Check out MUTO the latest animated film project by Blu. MUTO is an ambiguous animation, painted on public walls on the streets of Buenos Aires and Baden. It took months for the artist to complete. Check out the amazing film:
Check out this fantastic video about the Date Farmers on Current TV It presents a history about these artists, and preparations they took in working towards their last exhibition with us, as well as their opening reception for the show at our gallery, entitled The Crying Playboy.
Check out this great interview with Tara McPherson on 50%TV, where she talks about working on Lost Constellations, her solo exhibition at Jonathan LeVine Gallery. The episode airs on Cablevision Channel 115, and on the network's YouTube page.
Check out our MADE IN AMERICA exhibition coverage on Brazilian TripTV, during the group show in Sao Paulo at Choque Cultural Gallery! Featuring interviews with Jonathan LeVine, as well as artists: Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, AJ Fosik, and Souther Salazar!
N.O.O.N. New works by Doze Green at Jonathan LeVine Gallery
October 18 through November 15th, 2008
Gallery Opening Reception: Saturday, October 18, 2008, 7pm—9pm
NEW YORK, NY (September 30, 2008) — Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to announce N.O.O.N., a solo exhibition of new works by Doze Green. The artist returns for his second solo show at the gallery, having created a new series of original charcoal drawings and mixed media paintings on canvas and wood panel. Using a variety of materials such as ink, gouache, metallic pigments, and collage, Doze Green speaks in a creative voice from the collective consciousness, applying a symbolist approach to metaphysical concepts. Often compared to Basquiat, his urban background and involvement in the early hip-hop graffiti movement of NYC in the late 70’s, early 80’s, led him to transition from creating art in the streets and subways into the gallery setting.
In N.O.O.N., Doze Green’s signature style of figurative abstraction and use of letterforms remain prominent, yet the organic cubist quality of his images has evolved. The high-contrast fluid line work characteristic of earlier paintings is now rendered in a fuller, more tonal palette, complemented by the introduction of an element not seen in his work previously—layers of collaged imagery. The artist’s genealogy inspires many of the themes he explores, his aesthetic influences include a mixture of ancient civilizations and indigenous cultures, including his own Afro-Caribbean roots. His totem-like human and animal figures are conceptually based on various polytheistic deities. These divinities represent sentinels, the guardians of universal truths. Immortal warriors warning mankind of dangers society has manifested, looming on the horizon and threatening to destroy us.
The show title, N.O.O.N., stands for No One Observes Nibiru. This references the planet X prophecy of a cataclysmic cosmic shift occurring in the year 2012, causing dramatic effects to life on earth. Also a prominent year in the Mayan and Hopi calendars, 2012 marks the end of our current solar cycle, signifying transition into a new age. Inspired by these theories, there is a transitional quality to the artwork. Movement, migration and transformation of form combine to form enigmatically kinetic narratives. Portals and beams of energy, layered over collaged media clippings, surround Green’s figures which echo social diaspora of the past, yet also seem to be preparing for a futuristic voyage of sorts—a survivalist evacuation plan for the great escape from doomsday.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Doze Green
A New York City native, Doze Green began painting the streets and bombing subways in 1974. He joined the infamous Rock Steady Crew in 1977, as one of the original members during the birth of hip-hop, b-boy break dancing and graffiti writing culture. The Crew danced at galleries and art exhibitions in Soho and the Lower East Side throughout the early 80s. They were an integral part of New York City's developing underground scene. Graffiti and later forms of street art have since spread into what has become very much a global movement, and Doze Green has evolved into a well-respected fine artist, whose work can be found in public and private collections, worldwide.
Paris—New York, New York—Paris New works by Blek le Rat at Jonathan LeVine Gallery
October 18th through November 15th, 2008
Gallery Opening Reception: Saturday, October 18th, 2008, 7pm—9pm
NEW YORK, NY (September 30, 2008) — Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to present Paris—New York, New York—Paris, a solo exhibition featuring new works by Xavier Prou, also known as Blek le Rat. Prou was among the six artists who participated in the Streets of Europe group show at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in 2007. For this show, he has created a new collection of large-scale paintings using pouchoir (stencil) techniques, and a video installation featuring his interventional street art pieces over the past 25 years. Blek le Rat returns to the gallery for Paris—New York, New York—Paris, marking a much-anticipated first solo show in New York for this celebrated artist.
Paris—New York, New York—Paris combines historical references with social commentary through Blek’s iconic pop-culture and self-portrait based imagery. Adding a human element to his often politically charged messages by incorporating himself into his subjects, Blek uses his own likeness to represent the artist in all of us. Some of the pieces contain religious context as, in a tribute to both Warhol and Da Vinci—we find Adam with Eve, holding a banana rather than an apple. Another painting portrays the artist seated in the place of Christ at The Last Supper table. Political symbolism is also prevalent, offering war commentary through an army of marching soldiers carrying paintbrushes in the place of rifles. Doves of peace appear in several of the works, as well as a gasoline truck driven by a laughing man, an unmistakable statement on the fuel crisis.
Perhaps the most compelling element of Blek le Rat’s work is his use of humor. One of the new paintings simply reads: “BANKSY?” next to a figure, which resembles The Invisible Man. This speaks to the media’s recent obsession with revealing the famed contemporary British street artist’s true identity. Although Blek le Rat’s work is often compared to (and at times confused for) work created by Banksy, Banksy himself has actually been quoted as saying that he is heavily influenced by his predecessor, Blek le Rat, whom much of his work pays homage to.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
A pioneer of graffiti writers in Europe, Blek le Rat was one of the first people to use stencils for creating art on the street, using icons instead of writing his name. He was first exposed to graffiti in 1971, in New York, but didn't start making his own until ten years later, in Paris. Inspired by a stenciled portrait of Mussolini, which he saw during a trip to Italy among WWII ruins, he created a silhouette of a rat running along the streets. He stenciled the rat for two years and quickly became recognized around Paris. This marked a monumental break from the dominance of New York's graffiti style. His method of creating image based art to complement the classical architecture within the context of European cityscapes changed the face of urban art and still continues to greatly influence younger generations of artists around the world. The artist’s new monograph, entitled: Blek le Rat—Getting Through the Walls, published by Thames + Hudson, beautifully documents his entire artistic career, over the past twenty-five years.
Who I'd like to meet:
Formerly operating as Tin Man Alley Gallery in Philadelphia and New Hope, PA, the Jonathan LeVine Gallery moved to Chelsea in January 2005 and has opened with a group exhibition, “Pop Pluralism” on February 5th.
During its four years in Pennsylvania, Tin Man Alley was the area’s epicenter for underground, outsider and cutting edge art. Proprietor and curator Jonathan LeVine will now bring his formidable art background, fresh approach and discerning eye for both established and breaking artists to Chelsea.
Believing that underground art is a culture that defies simple characterization, LeVine will exhibit a variety of celebrated, controversial, and unknown artists. Exhibitions will rotate approximately every six weeks, an inventory of gallery favorites will be on hand at all times, and limited edition prints, published by LeVine’s Tin Man Alley Press can be purchased in person and online.
Please come by and visit the Jonathan LeVine Gallery at 529 W. 20th Street, 9th Floor, and visit our website at www.jonathanlevinegallery.com
Our hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 11am - 6pm
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