OPENING TODAY !! – SUNDAY FEB 22 – 7-9 PM !!
PATTERSON BECKWITH !!
with DANIEL McDONALD in the PROJECT ROOM
& OPENING NITE PERFORMANCE BY: DOUGLAS ARMOUR at 8:30 PM
the show runs: FEBRUARY 21 – MARCH 21, 2009
MESLER & HUG – 510 BERNARD ST – LOS ANGELES – CALIFORNIA
some images of Patterson’s new work from the gallery website:
and, also on the website – Patterson’s iconic image of COLIN DeLAND:
see: more images/PATTERSON BECKWITH/MESLER & HUG
. . . while we’re waiting for Megan to send in – some new pix from LA and year 2009, we thought it might be fun to take a little trip down the MEGAN WHITMARSH memory lane – on artlovers !!
MEGAN WHITMARSH, opens ‘FOREST LOGIC’ at the now closed Sixytseven, NYC. April 2, 2005
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
see more pix: from the ‘Forest Logic’ opening !!
one, of our fave MEGAN WHITMARSH posts has got to be: ‘Snowmonkeys in Japan’ !!
a bilingual tour of Japan and American from each other’s point of view !! it posted in JUNE 2006.
another fave: the ‘Yeti Builds Crystal’ post of Sept 2006
also see: MEGAN WHITMARSH – the card for: ‘PINK TRASH’ !!
another flash from the past. Megan’s super super pink and blue offerings at the CINDERS PORCH SHOW of JULY 2005 !!
see: the original post – LITTLE SHOPS !! – 2006-10-24 !!
and, a last look back:
MEGAN WHITMARSH – drawings on the wall, near the reception desk, Sixtyseven, NYC. Nov. 22, 2005
see: the original post – ‘FUN TIMES’ – 2006-04-04
OPENING TODAY – SAT – FEB 21 – in LA !! – 7-10 PM !!
MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘THE FUCKING CRAP OF LIFE ‘ – also: C.F. and MATT FURIE
WITH OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE BY DOLPHIN FORCE
the show runs: FEB 21 – MARCH 21, 2009
NEW IMAGE ART – 7908 SANTA MONICA BLVD – LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
HRS: WED-SAT 1-6 PM OR BY APPT.
ARTWORK BY MEGAN WHITMARSH/COURTESY: NEW IMAGE ART
MEGAN’S ARTIST’S STATEMENT – FOR THE SHOW – ‘THE FUCKING CRAP OF LIFE’ – IS WORTH READING !!
“I am a child of the 70s whose sense of futurism is informed by Star Wars [fucked-up dusty robots] instead of Tomorrow Land. A future with entropy and drug use and weeds growing in the cracks between the scratched plexiglas windows of the geodesic domes. Bits of yarn and dusty houseplants. If this sounds bleak, I don’t mean for it to. perhaps the healthiest land of futurism is one that admits entropy and flux. Perfection is suspicious, worn and dusty can mean well-loved too. Who loves the Stepford Wife?
“The visual noise of my youth wasn’t only Reagan and the Day After; it also contained optimism and complexity: Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Mork & Mindy, The Muppets, and punk rock.
“When I make a giant mountain of handmade trash I am lost in the fun of making, and feel like a kid building a fort. In the end I must resign myself to the fact that I have just added more crap to the world, but this seems an inevitable art of being an artist and a human. I try to remain optimistic. I like art that is generous in spirit and amateurish, art that inspires rather than intimidates.
“I consider art a practice of transformation. We cannot expect to make new energy; instead we must reinvent, recycle, and transform what exists already. Making art is my attempt to synthesize my optimistic vision of the future with my pragmatic appraisal of the world I inhabit.”
MEGAN WHITMARSH received her MFA from the University of New Orleans.
check out her newly designed website: MEGAN WHITMARSH !!
LUCKILY, MEGAN RECENTLY SENT US SOME JPEGS OF SOME OF HER NEW WORK !! – TO BE INCLUDED IN – THE NEW IMAGE ART – MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘THE FUCKING CRAP OF LIFE’ – SHOW !!
MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘GIANT LUMP’ – 65 x 55 in. embroidery and fabric
MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘TRASH MOUNTAIN’ – 40 x 30 in. on paper.
detail, MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘TRASH MOUNTAIN’.
MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘COLORWORK’ – 40 x 30 in. also on paper
detail, MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘COLOR WORK’.
also with work in the show:
CF aka CHRISTOPHER FORGUES !!
“Born in 1979 in Fitchburg MA, and currently living in Providence, Rhode Island, Chris is also known as CF – a comic book maker, musician and artist. He performs his music under the name Kites, and has numerous self-released tapes, as well as recordings on Load Records.
He plays hand made electronics, originally simple oscillators that have now advanced with his skill as an instrument builder into more complicated synthesizers. Both his visual and aural art has been influential among a growing underground of contemporary American art and music that could and maybe should be called “noise”. he helped to release the free comic Paper Rodeo, and has just published the first book of a trilogy titled: ‘Power Masters’ with PICTURE BOX, INC.
CF received his MFA at Massachusetts College of Art.” (gallery website)
check out: LOAD RECORDS !!
and, MATT FURIE has work in the show, too.
MATT FURIE: “was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1979. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. He currently lives in San Francisco. Matt Furie’s drawings come form a mix of child-like enchantment and momentary adult situations. His self-proclaimed “…children’s book illustrations for adults’ combines traditional and modern mark-making for his ripe, cartoon-inspired characters. last year he was awarded best Visual Artist by the SF Guardian in the 20th annual Goldie awards. … His art has appeared in numerous magazines including juxtapoz, vice, the believer, the oxford american journal, and swindle.” (gallery website)
and, DOLPHIN FORCE will perform at the opening.
check out: DOLPHIN FORCE/MySpace
wow – so MEGAN has promised to send us – some more pix !! STAY TUNED !!
UP-DATE: SUNDAY MARCH 1, 2009 – MEGAN SENT US SOME PIX !! FROM THE SHOW !!
MEGAN WHITMARSH – WITH HER ‘TRASH MOUNTAIN’ PILE – ‘FUCKING CRAP OF LIFE’, RIGHT ON !!
MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘TRASH MOUNTAIN’.
a large wall piece by MATT FURIE !!
COL. SAUNDERS – eat your heart out !!
installation shot: MEGAN WHITMARSH – ‘THE FUCKING CRAP OF LIFE’ with CF and MATT FURIE.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY: MEGAN WHITMARSH
image on the card – painting by Pete Pezzimenti.
OPENING TODAY – SAT – FEB 21 – in LA !! – 6-8 PM !!
‘KEEPING TIME’ with BRIAN BELOTT, PETE PEZZIMENTI & STOSH TOKARSKI
curated by REBECCA DAVIS
the show runs: FEB 21 – MARCH 28, 2009
JK GALLERY – 2632 S. La Cienega Blvd – Los Angeles – California
HRS: TUES-SAT 111am-5pm
PETE PEZZIMENTI
PETE PEZZIMENTI
STOSH TOKARSKI
BRIAN BELOTT
ALL IMAGES COURTESY/JK GALLERY
see more pix from the show: KEEPING TIME !!
JUSTIN SAMSON – ‘Inside the Cosmic Motion Picture Projector’
the show opened Jan 16, 2009
and runs: JAN 16 – FEB 21, 2009
JOHN CONNELLY PRESENTS – 625 WEST 27TH – CHELSEA
HEADS UP !! you have like 4 days left to catch this show !! and y-e-s, it is worth the scramble.
if you’ve been following Justin’s work – you’ll know right away, when you see this show – you are witness to an amazing leap of faith. a milestone, a career-defining show – that says – great things ahead – no doubt.
great things, now !!! Justin Samson has focused his mark – straight down on the nail head of glory.
the show has an incandescent edge, and a strict configuration, that was missing in his previous installations, though you couldn’t quite put your finger on what was so wobbly – and has forged a hard edged beauty that is all his own, and which cannot be denied.
from the press release:
“The title of the show, ‘Inside the Cosmic Motion Picture Projector’, refers to the human mind in relation to what we perceive as reality. The observer is the creator. Inspired by quantum theory and the recent global interest in the Large Hadron Collider built by CERN on the Franco-Swiss border, near Geneva, Switzerland, Samson has created a body of work that explores the concepts of quantum mechanics . . .
