~RAY’S A LAUGH … got qream. OPENING PIX.
‘RAY’S A LAUGH’ – CURATED BY LEO FITZPATRICK
“artists respond to the work of Ray Johnson in a group show”
AUGUST 1 – SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
HALF GALLERY – 208 FORSYTH – LOWER EAST SIDE. NYC
PIX – FROM THE OPENING – MONDAY AUGUST 1, 2011
ADAM McEWEN, ‘untitled’, 2011. mixed media, 24.5 x 17.5 in.
from the minute I stepped in, I liked the very first piece I saw. I knew right off – it was gonna be a great show. and a fun opening.
the dead man says: smile . . .
RAY JOHNSON, ‘untitled (Red Patterned Skull), collage on cardboard panels. 8.5 x 7.5 in.
detail, RAY JOHNSON.
like I always tell young artists. there’s a reason people get their reps. and there’s a reason why history gets re-written. and re-visited. and hopefully the best thing about the artworld is – eventually yes, talent outs.
BILL POWERS of HALF GALLERY – with a beaut of a show on his hands.
the show’s curator: LEO FITZPATRICK.
he is standing next to the other ghost in the room: a ‘found’ shell piece manipulated to the edge of supremo – by DASH SNOW. apparently Dash was a big fan of Ray’s . . . and if herein lies his spirit – that’s alright by me.
fittingly behind – is the RAY JOHNSON valentine, ‘Untitled’ (The Queen’s Fingernails), collage . . .
yo . . . ‘IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME!!’
LEO FITZPATRICK had a piece of his own in the show – which was garnering a lot of admiration outside – among the ‘critics’ on the street.
close-up, LEO FITZPATRICK, ‘Dime Bag Darrel’, (button) collage on canvas, 2011
RAY JOHNSON, ‘Untitled (Pop heart school)’. Fax Art, 8 x 20 in.
the other Ray Johnson piece that caught my attention, and held it . . .
detail, RAY JOHNSON, ‘Untitled (Pop heart school)’ – because, ha. ‘HA’ is one of my very favorite words !!
from HA . . . to GOD. . . . minimalism at its darn best. this whip smart collage, message plus dig those colors . . . by DAN COLEN. who else ?
close-up, DAN COLEN, ‘God’, Collage, 2011. 11 x 8 in.
SAM ORLOFSKY. a live wire, and thank god. always a much needed and seldom found, commodity in the blue chip art world. according to mainstream buzz, Sam is responsible for bringing Dan Colen into the LARRY GAGOSIAN orbit.
a piece from NATE LOWMAN’s wall . . . looks to be a xerox copy. nice. real nice. Americano.
outside on the street – voila: NATE LOWMAN, himself with collector ELEANOR CAYRE.
DAN COLEN, center, showed up too . . .
WES LANG made the scene, here greeting ELEANOR CAYRE . . .
as did, BRIAN DeGRAW.
PORTS BISHOP.
PETER SUTHERLAND.
and LEIF RITCHEY.
JOSEPH. . . . as in aka JOSEPH IAN HENRIKSON – of the now temporarily it seems, deceased ANONYMOUS. the gallery, not the hacker collective. NYC location anyways. Joseph says he is opening up a branch – in Mexico City. come September.
don’t blink. they put up some of the city’s best shows in their short run here.
who ? ELTONO & MOMO. SP.ONE.
fixed gear bikes parked outside the gallery . . .
. . . and the women who love their riders,
maybe . . .
ALL PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH