~MULTIPLES AND EDITIONS, VOL. 2/CURATED BY ETHAN CRENSON/FRONT ROOM
MULTIPLES AND EDITIONS, VOL. 2 – CURATED BY ETHAN CRENSON
JANUARY 11 – JANUARY 27, 2008
FRONT ROOM GALLERY – 147 ROEBLING ST – WILLIAMSBURG – BROOKLYN – NY
HOURS: FRI-SUN 1-6PM & BY APPOINTMENT
. . . . just when you thought there was nothing new to see, nowhere to go and certainly
NOTHING !! you could afford to buy – you turn a corner on a Williamsburg street – and there it is – a huge happening party, fueled by those crazy great orange PERNOD cocktails, a big group show full of the greatest new work – you’d never imagined existed; and whose artists, not a one – have you heard of before – even though you stalk the art scene incessantly – and !! – best of all – you could walk away with your arms loaded with work – !! – the limited edition multiples range in price from $1 – yes $1 !! – with most averaging in the $20 – $25 range – and the higher production pieces – topping out at about $80 bucks. some large pieces hit a grand ($1,000). even the biggest loser, could walk out happy – like I did – with 2 pieces – for $2 total expenditure – yep, that’s one buck a piece.
o.k. I exaggerated about one thing – I did know one of the artists, but only one, tTRAVIS LINDQUIST, whose path I had just crossed for the first time in about 3 years, over at the ‘MYTH’ opening, the same night at McCAIG and WELLES. AIMEE CHAN, the Associate Director at FRONT ROOM, also had stopped by ‘MYTH” and they both invited me over to check out the FRONT ROOM opening, just 2 blocks away.
AIMEE CHAN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR of FRONT ROOM GALLERY and TRAVIS LINDQUIST
OUTSIDE THE ‘MYTH’ OPENING, McCAIG AND WELLES, JAN 11, 2008
APPROACHING THE FRONT ROOM GALLERY – 147 ROEBLING ST – in WILLIAMSBURG
the show’s curator, ETHAN CRENSON, with, his wife, ALIC. they both have work in the show.
ETHAN told me he got the idea for the show while he was out visiting different artists’ studios. Many, as is the custom these days, had ‘left-overs’ from small edition series they had produced for previous shows, and he thought – this would be a good genesis to build a group show around – he was right !! and we are not talking just limited edition prints, either, like back in the day. Just observing – the range and diversity of the limited artist editions – was totally entertaining !!!
Plus they were all really well made, whether handmade or super ‘professionally’ produced – and most all, had a conceptual edge, as well as a uniquely visual richness.
the show has a poster – on really nice shiny card-stock – and a small catalog book, that not only gives detailed info on all the pieces, but serves up small, interesting bios on the participating artists, all 60 of them. The card and poster are based on a butcher’s ANGUS BEEF CHART, with the artist’s names placed – where the names of the cuts of meat were, in the original ..
for some crazy reason, the first piece that grabs our eye is a small sign on a door, that we realize later leads into the gallery office.
but for the moment, its the doorway to ‘EROTIC INFORMATION’.
. . . turns out – to be a piece by the curator, ETHAN CRENSON.
‘Signs’, 2007. plastic, 10 x 2 ins. Edition: 25 (each)
(there were 3: WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER, EROTIC INFORMATION & PLEASE DEPARTMENT !!)
Black plastic sign with white engraved lettering. Mounts with two screws (not included).
Signed and numbered by the artist on the reverse. $21.00 (each)/set of three: $60.00
on a little display case, in the front of the gallery …. CHOCOLATE SANTAS !! – move over … time to let JIMI take over !!!!
1. the little red figurine,
NAVAL CASSIDY, ‘baby Navel Connector’, 2007, red rubber figurine and DVD with case.