“Samson underlines that all matter in the universe is connected because all matter is really an energy wave. What we perceive as reality, is in fact our brain’s interpretation of the interference patterns of waves. We objectify these patterns as reality. To apply quantum theory, the physical world must be divided into two parts. These parts are the observed system and the observing system. On a subatomic level, physicists create particles just by observing them. On the macrocosmic level the human mind creates the universe. Reality is protected by thought. The mind is a wave. It is connected to everything in the universe.”
PIX FROM THE OPENING – JUSTIN SAMSON – ‘Inside the Cosmic Motion Picture Projector’.
on the right, SCOTT HUG.
JUSTIN SAMSON – his best show, yet. leaving the complex, often anthropomorphic soft assemblages he was known for, far behind – turns out – hard metal surfaces, pin point radiant light and cosmic universes – rock his inner visions like never before – who’d a thunk it. yet what a beautiful evolution, from cloth to metal. from artifacts to finely wrought copper, from movement & dance to light.. kind of breath taking. yet its done so quietly, so focused and defined – that, that’s kinda the wrong word. contemplatively radiant – how’s that – any better ?
PETE PEZZIMENTI.
PETE, BRIAN BELOTT, and STOSH TOKARSKI, are in, what looks to be a fun little show called: ‘Keeping Time’ – curated by REBECCA DAVIS, of Bose Pacia Gallery, and opening this Sat Feb 21, 2009 at JK Gallery in LA – the show will run through March 28, 2009.
see: JK GALLERY
JOSHUA SMITH and JEFFREY TRANCHELL.
Jeffrey has the concurrent show in the JCP project room.
see: JEFFREY TRANCHELL/PROJECT ROOM
JEFFREY TRANCHELL, in the JOHN CONNELLY PRESENTS – Project Room.
JEFFREY TRANCHELL, NOLAN SIMON, and KYLE KNODELL aka ‘dumpling’.
KYLE has a little ‘footnote’ claim to fame – he often works as a studio assistant to ALEXANDRE SINGH, and was with him – when Alexandre participated in the original 2008 BALLROOM MARFA – HELLO METH LAB.
On his own merits – he’d probably like to be better know as a photographer. He graduated from SVA – with a major in photography.
RICCI ALBENDA dropped by.
PETER COFFIN.
hand of BRIAN BELOTT, JUSTIN SAMSON and JESSE GREENBERG.
Plastics sculptor JESSE GREENBERG is based in Philly – we’ve seen his work here in NYC – in that awesome 2008 Bobo summer group show, BOBO’S on 27th ST. I would rate this guy as – number 1 – on my list of who we’d like to see given a debut solo show – of his own, in NYC !!
these painted canvases utilize tiny ‘lites’.
you can see the seeds of this work in the piece Justin made for the Dark Fair, last year. Brian Belott turned him onto the tiny portable ‘lites’.
see: Dark Fair/SWISS INSTITUTE/2008-04-20
this big canvas actually featured 2 of those long lasting eco-light bulbs !!
this copper column – also had ‘light’ works inside it.
this was a contrasting piece – in terms of metal surface, light and ‘theory’. the previous copper column was upright, and more contained – the light that emanated from within – was an even, warm, honey-like glow – this one is horizontal, with open metal ‘line’ work, of a ‘found’ nature – and pulsing. with an ever-changing, yet repeating pattern, or spectrum of what almost seems to be animated – colored light.
what I liked best about it – was how far out, and yet low-key – it was, at the same time.
MELISSA BROWN and ANNIE PEARLMAN. JOCELYN SHIPLEY, in the background.
voguing for the camera !!
MELISSA BROWN and ANNIE PEARLMAN.
MELISSA BROWN. you’d have to say 2008-09 – was a big break-out year for her.
just as this show is a big break-out for Justin.
earlier ‘planetary’ drawings, of last Spring 2008 – gave birth to some of the concepts that informed this show.
outside – BOBO’S NICK PAYNE !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
KNOW HOPE, Chelsea, NYC. Oct 9, 2008
a different take, but still I believe, KNOW HOPE, note the stylized KH at the bottom !!
