FILE UNDER: GEORGE CONDO – GARBAGE – OR NOT ?
. . . as in: what’s BLACK & WHITE AND RED/READ ALL OVER ? – THE NEW YORK TIMES.
this Friday’s (JAN 28, 2011) NY TIMES WEEKEND ARTS lead article on GEORGE CONDO’S “first institutional career survey” at the NEW MUSEUM, scribed by HOLLAND COTTER – was so bleakly uninspiring – it only served to bolster my long-held conviction that George Condo – or ‘Georgie’ – as me and my friends like to call him – yes, you can infer a slightly superior and derisive tone – was the king, indeed the emperor of the emperors who wear no clothes. though I have to admit the JOHN CURRIN comparison was thought provoking. and I’d rather have a Currin on my wall.
my disdain, disgust and utter contempt was fueled by the horrible photos accompanying the article – esp the r-e-a-l-l-y bad choice of images – ugly is the only word – and my queasy feelings – only increased to utter bleak-winter-sun-deprivation-type depression when I turned the page, to find that huge, even more ugly, and way less-interesting-on-any-level ugly oversize photo of Leslie Thornton’s work.
or as we say around here – “the worst”.
though, I have to admit the title of the Holland Cotter/GEORGE CONDO piece was worth the paper it was printed on, ‘A Mind Where Picasso Meets Looney Tunes’ . ha. (and, there but for the grace of god, go I.) and for that matter so was the title of the New Museum show – ‘George Condo: Mental States’ – likewise again, by the grace of god . . . )
and talking bout good – so was the article’s lead photo: taken by NEW YORK TIMES lensman CHESTER HIGGINS, JR.
‘GEORGE CONDO: MENTAL STATES’, NEW MUSEUM INSTALLATION SHOT – by CHESTER HIGGINS JR./THE NEW YORK TIMES
which is notable in 3 ways:
1) it’s got to be the ugliest corner of the whole damn exhibit.
2) the fascinating floor’s eye view, no kidding, for real, and . .
3) that priceless silhouette of the more-prevalent-than-you-would-think – fashionista wannabe’s legs. got me to do a double-take. on its face – a pretty unconventional and picturesque snap – as in, really composition-ally striking. but in the weirdest of ways. it’s actually a pretty classic capture of NYC gallery life: the too-short-legged girl in the too-big boots, chunky oversize heels to boot, whose slightly bowed legs are – therefore all clad in black. I know that’s mean – but that’s life !! in the big apple.
I dunno, maybe seeing all that ugliness – is doing the talking . . .
reference: HOLLAND COTTER/WEEKEND ARTS/NEW YORK TIMES/FRI JAN 28, 2011
I was going to leave it at that – and probably not even say anything – till Simon came home to-nite and told me everybody is talking about the KANYE WEST – CONDO connection. to him – that just really killed the deal. jealousy ?
but to me, that just kick-started a whole other game.
unlike most of the other art pundits in this town, a bunch of sorry purists, if I ever did see one – I like it when art goes ‘shallow’ – and takes a swim in the bigger pool of life out there – and sure enough, this was one of those times – when art that died in the academic pages – really took off – in the trendy ones !!
of course. why didn’t I get it – when I saw the music reviews last week – that was a GEORGE CONDO painting on the cover of the newly released KANYE WEST album: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ – and it looks great in that context – shock brute !!
and, what’s not to like about the fab MARC JACOBS & KANYE WEST embracing Mr. Condo at the New Museum opening – a paparazzi’s dream come true – if there ever was one. I think guestofaguest has the best coverage: best pix of the celebs, best pix of the art, best commentary and even best of all: some nice running real-time celebrity video !! j-e-a-l-o-u-s-y. is the not word. its double jealousy.
even double dutch jealousy, by a factor of ten, a hundred-fold. yes.
which is all to say – sometimes black and white – and downright pukey – can beat the odds and fall into that eternally gray area . . . the decisive final take – the street-cred line – blurred, and for sure, still up for grabs – !!
come on – that’s some damn great album cover . . . ugly as in sick, dude.
esp if viewed – with the right kind of cocktail(s) in hand.
George Condo – one hit wonder ?
reference: ‘New Museum Rocks Opening with Marc Jacobs, Kanye West, and Lee Lee Sobieski/by ROSS KENNETH URKEN/guestofaguest
KANYE WEST, GEORGE CONDO and MARC JACOBS at the recent NEW MUSEUM OPENING OF ‘GEORGE CONDO: MENTAL STATES’, THRU MAY 8, 2011.
PHOTO BY MARK IANTOSCA/guestofaguest
the album cover: GEORGE CONDO PAINTING/KANYE WEST – ‘MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY’/IMAGE COURTESY: guestofaguest
make sure to watch: the MARC JACOBS CLIP/Love that bi-polar scarf, Marc !!/guestofaguest
yeah, watch: that KANYE WEST/GEORGE CONDO clip/guestofaguest
puke – the new chic.
would I want it on my wall ? maybe on my album cover. not sure about the wall. esp those New York Times choices – the worst. if you’re hoping the ‘worst’ is the best – don’t hold your breath.
