2 Artists Walk Into A Bar...

Hopefully after this show I can return to making my own work. 

No Hope, no harm. Just another false alarm

Cher Collective presents No Hope 

an exhibition opening May 4th from 7pm to 10pm

featuring a live performance from Eddie Sids, a handmade photobooth, 

and some of the most hope(full)(less) contemporary art you have

ever(will ever) see(experience). come and rejoice(despair) with us

about our collective future(fiscal fist)!

located at Salon 1522

1522 North Lawrence St. Phila, Pa 19122

www.salon1522.com

and you'll get to see this in person. 

100% Proven Released

After 13 years hiding in a sketchpad from 2001,

 the enlargements are finally released. 

Only 15 copies available in the first printing, 

but more to come soon.

http://thecyberpunkapocalypse.tumblr.com/

Black Face Sells Out

            Fleisher Ollman’s last exhibit at 1616 Walnut Street featured the Coogi paintings of Jayson Musson. Those with prior viewings of Musson’s work know what to expect, but for visitors unfamiliar with his portfolio, I advise you to ignore the literature and titles posted, and move directly to the art on display. Doing so may help prevent the following questions from running through your head.  “How did this happen? Why do these look so familiar?,” and “Is this supposed to be ironic?”

I spoke with Mr. Ollman for a few minutes about Musson and why his work was selected. Musson started exhibiting at Fleisher Ollman in 2010, as part of a group show featuring emerging and unrepresented artists. Ollman has followed the career of Musson as his work has been shown in coffee shops and smaller spaces like Marginal Utility in Philadelphia. Musson has built a name for himself through the use of a themes commenting on race and class, reminiscent of Blaxploitation.  Whether he is creating childlike drawings of a superhero Obama fighting terrorists, or translating art-talk into hip-hop commentary under the alter ego Hennessy Youngman (http://vimeo.com/17431354), Musson use of reverse racism capitalizes on the pleasure some gain when poking fun at the perceived ignorance of blacks. In doing so, Musson has type-casted himself as a parody of the black artist.  More specifically, a black artist in black face.

To get a better idea of Musson’s work and the themes which run through it, visit his website and watch his performance art on vimeo.com. Musson’s analysis of art theory as Hennessy Youngman juxtaposes academic terms and concepts with urban dialogue and slang. His use of opposing linguistic extremes show how far apart academia looks from the neighborhoods that often surround them, but is it necessary to travel to such lengths to create a following, or to prove a point? And is this a following laughing with you, or at you? 

Fig. 1 – South of the Border

The latest collection consists of fabric paintings made of Coogi sweaters, arranged by Musson, and often stitched by a team of artists. At times the paintings successfully resemble landscapes (Fig. 1), but unfortunately have a habit of remaining the sweaters used to compose them, failing to break away from their associations with the Cosby Show (Fig. 2).  

Fig. 2 – How Do You Get To Hear To The Rest Of The World?

Bill Cosby

Musson should be congratulated for playing the game and winning, even at the sacrifice by dumbing down the language of his work to make it entertaining for the establishment. However, this commentary extends beyond his most recent exhibit, and refers to his collective body of work. It should be understood that Hennessy Youngman is a product of Jayson Musson, just as the Coogi sweater paintings are a product of his approach to visual art.

Fig. 3 - Sherrie

 By no means is that a personal attack on an artist for successfully gaming the system, but it appears that Musson is creating racially charged products for the arts establishment with the sole intent of enlarging his audience and bank account, by, in the words of Ms. Risario, New York quaintrelle, “cooning it up for white folks.” Musson is aware of his acceptance into the establishment and consistently flirts with idea of pushing his audience to see how racist they can be. The success of Musson’s work may be addressing a larger issue with the establishment that celebrates it. Being cultured is a privilege, and does not give you the right to ridicule those who aren’t as lucky as you to have obtained a formal education. I’ve never been impressed Musson, nor am I drawn to cheap social clichés commenting on how funny it is to be black and ironic, but I suppose the   real is question being asked is "isn't it ironic that I’m black?" There's nothing ironic about hustling your identity in the guise of art. I've just grown to expect it just as I would expect Duchamp to leave an upperdecker in my toilet and sign the bowl R. Mutt.

