All Photos By Gail
These skateboard decks, featuring highly stylized likenesses of (left to right) Freddie Mercury, Jackie O as Marilyn Monroe, and President Barack Obama, were created by designer/painter Cacho Falcon.
Photographed in Three Monkeys Eyewear on Spring Street.
Photos By Gail
If you are acquainted with art of Paul McCarthy, then you’ve come to understand that McCarthy’s art is centered in taking the familiar and banal and fucking it up a little bit, because that is how he rolls. Paul McCarthy and The Skateroom is a collaboration between the artist and the organization that supports non-profit projects that empower children through Skateboarding and Art, which nobody can deny is a truly excellent cause! Here, McCarthy’s provocative and socially critical art celebrates the skateboard as a symbol of youth empowerment and freedom on a deeper level, as proceeds from sales will entirely fund the building of a skateboarding and educational center for vulnerable youth in South Africa, led by international NGO Skateistan, which builds skate parks in poor, traumatized areas of the world.
Mayo, Lotion, Teddy (Detail)
Available in two limited editions as follows:
Collector’s Set (Edition of 35) 10 Decks + 1 signed exclusive deck, packaged in a custom flight case: $30,000
Box Set (Edition of 215Sets) 10 Decks: $3,500
Single Deck: $350
Available in the MOMA Design Store!
All Photos By Gail
The art of Dylan Egon is most captivating to me for the way he marries art and design. In American Holy Relics, his second solo exhibition at Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Egon combines functional objects with a variety of mixed media works to create a visually dynamic and conversationally topical show.
Birth of a Religion (Debbie Harry) Functioning Speaker Cabinet
Through his work, Dylan Egon exemplifies his appreciation for American culture and craftsmanship. American Holy Relics includes ready-made sculptures, sound installations and functional art objects such as three skateboard deck editions and custom yardsticks that sheathe hidden swords. Additionally, Egon has released a print and vinyl figure based on Saint America, one of the paintings in the exhibition. The credenza in the above photo is also being reproduced for sale by ABC Carpet and Home. I would like to own it.
Brass Knuckle (Igni Ferroque) Functioning Motorcycle
This sculpture, a custom-built motorcycle inspired by a rare 1934 Harley Davidson speedway racer bike, was a big hit at the opening reception. The bike is fully functional, brass-plated and fitted with holsters for both a gun and whiskey bottle. A stuffed crow sits perched on the handlebars and you’ll also notice a pair of brass knuckles mounted near the front.
In Target Moon, a circular panel contains a full moon background layered in assemblage with elements of cut brass, collage, white butterflies, honeybees, matchsticks, pills, pencils, knives and other objects along with the phrase Inter Spem et Metum — which translates from Latin to: Between Hope and Fear.
Skate Deck and Victrola
Extinction II (Triceratops)
This Tricerotops Skull collage piece is created from hand cut pieces of brass tacked down with thousands of hand driven nails.
99 + 1 = US
Here’s one that New Yorker’s especially can relate to.
American Holy Relics by Dylan Egon will be on Exhibit Through May 3rd, 2014 at Jonathan LeVine Gallery, Located at 529 W 20th Street, 9th Floor, in the Chelsea Gallery District.
Photo By Gail
The New Museum of Contemporary Art on Bowery in NYC is selling this Damien Hirst Spot Painting Skateboard Deck in its gift shop, but I didn’t even bother to look at the sale price. Seen here with Skull Bunny Playboy-inspired logo Designed by Lawrence Weiner with Artwork by Richard Prince. Functional Art!
X Marks The Spot By BTA (All Photos By Gail)
The latest group show at Dorian Grey Gallery in the East village, entitled Mixed Mediums, is a true mixed bag of styles. The collected works of more than a dozen artists still manages to achieve a cohesive feel, however, owing to the crossover appeal of various styles of contemporary/pop art.
Cope 2 Skate Decks
The NYC Street Art movement that the gallery seems to most closely align itself with is represented with works by artists like Cope 2 and BTA.
Perhaps most surprising piece in the collection is a single work by Israeli Kinetic Scultor/Op Artist, Yaacov Agam, seen in a series of sequential shots below:
Photographed from the Right
Photographed from Near Center
Photographed from the Left
The Star of David is an excellent example of Agam’s work, which takes on the appearance of many different pictures and abstract designs, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. I have one of his pieces in my home and I just love it. This one is on sale for $4,500, which is a decent price.
Robert Kantor’s Swarovski Crystal Embellished Double Neck Gretsch Guitar
Sculptor Robert Kantor presents three of his Swarovski Crystal-embellished guitars and half a dozen additional works that combine guitar parts with colorful crystal bling. Very Nice!
Robert Kantor’s A Rose By Any Other
The Retro/Gothic collage/sculptures of Robbi Wesson (above three photos) would fit right in at an exhibit at Last Rites Gallery. Wesson uses hardware, architectural embellishments, bone, feathers and polished stones, among other found items, to create one-of-a-kind works of art that suggest an enigmatic back story. Highly collectible!
Spence X’s The Myth Series
I admit I was a bit perplexed by Spence X’s Myth Series, which is a collection of the artist’s tin foil sculptures of various mythical creatures. These are fun and whimsical and even a bit hilarious, but they looked rather juvenile in the context of the show and, to be brutally honest, most reminded me of the tin foil animal sculptures that servers would create as containers for leftover food at a favorite family restaurant I frequented when I was living in California. So, there’s that.
