Danziger Projects Gallery -> Andy Warhol: Polaroids of Sports Champions, Greatness

"Three Stars or more" "★★★"

Review of Danziger Projects Gallery -> Andy Warhol: Greatness, Polaroids of Sports Champions:

Andy Warhol... do I have to say more? (just kidding) This show is an interesting example of the relativity of art. Now I'm not sure where you stand on Warhol. I'm not even sure where I stand on Warhol, but we can agree that he isn't known for his Polaroids and the fact that these are selling for $10,000.00 or more is why this show gets interesting. Furthermore this show is interesting because of what Polaroids are and that an "instant picture" can gain worth due to fame and popularity. Maybe that is why Warhol took Polaroids? We will never know. what I am sure of is that he would be pleased that these Polaroids are being displayed in the fall of 2009! These Polaroids are both unique and cannot be reproduced. The intrigue of these celebrities are so alluring and seductive that I absolutely must have one! Say goodbye to my kids college savings! It was quite a novelty to see the original Polaroids in person, but be warned the pictures themselves are very small and only hold conceptual social value. Rare celebrity art like this will defiantly impress anyone who visits your house! If you are in the area you should see check it out.

Press Release of Danziger Projects Gallery -> Andy Warhol: Greatness, Polaroids of Sports Champions:

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Mike Weiss Gallery -> Maya Gold: Wake, NYC exhibit

"★★★★★"

Review of Mike Weiss Gallery -> Maya Gold: Wake

I could not find a darn thing wrong with this show! I think my hope in the art world is being renewed! The fact that a gallery in Chelsea would pick up a quirky art show like this in NYC is fantastic! Just like it says in the press release the paintings "offer several meanings at once". The paintings are an over head view of people from a perpendicular angle looking straight down on top of the subject. This angle is so unique and even somewhat uncomfortable that I would have liked the works even if they were ugly! Gold uses this approach to her painting in tandem with gloomy overcast weather colors that are wonderfully atmospheric and at the same time dreamy. All this gives the viewer a bit of spectral ethereal manifestation within the painting. The fact that these contemporary paintings are large also draws the viewer in. I look forward to more exhibits from Maya Gold in New York City. Even though this is a five star show I'm not sure if you really need to experience the paintings in person, but you definitely have to check out the website at the bottom of the press release!

Press Release of Mike Weiss Gallery -> Maya Gold: Wake

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Tyler Rollins Gallery-> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

"★★★★★"

Review of Tyler Rollins -> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

I was delighted to hear that a Cambodian artist was going to be exhibiting in
NYC so I rushed over to the Tyler Rollins Fine Art Gallery with high expectations! It is always, always, always very refreshing to see art that has organically come out of different cultures especially ones that we don't get exposed to very often. Also its nice when art is not steeped and buried by art history and can be approached without an MFA. This is exactly why Pich's work is so exciting for me. Deeply symbolic without loosing its message or emotion. This show is a success! The Pulse Within even though it is a small show is very engrossing. Pich is going to be remembered as a great artist. I really recommend reading the press release section below because we get a real insight into Pich's creative reasoning and creative process. Even without the press release the same message gets conveyed which is very hard with sculpture. ADD THIS ART SHOW TO YOUR LIST.

Press Release of Tyler Rollins -> Sopheap Pich: The Pulse Within Solo show

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ERNEST RUBENSTEIN GALLERY -> HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side group show

"Five Stars""★★★★★"

Review of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

This was a wonderful and engaging show exhibiting twelve artists who have lived in the Lower East Side for many years. When you first walk in you are greeted by a group of wonderfully organic wood sculptures cleverly crafted from old tree Branches and twigs that were then woven into a meaningful narrative. After this lovely greeting you are taken though a great and diverse set of work ranging from architectural photos to Vampire anatomy drawings to woven quilts to abstract gold leaf pieces. Despite the enormous variety in the show everything came together both visually and emotionally. Overall you leave the show with a very satisfied creative stomach after witnessing such solid and grounded work. I could really tell this show was not about making political statements, about bringing to light a controversial subject or about exposing some injustice. This show was about artists who are fulfilling the creative void that exists in the world and about doing the kind of art that is fulfilling instead of selling out. I highly recommend this art show!

