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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Art/New York screenings continue, at bau. Punk and New Wave bonus tonight at 7pm

Bau's current project of hosting screenings of the Art NY video series by Paul Tschinkel is the most interesting thing the collective has done in a very long time. Devoting the month to sampling these video amounts to a conversational point of departure that is informative and entertaining. It's a real service to the audience.I've only made it to one screening thus far, but I'll make sure to take better advantage of the remaining two weekends.
Last Saturday, my viewing of the half hour
Basquiat interview was fully informed by the the recent appearance of Joaquin Phoenix on Letterman. Marc H. Miller's interview with Basquiat is the quintessential illustration of an intellectual train wreck, the sole survivor of which was the artist. It was painful and ultimately entertaining within that pain. The interviewer, Marc. H. Miller was very much out of his element, even though as an art historian and curator (with a Ph.D., no less) he ostensibly might have had a clue as to how to get down to the substance behind the artist's work, and enact a conversation with the artist. He didn't. His questioning was reaching, as if in the dark, and ultimately insulting to the artist as he tries to verbally diagram each component within one of Basquiat's paintings. Basquiat rolls with it, and then rolls over Miller, ultimately responding to questions with a mouth full of green beans. Priceless. I felt sympathy for Miller, trying to squeeze out a certain amount of footage, and he was doing his darnedest. Interviewing someone is not easy, even for those in the profession, I'm sure.  In fact, through the course of the interview, I realized that the Basquiat/Miller match up had less in common with the Joaquin on Late Night stint than with the video below:
Neither the home schooled kid nor the artist, both fully present for the interactions would conform to the canned form of responses expected by their respective interviewers.
I found another earlier video from 1974, exhibiting Miller's "man on the scene" m.o., also shot by Tschinkel. In this case, his halting, awkward questioning embodies a conceptual charm fitting the topic of the interview, and the varied reactions by his respondents as they discussed their creations of genitalia in clay as part of a participatory workshop organized by Miller and Tschinkel.
Make A Penis And Vagina Out Of Clay from Marc H. Miller on Vimeo.
If I didn't post this video here, you can bet it would have ended up as an Eye Candy Friday feature.
The Art New York videos will continue to be screened through March 8th. Today's schedule will have an additional treat at 7pm with an hour of Punk & New Wave footage of performances caught on tape from 1977-1982 at CBGB, Max's and the Mudd Club. The documentaries scheduled for today are: at 4pm, Cindy Sherman and at 6pm, Chuck Close.



Friday, February 27, 2009

Eye Candy Friday: Don't think. Feeeeeeyl

Greetings young ones, your training continues. Last week's ECF started you on the path of liberation from the tyranny of image. This week, Episode two of Enter the Dragon shows you how to harness your emotion as the instrument of your Heavenly Glory. Episode three, which only appears on the artmovement.net website finds our protagonist faceing a clone army of Van Gogh hybrids.
I don't know anything about the creator of these vids. He simply goes by the handle of DerGrashuepfer.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Videos footage from Feb 22, 2009 Panel Discussion at Van Brunt Gallery

The live online MAYKRvision feed of the panel talk held at Van Brunt Gallery on Sunday went off pretty well - with a few glitches along the way, but considering the lo-fi setup, the sound is very clear. It was a good test run. Thanks to Ty and Derek at Floor One Gallery for cluing me in on the possibility of broadcasting like this. Below are embeds of the talk, in three parts. You can also directly the each part's url on ustream.tv: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. There was a pre-Part 1 part which included Dorsky Museum curator Brian Wallace's opening statements, but that segment, unfortunately, was sans sound, so I've omitted it here. The videos below contain the raw footage of the talk which ran about 2 hours.
Joseph Meisel, Amy Lipton, Simon Draper, Beth E. Wilson and Brian Wallace spoke on the potentially expanding or evolving role of the artist in the 21st Century.
Part 1:

Video clips at UstreamPart 2:
Video clips at UstreamPart 3:
Free TV : Ustream

Monday, February 23, 2009

Alon Levin to speak at SUNY New Paltz, Weds, Feb 25 @7:30

Alon Levin Bezembinder, 2007

As mentioned here previously, Dutch artist Alon Levin will be giving an artist presentation on Wednesday, Feb 25 at 7:30pm in Lecture Center 102 on the campus of SUNY New Paltz.
Alon is in residence at SUNY New Paltz through May 1, 2009.
Here he will be provided with a studio, living space and materials generously supported by a grant from The Netherland Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture, and SUNY New Paltz. During his residency, Levin will create an installation piece that will be featured inDouble Dutch, a major exhibition at HVCCA opening September 12, 2009.Double Dutchwill feature artists from The Netherlands who created installations along the Hudson River, at HVCCA, and in the City of PeekskillWhile in residence at SUNY New Paltz, Levin will give an artist presentation, be available to interact with students, and share his experiences with them as a Dutch artist. The exhibition and residency marks the quadricentennial of the settlement of the Dutch along the Hudson Valley, and seeks to explore Dutch aesthetics and its influence on the region.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Feb 22, 2009 in Beacon: Lynne Cooke conversation with Zoe Leonard & Panel Talk at Van Brunt Gallery, which will be streamed live via MAYKRvision

Tomorrow at 12:30 at Dia:Beacon, Lynne Cooke will be in conversation with Zoe Leonard as part of the museum's Conversation series. Leonard's You See I am Here After All will be on exhibit through September 7, 2009. The talk is free with museum admission, however if you haven't made reservations already, I'm not sure you'll be able to get in on it.....The Merce Cunningham Dance Company is holding another duece of Events this weekend, but if you didn't grab up tickets some time ago, you're definitely s.o.l.

Another talk happening tomorrow is the panel talk on the expanding role of the artist in the 21 Century. The panel is happening at 3pm at Van Brunt Gallery. The subject of the talk is particularly timely considering the shifting state of the global economy, and that farting gash that has vented much of the hot air out of the artworld's bubble which has prompted speculation on the charactar of an altered artistic ecology that may shake out of the change.
The panel talk will be streamed online right here at MAYKR tomorrow, so you'll still be able to catch it if you can't make it in person - and you won't necessarily need to wear pants. Online viewers will be able to comment live during the discussion, and, if I'm on top of everything, questions will be relayed to the participating panelists:
Amy Lipton Curator, Ecoartspace NY

Joseph Meisel Program Officer,
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Brian Wallace Curator,
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY New Paltz
Beth E. Wilson Writer and Art Critic,
Professor, SUNY New Paltz

Marking Time opening tonight at the Hudson Opera House in Hudson, NY at 6 pm.

Matthew Slaats is among the artists participating in the Marking Time exhibit opening tonight at 6pm at the Hudson Opera House in Hudson, NY. Marking Time presents the work of Hudson Valley artists who participated in the 2008 NYFA Mark Program. The participatine artists are: Dawn Breeze, Lisa Breznak, Laura Cannamela, Giovanni DiMola, Mimi Czajka Graminski, Tana Kellner, Greg Lock, Karl Saliter, M. Scott Schaffernoth, Carla Shapiro, Matthew Slaats, and Chad Weckle. Matthew will be doing a performance at tonight's opening. The exhibit will be on view through March 28.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

GAS in Poughkeepsie holds call for artists

GAS in Poughkeepsie is hosting an open call for work for the Stimulus Package Show. A hanging fee per piece will apply. The exhibition runs from Feb 21 through Mar 29. Drop off dates for artwork are Feb 21 & 22, 12-6pm.
GAS is also reviewing work to be exhibited in month long shows in the new Project Room.
For more details, contact Franc Palaia at fpalaia[at]earthlink[dot]com.roject Room

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The weekend that was..

Friday night: From Left to right, Tom Wolf, Sara Pasti, Beth E. Wilson and Brian Wallace giving acknowledgements for the exhibits at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

I did more socializing this week than my hermititious self is equipped to deal with naturally.