~BLACK & WHITE and puke all over |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 30th, 2011, 12:29am
. . . talking bout comics – and in this case – comedians . . . !!
BIG OLE OPENING PAR-TAY !! TO-NITE !! 7:30 – 9:30 PM !!
FRI – JAN 28, 2011 – they still have 2010 – in their press release (!!) – what jokers.
NEEDLES & PENS in SAN FRANCISCO – PRESENTS A ZINE RELEASE + QUICKIE WEEKEND ART SHOW FOR:
MATT FURIE’S – HOT TOPIK ZINE – WITH MUSICAL PERFORMANCE BY BROOKLYN’S – DUB KNOW DUB – featuring our pal and CINDERS CO-FOUNDER – STO !!
HOT TOPIK – ONLY ON DISPLAY – FROM JAN 28 – 31st !! – ZINES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR $5 !!
NEEDLES & PENS – 3253 16th STREET – SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA / OPEN DAILY 12-7 PM
BACKGROUND INFO: MATT FURIE has teamed up with friend SAM GASKIN aka FAUX-PAS INDUSTRIES – !! – to create a new line of potential t-shirts to be sold at Goth Rocker life-style outlets in malls across America. (ha). Sam wrote phrases for the t-shirts such as, “I Only Smoke Weed on Days That End in ‘ – Day.” and Furie illustrated them. The end result of these catchy phrases and drawings are captured in a 16 page zine entitled ‘HOT TOPIK’ – which will be released this very evening – 2011 !!
IN ADDITION to the zine – NEEDLES & PENS will be hosting a one time only – don’t blink – QUICKIE WEEKEND ART SHOW – featuring work by FURIE and FRIENDS: AIYANA UDESEN, SAM GASKIN, GRANT EARL LaVALLEY, DAN OLSEN & STO !!
and now let the web fun, begin !!
IMAGE BY MATT FURIE/COURTESY: MATT FURIE
IMAGE BY MATT FURIE/COURTESY: MATT FURIE
IMAGE BY MATT FURIE/COURTESY: MATT FURIE
DON’T FORGET – TO – DOUBLE CLICK ON THAT PAGE !! – YEAH, UP POPS SOME BIG ONES !!
IMAGE BY MATT FURIE/COURTESY: MATT FURIE
NEXT – sample: a little musical interlude – by BROOKLYN’S OWN – HARDCORE – DUB KNOW DUB !! – at DESERT ISLAND, NYC – on YouTube !!
SAM GAS CAN IMAGE BY SAM GASKIN/COURTESY: FAUX-PAS INDUSTRIES
and, here’s a little topical musical note – by SAM GASKIN – most likely regarding the fantastic but cranky LAURYN HILL – now on tour – and begetting tons of rumors regarding her purported off-the-chart eccentric, not to mention egocentric behavior – but brilliant singing – surfacing almost – daily.
MATT FURIE – in the – HOT TOPIK ZONE – ZINE !!
IMAGE COURTESY: N&P
T-SHIRT COLLABORATION: MATT FURIE & SAM GASKIN
IMAGE COURTESY: N&P
and I guess these are a few of their – in the zone !! – HOT TOPIK T-SHIRTS – COMING TO YOUR LOCAL MALL, SOON !!
BET YOU HAVE ONE GREAT PARTY – DUDES !! – WELL DONE.
and for the lonely – I mean, lazy !! yeah. go back and check their friends out, too.
most def – checkout: AIYANA UDESEN !!
WELCOME TO AIYANAVILLE !!
most def – checkout: GRANT EARL LAVALLEY
most def – check out: DAN OLSEN AKA EXPECT LIES
and last, but NOT least, most def – check out: STO IS HERE !!
~MATT FURIE/IN THE HOT TOPIK – ZONE !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 28th, 2011, 12:35pm
to-nite . . .
GB TRAN’S NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL – VIETNAMERICA – BOOK LAUNCH – THURS JAN 27, 2011 / 7-9 PM
FREE ADMISSION COURTESY OF RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING & GB TRAN
MoCCA/MUSEUM of COMICS and CARTOON ART – 594 BROADWAY – SUITE 401, EDGE OF SOHO, NYC
come join rising talent GB TRAN and the MoCCA community for a special event – the launch of GB’s incredible graphic memoir – VIETNAMERICA: A Family’s Journey – a new, full-color hardcover from VILLARD BOOKS . . . GB will discuss the core of VIETNAMERICA the story behind his family’s survival and escape during the Vietnam War, their reinvention as refugees in the United States, and his own discovery about how the past we don’t know can shape and define us. A book signing will follow a Q & A session.
