GAYLETTER

I’m having trouble finding the right words to describe the photographic works of a truly influential master of the medium Sebastião Salgado, whose show Genesis is now up at International Center of Photography until Jan 11th. It left me with chills and rendered me speechless. The exhibition is an 8 year survey that consists of 200 black and white photographs of wildlife, landscapes, seascapes and indigenous peoples whose cumulative effect raises public awareness about the pressing issue of climate change. As the curator and designer of the show Lelia Wanick Salgado so eloquently said, “Genesis is a quest for the world as it was, as it evolved, as it existed for millennia before modern life accelerated and began distancing us from the very essence of our being.” Wouldn’t that take your breath away? I brought my trusted friend Beth with me to the exhibition and her reaction to the work matched my own as she declared, “I MUST bring my children to this show.” Though I don’t have any kids I’m going to implore all the “children” to see the exhibition, it’s an awe inspiring display of the pristine riches still left on this planet we all share.    —Gayletter

I was totally mesmerized and instantly mortified by the sculptures by artist Nick Cave in his new show called, Made by Whites for Whites now up at Jack Shainman's West 20th St. gallery. The impetus for this body of work came when Cave found a vessel shaped like the head of a black man labeled "Spittoon" at a flea market. Needless to say he was shocked by this discovery and went on to make this body of sculptures using racially charged historical objects, re-contextualizing them to convey a powerful message regarding their blatant and inherent racism, thus empowering them through reuse... "These (objects) were once commonplace caricatures that infantilized and dehumanized the African American population." Seriously, you gotta check them out, they are jaw dropping. Also of note in Shainman's West 24th St. space is Cave's body of work, Rescue. Also using found objects, this time ceramic dogs, Cave has created environments that play on the synergy of dogs historical association with "loyalty, class breed, commitment and protection." The effect is immediately less confrontational then the first show but equally as thought provoking. Take a cerebral ride on the Cave train, a much needed relief from many of the vapid, pointless shows out there today.  —Gayletter

There are two aesthetically sublime shows up by the same photographer David Benjamin Sherry that are not to be missed. I suggest first you go to the Danziger Gallery’s new space in Chelsea to see Sherry’s collection of mono-color landscapes. They are stunning analog photographs the artist took with a hand made large format wooden camera and an aperture of/64 that Ansel Adams and Edward Weston made so famous. “Seeing the world in both a heartfelt and postmodern way, Sherry turned his pictures into vividly colored renditions of the American wilderness, transforming iconic vistas and familiar panoramas into large scale color fields.” They are breathtaking, I want one! Then bop down to Salon 94 Bowery to see the second Sherry show titled: Climate Vortex Sutra that has some landscapes, in addition to traditional black and white photographs, as well as some nudes of men - all articulated with the same meticulous care as the larger works. The colors are surreal and serene at the same time. The gallery, though full of work hung in the salon style, hums in a cohesive peaceful manner, a vibe I have not felt in a photography exhibit in a long while.  —Gayletter

Painter Mark Beard has schizophrenia, but he’s used it to his advantage. About twenty years ago he started taking on various alter egos to channel his creativity and talent. In his new show opening at ClampArt, aptly titled Alter Egos,there will be works on view created by Mark’s first five personae — Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938), his teacher Hippolyte-Alexandre Michallon (1849-1930) Edith Thayer Cromwell (1893-1962) Brechtholt Streeruwitz (1890-1972) and African American painter Peter Coulter (b. 1948). I am best acquainted with the first persona Bruce Sargeant whose homo erotic fueled paintings of dressed and semi undressed men with titles like “Athletes,” “Locker Room,” “Gondolier” and “Two Wrestlers” are a pure delight, and expertly executed with a timeless unwavering palette. Apparently the re-invention doesn’t end there and Beard has gone as far as creating a transsexual graffiti artist named Princess Ormalu (b. 1979) who’s work will be on view as well. Attend the opening and meet Beard who is friendly, fascinating and sure to attract a bevy of handsome intellectual men!  —Gayletter

Photographer Ryan McGinley makes ALOT of money from selling his work. Like a lot. You’d be shocked (at least I was) by how much some of his prints go for (six figures and up). Not saying he’s not worth it...I just don’t think anyone’s worth that much. But that’s why I don’t work for Christie’s. Anyhoos, his newest show just opened this past weekend at Team Gallery and as expected everyone in his new work is nude. We like nudity, and we like his images. Titled YEARBOOK, it’s actually “a single artwork that consists of over five hundred studio portraits of some two hundred models, always in the nude, printed on vinyl and adhered to every available inch of the gallery’s walls and ceilings.” Apparently the installation’s effect is “hugely impressive in its standalone visual power.” I’ll be the judge of that. Kidding, it actually does look pretty cool, and ain’t nothing wrong with a stunt — keeps people on their toes — something you’ll probably be doing a lot of as you try and get a peak of all those nude boys pasted to the ceiling.  —tom

M.Lamar has been on our radar for a while now — the New York based artist has been producing interesting art (mainly performance based) for a while now. Even if you haven’t heard of him, if you’ve watched Orange is the New Black then you will be familiar with his face. Lamar is the brother of actress Laverne Cox, and in one of the show’s flashback’s he played Sophia before her sex change. It’s not related to this event, but interesting none-the-less. This Sunday we suggest you go check out Lamar’s latest show which opening the fall season at Participant Inc. Titled NEGROGOTHIC, a Manifesto: The Aesthetics of M. Lamar “This physical installation cross-references romanticism, surrealism, horror, pornography, gospel, metal, and early silent film to propose radical potentialities of blackness.” The event is sure to be filled with some interesting characters. Also worth mention is a conversation between Lamar and his sister Laverne, which takes place on the 9th of September. The location for that conversation has yet to be announced... but stay tuned. We promise to fill you in!  —tom

I can’t think of a better way to start September than with this event — a red hot celebration of ginger men! It’s the NYC launch of the book ‘Red Hot’ by the artist Thomas Knights. He has been photographing all different types of red headed men for a while now for his project ‘Red Hot 100.’ His goal is to stop ginger discrimination and convince the world that redheads are hot. I was already convinced. This project has gotten lots of press around the world, but now we have the opportunity to see all the boys that participated in the project compiled in an exhibition and in a book. He says that it’s the “largest collection of ginger men the world has ever seen...” The launch of the exhibition ‘Red Hot 100’ is happening at BOSI Contemporary (48 Orchard St.) from 8PM-10PM, the show will be open until the 14th, so you still have time to get your ginger on. The official after party is happening at Bedlam at 10PM with lots of NYC peeps and gingers involved: Patrick Crough, Brodanse, Will Francis, Seth Fornea, Chase Hostler, Jacob Blumer, Blake Johnson, Ken Bek and more… Oh and one more very important thing, they also have a calendar launch event (as part of the Lower East Side Art + Fashion) where there’s going to be “topless RED HOT models” on Sept. 7th. Jesus, so many gingers!  —Abi