D.U.M.B.O. ART UNDER THE BRIDGE
What:13th Annual D.U.M.B.O. Art Under The Bridge Festival
Where: D.U.M.B.O …duh
When: September 25 – 27, 2009
Damage: FREE
You might not see Anthony Keidis running around with his shirt off, but at the now teenage D.U.M.B.O. Art Under the Bridge Festival, you will see touchable, accessible, and interactive art, on a scale that makes it the nation’s largest urban forum for experimental art. In addition to the 80+ projects throughout the historical post-industrial waterfront span, visitors can tour local artists’ studios or check out the indoor video dumbo, a non-stop program of cutting-edge video art from New York City and around the world.
Check out the new iPhone Festival Guide application at dumbo.walkabit.com.
www.dumboartscenter.org
www.dumboartfestival.org
www.video_dumbo.org
You were thinking about it too… Couldn’t resist. (PS- Gus Van Sant directed this):
555 KUBIK: FACADE PROJECTION ART
555 KUBIK
“How it would be, if a house was dreaming”
Production: urbanscreen.com
Art Direction: Daniel Rossa – rossarossa.de
Technical Director: Thorsten Bauer
3D Operator: David Starmann shineundsein.de
Sound Design : Jonas Wiese
Realized with mxwendler.net mediaserver
A extended version of this documentation can be found here: vimeo.com/5677104
PANDEMIC GALLERY X ABZTRACT
What: Pandemic Gallery X Abztract
Where: 37 Broadway (In Brooklyn)
When: September 25th, 2009
Damage: Free
A pandemic is a world wide epidemic. The Pandemic Gallery seeks to create a showcase for artists, friends, and patrons to meet, collaborate, and present their work…. expanding the global awareness of a new breed of art and artists. Now with the self-titled, opening show under their belt…Pandemic will be partnering up with their friends at Abztract, an art and design collective with the similar aim of exposing original artists’ work locally and internationally, to kick off their second show this Friday, Sept. 25th from 7-11 pm. The latest exhibition will run through the month of October, and present slick hand-painted, silk-screened, stickered, or stenciled limited-edition skateboard decks created by the diverse crew of NYC and Brooklyn natives. Artists featured will include; Billi Kid, Chris RWK, Darkcoulds, JMR, Jordan Seiler, Justin Emerson, Veng RWK, Philip Lumbang, Keely, JustinK, Royce Bannon, Shai Dahan, and Temple7e.
So come on by, and be part of the epidemic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pandemicgallery
http://pandemicgallery.blogspot.com/
http://www.abztract.com/
http://birdgunblog.blogspot.com/
– Josh Amos, Sept. 22, 2009
Pictures above: #1 Invite, #2 Pandemic Sign, #3 Darkclouds, #4 Keely’s fish, #5 Billi Kid’s Obama, #6 Royce Bannon and Chris RWK collaboration, #7 Shai Dahan’s Dog Skateboards
Pictures #2,#3,#4 Courtesy of Derrick Noh & Picture #7 Courtesy of Abztract
LIFE ON THE RED PLANET…
It might look like an awesome sci-fi movie, but its actually just a photo essay from downunda, taken this week right after a dust storm “swept across eastern Australia, shrouding Sydney in a dramatic red glow.”- Mail Foreign Service
Not to be confused with the 50 year storm at Bells Beach but equally as impressive and you can read all about the storm HERE. While the storm seems to have caused some serious health and transportation problems, looks like it hasn’t really stopped people from hitting the beach…or taking these really surreal photos of the red sky. Thanks to Mail Foreign Service for the pics.
LOOKING AT MUSIC: SIDE 2 @ THE MOMA
Last week, I checked out the Moma exhibit, Looking at Music: Side 2; a first floor exhibit that catalogs NYC’s stripped-down, hard-edged, anti-establishment, experimental art and music scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s. The exhibit chronicles a time period in NYC when art and music were cross pollinating, when downtown artists plastered city walls with art, played in bands, squatted abandoned buildings in the east village and turned vacant garages into makeshift super 8 theaters and performance spaces. The punk ethos was alive. That energy seems to have been lost… but you can revisit it all through 120 photographs, music videos, drawings, audio recordings, publications, Super 8 films, and punk-film screenings from September-November at the Moma. This is a really great collection of punk rock memorabilia here but I just wish the exhibit had been a little longer. It was a bit of a tease and the two small rooms were just too small to leave me walking home satisfied. The photography by Dan Graham, Nan Goldin, and Jimmy DeSana and the record covers designed by Kim Gordon did make the trip worth it though. Not to mention my teenage bedroom wall fantasy. Some images i snapped from the exhibit above but check it out for yourself. Check the Looking at Music: Side 2 website for film details and show times.