KNOW HOPE, Chelsea, NYC. Dec 6, 2008
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
KNOW HOPE – our Valentine’s Day – HOME PAGE !!
this Japanese-Israeli street artist had his first NYC solo show, titled: ‘THE INSECURITIES OF TIME’, up in the AD HOC PROJECT ROOM. the show ran from Jan 16 – Feb 15, 2009.
the card for the show – was pretty nice, too. below, the front and the back of the card.
JON BURGERMAN & JIM AVIGNON PRESENT: ANXIETY ROOM !!
featuring ‘Anxiety Broom’
OPENING NIGHT PAINTING PERFORMANCE with JON and JIM – THURS FEB 12 from 6-10 PM !!
the show runs FEB 12 – MARCH 15, 2009
FACTORY FRESH – 1053 FLUSHING AVE – BET MORGAN & KNICKERBOCKER – BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN
L TRAIN TO MORGAN
Jon Burgerman flies across the pond to collaborate with his friend Jim Avignon and fill the gallery with many drawings and paintings of their beloved characters. “It will be a space to relieve your anxieties, or perhaps further incubate them.”
definite check out t-h-e-s-e websites !! fun & games !!
see: JON BURGERMAN !!
see: JIM AVIGNON !!
PIX FROM THE OPENING – ‘ANXIETY ROOM’ – JON BURGERMAN & JIM AVIGNON.
FACTORY FRESH, FEB 12, 2009
approaching FACTORY FRESH !!
wooden cut-outs hang in the window.
they turn out to be, JON+JIM ‘window masks’. made of painted wood. ($250 ea.)
a tree hangs down from the ceiling. with small icons on it.
an upside down, anti-Xmas tree? barren of any green, any sign of life, except these signs, hanging from it, attached by string – tiny symbols, trinkets, charms ?? of civilized ?? life ??
think that’s a mike, as in microphone ?
well, that’s a dog bone, that’s for sure.
inside.
collaboration. JON BURGERMAN & JIM AVIGNON.
JON+JIM , ‘Nature Retreat’, 36 x 24 in. ($450).
yo. !! it doesn’t get, a-n-y better than that.
JON+JIM, ‘From Elba to Helena’, 24 x 36 in. ($450).
this is actually the first time, t-o-t-a-l-l-y, hard to believe, that Jon Burgerman and Jim Avignon have ever meet in person, let alone collaborated !! they did all this fantastic work in the past week.
s-w-e-e-t.
JON BURGERMAN, ‘Foot and Mouth’, 24 x 28 in. ($350)
(just for comparisons, sake !! MR. CURIOUS !!)
FACTORY FRESH workers, IRIS CHU, and MATT UEBBING, in JON+JIM, ‘ANXIETY ROOM’ t-shirts, available at the gallery.
JIM AVIGNON !!
from the press release: “Unpredictable and sensational, JIM AVIGNON has become a pop-icon in fewer than 15 years, defying the rules of the art market and delivering his crisp, technicolor world directly to the people. Avignon is the author and illustrator of the ‘Attack Delay’ series, founder of the one-man-techno-band Neoangin, subject of numerous television documentaries, and a wild and untamed thing. He resides in both Berlin and New York City.”
from left: JON BURGERMAN and JIM AVIGNON.
from the press release: “With a prodigious resume remarkable in both size and scope, ‘Anxiety Room’ marks Jon Burgerman’s second effort with factory fresh founders ALI HA and AD DEVILLE. The Nottingham (London) based artist is the designer of a series of figurines for Kidrobot, creator of the visually stunning book, Pens Are My Friends, and the source of inspiration for innumerable tattoos. Dazed & Confused magazine has described Burgerman’s vibrant, labyrinthine images as “Walt Disney at an Incan monument on mescaline”, and he would like everyone to know he is not just another pretty face.”
in the back room – 2 large paintings by JIM:
‘Everybody’s Still Asleep’, ($900) and, ‘Forecast’, ($900).
fascinated by Jim’s ‘Forecast’ !!
detail, Jim’s ‘Forecast’ – the economy – going down !! the little train that could, NOT !!
anymore !! note the steep drop-off. yeah, right. tell me about it !!