Shawn Beeks

http://www.jaysonmusson.com/

http://fleisher-ollmangallery.com/

Woody Allen will not be there, but I will.

Friends & Neighbors West Philly Artist Invitational opens FRI JAN 11, 6-9pm

Hey folks! 

It's about that time----the time for our annual exhibit of local artists whom our residents know and love--their friends and neighbors! 

Our 2012-2013 residents Fatima Adamu, Mike Harpring, Diedra Krieger, Thomason Parnes, and Celestine Wilson Hughes, invite you to Friends and Neighbors, which has become a yearly tradition. Rather than showing our residents' work, our residents invite artists with strong ties to the neighborhood to show their work for a 3 week-long exhibit.

 WHEN: 

Opening reception w/ refreshments and merriment on FRIDAY JANUARY 11, 6-9PM

Gallery hours Fridays January 18 and 25, 3-7pm, and by appointment (Contact 40th.air.app@gmail.com)

WHERE: 

The 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR) Gallery at 4007 Chestnut Street, first floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 

WHY? 

See dynamic and diverse work (painting, ceramics, textiles, etc) from 10 emerging to veteran artists, meet talented West Philly artists and the 2012-2013 40st AIR residents! 

See some awesome press from last year's show HERE

Featured artists this year:

Mike Ball 

Shawn Beeks

Russell Brodie

Sarah Brown

Betty Leacraft

Kylin Mettler

Jenna Peters-Golden 

Janis B. Pinkston

Abby Sullivan

Shinara Taylor 

Dick:A Story of Whaling and the United States

It wasn’t until the X-Files’ Scully drew the comparison of Mulder’s obsessive nature to Captain Ahab’s pursuit of the white whale, did I feel the need to read Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. With plenty of evenings to kill, I limited myself to two or three chapters per night to insure that I fully absorbed everything in Melville’s story. My evenings with Ahab and Ishmael became an obsession of it’s own as I began to draw parallels between the whaling industry of the 19^th century, the institutionalized slavery of Africans, and the modern day dependence on crude oil.

Moby Dick could be interpreted as America’s quest for dominance over nature, as well as inspiration for Richard Wright’s racial charged Native Son, but the strongest message to one could take away from Melville’s 1851 masterpiece is that Captain Ahab is a dick.

After many months of preparation, the illustrations of Melville's Moby Dick are ready for exhibition at Slingluff Gallery on October 1st, 2011. The Saturday night reception starts at 6pm, and will end at 9pm. Slingluff is located at 11 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19123. For more information about Slingluff and the show visit www.slingluffgallery.com.

Blunder Days Past

A big thanks to Apple Jacks Studio and everyone who came out for the opening of The Blunder Years. If you forgot show up, had something better to do, or just didn't care, but for some reason read this blog anyway, here's what you missed. Shirts and decks are still available. For more information go to www.slapstikskateboards.bigcartel.com.

The Blunder Years

On August 5th, 2011 Apple Jacks Studio will be hosting a Slapstik Skateboards retrospective of the original series of decks released between 2001 to 2006. In addition to the skateboards, original artwork pulled from the sketch pads of that time period will be displayed, along with reissues of 3 decks and 2 shirts. Signed decks will be $50 and shirts are sold in pairs for $30. It should be a lively evening, so bring some friends, something to drink and cash money because art shows don't get put on for nothing. Hope to see you there.

The Centaurs and Mermaids of Michael Hsuing

On The Lithuanian Bear's Revenge Against The Sins

Of Sir Anthony of Tuscany

On A Scene In Which Two Talented Conjoined Men

Perform a Sacred Pose

Centaurs, mermen, and bears. Collecting oddities, "freelancing" when no one is around, and illustration for companies including Dr. Marten's, Dwindle, and others I can't recall at this time. Michael has recently been featured in Against the Grain's Featured Artist at www.hurley.com. But enough about the art. Michael can grow a mustache like nobody's business. It's too late to see the work at Slingluff Gallery, but I figured I should post this anyway.