THIS MUST BE THE PLACE
Talking Heads eclectic front man, and NYC bike advocate, David Byrne has used a bicycle to get around New York for the past 30 years. Last year, he designed a series of bike racks for the city and next week, has a new book out called the “Bicycle Diaries”. Convinced that urban biking opens one’s eyes to the inner workings and rhythms of a city’s geography and population, Byrne’s book is a journal of his observations and insights, what he sees and whom he has met pedaling through Berlin, San Francisco, Istanbul, Sydney, Buenos Aires, New York and Manila. Byrne is completely fascinated by cities and has a lot of ideas on the way art and music and urban planning interact with one another.Recently, Byrne collected his thoughts for the Wall Street Journal to outline the perfect “livable city”. So what is the perfect city?
“There’s an old joke that you know you’re in heaven if the cooks are Italian and the engineering is German. If it’s the other way around you’re in hell. In an attempt to conjure up a perfect city, I imagine a place that is a mash-up of the best qualities of a host of cities. The permutations are endless. Maybe I’d take the nightlife of New York in a setting like Sydney’s with bars like those in Barcelona and cuisine from Singapore served in outdoor restaurants like those in Mexico City. Or I could layer the sense of humor in Spain over the civic accommodation and elegance of Kyoto. Of course, it’s not really possible to cherry pick like this...”
– Read the full story on David Byrne in WALL STREET JOURNAL
Just in case all this David Byrne talk has you craving the giant suit…here ya go…(I think I used to wear a suit like that in college…its like 60 minutes on acid)
THERE’S STILL LIFE EXHIBIT
There’s Still Life is an International exhibition taking place at Art London in October and Scope Miami in December that will feature Discosalt artist Pam Glew. A select group of contemporary artists from the US and Europe have been given a simple brief – to take the traditional discipline of Still Life and produce contemporary paintings, drawings and sculpture.
Pam used the ‘hybrid tea rose’ flower as a starting point and has created 2 handmade ‘hybrid’ flags, part american flag, part Union Jack. The cross -fertilisation of the flags echo this idea of a flower being a hybrid.
British Rose is a handmade Union Jack, made from a vintage American flag and vintage denim with a blooming rose, Hybrid Rose is part British Ensign, part American flag, made from a very old Ensign Flag, denim, red stripes from a vintage American flag and embroidered linens for a nod to English Tea. Using my dyeing and bleaching technique, the Hybrid Rose is particularly distressed with drips of bleach giving off a naughty decadence.
You can preview the works in a show on Saturday 19th September in the Bath Gallery.
Mauger Modern Art, Bath
6 Bartlett Street
Bath, UK BA1 2QZ
g: 0044 (0)1225 315 110
m: 0044 (0)7590 527 332
w: www.maugermodern.com
e: richard@maugermodern.com
Saturday 19th September
JUST BECAUSE IT’S IN YOUR HEAD DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT REAL
Photographer Colin Dodgson, one of the Avantguardians from Surface has a new exhibit “Just because it’s in your head, doesn’t mean its not real” opening Wednesday September 9th 6-9 pm @ 243 Broome Street (Corner of Ludlow)
…IT TAKES US TO A PLACE WHERE WE ACHE TO GO AGAIN
Sunday nights with AMC’s Mad Men just can’t get here fast enough. I’m completely hooked on the vintage 50’s/early 60’s vibe, deep in the juju. Mad Men aren’t the only ones bringing vintage style back to life though. Rockabilly has always been a massively vibrant and active subculture in both the US and the UK, with love for both recordings by artists from the 1950s as well as vintage style aesthetics. Rockabilly culture is the antithesis to current trends, embracing it’s roots in “old school” societal fringes from the past.There is something undeniably alluring about those curvaceous women pin-ups, flip up dos, slicked back hair and nostalgically simpler times. You can always take a look back at this old school style, from the present through a new photo exhibit from Leonie Morse, a photographer based in East London whose work includes portrait and music photography that has previously been commissioned by The Face, X Ray Magazine and Sleazenation. She is currently exhibiting a photo project on the UK rockabilly scene called ROCKERS that includes 25 intimate portraits sometimes evocative and gritty documentary style photographs, taken over the last seven years on the UK rockabilly scene. While the exhibit contains contemporary photos, they can transport you to another time like a time machine. It will take you back and forward… to a place where you ache to go again. Its not called the wheel, it’s called the carousel. Wait…what? Too much Draper for me. Make the scene 10th Sept – 29th Oct 2009 at Filthy McNasty’s 68 Amwell Street, London . While you are here, cast an eyeball at some of the images on display above and lay on some love for Leonie.