The whirlwind started on Friday Evening at the Samuel Dorsky Museum at SUNY New Paltz.

Peter Iannarelli's work at the Dorsky.

Bradford Graves at the Dorsky Museum.

Steve Rossi's gum casting material.

On Saturday afternoon, I was back in the Habitat at Van Brunt Gallery, conversing with
Steve Rossi (he has a new website) and watching him cast chewed bubble gum. Later that evening I stopped into Fovea in the middle of a talk given by Anthony Suau whose work is on exhibit. One day earlier, one of Suau's images was named as the World Press Photo of the Year for 2009.
Beacon was very much the global village all day as international types converged on the city for various events like the panel discussion on Burma at Mt Beacon Fine Art. I spoke a bit Isreali born Avner Levinson is exhibiting his sculptures at the Iron Fish Gallery. Go North was awash with Estonians of every shape and size, inlcuding various members of the Estonian Press for Marko Maetamm's opening at the gallery. Here's the Go North tv segment produced by Estonian National Broadcasting.

Avner Levinson's sculpture at Iron Fish Gallery.

Marko Maetamm's opening night at Go North and Erica Hauser's Valentine's Day Cupcake extravaganza just next door.




One of Jill Reynold's pieces at Sunday's opening reception for For the Love of Art in Peekskill.

A crush of people made their way down to the Hat Factory in Peekskill for the opening of For the Love of Art. It was a mob scene for a while, and I saw several of the same folks I saw in the previous two evenings, along with a lot of strangers. A highlight of the reception might have been the band kickin out jazzy intrumental renditions of power pop hits from the Eighties, like Eye of the Tiger and many other favs I can't remember.
I'll be posting more images shortly.....which reminds me, I'm several months behind on updating the flickr page. Everything in due time.


It's a snowflake at the Hudson Fisheries Trust on Saturday night.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Matt Harle is Linked in at Heskin Contemporary, opening Feb 19 in Manhattan

Matt Harle will be among the artists participating in a group exhibit opening on Thursday, Feb 19, 6-9pm at Heskin Contemporary, 443 W 37 ST in NYC.
The exhibit Linked; Small Works, Big Ideas is curated by Jennifer Riley and includes work by James Biederman, Erick Johnson, Rebecca Smith, Keiko Narahashi, Kelly Wilson, Marthe Keller, Sue Scott and Russell Roberts.
From the exhibition press release:
This exhibition brings together artists who share a thoughtful, expansive, attitude towards the genres, mediums, and boundaries in which they work.
Much of the work touches on themes related to architecture, interval, and pattern. Many of the artists work in a form or discipline different from that which they initially trained. All priviledge color or the use of paint in collaboration with forms that implicate spaces beyond the physical to include the mental and the emotional. The curatorial impulse for this show stems from the desire to expose the traces of overlapped intentions apparent in works made by artists who step back and forth effortlessly between the languages of two and three dimensional thinking and space making. Some create concrete works and some call attention to a sense of the permeability between space and matter while others who employ an additive process, achieve a poetic sense of accretion and narrative.
The exhibit will run through April 4, 2009.
Below is an image of Matt's work currently on view at the For the Love of Art exhibit at the Hat Factory in Peekskill.

Remote Viewing: Peter Acheson

Peter Acheson Untitled 2004, oil on board, 8" x 10"
Maykr pal Peter Acheson is currently exhibiting a selection of his language paintings at Brick Walk Fine Art in West Hartford, CT through March 14.
Since I won't be able to make it over to West Hartford before the end of the exhibit, I asked gallery director Kevin Rita to kindly email me some photos of the show. I'm sharing a few of them here with you. Because that's just how I am; unselfishly giving.
Most of the works in this show span the period between 2002 and 2005. The exhibit also includes a selection of his framed watercolors. I've focused on the paintings on panel and canvas because they translate better in the photographs. The small, immediate nature of this work is very indicative of one strain of Peter's activity. Based on a rural compound in Ghent NY, Acheson is feverishly prolific, pushing the limits of visual language, and possibly even the limits of taste. His work is enmeshed in an assertive tangle of forms, color and line. They feel like language. Each intimately scaled joint is a stanza of some epic rambling concrete poem. I don't consider the marks in the paintings as pictograms. They're not stand ins for some other significance. I would consider them cryptograms, or better yet cryptoforms; they seem to allude to a secret knowledge, but their meaning is full frontal and endemic. There's nothing to know, just something to face.