Artists: Kuki Gomez. Deborah Holcombe, William Holton, Katherine Jackson, Tim Lomas, Jill London, Tim Milk, Paul Nowell, chev d'orange, John Pavlou, Suchitra Van and April Vollmer.

Press release of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

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Jenkins Johnson Gallery -> Rene Lynch: Behind the Garden Gate

"Three Stars" "★★★"

Review of Jenkins Johnson Gallery -> Rene Lynch: Behind the Garden Gate:

Very nice. The Internet pics are enough for me...I'm not a fan of the whole coming of age/ loss of innocence theme. Nice show! Boring subject unless you are into this type of thing. The Paintings do set up a nice atmosphere. Some of the models were at the show. *whispers* The paintings make them look better than they do in real life. *end whisper*

Jenkins Johnson Gallery -> Rene Lynch: Behind the Garden Gate website

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Susan Inglett Gallery -> Hope Gangloff: Solo Art Show

"Two Stars" "★★"

Review of Susan Inglett Gallery - Hope Gangloff: Solo Art Show:

The paintings were great technically and Inglett's style was on point and uniform through out but the purpose of the work was way too self serving for me. The whole process of painting her subjects did not do anything to enhance them. Inglett might as well have taken a photograph and added some fancy filters in photo-shop and she would have gotten the same impact in her work. I feel like if Ignlett applied herself to a subject for a specific reason instead of casually then I think the out come would be wonderful. Just because somebody is a good painter doesn't mean they are a good artist. To expand on that idea, just because a painting looks good doesn't mean it should hang in a gallery. Art that has a message and purpose that can stand the test of time is what deserves exposure. The paintings looked like over-sized snapshots of somebody who sees something interesting to them and then uses their camera phone to upload it into their myspace. That's not to say I do not praise the time that it took for Inglett to paint these works and they are probably extremely meaning full to her and her group of friends, and that's the problem there is no broad application of this work. It feels like its not serious. The Internet photo's are just fine instead of going to the gallery.

Press Release for Susan Inglett Gallery - Hope Gangloff: Solo Art Show:

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Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review for Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face solo exhibit:

Really, Really, Really Good! Just like it says in the press release, Nagai's works come alive using wood pieces as a canvas for her intricate colorful etchings. Aside from the technically interesting process of Nagai's work, there is a deeply emotional as well as symbolic message embedded within the art. Nagai's launching point for her style of old feudal Japanese artwork is obvious but it doesn't over power the work with traditionalism, instead it enhances the beautiful aesthetics and also the dreamy surrealism surrounding her subjects. The images are so fantastic and full of narration that they seep into the back of your mind and stick there vines creeping up an old stone garden wall. Displayed in a less intimate setting the work may have been less impactful due to their small and concise scale, but since the Onishi gallery is small and extremely cute I was drawn into the work even more. These pieces would be a perfect compliment to a small studio apartment or artsy bathroom or den Or any room with moderately low ceilings. Surprisingly affordable for such a great caliber of work I think Nagai under values her creative process and could easily raise her pricing tenfold (but I'm not sure how well she is recognized in the art world.) This would be a great show for any body who likes great art! Must see these in person, their power don't get conveyed over the Internet.

Press Release for Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face solo exhibit:

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Sputnik Gallery -> Oleg Videnin: The Journey Home

"Four Stars" "★★★★"

Review of The Sputnik Gallery's exhibit:

This was a very small reception in a small gallery. This show is not of small importance it is of great importance on so many levels. The show consisted of portraits of people living in rural Russia and the portraits were a small selection from Oleg's first book. These are just great portraits! Even though the selection was of mostly younger children Each portrait is very intriguing and accomplishes what they set out to do. There is a certain closeness that we can see in the photographs that breaks through to the viewer. Aside from the great portrait aspect of this exhibit is the interesting implications of the world a large. They ask questions like "What is Russia?" and things of that sort. The most fascinating thing about the work is that they looked very similar to many American rural portraits especially reminding me of some shots from the great depression and the dust bowl. There could be some very interesting commentary and symbolism going on. Oleg's book is probably really good. I enjoyed the show thoroughly and I recommend it.

