshii attests to – the whole game became way-over-wrought and over-priced. their little corner of the art market has declined at least 30% in market value to boot, obviously adding to the public tension – and they probably have some very heavy-duty people calling in with big time gripes !! YIKES !!
but who’s crying for those guys, and their shadowy clients !! not I. their M.O is much worse than lousy advice and greed – it corrupts the art scene absolutely.
what they don’t get – is it that their lack of patronage, insight – and inspiration – eats at the very roots of their sand castles. you’ve got to trickle down some of that play dough – to the truly kickin’ artists, and their grassroots gallerists – on the scene in the moment – in real time – to keep up the interest in the value of their predecessors. period. art 101.
so it was a big big hurt for the Josh Harris crew – to see this kind of art ‘banker’ installed in Josh’s loft – formerly filled with the stuff of the moment – now home to rotting and over-priced HARINGS and BASQUIATS. and if you worked for him, which I did as a representative of Josh’s in turning over the loft in working order to Lio’s liking – he paid you under $10 a hr and made you feel like a dog – while doing so. I guit. and never looked back. Alfredo tried to rip him. end of story.
summation: JOSH vs LIO. round one. JOSH bankrolled you and made you feel like a king. like being an artist – was the ultimate extreme sport. LIO bankrolled dead but certified artists and made you feel like a dog. JOSH vs LIO round two. WE LIVE IN PUBLIC sweeps SUNDANCE with the breath and vitality of his insight and vision – LIO ends up suing his former partner YOSHHII in a sleazy case of theft over an over-priced art object by a long dead artist – that has lost significant market value. (Lio and Yoshii were partners – in buying art – when I first crossed paths with them.
slight factual adjustment: ok. so Lio also sometimes, and very stingily as in, not too often – used to take baby steps and actually did buy new art. case in point. He bought some early TAYLOR McKIMENS from the CLEMINTINE GIRLS – way back when Taylor was doing those awful DONALD BAECHLER hamburgers !! when when Taylor came out with the first of the DRIPS !! family – Lio stopped in his baby step new art tracks. The amazin’ ‘DRIPS! – went right straight over his ledger markin’ head.
oh the beauty of lost opportunity . . . and woefully miscast characters.
full circle: Josh’s old loft on BROADWAY – corner of SPRING in Soho. Lio Malca bought it, fire sale – when Josh’s empire went belly-up.
that’s it – the floor-thru loft – on the 2nd floor over the store. you can just see – the head of one of Lio’s (dead) art trophies in the window. but the space is surely full of ghosts – in Ondi’s documentary – the inner WE LIVE IN PUBLIC section – where Josh records his time with TANYA – with over 60 motion sensitive hard wired interactive web cameras – even in the bathroom, and on the cat litter – !! – takes place in this exact space. it was home to many many parties – some gracious – Josh loved Grapa !! some totally over-the-top and wild – too wild to even speak of !! ask Leo Koenig !!
oh that black day, when Josh’s name came down – and Lio’s went up – on the intercom !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~LIO MALCA (the anti-Josh) SUES YOSHII !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | February 9th, 2010, 3:05pm
spurred on by the success of ONDI TIMONER – who seems to have BILL GATES – aka “the richest man in the world” – as her new BFF !! – beat that – all you losers !! – I recently happened to pass by the old stomping grounds on downtown Broadway – deep in the heart of Tribeca.
this was the site of QUIET – the million dollar+ millennium party – that JOSH HARRIS and PSEUDO.COM threw – to celebrate the turn of the century – and which fueled the core of ONDI TIMONER’S SUNDANCE winning documentary – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC.
The four story warehouse building housed the Japanese style pod or bunker hotel for the 99+ live-in artists, and in the basement – was the ALFREDO MARTINEZ shooting gallery. this building was in constant flux on the other floors – with free-flowing ‘disco’ bars, art installations, and dance floors – not to mention light shows, live sex shows, chess tournaments, interactive games, and even a Toxic room – popping up and going down – just as fast. Josh’s will put it up and Josh’s will took it down. . it was breathtaking to watch the transitions and differing visions. not to mention the competing artistic egos. it was a huge futuristic shock. open to the public 24/7. all wired by omnipresent motion-sensitive cameras for 24/7 surveillance and digitally delivered and projected onto the multi-present screens, also placed everywhere – in real time, and uncensored. you could be eating in the ‘bubble’ dining room and watch Josh, or some pretty uninhibited others – prance fully naked – and wet – in the transparent shower that dominated the last half of the floor-thru pod hotel. you could be in your pod, and according to your temperament elect to catch a close-up of someone else having live sex in their pod – or watch an artist installation take shape a few floors above !! it was sheer creative chaos – with no boundaries – that roamed the absolute !! full specter of human being-ness !! – with blazing futuristic insight and defining predelection. it was at a once perfect insight, blatant imagination meets bankrolled construction – everything was possible – no holds barred – both elegant and raunchy – in sum: the total human experience. circa DEC 1999 – JAN 2000. downtown artworld rebels meet internet geek with a million bucks to blow – who likes to par-tay hearty !! and all take off. it was like the buildings were a self-contained space ship.
the smaller 2 story building to its right – housed the ‘bubble’ communal dining room – for the resident artists and the in-house production crew – complete with an asian 4 star chef – masterminded by OWEN BUSH. serving 3 meals a day. upstairs was the administration, make that Josh’s – offices.
this little storefront schmatta shop – with its many rolls of remnants was what the whole 4 story warehouse building was like – when we first got there, that’s where we got all the fab black fabric, reams of festive red velvet, and everybody’s fave: camo, that draped various stages of the ever-changing and very much put-up on the spot with what ya got – installation . . . that’s where I got the white fleece segments that became the Quiet banners, next to Alfredo’s shooting gallery, and Cal’s Vampire headquarters and video games. not to mention – the ‘interrogation’ room.
the first thing that was done – was a crew painted the walls white, or black !! and then attacked the designated space – with all those fabric rolls – with relish. one of the first areas to go up – the ultra-cheesy live sex shows ‘competition’ – area – 70’s style swanky bordello-era beds – in rolls and rolls of red velvet and M.C. LUVVY – aka JOSH HARRIS – overseeing the action. ONDI’S final version, skewed mightly towards the internet guru aspect – was sooo censored – as to be almost a joke to those who were there for – all the fun and games. there was so much going on at all times – you could pick and choose your niche of comfort – from hauling off in Alfredo’s modernist, make that futurist plexiglas and metal-domed shooting range with real life assault rifles to ALEX ARCADIA’s half-nazi half-meditation temple with its piped-in trance-inducing music to its tiny copper goldfish swimming in a moat on its perimeter. it was violent, it was sweet, it was archival, it was mad max – above all, it was what you could personally stomach.
