Happy to have a couple of adscapes in a group show at Pelavin Gallery that opens this evening. 13 Jay Street in Tribeca 6-8pm. Hope to see some friendly faces there. It's up through early September. Here is the press release:Pelavin Gallery is proud to announce a group exhibition of gallery artists depicting their reflections on the metropolis. With this premise, this show seeks to present a collection of works which examine contemporary urban life and the future prospect of civilization. A variety of mediums will be shown—painting, photography, drawing and collage—and several gallery artists represented, including: Ivaylo Gueorgiev, Steven Katzman, Amy Park, Scott Pasfield, Bruce Richards and Mark Safan.
In his essay, Childe Harold's Pilgramage (1812-18), Lord Byron states: There is the moral of all human tales; 'Tis but the same rehearsal of the past. First freedom and then Glory—When that fails, wealth, vice, corruption—barbarism at last. And History, with all her volumes vast, hath but one page.
Throughout history, the metropolis has been represented in celebration for its significances and simultaneously in critique for its downfalls. This is recognizable in Thomas Cole’s series of paintings The Course of Empire (1833-36), which depicts the growth and fall of an imaginary city. Cole’s series of paintings reflect popular American sentiments of the times, by emphasizing the fear of ‘The Empire’ leading to gluttony and inevitable decay.
Contemporary daily media coverage suggests that our own culture struggles to balance itself between ‘The Consummation’ and ‘The Destruction’ of our own empire(s): Quake causes Haiti's palace to crumble—Haiti's middle class shaken into poverty… Afghan peace gathering continues despite Taliban attack… Toxic chemicals finding way into the womb… Anger gushes as BP gets bashed—BP's chief is apologetic… Kidnapped daughter found on Facebook… Russell Brand just wants to love you… Taxi driver ‘watched friend shot in face’… Mystery water creature biting kids…
Combining such subject matters as vandalism, found pornographic materials, architectural icons, sexualized advertisements, street riots and city sky-scapes, this exhibition attempts to document the celebration and simultaneous critique of urban life by providing a group of work that documents the natural and fabricated landscape of the contemporary metropolis, while also illuminating the injustices of the current social scene.
For more information please contact the gallery at 212.925.9424 or gallery@pelavingallery.com
Pelavin Gallery 13 Jay Street New York NY 10013
