BLAB! retrospective at the Beach Museum of Art
Posted by Laura Levine at 2:44 am on August 1st
I'm very pleased to be a part of this exhibition. Here's some info as written by Mark Frauenfelder on Boing Boing.
The exhibition, organized by the Beach Museum of Art, will be on view through November 2, 2008. It is the first American museum exhibition devoted to the work of BLAB!, Monte Beauchamp’s periodic anthology of sequential and comic art, illustration, painting, and printmaking. The exhibition, which focuses on BLAB! #8-18 (1995-2007), features the work of forty-six artists and includes 150 objects from thirty-nine collections. All of the work in the exhibition has appeared in BLAB!.
Artists in the exhibition: Michael Bartalos, Gary Baseman, Richard Beards, Tim Biskup, Stéphane Blanquet, Calef Brown, Greg Clarke, The Clayton Brothers, Sue Coe, Don Colley, Brian Cronin, Nicolas Debon, Douglas Fraser, Charles Paul Freund, Drew Friedman, Geoffrey Grahn, Steven Guarnaccia, Ryan Heshka, Peter Hoey, Tom Huck, Teresa James, Jeffrey Kamberos, Nora Krug, Peter Kuper, Mark Landman, Laura Levine, MATS!? [Mats Stromberg], Walter Minus, Christian Northeast, John Pound, Archer Prewitt, Chris Pyle, Helge Reumann, Xavier Robel, Jonathon Rosen, Marc Rosenthal, Sergio Ruzzier, David Sandlin, Spain, Bob Staake, Fred Stonehouse, Mark Todd, Chris Ware, and Esther Pearl Watson.
The accompanying 128-page, full-color catalogue was designed by Monte Beauchamp and contains contributions by David A. Beronä, Mark Frauenfelder, Matt Dukes Jordan, and Bill North.
Private Commissions and the Stories behind Them
Posted by Laura Levine at 9:34 pm on July 30th
The Dubners
One of the more enjoyable sidelines of this biz is doing private commissions. There's always a bit of self-imposed pressure behind them (what if it's not what they imagined? what if they don't like it?) but they're a genuine pleasure to do. In many ways they're the most gratifying type of project, in that the people who commission me are doing so out of their own pocket, so it's a great vote of confidence. So I thought I'd share a few recent pieces and the stories behind them.
This first painting is a family portrait, secretly commissioned on the occasion of my friend Stephen Dubner's birthday by his lovely wife Ellen. I always like to include personal elements in the portraits, and she was terrific about sending me reference photos, which was a great help. They're all holding items that have special meaning to them (a popular conceit from early American folk art). He's holding Freakonomics, the book he co-authored; she's a photographer, so she's got her camera; their son has a football and their daughter is holding her favorite toy, a plush dreidel (how cute is that?). Lastly, I set the portrait in their favorite family spot in Central Park.
This second painting was commissioned by a photography collector who had recently purchased a number of prints from me. There was a moment in his past that he'd always wanted to commemorate and I was happy to oblige. Back in 1975 when he was a student at Oxford, he'd gone to see Tammy Wynette perform at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. This was shortly after Evel Knievel's failed attempt to jump his motorcycle over thirteen buses in Wembley Stadium, and Evel happened to be in the audience. Tammy proudly introduced him from the stage and proceed to list off every bone he'd broken in his body. It was a special moment indeed. Fortunately, my client was very patient with me - I took so long to complete this painting that Evel passed away in the interim.
Lastly, another birthday surprise. My dear friend Mark Whitaker was turning fifty and his wife Alexis Gelber and kids had a novel idea. Years ago I'd illustrated a series of covers of jazz albums for Verve Records, called the Essential Series. One of the pieces was the cover for a boxed set of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday and Sarah Vaughan recordings. (In fact, I'd given that boxed set as a gift to Mark for an earlier birthday). We decided to work from that original painting, and Alexis, being a top-notch editor, suggested adding a couple more singers that Mark was a big fan of - in this case, we chose Nina Simone and Dinah Washington.
What I didn't realize was that I was expected to make a public presentation of the painting at his birthday dinner party! Now, I'm not much of a public speaker (in fact, terrified) so it was quite daunting to get up there and make my little speech in front of the likes of Brian Williams, Fareed Zakaria, and Henry Louis Gates, but somehow the wine made it easier, and I got through it. (In fact, Gates came up to me afterwards and told me I'd "hit a home run.").
20x200 releases Meadow Lark print
Posted by Laura Levine at 1:56 pm on July 29th
The Jen Bekman Gallery/20x200 project is releasing Meadow Lark today, a new print from my series Tweet Suite: Birds of North America.