LIBRARY JOURNAL compares VIETNAMERICA to ART SPEIGELMAN’S classic – MAUS – calling it a “kick-in-the-gut graphic novel”, read more about GB’s book – here !!
while you are there – make sure to check out the amazing work of: LIZA DONNELLY, DENIS KITCHEN and AL JAFFEE – currently on display – but, heads up – coming down JAN 30, 2011 !!
like they say on the MoCCA NEWS RELEASE:
NEVER STOP READING COMICS !!
~GB TRAN: VIETNAMERICA BOOK LAUNCH |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 27th, 2011, 9:32am
FROM THE VAULT . . .
. . . just going through some archives – and quite by accident happened upon this old invite card for LAUREL NAKADATE . . so thinking, that’s a great coincidence, great timing – and I’ll never find it again – I better put it up – here it is.
LAUREL NAKADATE – A MESSAGE TO PRETTY
10.20.06 – 11.25.06
OPENING RECEPTION – THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2006/ 6-8 PM
DANZIGER PROJECTS 521 W 26TH STREET NYC 10001 T. 212 626 6778
~CHARLIE’S ANGEL: LAUREL NAKADATE/A MESSAGE TO PRETTY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 26th, 2011, 7:21pm
LAUREL NAKADATE – at the opening of her first NYC solo show: ‘WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS’, DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC. DEC 05, 2002.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
LAUREL NAKADATE/IMAGE COURTESY: MoMA PS 1 – SCREEN GRAB
CONGRATS TO CHARLIE’S CHOICE – LAUREL NAKADATE – WHOSE 10 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE:
‘LAUREL NAKADATE: ONLY THE LONELY’, at MoMA PS 1 – OPENS TODAY – SUN JAN 23, 2011 / 12 – 6PM
the show will run thru AUG 8, 2011
MoMA PS 1 – LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS
from the MoMA PS1 website:
LAUREL NAKADATE is known for her works in video, photography, and feature-length film. This Nakadate’s first large-scale museum exhibition and will feature works made over the last ten years in all three media,including her early video works, in which she was invited into the homes of anonymous men to dance, pose, or even play dead in their kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.
Also included will be Good Morning, Sunshine (2009), a more recent work in which Nakadate enters the bedrooms of young women, wakes them, and instructs each to strip down to their underwear for the camera. Nakadate’s two features, Stay the Same Never Change (2009) and the The Wolf Knife (2010) mine similar terrain – the power and fragility of the adolescent female body. The exhibition will also be the premiere of Nakadate’s latest photographic series, 365 Days: A Catalogue of Tears, currently in progress. These photographs document a year-long performance that began on January 1, 2010, in which the artist documented, and continues to document herself before, during, and after weeping each day.
The exhibition brings together bodies of work that touch on voyeurism, loneliness, the manipulative power of the camera, and the urge to connect with others, through, within, and apart from technology and the media.
Laurel Nakadate: Only the Lonely is organized by KLAUS BIESENBACH, Director of MoMA PS 1 and Chief Curator at large at The Museum of Modern Art.
note: CHARLIE being CHARLIE FINCH of artnet, of course !!
see previous post: CHARLIE’S CHOICE: QUIET/WLIP & LAUREL NAKADATE/JAN 18, 2011
~CHARLIE’S CHOICE/LAUREL NAKADATE/ONLY THE LONELY/MoMA PS 1/OPENS TODAY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 23rd, 2011, 11:53am
FILE UNDER: WHERE IS THE LOVE ? . . .
. . . had a really fun evening last night, courtesy of PATRICK DUFFY at that chic little bar – B.E.S – at the bottom of 22nd Ave – 559 WEST 22nd and 11th Ave. needless to say, ABSOLUT VODKA served up a mean lemon mint cocktail that just hit the spot. A book signing jaunt for ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST – celebrating the success of his latest scribble & doodle compilation – ‘IN THE MEAN TIME’ – everybody was in great spirits – but esp Anthony, who was raving to all – about his recent legal action against WALTER ROBINSON and artnet !!
ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST – celebrates the launch of: ‘IN THE MEAN TIME’ – at B.E.S., CHELSEA, JAN 20, 2011.
if you are new to the scene and don’t know who this legendary guy is, British-American writer, reporter, cartoonist, art critic, poet and socialite – you can check him out on WIKI !!
of course, artlovers was the first to review his new book – but since it was air mailed to us directly from its FREIGHT+VOLUME Miami Basel Art Fair debut – I was just cheerfully expecting to say hello, party a little bit, ok I partied a lot !! – and get the man’s personal imprint – but whoa – there was more in store, surprise, not !!
there was Anthony happy as a lark – raving to all – about his having just papered – as in: subpoena – Walter Robinson and artnet !! and apparently just days, after Walter finally posted a review of his book, to boot. ha.
