the 3rd annual BROOKLYN COMICS and GRAPHICS FESTIVAL was a blast of creativity – and plain ole street smarts – as usual . . . except perhaps even more so, as the number of exhibitors had doubled, ha.
and unlike art fairs – there were a lot more narratives and stories – being told, or to be read, to put it properly.
not to forget to mention, that unlike art fairs – here you could pretty much walk away with something amazing, usually handmade, if not indie-produced, in limited edition, and signed. often even numbered. and pretty much directly from the artists – themselves. and for less than $10 a pop. as the 2 books below bear witness. some of the best, all of $17 total !! – I ever spent. need a babysitter ?
hire Jonah Hill.
so where to begin ?
how about – with headless women !! apparently an equal opportunity joke . . . cause the first’s by a woman, and the second’s by a man. oh, yeah.
headless woman by LISA HANAWALT . . . and the front cover of . . . ‘I WANT YOU’ – ISSUE #2. copyright 2010 BY LISA HANAWALT. CONTACT THE ARTIST AT: WWW.LISAHANAWALT.COM / LISAHANAWALT@GMAIL.COM
A PIGEON PRESS PUBLICATION. P.O. BOX 23661 OAKLAND CA. 94623 / WWW.PIGEON-PRESS.COM / PRINTED IN CANADA / FALL 2010 / $6.95 US / 6-1/2 x 9 ins.
headless woman by VICTOR KERLOW . . . and the back (!!) cover of . . . ‘SOMETHING BIG’ by VICTOR KERLOW.
SELF-PUBLISHED. ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT 2011 VICTOR KERLOW / $10 US at time of purchase / 7-3/4 x 9-3/4 ins.
FOR MORE DRAWINGS AND OTHER NEAT STUFF, VISIT: CHOPPEDINTWO.BLOGSPOT.COM and VICTORKERLOW.COM
that should keep you engaged, occupied ? – for a little while.
OYM – OCCUPY YOUR MIND !!
~headless women . . . ? |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 5th, 2011, 5:18pm
while the cat’s away – the mice will play !!
BROOKLYN COMICS & GRAPHICS FESTIVAL 2011 – IMAGE: LISA HANAWALT
the 3rd BROOKLYN COMICS and GRAPHICS FESTIVAL – is this SAT DEC 3, 2011 – !!
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
275 North 8th Street – WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN, NY
for directions: GOOGLE MAP
ADMISSION is FREE – the event runs from 12 PM – 9 PM
for more info: BROOKLYN COMICS & GRAPHICS FESTIVAL
we happened to pass by DESERT ISLAND the other day, where owner GABRIEL FOWLER, one of the 3 founder/organizers of the fest, along with DAN NADEL of PictureBox and BILL KARTALOPOULOS, told us that the event had almost doubled in size this year . . . with the mostly small press and many indie exhibitor/artist booths now filling the Church’s basement, as well as the first floor. the popular featured artist talks have been moved off-site . . to UNION POOL – 484 Union Ave # A, also in Williamsburg.
some highlights:
KRAMERS ERGOT 8 – the hugely successful comics compilation will debut with 2 mega signings by GARY PANTER, CF, FRANK SANTORO, DASH SHAW, ANYA DAVIDSON, SAMMY HARKHAM and GABRIELLE BELL.
the first is scheduled for 12:30 – 2 PM & the 2nd is scheduled for 4 – 6 PM. at the Church – PictureBox booth.
as well, at PictureBox MATTHEW THURBER and CF will be signing books from 2:30 – 3:30 PM.
the PictureBox booth will be downstairs, this year. first booth on the left.
at DESERT ISLAND, look out for their FREE – smokin’ hot SMOKE SIGNAL !!
the festival’s featured guests this year are a surprising, and diverse – super talented group:
CF, JACK DAVIS, PHOEBE GLOECKNER, LISA HANAWALT, CHIP KIDD, DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI, JOHN PORCELLINO and BRIAN RALPH.
you should check out this page, BCGF – FEATURED GUESTS, yourself . . . to read the spirited bios & catch the way great – artist caricatures !!
this link, BCGF – SATELLITE EVENTS clues you into many of the parties and off-site happenings, and also contains several way fun video clips, bye the way.
while this link, BCGF – PROGRAMMING, gives you the low down on the featured guest speakers at UNION POOL – which is FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
including: a Q+A with the legendary JACK DAVIS of MAD MAGAZINE at 1:30 PM – and – a discussion on COMICS and DESIGN with CHIP KIDD and DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI at 3:30 PM.