and there was no rock left unturned. I was supposed to put up a quilting bee – but got run around so much as Josh’s personal right-hand production assistant – that the banners and some make-shift paper lanterns – were the most I had time to devise as my own contribution to this hard-wired time capsule of Americana gone wild.
a field day of red velvet, ‘camo’ and ‘flowery fields’ meet head-on nonstop with the cameras, computers, and plexiglas !!
antique pieced quilts met red velvet live sex shows in the storefront display windows.
yeah the neighbors complained – the live sex in the in display windows – that was the first gig – to get censored.
photographer DONNA FERRATO. she lived, and still does, just around the corner on Leonard St. she heard about the QUIET party – it made huge headlines in all the press, and local mags – except the mainstream art press !! LOL. as if we could be surprised by that. but hey, JEFFREY DEITCH was there almost daily. as was ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST, and ALANA HEISS.
she was in there like a dirty shirt and she’s the one who took most of the hard copy documentary pix !!
PHOTO: DONNA FERRATO/COURTESY: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC
it was DONNA FERRATO who took this photo of me and my kid Theo, back in the early days of QUIET – when JEFF GOMPEERTZ had just finished building the pod hotel. you know there had to be a kid – it was all about the future. you can see the wiring for the ‘reality’ surveillance cameras and the mini-format multi-channel play-back screens. this was before the pod-hotel, devolved into a wild no-holds barred, and some say professionally-stocked – full-on orgy.
computer nerd that he was – Josh was fascinated by animalistic behavior (body) as much as he was fascinated and inspired by the ‘fine’ arts (mind) . . . it was all about skills … and lust !! sometimes Josh walked around as Josh the founder/CEO of Pseudo, overseeing the various stages of construction and deconstruction, handing out his credit card so freely – it was impossible to keep track of – sometimes he M.C.’d as his over-the-top alter ego – LUVVY. but often I think, he also went incognito in a strange kind of hunter’s headpiece – that completely obscured his true identity, esp in the pod hotel’s very raunchy sex free for all ending. just a good guess.
how raunchy did things get, you ask ? DONNA FERRATO’S got the pix !!
and she’s about the only with the goods, too. you go girl.
following 2 images from the pod hotel at QUIET, NYC.
DEC 1999 – JAN 2000 – subject archival photographs by DONNA FERRATO.
and you didn’t see them in WE LIVE IN PUBLIC the film – or at least the version that Ondi put out at SUNDANCE !!
this is performance artist MANGINA, aka PATRICK BUCKLEW, and yes – he really does have a peg leg – though the mangina – LOL – is fabricated. a couple of us got the first over-the-top and very raw – absolutely uncensored version – of WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – as gifts from Josh – -including moi !! maybe one day, I’ll screen it for ya !!
stocked with professionals – I think the consensus would be …
yes !!
leaving Donna’s Tribeca loft, I make a mental note to get her to show me the pix she has of the NYPD and NYFD / NEW YORK POLICE and NEW YORK FIRE DEPT – finally – shutting the place down – and, can’t help but note the footprint of silkscreen artist to the internet guru – MARK ENGER – aka – EXPLODING SKY – another key creative force in the JOSH HARRIS inner circle – on the exit door. MARK made the custom luvvy-logoed WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – jacket – that Josh is seen proudly sporting in many of the taped media interviews – that followed the big win at SUNDANCE 2009.
a bit further north on Broadway, corner of SPRING St. in Soho – was Josh’s personal 2nd floor-thru luxury loft – where he was to within a year of QUIET – turn the 24/7 motion-sensitive cams on himself and girlfriend TANYA – in the initially first-titled – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – a project that was live-streamed in an interactive format – that was obviously – way ahead of its time. It inadvertently caught both the loss of his dot com millions, and his girlfriend, or his attempt to make a fake girlfriend look like the real thing (??) – and essentially – the loss of his mind. some said at the time – – that’s what happens when a tech visionary and futuristic guru spends too much time with them wild outlaw artists !! maybe it was just an inevitable end of what is now referred to as – the bubble decade – but whatever it was, no one can deny – what a way to blow-out. no one has bested it yet.
Collector Lio Malca bought the place – was it the summer of 2002 ? Josh retreated full-time to his Apple Orchard up-state – and, where the opening footage in the film – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – takes place.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH – unless otherwise noted.
~QUIET/WE LIVE IN PUBLIC UP-DATE !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | February 9th, 2010, 12:21pm
BILL GATES of MICROSOFT & BING – WITH ONDI TIMONER – the first ever – 2 time winner – of BEST DOCUMENTARY – GRAND JURY PRIZE/SUNDANCE – for
DIG! (2004) and WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009) !! – at PARK CITY, UTAH for SUNDANCE 2010.
ONDI WRITES:
we are thrilled to announce the imminent Video-on-Demand and DVD release of WE LIVE In PUBLIC – on MARCH 1st and MARCH 2nd respectively !!
we are planning a ‘honking’ multi-city event on MONDAY MARCH 1st – to kick it off in which all of the various gatherings are connected via internet video streaming !!
The film will play simultaneously in each location and end at the same time so that the post-screening Q+A session with Ondi & Josh, and all the parties nationwide can be linked via a live interactive webcast on our site, weliveinpublic.com. That’s right !! you will be on live video in public – connecting with cities across America – to discuss living in public !!
in LA or VANCOUVER ? Report to the screening at 6PM. Denver ? You’re at 7PM. Chicago, that puts you at 8 PM and New York, we’re starting you at the still-reasonable 9 PM. Milwaukee and Atlanta are making noise about joining in on the fun as well. We’ll send out another announcement with screening/party details for each city as soon as the plans firm up – if you want to help organize a simulcast screening in YOUR town on March 1 – contact us at: coordinator@interloperfilms.com or call the office: 1-626-296-0068.
As it stands, we have fire dancers and preternaturally flexible performers – as well as pods ready to be lived !! in for that night – all to help us festoon the whole affair in Chicago, the hub city of our March 1st festivities !! Our partners-in-crime GRAVITAS VENTURES – who are putting WE LIVE In PUBLIC – out through WARNER BROS. and INDIEPIX – published a l’il press release about the whole thing … check it out: GRAVITAS VENTURES & INDIE PIX PRESENT !!
as well: you can pre-order the WE LIVE IN PUBLIC DVD on our website, and also buy some cool swag – in the form of your very own WLIP t-shirt or an official poster for a mere 20 bucks !! We are offering a LIMITED TIME ONLY 15% PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT on the DVD – so go get ’em while you can !!
