Video: WK Interact Speaks Sbout Project Brave

Back in September of 2011 we shared some photos of a WKInteract project which focused on a large series of wheatpastes in New York City that paid tribute to the first responders of 9/11. He called this Project Brave. Last week, a video popped up online with WK and others explaining the project plus some shots of it coming together. Directed by Luigi Comandatore.

Show Opening: James Jean – “Parallel Lives” @ Tilton Gallery NYC, January 9 2013

This week my friend Mark Frangos and I attended the latest show from James Jean, which marked the NY follow up to the artists last show at Jonathan Levine Gallery entitled Kindling in January of 09. I thought it was only right that Mark pen the story as he has been a fan of Jean's work longer than I have and would see things differently than me coming from comics rather than my introduction to the artist via the fine art world… 

It’s been 11 years since James Jean broke out as a cover artist for Vertigo’s successful Fables comic series. After seven years and winning numerous industry awards, Jean left the world of commercial projects to focus on painting where his star has continued to rise.

On Wednesday, January 9, Jean made his triumphant return to the New York art scene with Parallel Lines, a solo exhibition of paintings and drawings. The Tilton Gallery on 8 East 76th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues will house the exhibition through February 16. 

If you are unable to visit the gallery, Pressure Printing released the catalogue documenting Parallel Lives in an edition of 1000 that’s signed and numbered for $38.

James Jean – “Wave (Buried)” 2012 Archival inkjet print mounted on aluminum 44 inches diameter

The core of Jean’s work lies in his detailed linear pen and ink drawings that fill countless notebooks and inform virtually all of his creative output. His larger drawings suggest personal fairy tales that merge with decorative abstractions, whereas his paintings capture individual narrative moments and comment on contemporary life. Even in these, abstract drips of paint or grids of dots overlaid on the image draw the painting back into an imaginary dream world where nothing is as stable as it appears. This duality is also emphasized in a few paintings that were created as diptychs, pairings of representational rectangular paintings with digitally produced images of crashing waves.

“These images represent separate realities, but there is a relationship and tension between the images when they are paired together,” Jean explained.

James Jean - "Pagoda" 2012 Apraypaint, acrylic, & ink on 84 wood panels 112 x 192 inches.

Jean’s work has been influenced by diverse sources such as Chinese scroll painting, Japanese woodblock prints, Northern Renaissance art and Durer etchings. It evokes the worlds of M.C. Escher, Aubrey Beardsley and Hieronymous Bosch as well as psychedelic artists of the sixties. "Pagoda" which takes up an entire wall at 112 x 192" exemplifies this best. 

One of the pieces on display was a print of the art Jean provided for rapper Talib Kweli’s new album Prisoner of Conscious. Jean’s intricate, colorful stylings serve as a mask which contrast with the figure’s haunting eyes. 

James Jean - "Talib Kweli" 2012 Archival inkjet print mounted on aluminum 23 x 20 inches.

Jean was on hand at the opening and available for his legions of fans that span from different periods of his career. He happily posed for photos and answered any questions about his work and the show.

Jean was born in Taiwain in 1979 and moved with his parents to New Jersey where he grew up. He received his B. F. A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has been living and working in Los Angeles since 2003.

 

James Jean - Parallel Lives - January 9 2013, Tilton Gallery NYC - slideshow dvd

Show Opening: Jeremy Geddes - "Exhale" / Ashley Wood - "Machine Sabbath" Jonathan Levine Gallery October 20 2012 NYC

Yesterday evening saw the opening of two highly anticipated shows at New York’s Jonathan Levine Gallery, a one-two punch featuring two of Australia’s hottest contemporary artists, Ashley Wood and Jeremy Geddes. Both living and working in Australia isn’t the only thing these artists have in common as they both are also known for their comic book work. Woods’ work can be seen in Ghost Rider, Spawn and The X-men amongst other well known titles and Geddes’ illustrations have appeared in Star Trek and Zombies! Eclipse of the Undead books to name but a few. The two artists have also worked in the video game industry respectively having worked with Konami in Woods’ case and Activision in Geddes’. So needless to say it made sense to have a joint showing as the work complemented each other’s quite well. On a personal note I can say I had been anticipating this opening for a very long time, well over a year to be more precise, and by the sheer number of people in attendance I presume I was not alone in the countdown to the October 20^th opening.