IT’S A GREAT EVENT – COME HAVE SOME REAL NYC FUN !!
~THE BROOKLYN COMICS & GRAPHICS FESTIVAL . . this Sat !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 2nd, 2011, 10:05am
ok. ok. maybe Miami – shouldn’t sink. for sure, I would go to this !!
the book launch of – ‘Solar Flares’ – by PETER SUTHERLAND . . . at PRINTED MATTER at ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH
Bookstore Section at main Entrance / gate B . . . Dec 1-4, 2011
the formal launch, when the artist will be present: is SAT DEC 3, 2011 / 5 PM – at the booth.
image: PETER SUTHERLAND, ‘Solar Flares, 2011
on the “occasion of the Fair” . . . PRINTED MATTER is “debuting a new 2011 fundraising edition, ‘Solar Flares’ by artist PETER SUTHERLAND. The portfolio of prints, consisting of 8 images, was produced when Sutherland went back through his photo archive and found that hundreds of his shots were taken facing directly into the sun, causing lens flare. Sutherland cropped down his photos and a natural series emerged, each flare becoming a gritty form with a unique shape and color.”
the 8 prints measure 8 x 12 ins. ea. and are housed in a black debossed portfolio.
The signed and numbered edition of 100 is presented with a risograph certificate,.
PRICE: $150.
check here, for more: info
PETER SUTHERLAND, on the right. with Leann, Helene and Louis Eisner. at his recent opening, ‘VICTORY OVER DARKNESS’ – at the Half Gallery, NYC.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH, SEPT 20, 2011
see: more pix from the opening
see: see the poster, it’s great . . .
~PETER SUTHERLAND / SOLAR FLARES … MIAMI |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 1st, 2011, 12:51pm
file under: down with Miami, BASEL. 10 years later – it’s all played out !! co-opted by the private (wish they were) vampire parties, for a start.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LES URBAINES LAUSANNE – 2,3,4 DECEMBRE 2011 – ENTREE LIBRE / FREE ENTRY. THIS WEEKEND in SWITZERLAND !!
PHOTO: YVES METTLER, replique 1:1 du derrick de petrole d’Amex sur Orbe, 10m de hauf, 12 tonnes, en cours de montagne. . . .
translates: replica of oil platform – in the heart of the mountain.
from Les Urbaines:
Laboratory for new aesthetics and challenging and emergent artistic practices, Lausanne’s FESTIVAL LES URBAINES has been winning the heart of contemporary arts enthusiasts for 15 years now. Completely free, matching Lausanne’s geography, it invites you to have a different look and to face an innovative contemporary creation without any headliners. During three days, more than 40 projects including performances, installations art, exhibitions, videos, theater and concerts, take place in some 20 venues.
yep. most def, check out: their schedule, agenda & graphics !! – LES URBAINES 2011 – 15e Edition
where you will find this animated & futuristic video – by RICCARDO ARENA – featured !!
images from: RICCARDO ARENA – 25:765 (2008) – ‘Four Times a Tree” – courtesy: Les Urbaines Lausanne
~LES URBAINES – LAUSANNE |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 1st, 2011, 12:10pm
SERGEJ VUTUC – SKATEBOARDER PHOTOGRAPHS – OPENING THIS SUNDAY, DEC 4, 2011 – DUREN, GERMANY
SERGEJ VUTUC . . . ‘SOMETHING IN BETWEEN’ – OPENING SUNDAY DEC 4, 2011
the show runs Dec 4, 2011 – Feb 19, 2012
LEOPOLD-HOESCH-MUSEUM & PAPIERMUSEUM DUREN, GERMANY
we caught up with SERGEJ VUTUC, born 1979 in Doboj, Bosnien Herzegowina – at the start of the fall season 2011.
