This week I had the pleasure of going to three new gallery exhibitions in Nolita, three very different artists but all with a definite vision and unique perspective.
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| Florent, in front of Florent |
My adventure began when I had a chance meeting with the first of the three artists,
Florent Morellet. This fascinating character was the owner of the highly successful Florent, a 24 hour restaurant in the Meatpacking District for 23 years, and a fixture of NYC nightlife in the 80s and 90s. He is also the focus of the documentary "Florent- Queen of the Meat market". The son of one of France's most popular living artists, Francois Morellet, Florent followed his natural inclination towards the arts after the restaurant closed in 2008.
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| One of Florent's Maps |
Always having a passion for maps, he began making in-depth and detailed maps of places and times of his own creation. In his new exhibit "Come Hell or High Water" he displays his works at the multi-level
Christopher Henry Gallery on Elizabeth Street. Focusing on individual cities, he makes small series of intricate maps, showing the effects of over development over time and the effects on the geography. Accompanied by short stories, he creates scenarios of what could potentially happen over time, likening them to the Fall of the Roman Empire and the eventual destruction and redevelopment of a place. His vision is fascinating and he is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. His work will be showing until December 11th.
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| Allen Hirsch, Self-Portrait |
Allen Hirsch is another interesting artist I have had the pleasure of meeting recently. An incredible painter, he is perhaps best known for painting a portrait of Bill Clinton and has had his work displayed at the National Portrait Gallery and throughout the world. What endeared to me is that he had a capuchin monkey, named Benjamin, for 16 years before his passing away in January. He considered Benjamin to be more than a pet, but a friend and companion and he took his departure incredibly hard.
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| Benjamin the Monkey |
In his recent one-day exhibit at the
Storefront for Art and Architecture he honored Benjamin with paintings, a sculpture and videos depicting his old friend. You could tell it was a kind of cathartic night for Mr. Hirsch, a way of saying goodbye and moving forward. His one sculpture of Benjamin was incredible. Over sized, this detailed clay piece illustrated what an amazing artist he is. The videos of Benjamin making his own drawings with pastels were very cute and you could sense the love Mr. Hirsch had for him. Although it was difficult for Mr. Hirsch to say goodbye, he had a smile on his face the whole night and you could tell this was a positive experience for him as we was able to share Benjamin with others. He is working on a book of his collected works and then you too will be able to see the wonder that is
Benjamin!
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| Lichtenstein |
The final exhibit I saw yesterday was a collection of
Jessica Lichtenstein's work, at the
Gallery Nine 5. I have become a fan of this gallery lately, as the works they exhibit are always interesting, innovative and fun. Lichtenstein's show, entitled "Play" is no exception. Focusing on typical erotic anime depictions of women, she juxtaposes those images with messages about materialism and sexuality.
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| One of her Anime Creations |
Her work is not for the faint of heart, as her figurines and wall displays are very graphic, but the humor in which her message comes across make them more whimsical than tastelessly erotic. She pairs a semi-nude figure, seductively straddling a chair at a hair salon, or a nude figure draped backwards across a pilates ball. One of my favorite pieces was a stuffed lounge chair, the print reminiscent of something you would see in a castle, images in blue of trees and Victorian era people on swings, with images of the anime ladies silkscreened throughout. Very clever and interesting. She is showing this collection until December 15th.
Florent Morellet, Allen Hirsch and Jessica Lichtenstein all work with different mediums, their messages varying and their styles on opposite spectrums of the artistic world but you can tell they are all passionate about what they are creating. If you have time in your day, I suggest you stop by the Christopher Henry Gallery and Gallery Nine 5 and see their exhibits. To see more of Benjamin, well, you'll have to wait for the book!
The first is the Mexican restaurant Oaxaca (pronounced Wah-ha-ka) Taqueria. It has opened within the past year and offers authentic cuisine at affordable prices. With their original spots in Brooklyn (one in Park Slope and the other in Cobble Hill) they use organic and sustainable ingredients so the flavors aren't greasy or heavy but taste really fresh and clean. This isn't by any means a proper restaurant, but a place to grab a quick bite at one of their 10 or so tables (both inside and outside) or take something on the run. They didn't serve alcohol as far as I could tell and the ambiance is clean but basic. They also have a $5 burrito that is delicious and filling. Can't beat that!
The newest addition to Extra Place is called Artist Alley in which various artists paint the sidewalks with their individual styles of work. Almost like a yellow brick road guiding you to Oaxaca! Sponsored by FAB NYC, or Fourth Arts Block, a nonprofit organization created to preserve and celebrate the East 4th Street Cultural District, their current pieces are on display until March 18, 2012. 
The area is part of FABnyc's ArtUp which is the organization's utilization of underused spaces, such as parking lots, construction sights and other vacant spaces in an attempt to turn something unattractive into something intriguing. Featuring works by Jon Burgerman, Abe Lincoln Jr, and Ellis Gallagher, these graffiti means cartoon designs are fun and free to peer at.