We will also be releasing more crazy hot (some just crazy and some just hot) scenes from the archives in advance of our 3.1.10 launch, so do check in to the site. Digital downloads of the film itself !! and extra scenes will be on tap for you with a click of your mouse that night too, all right there on: weliveinpublicthemovie.com
SCREENINGS – We’ve almost rounded out an awesome US theatrical run, but if you live in ROCHESTER (NY?), you can still catch WE LIVE IN PUBLIC on the big screen on FEB 6. We are expecting to add MADISON, WISCONSIN, and others. If you’re an: I’m globally-connected and have-friends-in-exotic-locales – type !!, tell said friends to come out and see us !!
ONDI WILL BE ATTENDING – the GAEL GARCIA BERNAL – prestigious (and apparently incredibly FUN !!) AMBULANTE FILM FESTIVAL in OAXACA, MEXICO – APRIL 1-4, 2010 !!
but, even before that – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC will be at:
DOC LOUNGE FILM FESTIVAL – throughout SWEDEN !! – 1/18 thru 2/18 !!
ISTANBUL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL !! – 2/11 – 2/22 !!
3rd INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST OF NICOSIA – in CYPRUS !! – 3/23-3/28 !!
VILNIUS INTERNATIONAL FILM – LITHUANIA !! – 3/18-4/2 !!
AMBULANTE FESTIVAL – OAXACA, MEXICO !! – 4/1-4/5 !!
BACK TO SUNDANCE 2010 !! – While we’ve been preparing for the release of the film, Ondi (miraculously) created time in her packed schedule to go back to PARK CITY, UTAH for SUNDANCE 2010 !! – to pass the GRAND JURY AWARD torch onto a new ‘doc’. She actually in fact – returned, not just as a guest, but as a member of this year’s U.S. Documentary Jury, alongside such badass directors as: MORGAN SPURLOCK (SUPERSIZE ME) and GREG BARKER (SERGIO) !!
ONDI TIMONER with RUSSELL BANKS, US DRAMATIC JURY, SUNDANCE 2010.
ONDI TIMONER with GREG BARKER (SERGIO), US DOCUMENTARY JURY, SUNDANCE 2010.
ONDI TIMONER and ADRIAN GRENIER !!
Adrian, who had a documentary in competition this year – asked that Ondi present him with the CREATIVE COALITION’S – SPOTLIGHT AWARD – SUNDANCE 2010 !!
ONDI TIMONER and PARKER POSEY – a fellow SUNDANCE JUROR.
ONDI TIMONER and a blinged-out !! JOAN RIVERS !!
Ondi and the jury gang did award her film with Best Editing !!
ONDI TIMONER and LYNN SHELTON the director of HUMPDAY !!
THE SUNDANCE 2010 US DOCUMENTARY JURY – ONDI TIMONER, front row – right !!
(. . . and looking more beautiful than ever.)
Directors ONDI TIMONER (DIG! & WE LIVE In PUBLIC) and MORGAN SPURLOCK (SUPERSIZE ME) “furiously” debate who should win the Grand Jury prize.
. . . “it looks like Ondi and Morgan – are back to being buddies, again !!”
ONDI TIMONER and SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR JOHN COOPER – at the JURY DINNER, SUNDANCE 2010.
watch ONDI TIMONER present the GRAND JURY PRIZE for US DOCUMENTARY, SUNDANCE 2910 to – RESTREPO – SEBASTIAN JUNGER & TIM HETHERINGTON’S – “visceral documentary” about the war in AFGHANISTAN.
while you are at: watch ONDI on BING/SUNDANCE 2010 !!
finally, COOL IT !! – While she was in SUNDANCE to help pick the successor to her 2009 Grand Jury award for, of course – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – !! – Ondi racked up some attention in the NEW YORK TIMES – for her newest venture – currently in production – ‘COOL IT’ – which addresses solutions to climate change that have been overlooked or underutilized to date.
. . . “The documentary world, rife with impassioned advocacy, may now be poised for some genuine debate … ‘COOL IT’, Ms. Timoner said, was intended not so much to correct ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, which raises the specter of devastation caused by climate change, as to – temper its message with an appeal for practical solutions.” – NEW YORK TMES
read more: NEW YORK TIMES – ‘COOL IT’ !!
ONDI TIMONER and DAVIS GUGGENHEIM (AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH) “rose above their press – to bond over fine filmmaking !!”
Ondi told us – “she loved his film – ‘WAITING FOR SUPERMAN’ – !!”
you go – girl !!
you can follow ONDI on TWITTER !! – twitter.com/onditimoner
become a fan of: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC on FACEBOOK !!
or, otherwise follow the trail of goodies on: WELIVEINPUBLICTHEMOVIE.COM !!
ALL PHOTOS: COURTESY WE LIVE IN PUBLIC & INTERLOPER FILMS
~ONDI TIMONER & WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – UP-DATE FROM SUNDANCE 2010 !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | February 4th, 2010, 12:33pm
“MICROSOFT-SHOE” – “BILL GATES BOOGIES AT SUNDANCE” by STEPHANIE SMITH and LUKAS I. ALPERT/NEW YORK POST
Page 3 – Wednesday, January 27, 2010 (nypost.com).
FILE THIS UNDER: SOMEBODY’S INTERN IS GOING TO BE FIRED !!
or: WHO DROPPED THE BALL – THE NEW YORK POST or the MICROSOFT P.R. TEAM ??!!
in a big full page spread on this year’s SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2010 – in today’s NEW YORK POST, on Page 3 – no less !! – BING – THE TRENDY NEW MICROSOFT ‘SEARCH’ ENGINE ?? – and – BILL GATES – THE NEWLY ‘SWINGING’ TECH NERD and BRAND NEW INDIE MOVIE FAN – and – THE NEW YORK POST – and I guess, IT’S SO-CALLED – ‘MOVIE’ TEAM – ALL LOOKED BAD – witness – second paragraph up from the bottom. quote:
“At another bash, GATES chatted up filmmaker ONDI TIMONER, the auteur behind documentaries ‘DIG!’ and the upcoming ‘We Live In Public’, sources said.”
don’t they have fact checkers at the POST – for this kind of stuff ? – I mean ‘We Live In Public – not only isn’t
“upcoming” – but it goddamn won !! – last year !! the 2009 GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST U.S. DOCUMENTARY !!
hope they didn’t rely on a BING ‘SEARCH’ to come up with that faux-pas !! so, who takes the fall here ?
