Opening

Drago and Wooster Social Club Present: Chris Stain “Long Story Short” Book Launch and Exhibition (Manhattan, NY)

February 22, 2012 , , , , ,

 

Wooster Street Social Club and Drago are pleased to announce the exhibition and book launch for Chris Stain’s latest project and Drago’s newest title Long Story Short – A Collection of Inspiration, at the Wooster Street Social Club on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, from 8-11pm. The exhibition will show all new work that explores two perspectives of intercity life; that from the internal struggles of the individual as well as the circumstantial elements to which that life subscribes. Both the exhibition and the book present an autobiographical reflection of the artist’s life through a collection of writings, letters, photographs, memorabilia, and artwork that illuminate a lifetime of experience that is the source of inspiration for Chris’ poignant imagery. Chris Stain’s subject matter has been compared to themes echoed in the American Social Realist movement of the 1930s and 40s. More importantly, however, Chris’s work is a communication of things that are relevant to him, the things that he sees everyday and the things that most people tend to, or try to, ignore. His work is marked by a strong social tinge and is filled with the adversity and diversity that one faces in the intercity. This visual narrative of social sufferance explores not only his personal architecture of experience, emotion, and inspiration, but shares the untold tales of the overlooked and the left behind. Despite being viewed by many as political statements, Chris Stain’s work is more than that. It is an honest and direct presentation of the basic levels of humanity, for better or for worse, what it means to be human and to treat others with an elemental sense of decency. The balance of today’s delicate social architecture bears the weight of many who feel threatened by social and economic injustice. These sentiments run high as a result of the events inspired by the Occupy movement, which have made Chris’s work feel that much more relevant in contemporary society.

The opening reception for Chris Stain’s Long Story Short will begin at 8pm on Wednesday, March 14th. The evening will include a slideshow presentation and round table discussion on art and social activism lead by Josh Macphee of Just Seeds, an interactive screen printing demonstration by Bushwick Print Lab, a live DJ set performed by Billy Mode, catering provided by Laurel Bell, and refreshments from Brooklyn Brewery. The slideshow will begin promptly at 9pm with discussion and Q&A to follow. Long Story Short – A Collection of Inspiration will be available for purchase during the event as well as throughout the run of the exhibition (through April 15th). You may also order Long Story Short through Drago’s website, www.dragolab.com. Chris Stain will be in attendance during the opening to sign copies of the book.

About the Artist

Chris Stain grew up writing Graffiti in Baltimore, MD in the mid 1980’s. Through printmaking in high school he adapted stenciling techniques, which later led to his work in street stencils and urban contemporary art. Chris currently teaches art in New York City and is pursuing a BA in Art Education.

About the DRAGO

Drago has been involved in the urban street movement for over a decade as an international think-tank for the creative class, working in unison with artists to realize projects with lasting cultural impacts. Drago identifies and promotes artists, develops communication projects, publishes books, and stages exhibitions and events. The street represents today’s leading visual and cultural aesthetic and the forefront of social resistance. Drago embodies and promotes this System of Independent Culture, sic!

About Wooster Street Social Club

Wooster Street Social Club is a tattoo studio, art gallery, and event space that plays host to TLC’s reality show NY Ink. It is an environment where art, culture, media, commerce, and entertainment live together and can be understood as complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
Through a series of art shows, activities, lectures, tastings, and large-scale events, Wooster Street Social Club has established itself as an ever-changing nexus of NYC’s creative community. The bottom line is to bring something new to the table, a forum for creativity, and something that is uniquely New York.

Wooster Street Social Club ⏐ 43 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013⏐ 646.545.3300 info@woostersocial.com ⏐ www.woostersocial.com

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Art Against Knives + Mother Drucker Present: “As The Crow Flies” A Group Show (London, UK)

February 22, 2012 , , , , ,

As The Crow Flies

 

Silk screen printed Urban Art Collection from Berlin Based Mother Drucker exhibited in cooperation with Art Against Knives Charity.

