“Greek Boxer,” Oil on Canvas, 16″ x 16″ 1999

“Hippomenes,” Oil on Canvas, 40″ x 52″

“The Birth of Venus,” Oil on Canvas, 64″ x 36″ 1995

Statement of Intent
The Greek myths embody everything that is timeless about the human experience. They reveal truths and acknowledge mysteries. They survive in the subconscious of Western man to the point that to learn about them is to experience a shock of recognition. They have been a successful vehicle for man’s pursuit of self knowledge for countless generations, which is the reason I have chosen to make yet another interpretation of them through my paintings. Each generation has been inspired to a unique interpretation, and I have tried to present the old myths in a new way, showing all the irony and conflict of the modern world. The figures are contemporary, but the situations are ancient. It is a way of saying,”we are new, but we are old,” “we are young, but we must die”. History continually humbles the arrogance of man. The Greek myths tell us that this is our fate as well as our redemption.

Website
http://johnwoodrowkelley.com/

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Little Swimmer, 20”x30”

Entering Neverywhere, 48”x48”

Artist Statement
This series of oils on canvas and wood panels explores Desire. It examines how the things we lust after gain our interest and how our imaginations process them. Color, movement and light are tools Life uses to attract attention. Emotions run through the landscapes in the form of teardrops. Colorful balls are planets, meteors, and objects to be collected. Here, in the pseudo-sexual circus-world of Neverywhere, one-eyed flowers, myopic slugbunnies and painted women are both the main attractions and the audience as they passively experience the world from the safest place of all – inside their own shells.

Artist Bio
Rick Midler’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries throughout the United States, including the Brooklyn Artists Gym,
The OmniGallery at the UBS Building, The Art Vanguard Gallery and the Premiere Wall at Crew Cuts Space.

In addition, his work is in private and corporate collections, including those of Big Foote Music, Triple Nine Entertainment and Audio Alchemy in Warwick, NY.

Among various other awards, Mr. Midler received an Emmy for a short film which appeared on HBO and honors at The London International Festival. His work as been published in Communication Arts, Creativity Magazine, The One Show Annual and The New York Times.

His artwork and creative direction helped bring the animated M&M’s characters to life. Throughout his commercial career he worked for companies such as FedEx, Pizza Hut and AT&T. Midler also worked with top names in the entertainment business, such as Spike Lee, John Turturro, Ashton Kutcher, Fran Drescher, Roseanne, Megan Mullally, Jack Palance, Stanley Tucci, Elijah Wood, Forest Whitaker and Sydney Pollack.

Rick Midler was born in Clifton, NJ in 1966. He received a B.S. in Visual Communications from University of Delaware in 1988. He currently lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with his wife Samara and son Jude The Dude.

Website
http://www.RickMidler.net

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Metronome, Oil on Wood, 50×60 inches

Approaching Noise (in progress), Oil on Wood, 40×34 inches

Lucas at 3 Months, Graphite on Bristol

Head Study, Oil on Wood, 18×14 inches

Artist Statement

As an expression of his own calculated observation and visual consumption of surrounding environment, introspective glimpses of reality imbue the art of David Jon Kassan. By immersing himself into his subject matter, Kassan is able to infuse his painting with life and realism. Kassan’s direction of realism follows the philosophies emplyed by the Ashcan School of American Realists. Kassan’s influences are varied; citing Robert Henri and John Sloan as his primary influences on philosophy and subject matter. As for style and technique he cites Antonio Lopez Garcia, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline and Clyfford Still as influences as well.

Website

http://davidkassan.com/

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“Honey I Shrunk Red Hook” at Lucky Gallery is a collaboration between Luis Blackaller and Andy Cavatorta, who aim to start a creative discussion about Red Hook, the inhabitants and folklore. The mission of this project is to bring together a diverse mix of members of the Red Hook community to use art and gallery space as communication devices. Blackaller and Cavatorta will create a cardboard model of the streets surrounding Lucky Gallery, and build a collection of photorealistic dolls representing Red Hook dwellers.

“Red Hook has an air of mystery that I can’t find anywhere else in New York,” explains Blackaller. “It feels somewhat uncharted, perhaps separated as it is from the New York comprehensive subway network. When thinking about making art for Red Hook, I immediately feel like using this art as an excuse to get closer to the people in it, and learn about the place from them hopefully helping them learn from each other in the process.”

The closing reception on Saturday, August 29, will feature a short film projected outside the gallery featuring highlights from the opening, the exhibition and interviews. The photorealistic dolls of Red Hook inhabitants will be given to their rightful owners and there will be live music from local musicians. Food and drink will be provided.

August 8th to August 30th, Lucky Gallery
Closing reception on Saturday, August 29, from 6-10 PM

Luis Blackaller is an artist from Mexico city with an interest in culture, technology and media. He graduated with honors as a Mathematician in the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He has worked as a Designer, Art Director and Motion Graphics Artist in the Mexican film industry for 10 years. He recently graduated with a Master of Science Degree at the MIT Media Lab under the mentorship of John Maeda, where he explored online creative social systems and their relationship with artistic expression and communication.

Andy Cavatorta can’t stop making things: robots, bikes, art, music, software and films. Sometimes the robots make more music, the software makes more art and the bikes shoot movies. He is currently developing musical robots and large-scale performances and installation with Ensemble Robot. Cavatorta is currently a graduate student at the MIT Media Lab.

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Wedding, acrylic on canvas, 18×18″

Sid, acrylic on canvas, 16×8″

McCarren Park, acrylic on canvas, 18×18″

Dawn, casein and acrylic on canvas, 8×10″

Artist Biography

I paint because I feel I must urgently create a record. I am cataloging the significant people and scenes in my life. I am consumed by the idea that I have a limited time to express myself, or that I will not remember things the way they are now.

The subjects of my current work are the people in my community. I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and my friends and neighbors are glamorous, interesting and engaging. There is palpable electricity in my world and I want to capture it indelibly.

I paint on canvas using acrylics, casein, mica and gold leaf. I am fascinated with the way the Baroque painters captured extreme contrasts between light and dark using golds and blacks. I am working toward this goal with modern neon, pearl, metallic and mica colors.

I am self taught.

Website

http://www.vanessawatts.com

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“Jiva” 2007, Watercolor on paper, 9″ x 12″

“Water #1″ 2006, Watercolor on paper, 15″ x 8″

“Framed Feet” 2006, Watercolor on paper

Bio

I graduated from Cooper Union in 2004, moved back uptown to my parents house and started a zine/blog about The Upper East Side called The UES Journal. I have worked part-time at Guild & Greyshkul Gallery on and off for the last five years.

Since 2000 I have been making chainmaille jewelry and recently launched a jewelry line called IMK.  I also now maintain a blog about pigeons called The It-Pigeon, and a blog about Vanity Plates.

In 2008 I recorded my second album To Be Good for a Day with Mike Musmanno in DUMBO, Brooklyn.  It will be available on iTunes January 28, 2009.

Music
This song is “Untitled,” from Rebecca Schiffman’s sophomore album “To Be Good for a Day.”

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