ok. here’s the background story:
allegedly Haden-Guest lost a whole storage locker of a “lifetime” – on the art scene’s worth of valuables – including art works by DAVID SALLE, ASHLEY BICKERTON and DONALD BAECHLER – not to mention at least 9 DAN ASHER pieces – all told said to be worth over “$1 million”. The slick action by well-known NYC storage franchise PUBLIC STORAGE – supposedly took place while Anthony was in London – from what I made out – he was only 3 months delinquent – and never received a FINAL NOTICE – even though he claims – he had been in touch with PUBLIC STORAGE – from London, saying he would clear things up – upon his imminent return . . .
the story made the NEW YORK POST – ‘Anthony Haden-Guest loses treasure trove’, last March 2010. “I owed them $1,350 dollars. A couple of months before, my lawyer had asked them to give me details so I could wire them monthly payments. They refused . . . . I have been kidnapped in Lebanon. I have been stabbed 50 times in my apartment. But this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. And there is an aroma here that isn’t lilies of the valley.”
sure enough, lo and behold, a couple of minor pieces from the Haden-Guest locker facility collection – just surfaced last week – on artnet – for sale !! Anthony is over the moon – obviously – it’s a great stroke of luck – just what he needed – to get to the bottom of this sleazy action & retrieve his stuff – but apparently Walter isn’t talking – about who sourced the works – hence the subpoena !!
it’s also my feeling that – since Walter is such a control freak – don’t tell anybody I said this – but apparently Haden-Guest had to hound, beg and badger Walter for a month – before the mighty artnet honcho obliged with a review of ‘In The Mean Time’ – in other words, pretty much – just what everybody else goes through with Walter – and supposedly the subpoena – legal compulsion to spill the beans in court – went in – exactly a day or so after the artnet book review finally posted !! and yep, Anthony was looking mighty happy bout that timing.
just like the cat – that swallowed the canary. or what !!
ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST reaches for my book – all the while cheerfully spilling the beans on Walter and artnet !!
“I just subpoenaed Walter Robinson” – his new mantra.
never a dull moment – in the art world – and its only halfway thru January.
“for Nancy – The Archivist”, ha !! love it.
plus I got a little drawing too, after his name. yo, not everybody does.
he was also shilling limited edition cards – individual editions or sets of 40 – of his cartoons – $200 a pop.
they were actually pretty attractive – yeah, I wanted one – but that was a little pricey pour moi.
“YOU ARE NAKED.”
“WE ARE FREE SPIRITS.”
just in case you think Anthony is dreaming on, no.
he has long legend of being an irresistible ladies man, with the equipment to match – that’s what they say. though no, I can’t vouch for it myself – but I’ve heard tell in such graphic terms – let me put it this way: the way it’s been said leaves no room for exaggeration . . . hoo-ray for Brits.
SIMON CERIGO – artlovers man-about-town – has known Anthony forever. even sharing – some of the coarser booty. yes, even the art world a has low-life groupies. as opposed to sharing Anthony’s ‘critical’ take – on the art world, bye the way. an important point – he would want clarified.
B.E.S. was also selling limited edition T-shirts – with Anthony Haden-Guest caricatures on them – $50 a pop.
that’s it – final straw.
we’re gonna start selling stuff too – watch out for an artlovers pop-up store – coming soon, too. damnit.
MARK ENGER EXPLODING SKY – LIMITED EDITION T-SHIRTS – WITH ALFREDO MARTINEZ PRISON DRAWINGS – UP FIRST !!
oh yeah, baby. watch out.
artlovers going commercial, big time. not selling out. just selling. the good stuff, too.
back to story, at hand – ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST – LIMITED EDITION TEE’S !!
but this one was my fave – ‘ORAL DOESN’T COUNT’.
the evening’s host: PATRICK DUFFY.
also making the scene – big Haden-Guest fan . . .
STUART BRAUNSTEIN.
also popping by, ANDRES SERRANO.
on the right: KEVIN KAYE of FREIGHT+VOLUME which published the book.
with him artist VLAD PETKOV, in town for a few weeks, hailing from BULGARIA, yes.
MIA UDEA – who will be showing at the new MICHAEL BANKS gallery.
artist LAURA KAPLAN.
Simon told me there were quite a few “mafia” types – as in art world mafia types dropping by – but since he didn’t want to point them out, and they go below my usual radar, (and yes. it gets lower every day) – I didn’t catch them.
this was actually LAURA KAPLAN’S sculpture in the restroom – alleyway !!
it looked pretty good there, too.
the whole joint is pretty chic. nice fashion art evening vibe, nice mysterious lighting. good-looking food.
loved this silkscreen on the restroom door . . . .
because it appeared to be – a needlepoint !!
cheers to Anthony. may your book and art – find on-going success. may your court case prevail. may your collection be returned – esp the Dan Ashers !! may Walter Robinson squirm in court. and above all else – may the chick parade go on – forever. oh yeah.