Exhibition: March 2nd - April 2nd 2012.
Opening Reception: March 1st - 7-10pm.
Art Against knives Gallery, BoxPark, UNIT 55, London, E1 6JJ

Mother Drucker and Art Against Knives are pleased to present As the Crow Flies, a straightforward print show which aims to highlight the direct lines between visionary urban art and fine production silk screen printing. Mother Drucker has joined forces with East London based charity Art Against Knives to raise money for their future youth community based projects through print sales from the collection.

Urban art and silkscreen printing have formed a strong relationship with each other over time. The stencil based process of silk screen printing often easily compliments the methods of application chosen by urban artists, with many concentrating their skills upon stencil cutting, spraying, collage and general paint works of every messy degree. This new collection is all about the real relationship between the artist and the printer, between the creative and the productive, between the conceptual and the deviceful. Artist and printer have put their minds together to make a quality collection of silkscreen prints.

‘As the Crow Flies’ features a range of works by European urban artists:

Penny, Nomad, Hannah Parr, Elmar Lause, Victor Ash, Various and Gould, Dolly Demoratti and Anton Unai. Limited edition prints will be available to buy from the BoxPark gallery space throughout the exhibition with donations being made to AAK from every print sale.

Art Against Knives is an East London based charity that focus on raising awareness about knife crime and creating positive youth led Arts community projects for young people living in the East London area. Since their initial hugely successful art auction in 2009 the charity has flourished and now has a great permanent gallery space in BoxPark – the world’s first pop-up mall, AAK sells afordable artwork priced from £20 – £500 from established artists, as well as students and emerging talent.

Mother Drucker is a print house and gallery based in Kreuzberg, Berlin; here they work with a wide range of artists to produce high quality limited edition silkscreen prints. They release work on their website and organise a range of shows and events. They also offer an out of house screen- printing service and screen printing courses in English.

The Opening reception for ‘As the Crow Flies’ will be held on March 1. 7-10pm. Art Against Knives Gallery, BoxPark, Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JE

Gallery Hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday Saturday: 11am – 7pm, Thursday: 11am – 9pm, Sunday: 10am – 6pm

For more details, press images, advanced catalogues or other questions please contact:
Gemma Brewer – Exhibition Manager: gemma@mother-drucker.com

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Signal Gallery Presents: TRXTR “Pretty Lethal” (London, UK)

February 22, 2012 , , , , ,

TRXTR

 

Trxtr solo show – ‘Pretty Lethal’.

Date: 1st Mar – 24th Mar 12

The artist known as Trxtr has been building himself a very strong reputation on the Urban Art scene over the past five years, the evidence for this success being some recent notable auction results. He has shown his work in around the Bristol area and also in group shows in London and Los Angeles. This will be his first solo show in London

Trxtr believes that in using a wide variety of techniques, he can create the effect of spontaneity and freedom that he is aiming for. His own (incomplete) list of techniques used ‘Chemical, digital and Polaroid photography, high resolution scans, large format archival printing, collage, painting, drawing’ says a lot about where he is coming from. This is not an artist who is wedded to any particular medium, but for him a rather more Machiavellian ‘ends justifies the means’ approach is favoured. He sees purist attitudes to techniques and mediums as ‘Ludditism’.

The work Trxtr has produced for the ‘Pretty Lethal’ show at Signal is the culmination of this period of experimentation and creative self-discovery. The works will show us as an eclectic mix of atmospheres and emotions, as the techniques he uses to produce them. Their overall effect is disturbing and alluring in equal measure. Concerns about exploitation, globalization and corruption appear over and over again, but the tone is ambivalent. He is not preaching to us, but reproducing some of the sickly sweet images of commercialism in a way that it is genuinely hard to tell if he is celebrating them or railing against them. This interesting and unsettling approach has something of effect of Jeff Koons work.

The works Trxtr has produced for the ‘Pretty Lethal’ will make a very strong introduction to his work for London audiences. Like Koons, we may find that audiences are split, between those who can and those who can’t see beyond the surface seductiveness of the work.

 

Signal Gallery, 32 Paul Street, London EC2A 4LB
Opening Times: Tues-Sat 12-6 pm, and by appointment.