Peter speaks to this aspect of marks made openly, directly and not caged in a mantle of metaphorical adornment. "Language is one of the tools we have to describe image....here language is itself on display, without being processed into image, or maybe, the process of forming, like the tuning of the guitars before the performance..."
For me, engagement with Peter's work entails traveling on an arc of acceptance. It's always a process. With almost every new body of Peter's work I've felt at least some level of shock or repulsion as it pokes at some tender spot in my sense of visual decency. Inevitably though, I come around to the work, taking it for what it is, not what I expect it should be. I find the work emphatic in that way. It forces you on a trip you may not expect to take.

Brick Walk Fine Art is located at 322 Park Road, West Hartford, CT (860) 233-1730. Check it out if you get a chance. If you do, let me know what you think. I've posted a copy of the exhibit's press release here.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Eye Candy Friday: Idle hands....


This week's selection features a view of the work of Poster Boy. The anonymous, illicite collagist was arrested recently by NYPD.
MAYKR does not condone naughty behavior, but the deed having already been done, we'll certainly drink in the effect.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Dutch return to Peekskill and HVCCA & Alon Levin to give talk in New Paltz, Feb. 25

Karen Sargsyan on the left being introduced by Livia Straus.
On Sunday, HVCCA opened an exhibit of work created by Karen Sargsyan during his Fall residency in Peekskill, with a reception and a question and answer session with the artist. The Armenian born Sargsyan is based in Amsterdam. Sargsyan's exhibit is part of a full year of programming, coincident with the quadricentennial of Hudson's voyage up the river, that recognizes the significant role of Dutch culture on the region.
In September, the museum will open a new exhibit called "Double Dutch: Exploring The Soul of Dutch Art Through the works of Seven Installation Artists". Sargsyan will be represented in Double Dutch, as will Alon Levin who has just embarked on a three month residency at SUNY New Paltz as part of a collaboration between the college's Department of Sculpture and the museum.

Levin will be giving a lecture on the SUNY New Paltz Campus on Wednesday February 25 at 7:30pm. The lecture will take place in Center 102. more details to follow.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Anthony Suau photographs opening at Fovea Exhibitions, Feb 14, 4-8pm

On Saturday Feb 14, Fovea Exhibitions will be opening an exhibit of photographs by Anthony Suau. Hard Rain (from memory to history) is a selection of the Pulitzer Prize winning photographer's images from around the world.
During the last two decades, Suau has photographed more than 25 conflicts, from Bucharest to Mexico. Fovea will be the first United States gallery to show portions of his one-man show previously shown in Moscow and Shanghai. The veteran Time Magazine photojournalist will hold a gallery talk at 6 p.m. and be available to sign his most recent book, a critical-examination of the American invasion of Iraq.

Suau will also share his experiences in a classroom with West Point cadets, young men and women who one day will orchestrate America's involvement overseas.
The opening reception will take place from 4-8pm with the gallery talk happening at 6pm. The exhibit will run through May 3.

Still rounding up

  • Edward Winkleman has generously compliled a selection of practical threads relating to artists navigating the waters of gallery representation.
  • Sounds like MAN Man Tyler Green will be appear on the Colbert Report to discuss the Shepard Fairey, Obama, AP ordeal.
  • For your viewing pleasure: The Duke University Library Digital Collection on YouTube. The Channel features a selection of 127 videos of interviews with artists, designers, photographers, collectors, etc., conducted by Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel in the '70's and '80's.
  • On Sunday, I mentioned Vassar's new event calendar. One can also sign up to receive email newsletters on events happening at the college. FYI, If a lecture is scheduled to take place in Taylor Hall, it's an art lecture. Taylor Hall is the building adjacent to the Loeb Art Center. Thanks to maykr pal and librarian extraordinaire Carol Lynn for the tips.