Sergej is one bang-up of a skateboarder photog . . . for real.
photog SERGEJ VUTUC on the right, with DAVID COULIAU, a documentary filmmaker cameraman from France . .
he showed up for an amazing off-the-charts truly underground (!!) ELK GALLERY production, curated by JOCKO WEYLAND. titled: ‘SERGEJ VUTUC & LELE LIVE FROM USA’ – which happened, and that’s the super correct word, in gloriously gritty – ROCK-ROCK-ROCK ROCKAWAY !! NYC !! USA !! – SEPT 17, 2011.
SERGEJ VUTUC photo in a self-produced zine . . .
SERGEJ VUTUC photo.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. ROCKAWAY, NYC. NY. SEPT 17, 2011
see: ‘SERGEJ VUTUC & LELE LIVE FROM USA’ – OPENING PIX !!
see: the initial invite & a great SERGEJ VUTUC photograph !!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
and holy skateboard !! – this looks to be some h-a-p-p-e-n-i-n-g show too !!
from a ROCKAWAY basement renegade pop-up . . . . to a 100 yr old museum – now that’s what I call: time travel !!
Reception area in the old building, LEOPOLD-HOESCH-MUSEUM. PHOTO: PETER HINSCHLAGER/MUSEUM WEBSITE
just check out the LEOPLOD-HOESCH-MUSEUM !! – where SERGEJ will be showing his work, this weekend.
just shut your eyes – and imagine that opening night !!
I’d trade all of Miami Basel – to be there. yes, I would.
from the museum website:
This imposing museum was inaugurated in 1905 in commemoration of Leopold Hoesch (1820-1899) a Duren industrialist. . . Situated in the North Eifel region, this industrial center soon expanded into a vibrant and diverse cultural metropolis, seeking from the very outset dialogue with contemporary artists. The collection amassed by Hoesch throughout his lifetime is generally thought to have been lost or destroyed in the conflagration of the Second World War . . . Together with the Paper Museum Duren, this traditional institution is committed to fostering the current cultural discourse.
and this is the companion site: PAPERMUSEUM DUREN !!
Papermuseum Duren. PHOTO: PETER HINSCHLAGER/MUSEUM WEBSITE
way way beautiful. fashion-forward, or what !!
from the website:
Located in direct proximity of the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum is the Paper Museum Duren. Its core mission is to document the historical development of paper production and processing, focusing specifically on the North Eifel industrial town as its traditional center.
The idea of founding such a museum was first mooted back in the early 1940s, but plans were curtailed by the continuing Second World War. . . . [the museum] was finally inaugurated in 1990.
I guess things went south pretty tragically – Germany in the 1940s !! esp for what appears to have been a great industrial center and prob the, or an, unspoken engine for the German war machine. Duren itself has an amazing and colorful history – going way way back.
according to WIKIPEDIA: Duren, Germany by 1900 was among Germany’s richest cities with 42 millionaires and 93 factories !! but its long long and storied European history goes all the way back to the CELTS, who called their settlement there: Durum or ‘castle’. They in turn were conquered by the Romans under JULIUS CAESAR !! when Durum became a supply route for the Romans, esp the Roman city of Cologne. It remained in Roman hands for about 400 yrs . . til the Franks came on the scene in the 5th century, and made Durum a royal palace . . . .
by the 1900s the city of Duren was located on the main fighting front during the Allied invasion of Germany in World War II . . . and on Nov 16, 1944 (so, almost 70 years ago) Duren was completely destroyed by Allied air bombings.
funny how Germany has dominated the art scene, in one form or another – Gustav Klimt and Lily Renee for starters – NYC ca 2011 !! art and history – forever married, hand-in-hand. truly, the greatest romance . . . next to skateboarder photos !!
if you are into history, too: start, here: WIKIPEDIA/DUREN
.
