News

Exquisite Corpses

Prior to the opening for our current exhibit, gallery staff went out for dinner with artists Jeff Soto, and Jim Houser, joined by some of their friends and family. After placing our orders, we all played a fun game of "The Exquisite Corpse" during the wait for our food. This is where a sheet of paper is folded into three sections, so that one person draws one third of a figure, without being able to see what’s drawn on the other two parts of the page. The result is usually amusing and strange, all things perverted and silly are highly encouraged. We thought we’d take a moment to share a few of our best "Corpses" from the evening, for your viewing pleasure…

This was an unfortunate mistake, it’s got two crotches! Oh well, it still works.

This one’s very top-heavy, multiple eyes AND boobs! 

And here we have a lovely inter-species specimen.

Prime example, anything goes in this game!

So there you have it, a fun activity anyone can enjoy. Try it at home! You can play with your friends the next time you can’t find the missing monopoly pieces. All you need is a pen, a sheet of paper, and a wild imagination. Enjoy!

Jeff Soto and Jim Houser installation

Hey everyone! So it’s been about a week since the Jeff Soto and Jim Houser exhibits opened here at the gallery. They’ve been getting a lot of really great feedback so we thought we’d share our experience with the artists while they were here preparing for their exhibits. Our camera is off travelling Europe with Jonathan so we’re relying on the kindness of others for their pictures. Thanks to Jeff Soto, George Koroneos and Juxtapoz for helping us out.

the beginnings of the installation…

 

 

 

laying out the pieces…

 

randomly David Choe popped in to say hello to the gallery crew and see what Jeff was up to

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’d like to see images from the opening just head over to Jeff and Jim’s exhibit pages.

Also check out Jeff’s extensive blog about his NY experience here

 

Jeff Soto’s Incredibly Strange Creatures

 GetUnderground.com     Jeff Soto’s Incredibly Strange Creatures

By Matt Dukes Jordan

When I think of Jeff Soto’s paintings, I think of robot monsters rampaging over ruined industrial landscapes.  Because they are cartoony and pop surreal/lowbrow, they seem less threatening, and yet they do have an ominous feel. Given global warming and the wars raging and the machines that fight in them, his work seems ever more relevant. It seems to be the dark side of the American Dream – the dream dreamed when American optimism and gungho pragmatism fades out and the night creatures emerge in sleep.  (Read Full Article)

The Walls Belong to Us Benefit Art Auction for Alan Ket

 
 THE WALLS BELONG TO US
An Art Benefit for Alan Ket’s Legal Defense
 
On August 1st, 2007, The Hip-Hop Theater Festival will host a silent art auction and benefit for Alan Ket’s legal defense entitled, THE WALLS BELONG TO US; at the POWERHOUSE ARENA. THE WALLS BELONG TO USwill feature the largest line up of global graffiti, urban art, and photography ever assembled in one space, with over 120 pieces and 105 artists involved. Canvases, sculptures, prints and silk screens from world-renowned artists including, Martha Cooper, FUTURA 2000, Lee Quiñones, Lady Pink, Jamel Shabazz, GHOST, Grotesk, DELTA, Guy Gonzales, IZ THE WIZ, Jose Parla, Henry Chalfant, REVS, ZEPHYR, Shepard Fairey, EWOK 5MH, Joe Conzo, DAZE and Brett Cook Dizney. 
 
In addition, THE WALLS BELONG TO US auction will play an instrumental role in raising funds to combat social injustice. Presently, Alan Ket [Maridueña] is the defendant in three cases in New York City. He has been accused and arrested for alleged graffiti crimes stemming from an October 2006 search of his home and office. In March 2007, police arrested him after a five-month investigation. He is charged with over a dozen felony charges [all graffiti-related] that if convicted could place him in prison for over ten years. Alan Ket has no prior criminal record. He is being represented by Daniel Perez of the law firm of Kuby and Perez LLP.
 
Since 1986, Alan Ket has documented the New York City graffiti art movement and been an active participant as a painter and supporter. From launching STRESS (1995) and COMPLEX magazines (2001) to serving as an art curator for the 2006 video game “Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure,” he has made sure that graffiti art is recognized as an important and legitimate art movement by documenting its pioneers and its protagonists.  Traveling to universities nationwide, Ket has been an outspoken advocate on graffiti history, criminalization, and issues concerning public art. Today, as US publisher of From Here to Fame Books,he publishes books that celebrate Hip Hop, street movements and graffiti history.
 
