LOOK INTO MY OWL

Daniel Keller and Nik Kosmas run AIDS-3D.com and have started a studio, club and magazine in Berlin. There is a strong sense of “wrong” felt when navigating their website. They are following a path strategically devoid of truth and it’s delightful.

Imagination has been crimped during this election campaign. Head shots of politicians are being passed off as art. The slightest deviation has been attacked for not towing the party line. It has been good for the careers of many artists (and that’s cool) but November can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, it’s good to know that there are folks out there keeping the air holes open.

The projection of video has so much impact when compared to witnessing the same work on a monitor. The scale forces the eye to move, this in turn activates the mind. Jennifer Steinkamp has placed her latest projections at Lehmann Maupin in an effort to rouse the cerebellum.

“Daisy Bell” is comprised of a cataract of poisonous flowers descending the gallery walls. In the natural world outside of the human condition bright colors are feared and certainly avoided. It is the juxtaposition of beauty and danger that lends power to this work.

“Left Clavicle” is also included in the exhibit. Head over to the website of Lehmann Maupin to see this piece in motion.

Jennifer Steinkamp
Daisy Bell
7 September - 1 November 2008
Lehmann Maupin
NYC

The Fine Art Society in London has opened a two week viewing of the installations of Doug Foster. “Only Human” delves into human need and desire to be needed. Often calling attention to the other, these pieces evoke a whole arrived at through the power of duality.

In “Breather”, the audience is invited to look through two sets of peep holes set in a rusty steel cabinet. The upper view port shows a breathless woman in water up to the neck. She fills her lungs and dips below the surface calling attention to the lower set of optics that offer a scene in which the woman now completely submerged shares her breath with a man in the form of a kiss. It’s the kind of work that shows some of the possibilities of video installation.

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The interest of Stefan Stux “… lies in an engagement with art that transforms from avant garde to art history…”. His latest display from Aaron Johnson is a result of this maxim. “Star-Crossed” mongrels the latest of current political events loosely with base mythology. The hybrid of old and new offers the viewpoint that things never wholly change.

The work reminds me of something that William S. Burroughs wrote. Loosely recalled from memory, “…the creatures of all your dreams and nightmares; right here, solid as they ever were or will be.”

Aaron Johnson
Star-Crossed
4 September - 18 October 2008
Stux Gallery
NYC

“Dark Pop”, an eclectic group show curated by Andrew Michael Ford opened this past weekend at the Last Rites Gallery. The exhibit features creepy work from more than 25 artists including David MacDowell (above), Gilbert Oh and Isabel Samaras (below). A disturbing show at a great venue, what more could you ask for? If you are in the city, don’t miss this one.

Artists also in “Dark Pop” are: Lisa Alisa, Esao Andrews, Camilla d’Errico, D’holbachie, Imminent Disaster, Ron English, The Dirty Fabulous, Ewelina Ferruso, Gaia, Sarah Joncas, kozyndan, Tessar Lo, Jeff McMillan, Pagan, Nathan Pickett, Peripheral Media Projects, Chris Stain, Nicole Steen, Gary Taxali, Connie Wang, Jaeran Won and more.

Dark Pop
6 September - 18 October
Last Rites Gallery
NYC

Last night Jermaine Rogers stopped by NOWhere Limited for a meet and greet with his fans. A good time was had by all. Thanks to everyone that came to the gallery for “The Detailed Mechanics of the Monkey Hustle”. The show continues through the 28th of September so there is still time to get hustled.

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There is one week left to see “Dark Skate” at DCKT Contemporary. Lia Halloran traveled around Los Angeles hitting various skate spots including public haunts, backyard ramps and skateparks. She took long exposure shots of the venues while she moved through them with a flashlight. There is nothing like skating at night and Halloran captured the feeling perfectly. The light she held captured the energy of the session while the color in the darks saturated during the course of the exposure. These photographs are tributes to places as well as portraits of the artist displaying the lines she chose.

Lia Halloran
Dark Skate
23 July - 13 September
DCKT Contemporary
NYC

Here are some teaser images of the current show at NOWhere Limited. Jermaine Rogers will be at the gallery for a visit this Saturday, September 6th at 4pm. Head up the mountain for some good times. I’m bad about remembering to take pictures during events but I’ll do my best this weekend.

Jermaine Rogers
The Detailed Mechanics of the Monkey Hustle
30 August - 28 September 2008
NOWhere Limited
Nederland, Colorado

Joel Meyerowitz is about to debut his new series of photographs at the Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco. The idea for “The Elements: Air/Water, Part 1″ came to the artist while directing a video of Olympic divers from an underwater viewing window. Meyerowitz was interested in the way that air entered the water with the divers and slowly bubbled back to the surface to rejoin the atmosphere. Also on view as part of the exhibition are his early color photographs from the 1970’s.

Joel Meyerowitz
4 September - 1 November
Robert Koch Gallery
San Francisco