~SERGEJ VUTUC … SOMETHING IN BETWEEN / DUREN |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 1st, 2011, 10:02am
. . . more or less, played out !!
I did catch the ANDY WARHOL ‘LIZ’ exhibit at Gagosian on W.21st St – earlier this year. it was just this short of being as boring and played out as Picasso – except for the silkscreen images of Liz when she was young – those were breathless – !!
ANDY WARHOL, ‘Liz’ – this was my fave.
oh oh – busted !! I liked this one, too.
see: ANDY WARHOL, ‘Liz’, GAGOSIAN GALLERY, West 21st St. Sept 16-Oct 22, 2011
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH, NYC. Sept 16, 2011
~Warhol’s Liz ? |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | December 1st, 2011, 9:25am
so, HESH . . . . a kind of modern day pied piper, takes our visiting Frenchman artist TIBOR in hand – for an ‘insider’ stroll – thru the downtown East Village streets – at night.
along the way, in typical Hesh fashion, he pulls something out of his pocket. what is it ? it could be anything. this time it is a mini painting on canvas – which he was inspired to do after seeing the LIZ show. got milk ?
as in, get it ? LESS is MORE !! someone else write the grad school treatise. I can’t do all your homework, for ya. but you can start with the mini size.
and the LIZ show . . .
ELIZABETH TAYLOR silkscreen portraits by ANDY WARHOL – at GOGO’s. that be LARRY GAGOSIAN – tourist !!
so, Tibor loves it, who doesn’t. it’s a gem. conceptually, too. he whips out the last $40 bucks U.S. he has left in his pocket – before he boards the return flight to France the next day. is it a deal ? yes, it is !! the mini Liz on canvas by Hesh is sold to Tibor for $40 . . . and now, e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y is happy.
so Hesh decides to celebrate by taking his ‘party’ – over to Daddy’s !!
often the last stop – in the city that never sleeps.
. . . another red blade by ALFREDO MARTINEZ. no doubt about it – Alfredo is a regular at Daddy’s.
sharing a wall with a red CINDY SHERMAN, and a (timely) festive xmas one at that !!
CINDY SHERMAN as Mrs. Claus, yep. it’s the real deal.
hope it’s screwed on tight – to that wall, Daddy !!
TIBOR and ELLA WALDMAN, lucky visitors from Paris indeed. to crack the Big Apple street code . . . and find themselves in the notorious Daddy’s B & B. Bread & Breakfast. crash pad. playhouse, Daddy’s art studio. whatever. it’s probably got more art – than you have. and way better, too.
the paintings on the back wall, including the man with blindfolded eyes (!!) are by Daddy himself. aka Seth McBride. Seth “they call me Daddy” McBride.
BANG BANG – it’s chockful of edgy gritty art . . . and the writing – is – on the wall !!
Daddy is an artist, too, and these are his paintings. they have their edge, as does Daddy. luminous and dark. flickering between the two poles, nothing is what it seems. they can stop ya. make you wonder . . . they have a tough cynical edge.
I wonder whose this is ? it’s also not for the jaded. nothing in here, is for the jaded.
everything is . . . intense, even the flowers. that’s that 2nd ALFREDO MARTINEZ red blade – on the top.
down with white walls & gallery boxes.
HESH making some calls.
Daddy’s – it ain’t Motel 8.
. . . if only that palms-up “hand” chair could talk – the tales it could tell !!
doing biz, living life. hardcore – is there any other way ? Crate and Barrel be damned. Ikea, not.
oops. what’s this hefty tome – on the floor ?
‘THE ART Of BUYING ART – An Insider’s Guide to Collecting Contemporary Art’ by PAIGE WEST. ha.