Edition: 12
….Navel rescued this small figurine from his parents’ living room, and it has been featured in Cassidy’s work for the last 20 years. The DVD comprises a kaleidoscopic vision dedicated to the figurine in all its terrifying glory… the viewer is encouraged to hold the copy in his/her hands while watching the mandala unfold…WARNING: strong stroboscopic imagery contained in the DVD. Figurine Copies Manufactured by RACHEL LOWTHER. Certificate of authenticity. $50.00
2. the eyeballs – (looking like large SORRY!! – game board pieces),
ETHAN CRENSON, ‘untitled (eye)’, 2007
brass towel bracket and glass (taxidermy) eye
Edition: open
.. The brackets are scavenged from ebay and antique stores, so there are variations in size, shape and patina. Signed by the artist. small: $60 / medium:$80 / Large: $100
3. the bananas,
TRAVIS LINDQUIST, ‘Support the Troops Banana Stressball’, 2007
foam with screen print
Edition: 100 plus 25 APs
A yellow stress relieving toy in bumper ribbon yellow. Signed and numbered. $25.00
TRAVIS told us that ..”every time you squeeze it – it soothes and sends good vibes to the troops overseas.”
we’re like: “wow – how does that work – ?” – & – “oh, well yeah – but, wish it did !!”
4. the FUCK GLOBE,
MARSHALL REESE & NORA LIGORANO
‘F**K Snow Globe’, 2006, snowglobe
Edition: 25, 5th ed. (first ed. 2004). Signed. $125.00
from left: a pile of ‘Chump Change’ by JAN LYNN SOKOTA; two small translucent figures, resin and metal by PHILIP SIMMONS (Edition of 10-$80 for the pair); ‘Soot Bar’ by GREGORY CURRY, mixed media (Edition of 12-$80.00) & to the right – pre-packaged ‘Block Buster’ kits by GEORGE SPENCER ($25.00)
MATT RICHARDS, ‘Gellochio Project’, wood, metal, magic sculpt, paint
detail, MATT RICHARDS, ‘Gellochio Project’.
detail, MATT RICHARDS, ‘Gellochio Project’ – the little puppets were for sell – individually,
$80.00 a piece
MATT RICHARDS, with his ‘Gellochio Project’, in ‘MULTIPLES AND EDITIONS, VOL. 2’ – curated by ETHAN CRENSON, at the opening, JAN 11, 1008
GEORGE SPENCER, GRAPHIC FOR HIS ‘BLOCK BUSTING MACHINE’ (COIN DISPENSER/$1.00 BLOCK in PLASTIC BUBBLE)
GEORGE SPENCER – ‘BLOCK BUSTING’ TABLE INSTALLATION – mixed media
GEORGE SPENCER – ‘BLOCK BUSTING’ MACHINE/COIN-TOY DISPENSER. $1.00
you put 4 quarters into the machine – you get get one or two tiny blocks, in a plastic bubble – out. the tiny blocks are – inscribed: “George”.
GEORGE SPENCER, ‘BLOCK BUSTING’ COLLECTIBLE – $1.00 (directly from the machine at the gallery only) – yo, of, course we scored one !!!!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. JAN 11, 2008
UP-DATE: THURS JAN 24, 2008
JAN LYNN SOKOTA – ‘Chump Change’ – !!- 2 COINS FOR $1.00 BILL/DISPENSER at GALLERY
ok. due to popular inquiry – the 2nd thing I scored for $1.00 was some ‘chump change’ made by JAN LYNN SOKOTA. It was just as fun to get too. you put a $1 bill into a coin dispenser – except, instead of getting 4 quarters, like you do in the coin laundry – you get 2 coins – of SOKOTA’S coin series – ‘Chump Change’ – minted nickel-silver coins, 7/8 ins. diameter !!
with political message !!
JAN LYNN SOKOTA, ‘Chump Change’ – $1 BILL/2 COIN DISPENSER
JAN LYNN SOKOTA, ‘Chump Change’ – $1 BILL/2 COIN DISPENSER
YOU PUT A ONE DOLLAR – $1.00 – USA BILL – IN HERE . . .
JAN LYNN SOKOTA, ‘Chump Change’ – $1 BILL/2 COIN DISPENSER
YOU GET 2 COINS – OUT IN RETURN, DOWN HERE.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, ‘MULTIPLES AND EDITIONS VOL. 2’, FRONT ROOM GALLERY, JAN 17, 2008
more pix from the opening will post in the next Art Lovers Photos report – due up – next week.
more info: FRONT ROOM GALLERY – & – FRONT ROOM EDITIONS