Anthony Cudahy paints the remnants of an ephemeral past, utilizing found photographs as source material and preserving the echoes of memory in radiant paintings of oil on canvas.. An exhibition of his recent work, The Gathering, is currently on view through February 12th at The Java Project at 252 Java Street. The exhibition is a beautiful allegory for the impermanence of memory and collective history as examined through personal narrative.
In this exhibition, Cudahy presents two large-scale oil paintings as well as several smaller works. Working with a sourced image found through the online One Archives at the University of California that depicts a gathering of a nameless group of young people at a 70’s queer camping retreat taken by Pat Rocco, Cudahy creates a personal narrative that builds upon the fragments of a history that is rarely at the forefront of our conversation. It is both a timely and important statement on how history can be erased, forgotten or changed, told through Cudahy’s personal narrative. The exhibition opens an important dialogue with the viewers, as queer history is rarely addressed by mainstream media. It is part of a larger conversation that is (excuse the pun) still coming out.
Cudahy brings queer history into the larger context of gender identity, as the figures’ are in numerous ways ambiguous. You can see the transformation and evolution across the exhibition, with Cudahy working on the larger paintings and smaller works on paper concurrently – each influencing the other.
Cudahy paints beautifully. The surface of each work on canvas abounds in texture while his colors fluctuate between the rich darkness of velvet and areas of bright luminescence that appear to be lit from within. Working and reworking the source image, Cudahy takes ownership, transforming and continuously re-defining the meaning of the finished piece. Picking apart the composition, figure by figure to create a rippling, breathing surface of lush color, Cudahy’s utilization of chiaroscuro bears a marked comparison to the canvases of Goya. Like a gathering of spirits, the figures modulate in areas of shadow and light across the larger canvases, while in smaller studies Cudahy repeats certain figures and gestures again and again, capturing new meaning in each iteration.
An essay by Marcelo Gabriel Yáñez, an NYU art history student that has recently been making waves with an article in UK’s Dazed magazine is presented adjacent to the exhibition. A decision that curator Dakota Sica left up to Cudahy, as the Java Project gives as much free reign as possible to its exhibiting artists. In his essay on the Cudahy’s exhibition, Yáñez writes of ephemerality, of re-imagining the original photograph as a queer utopia in a mutable form, able to re-shape the image into something new and imbuing it with meaning that stems from Cudahy’s own experiences.
Greenpointers had the opportunity to speak to Cudahy on these aspects of queer history and gender identity in the show. On describing the original subject of the source material and his approach, Cudahy is straightforward:
AC: I would say it’s closer to gender-ambiguous or gender-fluid than neutral. In the sense these figures exist outside of neat binaries (which anti-identitarian signifies to me) — potentiality and an attempt away from “one-correct-meaning” is something I’m interested in. Formally, painting this image so many times, repeating formations or cropping while dramatically changing the colors of moods is an attempt away from there being one scene being represented.
GP: A lot of your paintings focus on facial features, or gestures, would you consider yourself to be a portrait artist? What interests you the most in working from found photographs?
AC: I wouldn’t say portrait in the sense that I don’t really think I’m getting across the feel or “soul” of the people I’m painting. Maybe “figurative” is a better umbrella? I’ve always worked from photographs, and occasionally, lately painting (like the flower still life that entered one of the paintings in this show), but in this case, there’s also a specific intent on painting from queer history: a past that has been willfully diminished and erased. In a way, I’m arguing that the past is as (or more) malleable and filled with potential as the present/future.
When asked about the significance of the pride flag as described by Yáñez:
AC: The pride flag idea was a very loose association I made, not super concrete. I wanted to make sure those colors that had been bureaucratically taken off were represented, especially since they stood in for magic, art and sex!
It’s no news that Greenpoint is rapidly changing. Amongst the new developments (and closures), the local arts community has witnessed major growth. From the ever-expanding, high-caliber Greenpoint Open Studios, to a popular Friday night drink-n-draw to rival Bushwick’s BatHaus, to a NYTimes shout out of 106 Green on a list of not to be missed galleries – Greenpoint is gaining major traction. Both Cudahy, as well as the Java Project, seem poised at the center of all this momentum – a promising combination that speaks to Greenpoint’s continued shift towards an encompassing arts district. So what are you waiting for? Go see the show before it closes!
Wow, has it been cold or what?! I mean, like, we went straight past Netflix-binge-cold to I-hope-the-delivery-man-doesn’t-freeze-to-death-cold. (Also, I know y’all tip heavy so I won’t even get into that.)
This first week of 2018 hasn’t exactly been very welcoming, what with that bomb cyclone. Trendy storm names, though, so that’s cool!
But we’re past that now, y’all. We made it to the other side. It’s gonna be near 60 degress on Friday! Time to get out there and support your local artist community.
We have a ton of openings happening this week and this weekend, starting tonight, so bundle up and get amongst it!
Opening January 8th and on view through February 3rd, this collaboration between Precious Okoyomon and Hannah Black presents a process of digestion, shitting out, decaying and rebirthing, seeking human-like if not reliably human assistance through playful figuration: teddies, dolls, and creatures both cooked and raw.
I Need Help comprises a disintegrating iteration of Black’s recent solo show at the Chisenhale Gallery in London, Some Context, with works by Okoyomon made in response.
Safe Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of sculptures and drawings by John Newman from the last 35 years. The seed of the exhibition is Newman’s completion of 65 drawings, for his 65 years, while in France in the summer of 2017. Newman thinks of, and titled, these drawings as Developing Old Negatives: Bringing extant images to life again. Some are drawings of existing sculptures from Newman’s 40-year career, some are speculative spaces, and others are ideas for future sculptures. Installed in the gallery’s front room, these drawings provide a roadmap to Newman’s ideas about space, structure and form.