JIM AVIGNON, ‘Forecast’ . . . FEB 2009.
on another back wall, JIM AVIGNON – smaller works on cardboard ($300 ea.)
JIM – cardboard piece. ‘BLACK MEAL’.
JIM – cardboard piece. ‘COMA’.
JON BURGERMAN, drawings on paper. (price range $150 – $175 ea.)
JON BURGERMAN – drawing on paper.
detail, JON – drawing on paper.
JON BURGERMAN – drawing on paper.
detail, JON – drawing on paper.
JON+JIM – ‘BOARD OF ANXIETIES’ !!
drawings, $50 ea. !!
b-o-r-e-d of anxieties, no kidding !!
too many emails !!
moving house. and yep, we know that one, all too well, too.
NYer ANDY DECK, with JON BURGERMAN, at the opening.
computer whiz, philosopher, and artist, ANDY DECK currently teaches code & computer arts at SVA.
he show us his handmade, self-illustrated, funny, very eco-wary – ‘Wildlife Refuse 2009’ calendar.
definite – check him out, at: ARtCONtext.NET !!
inside ANDY DECK’S CALENDAR !!
a page from ANDY DECK’S – ARTCONTEXT – CALENDRICAL – WILDLIFE REFUSE 2009 !!
also at the opening – artist TIM KENT.
Tim has several shows currently happening internationally, but the one we can all see – his upcoming solo show at FACTORY FRESH, is scheduled for next September 2009.
see: TIM KENT/OCULAR JOY FOUNDATION !!
JON+JIM, ‘Ego It Superego’, 48 x 36 in. ($750).
JON+JIM, ‘Not in Ham’, 24 x 18 in. ($400).
oh oh. some fresh cans of paint, clean brushes and a big empty, w-h-i-t-e wall.
the performance – ‘Anxiety Broom’ – !! – begins !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
. . . no, it’s not just the street boys, talkin ’bout the way the world is.
two young artists, GENEVA-based JONATHAN DELACHAUX and PHILLY-based LIZZIE FITCH – are currently making the NYC scene – with their take, too.
It’s actually quite a brilliant curatorial match.
NOTE: THE SHOW HAS BEEN EXTENDED THRU – MARCH 21st !!
JONATHAN DELACHAUX AND LIZZIE FITCH
opened Jan 16th,
the show runs JAN 16 – FEB 21, 2009
FOXY PRODUCTION – 623 W. 27TH ST – CHELSEA – NYC
HRS: TUES-SAT 11-6 PM
LIZZIE FITCH !! from Philly – as in Philadelphia !! as in BOBO country !! at the opening.
you first meet her, here: BOBO’S on 27TH ST/2008-07-15 !!
LIZZIE FITCH meets BILL BRADY, that ATM guy.
Lizzie was born in Bloomington, Indiana in 1981.
She currently lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She studied at RISD, The Rhode Island School of Design, and she is also an artist/performance musician, she has performed with The Experimental People Band in NYC, New Orleans, and Cleveland.
see: The Experimental People Band/YouTube
a quick peek at . . . . what’s on Lizzie’s rack !!
c-o-n-s-u-m-e-r beware !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’, 2008.
rubber, plastic, clothing, rack hangers, paint, cardboard.
Geneva-based JONATHAN DELACHAUX.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, with a peek at his work, the ‘GOLEM’ series, 2008.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, with his wife, ZOE CAPPON.
JONATHAN is part of a band, called What’s Wrong With Us, and Zoe is the lead singer.
check out: What’s Wrong With Us !!
ZOE CAPPON, artist & musician.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX and CHAD PARKS.
Chad Parks plays in London and New York’s: Three Black Peas.
He also plays guitar and sings with: Near Death Experience.
musician NATHANIEL GOLDSTOCK.
see: KOALA BEAR
CHAD PARKS, ELYAS KAHN, and NATHANIEL GOLDSTOCK.
ELYAS KAHN is the lead singer for the Nervous Cabaret.
do N-O-T !! miss sampling: NERVOUS CABARET on MySpace !!
ELYAS CHAN and CHAD PARKS at the JONATHAN DELACHAUX & LIZZIE FITCH OPENING,
FOXY PRODUCTION, JAN 16, 2009.
