Memento Mori

Lou Jacobi


Nancy Spero


Soupy Sales

YOU WILL BE MISSED.

I ACCUSE PETER GREENAWAY - Peter Greenaway's "Rembrandt's J'accuse"

Well, where to begin?


Let's keep it simple shall we?


This is the slickest art lecture ever captured on film! Greenaway draws on numerous images the director has employed in his past theater and film works, as well as an arsenal of Photoshop graphics to make the case that one of Rembrandt's most well-known and revered works is a visual accusation of murder and deceit. In 86 minutes we learn more about 17th century Dutch militia painting, its properties, Italian triumphal arches, chiaroscuro lighting, deliberate misrepresentations of height proportions, two mysterious women, a musket and innumerable other factoids all spun together with costume recreations and AVID editing.

If only the director/narrator weren't such a drone!


Visually ravishing and creatively edited, I only fell asleep twice!!

A Walk Through Chelsea

Between dropping off some books at a dealers and having drinks with a friend after work, we were able to take in a few shows. Here's what we saw:

JACK PIERSON "ABSTRACTS" @ Cheim + Read - A handsome solo installation by a talented mid-career artist. The show features all wall relief work. Pierson has not lost his touch composition and display. Flourish, 2009 features possible remains from an old Pepsi-Cola sign arranged as a lovely, mysterious pirouette. Towards the back of the large gallery space, Pierson has pieces which have a different dynamic; longer titled works accompanying briefer, more cryptic reliefs that pay homage to Abstract Expressionism and the gesture. Shades of Rothko, Gottlieb and Kline keep coming to mind while viewing these pieces.

Up thru Nov. 14th - WORTH A VISIT




JUSTINE KURLAND 'THIS TRAIN IS BOUND FOR GLORY' @ MITCHELL-INNES & NASH - A large show of photographs inspired by the nomadic culture of the hobo. Handsomely formatted and hung. Kurland continues to grow as a photographer. Her landscape works has continued to mature and proves to be some of the more impressive work in the exhibit.
Up thru Nov. 14th - WORTH A LOOK!!




MAGNUS PLESSEN @ GLADSTONE GALLERY - A show of flashy paintings by this German painter. These works are all about surface and not much else. Technically intriguing, visually bland.
Closed Oct. 24th - LUCKY YOU!!


Also seen:


JANINE ANTONI: UP AGAINST @ LUHRING AUGUSTINE - A puzzling installation of photographs, installation and sculpture. A large noisy installation entitled Tear consists of an 11 foot video projection of the artist's eye in a room with and industrial wrecking ball. The series of small copper sculptures in the front gallery are not merely gargoyles, but devices for women to urinate standing up. A large color photograph of the artist using the 'device' near the gargoyles of the Chrysler Building serves as an instruction manual. Closed Oct. 24th - LUCKY YOU!!


ANSELM REYLE & TAKASHI MURAKAMI @ GAGOSIAN GALLERY - Pop Art meets Arte Povera by the former, a large colorful painting by the latter. Reyle's work has the fun and tang of a glass of champagne: you enjoy it at the beginning but probably hard to bear in the harsh light of a hung-over morning. Murakami's large canvas has rekindled my hope that this artist can actually produce artwork and not just manufacture kitsch.


TIM RODA @ DANIEL COONEY GALLERY: an interesting installation by an architect turned photographer. Taken in Italy and using his family as models, Roda creates and recreates a wondrous world of myth. The prints hang raw on the wall; many are on uneven cut pieces of paper. The artist has a good visceral sense of image. We look forward to more. UP THRU OCT. 31 - WORTH A LOOK


JAUME PLENSA 'IN THE MIDST OF DREAMS' @ GALERIE LELONG - Three enormous resin heads lit from within are the centerpiece of this show, but the pieces that really stand out are the elongated stone heads that are raw and broken at the top.

VIA CON DIOS, MI CAFE - Starbuck's VIA Instant Coffee

I am probably considered by Starbuck's marketing as an 'incidental' client. Not working in an office building, I am long out of the daily habit of the daily grind. My trips into Starbuck's are coincidental (there's one a block from a pharmacy I patronize) and basically to restock my supply of Double Shots, their canned coffee and cream drink, which, at $2.10 a pop, is real Starbuck's value.


On my past three visits I've been queried by staff as to my familiarity with the company's latest product/innovation VIA, its answer to instant coffee. And who am I to resist a hard sell and special introductory pricing?


So, have they surmounted the wishy-washy stigma of instant coffee?


I have sampled both 'flavors' or blends, 'medium' or Columbian and 'extra bold' or Italian roast. It should be noted that both 'flavors' have a slightly oily taste and quality, which makes straight black coffee drinking a bit tough. Besides that, neither of them are watery in their flavor.


Of the two, the latter is much more drinkable. Being a light and sweet drinker these days, the Italian roast makes a flavorful cup that I would make again. And at $1.00 / 8 oz cup it comes out as a Starbuck's bargain.

Irving Penn: A tribute

A very nice hommage to a master photographer.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/07/parting-glance-irving-penn/

Memento Mori

Nat Finkelstein

Marty Forscher

Irving Penn

Our eyes will be dimmer.