Go North!

This in from Karlos Carcamo:

Aug 15, 2006

Dear All,

I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful support that I have so far received and to all the great artists who exhibited their work at Parasite Art Space. I will be closing down the gallery at the end of the current exhibition (Sept 10th). Please stop by and take a look.

Many thanks to Mark Roland of the Iron Fish Trading Company for allowing me the opportunity to establish this unique venue for creative expression. Fortunately, this is not the end of my curatorial interests but the beginning of a new venture.

Along with Gregory Slick, I will be launching a new project space at 469 Main Street, across the street from the Carl Van Brunt Gallery. Our aim for this space is to enhance the cultural life of Beacon through group exhibitions, individual artist projects and site specific installations. I hope you are able to stop by our grand opening sometime in September.

Best regards,
Karlos Carcamo
Co-Director,
GO NORTH - A SPACE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART.
469 MAIN STREET
BEACON, NY 12508


Sponsored by Beconstruction, Inc

For almost a year and a half, Parasite has consistantly stood as the most thoughtful and interesting exhibition space in Beacon. Silently nestled away from the street in the back of Iron Fish Trading Co., the small space has been exactly what its name states; an organism of art that, with the will, and a willing host, has created a cultural life within the cracks of everyday Beacon. Regardless of the show, I've always been rewarded with a sense of discovery by the contents of the room after threading through Iron Fish. Karlos Carcamo has packed more oomph in that brilliantly constrained joint than any other space in Beacon. A few of the recent exhibits that stand out are the inspiring installation of drawings, notes and studio paraphernalia by Charlotte Schulz, the elegant and spare exhibit of paintings by Joan Mellon, and the show of text based work, curated by Greg Slick. The programming in the space has offered a stimulating mix of work by artists from New York, and those who live and work in Beacon, giving a platform to view the explorations that are going on here in our home, and adding the context of a broader view. The limitations of the space, (approx. 8'x8') have done much to shape the character of the exhibits and they impose a requirement that installations be focused in vision and content. I'm pleased that Karlos and Greg are moving into a similarly small location for the Go North, as I'm sure it will demand a level of rigor that will characterize their activities going forward.

Karlos is a friend, and we've worked together on the Windows project. I sincerely appreciate his ideas and I admire his vision, focus and energy to initiate activities and projects that enhance the creative life in Beacon and beyond. His ability to face difficulties with a cool calm, adapt to a new situation, and move along in a new direction without qualm are inspiring. I've only seen him crack once...ok, twice, on his wedding day. A fine example of his ability to shift was seen at the first exhibit at Parasite, which was originally slated to be held in the Ritz theater in Newburgh. After a series of issues with the fire marshall, and fearing more complications once the show was open, Karlos, at the last minute, moved the work of the 20+ artists, and install it in Parasite and the basement and back portions of Iron Fish and made it work.

This post is not an excercise in blowing smoke up Karlos' hoohaa.
I think the work he has done at Parasite has been valuable if not entirely visible, and this new venture with Greg, whose Quinn the Eskimo events have been loose, lively and fun will offer more visibility, and wider reach.