probably the MICROSOFT P.R. team – the POST can’t seriously be expected to know what’s happening in the ‘cutting edge’ arts. in fact – they didn’t even post any serious coverage on last year’s 2009 festival – except for maybe 2 PARIS HILTON/CHEESY CELEB SWAG stories !! if I had to guess – since from all appearances – MICROSOFT & BING are ($$) footing the bill for the POST’S new found interest in Indie filmmaking !! – !! LOL !! I’d say – that it was the MICROSOFT P.R. TEAM who dropped the ball !! in their ‘communication/for immediate press release’ – re: all things BING – SUNDANCE party blitz – !! don’t look too good for a ‘SEARCH’ engine, esp the new trendy one – to get simple, important and basic facts like that – all wrong !!
if it was the POST – who blew it – wow – guys: where are you – in the ICE AGE ? – just another New York City player playing big shot – without a full deck. what else is new / you’re a whole year behind the rest of the world – even the NEW YORK TIMES – that so-called – by the POST – gray lady – gave ‘We Live In Public’ – and, ONDI TIMONER !! and JOSH HARRIS !! – tons of press last year !! SHAME SHAME SHAME – for making BILL GATES and BING – look like the – real ‘cutting edge’ losers !! – they probably – really are. not that I am a big fan of google – but that’s another story !! !!
DISCLAIMER #1: TEKSERVE – NYC’S largest independent APPLE STORE & REPAIR SHOP – (as in Mac !!) – is a proud long time sponsor of this site – but the views expressed on this site – are (always) clearly our own !!
DISCLAIMER #2: NANCY SMITH – the editor of this site and – the author of this post – was a paid employee of JOSH HARRIS/PSEUDO.COM – the subject of the film – ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – at the time the filming took place (1999-2000).
DISCLAIMER #3: NANCY SMITH – the editor of this site and – the author of this post – also appears in the film – ‘We Live In Public’ – as a participant. I was a founding crew member – of the ‘QUIET’ MILLENNIUM BUNKER ART PARTY – and part of the in-house production team – and, ok ok – – I’m the crew member who – surprise surprise – !! – got into a fight and kicked out !! I also got ‘a last word cameo’ (another surprise, NOT !!) at the end of the film – when Ondi came back for a follow-up, several years later !!
I’m the one in the black hoodie – who says: “Josh has set sail on the sea for places unknown but far away’ – without really knowing why – but I was right. (surprise. surprise. duh.)
ok .. I even made the trailer !! towards the end, well after mid-point – I’m the one – in the green-and-yellow puffy North Face jacket !! having a (teary) fit !!
yep – that’s me. JERSEY SHORE – ‘SNOOKUMS’ – move ov-er !!
you can find the trailer – right there on the home page: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – official website – !!
(watch out for ALFREDO’S SHOOTING GALLERY !!)
here’s another trailer – it might be the original – uncut & uncensored – rowdy !! one: because – oops – looks like its been censured for content – on YouTube !! LOL !!
if so … it was first posted by Josh Harris on RADARONLINE – before they re-booted – as whatever the hell – a babyfood celeb sheet ? – they are now.
but, it might just be the official one – censured ?? dunno. I gotta find my (adult) google password !! yikes.
in fact, here’s another really cool clip: “ONDI TIMONER/MEET THE ARTISTS”/WE LIVE IN PUBLIC/YouTube !!
the guy naked in the see-thru communal shower ? JOSH HARRIS, of course !!
the next frame – the woman – with the rosy aura – in the bunker with her young son – yo, that’s me !! it was the bunker built for the 100+ live-in artists at ‘QUIET’ – and it was wired with multiple cameras – pointing in all directions for 24/7 surveillance & each ‘pod’ had ‘live’ feed/real time screens. JEFF GOMPERTZ designed and built the ‘Japanese’-based pod hotel bunker. OWEN BUSH designed and built that (gorgeous !!) ‘bubble wrap’ communal dining room.
don’t believe me ?
check out SUNDANCE 2009: WE LIVE IN PUBLIC / ONDI TIMONER – WINS !!
WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – STILL RULES !! . . . and, WE DID IT FIRST !!
read: JAN ALBERT’S REVIEW/artlovers !!
~BILL GATES & BING – FLUNK at SUNDANCE !! BIG TIME !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 27th, 2010, 7:07pm
hate to be harsh and deflate the balloon – but, looks like business as usual at the Biennial.
or, as Jean Michel used to say: SAME OLD SAME OLD.
not counting the suspicious, creepy ?, inclusion of GEORGE CONDO – it’s – looking like – 3 strikes – and you’re out !!
STRIKE 1. HUMA BHABHA
apparently 3 days after her name was announced as part of the 2010 Whitney Biennial line-up – HUMA BHABHA informed BILL BRADY of ATM – that she was no longer represented by his gallery and wanted her name off the gallery website. Uptown, tony and ultimately boring to hell – SALON 94 / JEANE GREENBERG – now own the ‘brand’. what else is new. though the Biennial is supposedly put on – to promote new art and put some of its institutional power behind the new galleries that put everything on the line – to seek out and show new art in the city – its impact in reality – is clearly – often the quite the opposite.
you’d think the GEDI SIBONY – play of the same nature – a couple of years back – might have dampened the Whitney curse – but apparently, NOT. HUMA – think about it – anybody talking about GEDI SIBONY anymore ?
HUMA BHABHA, happy to be included in the BILL BRADY/ATM Show: ‘EAST MOVES WEST’ – opening Oct 17, 2008.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
BILL BRADY of ATM at the same opening.
BILL confirmed that Huma requested that her name be dropped from the gallery line-up – but would only say: “I’m glad one of my artists – has become a big deal”.
HUMA’S big piece in the show: the show’s title: ‘EAST MOVES WEST’.
up-date: make that downtown moves uptown. or: plain & simple: b-o-r-i-n-g. on every level – except the money jump. and that’s boring, too.
I remember going to SALON 94, when I “worked” for WALTER ROBINSON at artnet, back in the day (2002-2004) – though I had posted many terrific pix and commentary – for the gallery – when it first began – I was always treated like a lower class dog. no better way to put it.
working for free for artnet and then being looked down by Jeanne – talk about a loser’s proposition – if there ever was one.
if that wasn’t a telling indication of the limit and ceiling of Jeanne’s ‘leadership’ role in the New York art scene – what is ? read anything interesting about her gallery, living room, really – lately – or ever ? it still plays out – without any real inspiration – but loads of dough – generating no real critical success, or buzz. but hey, now they’ve got an artist in the Biennial.
see: HUMA BHABHA in the 2010 BIENNIAL
see: JEANNE GREENBERG/ART LOVERS NEW YORK/ARTNET/FALL 2003
STRIKE 2. “IT’S AN INSIDER – CLIQUE ” – !!
duh – what else is new – can’t these curators pretend pound the streets – even in a token way ?
don’t want to name my source – because then nobody, apart from Jeanne, Huma, and Erik Foss – that is – will talk to me – but my source is in the show – and when I asked him – how the hell he got in there – he said: it was all friends of friends. I was surprised. I’m always hoping for the best. I can’t believe I’m still not that jaded – not to see that coming.
