The Club 57 Art show was a one time event that attempted to capture the creative spirit of the legendary Club 57. It happened on October 27th, 2010. This Club 57 is certainly not to be mixed up with the uptown club on 57th Street now called Club 57. The original Club 57 was certainly underground, located in the basement of a Polish church on St. Marks Place in the East Village. A creative laboratory where fun-filled mayhem happened nightly and was the intense playground for mutual creative souls who gave birth to forms of art that still has repercussions now. The Club 57 Art show was a happening of artists who were involved with that club. They showed art that they did back at Club 57 and also showed the work that they have been doing presently, to show a sense of continuity. The opening of the show was amazing for me. It was overwhelming to be in the same room in the present time with so many people from the past all together. I spoke to many of them and I regret not speaking to all of them, but the nice thing for me to know is that they are all still here and still being who they are, by being there we showed our respect for those that were involved and not here anymore. The art also did that. Many artists chose to show photos and work of and by those who are not here anymore, such as Wendy Wild, John Sex, Keith Haring, Gerard Little and many more. I particularly liked the Wendy Wild shrine. I took too many photos of that night. I am doing some editing and fixing photos. I will show the best ones here.
And now a word about Julius Klein! (Click on Julius's name and go to his website for much more information) This is a photo of Julius caught in the process of hanging the Club 57 Art Show. First of all, this show would not have happened without Julius. He was asked to hang the show on Sunday and he arrived early on Wednesday, the day of the show and hung the whole show throughout the day. He had some help, but he was the master who knew the way to do it. He was the hero of the day for me, but that is Julius. I met Julius in the early '80s. He was from Chicago and so was I. He arrived to New York with the artistic pioneer spirit that he still maintains to this day with his gallery on First Street with his partner Raken Leaves. He is an extraordinary artist who has been in many a gallery show in the East village and throughout New York. His art has humour and has that special spirit that only he has. He works with painting, sculpture, film, photography and I am probably forgetting something! Judge for yourself when you go to New York and look him up at his gallery. Do yourself a favor and buy one of his paintings.