They release prints in varying editions, sizes and prices, the largest of which is an edition of 200 small prints for the bargain price of $20. each. (Cheep!) Editions get smaller and prices higher from there. The prints are produced with archival pigment ink on 100% cotton rag paper.
You can find Meadow Lark here: http://www.20x200.com/art/2008/07/meadow-lark.html
You can find more bird prints at my Illogator gallery: http://www.illogator.com/lauralevine/
And don't forget, several of my original bird paintings can be seen in the Ornithology show at Jen Bekman Gallery (6 Spring St., NYC) now through Aug. 2nd.
Friendly Faces at the Mystery Spot
Posted by Laura Levine at 8:05 pm on July 22nd
Seymour Chwast!
As some of you may know, I run a little vintage shop on the side called The Mystery Spot, which is only open weekends in the summer/fall - maybe 40 days out of the year....if that.
The other day I was thinking (gratefully) about all the illustrators I know who have stopped in to visit and say hi. It's always a wonderful surprise when a familiar face pops in. (It may also have something to do with the wonderful selection of art books we have in the back room).
So without further ado, some of my friends and yours'. And if you're ever in the neighborhood (Phoenicia, NY) between the hours of 11 - 4PM on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, stop in and say hi!
(You can see more fun people here: http://www.mysteryspotantiques.com)
Adam McCauley and Wig!
Anita Kunz and Dick Chin!
Barry Blitt, Joe Ciardello, Tim Bower and John Cuneo!
ORNITHOLOGY exhibit at Jen Bekman Gallery, NYC opens Wed. 6/25
Posted by Laura Levine at 12:11 pm on June 23rd
Birds of the Rockies, acrylic and vintage trading stamps on birch panel, 30" x 30"
Several of my bird paintings will be included in this exhibit. See you there!
Ornithology - summer group exhibition at Jen Bekman Gallery opens Wednesday June 25th, 6 - 8 PM
Artists in the exhibition: Echo Eggebrecht | Todd Forsgren | Laura Levine | Carrie Marill | Christina Muraczewski | Victoria Neel | Lamar Peterson | Jason Polan | Amy Ross | Alec Soth | Amy Stein | Keith Taylor | Bert Teunissen | Luke Stephenson
Jen Bekman Gallery 6 Spring Street (between Elizabeth + Bowery) New York, New York 212.219.0166 http://www.jenbekman.com
on view June 25 – August 2, 2008 Wednesday – Saturday | Noon – 6pm
Class of NO WAVE reunion
Posted by Laura Levine at 9:39 pm on June 14th
The crowd mills outside the gallery.
Last night KS Art Gallery in Tribeca hosted a photography exhibit in conjunction with the new book NO WAVE. POST PUNK. UNDERGROUND. NEW YORK. 1976 - 1980. written and complied (lots of photos) by Thurston Moore and Byron Coley, and after the opening everyone walked twenty feet across the street to see Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (Lydia Lunch and Jim Sclavunos with Thurston Moore on bass) and Infomation perform at the Knitting Factory. It was like walking through a 28 year time warp. We were all 21 again and the music was the same, however the drinks were a lot more expensive, and downtown luxury skyscrapers and cell phones now roamed the earth.
I can't think of the last time I had so much fun at an opening. It ended being one big ol' class reunion, spilling out into the street and late into the night. People bought copies of the book and everyone signed them for everyone else like a high school yearbook. It was simply joyful. Hard to imagine the words "joyful" and "no wave" in the same sentence, but there ya go.
Here are a bunch of photos from the evening. I strongly suggest catching the show while you can (it's up through July 10 at KS Art, 73 Leonard St., and you can see my previous post for info on purchasing the book).
Me, my friend Julia Gorton (who probably shot more than anyone else of that time, and whose photographs are fantastic), and Thurston Moore.
James Chance signs a book for photographer Stephanie Chernikowski, another one of the photographers represented in the show and book.
Glenn Branca re-enacts the portrait I took of him on his Bowery rooftop some 25 years ago.
Michael Zilkha, the co-founder of ZE Records, who released records by Lydia Lunch, James Chance, Suicide, Mars, Was (Not Was), John Cale, etc., and the lovelier-than-ever Lydia Lunch.
Me and my old pal Jim Sclavunos.
Jim Sclavunos signs Julia Gorton's book.
The New York Rocker art department reunites! Art Director Elizabeth Van Itallie and photo editor Laura Levine.
My lovely god-daughter Sarah and he boyfriend Daniel flank dear ol' god-mom.
Me and my old college buddy, the incredibly talented film composer Carter Burwell.
Some of the show.
My parents (on the left) and some of their friends strolled over from Chinatown to take in the sights.
Marty Rev, me and Michael Zilkha.
