Archive for September, 2009
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Anarchy in Brussels :: Cleon Peterson at Alice Gallery
Cleon Peterson opens his first show in Brussles at Alice Gallery this Saturday, Sept. 12. For Unconsoled, the Los Angeles based artist continues to portray violent yet playful depictions of an anarchic dystopia, exploring the dangers imminent in a pleasure seeking society consumed by excess and indulgence.
Over the past few years Peterson has gained considerable attention for his paintings, as well as for graphic design work with Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One, where he recently designed shopping bags for upscale clothing retailer, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Cleon Peterson – Unconsoled
Sept. 12 – Oct. 17
Opening Reception: 6pm w/ live performance by trumpetist, Roch
Alice Gallery
182 Rue Antoine Dansaert
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Kenny Scharf’s Barberadise @ Honor Fraser Gallery
Photos by Joshua White.
LA’s Honor Fraser Gallery is hosting Kenny Scharf’s Barberadise, opening September 12. Scharf has been on a fierce upswing in his career and the work rendered for this exhibition proves to be an emphatic return to prominence. His take on classic characters produced by Hanna Barbera is set amidst world annihilation. Venturing to paint his delirious vision of The Flintsones to The Jetsons, Scharf is appealing to a broad yet discerning spectrum. Barberadise is not only comical and fun but marks the opportunity for LA collectors to appreciate a rare solo show by an inspired, well-established artist.
Kenny Scharf, Barberadise
Opening Reception Sept. 12, 6-8pm – Oct. 31
Honor Fraser Gallery
2622 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Shepard Fairey Soup Can III Print Release
Shepard Fairey’s Soup Can III will go on this Wednesday via Iconoclast Editions. The signed/numbered edition of 200 is the third print out of four different color variations of the image, and measures 16 x 20 inches. While no release time has been announced, Iconoclast will post a special pre-sale password on both their facebook and twitter pages one hour before the general public sale begins. As with the last release in the series, expect to see a rapidly rising price tag once it’s available, followed be a quick sell out.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
Confessions of an Artoholic :: New Charles Saatchi Book Out Today
(All Images: Phaidon)
My Name is Charles Saatchi and I Am an Artoholic, is out today via Phaidon. The book compiles the collector, dealer and advertising mogul’s candid responses to over 200 questions, and coincides with his upcoming reality television show, Saatchi’s Best of British (think Top Chef meets art world), which premiers this November on BBC2. Don’t want to pay $10 for all 176 pages? – The Guardian/Observer has published a selection of 30 questions and answers from the book. Read it here.
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Carmichael Gallery Launches Monthly Publication
Carmichael Gallery has just announced the launch of a new monthly newspaper (yes it’s actually in print) called The Art Street Journal. While the first issue seems to predominantly promote the gallery’s own artists and interests (with features on The London Police, Dan Baldwin, and the FAME and Nuart Festivals), it should be of interest to those who follow graffiti and urban art. Free subscriptions are available here.
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Jeff McMillan Serves Up Pepto Dismal
Our good friend Jeff McMillan opens Pepto Dismal, his second New York solo show this Saturday, Sept. 12 at Last Rights Gallery. We’re particularly intrigued by several new paintings depicting instantly recognizable characters of American fast food culture, titled with English writing executed in the style of Arabic calligraphy. Here McMillan demonstrates a keen ability to offer pop-friendly and easily digestible imagery, while serving up subtle critique on U.S. globalism and modern imperialism.
The gallery also hosts Domestic Terror, a new body of work by artist Scott G. Brooks.
Jeff McMillan – Pepto Dismal / Scott G. Brooks – Domestic Terror
Opening Reception Sept. 12, 7-11pm – Oct. 11
Last Rights Gallery
511 W. 33rd Street
NY, NY 10001
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Neo Shinto :: Chiho Aoshima, Matzu, MR. at Tufts University
Tomokazu Matsuyama – Kirin White, 60″ x 60″, 2009. (Image: Joshua Liner Gallery and the artist)
While the name and brand of Takashi Murakami have become a virtual household name (at least every house with Louis Vuitton merchandise), there are many other accomplished artists mixing manga/anime and traditional folk imagery into contemporary Japanese art. Sacred Monsters: Everyday Animism in Contemporary Japanese Art and Anime, a new exhbition opening Sept 10. at Tufts University in Massachusetts, surveys eight notable emerging and mid-career Japanese artists who each blend the symbolism of Shinto spirituality into a modern cultural context. The participants are Chiho Aoshima, Mr., Mahomi Kunikata, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Oscar, Saito Oiwa, Tokyo Kamen, Nobuhiro Ishihara, and Kenjiro Kitade.
