Friday, March 22, 2013

Haiti Contemporary Artists Showcase

Raynald Leconte mounted a stellar pop up exhibition on 2nd Avenue near 60th Street with some of Haiti's best artists: Mario Benjamin, Prefete Duffaut, Frantz Zephirin, Sebastien Jean, Dubreus Lherisson, David Boyer, Mirlande Constant, a series of Voodoo flags by Georges Valris, Yves Thelemaque, Onel, Edy Jacques, Killy and Cheby. Head of the Haitian Cultural Foundation (raynald@haitianculturalfoundation.org) Raynald is a fount of information about Haiti and Haitian art in general.
This exhibition was the diamond among a lot of stones during the Armory. Here we had a range of work that was full of surprise, delight and spirituality. If only we could have more pop ups that are full with energy like this exhibition, not beaten down by the market and boring  as are most of what we see in commercial galleries and art fairs these days.
Consider this one artist, Frantz Zephirin, to understand the range of work that was on view (and still can be seen through private viewings arranged by Leconte). 

Frantz Zephirin


Frantz Zephirin




Frantz Zephirin


Frantz Zephirin


Frantz Zephirin
In addition to paintings, there were flags, assemblage, collage and sculpture. Look at this video, narrated by the musician Annie Lennox, to get an idea of what you missed, and what you can still experience if you get in touch with Raynald Leconte at the email address above.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Gravey Daham: So Glad he is my friend

Listen to the new tracks that are coming out of the man who I once described as the Nabokov of music lyric writing. With a raw freshness that smells better than teen spirit, I think we all have something to look forward to in the art of this still revealing himself genius.
https://soundcloud.com/gravey-daham
Gravey Daham, the Artist's working name, is a play on that of folk guitar extraordinaire Davey Graham.
The line drawings that accompany the songs are in and of themselves an exhibition waiting to happen:





Images Courtesy of the Artist Gregory Mirzayantz


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Y'All Put It Together, a new film series at the Gene Frankel Theater



Beez And Honey, Poppington & Only Popcorn present “Y’All Put It Together”, a new series of films and discussions at Gene Frankel Theater. The series unspools with a screening of the urban drama “Paid In Full,” on Tuesday, March 26th at 7:00pm followed by a Q&A with Producer Damon Dash. Doors open at 6:00pm. 
“Paid in Full” marks the feature debut of director Charles Stone III, who rose to fame after creating Budweiser's "Wassup" commercials. The urban gangster drama is loosely based on the true story of 1980s Harlem drug kingpins AZ, Rich Porter, and Alpo. (This story was also the basis for a documentary, Game Over (Part 1).) Ace (Wood Harris) works at a laundromat, struggling to get by, while his friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) lives the high life selling heroin. His sister's boyfriend, Calvin (Kevin Carroll) also sells drugs, and looks down on Ace for struggling to earn a living. Out delivering laundry one day, Ace meets Lulu (Esai Morales), a big time coke dealer, who lives better than anyone Ace has ever known. When Lulu leaves some coke in the pocket of a coat he's having cleaned, Ace returns it to him, and Lulu rewards him for his honesty by letting him keep the drugs. When Calvin gets busted, Ace hesitantly takes his place in the neighborhood, and starts working for Lulu. As the crack business takes off, Ace finds himself making more money than he knows what to do with. Mitch goes to jail for a short time, where another inmate, Rico (rapper Cam'ron in his acting debut), defends him in a fight. By the time Mitch gets out of prison, Ace is running the neighborhood. Ace makes Mitch his right-hand man, and when Rico gets out of jail, he joins the crew. The drugs and money flow, and Ace tries to keep everyone happy, but there are some who want what's his, and will stop at nothing to get it. “Paid in Full” was shown at the 2002 Urbanworld Film Festival.
Beverages will be served and attendees can view a screening of the Art Film, “The Art of Nothing,” directed by Derrick B. Harden. “Y’ALL PUT IT TOGETHER” is a series of films curated by Gail Thacker, Nicollette Ramirez and Derrick B. Harden. Additional titles in the film series will be announced.
Tickets are available at the Gene Frankel Theater Box Office, located at 24 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012, (212) 777-1767 or genefrankeltheatre@gmail.com and will be $20 at the door. For press inquiries onlypopcorninfo@gmail.com or info@beezandhoney.com

 



Friday, March 8, 2013

Maria Kreyn: A Contemporary Classicist

The artist in her studio
Maria's paintings have the weight of art history behind them, both in style and content, but with the 21st Century awareness of multiple dimensionality, and of the spirit, the aura, being visible to those who have the eyes to see it.

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The artist with Derrick B Harden at the exhibition "Incarnations"
 Go see her work in this group exhibition "Incarnations" at the Highline Loft.



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www.mariakreyn.com
Go see her in Chelsea
@The Highline Loft
508 W 26th st. 5th floor
the show will run from March 7-11, gallery hours 12-6pm