![\"Jason](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/photos\/Jason_Rhoades__1.jpg\")
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JASON RHOADES at the opening of his one man show, ‘Meccatuna’,
\n DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC, Sept 12, 2003
\nPhoto: Nancy Smith<\/p>\n
Los Angeles based installation artist JASON RHOADES dies at the age There were immediately rumors circulating that Rhoades had died of a His ‘Meccatuna’ show in 2003, in NYC, at David Zwirner was pretty tame, visually, When a talented artist dies too soon, especially right on the “…Los Angeles art lovers may connect Rhoades’ name most recently with further, in the obit it states: …”At the time of his death, Rhoades artist JASON RHOADES, with MONICA ZWIRNER, the wife of art dealer, from left, gallerist ANDREW KREPS, and sculptor, RACHEL HARRISON,
\nof 41, on Tuesday, August 1, 2006. According to the DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY,
\nJason fell ill at home and was brought to the hospital, where he passed away.
\nAn obituary<\/a>
\nby Diane Haithman, LA Times Staff writer, was published on August 3.
\nOne of the saddest notes in the article was the fact that .. “according to
\nthe David Zwirner Gallery, Rhoades is survived by his wife, artist Rachel Khedoori,
\nand daughter Rubi, 3.”<\/p>\n
\nheart attack, but cause of death has not been officially confirmed. According
\nto the obituary, an autopsy is pending. Other rumors circulated that Rhoades
\ndied of a heart attack at a club, and specifically at a club performance, or the
\ninstallation of one of his recent “Black Pussy Soirees” but the David Zwirner
\nGallery reports that he was …”not at a club, nor was he at one of his Black Pussy
\nsoirees … the LA ones actually wrapped up in LA a month ago” – guess art fans
\ncouldn’t resist the provocative associations, but it seems the gallery took
\noffense at the rumors, and said they were hurtful to his family. But getting
\n‘in-your-face’ seems to be an aspect of his work that was just truly taking off,
\nand successfully so, on many levels, garnering him not only critical acclaim,
\nbut mainstream media attention as well. It was more a case of …wanting
\nto visualize him ‘going down with the ship’ …than anything really malevolent
\non the part of the rumor mongers.<\/p>\n
\neven though conceptually it was very controversial .. because of Islamic references.
\nThe highly detailed production, realized in a playful spirit, and as a site-specific installation,
\nhad at its core – the issue of women in Islam.
\nThe overall effect although purely visual, was based on consumer products and
\nlogos – the big center of attention, a room-sized block constructed from
\ntoy ‘legos’ – at first impression, hardly the stuff of controversy – was in fact,
\na representation of the most sacred object in Islam. <\/p>\n
\nbrink of mainstream success, its shocking … but if Jason Rhoades could look down, I’m
\nsure he’d find something awesome about an obit that had to deal with
\nhis recent performance in LA like this …<\/p>\n
\nhis series of interactive art exhibitions this year that he dubbed “soirees”.
\nThe series included such provocative and provocatively titled invitation-only<\/em>
\nevents as the “Black Pussy Soiree Cabaret Macrame,” a combination
\nexhibition and dinner party<\/em> that featured violet neon signs with
\nAfrican, Caribbean, Creole and hip-hop slang for female genitalia”.
\n– Diane Haithman, LA Times Obituary, Aug 3, 2006<\/p>\n
\nwas preparing a live event for Aug 12 in Portland , Oregon with
\ncurator Majories Myers. It was to feature a wrestling match involving
\nhomeless teenagers wallowing in a plastic pool filled with bath soaps, lotions
\nand sexual lubricants.” … sounds like sometime we’d like to experience
\n‘head-on’ …not just imagine from the depths of an obituary … looks like
\nthere is a big sadness, and loss, in the artworld, today.<\/p>\n![\"Jason](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/photos\/Jason_Rhoades___2.jpg\")
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\nDavid Zwirner, at the opening of his one-man show, ‘Meccatuna’,
\nDavid Zwirner Gallery, Chelsea, NYC, Sept 12, 2003<\/p>\n![\"Jason](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/photos\/Jason_Rhoades___3.jpg\")
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\ncenter, JASON RHOADES opening, ‘Meccatuna’, David Zwirner Gallery,
\nChelsea, NYC, Sept 12, 2003<\/p>\n
![\"Jason](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/photos\/Jason_Rhoades___4.jpg\")
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