NYC-based photographer/multidisciplinary artist Avery J. Savage is hosting [EVERYTHINGISM], a solo exhibit of his work today and tomorrow at Chiro-fit, 432 E. Ninth St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.
It is unusual to uncover an artist of his pedigree for which so little is publicly known after establishing himself amidst the visual arts most notable institutions. Shostak cloistered himself in his downtown loft relentlessly working and opting for a less mainstream practice. This exhibition is the first look at many of his late works.For those who are interested in reconsidering the parallel arcs of art history, examining and expanding the boundaries of the established canon of Post War art, Shostak's work will be a revelation. His work addressed so many of the known formal and conceptual concerns from that period, but through a queer lens.Eventually, he abandoned convention, favoring a more expansive view of the possibilities that an artist's practice could include by embracing a queer social practice and advocacy for the transgender community.This presentation is not a retrospective of his artwork but is comprised of completed sculptural works, drawings, studies, performance, documentary images and films to illustrate and map two key aspects and threads of continuity throughout Ed Shostak's artistic career and life.While the imagery may have changed over the decades, the exhibition is organized to map these threads regardless of the subject matter, form or media. In fact, it becomes apparent that his personal life and art practice were inextricable — one and the same — and ultimately, the artist became both the subject and the art.Shostak had gone full circle from his childhood performances in the family living room to navigating the art world as a gay man and then to activism and politics to become not only his alter ego, but to be himself— transgender.
"I was bringing someone their lunch [one day] and just marveling over the fact that my mom made me school lunches everyday," said Olah, 30. "I stopped and thought, 'Wow, my mom made me lunch every day, not only when I was younger but until high school.' That is a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."
Inspired to "exercise empathy" for her mother, Olah began the task of making the same number of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in five days...
"The Oracle of the Past, Present and Future" (2015) consists of geometric interlocking parts of steel, wood and glass elements that stands about 12 feet high with a magnificent steel dome and designed for Tompkins Square Park …"
@evgrieve did you see the shrine the rats built? pic.twitter.com/3WKv662lD3
— EdenBrower (@edenbrower) June 5, 2015
To kick off Lower East Side History Month, we are pleased to present Punks, Losers, Screw-Ups & Goofballs, an exhibition of the LES Art of Cliff Mott. The opening reception will take place tonight from 6-10 with the prime LES cuts of DJ Joe McGinty, founder and director of the Loser’s Lounge.
Drawn by it’s Punk buzz, Mott spent many formative hours of his youth roaming the Lower East Side of the late 70s/early 8’s. This is where he came into contact with musicians who needed band flyers, promotional art, stickers, t-shirts & record sleeves. He has maintained many of these early relationships and continues to produce images for bands like the Fleshtones, Dictators and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
In the LES Mott met many fellow comics obsessives, which eventually led to his being named art director at Cracked magazine where he spent over a decade. This is also where he came into contact with countless artists, writers, and editors that led to work for the New York Post, Screw, Penthouse and Marvel Entertainment. The exhibition showcases Mott’s antic drawings and comics, each with its own maniacal story to tell.
