Art Against Knives

28 August 2008, a 15-year old assailant on Boundry Street, East London stabbed Oliver Hemsley, 20-year-old Central St.Martin’s College Student eight times in an unprovoked attack. Oliver narrowly escaped with his life and spent the next 134 days in intensive care, his spinal cord was partially severed leaving him paralysed never to walk again. Consequently Oliver will require constant medical support for the remainder of his life, the attack was an indiscriminate tragedy, which only serves to defy comprehension.

Out of darkness comes positive action, 'Art Against Knives' is an initiative based around Oli's love for art and draws public focus to the violence under our very own nose. The exhibition runs over two days and covers photography, fashion, fine art, illustration, sculpture and installation takes place at Shoreditch Town Hall and Shoreditch House all artwork is available for sale, with an auction taking place on the evening of the second day.

To read more and view the artwork available for auction, click HERE.

SOURCE: DD

DANZIGER PROJECTS "Location" Exhibition

ALBERTO NARDUZZI. THE BYBLOS ART HOTEL LOBBY. 2004. 40 "X 50"

The exhibition "Location" looks at some of the many ways the concept of location in photography differs from "landscape". Like a photographic portrait, a photograph of a location can never be entirely objective. The time, light, vantage point taken by the photographer, and degree to which the photographer intervenes with the location all come to bear on the final product. By this definition, the location photograph is a conceptual act.

In this exhibition the idea of location is broken into four separate categories. In the first, exemplified by the photographs of Scott Peterman, Len Prince, and Beate Gutschow – a traditional landscape or cityscape is revisited and reinterpreted by the artist. This can be as straightforward and post-modern as Peterman and Prince's re-photographing of iconic places or as untraditional as Gutschow's computer based photographic re-imaginings of 18th century landscape painting.

The second category deals with the juxtaposition of art and interior location – handled in a relatively objective way by the Italian architectural photographer Alberto Narduzzi – whose shot of the lobby of the Byblos Art Hotel near Verona presents a startling look at a luminous Alladin's cave of art; and in a highly manipulated way by the Cuban-American Abelardo Morell - whose camera obscura pictures conjoin interior and exterior in a brilliant and original conceptual way.

The third category deals with invention, intervention, and photographic manipulation. Jack Pierson cuts and arranges chunks and scraps of photographs to create photomontages bursting with a sense of location often truer to the spirit of the place photographed than any individual photograph could be. Justine Kurland takes a different approach bringing a cast of "actors" into her location where she creates vivid and realistic vignettes of imagined scenarios. Susan Derges creates photograms in nature, taking large pieces of color photographic paper into Devon's River Taw and flashing the paper and freezing the moment as water and foliage stream by in the river's current.

Finally Melanie Schiff and Christophe Maout explore the relationship between man and nature, past and present, and how civilization (or the lack of) alter the natural location - in Schiff's photographs looking at the flowering graffiti that decorates a hidden skate pipe at the base of Mount Baldy in Southern California; and in Maout's work - contrasting the natural foliage that manages to still exist in a big city to Parisian modernist architecture.


Danziger Projects
534 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011
Telephone 212.629.6778
info@danzigerprojects.com

Hours
Wednesday - Saturday 11 - 6
Monday and Tuesday by appointment

SOURCE: DP

HOW ABOUT SOME TEXT IN YOUR SEX!

From the hottest cell phone novels to complex legal opinions to international sex surveys, stories of widespread dissatisfaction with romance and intimacy in contemporary Japan abound.

On Tuesday May 5th, come to the Japan Society for an engaging panel discussion on sexual dissatisfaction in Japan co-sponsored by the Museum of Sex.

Moderated by Kenji Yoshino, the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University, the discussion will feature Dana Goodyear, poet, journalist, and author of the New Yorker Article I ♥ Novels, and Mark West, Nippon Life Professor of Japanese Law at the University of Michigan, discuss their latest research into this crisis of intimacy.


www.museumofsex.com

"PARIS BURNS" in the UK

Since it's emergence in the late 1980s Paris is Burning, a social documentary recording the dying embers of the New York City Drag Ball scene, has undisputedly achieved iconic status for its candid representation of that particular place and period in time. Suffice to say that the film provides a valuable insight into the working-class struggles and escape routes of gay men that sought to forget their troubles and transform themselves into larger-than-life characters. Unsurprisingly, a very strong sense of community lingers beneath the paper-thin facade of diva tantrum, and with glitzy ball categories including Schoolboy, Town and Country, Executive Realness, Fashion Evening Wear and Butch Queen, you get a sense that no one was ever excluded. Bulging with amazing one-liners and set to a killer soundtrack, this film encompasses an intoxicating nostalgic trip back an era most of us never experienced.