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Fifty24sf Gallery Presents: Saner new works (San Francisco, CA)

February 22, 2012 , , , , ,

SANER

 

We are excited to welcome Mexico City based fine artist and muralist, SANER, to our FIFTY24SF Gallery in San Francisco this March 16, 2012. The artist will be showcasing a new series of works with his first solo exhibition ever in San Francisco. After making waves in Los Angeles and Art Basel in 2011, and showing at our sister gallery, FIFTY24MX in Mexico City, this is our first time working with Saner in the States.

FIFTY24SF GALLERY
218 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA
94117-3504
(415) 861-1960
GALLERY@FIFTY24SF.COM

HOURS:
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY: 12-6

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Black Rat Projects Present: “Invisible Cities” Swoon, Banksy and Sheparad Fairey (London, UK)

February 15, 2012 , , , , ,

Invisible Cities

Our first show of the year will open on Friday 24rd February. Invisible Cities features secondary market works by Banksy and Shepard Fairey alongside works by Swoon. This diverse group of artists are eponymous with the current Street Art movement in their retrospective cities.  While these three artists work in very different styles addressing a range of different themes and concerns, what unites them is their creation of Invisible Cities; laid out over the pre-existing landscape in unexpected places – in these we find moments of unrestricted creativity and human connection. We will be holding a preview evening for Invisible Cities on Thursday 23rd February from 6.30pm – 9pm.

the black rat projects
through cargo garden
arch 461, 83 rivington street
London EC2A 3AY

tel: +44 (0)207 613 7200
fax: +44 (0)207 739 6304

info@blackrat.com

Opening Hours – Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 10-6 Sat 10-4

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Kunsthalle Galapagos Gallery Presents: “Ocean Size” A Group Show (Brooklyn, NY)

February 15, 2012 , , , , ,

Ocean Size

Troy Lovegates (image courtesy of the gallery)

Kunsthalle Galapagos presents:

Ocean Size

February 18 – March 4th 2012

Opening Reception: Saturday Feb. 18, 2012 6-9pm

Image: David Enters Adulthood by Jebediah Long, 2012

Tony Ingrisano, Sylvia Jeffriess, Jebediah Long, Troy Lovegates,

James Moore, Fumi Nakamura

Kunsthalle Galapagos is pleased to present Ocean Size, a group
exhibition of six artists who question our perceptions of reality.
Their works coax us to join them in fantastical worlds of bold colors,
precise lines, and mutated patterns. Distorted characters and
fragments morph and fray into an ordered chaos. Disjointed narratives,
found memories and alter-egos situate us, then shift our perceptions
of our own state of being. The work compels us to reach beyond our
own comprehension to something bigger than ourselves, something “ocean
size”.

Along with the exhibition, Kunsthalle Galapagos presents a new limited
print edition by Troy Lovegates,

published by Marginal Editions.

Ocean Size is curated by Julie McKim, Erik Hougen, Albert Shelton, Gracie Kazer

Kunsthalle Galapagos

16 Main St.

DUMBO

Brooklyn, NY

www.kunsthallegalapagos.com

Gallery Hours: Thurs – Sun 1-6pm

F train to York St

A/C train to High St

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Dorothy Circus Gallery Presents: Mr. Klevra “Animal Landing” (Rome, Italy)

February 14, 2012 , , , , ,

Mr. Klevra

DOROTHY CIRCUS GALLERY 

Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Via dei Pettinari, 76 00186 Roma • ph: +39 06 68805928 – +39 338 9499432
Dal 18 febbraio al 7 Aprile 2012
From February 18th till April 7th 2012