Ashley Wood - "Happiness 3" Oil and Acrylic on linen 36 x 72 inches.

and their surrounding environments are partially masked and disjointed by extreme contrasts in light and shadow. Woods' dynamic painting technique combines multiple layers of oil, acrylic and glazes, resulting in a painterly quality and high-gloss, drippy aesthetic. 

In addition to works on panel and canvas, the exhibition also featured two mixed media collages consisting of photographic Polaroid images as well as two sculptures of shapely right legs wearing strappy high-heeled sandals, each decked out with paintings of nudes on the outer calf. In the artist's words, Machine Sabbath is an inquiry into the ambiguity of silent suburban backyards, the conversations that take place between the denizens of those private spaces and the machines that think for us.”

Ashley was in attendance and was only too happy to sign works and discuss his craft with the very long line of comic book fans and fine art aficionados alike.

Jeremy Geddes - "Begin Again" Detail. Oil on Board 28.75 x 25.375 x 1.75 inches, framed.

Jeremy Geddes has really had an exceptional 24 plus months in the contemporary art world having really exploded these last couple of years, Again like Woods, Exhale marked the debut solo exhibition in the United States for the artist and the man most certainly came correct with a series of 17 paintings rendered in painstaking detail. Geddes’ work, an arduous process that combines scrupulous study, fine brushwork and delicate layers of glaze, combines a tension between man-made environments in flux and the vulnerability of the human body. Many of the works in the exhibition depict figures suspended in barren urban landscapes or splintered environments that are in the process of falling apart. Think of bullet time special effects as seen in Hollywood films like The Matrix and you will get a good picture of the drama rendered on these panels.  The complex works are contrasted by a series of five paintings titled "Misèrere" (Italian for have mercy), each featuring a single subject isolated in a solid black plane—alternating birds and a failing Apollo Command Service Module. This series is accompanied by four paintings with solitary human figures, titled "Misère" (French for poverty or destitution). Although there are recurring motifs in the paintings, Geddes prefers to leave his subject matter open to interpretation rather than attach a specific narrative to his work, thus allowing individual viewers to connect disparate elements into a structure that resonates with them personally.

Jeremy Geddes - "Acedia" Oil on Panel 29.75 x 51 x 2.25 inches, framed.

Needless to say the limited amount of works on show had sold out for Geddes before the show even opened, having been on the list myself before the show was yet publicly announced a good year and a half ago wasn’t even enough to secure a coveted painting by the artist. Woods’ work was also just about sold out on the night of the opening and I suspect by the end of the show will all find their way onto the walls of collectors. Even the limited edition prints had waiting lists and were all claimed at a rapid pace so make sure you make it down to the gallery before the shows close on November 17^th to get a increasingly rare opportunity to see works from these two exceptional artists in person.

Jeremy Geddes/Ashley Wood Jonathan Levine Gallery October 20 2012 NYC - free slideshow

Show Opening :Mi Ju - "Gaia" @ Freight + Volume, NYC

I’ve been a fan of Mi Ju, a young, very gifted painter from South Korea since she was studying in college, in fact I purchased a piece of hers during her second solo show almost three years ago at Fecal Face Gallery in SF, I’m glad I did because they aren’t the easiest things to come by, even as, or perhaps  because of her rising star. Mi Ju’s latest solo show marks her fourth overall (her first was in 2006) and first in New York.

Entitled Gaia, referring to the Greek earth mother goddess, the latest collection of paintings is housed at New York’s Freight + Volume Gallery in Chelsea and showcases 10 new paintings, 3 black and white sketches and an instillation that transform her 2-d characters in the tangible 3d works .  The artist’s trademark colorful creatures are always a feat for the eyes resembling characters one might associate with a videogame or a Chinese street festival dragon.  The artist has said that symbolism is imbedded in dream and fantasy as a means to interpret her upbringing in - and emigration from – a divided country.  She connects her past and her present via a blend of traditional Korean motif and mythology along with current political and personal subject matter.  