By now you’ve surely noticed the 4-story mural on the building on the corner of Greenpoint and Manhattan Avenue. Completed in late October, painted by Swedish artist Ola Kalnins, the mural covers the entire building facade at 903 Manhattan Ave, which is owned by Peter Kirchhausen.
In a neighborhood that seems to be more and more inundated with advertising (hand-painted or otherwise), it’s damn refreshing to see some art for arts sake.
Funded by the Consulate General of Sweden, the creation of this beautiful mural is documented in this short film. Enjoy!
Christmas is on Monday, y’all. Still looking for that fun, sweet gift for that special someone? Are you also into supporting the local artistic community? If so, then do we have some ideas for you!
Firstly, check out Greenpoint Hill, a cute white box store stocking everything from original paintings to ceramics and jewelry, all hand-made in Brooklyn, including these stoneware “Paper Plates” by Amelia starting at $48.
Greenpoint Then/Now by Julia Wertz, for The New Yorker, now anthologized in Tenements
About Tenaments: “With drawings and comics in her signature style, Wertz regales us with streetscapes “Then and Now” and little-known tales, such as the lost history of Kim’s Video, the complicated and unresolved business of Ray’s Pizza, the vintage trash and horse bones that litter the shore of Brooklyn’s Bottle Beach, the ludicrous pinball prohibition, Staten Island’s secret abandoned boatyard, and the hair-raising legend of the infamous abortionist of Fifth Avenue, Madame Restell.”
Pins! Everyone loves pins! And Brooklyn’s own Pintrill, with a storefront at Grand and Driggs, offers a crazy selection of pins: emjois, cartoon characters, catchphrases… they got everything for that pin-wearing lover of yours. They even have unique, vintage pins from NASA and the Olympics, ya know, if you’re into that sort of thing.
And so, fret not my young procrastinators. There are plenty of gifts available at local purveyors. Support local artists, support local businesses! And Happy Holidays, y’all!
Featuring over 100 works of art by over 30 artists, each piece is priced at $300 or less. Some works are priced as low as $40 and mediums include sculpture, photography, painting, printmaking, drawing, and collage.
CALICORNUCOPIA 6 at Calico Gallery Dec 8 – 17, 2017 OPENING PARTY: Dec 8, 7-10pm
For more information and a list of contributing artists, visit CalicoBrooklyn.com.
Ok guys, this weekend is the last weekend before holiday madness… Thanksgiving is Thursday! Then it’s just holiday parties, and office shindigs, and family dinners… and that’s 2017, folks!
A solo show featuring a new body of sculptural and installation work by Aimée Burg on view in the Main Gallery of Slag from November 17th to December 22nd, 2017.
Greenpoint’s beloved Calico Gallery, a 250vsq.ft. artist-run exhibition space at 67 West Street, is now accepting proposals for their 2018 exhibition year.
Operated by Founder and Director, Scott Chasse, an artist and arts organizer with over ten years experience, Calico’s mission is to present emerging, mid-career, and non-career artists in a venue that offers “white cube” presentation with a DIY approach. Exhibits typically run 4-6 weeks and are not reliant on commercial sales. Open gallery hours are Fridays & Saturdays, 12-5pm and by appointment.
There is no fee to apply and submissions are due by midnight, December 20th, 2017.
ART OPENING: Toxic Gardens Featuring works by Caroline Larsen, Christian Little, Jack Henry, Sarah Weber, Sarah Zapata
at Greenpoint Terminal Gallery 67 West St., Suite 320 Opening reception: Friday, July 21 (7pm-10pm) July 21st – Aug. 25th Curated by Brian Willmont & Alison Sirico
Greenpoint Terminal Gallery is pleased to present a group show evocative of the season, including work from five artists – Caroline Larsen, Christian Little, Jack Henry, Sarah Weber and Sarah Zapata. Entitled Toxic Gardens, the exhibition embodies traits of a secret garden—a space that is secluded, paradisiacal, entangled in foliage—abundant in layers and depth. The artists in the show are united by an interest to intermix materials and subjects not traditionally tied. Continue reading →
Much of Greenpoint’s magic and mystery lies off the beaten path… beyond Manhattan Avenue, the “other side” of McGuinness, in the shadow of the BQE… this is where the artists thrive, where you’re free to make and create. Ultimately, it’s these nooks and crannies that make Greenpoint such a creative center.
Don’t be afraid to make the trip and meet these GOS artists!
This building may be a bit off the beaten path but worth making the trip. Visit Erin Lynn Welsh (image above), or any of the other two-dozen participating artists in the building.
There are over 400 Greenpoint artists participating in this year’s Greenpoint Open Studios. Thank you, and congrats, Greenpoint!
While we encourage everyone attending to explore and wander among the studios all weekend, we wanted to put together a few suggested routes, roughly 1 mile each, that could help you navigate the neighborhood, or at least have a launch point!
Starting in McCarren Park with the participating artists of the Go Green! festival, this self-guided walk takes you through and around the park, visiting artist studios on and near Manhattan Avenue before concluding with a special musical performance at The Lot Radio and the San Damiano Mission…
I make leather handbags, clothing, and hand painted textiles – all influenced by the high end designers I have worked for in the past and the rock and roll spirit of the 1970’s in New York City. Love combining leather, lace, and fringe in not so overtly feminine ways.