STRIKE 3. BRUCE ALMIGHTY
checked out the trumped-up BRUCE HIGH QUALITY FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY – at SUSAN INGLETT. B-O-R-I-N-G.
I passed by the installation at least 3 times, it looked like such a schlock window – before I realized this dry poop, I mean prop, show – was it. any talented elementary school in New York City routinely does better than this – for the school play. BHQFU were better when they were adrift on the raft. I guess making ‘product’ that Susan could shill for $10,000 a pop via VITO SCHNABEL – was the deciding factor. too bad for their legions of fans – who deserve a better kick-off.
but even worse for the rep of one our leading art critics – ROBERTA SMITH !!
whose quote from back in the summer – leads off the gallery press release.
“…a project that could make the coming season especially exciting: the unaccredited, free art school (started by) the artist collective known as the Bruce High Quality Foundation…” – ???
“Whatever happens, this latest move by the Bruce High Quality Foundation adds inspirational heft to tits motto: Professional problems. Amateur solutions”.
will that was witty – until you see the product – it’s not even ‘raw’ amateur – it’s just one trick pony.
haven’t seen any buzz coming off this show, either. most telling – the collective didn’t merit a mention, not a word – in Roberta’s recent summary look-back take on the scene – ‘Make Room for Video, Performance and Paint’ – NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY ARTS & LEISURE/JAN 3, 2010.
though we did get: “At ATM, Huma Bhabha took figurative sculpture back to its ancient origins.” !!
BHQFU at SUSAN INGLETT – the window is as under-performing – as the show’s card !!
apart from its display in a big picture window – the painting is as underwhelming … as the whole installation.
I mean I think, even true amateurs could come up with something more exciting.
. . . . the show’s dismal card – I kid you not. talk about amateur solutions to professional problems . . . whatever.
and:
talking about the city’s dynamic art scene critical ‘premiere’ duo – what’s with JERRY SALTZ ?
is he playing with a full deck ?
I mean I think I have to go with my colleague BROMIRSKI – in saying hey, anything else, but make that a: pass on the saltz !!
ok. give the guy credit, every now and then he can nail the (mostly political) issues. but it’s rare to see any real insight on any new talent. case in point – JOE BRADLEY !! he didn’t get JOE when Joe first surfaced, and he still doesn’t get him, except to know that he should ??!! or look like the truly untalented flack he really is.
he posts a feature blurb on Joe’s current curatorial effort at ZACH FEUER in NEW YORK – but really not knowing what to say or make of it – let alone being able to critically assess it (Jerry – take note: it’s bad, dry and boring !!) he relies on his usual filler – when insight fails – “where are the women” !! and the show is titled: “Jr. and Son’s”.
Joe Bradley must have had a cow – when he read that – talk about going right over someone’s head – esp a head – that should know better.
actually there is one, yes just one – interesting entry in the show – an archival signed postcard – from a R. CRUMB show !! and accredited to the estate of DASH SNOW !!
. . . so who the hell – was RICK JAMES – that’s what I want to know !!
ok, in the hope of redeeming some of my (now) lost or bad karma – here’s a few priceless pix from the past – JOE BRADLEY & DASH SNOW at Joe’s one man show at CANADA, last year !!
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
and finally – PS 1 – has come up with a rare and original thought – they are going to have a STUDIO VISIT – section on their website. LOL – couldn’t they have called it STUDIO TOUR or something . . . as a supposedly new art leader – they don’t really want to be seen as riffing off of – artlovers – or, as those JERSEY SHORE GUIDOS say: ROBBERY !! – you got my “sloppy seconds” !!
ALL PHOTOS & …. OPINIONS: NANCY SMITH
AFTER-PARTY/AFTER-THOUGHT:
ok. so SIMON CERIGO made the BRUCE ALMIGHTY opening – he said it was a great crowd and they seemed like fun guys, and
everyone wishes them well – just “the work was all the same” – he was more taken with this t-shirt which one of the BHQF gang was wearing, and he actually bought it for $10 – off the guy’s back !! but he has no clue who made it – or – who he did the dirty deal with – except it was the tallest of the Bruces.
now – that’s – more like it !!
p.s. we just found out – that awesome eyeball – t-shirt is made & designed by NIK GELORMINO !!
NIK also writes to say that “he makes other t-shirts” – and he has many different ones available. so, we are pleased to advise that if you want a hand-made most cool New York City artist-produced t-shirt – you can reach him directly at: ngelormino@gmail.com
~WHITNEY BIENNIAL & A COUPLE OF OTHERS – BITE THE DUST, too |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 24th, 2010, 11:22am
HARVEY SHIPLEY MILLER, head honcho of the JUDITH ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION – about to depart in his signature drive – a chauffeur driven limo. CHRISTIAN HOLSTAD – OPENING – ‘LEATHER BEACH’ – a way scary S & M installation at Prince’s deli.
presented by DANIEL REICH GALLERY, MARCH 11, 2006.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
see: the original report: ‘on the other side’ !!
first posted on the home page: JAN 14, 2009.
see: ARTS GROUPS PROTEST DEFAULT ON GRANTS – by ROBIN POGREBIN/NEW YORK TIMES
HARVEY SHIPLEY MILLER is the sole trustee of the defaulting JUDITH ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION.
OMG HARVEY !! – what’d ya do with all the dough ??!! – our resident big mouth – who requested NOT to be outed as the source of the following particular bit of very true local color – would like to say he isn’t surprised by funny biz at the JUDITH ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION – that HARVEY SHIPLEY MILLER was sighted, even last year, “so drunk he was crawling on all fours” !! down some well-lit Chelsea Street. He also had a very young good looking boyfriend – with a brand new gallery – several years back. everyone always asked: and the gallery is funded by who ?
almost a fable.
too bad, think he spent a lot of that dough on new art, and yes thank god. cause the window he was supposed to service – really didn’t amount to much – truth be told. he certainly must have supported a big segment of the art scene – with his JUDITH ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION funded contemporary drawing collection – and I bet the contemporary dealers are more sad than the unrecognized dead artists to see – him bottom out. or is that flame out. too bad. he was a cool enough guy to buy a couple of large ALFREDO MARTINEZ drawings, and even some ANDREW GUENTHER works on paper, too. that was when I used to cover ALFREDO, (and ANDREW GUENTHER, and a quite few others) – for artnet (2002-2004). Harvey told me he was a big fan of my down & dirty, sometimes even funny – ALFREDO MARTINEZ sound bites.