Mi Ju - "Wind", 2011 Acrylic on canvas & cut out paper 54 x 78 inches

Born in South Korea, her father ran a textile factory and mother was a florist for a Buddhist temple. Massive rolls of fabric were always around her during her childhood, their colorful patterns and diverse textures affecting her visual expression. The intricate natural ornaments and bizarre creatures filling Buddhist temples also fed the artist’s imagination. She writes,

“Studying in Australia, San Francisco, and New York has given me insight into the various perspectives people have about nature. Native American totem poles, Aboriginal topographical art, and the complexity of psychedelic art all influence my artistic process. I look to scientific theories on the origin of life, emergence patterns, and swarm behavior to introduce more intricacy and narrative into my work.”

Mi Ju -"Waves", 2012 Mixed media installation

Mi explores the significance of Gaia pictorially, as it relates to today’s ecological challenges celebrating and paying homage to the elements in all their glory by examining both microcosms and macrocosms in nature.

“I perceive nature as flat, crowded, and infinite. Often times, the world is too large to comprehend, too crowded to find a focus. Countless living organisms are packed layer by layer, interconnected with each other. My compositions develop from the contemplation of opposing concepts: ephemeral and eternal, uncensored and restrained, improvised and strategic. The work often combines both cuteness and violence. By understanding natural elements from micro to macro, fractals to flocks, and ants to people, I reflect mixed perceptions of nature through my work. Nature could be seen as controllable, appealing, and delightful, yet from a different perspective, natural elements can become overwhelming and destructive.”

Of course Mi Ju herself was in attendance and made time to discuss her work with anyone who approached her with much enthusiasm and grace even in the very packed space that was filled with both eager diehard fans and new comers alike.

If you are in the New York area make sure you make it over to the gallery while the show is up for the next month plus and ending on November 3^rd.

Mi Ju - "Gaia" @ Freight + Volume, NYC September 27, 2012 - slideshow dvd

Show Opening: Kris Kuksi – “Triumph" @ Joshua Liner Gallery, NYC

Kansas based artist Kris Kuksi opened his latest show, Triumph, at Joshua Liner Gallery last night to a large crowd of very excited fans. Kris is probably most well known these days for his mixed-media sculpture, and large-scale installations although traditionally Kris would call himself a painter having first established himself in the medium of canvas and brush. Triumph is Kuksi’s third solo outing with the gallery and the most diverse presentation of his work to date.

I really can’t accurately describe how amazing Kris’s work is in person, probably the closest choice of words would be breath taking but even that doesn’t quite describe the feeling you get when you first see one of Kris’s works first hand. For my own part I have been eagerly anticipating this show for a very long while now and it still managed to exceed all my expectations.

Kris Kuksi - "Capricorn Rising" Mixed media assemblage 2012 80 x 72 x 22 in.

I got to the gallery a good 30 minutes before the show officially opened to the public, Josh Liner, friendly as ever, proclaimed with a genuine level of excitement that I was going to be the first person to see the show complete. Without wasting any time I pulled out the camera and started to get as many shots in as I could before the masses were due to arrive, only problem was I kept on getting lost in each piece for long periods of time, new details revealing themselves with each angle I shot from. When it was all said and done I spent over 2 hours taking photos of 9 pieces of which two pieces captured my immediate undivided attention. The large scale show stoppers are two of Kris’s finest works if not the finest period,  "Triumph" centers around a woman and prehistoric looking crocodile and the second, "Capricorn Rising," centered around what I believe to be a goat. Each piece was 7 to 8 feet high, 250 pounds in weight and mind blowing in every sense of the word.

“With its cautionary title, Triumph skewers the hubris and folly of human ambition. This cavalcade of epic works references mythology, the occult, and organized religion, and uses age-old techniques of visual storytelling to voice personal angst.”

Kris is the master of depicting epic themes paired with extravagant embellishments, his convergence of small, mass-produced materials, referred to as “kit bashing” traditionally, (although it should be noted that Kris goes way beyond this idea with his compositions) are intrinsically narrative, with an obsessive excess of detail that the viewer could get lost in for hours at a time.

Kris Kuksi -  "Hercules vs. Diana" Mixed media assemblage 2011 28 x 26 x 10 in.

The subject matter of the show fits nicely into Kris’s existing body of work, further exploring religion, allegory, war and the mythological archetypes of man and woman’s shift of balance in the paradigm of life as we know it today. One such piece entitled "David’ With Pride" centered around the story of David and Goliath, Kris took some time to tell me about the piece saying that when creating it he imagined a world where David had developed an ego over his defeat of Goliath almost becoming what he had defeated in the first place leaving others to follow the same fate.

Also featured is the tenth installment in Kuksi’s trenchant Churchtank series. “These constructions suggest an “unholy” resonance between the pious power of organized religions and the self-righteous imperialism of the military-industrial complex.” Though earlier versions have been smaller and, in the last instance, took the evocative form of a bronze edition, this latest Churchtank is a massive, ten-foot installation constructed of wood.

Kris Kuksi - "David with Pride" Mixed media assemblage 2012 31 x 23 x 11 in.

Check out the slide show below and make sure you click directly on it to get a larger view of the 100 plus detailed photos and if you live in or around the New York area make sure you make it to the show in person even if it’s the only one you go to this year.

Running from March 15 to April 7, 2012.

Kris Kuksi - "Triumph" March 15, 2012 Joshua Liner Gallery NYC - slide show

Video: RETNA Mural at Houston & Bowery Wall in NYC

If you live in NYC you are most probably familiar with the iconic wall on the corner of Houston and Bowery that over the years has played host to works from  Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, JR, Kenny Scharf, Barry McGee  and most recently Fail. The next stint belongs to RETNA, his signature art covers the wall and we have a nice video of the artists process below….

Sunday Matinee - Celebrating Sunday's with a live clip - Eclectic Method @ NYCWTF Jan 2010

This week Sunday Matinee was shot at NYCWTF in January 2010 and is a whimsical journey into audio and sound from  London’s Eclectic Method (You MUST SEE their video autobiography) – The trio made up of Jonny Wilson, Ian Edgar and Geoff Gamlen – helped pioneer the emerging art of audio- visual mixing since first cutting U2’s Mysterious Ways music video with the Beastie Boys’ Intergalactic as an experiment back in 2002. The group’s audio-visual mash-ups feature television, film, music and video game footage sliced and diced into blistering, post-modern dance floor events. It’s a cyclone of music and images mashed together in a world where Kill Bill fight scenes and Dave Chappelle’s Rick James rants are ingeniously cut and looped over bootleg samples, DVD scratches and pumped-up dance anthems. It’s a real-time subversion of technology and media performed live on video turntables for what LA Weekly called a “mesmerizing” sensory overload.”

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 1

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 1 from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 2

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 2 from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 3

Eclectic Method @NYCWTF Jan2010 - Part 3 from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

WK Interact: Project Brave Instillation

Earlier in the week we told you of Street Artist WK Interact’s 9-11 tribute titled “Project Brave” to be officially unveiled this Sunday September 11^th on the corner of Kent avenue and North 4^th in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Now thanks to the man himself I can share some photos of the instillation process. The piece runs 400 feet wide by 14 feet high and is pretty spectacular.

WK Project Brave Sept 8 2011 - photo slideshow

Scratch Acid playing Webster Hall in NYC

One of my favorite bands of all time has recently reformed for some reunion shows, Scratch Acid. Scratch Acid was an Austin, Texas noise rock group formed in 1982... The band was named by music journalist Will Lerner as "the American equivalent of the Birthday Party." For those not familiar the bands members have been involved in s slew of acts. Brett Bradford went on to form Colorado punk band Great Caesar's Ghost. They disbanded in 1993. He also formed Sangre De Toro and played with Areola 51. Washam went on to perform with many other bands, including the Big Boys, Ministry, Helios Creed, the Didjits, Lard, and Tad. In 1987, Sims and Washam joined Steve Albini in the band Rapeman, which disbanded just before Sims reunited with Yow in 1989 to form my all time favorite band The Jesus Lizard. I saw Scratch Acid about 5 years ago when they reformed to play Touch & Go’s 25 year anniversary and it was well worth the trip to Chicago to do so, make sure you catch these guys while you can.