ABOUT THE AUCTION:
The open-invitation fundraiser will feature an open bar with beer and cocktails, music, a silent auction, and art raffles of books supplied by From Here To Fame. Alan Ket’s friends and supporters are donating works exclusively for this auction event to support his legal defense and to show solidarity to a fellow artist.
 
A preview of the exhibition will commence on July 25th and run through until the actual auction close date, August 5th, 2006. In addition, art patrons can visit: www.supportket.org to view and/or bid on pieces featured in the auction starting on July 25th as well. The auction will be held online with select pieces being auctioned exclusively at the fundraiser event on August 1st.
 
Admission is $30 (minimum donation). Capacity for this event is limited and pre-registration online via credit card is strongly encouraged to guarantee admittance. Admission at the door is cash only and will be on a space-available basis. Pre-register via www.supportket.org starting July 15th.
 
EVENT INFO: 
THE WALLS BELONG TO US, an art benefit for Alan Ket’s legal defense
August 1, 2007; 6 – 9 PM
Music by DJ Soul
 
Exhibition Preview starts July 25th, at:
POWERHOUSE ARENA in DUMBO 
37 Main Street 
Brooklyn, New York 11201-1021 
 
The line up includes: FUTURA 2000, Lee Quiñones, MICO, COCO 144, Jose Parla, Lady Pink, SMITH, Joey Krebs, Steve Marcus, Jamel Shabazz, GHOST, Joe Conzo, STAK, ESPO, Barry McGee, Grotesk, MICKEY, COPE2, Erni Panicolli, T-Kid 170, SONIC, Machine, MILK, SENT0, Henry Chalfant, VEN, WOLF, TEAM, VEEFER, Chris DAZE Ellis, CRASH, ZEPHYR, DONDI, Martha Cooper, MIN ONE, CORNBREAD, FREEDOM, TOOFLY, QUEEN ANDREA, PURE, NOAH, WANE, DOC, WENT, SABE, CAVE, FRAME, PERSUE, RISKY, Jani Tolin, EWOK 5MH, MARE 139, KEL 139, POSE2, WEB, ATOME, BATES, BLUSTER, CERN, CES, MED, DELTA, CYCLE, EZO, FREEDOM, FUZZ, GANO, WEN, Eric HAZE, Guy Gonzales, IZ THE WIZ, HENCE, HEWS, JA, JON 156, NYC LASE, KAVES, Matt Doyle, Joshua Griffler, MAC Crew, Mai Lucas, MERES, Ruedi One, REVS, PART, QUIK, Ricardo Cortes, SEAK, Shepard Fairey, SKUF, VIRUS, WEST, DUEL, OVIE, ZEKIS, KOE Rodriguez, Jim Prigoff, Inspector Collector, PEAK, DIVA, SPACE YMI, JAES, POSE2, NOXER, Brett Cook Dizney, DALEK, SMASH 137, LUNAR, SP ONE, MUCK, SEK 3, INK 76, BLADE, ZIMAD, CLARK FLY ID, EROTICA 67, KR and a few additional surprises.

 

E Pluribus Venom: Behind the Scenes in Brooklyn

Now that some of the excitement has died down, it seems like a good time to share some Shepard Fairey – behind the scenes action.  A very special thanks to Kyle Oldeorp and Malena Seldin for the use of their photographs.

Just down the street from the DUMBO space, an early Shepard Fairey piece marks a previous trip to New York.

 A Peace Goddess poster waits to be pasted.

Shepard Fairey: master of the X-acto Knife.

Shepard adding to the Mujer Fatal installation

Two Sides of Capitalism: Good Installation

Sneakers not included…

 

The Works in Progress:

 

Shepard Fairey Is All Grown Up

Shepard Fairey is All Grown Up

                      By Barbara Roan

This renegade street sticker campaign launched by Shepard Fairey back in 1989 solidified his position as a counterculture icon. Now, almost two decades later, he has a design firm, a lifestyle magazine, and an established place in the art world thanks to a slew of album covers, Fender guitars and movie posters—including the one for Oscar-winner, Walk the Line(Read full article)

Ten From TWI-NY: 7-11-07

Ten From TWI-NY: 7-11-07

                                                                                  By Mark Rifkin 

After contemplating Shepard Fairey’s complex and angry world view, “E Pluribus Unum,” at the Jonathan Levine Gallery, head into the back room to delight in Souther Salazar’s wonderful fantasy land.  Salazar’s creative creatures fly through the air, relax in futuristic, alien landscapes, have playfully monstrous dreams, live in tree trunks, and talk to animals in engaging collages with such titles as “This Is the Modern World,” “It Was the Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Lost in Space Again,” “Mr. Smashed Apples Rides Again,” and “Complicated Social Organization.” He also fashions little dioramas featuring cute fire-baked clay figures escaping in a bottle of glue, taking a ride in a lightbulb balloon, standing guard in a tower built on pencils, and swimming atop a box of thumb tacks. (Read full article)