Horsemeat Disco hosts an exclusive screening on April 26, 7.30pm at the Eagle, 349 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5QY.

The DVD is available for pre-order here.

SOURCE: DDdotCOM

"BOIS" Town

Sarah Baley Bois
7 May- June 17, 2009

Opening Reception
Thursday, 7 May 2009 6-8 pm

Collette Blanchard Gallery is pleased to present Sarah Baley's Bois, which will be on view from May 7th through June 17th, 2009.

Through a series of photographs, Baley explores sexuality and gender definitions while specifically highlighting a community called "Bois". Cinematic images of "Bois" dressed in fashions ranging from blue-collar to school boy aesthetic are juxtaposed with photographs of a changing industrial urban landscape in stages of decay and redevelopment.

Through lighting and subject placement, Baley makes the viewers aware that they are observing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the "Bois" community. The artist places the "Bois" in the foreground of the frame, either gazing directly at the artist/viewers, as in Jasper and Little Prince, or in an intimate pose (e.g. embracing, kissing, in thought) or setting (e.g. bedroom), as in Left Wing, Bed Peace and Kiss. Baley also makes the "Bois" the main focus through the use of lighting; backgrounds blend into darkened masses while the "Bois" are well-lit at the foreground. Through these techniques, Baley brings sub-culture from the periphery to center stage.

For the artist, the urban landscape, reflected in the rapid development in Red Hook, Brooklyn, functions as a metaphor, or mirror, for a fluid, transforming definition of sexuality and gender at the heart of the "Bois" community. Many of the "Bois" are non-conformists that reject gender as a binary system of male or female. Through Baley's photographs, the artist portrays sexuality and gender as more fluid than a two-part system. According to the artist, "Sexuality is prismatic. It is the full spectrum of color...one of the few ways we can still express freedom."

Sarah Baley lives and works in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Baley received her B.F.A in photography at the Art Center College of Design in California. Recently, the Brooklyn Museum acquired Baley's Dug (2005) for their permanent collection. In August 2009, the work will be on display in the museum's American Identities Galleries.

For more information please contact Jocelyn London at 917.639.3912 or jocelyn@colletteblanchard.com.

Collette Blanchard Gallery
26 Clinton Street
New York, New York 10002
917.639.3912

www.colletteblanchard.com
Gallery Hours are Wed. - Sun. 12 -6 and by appointment.

SOURCE: Collette Blanchard

Fashion Folio II: Phil Knott x Kevin Phillips for FLAUNT

The up-and-coming actor was shot wearing garments by Viktor & Rolf, Benjamin Boxby, Tom Ford and other top designers. Normally I am not one for still life photography but I love the model's subtle poses and facial expressions plus the clothes are amazing. The city serves as an amazing backdrop. Urban landscapes rock!

WWW.FLAUNT.COM

Damien Hirst for Harley Davidson

What a way to ride in style. I need this for my collection!

via GQ

Artist Ernie Barnes passes

Renowned artist Ernie Barnes, a former pro football player who switched to painting full time after his sports career ended, has died, according to published reports quoting his longtime personal assistant.

The assistant, Luz Rodriguez, told dailynews.com in Los Angeles that Barnes, 70, died Monday night at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Barnes played for the Denver Broncos in 1964 and 1965, earning $13,500 as a starting guard. Ever since he was boy in Durham, N.C., he was interested in drawing and he was an art major at North Carolina Central.

As a Bronco, Barnes each week would sketch the defensive lineman who would be across from him in that Sunday’s game.

“The drawings would help me understand the man I would be facing, ” he said in a 1984 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Barnes sold the drawings to teammates and friends for as little as $30.
While on the playing field, Barnes said he was studying the human form and developing an eye for capturing the drama of sports.

He left the Broncos, played briefly in Canada, broke an ankle and retired. Several months later he attended an American Football League owners’ meeting and was named the league’s official artist, but when Al Davis became commissioner a few weeks later, Barnes was told there was no money for an official artist.

Later, New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin became Barnes’ patron for a year, and at the end of the year Werblin sponsored a New York show for Barnes. Every painting sold. Werblin told Barnes he was on his own.

Barnes moved to Los Angeles and began studying art history and painting.
” I always figured what I liked, other people would like. I painted within myself, from my own experience.”

In a 1995 interview with the AJC, he said, “The gift that athletics gave me was an enhancement of my sensory perceptions and an understanding of what the body feels like in movement.” Barnes added. “In a way, football was an advanced art class for the study of human anatomy.”
His paintings, now worth thousands of dollars, became gallery favorites and were purchased by Hollywood stars, professional sports team owners and singers such as Marvin Gaye and Sammy Davis Jr.