Press Release of Oleg's The Journey Home:

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Doosan Gallery -> Moo Kwon Han: Discoverer

"Four Stars" "★★★★"
Moo Kwon Han's Bio

Review of Discoverer by Moo Kwon Han:

Doosan Gallery In NYC pretty recenly opened and is geard twords emerging artists. Han is definatly an emerging artist! Deeply philisophical Han's work consists of two video instalations in Discoverer that are very interesting and thought provolking. The reception was crowded with a pretty young crowed that was alive with chattering. The first video features a man who is also the narrator superimposed onto diferent landscapes representing the diferent landscapes of life as well as the varied landscapes of philosophy. Very witty and subtle at the same time discussing serious topics in a very light and casual way. I am looking forward to Han's furture shows! If you are looking for some art that will gain value as time goes on THIS IS IT! both in context of the artist's work and of the social subconsious. I recomend veiwing this exibite especially since you can't see it online.

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Lennon Weinberg Inc. -> Group Show: Before Again

"Four Stars" "★★★★"

Review of Before Again:

Very well attended, this show's reception was a sucess! What a wonderful snap shot at contemporary abstract painting! W see here a very vairied group of work centered perfectly around the theme of abstract! I don't know where to start...all the work was good and relevent to the show. going from painting to painting was like changing the channel from Showtime to HBO to Cinemax etc. you got all of the premium channels and they were all playing something entertaining and engrossing. This is a must see, plan our some extra time to take in each peice since the work is varied. (you have to watch a movie for a few minutes to figuer oout what it's about) I leaft the show with a very full and satisfied pallet of abstract thoughts. I recomend seeing this show!

Press release for Lennon Weinberg Inc.'s Group show called Before Again:

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Jeff Baily Gallery -> Jim Gaylord: Based on True Events

"Three Stars" "★★★"

Review of Jim Gaylord's solo show:

Jim Gaylord must be very popular; his show was packed so I didn't get the best look at this body of work, but from what I could tell it disappointed in a few different ways. I'm all for fractured collage type paintings, but Gaylord fractured this set of work one or two steps to far. So far, in fact that they lost their sense of narrative and became bits of different paintings that look like bits of different paintings that fell on top of each other in a totally chaotic meaningless way. I don't see transformation in this work only compilation. If maybe he would merge 2 frames at once the viewer could get more out of each painting, but it felt like 25 frames at once! There's definitely potential there though, you should decide for your self and see the images at this online art gallery. You don't have to see the works in person; they look better online.

Press Release of Jeff Baily Gallery:

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MCKENZIE Fine Art Inc. -> David Mann: Solo Show

"Four Stars""★★★★"

Review of David Mann's solo show:

When I had got to the Reception I was wondering why there were so few people there, and being disappointed with some of the other galleries near by I was wondering if this one would be any better. To my pleasant surprise David Mann did a great job! His process must be pretty unique because the paintings looked like biology photography straight out of a medical text book. I figure he drips diluted paint on the canvass and then stretches it onto a board. Fantastic results I must say, I would keep an eye on Mann. I could not find one imperfection with the paintings, if only I had a larger credit line I would have been carrying one home that night! Each piece really draws in the viewer as a window to another realm. In this way the paintings are both exploratory and invasively looking inward. Each canvass also captured a tranquil sense of movement. You should definitely see this show!

Press Release of MCKENZIE Fine Art Gallery:

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Kips Gallery -> HAESSLE: Solo show

"Two Stars" "★★"

Review of HAESSLE solo show:

This show was very small consisting of four or five pieces which were of average scale. I was immediately struck by the works resemblances to Pollocks work except a lot more simplified and lacking the same emotions. Almost interesting are these slashes of colors and weaving strokes. If the paintings were of a grand scale of 10 ft X 10 ft or 20 ft X 20 ft the work would then take on a much different meaning both for the viewer and the artist. (but then there would be more problems with storage if nobody buys it!) In sum: cramped and medium effort work. Despite this the reception was fairly full. If you are in the same building looking at another gallery it's worth a few minutes to swing through, but not more then a few minutes.