Il capodoglio, il cane, l’orso, l’ara e altri animali “lunari” sono rappresentati in 7 tavole e una scultura che Mr. Klevra presenta in questa mostra. L’artista “veste” gli animali come veri astronauti, li correda di cose che li rappresenta. Il bestiario approda sulla luna dove tutto è cupo e buio, e gli animali con i loro colori, suoni e comportamenti renderanno questo pianeta pieno di vita, cosa che l’uomo ancora non è riuscito a fare. Non è un‘arca di Noè, ma singoli e solitari animali che partono per conoscere, dare vita, dove non vita non c’è, lontano da un mondo che odiano. E’ una partenza forse senza ritorno (come la povera Laika). Animali dentro tute spaziali di ogni epoca, come fossero veri e propri pionieri spaziali. Si tratta della preparazione non per un viaggio spaziale, ma per un viaggio in un mondo molto più remoto, quell’aldilà che tanto ha affascinato e tuttora affascina l’ansia di mistero dell’uomo moderno. Ma c è anche un altro aspetto: come appare agli animali il mondo da lontano? Ammirare la Terra dal di fuori è uno spettacolo affascinante, esserne gli abitanti un po meno. E che dire della sensazione completamente nuova di chi si trova improvvisamente a galleggiare senza peso? È un’emozione diversa da tutto quanto si può provare sulla Terra, che lascia un’impronta indelebile nella memoria: un’esperienza che sembra allargare la sfera dei sensi, introducendo una nuova dimensione, una diversa percezione del proprio corpo. Anche quando si torna ‘con i piedi per terra’ alla fine di una missione, nella mente rimane incancellabile il ricordo esatto di quella sensazione e qualche volta, durante il sonno, si sogna di volare senza peso, come quando si è in orbita.
Gli animali vengono scelti per le proprie caratteristiche, o meglio, per quello che all’uomo rappresentano: il cane e la sua fedeltà, il gatto per la sua elegante riservatezza, l’orso per il suo isolamento, la balena per la sua capacità di autonomia, l’ara che con i suoi colori rallegra il mondo, il cerbiatto per la sua eleganza nei movimenti, il primate che segna le nostre origini, il boa smeraldino che non uccide ma che sa solo mimetizzarsi. Che la missione della space crew sia quella di partire e non tornare più in dietro?

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New Image Art Gallery Presents: Anthony Lister. A Body Of New Work. (Los Angeles, CA)

February 13, 2012 , , , , ,

Anthony Lister

 

ANTHONY LISTER

OPENING RECEPTION

THURSDAY

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

6PM – 9PM

 

Opening Thursday, February 23, 2012, with a body of new work, New Image Art is pleased to present a new solo exhibition by returning artist Anthony Lister. Lister’s work takes influence from street art, expressionism, and pop art. Taking inspiration from his immediate surroundings he paints the parodies of modern life. His distinctive style is a visible tension between figuration and abstraction executed with bold confidence.

For his new exhibition Lister has created a montage of figurative renderings with special focus on the central theme of the beautiful and sometimes twisted form of the dancing ballerina. Along with a special print release and new series of sculptures, this new body of work promises to wow the viewer in its technical skill and refinement derived from sketching a live model. The opening reception will also feature a live dance performance as well as a hanging installation.

Born in Brisbane, Australia in 1979, Lister is a renowned painter and installation artist with an international profile. Lister graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2001, shortly after, he went to New York and worked under the mentorship of New Zealand painter Max Gimblett in 2002 and was the recipient of the 2004 Education Queensland Minister’s Art Awards, with a further mentoring workshop residency at Blender Studio, Melbourne. A selection of Lister’s work was the focus of the monograph, Twice on Sundays, published by Fox Galleries (Brisbane, AU) in 2005. Recently, he undertook a research residency in Berlin, and his travels have extended him to take part in an impressive list of sell-out solo and group exhibitions around the world. Lister’s work has been acquired by the National Gallery, featured in Juxtapoz magazine, and he was a finalist in the 2007 ABN Amro Award. In 2010 Lister was named one of the top 50 collectable artists in Australia by Australian Art Collector. He has held solo exhibitions throughout the US, Europe and Britain, straddling the boundaries of street art and the gallery world. His work has been featured in numerous publications including Forthcoming title, Wooster Collective, Taschen and Beyond the Street, 100 Leading Figures in Street Art, Gestalten.

New Image Art

7920 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

323.654.2192

www.newimageartgallery.com

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