“Sugar Shack,” the painting he became famous for when it was featured repeatedly on the ’70s sitcom “Good Times,” was purchased for $75,000 from the Marvin Gaye estate by comedian Eddie Murphy.

Barnes was the official artist for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and he was commissioned to do six original paintings for Olympic posters.

http://www.answers.com/topic/ernie-barnes

http://www.erniebarnes.net/about_Ernie_Barnes.html

Scion's Installation 5 Tour Announces Beneficiary, Arrives In New York

Scion’s Installation 5 Art Tour, which will benefit Creative Capital, arrives in New York, NY in May. The opening reception will take place Thursday May 7th from 7pm – 11pm at The Showroom NYC, 117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor, New York, NY 10003. Artists Blek le Rat, Christina M. Felice, Edwin Ushiro, Angela Boatwright, Logan Hicks and Tessar Lo will be in attendance. Turntable Lab affiliate Blue Jemz, who recently released a CD through Scion A/V, will be spinning.

The fifth installment of Scion’s Installation Art Tour was launched in October 2008. The program is designed to give exposure to both established and emerging artists. Installation 5: Self Portraits highlights a diverse array of artists from around the world and will visit nine cities in total including Miami, New York, Portland, Minneapolis, San Jose, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The tour features new markets Phoenix and Detroit, where the show kicked off.

For Installation 5 each artist was asked to create his or her literal, or non-literal interpretation of the theme 'Self-Portraits'. Video art will be included for the first time in the tour’s five-year history,alongside painting and photography. Artists on the tour will include: AJ Fosik (3-D painting), Alex Hornest (painting), Andrew Schoultz (painting), Andy Howell (painting), Angela Boatwright (photography), Asylm (painting), Blek le Rat (painting), Christina M. Felice (photography), Codak (painting), David Choe (video art), Edwin Ushiro (painting), El Yem (video art), Eriberto Oriol (photography), Eye One (photography), Francesco LoCastro (painting), French (painting), Geoff Oki (video art), Ian Lynam (video art), J. Shea (painting), Jamel Shabazz (photography), Jeff Soto (painting), Kelsey Brookes (painting), Kofie (painting), Lisa Alisa (painting), Logan Hicks (photography), Mark Mothersbaugh (rug), Nicholas Harper (painting), Patrick Martinez (painting), Peter Beste (photography), RETNA (painting), Rick Rodney (photography), Rob Abeyta Jr. (painting), Ron English (painting), Saber (photography), Sage Vaughn (painting), Skypage (painting), Stormie Mills (painting), Tessar Lo (painting), Too Tall Jahmal (photography), Usugrow (painting), Will Barras (painting), Yoskay Yamamoto (painting) and more. As the tour travels, more artists will be added to the roster.

The final tour stop will be at Scion’s own 4,200 square foot Installation L.A. gallery space where all artwork will be auctioned off to the public, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward Creative Capital. The goal of Creative Capital is to create an artistic home and supportive community to nurture some of the country’s most extraordinary artistic creators and to help provide the skills and confidence for these artists to realize their most ambitious dreams. Creative Capital has advanced the careers of 411 grantees through financial support and advisory services, and has reached over 2,200 additional artists through its Professional Development Program in workshops across the country. As the premiere national artist support organization, Creative Capital is committed to the principal that time and advisory services are as crucial to artistic success as funding. “Creative Capital is honored to have been selected to be part of Scion’s Installation Five art tour,” said Ruby Lerner, president of Creative Capital. “We are so pleased to partner with an organization that recognizes the critical importance of supporting individual artists and helping to bring the next generation of artists forward. We look forward to joining Scion as Installation Five continues its tour and shares these exciting projects with audiences across the country.” For more info: http://www.creative-capital.org

Last year’s Installation 4 tour raised over $50,000 on behalf of Art From Scrap, an organization encouraging creative expression in the arts and promoting a greater understanding of environmental issues. Over the last four years Scion’s Installation tour has raised more than $190,000 for art-related non-profit organizations. Launched in 2003, Scion Installation is a revolutionary art tour affirming the brand’s ongoing commitment to support independent artistic expression and featuring work from an unprecedented collective of contemporary artists, designers and photographers. Previous participants include: Andre from Paris, Gary Baseman, Freddi C, Mr. Cartoon, Crash, David Ellis, Daze, Blaine Fontana, Sam Flores, Futura, Mike Giant, James Jean, Caia Koopman, Krush, Mel Kadel, Mear One, Travis Millard,Andy Mueller, Andrew Pommier, Ricky Powell, Rammellzee, Rostarr, Kenny Scharf, Wearesupervision, Chris Yormick and many others.