Marko Maetamm's Another Day With My Family opens at Go North, Feb 14, 6-9pm

Marcko Maetamm Funny Dreams 2

Marcko Maetamm's exhibit Another Day with My Family will be opening at Go North on Saturday, February 14 and it will be on exhibit through March 8. Maetamm is part of a concurrant exhibit at the Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs in Long Island City, NY. Here's a pdf brochure of the Dorsky exhibit.
Go North's presentation of Maetamm's work is part of the gallery's program highlighting the work of Estonian artists.
The exhibit's opening reception will be held from 6-9pm.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

For the Love of Art group exhibit at the Hat Factory in Peekskill, NY, Feb 14-Mar 14. Opening Reception: Feb 15, 2-5pm

A group exhibit spanning a good stretch of the Hudson Valley is opening next weekend at the Hat Factory in Peekskill, NY. For the Love of Art is a cooperative effort between Yamet Arts, HVCCA, The Hat Factory, Collaborative Concepts, and the Peekskill Arts Council.
The exhibit marks the 10th Anniversary of Yamet Arts of doing business in Peekskill. Yamet which deals in the work of modern masters will include work by Warhol, Picasso and others in the exhibit along with the local artists chosen for the show.
37 artists selected by a curatorial committee from Hudson Valley communities from Mt Vernon to Hudson will be exhibiting with the immediate Beacon area will be well represented. The selected artists are:
Chris Albert, Emil Alzamora, Michael Ricardo Andreev, Curt Belshe, Dina Bursztyn, Erik Odin Cathcart, Mimi Czajka-Graminksi, Deborah Davidovits, Cristina DeGennaro, E.Y.E. Group, GeneFree (Gene Panzcenko, Marcy B. Freedman), Scott Goodman, Matt Harle, Carla Rae Johnson, Gretchen Kelly, Carrie Levy, Leslie Lew, Nathan Margoni, Lael Morgan, Laura Moriarty, Lori Nozick, Jaanika Peerna, Leslie Pelino, Jill Reynolds, Bruce Richards, Angelika Rinnhofer, Camilo Rojas, Rosalind Schneider, Alec Spangler, Donna Sharrett, Kate Vrijmoet, Eleanor White

Thursday's Westchester section of the NY Times featured details of the exhibit.
For the Love of Art will be held at the Hat Factory located at 1000 N Division St in Peekskill from Feb 14- March 14, 2009. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, February 15 from 2-5pm.

Opening receptions at Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art in New Paltz, Feb 13, 5-8pm

The Samuel Dorsky Museum in New Paltz will be hosting three opening receptions on Friday, February 13 from 5-8pm. All four exhibits will be on view through June 14.
The exhibits are:
Eva Watson-Schutze: Photographer. Curated by Tom Wolf.
Bradford Graves: Selected Works. Curated by Brian Wallace.
analog catalog: Investigating the Permanent Collection. Organized by SDMA curator Brian Wallace with SUNY New Paltz faculty David Appelbaum (Philosophy), Gregory Bray (Communications and Media), Ann Galperin (Graphic Design), Yoav Kaddar (Theatre), and independent designer and theorist Stuart Henley (Bath, England).

A fourth exhibit, Taking a Different Tack: Maggie Sherwood and the Floating Foundation of Photography, curated by Beth E. Wilson which opened on January 24 and will remain on view through April 8,2009.

