For reasons that are a mystery to me, the southeast corner of First Avenue and 14th Street has become a dumping ground for assorted household garbage just recently. It’s beyond disgusting. Come on people; have a little pride in your city and refrain from dumping your garbage on the sidewalk. Every apartment building in the city has assigned bins for refuse disposal. You don’t need to strew your shit on the corner of a busy intersection. Losers.
As an example though of something that was probably abandoned on the spot, with little malice of forethought (though with a serious lack of personal responsibility), I recently noticed a discarded Play Stroller that was Pink enough to make make whip out my phone and document its sad demise. They could have at least tried to haul it to a trash bin.
Confession: there is often a hidden agenda with regard to my daily walks — I’m looking for stuff to blog about. Since I’m not going to any events, exhibits, restaurants, or shows I must seek inspiration from what I can photograph from the streets. I am rarely disappointed. Behold today’s Pink Thing, found resting amid a group of furniture that had been set out curbside for the garbage truck. I spotted this pristine and fancy Pink Cowboy Hat from the corner, and moved closer to investigate.
First Sighting
I certainly wouldn’t recommend taking anything from the trash in this current environment (#covidlife) but I’m glad I was able to preserve it for the blog!
Spotted on East 3rd Street Near Avenue B, in NYC’s East Village.
It’s bad enough that this adorable tiny Pink Octopus Toy designed for an infant crib was thrown out like so much garbage. It’s even worse that it was thrown out on the corner of a busy street (Second Avenue, to be exact) rather than being disposed of properly in a private garbage bin. For fucks sake, New Yorkers, have some respect for your city. Litterbugs are the worst!
On the way to the laundromat with a load of clothes, I passed by this spray-painted gold, female mannequin torso, which has been discarded curbside, atop an old wooden cabinet, and other assorted detritus, on East 14th Street in anticipation of the weekend garbage pick up.
I can’t say if the black magic marker designs on the nipples is part of the artwork, or just the evidence of neighborhood teenage boys acting like juvenile idiots.
She had additional “comments” scrawled in the same black marker on her backside. I can only assume they were rude in nature.
Starting today, the Sloan Fine Art Gallery on the lower east side is hosting the Alternative Press 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition for three days only! I realize that all of the indie rock hipsters are busy with CMJ crap this week, but I attended the opening party last night and can assure you that this exhibit is definitely worth your time to run over and check it out between your showcases and random pukefests. For this special exhibition, the gallery’s rear room has been transformed with tons of cool photographs, milestones and memoirs from the Alternative Press archives while the main gallery highlights original artworks from artists/musicians who have been featured in the magazine over the years. It was sweetly nostalgic for me, looking through everything and remembering way back when Trent Reznor used to get me all hot and bothered and I could stand to listen to a Nine Inch Nails CD for more that 30 seconds. Good times.
Joan Jett by Shepard Fairey
The artist list for the exhibition includes works by Adam Jones (Tool), Andy “The Butcher” Mrotek (The Academy Is…), Black Francis (Pixies), Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), Greg “Craola” Simkins, Jayme Thornton, Joby J. Ford (The Bronx), Jordan Buckley (Every Time I Die), Justine Frischmann (Elastica), Marilyn Manson, Marina Chavez, Marc “Porter” McKnight (Atreyu), Matt Skiba (AlkalineTrio), Morgan Slade (Miss Derringer), Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), Ralf Strathmann, Roberto Chamorro, Sean Murphy, Shepard Fairey, Shirley Manson (Garbage), Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) among many others. The works are also surprisingly diverse. Pictured below are a few of my favorites:
Untitled 2 By Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes)
The Doktor By Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio)
The entire exhibit is available to preview online, which I did in advance of seeing everything in person, and I was surprised at how different so much of the art looks up close, as far as textures and finishes are concerned. The Doktor (seen above)has an attractive, metallic-looking finish to the paint, which is undetectible unless you see the painting up close.
Little Trooper By Greg “Craola” Simkins
Elliott Smith, Silverlake 1997 By Marina Chavez
Mothertongue By Justine Frischmann (Elastica)
Justine Frischmann’s Mothertongue is a large scale mixed media on canvas combining paint and collage. It looks so much more amazing in person than in any photo. I was really impressed!
No Sleep Til Brooklyn By Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
Peking Noodle (Ode to Louise Bourgeois) By Shirley Manson (Garbage)
Sloan Fine Art is located at 128 Rivington Street on the Lower East Side of New York City. The Alternative Press 25th Anniversary exhibition will be on display Thursday, October 21st through Saturday October 23rd only. Gallery hours are Noon to 6:00 PM each day.
