Arlene's Grocery told artist Robert Preston to remove his new collection of paintings one day after their debut at the Stanton Street music venue, the Daily News reported today.The collection included Bloomberg as "wrath" and President Obama in an Egyptian headdress as "pride."
"It just wasn't our style," explained Julia Darling, Arlene's manager. "It sort of insults the viewer; it's really kind of beating us over the head with a message."
"I was pretty shocked. I didn't expect it," Preston told Rheana Murray. The paintings made their debut Monday night. Management asked him to remove the work on Tuesday.
"I lived on Christie and Rivington in the early '80s," he said. "It was a very different neighborhood. I don't think anyone would have had a problem with those paintings back then."
Find the article and photos of the paintings here.
4 comments:
"I lived on Christie and Rivington in the early '80s," he said. "It was a very different neighborhood. I don't think anyone would have had a problem with those paintings back then."
Yeah he's right. Back then there was so much great art going on that no one would have paid any mind to such tedious crap.
And from the political side... All I see is some ass clown shilling for Philip Morris and Seven & I Holdings Co (7-11). Two companies responsible for the death and destruction of poor and working classes, second only to The Freedom Group, and Smith & Wesson.
The irony is; that if you want to make political anti-Bloomberg commentary art, there is SOOOO much fertile material. This guy just totally missed it.
I gather it's hard to keep a straight face with the Dept of Health inspector, with "Big Gulp" Bloomy staring over your shoulder.
I lived on Essex and Stanton in the early '80's and would have definitely had a problem with them then. Not due to politics but rather poor execution.
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