Random Roundup

  • Beacon Art Supply will be hosting a closing party on Wednesday, Feb 11 from 6-8pm. Details are at beaconite.ning.com. A silent auction will be held for a selection of items, and there are deals a plenty on the remaining inventory, as the party will mark the beginning of 60% markdowns on art supplies an remaining items from Burlock.
  • Erica Hauser is opening up shop again at 469 Main. From Feb 9-14, you can stop into the Valentine Cupcake shop for handmade goodies, edible and not- for that special cupcake in your life. The approximate hours for the shop are: Feb 9-13, 2-6 pm. Feb 14, 1-8 pm.
  • Daniel Weise of Open Space has been named one of the Greater Souther Dutchess Chamber of Commerce's Top Under 40 for 2009 as part of the organization's 4th Annual Shaker Awards. We're not talking about this kind of Shaker. The Shaker awards recognize folks under the age of 40 who are committed to shaping the region in a positive manner. A reception for which will be held on March 9th.
  • Be sure to stop into Van Brunt Gallery to chew a bit of gum. Steve Rossi is casting other people's ABC gum as part of the endeavors taking place at the HFA Goes Inside at the Gallery.
  • Harry Shearer's Silent Echo Chamber on view through today at the Aldrich Art Museum in Ridgefield CT was included as a feature on CNN last week. The piece was also featured on a segment on NPR's Talk of the Nation program in January.
  • Via the Artful Manager, a compilation of content on the renewed debate of Federal funding of arts an culture vis a vis the economic stimulus plan.
  • Because I'm lazy and I usually have more than enough on my plate already, I can't always hunt down new information, and things fall away from my attention. The Ann Street Gallery in Newburgh represents such an instance. The website for the gallery points to a static business card type placeholder with location and phone number, and emails from the gallery have either stopped coming to me, or they've been swallowed by my spam filter. But I've found a better portal through which to get news of the gallery which is the gallery's parent organization, safe-harbors.org Currently, the gallery is showing Art Brut, an exhibit of work by Bob Justin, Bill Marlieb, Dickie Peterson, Matt Sesow, Susan Ward and William Yost.
  • In a similar vein, for anyone who's been frustrated in learning too late about upcoming art related lectures and events at Vassar, the college has a new online calendar that should prove more effective (definitely not perfect, but it's an improvement).
  • Last week when I posted info on the Newburgh Art Supply, I neglected to include information on the store's custom picture framing services provided by Eric Jarmann. Jarmann's presence at the art supply store is by appointment only, so contact him at 845 238 7640 or by email at eric[dot]jarmann[at]gmail[dot]com.
  • Ty Marshal of Floor One Gallery posits the concept of an arts covenant.
  • Finally, it's becoming exceedingly evident that Facebook is reaching a critical mass here in our fair community, potentially causing ideological rifts between those who FB and those who FB not. Evidence of the sweeping phenomena could be found in a conversation had this weekend between five unnamed artists regarding the true implications of getting poked and the most effective way to evade the attention of a possible grade school stalker emerging from the fog of one's past.
    Below is a glimpse into Facebook's ethos transposed into real life. (I found it on Peter Iannarelli's profile.)

Thursday, February 05, 2009

bau 50: Art/New York. A month of screenings at Beacon Artist Union


Beginning on Saturday, Feb 7 and continuing on Saturdays and Sundays through March 8, bau will be presenting screenings of programs of the video series Art/New York. Art/New York is a series of video profiles of contemporary artists produced by Paul Tschinkel. Each episode is devoted to a single artist. Started in 1979, the series consists of 62 individual programs of varying length (28-70 min), most of which focus on a single artist. Admission to the screenings is free and open to the public and when his schedule allows, Tschinkel will introduce films in person. Below is the full schedule of screenings. Refreshments and related discussion will likely follow each video. For more information on specific programs, visit the Art/New York website or view. bau is located at 161 Main St., Beacon, NY. Additional information on bau's presentation can be viewed here. Below is the program schedule.

