ArtCall Diary - Entry 6/22/2000
Redesigning the Redesign
The ArtCall share had to be redesigned a second time. The blank shares
had many imperfections. Many different designs would come in on the shares
and the artists needed all the space they could to work with. Off to Philadelphia,
and a visit to M. Burr Keim Co. on Arch Street it was. Passing through
our conceptual namesake, Levittown, we snapped off this picture from the
train door as the train briefly stopped there.
Wednesday
dawned hot and muggy as we first dashed off to the Con Ed payment place
on 304 E.19th Street. We got in and out in no time flat and made our way
off to Penn Station for the 10am train to Philly. We were glad that headquarters
would not be ransomed anymore and the the ArtCall itself could now safely
be conducted. We now have to see how the story unfolds so that all of the
art properly gets processed into shares.
It was off to M. Burr Keim Company on Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia.
I was greeted by Charles Kyle. Charles was very helpful is doing the best
he could to help the ArtCall get its shares redesigned right. They added
the legalese that had to be in the shares and refonted and styleized the
shares. His supervisor was a bit concerned that we were using the shares
as advertising, however it wasn't the case, and when the ArtCall was explained
to him he became at ease. We made arrangements to get the shares Next Day
Fed-Ex'd back to us and to get a fax proof the next day. I left M. Burr
Keim much happier this time around. Normally the Keim Co. folks only deal
with attorneys and secretaries and the like, so our presence must have
made their day. We also stopped by Mellon Bank at 15th and Market Street.
We couldn't get any money out as our checks were stuck in Follin Gallery
and we can't use a counter check there.
We took the SEPTA back from Philly and to our dismay the zipper on the
Streaming Media East 2000 bag came undone. (We had been warned). And as
my ID and credit cards all came spilling out on the floor. I think I lost
a gas credit card at that time. We got back into New York just in time
for the CBGB 313 gallery opening. We found Ron English packing his work
up from the last show. He reported that he has sold some of the work, but
that his Jesus Christ series wasn't accepted well.
We saw some sunny artwork by Mark Dancey, titled "ecstatic Scapegoat" at
the CB's affair, found Danny Hellman in attendance as usual, ad saw an
interesting untitled phone sign by Tristan Eaton. Calmx came by to join
in the festivities.
The
lovely Diane Sbano, formerly of the 505 Broadway building stable of artists,
checked in with this report on the current state of affairs. She has found
a space down in TriBeCa down on Franklin Street. She only had a 90 day
notice to get herself moved out. Anna Lascari was the only one she knew
of that had gotten a longer stay of execution at the Broadway space. She
also wanted to send her regards to Graham Osborne, who wasn't in attendance
that fine evening. Ms. Sbano was also gallery hopping with Greg Rem from
the TriBeCa area.
Calmx and I padded up The Bowery to get a slice at St. Mark Pizza on St.
Marks and 3rd Ave. It was a slice 'that could not be beat'. Clayton checked
in via cell phone and wanted me to come over and see his guru
friend. Clayton showed him the ArtCall Diary hard copy. It was then
over to the Pink Pony to see who of the usual suspects were there. We found
Finnegan and his friend Susan on their way to the Collective Unconscious
open reading, and Jamie Lavender dashing in and out with a foreign friend.
We waited out the rain, as it had started raining when we arrived, and
finally went home to dreamland.
On Thursday, the proof fax for the redesigned share had arrived. And
we found Heidi Follin, reading a very colorful letter, as we arrived at
Kostabi World to get the fax and approve the certificate. The ever cheerful
Miss Follin also told us that the checks for Webbittown had arrived, and
that we could get them at Follin
Gallery later on in the day. The stock certificate itself was acceptable
and we called Charles, from M. Burr Keim, and approved the copy. He said
we would likely get the shares themselves on Monday, Tuesday at the latest.
Back to headquarters it was, and a visit from Paul Kostabi, who pledged
an artwork for the ArtCall headquarters wall. We began editing up this
diary entry in earnest until 6pm.
Gallery opening time came and it was off to Willoughby Sharp Gallery at
558 Broome Street. But to our surprise it was completely closed when we
got there. Willoughby had moved and not told anyone. (or at least us) We
dogged our way up to Alleged Gallery, ar 904 Washington Street, to visit
the much hyped show.
Thomas Campbell and another Japanese artist were doing a double bill. We
like this work above entitled "Where's the Grass?", an enamel on canvas
work. Campbell also has work permanently up at Max Fish over on 178 Ludlow
Street. The opening had the feel of 'Ludlow Street North' to it.
A huge throng had gathered outside the sweltering gallery. You couldn't
stay inside for any great length of time as the heat was so high. Fashion
made its statement in the hot summer nite. It was a 3 Coca-Cola nite it
was that hot out.
Harry Druzd checked in late. It was a smart thing as it was just too hot
in and outside. Harry, as a barkeep over at Max Fish on Ludlow Street,
has compiled a huge assortment of fans and friends. Laura Forde, of Weiden
& Kennedy Agency, is one of those folks. We had a great time learning
about her shop. We traded biz cards and will visit each other some time
in the coming days. ABC No Rio star
Ed Hush, was in deep conversation with Arthur Arbit from The
State of Art Gallery in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn.
The pretty Kathryn of Tiara-Misu was spotted holding down the stairs inside
the gallery. As we struck up a conversation outside she revealed that she
does a lot of trade shows and isn't in New York a lot of the time. They
make all kinds of tiaras and costume jewelry. As the night began to fall,
the working 'girls' of the area began to make their appearance in the meat
packing district. We loved this one's stylish giraffe trimmed outfit.
As I departed the gallery up Gansevoort Street, I noticed the sign for
hell. I wondered what would happen to me if I wound up in hell,
but I thought better of the idea and went off to visit DJdotcom. DJ was
busy mixing down the latest California tracks from Poshboy Studio West.
We also noticed a little tiny collaborative work by Calmx and Paul Kostabi
featured below.
Next Issue: A pitch to 'elevator' country. Dodging illiquidity.
Jottings: The ArtCall at Clayton Performance Space 161 Essex
6/30 7:30-9, No Rio Benefit/Open House 156 Rivington 6/24 all day, Eve
Packer Knitting Factory 6/25 8-10, Cook Gecko Cook Collective Unconscious
145 Ludlow 6/25 8-11, Tsaurah Litzky ABC No Rio 6/25 7-9, National Arts
Club 15 Gramercy Park South 6/28 6:30-9, Tony Shafrazi Gallery 119 Wooster
6/29 6-8, Montserrat Gallery 584 B'way 6/29 6-8, Wide Open Cabaret ABC
No Rio 6/30 8-2, David Deporis Pink Pony 6/30 9-11, KatKitty's 3D Camera
Cabaret 6/29 to 7/2 all day, PS 1 Queens 7/2 12-6, 4th of July Fireworks
East River 8:30-10, Kim Foster Gallery 529 W 20 St 7/6 6-8, Tribes Gallery
3rd and C 7/6 6-9, Deepdale Gallery 248 1/2 Broome 7/7 8-12, 303 Gallery
7/8 6-8, Harry Druzd 303 Gallery 525 W 22 St. 9/7 6-8, All times PM unless
otherwise noted.
photos ©carol braddock aka red ed
Artwork Permission of Webbittown Corporation, Alleged
Gallery, CBGB's 313 Gallery
artwork©Calmx, Paul Kostabi, Tristan Eaton, Thomas
Campbell, M. Burr Keim Co, Mark Dancey
ArtCall Archives
ZZZNEWSLETTERSIGNUP1ZZZ
ZZZCHATSTAT1ZZZ
.