For more information on the tour, the artists, the artwork and details from past tours
please visit: http://www.scion.com/installation


About Scion:
Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., was developed with a new generation of youthful buyers in mind. Scion’s mission is to provide distinctive products, the opportunity to personalize, and an innovative, consumer-driven process at the retail level. The Scion brand features three ground-breaking models with a wide array of standard features: the xD urban subcompact five-door, the iconic xB urban utility vehicle, and the tC sports coupe. The brand often applies new practices in all aspects of its business and pushes the creativity envelope with non-traditional advertising and marketing to engage young consumers. Scion also supports originality through its programs in the artistic community. For more information, visit www.scion.com.

SOURCE: Lucy Beer/Elemental Consulting

RENTAL presents Matthew Chambers / Brendan Fowler/ Rashid Johnson / Jason Kraus, May 2 - May 31

Matthew Chambers I Brendan Fowler I Rashid Johnson I Jason Kraus

MAY 2 – MAY 31, 2009
@ RENTAL, NEW YORK, NY
RECEPTION: SATURDAY, MAY 2, 7-9PM



RENTAL
120 EAST BROADWAY 6TH FL NY NY 10002 T.212.608.6002
WWW.RENTAL-GALLERY.COM

Adolf Hitler's Watercolors Sell For Over US$143,000 at Mullock's Art Auctioneers

LONDON.- Mullock's Art Auctioneers sold a series of watercolors painted by Adolf Hitler for over 100,000 euros. The works were mostly landscapes and were found earlier this year in a garage. A work that appears to be a self-portrait that portrays a man using a side-parting and sitting on a stone bridge sold for 10,000 pounds (US$14,600). The work was signed with the initials A.H.

Richard Westwood-Brookes from Mullock's stated, "I am very pleased. I thought they would go for between five and six thousand. Unfortunately for the world, he was not accepted into the Vienna Academy, which was where he wanted to be. Of course, if he had been accepted, then we would have known him today as an artist and not as an evil tyrant." He had previously stated the works "are hardly Picasso".

From 1905 on, Hitler lived a bohemian life in Vienna on an orphan's pension and support from his mother. He was rejected twice by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (1907–1908), citing "unfitness for painting", and was told his abilities lay instead in the field of architecture.

Handout photo from Mullock's Auctioneers of a painting, believed to be a 1910 self portrait by Adolf Hitler and identified by the initials 'A.H', written beside the figure. What the British auction house claims are a set of paintings and sketches by a young Adolf Hitler have sold at auction for 97,672 pounds (US$143,358) Thursday April 23 2009. A painting said to be a self-portrait of the young Hitler sold for about 10,000 pounds (US$14,600). The buyer John Ratledge, 46, said he planned to hang it at home or in his office.(AP Photo / Mullock's Auctioneers)

via AKN

The Art Dump/Make The Logo Wooden Exhibition

Featuring works by members of The Art Dump which include: Andy Jenkins, Andy Mueller, Christian Morin, Chris Waycott, Eric Anthony, Jeremy Carnahan, Hershel Baltrotsky, Jordan Mitchell, and Michael Coleman. The exhibition takes place this Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Littlebird Gallery. See gallery information below.


LittleBird Gallery
3195 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
P+ 323.662.1092

The Art of H & M: Matthew Williamsom Debuts Today!

Today is the debut of the Matthew Williamson collaboration, which is sure to attract hundreds -- if not thousands -- of bargain hungry fashionistas. Chances are they are already lined up now and for good reason! I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peak at what's in store and it's soo worth fighting for. Tiered gowns, leather and tuxedo jackets, summer dresses and even sunglasses -- all available in Williamson's signature color drenched textiles. Men aren't left out either, as Williamson has also designed a capsule collection featuring shorts, shirts and accessories. So as I said, run, don't walk and bring a few bottles of water. You'll need it.

SOURCE: PAPER

Pic of the Day: The Rally Against the Parson's Firings...

Real Talk: 04.23.09

:::You Make Me Feel...Mighty Real!:::

Sylvester

ARTSMITH Collective - Project 261 Tonight!

ARTSMITH Collective - Project 261
A benefit for P.S. 261


Thursday, April 23rd, Door - 4:30pm, $10 / $15

ARTSMITH, a collective of New York based artists (Alex Bershaw, Gigi Bio, Josh Goldstein, Adam Suerte, James and Karla Murray) with experience across multimedia platforms collaborated with the art teachers at P.S. 261, an elementary school in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. This collaboration engaged students from first through fourth grade, in the process of creating and exhibiting their art, while working with established artists. Artwork from the collective includes artwork created by the children.