Saturday, February 7
2PM Jean-Michel Basquiat
4PM Nam June Paik
6PM Gornick/Basquiat
Sunday, February 8
2PM Louise Bourgeois
4PM Kiki Smith
Saturday, February 14
2PM Eric Fischl
4PM Robert Mapplethopre
Sunday, February 15
2PM Alice Neel
4PM Jeff Koons
Saturday, February 21
2PM April Gornick
4PM Nan Goldin
6PM Jean-Michel Basquiat
Sunday, February 22
2PM Elizabeth Murray
4PM Barbara Kruger
Saturday February 28,
2PM Minimalism
4PM Cindy Sherman
6PM Chuck Close/ Eric Fischl
Sunday, March 1
2PM Nam June Paik
4PM Eric Fischl
Saturday, March 7
2PM Chuck Close
4PM Louise Bourgeois
6PM Robert Mapplethorpe
Sunday, March 8
2PM Cindy Sherman
4PM Minimalism

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Live Model Drawing Group forming in Beacon

There's an effort afoot to form a new live model drawing group in Beacon. Right now, the effort exists as a cyber-group on the Beacon Citizen Network community website, testing out the level of interest in the community.
If you're interested in participating or would like to be kept updated as to when and where the group will begin meeting, sign up at the BCN website. If you prefer not to join the BCN, you can send your contact info to martoraj[at]earthlink[dot]com.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Progress Report: HFA Goes Inside at Van Brunt Gallery, through March 2

Here's a wee update on the HFA exhibit at Van Brunt Gallery.
Several days after the opening, the gallery was reconfigured as a workspace and exhibition space. For the past two weeks, participating artists....and anyone who wishes to be a participating artist have been in the space working on projects including. I've been spending Saturday afternoons in the gallery working.
Above: the b/w painting is by Mr. Richard Bruce, the piece on the right edge is by me. Below, a painting by Todd Sargood.

Amy Lipton introducing Christopher Kennedy and Christopher Neidl for the Solar 1 presentation on Jan 25. There's description of the presentation on the ecoartspace blog.....EcoartSpace is a sponsor of the Habitat For Artists. A screening of John Sullivan's Hues of Hudson was followed by a discussion about the role of art in community took place this past Sunday.
Here's the view from my work area. You can see the stocking cap of my studio-mate Carl peaking up from behind his monitor.
The gallery configuration will be changing abain this week with construction starting on a new habitat in the space which will likely be installed in a semi permanent home after the exhibit.
The next event scheduled as part of the exhibition is a panel talk on February 22 at... The discussion "Art in the 21 Century- Expanding the Artist's Role" will bring together the following panelists:
Amy Lipton, curator, Ecoartspace NY
Joseph Meisel, Program Officer, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Brian Wallace, Curator, Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY New Paltz
Beth E. Wilson, Writer and Art Critic, Professor, SUNY New Paltz

Karen Sargsyan opening at HVCCA, Sunday, Feb 8 4-6 pm.

Abroad Understanding (detail of work in process), 2008 Metal, paper, wood, 98 x 248 x 224
inches, Courtesy of the Artist and Gallerie Juliette Jongma

HVCCA in Peekskill, NY will be hosting a reception for the opening of the site-specific sculptural installation created by Karen Sargsyan during his Fall residency at the museum.
There is an uncanny rhyming of material in Sargsyan's work and the work of HVCCA's previous Artist in Residence Chris Jones. Both Jones and Sargsyan use paper as the primary element of their sculptural work.
The reception is being held on Sunday, Feb 8 from 4-6pm.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Social Pariah Fest update

I previously mentioned the call to vendors made by the organizers of the Hudson Valley Social Pariah Festival which is being held on Feb 28th at the Holiday Inn in Fishkill, NY. Vendors are still welcome to sign on. Below is the current entertainment and vendor lineup for the event.
2:00-2:30-Intros, welcome done by dj danielle http://www.djdanielle.com/
2:30-3:00- Guitar Bomb http://www.myspace.com/guitarbomb
4:00-4:30- Belly Dancers http://www.myspace.com/barushka_dancer & www.redmuise.com
4:30-5:00- The Von Ghouls http://www.myspace.com/vonghouls
5:30-6:00- John Shaw WWW.UNDERWORLDENT.COM
6:30-7:00- Sugar Red Drive http://www.sugarreddrive.com/
7:30-8:00- God's Green Earth http://www.myspace.com/godsgreenearthnyc
8:30-9:00- Face Down http://www.myspace.com/facedownitg
9:30-10:00- The Gentling http://www.myspace.com/thegentling