I almost thought I was at Peter Brant’s for a second, there.
and, then in comes DADDY, and in typical fashion – in the company of a beautiful bird.
street name Daddy, real name SETH McBRIDE – is legend on the downtown scene for letting a never-ending but carefully vetted crew of hardcore wanderers – crash at his pad.
p.s. it’s very big Apple – to entertain from bed. if you have never experienced this – you have never really arrived. I bet even Peter Brant entertains from bed. or in his pjs ? I know its a funny thought – but I just can’t get it out of my head.
I remember Josh used to. Josh Harris. back in the early crazy & wild days at Pseudo – when he had that raw loft on lower Broadway. he used to throw huge, tons of food. booze, etc you name it – movie parties – where the films were projected onto the wall – and he and his then girlfriend, fake of course (!!) Tanya – used to entertain the guests from a huge bed parked right in the center of all the action, and yes, in semi-undress. very Roman, no ?
it takes a lot out of you – to party down, hard.
as it happens we caught Daddy on a good night, a special occasion – his upstairs neighbor has just laid this wonderful, fab fab vintage PUCCI dinner jacket on him.
wow, do I want that, or what !!
dig the mint condition, PUCCI label and all. and that silk art deco patterned lining – is to die for.
of course, the funniest part of the whole gig – is that Daddy resides in an upper crust doorman, and bellman !! helmed building on Fifth Ave, and I don’t know what’s more amusing. his outrageous hardcore guests confronting his eccentric but filthy rich neighbors – in the shabby chic elevator – or the reverse !! you can only imagine.
but, someone else – can write the novel.
TRUE TALES FROM THE BIG APPLE: LESS IS MORE, TAKE TWO: DADDY’S UPPER CRUST FLOPHOUSE.
but seriously, I mean that in a good way, cause if not for Daddy, then what, who, and where ?
the Big Apple can be cruel . . . its streets are hard and dangerous. coming here, it’s like taking a bite out of Snow White’s poisoned apple. all is not what it seems. which is not to say all is rosy at Daddy’s, it’s a bit of a twist – mind games and all. but hey, it’s New York City – you gotta pay your dues one way or another.
and it’s floor space.
everybody plays games here. get used to it. just like they say: every dog has its day, and everybody in this town, has their game. all you can do is – put on your game face, and game the gamers. good luck.
. . . why does SUNDAY MORNING . . . by the VELVET UNDERGROUND come to mind.
note the graff: “Alfredo” at the bottom !!
paintings by Daddy. I actually really like his palette. yellow and bitter bottle green. sharp angst blue. makes Andy Warhol look like window decoration.
just joking, down dude . . .
yep turn any corner, and Hotel Daddy – is packed with art. Alfredo ‘owns’ this spot.
just take a moment to contemplate having to walk by the sleeping giant – on the way to the bathroom.
I dunno – maybe you had to be there . . . more and more I’m thinking . . . Daddy’s ? it’s like a modern-day fairy tale as opposed to, let’s say, a factory. Bros. Grimm . . . Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Jack and the Beanstalk ?
but, cowboy seriously. . how many hotels in this town – do you know, that really do need wall labels, as in: art by who . . . . . ?
or maybe, HOTEL DADDY – its more like: HOTEL CALIFORNIA . . .
you can check out – but you can never leave.
INK HEADS . . 1998 !!!!!!!
even the kitche(nette) !! – Bed, Bath and Beyond. NOT !!
and don’t get me started on those ‘mops’ by Haring !! ha. he be turning over in his grave. somebody sold him out for a (pretty) dime.
what next – disposable schmatas by Basquiat ?
more like cupboards – by cruisers & bruisers !!
yeah, HESH. LESS IS MORE – TAKE TWO: LIZ & DADDY’S . . . and, GOOD LUCK SUCKKA.
DEDICATED TO: SUNDAY MORNING – THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, their first song !! – on their very first LP. . .
yeah, WIGGS – you want to catch that.
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
~HESH: LESS IS MORE !! TAKE TWO – LIZ & DADDY’S !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 30th, 2011, 1:38pm
got milk !! get it ?