JESSE GREENBERG, he of the large plastic sculptures and small ‘touchables’, also dropped by.
Jesse, like Lizzie, is Philly-based, and was also well represented in the 2008 hit BOBO SUMMER SHOW at FOXY !!
see: BOBO’S ON 27TH ST !!
JONATHAN DELACHAUX with ‘Golem’, 2008. acrylic on canvas.
In this series of paintings, a story-telling narrative, Delachaux’s characters build Golem, the man-made creature of clay first cited in the Talmud.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX was born in Motiers, Switzerland in 1976. He studied at the Ecole superieure d’arts visuels, Geneva. He currently lives and works in Geneva.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX. no, your eyes do not deceive you.
both Lizzie’s and Jonathan’s work have heavy-duty, as in explicit, graphic references to the most primal aspects of human-hood. His work is based on life-size puppets which he hand builds. He then paints from them, using them as models, onto plastic film, in reverse, and then transfers that image onto canvas.
The result is an acrylic painting with an uncannily flat, photographic surface.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’, 2008. multi-media.
Lizzie uses hand-made puppets, in this piece, as well. but in a 3-D form, and as the primary vehicle.
Ironically although she uses many piececs of reality, her ‘people’ are not photographic, but collaged !!
as in, truly – patchwork !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
. . . what’s, that, inside that bag ?
detail, LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
oh oh. pretty tough stuff. today’s art is not for the faint-at-heart !!
makes the street stuff – look like a wall in the park. ok – the train tracks.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘FAMILY – WALKING’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘TOWER – COMFORTABLE RISK’, 2008. mixed media.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘TARGET – A MALL WAS’, 2008. mixed media.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘TARGET – A MALL WAS’.
detail, LIZZIE FITCH, ‘TARGET – A MALL WAS’.
dismemberment !! of another nature.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, ‘GOLEM’.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, ‘GOLEM’.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, ‘GOLEM’.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, ‘GOLEM’.
JONATHAN DELACHAUX, ‘GOLEM’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’.
detail, LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’.
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’
detail, LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’
pay attention to the ‘brand’ logo on that bag !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’.
global w-a-r-n-i-n-g !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’
tag-me-not !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’.
TAGGED – IKEA !!
LIZZIE FITCH, ‘CLOTHING RACK – RACK HIGHWAY’.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
THE STANTON CHAPTER PRESENTS:
‘BEFORE I DIE’ – an exhibit of photographs by SEAN VEGEZZI – curated by MINT & SERF.
the show opened FRIDAY, FEB 6, 2009
and runs FEB 6 – MARCH 1, 2009
STANTON CHAPTER – 176 STANTON – LOWER EAST SIDE – NYC
HRS: TUES-FRI 12-6PM
. . . the sweetest toughest show on the face of the earth.
This is the last exhibit of the STANTON CHAPTER, formerly known as the CANAL CHAPTER !!
‘Before I Die’ opened last Friday, Feb 6th – it was a pretty big, and intense opening, for a kid’s first solo show, esp. a kid who is barely 18. yep, the undercover (graffiti ?) cops came and shut down the opening, but it was already at its end. for what reason they appeared, is anyone’s guess. there wasn’t a straight answer, or one that made any sense. you can’t serve beer at openings, duh ? didn’t they try that last summer in the Hamptons – but, since when in NYC ? They stormed in like it was the end of the world. making the title of the show, not all that unlikely. at least they arrived like gangbangers, what else could they do, at 30+something, they were too old to really get away as undercover in that crowd – as opposed, to arriving in stealth and eavesdropping on conversations to make their mark. don’t think they really knew what they were doing there themselves, esp when literally every kid in the room, took out their cells and got right back in their faces, taking pix !! undercover, NOT ANYMORE!! The cops looked ridiculous. so-called GRAFFITI and the city – it’s really always gonna be – the neverending story. why ?
