![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BRANDON-JOHNSON-WALTER-RO.jpg\" "\\"BRANDON-JOHNSON-&-WALTER-RO\\"")
<\/a>\nBRANDON JOHNSON and WALTER ROBINSON . . .
\nat the launch of ZINGMAGAZINE #24 – which includes a special book project, ‘FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD’ – ‘PERSPECTIVES ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF DAN ASHER’ – BY BRANDON JOHNSON.
\nBRANDON JOHNSON is also the managing editor of ZINGMAGAZINE.
\nthis is his first book.
\nthe event took place at the ZINGMAGAZINE SOHO, NYC OFFICE.
\nZINGMAGAZINE ISSUE #24 – BOOK LAUNCH PARTY, OCT 8, 2015.<\/p>\n
ps: and, if you don’t know Walter Robinson – ha, sorry. but you are not<\/em> only on the wrong website, but you prob are on the wrong continent. and, damn if auto-focus doesn’t have a mind of it’s own sometimes, just like auto-spell !! but the Dan Asher book was under wraps, tucked into the magazine packaging – til you got home !!<\/p>\n my only personal regret, is that SIMON CERIGO, RIP, 2013 . . that great art world gadabout . . didn’t live to tell his<\/strong> tales of Dan, he prob knew Dan’s history the best of all. they meet at the Red Bar in 1981 and they were pretty much joined at the hip for decades.<\/p>\n
\nWalter Robinson – great American ‘reve noir’\/’pulp fiction’ & hard cash\/pharmaceuticals . . painter & former illustrious editor\/founder of artnet.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nDEVON DIKOU . . . founder, editor & publisher of ZINGMAGAZINE, and patron of this wonderful book project !!
\nthank you – Devon !!
\nZINGMAGAZINE #24 BOOK LAUNCH, ZING OFFICES, Grand St. in Soho, NYC.
\nOCT 8, 2015 <\/p>\n
\nbut still . . . she’s got a good thing going, and looks like the feedback from the night’s magazine\/book launch – is making her, and, rightfully so – happy !! <\/p>\n<\/a>
\nZINGMAGAZINE ISSUE 24, 2015 . . . A CURATORIAL CROSSING
\nhas a great line-up, and the production is . . out of this world !!
\nthere were sample copies to peruse at the event.
\na young artist I was with, NICHOLAS STEINDORF super admired the DAVID ALTMEJD photos, while my KATE CERIGO . . a young \/ senior graphic designer in the fashion world – was crazy for the graphics and specialty ‘luxe’ – papers !!
\nthe Mexican food – was great too, and the spirits were freely flowing.
\nZING: the next generation, comes . . on board !!<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nI just knew . . from the way it was so Zen-like hidden, guerilla-packaged, among-st this most subtle, but impressive assortment of small, indie artist publications – with an over-all color palette of a . . very right-on ‘bleeding edge’ gray fade-zone: resilient, reflective and so . . . exquisitely POETIC !! no words !!
\nthat was this was going to be too good – to be true.
\nlike saving the candy in the gold foil wrap, for last !!
\ncontrarian that I am – I couldn’t bear to open mine . . for a whole week, until today !!
\nbut word came in immediately – from Kate:
\n“Dan’s book came out really nice, Mom you should be proud to be a part of it!!!!!!” <\/p>\n<\/a>
\nso I slit the cellophane wrap – and opened it today !!
\nI was just blown away.
\nzen perfection – in a minimalist graphic format. Dan would love this. that’s what was so sad, for me.
\nthe sad part, exquisite fame: after a hard tough haul of a life, through the cruel tempest of what we casually call . . . the art world.
\nbut you know, there is<\/strong> such a sweet soft beauty to the sad side of the street – and Dan always knew, this was coming, so . . . let’s celebrate !!
\nand, yes this first<\/strong> time project by Brandon Johnson – is definitely a celebration, and a cause to celebrate. a full circle, with the new generation jumping on-board, and taking over from where the old-school critics and powers-that-were (!!) failed Dan, & themselves, bye the way.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nthis is the real DAN, the crumpled mess that was a constant swirl around him, just like that ‘Peanuts’ character. . . . that, the photo even survived – is a miracle.
\nyou can see the ‘dialog’ he shared with JEAN MICHEL (BASQUIAT) on the walls of this early-mid 80s studio shot. it was prob taken when both he and Jean Michel, were showing with Annina Nosei. and Dan was in the $$$ enough to paint on large canvas in a nice studio on the Bowery, or was it on Chrystie. I think they even shared it ??? <\/p>\n<\/a>
\nthe real Dan, from the beginning ‘end’ papers, his endless scribbles . . . and onwards, Brandon never skips a beat.
\nthe book is absolutely chock full of many many archival photos of Dan, and his work, with much thanks to BEN BERLOW who heads up the Estate of Dan Asher . .
\nbut the real beating heart of the book, is the oral history: interviews with almost 40 people who knew Dan at one time or another – each with their own particular take and . . fondness. it’s amazing that Brandon has preserved so much of this, before many of us – also go the way, of that south-of-sunset route of no-return – into the timeless sky.
\nfrom early friends, including myself, through JOHN LeKAY, and then in the 90s through YOSHITOMO NARA, and TOMIO KOYAMA, Dan’s one-time dealer in Japan, to later friends like . . BEN BERLOW, and GAVIN BROWN. <\/p>\n<\/a>
\nthere’s even a photo of Dan from elementary school, of course the kid at left, in the ‘specs’ is Dan.
\ntoo cute – and check out the willfull-ness !! in his face, even back then.
\nSimon told me, Dan told him many times – that his father used to beat him, many times, and harshly – because Dan was so contrary, and stubborn, even as a kid. the sad part is, it was nothing he could control – it was just his nature, just born that way.
\nDad.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nthere’s even a gorgeous, gorgeous, double page spread . . of one of Dan’s antarctic iceberg photos, ca. mid 90s.
\nI was Dan’s studio assistant at this time, don’t get me started . . .
\nit was a riot<\/em> – Dan was flush with cash, and the 4 star sushi, and the art career . . was rolling mighty !!
\nwe used to laugh so much, cracking jokes like other people chew gum, until . . damn !!
\nwhere’s the passport – the plane leaves in 30 mins !! <\/p>\n