WHAT’S THIS PIG BOARD PIECE OF SH*T?
That’s, ahh… that’s a surfboard all right! A series of surfboards actually, designed by Matt dubbya Moore, founder of MWM Graphics, a design and illustration studio based in Portland, Maine. These boards might not fly with Warchild but we still think they are pretty radical and would get Johnny Utah’s stamp of approval. They are certainly an upgrade from that ’57 chevy sled he was sweet on. Even Rick Kane might make Chandler proud with one of these designs, Barney. It’s like Barno… Barnyard… a haole to the max, a kook in and out of the water. Yeah? MWM recently collaborated with ALMOND surfboards and the CORDUROY gallery to create this unique series of Almond Lumberjack Long Surfboards that feature WMW’s own signature retro design. The perfect fusion of form meets function. Matt works across disciplines, from colorful digital illustrations in his signature “Vectorfunk” style, to free form watercolor paintings, to massive aerosol murals and more functional art like hand-painted bike frames, tees and cycling caps. These boards will make their maiden voyage at CONVERGENCE, a collaborative painting series by: Kate Cleaves and Matt W. Moore , on September 4th at 6:00 pm at the Corduroy Gallery,59 Market Street, Portland, ME. Surfing’s the source man… swear to God. Stay loose, haole.
MOPEDS, MO PROBLEMS
Wrap your legs ’round these velvet rims and strap your hands across my engines…Bryan Derballa from Wired put together a striking photo essay capturing some rowdy images of a growing trend in Brooklyn: Moped Gangs.
The Orphans are Greenpoint’s “fearsome” two-stroke contingent (super easy) riders, and they’re obsessed with abandoned retro pedal-start bikes. While this 12 member low speed gang, certainly stir up an outlawish individualism vibe that we think is pretty sweet, at 30 mph from an engine displacement of 49 cc, don’t expect the Stones to hire these guys for crowd control anytime soon. These gangs are more like a social club, where rivalry with other bike gangs, like Bushwick’s Mission 23, is all in good sported fun.
The camaraderie of these gangs is more about bringing old bikes back to life, a task which requires constant tinkering and riding together as a social outlet. And aside from looking pretty sick, these retro bikes are also growing in popularity in part because they don’t require a special motorcycle license or insurance like riding a motorcycle or Vespa. But, just tell that to the cops, who according to riders don’t seem to know what a moped is or what the law is on riding them. Can’t swing a break out there from the Fuzz! Seems the “scene” just can’t seem to get any good press lately either. Wired’s unflattering tongue in cheek article “Rebels Without a Hog” has made the “gangs” an easy target at websites like DieHipster.com….Mo peds, Mo problems.
You can check out the Orphanage Moped Shop, a moped emporium on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint or peep some more of the photo essay HERE.
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I HAVE A LUNCH MEETING WITH CLIFF HUXTABLE AT THE FOUR SEASONS IN 20 MINUTES
If Gary Simmons is synonymous with the 90’s art scene in New York, Robert Longo epitomized the 80’s. The ultimate stereotype of yuppie greed, Brett Easton Ellis’ fictional character Patrick Bateman in the film version of American Psycho prominently displays Simmon’s “Men in Cities” work in his apartment, a testament to his stamp on pop culture. Longo directed a bunch of music videos, including New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle”, Megadeth’s “Peace Sells…” and REM’s “The One I Love” and designed the front cover of The Replacements’ 1985 album Tim. If that’s not mixing it up enough for you, he directed Keanu Reeves in the cyberpunk movie Johnny Mnemonic. One for the trivia night. The current group exhibit at Metro Pictures in New York featuresimages from Robert Longo’s “Bodyhammers” and “The Sickness of Reason” collections.
