CRAFT / ART
LIFE / DEATH
that’s a snake chasing . . its own tail.
the only labels that should be bantered about are: effective ? sustainable ? happy ? healthy ?
and if not, explain.
LORNA BAUER brings hand-blown glass . . to ‘MAY WEST’ / VICKI PROJECTS
up thru . . JUNE 1 / BY APPOINTMENT
327 LIBERTY ST., NEWBURGH, NY 12550
Montreal-based artist, LORNA BAUER exhibited these ‘reflections’ . . on the generic ‘plastic’ water bottle.
LORNA BAUER, ‘Sitio Bottle’, 2018.
mold- and hand-blown glass / 24 x 9 x 4.5 in.
that pop . . says: “STOP” !!
or / STOP & LOOK . . . !!
all 3 images via Instagram @lornabauer
they almost look like Penguins.
which is very strange / how ani-mal-istic they seem.
and re: penguins, btw . . happy ? healthy ? sustainable / NOT !!!!
image via Instagram @danieljgiordano
check out: LORNA BAUER – ARTIST PORTFOLIO WEBSITE !!!
note: shirts, shirts, everywhere !!!
~LORNA BAUER . . GLASS WORKS / ‘MAY WEST’ / VICKI PROJECTS |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 14th, 2019, 2:54pm
SAMUEL BOEHM & DANIEL GIORDANO PRESENT: ‘MAY WEST’
FEATURING 3 MONTREAL-BASED ARTISTS:
LORNA BAUER, SIMON BELLEAU & MEGANE VOGHELL
OPENING SAT MAY 11 / 6 PM
running thru . . JUNE 1, 2019
VICKI PROJECTS, 327 LIBERTY ST., NEWBURGH, NY 12550
HRS: BY APPOINTMENT
‘MAY WEST’ ???!!!
is that a riff on . . . MAIS OUI ???
could . . . be.
note: super great . . how this image self-animates !!!!
as you scroll down – the screen.
~’MAY WEST ‘ . . VICKI PROJECTS, NEWBURGH, NY / OPENING SAT MAY 11 6 PM |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 11th, 2019, 11:14am
JUST CAN’T RESIST . . A WAR of the SHIRTS !!
SYNCH . . NATION !!
CRAFT: CAN ALSO BE QUITE PLAIN-SPOKEN / JUST PLAIN OLE FABRIC / and . . QUITE BANAL !!
and yet, speak . . volumes /
unless . . it’s the Emperor who wore no clothes ?
ah, the iron-y.
Plaid game . . on !!
DISTRESSED / WORN-OUT ? CUT-OUT & most def: edgey.
DAVID KENNEDY CUTLER . . . ‘Ring Around The Collar’, 2019.
inkjet transfer and acrylic on canvas, Permalac, button, thread, aluminum armature, hardware
5.5 x 6 x 5 in.
in ‘BIG RINGER’, curated by ANDREW GUENTHER, ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
up thru . . . JUNE 8, 2019.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
our boy Walter, always ahead of the game.
and, as ‘Americana’ – as they make ’em (painters).
WALTER ROBINSON . . . ‘Target Mens Red Plaid Long Sleeve Button Down Shirt’, 2016.
acrylic on canvas / 28 x 28 in.
in . . .
‘WALTER ROBINSON – SHIRT PAINTINGS’
CHARLIE JAMES GALLERY, L.A.
OPENING . . . TOMORROW, SAT MAY 11 & also running . . . thru June 8, 2019.
more on the show: CHARLIE JAMES GALLERY – WALTER ROBINSON ‘SHIRT PAINTINGS’
~’BIG RINGER’ vs WALTER ROBINSON ? IT’S A > > TIE !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 10th, 2019, 8:19am
GOTH BEGETS CRAFT: GAME of THRONES & LORD of THE RING / HEAVY METAL / DEAD ANIMALS, FLOWERS & HERBS / BLACK VELVET
CRAFT . . can have / a DARK SIDE.
‘BIG RINGER’ . . . ORGANIZED & CURATED BY ANDREW GUENTHER / aka EAT THE LEAF
OVER 100 ARTISTS . . . RE-IMAGINE THE ENGAGEMENT RING.
UP THRU .. JUNE 8, 2019
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
FRODO MIKKELSEN, ‘Untitled’, 2019.
silver plated marten skull / 1.8.x 1.6 x 2.8 in.
was . . . Frodo wearing an invisibility cloak at the opening ?
image via Instagram @andrewedlingallery
CHRISTIAN HULTQUIST, ‘I love you like ham sandwiches’, 2019.
ginger, velvet string, and fabric (with attached paper) / 1.25 x 4 x 12 in.
one really can’t underestimate the influence of ‘GAME of THRONES’ & ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ /
in contemporary visual . . culture.
