Brief Blackout Period for Art Comments

Due to feverish prepartions for the major art fairs taking place in Miami (South Beach), next week, a total of approximately 12 that will run concurrently in one weekend, including but not limitied to Scope Miami and Art Basel Miami , which take place precisely between December 7 - 10, there will be no blog posts until December 7 2006. Please check back with Art Comments on December 7 when regular postings from the various team members will resume. Thank you.

Vilém Flusser Quote:

"Photographers encode their concepts as photographic images so as to give others information, so as to produce models for them and thereby to become immortal in the memory of others." -

Vilém Flusser, Philosophy of Photography

Namehato Fashion Show: Spring Preview 2007

IMG_0272
Originally uploaded by Peter Duhon.

written by Jenny Jackson in New York

Namhato, Love Brigade Clothing, Inc.’s first Spring collection was a success. This collective of brilliantly creative individuals, unveiled a collection that was received by the shows audience as a Brand that fashion enthusiasts should give attention. In less than one year, Love Brigade opened its doors; opened a boutique in Williamsburg (an up and coming Brooklyn neighborhood where the creative energy is explosive); launched an online boutique; premiered the first collection (Fall ’06); launched Spring ’07, and launched men’s for Spring ’07.

From an insider’s point of view, I see that Love Brigade has begun with a strong start and is not operating dangerously fast. The Spring fashion shows were evidence that Love Brigade is capable of executing a concept where creative genius is sustained throughout the entire process. In creating a fashion line, it is quite easy to loose sight of the goal where a collection turns out to be something different from the original theme and concept. But, alas, the Love Brigade collective proved that, though we may be young, we are damn genius.  

Namehato:  By the scene, for the scene. When once asked who is the inspiration for the clothing, Alyssa Key (fashion director and founder) responded, “Ourselves. You think I’m kidding?”

And finally, a little blurb that Alyssa and I together wrote about the collection:

“Inspired by the spiritual mystique of Native American tribe inhabitants of New Mexico, Love Brigade has collaborated on designs that inspire a sense of freedom whilst still donning the most luxurious fabrics. Creations stemmed from dark blood pumping emotion not free from the strains of society, but with a glimmer of hope that one day we will achieve everything that we are living for. Namehato breeds bravery. Namehato forces freedom. Namehato means love.”

…and this is only the beginning.

Book Launch: "Scattered Joy" by Alexandra Seegers

article written by Sonia Bhalla, NY, New York

Before I went to the book launch of Scattered Joy , I did not quite know what to expect. I thought this would be an event where the author would just be promoting herself and her book. But after attending the event, and speaking with the author, Alexandra Seegers, I came away inspired.

Alexandra Seegers started her book project 5 years ago when she took a trip to Tibet. Since childhood, she had always wanted to visit the place. She fell in love with the region, which inspired her to do more trips to South Asia, Vietnam and Thailand. And as a result, this book was created.

Author, Christina Morato describes Scattered Joy as she says that it "shows the dignity and the spiritual and cultural wealth of the women that the traveler has met in the remote villages of Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, India, Nepal and Tibet." The book is a compilation of photographs showing women and children from these regions living everyday life, including depictions of cultural rituals. Alexandra Seegers integrated herself in these environments as she lived in these regions for weeks or months at a time and was able to capture moments that evoke emotion and give a true sense of reality to the audience. Although the subjects of the photographs may be living in rural areas and in poverty, the photographs show women with strength and beauty. These photographs inspire and motivate one to take notice of the serious issues concerning women in these third world countries.

This book is supported by a company called Gaia de Vida, founded by the author herself, which forms alliances with non-for-profit organizations in order to create multi-media presentations which focus on issues pertaining to under-developed countries, such as famine, health, clean water, micro-credit, shelter and safety. Scattered Joy is Gaia De Vida's first project to be used as a tool to raise money for these countries and to promote the cause of Gaia de Vida associated non-profit organizations.

The book launch was a pleasure to attend. It was held at the House of Tibet; a cozy setting for the book launch. The author was wearing an elegant Vietnamese embroidered top – an appropriate choice for the event. A lot of her friends came for support. The author gave a presentation, giving an overall summary of the book and explaining the purpose of this project. Alexandra inspired and encouraged me (and I am sure it also encouraged other people) to think about the various issues concerning these countries and to be more pro-active. Alexandra Seegers is an amazing woman, who is determined in her cause to better the future of the women and children in South Asia and South East Asia.