I WILL NOT WASTE CHALK
Gary Simmons defined 90’s art by rejecting the video art installation trend and returning to basics. Inspired by American pop culture, cartoons and architecture, he cited youthful brashness as the norm for any artist at the beginning of his career. ”You start off trying to kick some shins…and then after a while you say, ‘O.K., let’s slow things down here.’ ” Now well into his career, Simmons does not seem to be slowing down in the least. His “Erasure Drawing” installation is currently on display at Metro Pictures where he has turned three gallery walls into giant painted blackboards like the ones you had in highschool which he has then drawn onto in white chalk. Its like a really creative chalk board punishment exercise. The single striking images are smudged, resulting in a strange mix of luminous clarity and gradual disappearance. Despite their expansive scale, the hovering forms appeared to be fading from view, making it seem that one approached them through a screen of faltering memory.
I’M OUT THERE JERRY, AND I’M LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!
Public nudity is the new empanada. This month, nyc artists and activists alike have been pushing the boundaries on acceptable nudity in public space. Maybe you checked out our blog last week featuring the “striphanger”, the photographer, Zach Hyman who took some steamy 30 second shots on the L train of 19-year-old actress Jocelyn Saldana pole dancing in her skinnies. Or you wandered through National Go topless day in Central Park on Sunday, where throngs of topless women marched side by side with Raelians, a cult “descendant from sexy aliens” to promote free boobage. Breast day ever! Then yesterday, Zach was at it again, photoging a completely nude 26 year old model, Kathleen Neill at the MET. This video was conveniently captured for NBC NewYork here. While Neill clearly had no panties, the stunt had some panties in a bunch. Neill was busty and busted in the Arms and Armour exhibit and arrested for public lewdness, raising the question, why and when is nude… lewd? How can a topless parade fly one day, and a form of nude art be illegal the next…and in a museum building full of nudity! The debate, like our obsession with nudity, is out there and will most likely continue to create controversy, hopefully dialogue. Free your beasts,free your mind.
ART+MUSIC+DANIEL HIGGS
If you are browsin’ yer local book or record shop, try and find a copy of Artist Music Journals – Edition 03, out now. Artist Music Journals is a limited edition small book series curated by Soundscreen Design, focusing on the inseparable connection between music and art. So, each month, a visual artist or musician will be asked to create a 24-page book of artworks, drawing inspiration from their connection to music. The different ways in which each artist chooses to represent their connection to music is what makes this ongoing series so intriguing and diverse and to ice the rink, each book is limited to 1000 copies so they are collectors items. Very cool indeed. The third and latest installment features the work of Daniel Higgs, a musician (Lungfish / Pupils) and artist from Baltimore, Maryland, who has been a contributor to the independent art and music community for nearly 3 decades. Ask your mom, she will know him. His artistic work ranges from musical records to books of poetry to visual collections. Higgs has always worked in the mediums of music and art simultaneously, and for his Artist Music Journal he mined over 10+ years of his archives and notebooks to compile a diverse and inspiring collection of drawings, paintings and collage works.
SURFBOARD ART FROM TWO BIRDS FLY
Two Birds Fly is a San Francisco surf board company green on surfboard building and strong on the arts. Fly Fly! Each board is hand made, hand drawn and hand glassed by local artists and craftsmen. More than just art on surfboards, their sleds are designed to be ridden. The current family of artists and shapers are a talented flock that include Marc Andreini, Thomas Campbell, Jeff Canham, Manuel C. Caro, Amy Jo Diaz, Kyle Field, Rachel Kaye, Alex Kopps, Geoff Mcfetridge, Serena Mitnik-Miller, Lana Porcello, Nathaniel Russell, Johanna St. Clair and Mason St. Peter. We are really digging this Darth Vader board. Impressive (heavy breathing)…most impressive(heavy breathing). Unique artwork thats completely functional. The force is strong with this one.
MWM: MURAL+ART+BIKES
Some new work from Matt W. Moore. Matt is the founder of MWM Graphics, a Design and Illustration studio based in Portland, Maine. Matt works across disciplines, from colorful digital illustrations in his signature “Vectorfunk” style, to freeform watercolor paintings, and massive aerosol murals.
Over the weekend, MOMENTUM, a show based in Somerville, Massachusettes celebrated 5 of Matts most recent pieces of work, 5 Hand-Painted Bike Frames, a mega mural and some pretty rad originally designed tees and cycling caps
Check out more From Matt HERE
JUDITH SUPINE: ABOVE THE CITY IN A SUMMER NIGHT DREAM
Brooklyn Artist Judith Supine’s latest creation “Above the City in a Summer Night Dream” On Top Of The Williamsburg Bridge. Supine continues to impress us with his surreal combination of old engraving art mixed with hand-drawn and painted image wheat pastes in, around, and now on top of the city.
MAGKINETIC DRAWINGS
Check it out: Magkinetic Drawings.