DESTINY MONTAGUE at the opening . . . with her ‘Big Ringer’ – on the hand model.
DESTINY MONTAGUE, ‘Invasive Species’, 2019.
water caltrops (trapa natans L) . . cast in bronze / approx. 3 x 4 in.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH – unless otherwise noted
~’BIG RINGER’ . . OPENING PIX !! – PART III: FRODO & DESTINY / CHRISTIAN HULTQUIST |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 10th, 2019, 7:33am
‘BIG RINGER’ . . . ORGANIZED & CURATED BY ANDREW GUENTHER / aka EAT THE LEAF
OVER 100 ARTISTS . . . RE-IMAGINE / THE ENGAGEMENT RING
UP THRU . . . JUNE 8, 2019
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
MORE:‘BIG RINGER’ – ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
PIX FROM THE OPENING – PART II / SAT APRIL 25, 2019
NICHOLAS STEINDORF / right: BRIAN WILLMONT
woof . .
I was so glad to find out NICHOLAS STEINDORF’S 3 part, sultry offering . . was all about being (the only) ‘multiple edition’, in the show – and, not about wanting maybe . .. 3 wives ?!!
NICHOLAS STEINDORF, ‘ONION RING RING’, 2019.
Burger King onion ring, resin / 1 x 1 in.
BRIAN WILLMONT, ‘Monument to Eternity’, 2019.
Acrylic paint, 3.5 x 3.5 in.
from the show’s curator . . ANDREW GUENTHER,
who paints under @andrewguenther_art & makes jewelry under @eattheleaf.
the ‘south’ side . . of eternity & desire.
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Fly’, 2019. Resin, dead fly. 1 x 1 in.
SASHA FISHMAN, ‘Sticky & Toothless’, 2019.
Lost teeth, resin, gold leaf, polymers, found pearl, hot glue, urrethane, vinyl, brass. 3 x 3 x 3 in.
ALEXANDER DESCHAMPS, ‘(C)ASH 4 GOLD’, 2019.
Brass and acrylic / 0.75 x 1 x 1.25 in.
JONATHAN TRACY, ‘Desiccated Cartouche’, 2019.
Various putty, ABS plastic, Lapis lazuli, and gold foil.
4.5 x 2 x 1.75 in.
ALICIA GIBSON, ‘Dilirium of Negation’, 2019.
Synthetic hair, brass ring, wire, and costume jewelry.
3 in. in diameter.
ALICIA GIBSON’s “memento mori” . . surprised me the most, just as to: scale.
in the Instagram photos, it had seemed sized to fit a finger, but it was larger.
it was kind of even: monumental on the ring scale !! and, way deep in meanings, too . .
mortality, death, vanity of earthly life & the “transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits” / google
a reflection on: eternity in a deep, strong ancestral way. a strong bond, maybe even unto death.
TAMARA SANTIBANEZ, ‘Ring’, 2019.
Polymer clay, acrylic paint / 5x 3.5 in.
picture that / upright, on your engagement finger.
it’s also so easy – to break a marriage / slightly chip a sharp point, and each time – more of the bond
. . chips away.
ANTONE KONST, ‘Strong Ring’, 2019.
Airplane wire (steel), acrylic. / 1 x 1 in.
all love should only be so strong, and stay, so . . tender.
THOM COWAN, ‘Partners’, 2019.
Clay, coral, acrylic, and wire / 7.5 x 7 in.
THOM COWAN’S ‘ring’ . . covered all the bases, ‘partners’ going through cycles,
and ups-and- downs . . is pretty much it.
it helps to have some – playfulness.
his piece reminded me of ANTONE KONST’S . . recent, over-size ‘FREE PEDDLER’ sculpture at Socrates Sculpture Park / Annual 2018. in the loopy-ness of form, and the sense of inner weariness, even though the story seems playful, the craziness of biology, reproduction, and the animal world in general.
then, there’s that . . ‘ball & chain’.
The ‘Free Peddler’ . . also had that sense of being ‘chained to a situation’, a life of endless trekking / hawking trinkets and wares, even if the exchange was free.
the word: FABLE comes to mind.
THOM COWAN . .
at the opening with his piece, to the top / left side.
that other piece above, is by . . DOUG YOUNG, ‘Chromium Alum Ring’, 2019.
Chromium alum, paper, paint, sterling silver / 5 x 5 x 5 in.
it is probably . . the biggest ‘ rock’ in the room, rock n roll.