UP-DATE – WALTER: SAT JAN 22, 2011/11:55 AM
ok. WALTER ROBINSON is not a control freak. he just likes things his way, and for everybody to know he is at the top of the food chain. sorry.
I just said that because I’m still mad and offended that he did not come by, or even write-up in any way – like even: “former artnettie has a show up, so what?” – my little art show at OTHER MUSIC last year. I felt in the polar art wars – ARTNET vs EVERYBODY ELSE, but mostly ARTFORUM – I deserved a little shout-out just for having been being on the right side of the game, and forever. no ?
at least now, I know why. I’m so friggin clueless. when he inquired after my show and asked to see some work – idiot that I am – I didn’t know I had to then harass and hound him – to actually snag – some friggin’ face time. Walter is my secret crush, everybody knows that. without Walter, where would I be . . . what would I have to write about – if he didn’t leave the new frontier wide open for me. plus he is a damn great painter – but what the hell, so am I. and here we both are – scribbling odes to everybody else. no wonder we both get twisted out. Walter rules.
just can’t you spread the love, big guy ?
UP-DATE – ROBERTA: SAT JAN 22, 2011/12:39 PM
ok. and here’s why I got so mad at Roberta. even though everyone knows she aces it (mostly). top 1% be damned. . . but then why would I have a niche to call my own, to wail from, if she didn’t ? and more important – if I do pop a bonafide newbie – she’s my one best chance at – checkin’ them out ?
o.k. the one friggin’ time she mentions a blogger – it’s friggin low-ball artcat ? now come on, that just ain’t right – where’s the love ?
PHOTOS COPYRIGHT: NANCY SMITH
~ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST PAPERS ARTNET |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 21st, 2011, 9:41am
JACK EARLY’S EAR CANDY MACHINE – OPENS – THIS – FRI JAN 21, 2011 / 6-8 PM
SHOW RUNS THRU MARCH 5, 2011
DANIEL REICH GALLERY – 537A W. 23rd ST – CHELSEA – NYC
a former collaborator of ROB PRUITT’S . . . PRUITT-EARLY’S ‘POP LIFE: RED, BLACK, GREEN, RED, WHITE AND BLUE’, 1992 exhibit at LEO CASTELI in NEW YORK – was recently re-visited and re-discovered (!!) in the recent 2009 – ‘POP LIFE: ART IN THE MATERIAL WORLD’ at the TATE MODERN, LONDON.
as part of that famed Early-Pruitt team – JACK EARLY has exhibited at 303, DAVID ZWIRNER, and GAVIN BROWN’s enterprise. as well as with the FRANCOIS PINAULT COLLECTION in PUNTA DELLA DOGANA, VENICE.
read more: bout the show – here !! – DANIEL REICH GALLERY
~JACK EARLY’S EAR CANDY |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 20th, 2011, 12:37pm
not to mention, SHAMANS !!
FILE UNDER: WONDER WHAT MATTHEW DAY JACKSON, THINKS BOUT THIS.
last week to catch: DENNIS McNETT’S FLAT-OUT, ALL-OUT, NO-STOPS – ART WORLD TAKE-DOWN !!
DENNIS McNETT – ‘REAPING WAVES AND VITAL VESSELS: THE PASSING OF THE WOLFBATS’
up through SAT JAN 22, 2011
JOSHUA LINER GALLERY – 548 W.28th ST – 3rd FLOOR
DENNIS McNETT – installation shot. carved wood, wood cut prints & screens, 2010
DENNIS McNETT – detail. talking bout: PATTERN, URBAN CODE.TAGS. INFORMATION – ENCAPSULATED.
PHOTOS BY: BROCK FETCH/COURTESY: DENNIS McNETT FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM
yeah, go back & check out: those FLICKR pix !! amazing production !!
the show kicked off with a huge charade of a parade . . . hard-core street spectacle – viking style !!
we’re gonna have to start calling New York City – HOME OF THE NEW CENTURY – SHAMANS !!
I dare you to really, really think on that – for a moment.
watch the DENNIS McNETT – VIKING – PARADE on YouTube !!
from the gallery press release:
“JOSHUA LINER GALLERY, in collaboration with gallery artist DENNIS McNETT, is thrilled to present a first-ever, spectacular event in the streets of West Chelsea: ‘The Passing of the Wolfbats’.
Part art parade, part shaman uprising, ‘The Passing of the Wolfbats’ will gather art enthusiasts and neighborhood residents for a celebratory procession through the heart of the New York art world. The purpose ? To wake up the city’s sleeping spirits of creativity, expression, and personal soulfulness . .
Led by a Viking ship, drummers, marchers with banners and battleaxes, and a flock of Wolfbats – McNett’s signature symbol of transformation – the procession will feature many elements from the artist’s work, including mythological figures and folklore, animal and skeleton forms, and masks and costumes, all emblazoned with McNett’s distinctive linocut imagery . . . ”
yep, read more !!
on the left: DENNIS McNETT, beside him MIKE HOUSTON of CANNONBALL PRESS
AHA/AD HOC ART – ‘BROOKLYN BLOCK PARTY/LINO CUTTERS’ – OPENING. BROOKLYN DEC 12, 2008
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
DENNIS McNETT – WOODBLOCK PRINT DETAIL – ‘BROOKLYN BLOCK PARTY’
yeah, his work blew me away . . . . check out the full post – in our archives !!