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Before I Die’ – case in point: the sweetest, toughest show on the face of the earth, and NYC in particular – breeding ground to wave after wave of local talent, that has nowhere else to blossom, except from naturally rambling about its forbidden, but native soil – the inner city streets, but esp. the underbelly of its decaying infrastructure.
ironically, sometimes getting down, is also the only way – up and out.
it’s interesting to note, in the press release quoted below – the referencing of the 9/11 terror attacks that brought down the World Trade Center towers – so stunningly, one sunny morning, not so long ago – when all these kids – were just kids, real young kids – what 11, 12 – and, just starting to look out at the city from inside childhood. and, you want to question why they want to make their mark on society, so determinedly. society made its mark on them. yo, listen up, sometimes the street culture might devolve into a scrawling blight, depends on whose looking – but these bombs are urban graphics & gylphs yearning to be art, and to be set free – the beat, the juice of life, the communicator – not, you know – suicide bombs to take you and 2,000 of your friends, out. when push comes to shove, it’s really a good thing. and right now, face it. street art is juicing up the culture, when the culture really needs juice. corporate America ain’t sponsoring these kids, for naught.
OBEY GIANT ain’t ruling the propaganda waves, for naught. the best of them have the drive, and the set skills to rule – in times that are quickly a-changin. it’s just you don’t want to encourage a bunch of loser copy cats. that’s the only downside. and let’s face it, its not just about street art. its about juice.
there is no such thing as street art or straight art. its only about juice. talent. skills. singular vision.
case in point: LANDSCAPE.
ain’t no diff between SEAN VEGEZZI or BRENDAN CASS – except their mediums, one’s a photographer, one’s a painter. both got juice. and their own special brand.
. . . like they say on their website:
“Thank you all for coming to the opening of our last exhibit at the Stanton Chapter. It was epic as always with underage teenagers, undercover cops, angry neighbors, wine, red bull, wine with red bull, graffiti writers, artsy folks, American flag jackets, Dane Vegezzi, and many more.”
and, so, the CANAL CHAPTER, aka the STANTON CHAPTER flames out !!
here’s a little straightforward background on SEAN: take great pictures.com/SEAN VEGEZZI & THE VANTAGE TEAM.
and, from the STANTON CHAPTER press release:
“The Stanton Chapter is proud to present the first solo show by .. photographer SEAN VEGEZZI. . an 18 yr-old New York City native, whose … subterranean lens documents Gotham’s rarely seen underbelly.
Pursuing solo missions into unexplored, remote, and abandoned city architecture or tagging along with myriads of graffiti writers (he) fearlessly captures privacy, isolation, and quiet in the face of relentless city life ….
“The artist’s work is a product of the trauma he suffered from the September 11th Attacks. Then aged 12, Vegezzi lived in subsidized Tribeca housing, just 4 blocks from Ground Zero. The destruction that unfolded before his eyes and the media hysteria that followed pushed him to find something positive in the face of unprecedented negativity. First exploring his immediate neighborhood, then braving ground zero with a video camera – escorted by several sympathetic construction workers – Vegezzi decided he could free himself by documenting the world as he see it through his lens.
“It is appropriate that Sean’s first show will also be the Stanton Chapter’s last. Sean started coming to the Canal Chapter when we first opened in 2005, a precocious kid with a chip on his shoulder. Four years later, after helping us pull off hundreds of exhibitions and projects, talks and performances, Sean is still around working harder than ever … ”
2 photos of SEAN VEGEZZI, from the artlovers archive:
SEAN VEGEZZI, native born son of TRIBECA, NYC, clocking in at 15 yrs. of age – got the “best kid artist” award – on artlovers – way back in JUNE 2006 !! the first and only – and he is still holding the record !!
his website, NYCexposed – had his photos on it and links to some truly great and off-the-beaten track tag sites. (sadly, it is no longer operating.) here, he is in front of a painting by DAZE, in the CANAL CHAPTER exhibit, ‘BANNED FROM TELEVISION’, which ran MAY 31 – JUNE 23, 2006.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH. JUNE 3, 2006
see: the original post
then, 15 yr. old photographer, SEAN VEGEZZI, in front of his favorite painting in the CANAL CHAPTER show, ‘BANNED FROM TELEVISION’ – ‘TRIALS OF JULIA’ by CYCLE.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH, JUNE 3, 2006
see: the original post/BANNED FROM TELEVISION !! – ART LOVERS PHOTO REPORT.