Scratch Acid -- 2011 Tour Dates
Tue 11/1 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA
Wed 11/2 Cat's Cradle, Carrboro NC
Fri 11/4 9:30 Club, Washington DC
Mon 11/7 Webster Hall, NYC, NY
Fri 11/11 Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON
Sat 11/12 Metro, Chicago, IL
Tue 12/13 El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Wed 12/14 The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
Sat 12/17 Neumos, Seattle, WA

BONUS:
A little taste for the unfamiliar...

Video: FAITH 47 And DAL

Faith47 and DALeast took on a wall outside EYEBEAM Art and Technology center on W21st street in Chelsea, NYC. Wooster Collective was there to capture the process.

Show Opening - Dan Witz "Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise" & Brett Amory - "Dark Light" @ Jonathan Levine Gallery NYC

Jonathan Levine and Dan Witz at the opening.

We mentioned Dan Witz earlier this week in our sneak peak for his new collection "Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise"s  showing at Jonathan Levine Gallery. Last night was the opening and Mr. Witz shared with us an impressive body of work that highlighted his mosh pit theme, a series of mixed media paintings produced over the past ten years. The hyper-realistic paintings achieve illusions of light, shadow and depth that must be seen.

Opening along side Dan was Oakland native Brett Amory's "Dark Light," a new series of paintings on panel expanding upon Brett's ongoing series of works entitled "Waiting." The breathtaking works portray studies of urban life through fragmented cityscapes and anonymous, isolated figures.  The show runs until July30th and is a must see. Enjoy the slideshow below...

Dan Witz Brett Amory Jonathan Levine Gallery June 30 2011 NYC - slideshow dvd

Sneak Peak - Dan Witz - "Mosh Pits, Human and Otherwise" Jonathan Levine Gallery NYC

70 Commercial Street

A little sneak preview of Dan Witz's new show opening tomorrow June 30th at Jonathan Levine Gallery, I've seen all the works and they are really quite impresive.

"Born in 1957 in Chicago and currently based in Brooklyn, Dan Witz attended Rhode Island School of Design from 1975-77 and came to New York in 1978 to attend Cooper Union, receiving a  BFA in 1980. In 1982, he received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1992 and 2000, he received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, and in 1998 he received a fellowship from the Public Art Fund. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide and featured in numerous books and publications."

Hooded Girl with Ball Gag

UPDATE! Check out our story on the opening night.

Moustache Man busted

Photo: Cuttlefish

We can all sleep safe at night knowing that the NYPD has used its resources to take down Moustache Man aka Joseph Patrick Waldo, 26, this week for writing the word "moustache" in cursive on the upper lip of people pictured in subway advertisements across the city.

The Daily News reports that Waldo was arrested Tuesday and admitted he had left the curly tag on a posters. The NYPD Transit Bureau Citywide Vandals task force tied the graffiti tag -which delighted some riders - to Waldo through his Internet bragging, cops said. He was arrested at Eighth Ave. and 47thSt. in Manhattan, near his employer, Gray Line tours.

Waldo, originally from Virginia, was charged with criminal mischief and making graffiti, records show and was released without bail. Cops said he caused in excess of $1,500 damage to New York Transit property so by my count the time, money and energy that was used to track the man down most likely surpased the $1,500 in a day or so, Money well spent NY.

Go see this

Feminist artist and filmmaker Lynn Hershman-Leeson's documentary !Women Art Revolution made its theatrical debut at Manhattan's IFC Center on June 1. The film is still screening every day at 4:25 PM through June 16. The film features a score by Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Get your tickets for the remaining days.

Tarantino vs Coen art show - Tribute

Video of opening night of the "Tarantino vs. Coen" art opening in New York City (Bold Hype Gallery) back in April put on by Spoke Art. The show consisted of artists representations of their favorite Quentin Tarantino & Coen Bros film and is currently at the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco until the end of the month.


To see the individual artwork (for sale) and for more info, check out the Spoke Art website.

Panda Bear - "Slow Motion" video + interview

A video for Animal Collective member Panda Bear's "Slow Motion"  off his LP Tomboy hit the web today. The Cheryl Dunn-directed clip features performance footage taken at Panda Bear's show at NYC's Governors Island on September 11, 2010, as well as video of an interview. Check it out below...

Thanks Gorilla vs. Bear