SACRED MONSTERS: Everyday Aminism in Contemporary Japanese Art
Sept. 10 – Nov. 22
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 17, 5:30–8:00 pm
Tufts University Art Gallery, Aidekman Arts Center
Medford, MA 02155
Info: 617-627-3518
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Pop-Up Art :: Street Cool, Turned Economic Tool
Ja Pay, 2009 is one of several collaborative works created by artist Peter Harris and musician Lee Scratch Perry that will be on display at the Higher Power art show on Sept. 10 in London.
This September marks three years since Banksy captured the art world’s attention with Barely Legal, the now legendary three-day Los Angeles warehouse show, whose location was not disclosed until opening day. Looking back, its as if the exhibit’s mammoth success spawned the beginning of pop-up art show mania. What was once regarded as a guerilla marketing move used by street-hip artists and dealers a few years ago is quickly catching on. In the past few years, companies like Nike, Scion and Campari have been particularly adept at promoting their brands to young audiences and tastemakers by using such art-events.
Yet, while pop-up galleries – temporary art shows held in vacant commercial spaces – are now a mainstream marketing tactic, they may quickly become a financial necessity in a shaken economy, where both the real estate and art markets have been dramatically impacted.
Earlier this summer, Ad Hoc Art partnered with community development organization, Metrotech BID, to transform a vacant Brooklyn, NY block into a storefront gallery of street art, inviting 15 artists including Chris Stain,Greg Lamarche, Lady Pink and Logan Hicks to create site specific installations in the windows of former businesses. (Its worth noting Ad Hoc has since announced its closing, joining a growing list of galleries who have been unable to fight off the recession)
Artists Cycle and Chris Stain contributed to the Willoughby Windows project. Image: Dave Pinter
This week, the New York Times reported on the recent proliferation of temporary galleries in London, noting “the British government, worried about the economic, psychological and criminal hazards of retail vacancies, announced a $5 million “revival fund” for local governments in hard-hit areas to transform empty shops into something useful, like showrooms for local artists, and another $800,000 to help artists and arts organizations turn vacant high street shops into artistic spaces.” The story was also picked up by Artinfo.
London based Watch This Space has taken advantage of this new space, going beyond the curatorial and acting as facilitator between up and coming artists, who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure galleries willing to take on any new risk, and landlords who find themselves with empty space. The organization launched in June with a group exhibit in a three-story former restaurant that had been empty for two years, and is currently playing host to DIY London Scene (previously reported) in a vacant storefront in London’s Covent Garden shopping district.
Lee Scratch Perry and Peter Harris
Moving outside of the traditional gallery setting also offers opportunities for more varied and ambitious undertakings. Take Higher Ground for example, a one-day multimedia collaboration between reggae pioneer Lee Scratch Perry, legendary dub producer Adrian Sherwood, and artist Peter Harris. The interactive art and music event will take place September 10 at the historic Tabernacle Theater in London’s Notting Hill. Perry will perform songs that relate to themes from Harris’ film Higher Powers, while a ‘VJ’ will respond with live visual interpretations of Perry’s songs. Collaborative works between Perry and Harris will be on display, and the two artists will be complete a live painting on stage, with Sherwood conducting a live mix. Tickets to the event are available here
While many galleries struggle to stay afloat, with some closing their doors for good, perhaps there is hope in a wave of more innovative, cooperative events and exhibits, where synergies between creative and business communities can nurture both the arts and wallets.
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Todd James @ Colette, Paris
Todd James (REAS) opens his first solo exhibition in Paris at Colette, today, Tuesday, Sept. 1. A true talent that has a lot of people fooled – we love this guy. Don’t stop get it get it runs till Oct. 3
All images/media © Todd James
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
KAWS Keeping Busy
Image: Kaws
There’s been quite a bit of KAWS news during the week off. First, we can only hope that what appears to be a fresh take on the classic Chum character in this painting posted on Kaws’ blog, is a sign of things to come (that’s Erik Parker with a great new painting in the pic). The artist will present his next solo exhibit this February in Madrid. While there’s no official word yet, expect Galeria Javier Lopez to play host.
Next up are two new products on the way, including a much anticipated monotone version of the ambitious Four Foot Dissected Companion sculpture. Despite a hefty price tag, if the release of the first color-way earlier this summer is any indication, expect this one to be gone in the blink of an eye. Released this past weekend is a playful toy collaboration with Japanese brand, Undercover, featuring the fashion label’s bear hugging Kaws’ Companion character.
Images: OriginalFake
Lastly, Kaws has lent his hand to the September issue of Interview Magazine’s feature on Michael Jackson.
Image: Kaws