~HARVEY SHIPLEY MILLER BITES THE DUST |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 19th, 2010, 10:14am
EASTERN DISTRICT LA MODE NOIR PRESENTS:
‘BLACK APPLE IS HOME’ – A PUBLIC SCHOOL EXHIBIT
OPENING RECEPTION: FRI JAN 15, 2020 / 7-10PM
the show doesn’t look to run more than a week ? FRI JAN 15 – SUN JAN 23, 2010
EASTERN DISTRICT – 43 BOGART ST – L TRAIN To MORGAN
FOOD & DRINK BY ROBERTA’S
see: PUBLIC SCHOOL !!
see: EASTERN DISTRICT !!
3 ARTISTS – AAKASH NIHALANI, MARIO BROS. & KAHBASM – of (COLLECTIVE) EASTERN DISTRICT – are going to introduce – EASTERN DISTRICT LA MODE NOIR – A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT BETWEEN EASTERN DISTRICT GALLERY & NEW YORK FASHION HOUSE – PUBLIC SCHOOL. IT LOOKS TO BE BLACK APPLE ART-INSPIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL-MADE GARMENTS – AND MOST SPECIFICALLY – T-SHIRTS. (AS IT TURNS OUT – NOT !!)
“All 3 artists through their different mediums of work have been trying to offer people a different perspective of New York (The Black Apple) whether it be addressing social issues or just wanting people to engage with their work using public spaces.
Public school finding perfection in imperfection, holding a pen in one hand and a sword in another.
Public School and Eastern District make their home – the Black Apple home / a platform of learning.
Please join us for the exhibit – ‘BLACK APPLE IS HOME’ – curated by the Black Apples.”
About the artists:
AAKASH NIHALANI’s – “street work consists mostly of isometric rectangles and squares. Using brightly colored tape – he selectively places these graphics around New York to highlight the unexpected contours and elegant geometry pre-existing in the city itself. All execution of his street level tape work is done on site, with little to no planning.”
MARIO BROTHERS – “the latest addition (!!??) to the Brooklyn art iconoclast – whose work consists of mixed media collages. MARIO BROTHERS live and work in Brooklyn, NY.” – and is a collective.
KAHBASM – is a painter, illustrator, landscape designer and graffiti artist based in New york. Working in all mediums from the street to the studio. Cash4’s work documents the American urban experience using simple iconography and nomenclature.”
UP-DATE: TUES JAN 19, 2010: OK !! – IT WAS DEF NOT A T-SHIRT SHOW – IT WAS A GROUP SHOW OF ART ON LEGIT WALLS – but due to the mean temperature on the street, i.e. the serious intent of the NYPD to shut these guys down – and, you cannot mess with the NYPD – even in a casual lighthearted way – as I guess some of these black apples have learnt – the hard way – seems like the NYPD has seriously taken a big bite out of their collective fun – they apparently don’t even feel safe in the legit white box – as opposed to the rough walls of the subway or street. even under assumed names. and as part of collectives !! (so no one individual can be held responsible unless – totally caught red-handed in the act). well, hitting up, make that – slicing up – commercial posters – was a big no no, duh !! though it made for a real live-wire mean streak, for a while there – it had the whole city – entranced. I mean can’t they lose the street brand and just use – new – assumed names for the gallery exhibits. you know, like POSTERBOY COLLECTIVE becomes MARIO BROS. COLLECTIVE. collective being the key word. a safety-in-numbers brand – if I ever did hear one.
guess not, too hardcore & too stubborn. in a nutshell: Black Apples !! and the people who love them !!
PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR WHAT !!
. . . so, from the get-go we were told, being a site that googles, and is pretty mainstream, I guess – that none of the artists were in the house . . . and, really we found out pretty quickly – the only way to approach the situation – was to take pix – and not ask names. period. plus: I don’t want to be a NYPD tracking site, either. though it was a gallery show. art on the walls. for legit sale. . . which seems to be a positive – heading in more productive & legal directions.
used to be when the (street) artists hit the gallery walls – and, they all crave recognition – they would cover their eyes, with finger gestures, bandannas, or shades, even hoodies. no more. it’s too mean out there. in the age of the internet – paradoxically anonymity rules. collectivity cloaks. we considered ourselves fairly lucky that we were even allowed to take pix of the crowd – in general.
HEAD DESIGNER – MAXWELL OSBOURNE – of PUBLIC SCHOOL.
not sure of PUBLIC SCHOOL’S ultimate connection to the show – except that they seem to be fans of Black Apples – in general.
read: their mission statement – for yourself !!
HEAD DESIGNER – DAO-YI CHOW of PUBLIC SCHOOL.
this table at EASTERN DISTRICT – kinda said it all:
“GAME ALWAYS SPOTS GAME”.
artwork by AAKASH NIHALANI – his street work doesn’t come with the mirrored reflection insert – shown in the gallery here, but it is the most gracious of all the street art around – hands down.
AAKASH NIHALANI.
see: AAKASH NIHALANI/Youtube !!
(yo. you posted it guys – its out there – alive & kicking – nada to do with me. you can’t cut it both ways.)
(I’m just trying to help you go, make that: get – legit.)
didn’t get the name of the next artist – !!
but we got the name of this Black Apple fan: LORI !!
PUBLIC SCHOOL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR and EASTERN DISTRICT GALLERY FOUNDER/DIRECTOR – MICHAEL ‘TIDO’ CABRERA.
black apples are beautiful – are they not ?
