Annual.

I went down to the DUMBO Arts Festival today, and just like every year the best thing (OK. Almost. See next post.) I saw was the work of Vanessa Bucci. She's not even an official part of the festival. She usually finds a way to sell her paintings, prints, and other assorted goods on the street. She pretty much saved the day for me a couple years ago when I first came across her work when she was still a student at Pratt. I stand by my original enthusiastic assessment.



PS (Pun intended.): Bucci was just down the street from the seriously wonderful P.S. Bookshop. I can't recommend this used book store highly enough . . . especially for its very healthy Art Book section. It yields surprises every time I visit. Go now. Thank me later.

Instant. Replay.

As predicted Heavy Tapes brought it to The NY Art Book Fair. In one of the best moves in the fair they were offering 10 single edition cassettes. And here's the kicker: The music was composed and played on analogue synth on the spot. I chose one of 10 possible titles from a list (Open Drain, Empty Space), returned in about half an hour, and Mike Bernstein--operating under the moniker Workbench--had committed the music to tape. A driving pulse gets pushed over the edge, swallowed, and then spit back out in crunchy sprays of sound, but not without sustaining much internal damage. It's a bit Jonah in the belly of the whale without the happy ending. I like it. One of one.


And yeah, it's no surprise that the fair's totally great. I enjoyed the 2nd floor more than the 1st. I mean, it's ALL good, but the independence level was higher on the 2nd floor which made for a more lively environment. Don't even think about it. Just go.

All Hearts!

It's my favorite 3-day holiday of the year, and it's called The NY Art Book Fair. (Sorry about that slant rhyme. Unintentional.) It's everything I believe art can and should be under one roof. Entrance is free, and the goods are priced on the affordable-for-everybody side. Last year's great find was the Heavy Tapes booth. Investigate!

Blowing Up.

Hey! Three artists (OK. One of them is a collective of some sorts.) I really like and admire are in Meta Majesty, opening at Explosivo tonight. I went off on how much I (finally) grooved to Dana Carlson's deliciously fucked-up mind back in January when she was in the mighty Norf*ckneasters show at Pluto. Also appearing: Jennifer Coates about whose work I've poetically waxed here. And then there's Saviour Scraps who never fail to leave a gaggle of giggles in my heart. And I mean that in a very serious way. This should be good.

PTL.

I'm pretty sure I picked up one of the best releases of the year tonight: The new collaboration between Prurient and Kevin Drumm, All Are Guests In The House of the Lord (c40). One of the most powerful and subtle works I've heard from either artist. I just kept turning the cassette over and hitting play all night. Like any journey into Hell, it takes its time. Then it burns itself into you like there's no tomorrow. And actually, maybe there isn't. Pay attention.

Watch.

Hey! My buddy Stephanie McWilliams has a new show on HGTV, and its premiere is Friday night. Watch it. I know where you live. OK. I don't, but if you watch Stephanie's show you'll know how to make where you live look nicer.

Symballogy.

It's not really art, and yet designer Mark Ecko's decision to brand Barry Bonds' record-breaking homerun ball with an asterisk might well be one of the finest conceptual art-like moves I've ever seen. The gesture fully captures how a large part of the population feels about both Barry Bonds and his dope-fiend record. Mr. Bonds, you're ready for your footnote.

Maria Bartiromo.

A new occasional feature on Heart As Arena. I took its name from a tune that goes through my head at least once a day, Joey Ramone's Maria Bartiromo. (Behind the music.) The song begins with the line "What's happening on Wall Street?" I'll be providing an answer. And trust me, shit gets weird down here. Plus there's some great public art. I'll continue to show you that as well.

Previous hits . . .

One Way Out.

"'We very much appreciate the fact that the court granted us the right to use our discretion and we’ll use it very carefully,' said Mr. Thompson, who added that he would consult with art scholars, people who helped work on the installation and many of the museum’s visitors before he decided whether to open the unfinished installation or dismantle it."

Yes. Because your actions have been so well-measured and thoughtful up until now. Good luck with anybody anywhere ever respecting or trusting your sorry institutional asses again, Mass MoCA. I think a nice controlled ritual cleansing fire is in order, supervised by the North Adams Fire Department of course.

ADDENDUM: If you came to this post via Anaba, please click here to read my comment about a majorly incorrect assumption that was made about my relationship with Creative Time and Nato Thompson. Unless you've already read it. Then, never mind. Thanks.

ADDENDUM TO THE ADDENDUM: Anaba updated the info. Thanks, Anaba.

SUPER ADDENDUM: I am so over this whole Mass Buchel mess.

Soup.

SFMoMA parties Andy style and DPC has his minions on the case.


Lars Uhlrich and Ann Getty

Photos by Drew Altizer and Jeanne Lawrence

In The Can.

