Archive for November, 2008
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Preview::Kris Kuksi + Pat Rocha
Kris Kuksi‘s Imminent Utopia opens this Saturday at Joshua Liner Gallery. The not-to-be-missed exhibit features a new body of meticulously crafted mixed-media sculptural works, painstakingly assembled from materials such as model kits, toy soldiers, action figures, and plastic animals. The resulting works create a three dimensional visual metaphor of the human condition, where religion and morality come face to face with violence and war, and the histories of civilizations past clash with chaotic visions of a post-apocalyptic future.
Also opening is Departure, the New York solo-debut for artist Pat Rocha. Here, Rocha presents a series of twelve new oil paintings that exude an erie nostalgia for the rural Midwestern America of the 1950s.
Read on for an in depth preview and click pics for larger views.
Kris Kuksi – Imminent Utopia / Pat Rocha – Departure
Nov. 22 – Dec. 20
Joshua Liner Gallery
548 West 28th St.
NY, NY 10001
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
MOCA Crisis
Image: Liz O Baylen / Los Angeles Times
It’s hard to feel bad about losses incurred by international auction house giants or millionaire collectors in the past few weeks, but it comes with heavy heart that we report the latest victim of the financial crisis – Los Angeles MOCA. The LA Times reports that with practically all of its remaining funds dried up, the museum is struggling to meet operating costs. While MOCA is seeking a large infusion from donors, it is weighing all possibilities, including a potential merger with another institution. Museum Director, Jeremy Strick says MOCA is in talks with several partners, but remained firm stating shutdown or takeover were not likely. “All the possibilities being explored involve MOCA retaining its identity, continuing its program, expanding its collection,” Strick said, adding, “I think it is time for this city to step forward and offer the kind of financial support commensurate with the work being done.”
Want to do your part? Take a few minutes to become a member, and then use your 10% discount on something from their museum store
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Double Dose of Travis Louie in November
Travis Louie has been busy lately preparing for two upcoming shows in November. The first opens this Saturday, Nov. 22, at Merry Karnowsky Gallery, Berlin, and the second opens a week later, Nov. 29, at Fuse Gallery in New York. Click for a preview of some of the Fuse pieces.
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Kaws for Kanye
With three consecutive solo shows, and media attention from The New York Times to CBS, Kaws has certainly been on fire lately. With his latest collaboration, the artist unleashes perhaps his most high-profile commercial projects to-date. Hip-hop superstar, Kanye West’s, new album, 808s and Heartbreak drops Nov. 25th, with Kaws lending “a hand” to the iTunes art, as well as a special Christmas version available in stores on Dec. 16. While this isn’t the first time the artist has been featured on a music release, this one puts Kaws in some pretty strong company – Kanye’s last album, Graduation, featured artwork by Takashi Murakami.
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
Todd James 2.0
The artist otherwise know as REAS has just launched a new website, toddjames.com, specifically devoted to his visual art. Grab his new print (pic below) beginning at noon EST today – $350, edition of 150. You may also still visit reasinternational.com, where you can see James’ commercial projects including past character development for television shows including Crank Yankers, and one of our favorite’s, his blog over at 12oz. Prophet.
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
Beautiful Losers Madrid
Margaret Kilgallen
The latest installment of Beautiful Losers, the traveling museum exhibit and documentary film conceived by Aaron Rose, is currently on view at La Casa Encendida cultural center, in Madrid, Spain. The show features some of the most successful artists to emerge from the DIY graffiti, skate, punk, and hip hop cultures, including Barry McGee, Kaws, Futura, Phil Frost, Stephen Powers (ESPO), Todd James (REAS), Shepard Fairey, Thomas Campbell, Cynthia Connolly, Evan Hecox, Jo Jackson, Chris Johanson, Harmony Korine, Geoff McFetridge, Ryan McGinley, Ryan McGinness, Terry Richardson, Clare E. Rojas, Ed Templeton, Romon Yang, Tobin Yelland, Glen E. Friedman, Ari Marcopoulos, and Raymond Pettibon, and the late Margaret Kilgallen. Click for lots of images courtesy of our friends at Guillotine. On view till Jan. 4, 2009.
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
Wow.
This past Saturday afternoon was spent visiting numerous galleries, and while some good art was seen, this may have topped it all. We wonder if this was gift from the guy with her and she just felt obligated – No, probably not.
Thanks to Outer Borough for snapping the pic while the TAC camera was temporarily out of commission.
Monday, November 17th, 2008
Christies Sued Over Forged Basquiat
A lawsuit filed against auction giant, Christies, for consciously selling a fake Basquiat may proceed, concluded a ruling handed down by NY State Court. In 2001 Guido Orsi purchased the bogus painting from Tony Shafrazi Gallery for $185,000, after the gallery had acquired it for $242,000 from a 1990 Christie’s auction. The suite claims Christies passed off the painting as genuine, despite Basquiat’s estate identifying it as counterfit and requesting it be withdrawn from the auction.
As stated in the suit: “If as plaintiffs alleged, Christie’s fraudulently misrepresented the Painting’s provenance, and published that misrepresentation in its catalogue, which Christie’s could reasonably anticipate would be relied upon by bidders at its auction, as well as subsequent purchasers, it may be liable to those who relied upon its misrepresentation.”
Orsi had initially filed suit against Tony Shafrazi Gallery in Milan, but opted to withdraw and joined Tony Shafrazi in suing Christies in the United States. Representation for Shafrazi and Orsi remarked on the significance of the decision, which “allows third-parties who did not bid at an auction … to rely on the catalogues sold and distributed by [an] auction house as representations of authenticity,” permitting such parties to recover
If successful, Shafrazi and Orsi will be awarded a total of $7 million – $2 million in damages based on the increase of Basquiat’s market value since the original 1990 sale, and an additional $5 million in “exemplary” damages.
Christies denies any wrong doing and “considers that the suit is without merit.”
Source: law.com
Monday, November 17th, 2008
London::The Destruction of Atlantis
On View now at London’s Union Gallery is The Destruction of Atlantis, a group show curated by Jesper Elg, of V1 Gallery, Copenhagen. The group show features several V1 artists who use the legend of Atlantis as an analogy for erossion of modern society, and includes Steve Powers (ESPO), Todd James (REAS), Andrew Schoultz, Alex Lukas, Richard Colman, Peter Funch, and others. More pics after the jump
The Destruction of Atlantis w/ Ulrik Crone, Michelle Blade, Wes Lang, Julian Röder, Steve Powers, Todd James, Troels Carlsen, Andrew Schoultz, Jakob Boeskov, Kasper Sonne, HuskMitNavn, Matthew Stone, Hesselholdt & Mejlvang, Alex Lukas, Peter Funch, Jes Brinch and Richard Colman
Oct 1 – Nov. 29
Union Gallery
57 Ewer Street
London SE1 0NR
info@union-gallery.com
Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Templeton + Leines at Roberts & Tilton
Under the ambient glow of the orange moon and the smoke in the air from the SoCal fires, Roberts & Tilton opened the two man show by Ed Templeton and Matt Leines to an eager, thriving crowd. Shoulder to shoulder in the new space, wide support for the artists was clear. There is a broad offering of art that ranges from photography to mixed media to sculpture and, of course, Leines’ usual works on paper. Both artists delivered exceptional works that were appreciated by a noticeably diverse group. Stand-out pieces by Templeton included large sculputures and Leines continued to explore his voice with cut-out forms. Books by both artists are available through the gallery website.