Gavin Brown Enterprise: Gee Vaucher

Portraiture

Art of the portrait. Many have attempted, few have succeeded. Gee Vaucher's name belongs side by side with the art giants of the past and present, with those few who have succeeded and completed something relevant, compelling and provocative with portraiture. Pseudo-art created to appease the masses for huge commercial gain is not what I'm referring to but rather the kind of art that is beautiful due to simple fact of what it awakens upon the viewer emotionally, socially and even at times politically.

The exhibition at Passerby with the four portraits (and other works) by Gee Vaucher is a must see. Make the time and go see it!

GBE@Passerby
436 W 15th Street

by Peter Duhon

Art Auction/Gala: Chelsea Art Museum

Just wanted to alert everyone's attention to an event that will take place tonight at the Chelsea Art Museum, its an auction/gala and cocktail party. Visit the official website, www.atoaauction.com for more information.

New Dutch Realism

_{Mokum Gallery
Peter Hartwig
Oil on Panel
Waitress}


Wonderful night last night. I attended an elegant affair that was organized by W Hotels, W magazine and Gallery10G , which featured three artists; KEVIN COOLEY, OFER WOLBERGER & MATTHEW SPIEGELMAN. Champagne was the drink of the night but I couldn't stay long since I had plans to meet up with a friend at the National Arts Club to attend a panel discussion held there: Collecting Today's Art in Today's World. Artist Joan Giordano moderated the discussion among the different panelists which included heavy-hitters: Alexis Hubshman, President Scope Art Fair, Gregory J Peterson, Collector Contemporary Realist Art, Dr. Lowery Sims, adjunct curator, The Studio Museum and former Curator of Modern Art at the Metropolitan Museum Missy Sullivan, editor Forbes Collector.

After the discussion, we were all directed to the Grand Gallery located at their facility to see the show, New Dutch Realism. Did I enjoy the show? Let's just say that I was one of the last people to leave the gallery. I absolutely loved the program and the art and I am planning on posting most of the pictures taken and posting some of the notes that I took from the panel discussion. While touring the Grand Gallery, I met two lovely art dealers from Amsterdam, Lucas van Hasselt and Liesbeth Hemelriik. who were representing some of the artist's work that was on display.

I'm writing this column rather late since earlier in the day, my network and server was down. I actually started the day pretty early, waking up around 6am, in hopes to write an extensive entry, only to find out that I could not access the Internet! Stay tuned for more information concerning the events of yesterday.

Jackie Bunwich Gallery Review

By Don Porcella

• Online Galleries













Online social and networking groups like Myspace break down traditional economic, cultural and political borders offering members the opportunity to promote anything they create. This is especially true for artists who can post their art work and get valuable feedback. Artists are thriving on Myspace in a democratic exchange of images and ideas. Relevant online art galleries are forming in this new virtual space frontier.

Jackie Bunwich promotes her gallery as the first Myspace based gallery in the world. Jackie Bunwich Gallery exhibits the work of emerging and mid-career contemporary artists and musicians working in a variety of media. The gallery opened in September 2006 on Myspace and exhibitions run for one month. Bunwich lives in Vancouver, Canada where her online gallery is based.

The Jackie Bunwich Gallery's current show is called "Soft Pot" which is a collection of artists that Bunwich has known and some that she has met on Myspace.

I especially like the work of Taylor McKimens
(www.taylormckimens.com), a very versatile artist, who creates unique
work in a variety of mediums. His art is not bound by any specific discipline (like being just a painter for instance). He is capable of making anything he wants because he has a consistent visual language that crosses over and through different disciplines.

Online galleries give the gallery owner a chance to establish a gallery with little to no start up costs. Bunwich is hoping the gallery will evolve commercially and she is interested in doing projects outside of Myspace/Internet.

Bunwich says the next show will feature Jeff Ladouceur and Peter Thompson, two artists from Canada.
The Jackie Bunwich Gallery is always looking for new artists and reviews work on a regular basis. If you are interested in submitting art work for review, send 5-10 jpegs to jackiebunwichgallery@yahoo.ca.
Jackie Bunwich Gallery would love to be your friend! Her Myspace
address is www.myspace.com/1126298553.

Written by Don Porcella

Shearer West: Portraiture Quote

"A portrait can take on only the most basic elements of a biography, while a biography cannot convey the presence of the individual with such immediacy and evocative power." - Shearer West, Portraiture