Thursday, September 27, 2007

Ring Dome



Storefront for Art and Architecture
97 Kenmare Street
between Cleveland and Lafayette
NY NY 10012
http://www.storefrontnews.org/

Gazing at the stars through a dome of circles. The city takes on new meaning.
A night of music, art, performance, and a women with a large snake wrapped around her. The Ring Dome is constructed of circles made from plastic tubes almost like hula hoops are bound together and attached to a metal frame in flesh tones, and glowing white colors. Geometric Patterns form like the constellations and I am a child again staring into the skies with wonder. If you are in New York City don’t miss this ongoing event. Many noted artists present work within the dome including Barbara Held and Vito Acconci, for one night each. Storefront for Art and Architecture transforms the tiny triangle into an urban oasis.

(text from website)
Performance Z-A: a Pavilion and 26 Days of Events at StorefrontSep 21 200721 SEPTEMBER - 16 OCTOBER Twenty-five years ago, in September 1982, Storefront's first public event got underway in its original Prince Street location. Performance A-Z, organized by the gallery's founders Kyong Park and R L Seltman, and artist Arleen Schloss, was a 26-day sequence of performances by New York-based artists. Each of the 26 performers was allocated one evening slot. The event became a manifesto for the gallery's future programming: as Kyong Park wrote in his introduction, "Storefront supports the idea that art and design have the potential and responsibility to affect public policies which influence the quality of life and the future of all cities." In late September 2007, Storefront will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a new edition of its first event. Entitled Performance Z-A, this 26-day celebration will be hosted in Petrosino Park, adjacent to Storefront, in a specially built pavilion designed by Korean architect Minsuk Cho. Organized by the three directors who have led Storefront over the past 25 years (Kyong Park, Sarah Herda and Joseph Grima), Performance Z-A will be an inclusive event involving not only performance artists but also representatives of all the disciplines that have participated in Storefront's program in the past decades: architects, artists, writers, researchers, filmmakers, photographers, musicians and more. For 26 days, from September 21 to October 16, 2007, the protagonists of Storefront's past, present and future will host 26 evening events including performances, concerts, open discussions, film screenings and interviews.

All events held in Ring Dome (located in Petrosino Park, adjacent to Storefront), at 7pm

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Huma Bhabha at Salon 94 downtown and uptown, NYC

The Philosophy of listening.
Silence has sound and a texture. Stillness leaves it’s traces, you carry them with you evermore…
Huma Bhabha’s work uses a formal language to convey these thoughts.
Salon 94 presented her work at both the opening of their new location at 1 Freeman Alley on September 12 and their original location on 94th street. NYC on September 13th.

The new location is a bit off the beaten track, tucked away from normal view. You make a quick right, down the narrow, old, New York street. A quick glance to your left and there before you gleam the new contemporary glass doors. Working with the original structure of the building, it is an open space with fresh white gallery walls, which allow the original brick to peek from behind. Overhead loom huge wood beams now white washed and wonderfully incorporated into the new design.

Bhabha’s sculptures constructed from wire, clay, styrofoam, petals, ashes, acrylic paint, rust and a myriad of other materials reflect a marking of time through the process of decay, scratches, burns and layers of paint and materials. The figure is entombed in the layers and remnants. Body fragments such as large feet or the half man, half god-like Vishnu figure created from the urban materials are remains from an ancient time yet absolutely contemporary. As you slowly move around the works you begin to hear the subtle conversation between the work and the space.

On view at the 94th Street gallery, her large-scale installation piece sat on a wood plank platform in the middle of the large room roughly 10” off the ground. Two figures stand at opposite ends of the piece with their backs to each other facing outwards towards the viewer. On the left side a figure with Cubist-like features. Clay, wood, Styrofoam, wire chicken wire form the body, electrical metal tubing runs down it’s back exposed at varying points reminiscent of umbilical or spinal cords into the work. A thin wire appears as you begin to survey the intricacies of the piece. The artist burns, gauges, draws and paints symbols, wounds, marks, or a handprint on the pieces of styrfoam. The Vishnu like god figure is seated as if on a thrown on the right side giving the appearance of a regal relic in a museum. Layers of paint, glue, string, wire, dust like plaster, a sprinkler part and other materials lay on the floor of the piece bring to mind fallen leaves allowed to collect and build. Using wood she creates the feeling of a floor plan from a gutted or abandoned building. Vertical paned windows across from the piece brought the outside environment in for a chat. The lines and materials of and in the work began to converse with the architecture of the buildings, garden, and construction going on just outside in a formal language. Huma is clearly at home in the space. As I continued to walk around the work, I became completely immersed and fascinated by her work. Sinking into it, quietly listening, the world slipped away. …and I have become the remains of the day.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Hooowwlling Back!

The Howl Festival

Hooowwlling back! This years Howl festival brought out the best of the East Village this week. Walking through Tompkins Square Park this past Sunday reminded me why I love my neighborhood. It’s a fight for artists to stay in the East Village but, one artists are ready willing and able to take up. The Gauntlet is thrown and they’ve responded with amazing murals by local artists in “Art in the Park”, music, performances and readings in the center stage or at venues such as The Bowery Poetry Club and Tribes Gallery. The roots and heart of the East Village have thrived through adversity. Bravo to the Howl Festival’s staff, volunteers, supporters, artists and organizers. The East Village remains the cutting edge for innovative work in the art scene.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Tribes Gallery


Tribes Gallery
285 E. 3rd. Street #2
between ave C and D
NY NY 10009
I will present work from my current series.
please drop by.
Back to the beginning and begin again...
Opening reception;
Thursday, September 20th, 2007
6 - 9pm
contact the gallery for further information
(image: Swing Out Sister !, 76" h x 50" w x 4" d on paper, 2007 (c) dianne bowen)
in conjuntion with the exhibition, North Fork Bank will have 2 paintings on view through October. Corner of E. 3rd Street and Ave C. NY NY - stop in to view the work.