I don't know Charley Friedman, but I know a lot of people who do. My bet is that he'd love the fact that the folks at P.S. 1 put his video, One Hour Smile, in the can. This happens to be the first work of his that I saw about 7 years ago in a group show at a now-closed Chelsea gallery. It will hurt your face. Smile.

Additionally, my most recent encounter with his work was in one of my favorite spaces in Chelsea, the Kantor/Feurer Window. And don't get me started on the genius of reselling those Felix Gonzales Torres candies on the street. For real. We need way more Charley.

Kelly Johnson, 1958-2007, R.I.P.

I was saddened to hear that Girlschool singer and guitarist Kelly Johnson recently lost her 6 year battle with spinal cancer. Oddly enough it made me think of Elizabeth Murray. I've lost count of all the times I've had conversations with female artists who--no matter what they thought of Murray's art--spoke of her as an essential influence in their development as an artist. The mere fact that they were teaching Murray in the academy was some kind of quiet encouragement, going against everything they had been taught before in regards to the invisibility of women in art.

Similarly, every woman I know in music usually refers to two bands that let them know that it was possible to be a woman and to rock the hell out--The Runaways and Girlschool. One of my favorite tributes to the power and importance of Girlschool comes from Lemmy of Motorhead. In the excellent documentary, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, Lemmy is talking about touring with Girlschool back in the day and about all the shit they would get from the other bands. You know, the typiclal "Well. They play pretty good . . . for girls." Lemmy would look the meatheads in the eye and say, "They play good for a girls? They can play circles around you, mate." 'Nuf said. It was Girlschool, it was in session, and Kelly Johnson was the teacher. Rest in peace.

You can read Lemmy's tribute to his friend here in the Latest News section.

Speed Metal.

Every 5 years or so the guitar needs to be killed. Green did it. Thompson did it. Levine did it. VanHalen did it. O'Rourke did it. Fahey's been dead for 6 years and they're still finding the bodies. Usually though, we don't actually get to witness the crime. It happens behind the closed door of a recording studio, a rehearsal space, or a bedroom. That's not the case in one of the most compelling works I've seen recently, Christian Marclay's Guitar Drag from 2000. It's in the superlative Organizing Chaos group show at PS1.


This one piece is worth the trip to Queens. Marclay plugs a guitar into an amp, ropes it to the back of a pick-up, and takes off down (and sometimes off) a rural road. The sound that ensues is fabulous. The full-bodied shriek of the Fender chases the camera down the road, swaying and sliding from side to side. The visuals are a hot rush of motion coming at the viewer. In this sublime work, death has never looked--or sounded--so good. Let the power fall, all over again.

OK. (visibility rmx)

I didn't write anything when I first posted this image on Sunday. I was going to let the smartass irony of the photo speak for itself. But, well, James' dreadful experience at Capla Kesting over the weekend inspired me to throw down some words.

Hey. If a gallery wants to have a No Photos policy it's fine with me. I can think of a number of reasons why they'd want to do it. That's not to say that I don't think it's a bad, limiting move. It is. But it's a choice they're free to make. What truly bothers me about Jonathan LeVine Gallery is how the implementation of the policy detracts from the art. (Half of which, is quite good.) These crap pieces of copy paper taped to the wall of the gallery? Are these people serious? It's difficult to think of a more amateur approach. Maybe Post-It notes.

ADDENDUM: I just remembered something this morning. To be fair to the Jonathan LeVine Gallery, I should mention that, although this is their policy, when I asked them if I could take pictures of the excellent Adam Wallacavage show they were very accomodating when I explained that it was for a post on Fallon & Rosof's artblog. Their only requirements were that I didn't use a flash (Which I never do anyway.), and that I didn't take any close-up shots. The latter request was generated by the artist. No problem. They would have been well within their rights to have said "No.", and I would have respected it. I think my point here is that conversation was allowed. I can't ask for much more than that.

Sing Into My Mouth.

I just posted the last of the Art Parade pics over at on my Creative Time blog. Also, there's another one of my sloppy love notes to Creative Time.

The Code Of Harry.

Are they serious? Did I actually see this subterranean juxtaposition today? Dexter would notice the similarities in the blood patterns between the two posters. Then he would have his coffee.

Subtle. Matter.

Kevin Auzenne and John Milton Ensor Parker opens at Pluto tonight. A pretty thrilling program and always a good party to boot.

Into.

I'll be seeing a lot of paintings in the next few months. Not too many of them are going to be as good as Jack Whitten's Rho I. Crash landed in my solar plexus and the damage just spread out from there. Damn. It's on the wall at Alexander Gray Associates, and it's not to be missed.

Just Can't Get Enough.

Just posted the second installment of photos from The Art Parade over on the Creative Time blog. Rock it.

Downtown.

I just posted some photos of the Tribute in Light over on my Creative Time blog.