Over 100 pieces will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting arts education at P.S. 261.

The auction closes at 9:00 p.m.
Music by: DJ Jack Denim
Performance by: Peter Litvin "The Stupid Alien"
Documentary Film to be projected during event. Directed by Greg Deliso and scored by Jack Denim. This film is about the process of this project.

MOCA Contemporaries Mixer in LA: 04.29.09

MOCA Contemporaries Party-Mixer
a night of urban retreat

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
7:00pm - 9:00pm

Solair Sky Deck
3731 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
After the amazing success of our last membership event at Rush Street in Culver City, this special gathering will take place on the beautiful sky deck at SOLAIR, located in the heart of Koreatown.

Take a break from work and join us for a lovely evening of retreat!
COCKTAILS AND APPETIZERS ARE ON US.

This will be a great opportunity to network and mingle with contemporary art lovers.

DJ L Croskey from Bitterweet will be spinning his grooves just for us.

Please join us to learn more about MOCA Contemporaries. There will be exciting gifts to choose from for all guests who sign up for membership that evening.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 27, 2009
E-mail: MOCAContemporaries2008@gmail.com

This event is open to the public.

JOICO The Art of Healthy Hair®
Sponsor of MOCA Contemporaries Spring 2009 events

AMBACH & RICE FOR "SUPRAMUNDANE"

DSSF Presents Trevor Traynor "I SHOOT PEOPLE"

DSSF presents "I Shoot People"

Photographs by TREVOR TRAYNOR

First Friday May 1st 8pm-11pm

Open Bar

DJ Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist

Performance by Richie Cunning and Melina Jones

D-Structuresf 520 Haight st. @ Fillmore

San Francisco, CA 94117

SOURCE: DSSF

ZONA MACO: Mexico City Contemporary Art Fair: April 22-26, 2009

ZONA MACO. MEXICO ARTE CONTEMPORANEO
Centro Banamex, Hall D
Mexico City
T:+52 (55) 5280.6073
F:+52 (55) 5280.8247
E: info @ zonamaco.com

22 - 26 April 2009

ZONAMACO

Stricola Contemporary presents WILD THINGS!

Wild Things! Photography for Animal Lovers
Curated by Greg Garry
5.2.09 – 6.5.09
Reception: 5.2.09, 6pm – 9pm

Stricola Contemporary is pleased to announce Wild Things! Photography for Animal Lovers, curated by Greg Garry.

Animals… they’re just like us! They are as vain, vicious, sexy, bitchy, whiny, fragile and as neurotic as their homosapien counterparts. Wild Things reflects all that good, bad and sometimes face-eating behavior.

Photographers included in the exhibition are; Roderick Angle, Corey Arnold, John Arsenault, Polly Borland, Radeq Brousil, Chris Buck, Luke Gilford, Jill Greenberg, Boza Ivanovic, Adam Krause, Kate Kunath, Catherine Ledner, Patrick McMullan, Eric McNatt, Perou, Stacey Pittman, Ryan Pfluger, Andy Reynolds, Isabella Rozendaal, Matt Salacuse, Robin Schwartz, Sarah Small, Micaela Walker, Alexo Wandael, Michael Werner, Sarah Wilmer, and Alex Young.

Greg Garry has worked as a magazine editor and writer at Flaunt, Art Review and most recently was photo director of the late pop culture title Radar. “I couldn’t stand the site of another fucking pseudo celebrity, so I thought why not sweet photos of puppies and kitties?” Garry included fine art and commercial photographers working in New York and across the globe, and wasn’t surprised so many found their muse in our furry, feathered and fishy friends. For more information:

Stricola Contemporary
3 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10013
www.stricola.com

Source: Stephanie Tricola/SC

FRANCESCO CLEMENTE "Self-Portrait: The First"

The naked artist fixes his penetrating gaze on the viewer, who feels compelled to return his look. A host of different birds rest on the artist's shoulders. The first in Clemente's series of large, calligraphically rendered drawings of himself, this picture illustrates the artist's almost erotic drive towards self-exploration and self-exposure. The figure is treated in an expressive manner, while the birds symbolize the supremacy of subjectivity and imagination over reason.

The work is an example of the Neo-Expressionist trend known as Transavanguardia, which focuses on expressive figurative work done on a large scale. Towards the end of the 1970s Clemente and other Italian Neo-Expressionists largely led the way in reviving figure painting. This revival may be seen partly as a reaction to non-figurative Abstract Expressionism, which dominated the art scene for many years.

SOURCE: The Art Book

SUNDAY PSALMS 101