GO SEE - Alina Szapocznikow @ the HAMMER on view now through 4.29.

 

Alina Szapocznikow: Sculpture Undone, 1955–1972 is the first museum survey in the United States devoted to this Polish artist. The exhibition brings to light the extraordinary oeuvre of Alina Szapocznikow, one of the most significant yet lesser known sculptors of the 20th century. At the core of Szapocznikow’s art is the ephemeral condition of life and the human body. Her work oscillates between permanence and impermanence, from carvings in Carrara marble to the precarious assemblages of lips and breasts cast in polyester resin. The exhibition includes approximately 60 sculptures and 50 works on paper, as well as a poignant group of photographic works, demonstrating the tremendous range and scope of Alina Szapocznikow’s art.

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Art Review - Mike D Curates Transmission LA : AV CLUB @ The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA

I wanted to check out the temporary "pop-up" art event Transmission:AV Club at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Little Tokyo mainly for the involvement of Koji truckmaster Roy Choi (as I BLOGGED PREVIOUSLY). I mean, sure I like art, and having previously worked with Mike D, I knew he'd put together something interesting, but Choi being involved as a fellow "artist" was what intrigued me. But when I got there earlier this evening and saw the typically annoying caste system of admission--yes, it was FREE, but the regular public had to wait until literally HUNDREDS of invitees (of the artists, the museum, sponsors Mercedes-Benz and probably everyone Mike D ever shook hands with) got in first. Which meant a whole lot more were left behind barricades.
 
I was about to bolt when I saw Choi at the head of the human corral making sure anyone he knew could get in--and that people would stay to get his food. I snapped this pic and then said hello and I guess he remembered I was one of the first to blog about the Kogi truck WAY BACK WHEN, and he slipped me a "VIP" wristband. Since I was honestly just there to see his part of things, I didn't feel bad about "pulling weight." But once I got in, and saw more "food people" than I expected (Caryll Chin, Picca Chef Ricardo Zarate) I ended up checking out the whole thing, and I have to say, it's very cool. Unfortunately, at least at the moment, the food aspect is a bit disappointing. There are two Kogi trucks, putting out a very limited menu of tacos (one per person) – one by line, one by passing servers – and a completely unimpressive, ordinary event bar. Maybe that will change as the installation progresses. I hope so. Choi also contributed some art, and will be DJing.


I'm not an art critic (well, not certified or anything), but in general I would say the majority of the art was very 'pop' and more about visual effect and aesthetic than message or craft. I can hear Mike's voice echoing from our Grand Royal magazine days "It's all about the highbrow lowbrow." But the music was great, the installations, haphazardly collected inside the warehouse-like space, are fun, and I have to say, it's odd how many incredibly tall women are interested in art!

The Mercedes sponsorship aspect was handled in somewhat clever ways, to varying levels of artistic merit. Hanging over the 'restaurant' communal tables was a huge rapper-style Mercedes logo on a chain. In the rear-most gallery was a darkened room with a new Mercedes model in it, atmospheric lighting, surrounded by headphones playing some dubstep by AdRock. The installation was credited to Mike. When you think of the cleverness and artistry of a lot of European advertising at its best...I think this aspect could have been more successful achieved.

I'm not sure, but I think Mike's management associate Shelby Meade might also have been part of the endorsement deal, being that she was oddly wearing a large Mercedes crest around her neck over a goldie sort of  baggy dress. Perhaps that was a compromise for her not getting the logo tattooed on her forehead. I really wish that folks had stormed the barricades. That would've made the event far more interesting. Alas, this is  SoCal, not France.
- Eric Gladstone @ 'Now I'm Hungry'


Transmission LA: AV Club
April 20th – May 6th
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
125 N. Central Avenue, LA

   

   

P.S. In case you're curious about my Grand Royal involvement, here's an interview about that on fansite Beastiemania.com.

1978 Musical STONEY ISLAND at American Cinematheque April 24

STONY ISLAND

1978, 97 min, USA, Dir: Andrew Davis

A tribute to Chicago’s South Side with: Saxophone legend Gene Barge, Richard Davis, Edward 'Stoney' Robinson, George Englund, Ronnie Barron, Rae Dawn Chong, Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), Dennis Franz, Meshach Taylor, Oscar Brown Jr. and many more of Chicago’s finest musicians and actors. Original score by David Matthews featuring David Sanborn. Filmed on the gritty streets of Chicago’s south side, STONY ISLAND tells the story of Richie Bloom (Richie Davis), the only white kid on the block, as he forms an R&B band with his best friend, Kevin (Edward “Stoney” Robinson). With the help of their mentor, aging sax legend Percy (Gene "Daddy G" Barge), they pull together a funky supergroup, stealing practice time at night in the local funeral home. Despite few resources and heavy losses this resilient group of dedicated musicians - armed only with wit, sleight of hand and outrageous Chicago bravado - must come together to finally make their smash debut.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 7:30 pm.

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'MARLEY' (one week run!) @ CINEFAMILY Starts Friday 4.20.

From Kevin Macdonald (director of Touching The Void and The Last King of Scotland) comes the definitive doc portrait of one of pop music’s greatest icons. Exhaustively researched, Marley abandons hagiography in order to dig down into the inner core of the story — and to dissolve your own pre-conceived notions of Marley the man. As he speaks to not only the major living players of the Marley-era Jamaican music scene (like Lee “Scratch” Perry, Jimmy Cliff and Bunny Wailer), but also to Marley’s voluminous family members, Macdonald achieves a revelatory depiction of one of the most epic human stories of the 1970s — one full of Bob’s many mistresses and baby mamas, a childhood stint in Delaware (!) and even a near-successful assassination attempt on his life. And to top it off, it’s full of killer rare performance footage, from the Wailers’ first UK TV appearance, to the impossible moment when Marley yanked warring Jamaican politicos on both sides of the party divide onstage during a benefit concert (think Dubya and Obama high-fiving in front of a stadium crowd, and you’ve got some idea of how crazy it is.)

No matter whether you’re a casual observer or a hardcore fan — this film will touch you. In addition to our premiere screening of Marley, our opening night party features an all-nighter movie marathon including Rockers (the 1977 Jamaican version of The Bicycle Thief) and the Peter Tosh doc Stepping Razor: Red X! -

Dir. Kevin MacDonald, 2012, 35mm, 145 min.

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