F.Galindo-Rescue (Not)

Over at the Mark Miller Gallery on Orchard, check out Felipe Galindo’s show “No Man Is a Desert Island,” a collection of  about 50 whimsical cartoons from Galindo’s newly released book of the same title. The artist uses watercolor, ink on paper and digital media to play with the viewer—using various send-ups and gags that are guaranteed to spark a wry smile or two.

F.Galindo-No Man is a Desert Island

The Mexican-born Galindo’s work may be familiar to you; it has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Reader’s Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Mad, Nickelodeon and Barron’s, along with British pubs like Private Eye, Oldie, The Spectator and Prospect. Apart from cartoons, the award-winning artist is also known for illustrations, animations, fine art and public art. Find a series of fun animations at Galindo’s website. Through June 30

At Feature, Alan Wiener’s multi-leveled sculptures are endlessly intriguing as the viewer attempts to determine how they were created and assembled. The complex structures evidently began as liquids before turning to masses.

The sculptures appear as stacked clay forms, sort of like tinker-toy formations with a bit more stability–intricate layer balanced upon layer. The viewer is invited to probe the intricate designs which make a rather strong statement.

Todd Chilton-Double Kite-Feature

Also at Feature, is Todd Chilton’s “Steady,” a tightknit series of colorful geometric abstracts that are full of texture–so much so you want to touch them. The geometric patterns in these multi-hued works throw off mesmerizing optical illusions that keep the viewer in their thrall.

The artist is said to layer hand drawn patterns onto the canvas that result in imperfections in the handcrafted patterns. Of his work, Chilton says, “I want to create images that convey at once a sense of ambiguity, purposefulness, and humor. At times they have a sense of openness on one hand and resistance on the other. I am interested in what happens in the middle.” Through June 30.

Opening June 21: “Anthem: A Song of Celebration” at Strange Loop Gallery on 27 Orchard St. Drop by the opening of this group show celebrating “independence and endless possibilities”.  The evening also features a performance by Shane Shane and the release of his latest video “Fag”.  From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gallery hours Wed.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured Gallery Picks

Mark Miller Gallery/ 92 Orchard St./ 212-253-9479; Tues.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Feature/ 131 Allen St./ 212.675.7772; Wed.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

TLD contributor Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer and former resident of the Lower East Side who delights in the neighborhood’s eclectic pleasures. A regular reader of The Lo-Down, her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. Visit her website at www.tobielkin.com.

Lily-Ellen Jong

You can always count on Allegra LaViola Gallery for unusual work that gets people chattering. So expect no less from the gallery’s latest show The Invisible Line, a solo exhibition of new work by Ellen Jong curated by Mr. and Mrs. Amani Olu. Also, consider the fact that many of the photographs included in the show appeared in Jong’s book “Getting To Know My Husband’s Cock”.

With that piece of information squared away, we should also note that Ellen isn’t related to the writer Erica Jong (“Fear of Flying”) or Erica’s daughter, the writer Molly Jong-Fast.

Cockatoos, Ellen Jong

The show embraces photography, video and poetry to document how Jong recalls falling in love over a four-year period leading up to her wedding day. The work is based on snapshots that depict interior moments and emotions that are often hard to express and even harder to categorize.

Carnal Script Page 39-Ellen Jong

Interspersed among the photographs are poems that take the viewer deeper into the multilayered process of falling in love. The intimate writings seem to demand just as much of the viewer’s attention as the photographs, perhaps more.

Fruit on the Beach-Ellen Jong

The show also features Naked Beach Day, a video of Jong and her husband at the beach. It captures the couple’s interactions—laughing, kissing and playing. Of the work, Jong is quoted as saying: “There is an invisible line that lies between my body and my mind. It withholds my deepest beliefs, fears, curiosities and desires. It is there to protect me. It is there to tell others where I stand, what is mine and why I am. In falling in love, I lost sight of my invisible line and I let it go. Love breaks down walls and sets you free.” Has Jong gilded the lily? Stop by and see for yourself.

The artist invited guests at the opening last night to write on pieces of paper which she will release from balloons on June 19. The idea is for participants to let go of an emotion and explore a journey in self-discovery with the artist. Through July 7.

Notable: Stop into Forever & Today to see Anaranja, a funky commissioned installation by Claudia Peña Salinas. On view through June 10.

Opening: June 6: Opening receptions from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Michael Eade’s The Wild Apple Forest, landscapes inspired by the real Wild Apple Forest in Kazakhstan in Gallery 1 at Lesley Heller WorkSpace, at 54 Orchard,  and Three Colorists in Gallery 2, curated by Michael Walls with Alan Kleiman, Eozen Agopian and Diane Mayo.

Opening: June 7: Dacia Gallery at 53 Stanton St. presents Virtu, a show by sculptor  Natalie Tyler, opening reception June 7 from  6 p.m. to 10  p.m. Artist talk at 7:30 p.m. In Virtu, Tyler finds inspiration from nature’s transformations and explores the beauty in things that are otherwise forgotten. Objects become poetic symbols to describe deeper senses of being.