Obedience

Obedience by Shepard Fairey

                                                                         Interview by Nicole Pasulka

Even if you’ve never heard his name, chances are you’ve seen Shepard Fairey’s stickers, posters, and stencils on lampposts in New York City, or peeking out from doorways and street signs in one of the countless countries where his street art has traveled. With a large-scale installation at Jonathan Levine in New York City, Fairey brings his sense of humor and outrage to his gallery work. Born in Charleston, SC in 1970, Shepard Fairey lives and works in Los Angeles. (Read full article)

DUMBO Opening Photos

Hi Everyone,

With all media attention the E Pluribus Venom DUMBO opening received, we thought now would be a good time to share some images of the party.  Thanks to everyone who made it out and waited in the terrible weather.  We hope it was worth it!

Two dapper gentlemen: Jonathan LeVine and Shepard Fairey

This line ended up wrapping the entire perimeter of the building!

Shepard Fairey’s War By Numbers installation

DJ Diabetic gets the party started!

These ladies – Best Dancers, bar none.

A very special thanks to our sponsor, Dewars.

Artist, Matt Haber makes an appearance.

Curator, Drew Ford discusses the exhibition with Ron English.

Our swanky VIP area.

Coming to a lamp post near you!

Even Miss Vivienne was able to join the fun!

ISM Cover Contest!

 ISM: a community project, a non-profit arts organization based in Long Beach but heard worldwide, is again proving that art is a democratic institution for all by launching the “Space Available Cover Contest”. Jumping off with its Summer Issue (out now at select retailers, galleries, finer boutiques and online @ www.ISMcommunity.org), this contest is giving all artists, both emerging and established alike, equal chance to be the cover artist for the Autumn 2007 Issue.
 
To help judge the entries, ISM: a community project has assembled a group of some of the most definitive voices in the arts world. Representing every facet of the arts, this panel of 12 judges known as the ISM Luminaries, is made up of RZA, Anthony Mandler, Kat Von D, Jeff Staple, Rickey Kim, Andrew Hosner, Joe Hahn, Jonathan LeVine, Amber Tamblyn, Alix Sloan, Mark Murphy and Derrick Brown.
 
Guidelines for Submission of work:
+Use any medium (illustration, painting, photography, etc.)
+Include our logo (download @ www.ISMcommunity.org)
+Inspire the world
 
+All submissions must be in by July 21st 2007+All submissions need to be no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches
+All submissions must be e-mailed to cover@ISMcommunity.org
 
For more information on the “Space Available Cover Contest”, the ISM Luminaries, our organization, upcoming events and exhibitions, how to get involved and how you can make a donation, please visit www.ISMcommunity.org
 
———

ISM: a community project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and support of the arts. We serve the arts community by creating a cultural network, developing and coordinating collaborative projects, hosting events and publishing an internationally distributed magazine. We are dedicated to supporting the arts and the artists that make up its vibrant scene. Our aim is to give a voice to the artist who otherwise might not have such a platform to share their talent with the world.

Splashing the Art World With Anger and Questions

Splashing the Art World With Anger and Questions

June 30, 2007

by Michael Kimmelman

Until the pranks turned ugly, it was heartening to follow the dust-up between a bunch of street artists and their nemesis or nemeses, identity unknown. As The New York Times reported this week, for some time works of stenciled graffiti art and wheat-pasted posters slapped onto walls in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan have been splashed with paint and scrawled with messages of protest.

Anonymous claimants have distributed various communiqués taking responsibility for the sabotage, citing the Situationists of the 1950s and ’60s as inspiration. One manifesto declared street art “a bourgeois-sponsored rebellion,” politically impotent, facilitating gentrification.

(Read Full Article)

Shepard Fairey Presale to End Tuesday, July 3rd

Shepard Fairey Presale to End Tuesday, July 3rd

Hi Everyone,

We predict that Shepard Fairey’s presale will take most of Saturday to finish, so we’ve decided to open the sale to the public on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007.

All available work will be posted in our current exhibitions section (click here to access).  Please call the gallery for all inquiries at 212.243.3822

Thanks again for your patience and understanding while we continue the sale of E Pluribus Venom.