. . . . Hesh is more
. . . . LESS is MORE !!
here’s the latest on our . . . favorite downtown denizen: HESH.
HESH . . . with his newest sticker collection . . .
which is . . . collaged right onto the wall – of the East Village apt of new acquaintance . . . ELLA WALDMAN.
ELLA hails from France – she is currently in New York studying at Columbia.
the street art behind her – is another of Hesh’s finds.
“La street c’est chic” . . . FOR SURE !!
back to the sticker collage . . . “I SHOOT PEOPLE” !!
“I MISS THE OLD TERRY” – !!
ILEGAL + MEZCAL . . .
“WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT.”
on the left: TIBOR.
Tibor, a friend of Ella’s from France, he lives in Paris – has been slowly making his way across the United States for the past few months. He has just this very moment returned to NYC, from San Francisco – and is about to depart for his homeland – the very next day. that is his drawing of San Francisco.
but not before, he snags a piece of Hesh’s, a truly LESS IS MORE . . . art deal done right then & there on the downtown L.E.S. streets – just the way we like it . . . and, goes to visit Daddy’s !!
a foreign tourist’s ‘insider’ art dream – come true . . . . if I ever did see one.
coming up next !!
PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH. NYC, OCT 25, 2011.
~HESH . . . is more |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 29th, 2011, 8:26am
. . . TAX SHELTER.
“In 2006 RONALD S. LAUDER who is now worth $31 billion, paid $135 million for the Klimt painting ‘Adele Bloch-Bauer, I’.”
PHOTO: BEBETO MATTHEWS/ASSOCIATED PRESS c/o THE NEW YORK TIMES
for those of you holed up in somebody’s rural upstate country retreat, crashing at Daddy’s flophouse, or just plain too busy running around doing stuff – this was the front page of the New York Times, yesterday: Sunday Nov 27, 2011. it’s really all about tax shelters . . . but what the hell. can I call them, or what !!
it’s like having the damn winning horse in your bloodstream & DNA, but not having the $2 to plunk down for the race ticket. story of my life. (Nancy S. caricature courtesy of Alfredo Martinez – who is smarter than he looks.)
GUSTAV KLIMT, ‘Adele Bloch-Bauer I’, 1907. oil on canvas. 138 x 138 cm. collection (ca. 1975) Osterreichische Galerie, Vienna.
image scanned from: ‘Gustave Klimt’ by Alessandra Comini, Published by George Braziller, New York, 1975.
~KLIMT . . . is huge |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 28th, 2011, 8:20am
BREAKING NEWS . . . an ‘undead’ vampire rears his head in Soho – on BLACK FRIDAY !!
or: ‘pre-trendy’ clothing store – doesn’t know it’s got a ghost in the building !!
the trendy HOLLISTER store on the corner of Houston and Broadway – was the scene of a wild BLACK FRIDAY MOB MELEE – that made national news, this morning.
PHOTO: MY FOX NY
see: BLACK FRIDAY MOB in SOHO SMASH & GRAB !!/NEW YORK POST
ARCHIVAL PHOTO of 600 BROADWAY, NYC – OCT 23, 2008
PHOTOS BY NANCY SMITH
yep, those are the death ashes of a vampire and the secret magic symbols of his followers . . . smeared on the glass doors of 600 Broadway. his name was JUDGECAL – and he seems to be having a profound afterlife.
600 BROADWAY – was the former headquarters of, you guessed it !! the infamous JOSH HARRIS helmed . . . PSEUDO.COM – !! – and now home to the trendy hipster clothier HOLLISTER.
that’s called gentrification, folks.
and a symbol itself of the death of all the cutting edge glory that was the Lower East Side. and the current crop of hollow pre-tenders riding on its artistic legend.
but looks like you can’t keep . . . an undead vampire down !!
see that white dust smeared on the door ?
those are the real death ashes of one of Pseudo’s original key players: JUDGECAL – or as he was called by his pals: simply CAL.