Featured Gallery Picks

Allegra Viola Gallery/ 179 East Broadway/ 917.463.3901; Summer hours through Aug. 3: Tues.-Fri. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Forever & Today/ 141 Division St./ 646.455.1744; Thurs.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

TLD contributor Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer and former resident of the Lower East Side who delights in the neighborhood’s eclectic pleasures. A regular reader of The Lo-Down, her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. Visit her website at www.tobielkin.com.

Half Gallery features the art of Wes Lang in “Here Comes Sunshine,” a fun collection that draws on a variety of influences including tattoo art and motorcycle culture. Ominous references to impending death are plentiful as are nods to the highly sexualized female form.

The paintings appear as incredibly annotated documents, offering a detailed glimpse into Lang’s very busy subconscious.

There’s a lot to read in these works—messages written directly onto the paintings—that offer plenty for us to ponder. For example, “Everything is not enough” and “Pick a Place to Fly Away.”  Non-sequiturs? Aphorisms for daily living?  Take what you wish from them. The works are thought-provoking, thoroughly absorbing and a joy to experience. Through June 22.

Klaus von Nichtssgard Gallery presents a show of new works by Donna Chung. “Cloud Hem” is Chung’s second solo show and features several wall pieces and sculptures made from paper, wood, metal, and found objects.

When asked what a “cloud hem” is in an interview provided by the gallery, Chung responded it “marks the endgame of nomenclature. …The title of a show feels like such a weight of a decision that it’s best to leave it a little up to chance, or various inputs, or a friend and a computer.”

Maybe so, though it hardly seems Chung left anything to chance in the calculated works presented in this show. The works carry a formalism and precision that belie the whimsy she expressed in her explanation of the show’s name. Nevertheless, the works are striking and elegant in their simplicity of form. Hurry: This one is on view through June 3.

Noted: Strange Loop Gallery’s “Renaissance,” a collection of kitschy ephemera that includes cute bunny rabbits, household items, along with stark and whimsical photo portraits runs through June 6.

Featured Gallery Picks

Klaus von Nichtssagend/ 54 Ludlow St./ 212.777.7756; Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Half Gallery/ 208 Forsyth St./ Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment.

Strange Loop Gallery/ 27 Orchard St. between Canal and Hester/ 646.410.2083 or 347.963.3881; Wed.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

TLD contributor Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer and former resident of the Lower East Side who delights in the neighborhood’s eclectic pleasures. A regular reader of The Lo-Down, her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. Visit her website at tobielkin.com.

Ryan McGinness-Women: Blacklight Paintings and Sculptures. Photo by Stephen P. Smith.

If you’re a fan of blacklight paintings, head over to Charles Bank Gallery where Ryan McGinness debuts a brilliant solo exhibition called Women: Blacklight Painting and Sculptures. The colorful fluorescent works are truly eye-popping and magnetic. Trust me—they’re mesmerizing. The blacklight paintings feature sculptural elements that incorporate drawings from McGinness’ sketch process.

Artist Ryan McGinniss. Photo by Stephen P. Smith.

The artist is well-known for his graphic drawings that draw upon the visual language of public signage, corporate logos and contemporary iconography. The resulting works look akin to printmaking process.

For the current show, McGinness drew continuously based on live models, and then iteratively refined the drawings into iconic shapes and forms.  Through June 30.

gilf! / To Tehran with Love.

Wander over to Hendershot Gallery on Chrystie St. where there’s a group exhibition dubbed (Re)Print that opens today. The show not only presents the work of more than a dozen street artists including Anthony Lister, ASVP, Chris Stain, Clown Soldier, Gaia, gilf!, Icy & Sot, Imminent Disaster, Judith Supine, Know Hope, Labrona, Other and Paul Insect, but transforms the gallery into a print shop and project space.

Along with the exhibition, the gallery has invited a group of artists to create temporary, site-specific installations at an as-yet undisclosed location which will be open to the public during the summer. Check the gallery’s website for more information on these events. The secret location element, according to the gallery, is in keeping with the experience that many of us have when, much to our delight, we accidentally  stumble upon street art.

ASVP / Black-Gold Glitter Balaclava.

(Re)Print seeks to create a connection between street artists’ public work and their print work. Printmaking enables street artists to reproduce their work and make it even more accessible to the public. Even when we don’t know street artists by name, their designs and motifs become familiar and help popularize them.

Icy & Sot / Kids Fight.

The works on view throughout the show’s 12-week run will rotate. Through August 15.

Featured Gallery Picks

Charles Bank Gallery/ 196 Bowery at Spring St./ 212.219.4095; Wed.-Sun. 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hendershot Gallery/ 195 Chrystie St./ 212.239.1210; Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment.

TLD contributor Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer and former resident of the Lower East Side who delights in the neighborhood’s eclectic pleasures. A regular reader of The Lo-Down, her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. Visit her website at www.tobielkin.com.