http://www.myspace.com/socialpariahfestival
At The Holiday Inn, Fishkill, N.Y. Saturday, February 28th 2pm – 10pm
542 Rt9 Fishkill, N.Y. 12524 (Rt9 just north of I84 exit 13)

Music and Art Festival Featuring Unique Local and Regional Talent
Live Music, Performers, Vendors, Artisans of all Genres and Tattoos
Sorry Kiddies Must Be 18 Years or Older to Get In
All Proceeds benefit The Pitch for Kids Fund


Sponsored by: Zahra Studio Gallery, More Sugar Publication
Hudson Valley Renegades Pitch for Kids Fund
Bands and Live Performers
John Shaw
Sugar Red Drive
The Gentling
Guitar Bomb
Face Down
The Vonghouls
God's Green Earth
Tribal Burlesque Belly Dancing by Barushka and Elizabeth
all being led by The Mistress of Ceremonies DJ Dannielle
Raffles
50/50

TATTOO STUDIOS
Zahra's Studio
Skin City
The Inkwell

VENDORS
Zahra's Studio Gallery
Tina Maravelis- reiki healer
Damage Incorporated
Tanya Kukucka Ceramics
Notions n Potions
Duffy's Biker Barn
The Groovy Baker
Black Star Clothing Co
Luulay
Hudson Valley Horrors Roller Derby
Suburbia Roller Derby
Romano Custom Design
Micheal Colonna Design
Chris Machin Kustom Kulture
Barushka Belly Dancing
E- BOmb
Pulp Sushi
Brown Bag Party (Sex Toys)
Heteric Wear
and more
Booths still available- 10x10' $75
go to
http://www.myspace.com/socialpariahfestival for all info or contact Vanessa at tellez

Jeramy Turner opening reception @ Zahra's Studio, Feb 7, 6-10pm


Shanghai, 48"x70", oil on canvas

Zahra's Studio's current exhibit "Blood and Oil Paintings" opened on Feb 1st, but the opening reception will be held on Saturday, Feb 7. The exhibit of paintings by Jeramy Turner will be on view through Feb 28. I haven't been in to check out the show yet, but I checked out some paintings on Turner's website. They're trippy post industrial Boschian visions of a world peopled with pale pudgy Gerard Depardieu looking slug people. I'm very interested to see what these look like in person.
The reception is taking place from 6-10pm.

Garrison Art Center exhibits open Feb 6,

An opening reception will be held at the Garrison Art Center for new exhibits of work by Kevin Kearns and Mikiko Kanno on Friday, Feb 6, 6-8pm.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

I love the smell of Newburgh in the afternoon.

This past Thursday I journeyed over to Newburgh for the first time in a long time. I met a friend for lunch at the Moo and Oink on Liberty & Washington; a cool joint that gifted one with a mouth watering aroma upon entering.
Later, I stopped into the Newburgh Art Supply Store at 87 Liberty St. and spent time chatting with owners Gerardo Castro and Michael Gabor. The Newburgh Art Supply is similar in size to that of the Beacon Art Supply - may it rest in peace. Michael and Geraldo want to make sure their stock is as appealing as possible to the area's artists. If you have a special request, let them know and work on getting it in for you. The store is stocked with an ever growing selection of environmentally friendly products. They also carry the new line of Golden Open Acrylics which I'm anxious to try.
The duo are understandably passionate about supporting the growth of their community and have an extensive calendar of arts events happening in Newburgh on their website. They're also active in developing joint Newburgh/Beacon events related to the 400th Anniversary of Hudson's journey up the river.