(as Walter Robinson . . would say.)
the other ring hinted at.
BRANDEN KOCH, ‘today’s growth, tomorrow’s rings’, 2019.
gouache, ink, and acrylic polymer on cut pine.
4.5 x 2.25 x 1.25
there was a ring, and even on occasion, a non-ring (!!) for every mind-set.
though, this one looks like it should be embedded into our heads.
please don’t burst my hopes, with your reality.
reach for the rainbow.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~’BIG RINGER’ . . OPENING PIX !! – PART II |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 8th, 2019, 10:30am
subtext: CRAFT / ART / CONCEPT
utilizing made-by-hand / DIY ‘skills’ that very much leaned to the . . improvised, passionate & one-of-a-kind.
meshed with a strong poetry of mind / & a symbolism . . that went well past: sublime & hit all the bases,
from skeptic to lustful / tempestuous & powerful / to sweet & gentle / & even flat-out: wary, hurt, scared, and often, just plain ole . . “it’s complicated”.
and, even . . “No”.
if you are seeing art – this weekend / this is a must-see, local venue . . swing by !!
‘BIG RINGER’ . . .
ORGANIZED & CURATED BY ANDREW GUENTHER / aka EAT THE LEAF
OVER 100 ARTISTS . . RE-IMAGINE / THE ENGAGEMENT RING
UP THRU . . . JUNE 8, 2019.
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
more: ‘BIG RINGER’ exhibit – ANDREW EDLIN
PIX FROM THE OPENING – PART I / SAT APRIL 27, 2019
ANDREW GUENTHER . . must have had a mighty vision, of tiny things interacting . . when he first dreamed up this show.
because he not only held it together, but surpassed all expectations . . .
the range of the works, and the diverse emotional ‘bases’ – they hit, was a kind of miniature kaleidoscope of marriage commitment, seen through the eyes of contemporary art, and, that should really be stated as . . cutting edge / underground contemporary art.
these were not your mainstream pros flaunting their wares. these were for the most part, voices from the frontier.
I expected the work to be bold, which it was. maybe outrageous, perhaps lovely, even lustful . . and knowing Andrew, most likely, in a proto-goth, heavy metal way: contrarian. and, that – it was. and more.
what I did not expect, was the polished to a fine moment / inspired . . presentation.
I had sort of envisioned rows of plexiglass shelves, maybe display counter-tops / instead, what you get is a series of ‘specific’ conversations – in small settings, with each ring, or ring, NOT !! . .
showcased – as if a miniature theatrical stage play was at ‘hand’.
I’ll have to start calling Andrew – ‘Shakespeare’, from now on.
oh, the stories . . that got told !!
just riffing off a little, as in tiny, but tradition-heavy . . ring.
RING BY – MARK THOMAS GIBSON, ‘Behold’, 2019.
ink on paper. 14.5 x 10.25 in.
well, first of all – everything was supposed to be a ‘ring’ (!!), and not bigger than 5 in. in any one direction !!
you only know what you’re in for, when you move past the entry desk, down a brief corridor, and arrive into the main room, like a ‘reveal’. the first thing I wanted to find, to help bring the show into perspective . . was the most contrarian thing in the room, and this saturated print-like drawing !! . . was it.
right there on the first, street-facing, front wall. Ka-boom.
2-D not 3-D, larger than 5 in. & def . . not wearable.
but a ‘poster’ image, for LOVE – DIVINE !!!! none-the-less.
this was a bell ring-er / and it’s song was glorious. it had a perch, like . . ‘head of the table’.
it lent a kind of in-your-face rebel / goth, black & white vibe to the proceedings & set a tone, for sure.
ecstatic. and not in a rapper bling bling way either.
more . . as in : American outsider / ecstatic painter.
so this is how the presentation . . went.
small groupings . . on shelves or stand-alone tables / as perfect and concise, as an Emily Dickinson poem.
NANCY SMITH, ‘Sewing Machine Ring: Won’t you marry me, my darling millennial crafter?”, 2019.
thrift-shop silver-plated band, miniature dollhouse cast-iron ‘antique’ (fly-wheel) sewing machine. 2 x 1-3/4 x 1/2 in.
note: the ‘fly-wheel’ / i.e. it is hand-operated / as opposed to electric, & now monster / computer programmed machines.
and, there was my ‘ring’, squarely established – just below the Mark Thomas Gibson drawing.
it looked really profound, I was surprised. the way it was displayed, it really did speak to how surprised & honored I was to be included . . in a crafts-based, but nonetheless highly . . rebel / hard-core improvised show.
it did seem to speak – to this generation.
left: SARAH SCHECHTER, ‘Magic Ring’, 2019. Tinfoil, acrylic paint, and flowers. 5 x 5 in.
right: RYAN KITSON, ‘Ruby Ring Toy’, 2019. Ruby, resin, pottery, plaster, glass. 7 x 4 x 4 in.
it was astounding to see my common-sense ring – a practical ode to a generic diy generation / sharing a table with these 2 wild & crazy pieces, pieces that could not be more different – if they had tried to out-do each other, in advance !!