PIX FROM THE OPENING – SEAN VEGEZZI – ‘BEFORE I DIE’ – THE STANTON CHAPTER/FEB 6, 2009
first person we see, outside on the street – SEAN VEGEZZI.
DAN SAFDIE.
STANTON CHAPTER’S – JASON WALL.
RON BEACH.
the scene outside the Lower East Side storefront.
MIKHAIL SOKOVIKOV – of the STANTON CHAPTER.
the work – starts – to work it’s magic !!
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Spencer and Mercer’, scanned 35mm Digital C Print. 30 x 40 in.
Edition of 2. $500.
(yo, all you dumb-ass collectors – and young wanna-bes, if you can’t – connect dots, what are you doing following the site. do everybody a big favor – jump off.) you can’t get it any better than this.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘The Virgin Tunnel’, Digital C Print. 16 x 20 in.
Edition of 4. $250.
SANDEEP BHULLER, artist & scholar.
beside her, the SEAN VEGEZZI photograph that accompanied the press release.
JAMAL ‘INK’ ROBINSON, Fashion Editor of BOMBIN’
yo, take a little cruise & bend your mind around this site !!
check out: BOMBIN MAGAZINE
don’t miss: the BOMBIN’ BLOG !!
note:if you’re the kind of reader, this stuff scares, let me ask you ONE QUESTION.
if there was another emergency in this city, on the scale of 9/11 – and you needed to escape – who do you think could get you out safer – these kids, or the cop, below ?
MORGAN C.
DANNY V.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘JOY RIDE’, Digital C Print, 11 x 14 in.
Edition of 4. ($150)
SEAN VEGEZZI, on the right, with MORGAN C.
a fan of Sean’s work.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Jedi Five, Spring to Canal’, Digital C Print, 11 x 14 in.
Edition of 4, ($150).
the crowd was just as state-of-the-art, as the work !!
STEPHEN K. SCHUSTER.
GREG PASS.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Cecske’, Digital c print, 11 x 14 in.
Edition of 4, ($150.)
down at the bottom you can just make out CECSKE aka the CECSTER, and JEDI FIVE.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Sp.One’s …’, Digital C Print, 11 x 14 in.
Edition of 4, ($125)
note: Sp.one aka GREG LAMARCHE.
VICTORIA KOREN, in the hat, and Heather, in pink. Spencer.
MERCER.
SPENCER.
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Spencer and Mercer’ – another take !!
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Highline Nap’, Digital C Print, 11 x 14 in.
Edition of 4, ($150).
SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Xavier Hides’, Digital C Print, 11 x 14 in
edition of 4, ($150).
detail, SEAN VEGEZZI, ‘Xavier Hides’.
you can just make him out, at center of the right hand side.
the undercover cops arrive.
just time a get a few last shots, this is BUDDHA GOLD.
it was ending, anyways.
the last show. founding partners: MIKHAIL SOKOVOKOV, and JASON WALL – of the STANTON CHAPTER, the CANAL CHAPTER, and 1134 NYC. aka mint and serf – and, collectively known as mirf,
flame out, but, just for n-o-w, with a great little show, and, probably one of the best shows you’ll ever see, fresh pea right outta the pod. ‘Before I Die’ an exhibition of Photographs by SEAN VEGEZZI. on the wall – Sean Vegezzi’s ‘Spencer and Mercer’.
a last good-bye. JASON RODRIGUEZ and DANE VEGEZZI. Dane is Sean’s older bro.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
note: The STANTON CHAPTER is/was a continuation of the CANAL CHAPTER, relocated. The CANAL CHAPTER, which was located on Canal St, just west of West Broadway, was formed by Mint and Serf of 1134NYC in 2005, with the support of Red Bull. It was inspired by the old school alternative spaces that brought life to the downtown New York art scene, decades before.
see: artlovers first meets MINT & SERF aka 1134NYC c/o ALFREDO MARTINEZ !!
and, yep !! sure enough – there’s that wild, life-size artillery piece that Alfredo set down on Canal St, being looked over by the cops, and making the POST, pre-POSTER BOY, pre-OBAMA POSTER BOY, even pre-DUKE RILEY submersible !!
funny how things go around in circles.