MATTHEW DAY JACKSON – with his ‘Viking Burial Ship’ – FEIGEN CONTEMPORARY, AUG 11, 2004
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
I say MATTHEW DAY JACKSON – because his big art world break-out happened when he exhibited his viking ship !! in 2004.
see: artnet/ART LOVERS NEW YORK – PEOPLE SECTION/11-17-2004
MATTHEW DAY JACKSON – ‘Viking Burial Ship’.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
SHAMANS have been on my mind for awhile now – shamans, codes, art magic. keys. dreams.
started with pictograms – and the complexity of their simple but powerful universal code – codes !! plural – their encoded information. how simple graphics – resonate – with a trove of information & data. started with catching those ‘frontier’ breaking hi-definition digital photographs of huge lost civilization mountain range pictograms in South America – on TV – picked up by overhead orbiter cameras, in outer space. continued through – internet guru turned painter – JOSH HARRIS . . . and I guess, can be found throughout human history.
the oldest cave art: simple codes, a bison painting, a human hand palm print. cave paintings the oldest graphics – encapsulating human experience. holding a record of human history – we were here – that speaks to us, helps us unravel out very beginnings – even today. and for sure, at the time – was not just a sign of existence for future history seekers – but in real time – encapsulated graphic information – were n visual notes as in messages – keys of information – enablers. holders of shaman visions, dreams and record of moment, i.e. primitive internet – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – caveman style – for our human ancestors – to help them with deal with the passing of time, and as well – a visual holding ‘tank’ – a code – a pictogram – containing and passing on to the person, or shaman who could grasp the message – and ‘write’/’tag’ the new ones. primitive pictorial record keeping: history keeping & making . . . .before there was written language – and even after, urban name tag sticker bombing ? – because of course, there always things that cannot be expressed by words.
pictorial ‘keys’ – in a nano-phrase: creativity.
taking the ‘humans’ past the Neanderthals – in the survival race – and the resulting ‘civilization’.
in other words – shamans, pictograms, codes – the mother-lode of a planetary shake-down !!
pattern. knowledge . . .
and warfare and territory expansion & early sea exploration – – the VIKINGS sowed the seeds.
yeah, this show – pretty much says – it all.
~VIKING INVASION/DENNIS McNETT |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 19th, 2011, 10:19am
. . . ok. so I have a chip on my shoulder and why not.
how can you burn bridges that never stood up for ya. lose friends you never had.
but, in making my case – maybe it’s also time – to thank somebody big time. and that would be CHARLIE FINCH – my biggest fan, secret weapon, instigator of my most outrageous outbursts, and yeah, name caller. yeah he gave me my nom de plume: Crackula – and in a nano nutshell – as we all know by now – he nailed it.
Although my initial pleas to come visit QUIET in real time – the JOSH HARRIS dot com Pseudo-fueled million dollar Millennium party, which was made immortal – I pretty much think – in ONDI TIMONER’S 2009 Sundance winner – WE LIVE IN PUBLIC – fell on deaf ears – his included. and art world snobbery ruled – he was the only one to take a chance, and come see the very first rough cut footage – when we looped the first draft – wild and raw (is not the word) – summer of 2001.
Charlie was the only one to come see it – and to write about it !!
His essay titled ‘Video Killed the Internet Star’, posted JUNE 27, 2001 in artnet.
it began like this:
The video event of the summer passed by completely unnoticed by the art-world establishment.
‘The only art-world person who came by was you, Charlie,” said Daniel Silverstein, exhibitor of the appropriately named ‘Quiet’ Josh Harris’ digitalized video of his YEAR 2000 New Year’s revels in Silicon Alley.
While maintaining a cordial acquaintance with Josh, we assiduously avoided his party invitations over the years, and expected little when we wandered into Silverstein Gallery on a hot summer’s day.