Overall, Mixed Mediums is a fun and eclectic show that’s worth checking out if you are a fan of any of these artists or just happen to be in the neighborhood.
Art By Lisa Pan
Mixed Mediums will be on exhibit at Dorian Grey Gallery, Located at 437 East 9th Street (Between Ave A and 1st Ave) until September 27th, 2013.
Facade By Jason Bryant
Sick Kicks, Skate Decks and Old School Hollywood Glamour come together in Jason Bryant’s latest solo exhibit, up now at Porter Contemporary. Smoke and Mirrors is a cohesive exhibition of oil paintings – on unconventional media – through which the artist explores themes of loneliness, vulnerability and frailty.
A Crack in His Faux Fashion
The exhibit includes beautifully photo-realistically rendered film stills coupled with either his pixilation effects and/or details which appear to be inspired by both Skateboard and Tattoo culture. The juxtaposition of images is very cool and gives Bryant’s work a youthful, Pop Culture appeal while maintaining an air of sophistication. Smoke and Mirrors also includes a selection of custom skateboard decks, which are so hot right now, and custom painted sneakers.
Mirror Mirror Painted Sneakers By Jason Bryant
This exhibit is lots of fun and highly recommended. Plus the people who work at Porter Contemporary are super nice, friendly and helpful should you have any questions about the art.
Assorted Skate Decks
Skate Deck Detail
Smoke and Mirrors by Jason Bryant will be on Exhibit Through October 20th, 2012 at Porter Contemporary, Located at 548 West 28th Street, 3rd Floor (Right Next to Joshua Liner Gallery), New York City. Gallery Hours are Tuesday & Wednesday by Appointment, Thursday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Painting Detail
The scene inside I-20 Gallery was as hot as the temperature outside for last night’s opening of Make Skateboards, a group exhibition and pop-up skate shop that has to be one of the most fun and original exhibits I’ve seen all year. Conceived as a throwback to the days when art took precedence over branding and a welcoming vibe met you at the door, the show is a playful take on running a skateboard shop, transforming I-20 into a functional retail space. While open, the shop will be offering a custom line of artist-designed skateboards, skate-related ephemera and accessories, original artwork, vintage objects, custom furniture and clothing by up-and-coming New York designers. You gotta check this place out!
A true working skate shop, Make Skateboards offers decks that are fully skate-able yet designed to an artistic standard. Two types of boards will be available: affordable, limited-edition silk-screened skateboards; and one-of-a-kind decks altered and embellished by hand, including several conceptual takes on the idea of skateboarding itself.
Video Projection on Board (Left) Next to Curtis Kulig’s “Love Me” on the Right (Photo By Geoffrey Dicker)
Artists participating in the show include: Michael Alan, Michael Anderson, Hawkins Bolden, Tony Bones, Slater Bradley, Carlton DeWoody, Chris Dorland, David Ellis, Orly Genger, Debra Hampton, Drew Heitzler, Horse Cycles, Grant Huang, Andrew Huston, Timothy Hutchings, Junk Prints, Jacob Kassay, Marina Kappos, KCDC, Sarah Kurz, Curtis Kulig, Wes Lang, L.A.N.D., Robert Lazzarini, Cameron Martin, Moris (Israel Meza Moreno), Scott Ogden, Olek, Erik Parker, Parts + Labor Workshop, Joyce Pensato, Portia & Manny, RePOP, Prophet Royal Robertson, Jenn Ruff, Tom Sanford, Eduardo Sarabia, Peter Saul, Bill Saylor, Kenny Scharf, Ivory Serra, Shelter Serra, MiYoung Sohn, Vincent Szarek, WHIT Clothing, Wood & Faulk and Michael Zahn.
“Zombie Mao” Third from Left (Photo By Geoffrey Dicker)
A few of my favorite boards are several by Curtis Kulig – famous for his ubiquitous “Love Me” tag that has now been integrated into functional design items and clothing – crochet artist Olek’s yarn-covered deck, Tom Sanford’s Zombie Mao Zedong deck (pictured above) and Kenny Scharfs’ colorful contribution, which features a replica of the design from his amazing mural that was up at Bowery and Houston until just recently.
While contemporary art, skateboarding and other forms of street culture are at the forefront of current popular tastes, these worlds remain surprisingly inaccessible to much of the public. The creative interaction and welcoming feel of Make Skateboards will attempt to bridge this divide from a convenient location in the heart of the Chelsea art district, just a few short blocks from the Pier 62 Skate Park.
Make Skateboards’ inventory will change and grow throughout its two-month run, offering ever-changing aesthetics and variety to art patrons and skaters alike. Some of the pieces exhibited will result from collaborations with community groups such as the Brooklyn-based League Education & Treatment Center’s L.A.N.D. Gallery, a creative-outreach program for artists with disabilities. The shop will also join forces with KCDC, one of New York’s most established and respected skate shops. A string of weekly parties will celebrate new shop arrivals, book signings, album launches, and secret band nights. While most galleries close their doors for much of August, the Make Skateboards shop will stay open, serving as a refuge from the hot summer weather.
Make Skateboards will be on Exhibit Through September 17, 2011 at I-20 Gallery, located at 557 West 23rd Street, New York City. The show was conceived by artist and filmmaker Scott Ogden and organized in conjunction with Gallery Director, Jonathan Lavoie. Summer Hours are Tuesday – Sunday, Noon – 8 PM. For more information please contact: makeskateboards@i-20.com or call (212) 645-1100.