Jesse Malin reminded me that I did a photo session with his band Heart Attack on Ave. C when back he was a teenage punk circa 1981.
My good friends Lee Ranaldo and Leah Singer who I miss to dickens.
NO WAVE exhibition - opening reception Fri 13th
Posted by Laura Levine at 1:46 am on June 6th
DNA on my corner, NYC, 1981
I'm participating in an exhibition and book put together by Thurston Moore and and Byron Coley entitled NO WAVE. POST-PUNK. UNDERGROUND. NEW YORK 1976 - 1980. The opening reception for the exhibit at the KS ART Gallery is Fri. June 13th from 6 - 8 PM, followed by a performance by Teenage Jesus and the Jerks at the Knitting Factory.
Here are a couple of my photographs from the gallery show and book, as well as one of DNA which isn't in the book but you can see in the show.
the official press release:
NO WAVE POST-PUNK UNDERGROUND NEW YORK 1976-80
organized by Thurston Moore and Byron Coley
June 13 - July 2, 2008
book party / opening reception Friday, June 13, 6 - 8pm KS ART - 73 Leonard Street - NYC
KS ART will present NO WAVE 1976-1980 an exhibition of photographs, paintings, sculptures and ephemera from that era. This show is organized in conjunction with the publication of NO WAVE. POST-PUNK. UNDERGROUND. NEW YORK 1976-1980. by THURSTON MOORE and BYRON COLEY for Abrams Books.
Included in the exhibition are art works by James Nares, Nancy Arlen, Pat Place, Christine Hahn, Barbara Ess, Sumner Crane and photographs from the book by Julia Gorton, Robert Sietsma, Marcia Resnick, Stephanie Chernikowski, Godlis, Laura Levine, Lisa Genet, Bobby Grossman, and Hilary Jaeger.
This is the first book to visually chronicle the collision of art and punk in the New York underground of 1976 to 1980. This in-depth look at punk rock, new wave, experimental music, and the avant-garde art movement of the 70s and 80s focuses on the true architects No Wave from James Chance to Lydia Lunch to Glenn Branca, as well as the luminaries that intersected the scene, such as David Byrne, Debbie Harry, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and Richard Hell. This rarely documented scene was the creative stomping ground of young artists and filmmakers from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Jim Jarmusch, as well as the musical genesis for the post-punk explosions of Sonic Youth. It is here revealed for a new generation of fans and collectors. Thurston Moore and Byron Coley have selected 150 unforgettable images, most of which have never been published previously, and compiled hundreds of hours of personal interviews to create an oral history of the movement, providing a never-before-seen exploration and celebration of No Wave.
On Friday June 13th coinciding with this opening reception/ book party will be one-night-only reunion performances by Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (featuring Lydia Lunch, Jim Sclavunos and a surprise guest bass player) and the band Information at the Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street across the street from the gallery.
Glenn Branca on his Bowery rooftop, NYC, 1981
Alan Vega (Suicide) in his downtown loft, NYC, 1981
Jody Harris and Robert Quine in my apartment with my goose lamp, NYC, 1981.
Ida/Michael Hurley @ Woodstock show Sat. 5/24
Posted by Laura Levine at 11:38 am on May 18th
Songbirds of the Catskills, acrylic & vintage trading stamps on birch panel, 36" x 36", 2008
Musicians Michael Hurley and Ida will be performing at the opening reception for my exhibit at the VARGA Gallery in Woodstock this Memorial Day weekend. Come on by if you're in the area.
Tweet Suite: Birds of North America Paintings by Laura Levine
Opening Reception Saturday, May 24 from 6 - 9pm
* * with musical performance by Ida and special guest Michael Hurley* *
On exhibit Thursday, May 22 – Wednesday, June 4, 2008
VARGA Gallery, 130 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY (845) 679-4005
A limited edition archival print, Songbirds of the Catskills, will be released in conjunction with the exhibit, with a percentage of print sales donated to the Catskills wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization Ravensbeard.
Who is F.M. Walts?
Posted by Laura Levine at 4:13 pm on April 6th
Have any of you heard of this illustrator? I bought this fantastic silkscreen theater poster today from a fellow who was selling some things out of his barn. It's in terrible condition but I just loved it.
It's a poster for the Theatre Guild's production of The Camel Through the Needle's Eye. He had a few other posters (in much better condition) by the same artist which I may go back and get.
I did a little research and found a Frank Walts, who I suspect is the fellow in question. (Can anyone confirm?). From what I can tell he was a political African-American illustrator who worked in the 1910's and 1920's. Among other things he did covers for W.E.B. Du Bois's publication The Crisis, and designed Anita Loos' personal bookplates!