What a mistake! For two hours, this brilliantly edited, multi-tasking cinematic revolution riveted us to our white summer chair.
read the rest of the essay – yes: CHARLIE FINCH/VIDEO KILLED THE INTERNET STAR/artnet/7-27-01 – it’s got great pix, bye the way courtesy of Pseudo
almost exactly a year later, with new-found respect for my production skills and esp my talent scouting, with the pix to prove it – Charlie egged Walter Robinson, founding editor of artnet, to post a few of my photos – on artnet – and told me to “go take a few pix” of the up-coming TRACEY EMIN SHOW/FALL 2002 – for the essay he intended to write on it. no promises as to outcome.
but sure enough – although Walter had initially been seriously dubious, sure enough when Charlie’s article posted – there were my pix published for the first time – ever !! 3 photos running down the left-hand margin of a great little somewhat inflammatory and most definite fun: Charlie Finch at-his-best essay called: ‘EMINENT DOMAIN’, a neat little, wicked little scribble – that pretty much made Tracey Emin a household name on this side of the ocean.
yeah, read the complete essay, it’s a notorious riot: CHARLIE FINCH/EMINENT DOMAIN/artnet/9-27-02
that her work centered on quilts – was pretty much just an inside joke – among close pals. and, in fact forget the quilt stuff – next stop – my very own photo column – under my very own by-line on artnet, which Walter titled: ‘ART LOVERS NEW YORK – PHOTOS BY NANCY SMITH’ – which ran in the PEOPLE section of the artnet online magazine from 2002-2004. and what a huge wave – that was. what a rush. I generated the coverage myself. Walter gave me unprecedented freedom, did my editing and wrote the captions – after being briefed by me in person or by email. a paprazzi’s dream come true. who knew.
at some point shortly after going public – the column, or report as I liked to call it – became the first and only report/page on artnet to develop it’s own market and attract its own advertising. all bitterness aside, it’s not so nice to be summarily fired with only 2 days notice at Christmas !! Dec of 2004 – and esp for “being too successful” . . . I would be seriously remiss – if I did not thank Walter for catching the ball, believing in me – and letting me rip.
. . . . giving me my very first platform, and it was a major one. right at the top. when no one else would. (and, no. no names. those are the real biggest losers. pretty much every art mag in town. go figure. (o.k. ART FORUM said: we don’t do party pix.)
and thanks, Walter for doing such a wonderful job editing and captioning my stuff. it was always super exciting to bring my newest batch of pix into your office. it was a wild time in the art world – and I was there. thank you Walter.
ok. you didn’t fire me. you set me – free.
TRACEY EMIN and GAVIN. never did get his last name. LEHMANN MAUPIN inaugural show at their new space. SEPT 21, 2002
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
and my very first published photo, ev-ah.
so, to thank Charlie at the beginning of a New Year, and hopefully a great one – I’m not really one for looking back.
(and sorry to everybody I’ve ever dissed. but come on – how do you think the ones that are really burning bright – feel about being left off your lame game lists, and out of your slow lane reviews. eventually of course, somebody’s gonna pop – to blow the whistle – and guess it just kinda fell upon poor Crack. to take up the slack.
irrepressible: impossible to control or hold back.
first.
Simon Cerigo showed me this heartfelt ode to SURE, the 24 yr. old Brooklyn born and bred street sticker bomber – who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his young life to enemy combat in a tour of duty as a U.S. Marine Intelligence officer – in Afghanistan this past December 2010 – that Charlie recently penned. I’d like to share it with you. Charlie the Finch seems to have been very moved by my recent post on the sad loss of this very gifted New York native son. R.I.P. SURE.
SURE ENOUGH
Passing by his bower
if it’s only in my mind
Offering a flower
From those he left behind
Sacrifice unimaginable
A sacrifice for me
So young
A life so tangible
Dead, protecting all that’s free, Semper Fi, Charlie Finch.
and next, here’s a little surprise.
a couple of previously unpublished pix from LAUREL NAKADATE’S first NYC solo show way back in 2002 – also at DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY – whose very first steps forward – were noted and marked by Charlie. and Charlie alone.
and who I’m sure also thanks Charlie for his early support – esp as it is usually offered up – in the face of the cliched mainstream.
without your audacious grasp, not to mention wicked 3rd party fan mail, I know I’d have no voice. no pix on the web. no play in the game. and maybe wouldn’t be willing to run such a crazy wild race.
blame it all on Charlie, dudes . . . . NANCY SMITH aka CRACK/CRACKULA
video artist LAUREL NAKADATE at the opening of her very first NYC solo show – ‘WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS’ – DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC. DEC 05, 2002
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
LAUREL NAKADATE, at the opening. in front of one of her looping, not to mention shocking !! rough & tumble on many levels – video productions.
GREGOR HORNIAK, for many years a colorful character in the ‘observer’ ranks of the art scene – got his 5 mins of fame – and moved up to become a veritable ‘player’ – when Laurel featured him – in one of her earliest unprecedented ‘romps’ – which play on the foibles of the male race – with particular focus on the most vulnerable among its species.
LAUREL NAKADATE, ‘WE ARE ALL STARS’ – installation shot.
DANIEL SILVERSTEIN GALLERY, opening DEC 05, 2002. Chelsea, New York City.
ALL PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH
Gregot truly got his uneoterd 5 misn of haem, too.