When Bears Can Fly

I didn't realize how many girls I knew were in love with Care Bears until I started talking about this series of paintings called Grizzly Care Bears. This is only the first attempt at making it real, and if you're in Atlanta, you can see it in person for their Sk8 or Die show coming up at Young Blood on May the 7th. I hate to see it leave my home, but I'm sure someone will find it just as funny as I do.

Stillborn at Young Blood's Day of the Dead Art Show

Stillborn 2010

This and dozens of other coffins will be for sale at Young Blood Gallery on October 30th. Nothing priced over $500, and after working on this thing, that's a deal.

Dreams of Perkinss

Long Term Upper Fullness graphite and watercolor on bristol 2010

You can do this at home by printing a picture of your breast, cutting out the breast, then turning them upside down, and reattaching them to your chest. It's easier than reversing gravity.

Flirt

Some Tails are Bigger Than Others

Exit Skateshop will be holding their 3rd Deckheads skateboard art show May 7th, 2010. If you're in, or near Philly....go. Maybe I'll see you there. Image research for the deck involved whales tails, and Moby Dick. If you don't know what a whale tail is, google it. It's kind of funny.

Chicks?

"Bath Time" ink on bristol 2010

They told me the theme of the show was "puppies, kittens, and chicks."

I thought they said "tricks."

Up Close and Personal

after painting others for years, i figured it was time to turn the brush on myself. this started off as an ode to chuck close, whose exhibit i discovered in chicago in the summer of 1998. after a few sketches, i noticed that was pretty lame and it needed more. i toyed around with fish circling my head, but once i asked myself "if i lived in the ocean, would i really be a flounder? no. let's see what shark jaws look framing me. well, that's better. much like a shark in the ocean, you know what you're going to get when you meet me after talking to me for 15 minutes." my words have a way of cutting people to the bone. but you knew it was coming. truth is not naturally evil. it only hurts when you're accustomed to the comforting pillow fights of lies. so, that's me. and this is me as well. look for me at the museum of fine art in columbia, south carolina.

The Art of Darkness

nothing more to say

kiddy pool

Push skateshop in Ashville, North Carolina curated a show last month called The Art of Darkness which consisted of skateboards cut in half to make tombstones. Artist were then allowed to create a stone of their liking using the boards as a canvas for their resting place. Darkness opened on the 16th of October, and closed on November 3rd. Posted in this entry is the grave marker entitled " Nothing More to Say." This took about one week to complete, along with an additional drawing submitted or the show. For the lack of time I had to produce the works, I'm pleased with the results.

http://www.pushtoyproject.com/

"She whipped them all soundly, and sent them to be."

"... and they kept going deeper and deeper into the forest. If help did not arrive soon, they were bound to perish of hunger and exhaustion."

"She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed. For they left their tails behind them."

"Little Betty Blue lost her holiday shoe... What can Little Betty do?"

If you can't make it to Bridgeport, CT by December, here's what you're missing. Of course, you're also missing out on Naughti Dolphin pizza and three newer drawings of mine. So, do what you gotta do.

Cut it, if you're into that sort of thing.

Another show, another month of sleepless nights. Make it worth my time and show up to at least complain about how I'm not working hard enough.

Better Not Bring Your Kids

Insults vol. 1

Shit Talker

Fuckface

Bitch

Asshole

One show just isn't enough for me in the month of August. In addition to the Bone Tail exhibit at Little Berlin, I've also got six new paintings showing in the Rittenhouse district of Philadelphia at Square Peg Artery and Salvage. The series of paintings, titled Insults, are oils on wood panels, housed in leather spin clamshell boxes. Works in the show include Asshole, Bitch, Dickhead, Cuntface, Shit Talker, and Fuckface. As you can probably tell by the titles, it's not for kids. Two of the paintings have been posted on this site before, so included in this posting are a few more.