SEAN QUINCY – a young designer at PUBLIC SCHOOL.
the next group of work was by the art collective: MARIO BROS.
don’t ask, don’t tell.
by my count – according to variance in style – there were at least 3 different MARIO BROS – all collage artists & one sticker artist . . . or something like that. the other 2 were on the west wall.
what can I say – loved this duo – sublime.
loved the sticker – MARIO BROS, right. “newcomers to Brooklyn” sort of gave it away. this is a huge huge brand with a long long history – maybe – even the most universal of tags – even kids in elementary school – do it without even thinking.
with collage art made so ‘hot’ as in notorious by POSTERBOY – safety is in collaborative universal brands. the more artists who jump on the collective bandwagon – the better ?
hey, anybody could be – a ‘sometime’ MARIO BRO.
the other MARIO BROS. collages were arrayed on this wall.
these seemed very classic. almost academic – hard to picture them in the context of illegal street art . . .
but of all the MARIO BROS. stuff – these seemed the most influenced by POSTERBOY – in their very preciseness.
but missed that large subway scale.
see: POSTERBOY/Youtube
not sure where one MARIO BRO. ends, and another begins, guess that’s the point.
these collages ranged in price from $750 – $1,000. they are all on the small side and unique.
leaving the realm of collage & collaborative behind – there was a great piece by – Cash4 !!
and then there was a big wall array by the so-called: KASMIR KAHBAZM !!
look like a couple of black apples to me !! – you didn’t have to be ‘technically’ black to be one – you just had to be – bad.
but, yo – just guessing. anybody’s guess – is as good as mine ?
and. like the man said – the artists weren’t present !!
not shy – JUAN DOE !!
he had the second show in the gallery – ‘MADE In BROOKLYN’ – back in FEB/MARCH 2009 !!
super talented – painter, cartoonist, illustrator – check out: ARTIST KNOWS BEST !!
“a place where art is more powerful than hate.”
not sure if he collaborated with those comic book hero – images on the MARIO BROS. collages behind him. though I guess that’s a good guess. I dunno maybe not ?
check out: an early JUAN DOE/MARVEL COMICS/Youtube !!
ALL PHOTOS (& GUESSES): NANCY SMITH
~BLACK APPLES & THE PEOPLE WHO BITE ‘EM/PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENING TO-NITE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 15th, 2010, 2:00pm
. . . trying to stay on top of the scene – and, its a downtime – relatively speaking for good ole NYC – is a loser’s proposition. first of all – ALFREDO MARTINEZ just made the NEW YORK TIMES, big time – our expat in CHINA !! and, more importantly – I find myself in the very same position Steven Sebring was in – a fleur on the floor – at her feet. I just can’t bear to edit any of this stuff – down !! what is it about this woman – that turns photogs to mush ? starting, I guess with Robert Mapplethorpe.
I stayed at the opening the whole 3 hrs. completely entranced. so, tell me the following needs a second edit.
as if !! I don’t know – but, no can do – with the same lovin’ hands – that hold this art baby’s camera.
at 63 – PATTI SMITH – still real and raw and wild. She wasn’t into having her photo taken, though I wanted to yell out – you look great . . . so I only took a few, of her – after all it was her night. and, she had been nice enough to answer my question about her Native American Indian ancestry. which was: “yes on her mother’s side – the Amagansett – but then they all moved to Canada”. She said they were just a farming tribe – that she wished they had been a warrior tribe – let me tell ya, Patti – there is no farming tribe – without the heavy-duty warriors – to keep the turf safe.
Patti seemed to be having the best time – when greeting pals, and taking them for tours of the show.
the current set of boots.
in the large back room installation – STEVEN SEBRING presented strikingly intense & extremely minimal photographs of 14 ‘significant’ objects belonging to Smith – blown up to huge proportions. more on that – later.
STEVEN SEBRING – ‘BLACK BOOTS’, 2008. archival pigment print. edition 1/3. 42 x 32 in. ($12,500)
ok – that’s the second and last time I am gonna try to get her face – I’m gonna lay low – and wait for a time when she isn’t looking . . .
STEVEN SEBRING. he had no problem being photographed – but I would say over-all he seemed on edge over the show.
I heard I wasn’t the only one who felt his documentary needed one last closer call – final edit. but when you consider what a hard case she can be – you can only wonder at his years of access – and, all the material he was on-board for. and all the beautiful still photos, and film footage – he took. and, that she let him.
case in point, one of the first photos you encounter – when you enter the show.
STEVEN SEBRING, ‘CONEY ISLAND’ 1996. archival pigment print, ed. 1/3. 40 x 32 in. ($12,000).
talking about legends, MICHAEL STIPE showed up, and of all her friends – she seemed the happiest to see him.
no wonder, he was keeping it real. as usual.
more legends. filmmakers JONAS MEKAS, and ALBERT MAYSLES (‘GIMME SHELTER’) – with STEVEN SEBRING and MICHAEL STIPE.
JONAS MEKAS – aka – ‘the godfather of American avant-garde cinema” – he worked with ANDY WARHOL, JOHN LENNON and ALLEN GINSBERG. very sharp radar – still !! and the nicest guy. very cool to a fellow photog (that would be me) with a super, make that – unrelentingly – curious mind.
see: JONAS MEKAS !!
ALBERT MAYSLES – he made ‘GIMME SHELTER’ (1970) – on the tragic 1969 Rolling Stones concert at Altamont Speedway.
see: ALBERT MAYSLES – rhymes with hazels !!
ok – here’s my best shot: PATTI SMITH and MICHAEL STIPE
greet …
CALVIN KLEIN.
… that woman on the right is JESSICA LANGE.
JESSICA LANGE.
ANNE DEXTER JONES.
part-time actor and jewelry designer WARIS AHLUWALIA, and filmmaker CHIARA CLEMENTE.
KELLY CUTRONE – she is the coolest of them all, you know of PEOPLE’S REVOLUTION and the HILLS !!
you know – she was – LAUREN CONRAD’s employer !!
see: KELLY CUTRONE !!
up-date: KELLY CUTRONE’S own !! reality show, titled: ‘KELL ON EARTH’ – !! – will premiere FEB 1, 2010 – on BRAVO !!
ELLEN COHEN, senior editor at RIZZOLI.
RIZZOLI put out the definitive book on the film:
‘PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE’ – FILM BY STEVEN SEBRING
representing the downtown scene – DONALD SHERIDAN – silk screen printer for ANDY WARHOL – at the Factory – back in the day – and still running his own shop.
guitarist JOFF WILSON, of the hometown band – THE BOWERY BOYS – wearing a CBGB t-shirt.
He played on the KOSTABI show a few times, a few years back.
LENNY KAYE – long time musician with PATTI SMITH – he is cameo-ed in the film.
he is also the subject of one of the most haunting photos.
STEVEN SEBRING, ‘LENNY KAYE LAST NIGHT AT CBGB OCT 15, 2006’.
archival pigment print, ed. 1/5. 10-3/4 x 41 in. ($6,500).
detail, STEVEN SEBRING, ‘LENNY KAYE LAST NIGHT AT CBGB OCT 15, 2006’.
another really amazing photo – they were mostly of PATTI – was this one …
STEVEN SEBRING, ‘DIOR’, 2007. Platinum print, ed. 1/5. 20 x 16 ins. ($5,500).
detail, STEVEN SEBRING, ‘DIOR’. how he ever talked her into this, I do not know. she might not look very happy – but she looks straight-out gorgeous.
here’s one of Patti’s own photos – also very haunting – and yet, note – it’s from 2009 !!