~CHARLIE’S CHOICE: QUIET/WLIP & LAUREL NAKADATE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 18th, 2011, 1:49am
oh yeah I forgot – there was one more 2010 NEW YEAR’S – d-i-r-t-y ditty:
eanie meanie miney – boredom
no one I know – reads ARTFORUM
DEDICATED TO THE LOSERS at CANADA – I can’t think of a better bunch of nitwits & has-beens – to lose the mojo wars over Joe Bradley.
big gallery eat up – little gallery. shark bite NYC style – gobble gobble, yum. losers.
who knows – maybe one one day: MOJO can rhyme with GOGO.
if you a need a translation – here’s the nano version:
yep. those are all my pix, not to mention commentary – up there on the web universe promoting Joe Bradley.
I had pix of him up – way before Canada jumped on the bandwagon to exploit the free press. not to mention top-of-the-line talent scouting. top 1% knock-down, baby. artlovers style.
of course, Canada made off like a bandit – and what did they do – with their new found booty, why – take out $2000 ads in ART FORUM.
let’s not even get into – we don’t pay for press – but we pay ARTFORUM through the the teeth to post an image.
and then surprise – we get a review.
artlovers doesn’t have too many rules – anarchy rules – but that slimy action at Canada prompted the only hard and fast rule around here.
simply put, it goes:
we build you up – jump start ya – and the first thing you do when you finally score some dough – is turn around and take out ads on ARTFORUM – we walk, and we never come back – except to haunt ya. and take you down.
what ? you didn’t know the art world in NYC – was a blood sport / where are ya – even Philly knows that.
yeah that’s damn straight: if instead of shooting a little bit of dough – not to mention respect – back at us – for the lift-off and to go forward – you take out an ad on ARTFORUM – you are kicked off artlovers – for good. a lot of galleries in this two-bit town hit this sorry note – I’m sorry to say. besides Canada.
look at all the losers on 27th St. – if there are even – any left ? for them, the last just-barely-breathing survivors of this decade’s (initially) bright new wave, and it’s subsequent collapse – aka the great art world wipe-out of 2008, and to which I am proud to have contributed – at both ends of the action – going up and then coming down – damn straight. I hear tell – the clock is ticking. sad and loud.
hello Korea. Korean no-name generic pop art – taking up the rental slack. ugh. a fate worse than death. you walk in and the sales girls, yes plural. approach you like airline stewardess – in heat.
yep. 2011- it’s the season of ‘eating bitter’ – how do I know ? I read it in the NEW YORK TIMES !!
yep – that’s JOE BRADLEY, a young Joe Bradley on the left. with his band CHEESEBURGER. NYC, JULY 24, 2003
what a diff 7 years make. and to think – I think I’m getting old. I’m just getting gold-en. archive-wise.
Joe’s nom de band ? – MALIBU VON !! he was the frontman and singer. sometime he even wore little tights. I think he could fit into girls’ ones – at that time. I’ll try and find a photo – for another rainy day. and yep. I miss Eunice Kim, his ex.
now there is talent. she went to harvest medical weed in California one year – you make a whole pile of dough in a short time and have a party while you’re doing it – and never came back. rumor on the street is: she took up with a young surfer dude – and never looked back. good bye Joe.
also at the downtown event – on the left, EMMA GRAY, who was at that time U.S. Features Editor at ART REVIEW. beside her, EMILY BUTLER, at that time Marketing Director, ART REVIEW. I was working for Emma at the time – doing the Downtown Party Pix (NYC) for ART REVIEW.
just so you don’t think Walter Robinson is the only (insecure) dick, I mean schmoo – in the art world – society photog PATRICK McMULLAN who was doing their Uptown Party Pix page – told them – that if they continued to have me on board – even though our paths never crossed – they couldn’t have his stuff – so in effect he got me fired. so that was the second time I was fired from an art mag gig – for being “too successful.”
but, unlike art net – that was actually painful – as they paid !! and well. and it was my only friggin’ check at the time.
when Walter fired you – it was from a job – that didn’t pay – so, go figure.
and hurrah for MARSHALL McLUHAN and the power of the independent publisher media medium of the web – cause here I am – still laughing at ya. leaving you light years behind – in the dust. the both of ya. ROAD RUNNER, ya. TRON speed.
EMMA GRAY eventually got fed up too, and re-located to L.A. – where she has just opened up her own gallery space:
EGHQ/EMMA GRAY GALLERY/LOS ANGELES.
also on hand: CHARLIE FINCH – looking good !! schmoozing up the broads.
CHARLIE FINCH – the scribe – scribbles.
and yeah – to the BB/BULLET BRAIN jerk whose artwork is in the background – pay up your outstanding debt, already – for work done, and well done, I might add – don’t see your name surfacing any place else dude. and I will start crediting your work, again . . . when it pops up.
I’ll take one of these if you want . . . .
hey, art world web site looking for a bill collector. must know martial arts.
ALL PHOTOS: COPYRIGHT NANCY SMITH – DOWNTOWN NYC – JULY 24, 2003
~oh yeah, MR. MOJO ? |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | January 16th, 2011, 10:54am