Press Release of Kips Gallery exhibit:

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AC Institute -> Deborah Johnson: In Star Orbit

Installation pic.
My rendition of the installation.
(I could possible be being a bit harsh)
"NO STARS"

AC Institute Exhibits In A Star Orbit

Review of AC Institutes's exhibit:

This show was...um...how should i put this...not up to par. The room, about 100 sq ft was dark and had these three "planets" and a little bench for you to sit on. Unfortunately the materials and the atmosphere reminded me of cheap 80's prom night decorations. I couldn't manage to spend too much time there, I felt that uncomfortable adolescence awkwardness that is associated with ugly 80's Glam decorations. Maybe if the music was louder?...no...better to go back to the drawing board. Do not waste your time on this one.

Press release of Deborah Johnson's show:

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Mixed Greens Gallery->Watch Me Slowly Death by Zane Lewis

"Five stars!" "★★★★★"

Brilliant! This IS the best show I've seen all summer. I actually viewed it before the reception last Thursday. Zane Lewis is a fantastic artist and he really blew away his previous work and brought in an amazing new level of meaning. His multimedia project features cutouts of name brand ads in various shapes and then he paints over them. Further more he created two tone mirrors with the impression of a skull. Then he positioned lights shining into the mirror at an angle so that the skull was reflected onto the floor so that when you stood in front of the piece you effectively became part of the piece. On top of that he printed a quote on the wall behind you so you read it in the skull mirror. Quite Brilliant! The evocative imagery and the sheer emotion of the presentation fueled Watch Me Slowly Death to an exquisite level of intrigue and engrosses the viewer. Another plus for the show was that the work interacted perfectly with the gallery space which had a second floor view outside in the front area and a nice sized back section.

This is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE. I spent nearly an hour going to each piece just so I could take it all in. Apparently the opening was also well Attended at the Mixed Greens Gallery! Check it out!

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Tina Kim Gallery-> I Stepped Into the Room

Featuring 6 NYC artists "I Stepped Into the Room" at the Tina Kim Gallery is a failure. It is a failure at what it is trying to accomplish and a failure at remotely engaging the viewer. I hope this is not the direction young New York City artists are headed or I'm going to have to move to Italy! Based on Sylvia Plath's, The Bell Jar, the show is supposed to question "identity, etiology, and purpose" but I found all of the work to lack depth, thought, and it was completely self serving to the artists. Cherry picked with this Plath idea in mind from a list with darts and then put into a gallery; is my evaluation. There is a collage painting thing on the north wall which is interesting at first, but then it becomes frustrating to look at because its is way to small and one would have to stoop over and lean towards the wall with ones eyeball to make out the details. Very messy. The rest of the work was too boring to comment on. I'll include a picture for an example on the left.

AVOID. Save your time.

Artists: Tracey Goodman, Kyung Jeon, Shiri Mordechay, Habby Osk, Rocio Rodriguez Salceda, Joanna M. Wezyk

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Collette Blanchard Gallery->Sean Higgins' Difficulties with Interplanetary Travel

Great concept. I personally don't jump with joy to go see abstract photography, but I was downtown and decided to check it out. Ends Aug 15th.The title caught my eye first and dictated the rest of my viewing which was a good thing, because without the title it would be difficult to discern what Higgins was trying to accomplish.

The photographs were transformative and creatively composed enough that a few of them got my mind thinking of flying saucers and alien landscapes. They had some sort of impact.

What really negatively impact the show was the limited scale of the pictures. They were a bit to small to actually transport me somewhere outside of the white walls of the gallery. The gallery was a standard space. Three white walls and a window. Another point that bothered me was that each photo had no relationship to the next. The photos looked like the were taken from three or four separate projects and thrown together. Unless the intention was to make this group of photographs difficult to view together, each piece would have been better off alone.

This is worth a look if you are passing by. The web photos could suffice.

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