PATTI SMITH , ‘AUTO PORTRAIT’, 2009. Unique Polaroid print, 12-11/16 x 11-9/16 in. ($3,000).
PATTI SMITH and STEVEN SEBRING, ‘PORTRAIT: MIXED MEDIA’, 2009
Albumen print with mixed media, 20 x 25 in. ($20,000)
detail, PATTI SMITH and STEVEN SEBRING – ‘PORTRAIT: MIXED MEDIA’, 2009.
there was also an archival poster from many years ago.
PATTI SMITH DRAWINGS / ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE FILM and STILLS / ROBERT MILLER GALLERY / JUNE 7 (1978)
there was a re-creation of her room, with early an MAPPLETHORPE loop running on the t.v. – it was hard to make out.
I preferred this offering of PATTI SMITH – poet – typewriter and books. aka ‘ephemera’.
and Polaroid.
on top – ‘JOAN of ARC’ !!
GREGORY CORSO, POE, WILLIAM BURROUGHS, WILLIAM BLAKE.
WILLIAM BLAKE – a big cornerstone for her. She talks alot about his influence in the movie.
GREGORY CORSO – ‘LONG LIVE MAN’.
Patti’s ‘gesture’ painting – featured in the film.
PATTI SMITH, ‘STRANGE MESSENGER’, 2004. oil, pencil and gauze on canvas mounted on board.
91-1/2 x 92-1/4 in. NFS.
detail. PATTI SMITH painting. sorry, nice novelty – but that’s about it.
and, no. you can’t have it – all !!
which takes us full circle back to that large back room – where the STEVEN SEBRING – monumental and most minimal photos I’ve ever seen – of 12 ‘significant objects’ – held court.
yes, her childhood dress – she holds it up in the movie – she really did come out of a time, the late 40’s – when young rural girls still wore these kind of dresses, handmade by their moms – she really did come out of the authentic American rural experience, growing up in factoryland South Jersey USA, and splitting for the big city – New York City – as soon as she was able.
American rebel to the core, ground roots up.
looking back,
at an American life – rebel. icon. musician and poet. PATTI SMITH and MICHAEL STIPE.
OPENING PHOTOS – WED JAN 6, 2010 – PHOTOS BY NANCY SMITH
‘PATTI SMITH and STEVEN SEBRING – OBJECTS OF LIFE’
the show runs JAN 6 – Feb 6, 2010
ROBERT MILLER GALLERY – 524 WEST 26th ST – NYC
see: REVIEW of ‘PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE’ by STEVEN SEBRING/on artlovers
~PATTI SMITH & STEVEN SEBRING: OBJECTS OF LIFE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 10th, 2010, 11:36pm
IMAGE BY: CARLY RABALAIS
CINDERS GALLERY PRESENTS:
‘KNOW NEW YORK’ – CURATED BY STO.
OPENING – FRI JAN 8, 2010 / 7-10 PM
the show runs Jan 8 – Feb 7, 2010
CINDERS – 103 HAVEMEYER ST – BROOKLYN
HRS: WED-SUN 1-7PM
featuring the work of NEW YORK CITY BASED ARTISTS:
DIANE BARCELOWSKY, HISHAM BHAROOCHA, ROBIN CAMERON, RAUL DENIEVES, ANDREW GUENTHER, MAYA HAYUK, ELI LEHRHOF, DENNIS McNETT, CAMERON MICHEL, LEIF PARSONS, CARLY RABALAIS, LEIF RITCHEY, JONATHAN ROSEN, RYAN WALLACE & ERIC WHITE.
STO WRITES:
“All around me people are taking notes, mapping things out, rewiring circuits, reinventing conventions, collecting, combining, and making connections that often turn into new and honest adventures for the eyes and ears, the head and the heart. They just won’t stop. Our posse is getting big, our posse is getting bigger. And I’m still getting to Know New York. Even after living here for almost 10 years, I will always be getting to Know New York a little bit more everyday. It Just never stops going and growing and morphing, energy like electrons running into each other wild like bumper cars to the galloping sounds of the JMZ rolling by my window. I’m excited for a New Year to begin, a new era for all of us to start together.
These artists are all living in New York.
They are out in the middle of the night collecting bits of street trash sparkle to brighten your day. they are using circular rhythms and parallel lines to find a piece of peace while others do dance moves in the street with gold pants and silver balloons. Life in abandoned hotels out in the desert armed with futuristic yet medieval-style prosthetics for enhancing life.
The wolfbats have come out of the caves and the spirits are arising. Envisioned revisions of popular culture are reassigning the meanings of what we know reality to be with a faux facsmile. Or a magic carpet ride, several twists of fate, and a bit of dumb luck.
This is the first in a series of exhibitions that focuses specifically on New York artists.
Let’s begin the year by getting to know they neighbor.”
CINDERS has started to post some images from the show – on their website, here are two – that seem to express the wide range of being !!
painting by: ANDREW GUENTHER
snowflake by JOHNATHAN ROSEN
~KNOW NEW YORK |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 8th, 2010, 10:49am
SPENCER SWEENEY – PLAYS CAMERA TAG – WITH HIMSELF !!
image courtesy/GBE
SPENCER SWEENEY
DEC 9, 2009 – JAN 19, 2010
Gavin Brown’s enterprise – 620 Greenwich St – NYC
hrs: Tues-Sat 10am-6pm
SIMON CERIGO dropped in on the SPENCER SWEENEY ‘LIVE’ installation at GBE yesterday. He is happy to report that the installation – and Spencer Sweeney – himself – being part of the installation – are more spaced out than ‘DISTRICT 9’ – the science fiction movie, which is Simon’s current rave fave.
in Simon’s words: “The show, which is a voyage through Sweeney’s many alter egos – has a wonderful audio aspect to it – which represents Spencer’s obsession with music and the tools of its ‘representation’. Being an audiophile myself – I was impressed with the broad range of vintage tube and transistor equipment. The whole space explodes with Mr. Sweeney’s frenetic, reckless, and delicate painterly maneuvers. The show also functions at its highest potential when there are a lot of (happy!!) people there – having a party.
up-date: the next performance is – this FRI JAN 15, 2010 – at 8pm.
~SIMON VISITS SPENCER !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 6th, 2010, 12:29pm