as in JUDGECAL – the king of the downtown vampires. for real . . . when his goth-clad crew came out at night – they sported fangs. oh yes, they friggin did. and they partied down hard . . .
back in the Psueuo dot.com glory days of the late 90s, Judgecal was attached-to-the-hip to Josh. . . he was Josh’s bodyguard in a sense, but more in the sense of paid street cred. just the kind of cultural, high goth style appendage that an (initially) clueless internet nerd, albeit worth 80+ million bucks – needed to attach to himself so he could move, without question, among the city’s edgier artists and hardcore downtown denizens.
these photos were taken on OCT 23, 2008. and come to think of it . . . maybe that was even a Friday !!
Judgecal had died just a precious few days earlier and his friends actually took his ashes and smeared them on the former Pseudo headquarters – corporate Soho glass doors.
whether in tribute to Cal’s glory days, or as a rebuke to Josh for not handling the endgame in a more righteous manner – Josh could put you up and then play with you on the way down – is anybody’s guess. I think it was a bit of both.
when Pseudo crashed – there were quite a few casualties, and Judgecal was one of them . . . no disrespect. he just couldn’t make it through those dark, unfriendly, not to say uninspired days that followed, and with no end in sight. just check out the art world now, pretty lame game x 1,000 dumb art critics. nuff said. snuff follows. duh.
it was hard for all of us. looking up – and finding our magical and monied world had gone black and downhill. just like the Dark Ages, NYC style.
a lot of cellphones went dead all over the Lower East Side minus the steady flow of Josh Harris funded over-the-top art parties, “social” experiments, and ground breaking internet gigs . . . and the piles of dough – that were laid on those who could deliver . . . the talent, skills, and vision that animated the last and biggest downtown hurrah, also known as the dot.com days. the absolute height of the wild and raw NYC downtown underground scene.
the rumor was, he, Cal, either od’d or succumbed to auto-eroticism . . . what the hell – I guess a Vampire never dies, so he probably just decided to ditch this lame scene – for one more lively, let’s hope so. but I guess he still likes to come out and play.
JUDGECAL at ‘QUIET’ – the super Pseudo-funded one million+ dollar 2 week millennium bash that became the basis for Sundance winning – ‘WE LIVE IN PUBLIC’.
P.S. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS JOSH ?
we hear he’s been taken in, 20 years too late . . . by the very forces that originally brought him to his knees – the art world that never fully got him. I guess better late, than never. happy thanksgiving, Josh.
P.S.S. WHAT GIVES ?
yeah I have a blood tie to Cal. besides having been so in awe of him . . . so to speak.
Quite by ‘chance’ I stumbled upon the single strand of rice, that Josh had had engraved with his name – ‘CAL’ – that had been encased in a crystal vial and put as charm on a black leather lace that Cal wore around his neck, every single day . . . one day when I was up visiting Josh at the farm. I had heard that they had had a fight. a real fist fight and Cal must have torn the talisman off his neck, and flung it to the ground – in a final gesture of defeat, or disgust.
I took it, it came to me – as a last parting gift, a token in the truest sense – from one undead vampire – to the quilt lady, as I was known then. Cal, the king of the vampires, without ever speaking a word to me, had chosen my quilt section at ‘Quiet’ for the super-heated wild and crazy, and damn straight, RITUAL party that the vampires threw to welcome in the New Year, at the Millennium, New York City. it was quite something to watch these goth-clad and fanged revelers party down hard – against the backdrop of my ‘reconstituted’ and repaired thrift shop found – American quilts.
never under-estimate the power of the quilt. amen. R.I.P. Cal.
PHOTOS OF JUDGECAL’S ASHES on 600 BROADWAY: NANCY SMITH. NYC OCT 23, 2008.
and yeah, I just stumbled upon the scene, the smeared death ashes – by ‘chance’.
~UNDEAD PSEUDO VAMPIRE ACTING UP – in SOHO !! |
Posted in The Bomb | By Nancy Smith | November 26th, 2011, 9:47am