‘INFINITY’ – thy very definition is a 100+ NYC artist show !!
RYAN KITSON, . . . it’s complicated (!!)
NANU AL-HAMAD, “I Don’t”, 2019. (!!!)
Matches, jewelry box. 3 x 2 x 3 in.
opps, so much for romanticism, or is that incredibly romantic in a deeper way ?
great metaphor, if you’ve been married, no more words – needed.
just laying it – out. very straight-forward. elegant, but harsh. just like life.
in fact I think, ‘my’ table . . was the heavy metal one. everything was kind of dark, serious and goth.
since my piece was more of a riff, a pun, an ode !! a sentiment / I can only conclude I got in under the wire, on the basest of reasons, being the hard surfaces, and / ‘cast-iron’ is a heavy-metal – after all.
I thought the contrast of themes gave a great tension, in fact, all the display settings had this energy going on.
PRISCILLA FUSCO, ‘Untitled’, 2019.
stoneware/porcelain. 2.5 x 4 x 1.5 in.
white is the new black, esp when it is bone-colored, and skeleton-looking.
ANDREW GUENTHER, ‘Model for Ring’, 2019.
ABS plastic, wire and wax. 1 x 1 in.
this was Andrew’s ring !!
goth as only goth can be. ancient, like a magic spell, like a well-worn bone.
with blood tints at the . . beginning.
MIA GISELLE ANTER, ‘Guardian of Solitude’, 2019.
Brass, sterling silver, mirror.
3.25 x 1.5 x 1.5 in. / 3.25 x 2 x 1.5 in.
yes, definite . . a spell-casting / dark arts, heavy metal – table.
MIA GISELLE ANTER . . at the opening.
her ring was like a mirror.
skills / magic / black magic, craft / witchcraft.
spells / potions, passion . . everything a ring of such promise & often fearsome responsibility: should be.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~’BIG RINGER’ . . ORGANIZED & CURATED BY ANDREW GUENTHER / ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY / OPENING PIX !! – PART I |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | May 2nd, 2019, 5:11pm
subtext: CRAFT
‘Interactive’ Ring by COCO & LALA
image via Instagram @andrewedlingallery
‘BIG RINGER’ – CURATED BY: EAT THE LEAF / ANDREW GUENTHER
OPENS – SAT APRIL 27, 2019 / 6 – 8 PM
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
~COCO & LALA . . ‘BIG RINGER’ |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 27th, 2019, 8:22am
subtext: CRAFT
taking a turn . . to the traditional meaning of the marriage bond, the circle of commitment . .
morphs into the oval of . . female human biology.
RING by DAVE BYRANT
“so that the commitment taste better it should be stored in cool dry place.”
brass ring with chia seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, flax, lentils, oats, pine nuts, quinoa,
red pepper, rice, sea salt, & tumeric.
image via Instagram @andrewedlingallery
‘BIG RINGER’- CURATED BY: EAT THE LEAF / ANDREW GUENTHER
OPENS – SAT APRIL 27, 2019 / 6 – 8 PM
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
~DAVE BYRANT . . ‘BIG RINGER’ |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 27th, 2019, 8:17am
subtext: CRAFT
MY RING !!
‘Won’t you marry me, my darling millennial crafter ?’, RING by NANCY SMITH
miniature dollhouse ‘antique’ sewing machine, thrift shop silver plated, braided band.
image via Instagram @eattheleaf
‘BIG RINGER’ – CURATED BY: EAT THE LEAF / ANDREW GUENTHER
OPENS SAT APRIL 27, 2019 / 6-8 PM
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
~NANCY SMITH . . ‘BIG RINGER’ |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 27th, 2019, 8:04am
subtext: CRAFT
WORK IN PROGRESS / RING by . . AUSTIN EDDY
image via Instagram @eattheleaf
‘BIG RINGER’ – CURATED BY: EAT THE LEAF / ANDREW GUENTHER
OPENS – SAT APRIL 27, 2019 / 6 – 8 PM
ANDREW EDLIN GALLERY
~AUSTIN EDDY . . ‘BIG RINGER’ |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | April 27th, 2019, 7:55am
