Robert Carrithers

Club 57 Art Show: Julius Klein

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. 

I have posted two new photos in the Bohemian Nude series category. I only wanted to post them in the Bohemian Nude category, but they also appear on the front of this site. I tried to prevent this, but can't do it. If you are offended by nudity in any way please do not go to this category and skip viewing the next two photos. It is certainly not my intention to offend anyone. There has been nudity in all art forms throughout time. People go to museums and look at art with nudity. Why not the internet? You have a choice to be here or not. You have the same choice as turning on the TV and watching a violent film with someone killing someone or inflicting violence on people. Senseless violence is obscene and nudity is natural, but somehow some societies have mixed up what is obscene and not. I do not want to be censored and neither should you.

Bohemian Nudes: Comtesse 2/with Rebeca

This photo was taken of Comtesse and Rebeca in a special session of light and colour. It was a magical photo session. Please read about Comtesse in the first photo of her below and read about the Bohemian Nude project in the first Rebeca photo below. As I wrote below, I was not going to post the nude photos here. I wanted them only for exhibitions, but finally I felt that I should have two photos that represent the series. There are a lot more and if someone wants to inquire about the series or if you have any questions please contact me at [email protected]

The three of us got together in a studio of a friend and played with the projection of light, shadow and colour. It was a long and productive night. We all collaborated with the creative ideas equally together and are pleased with the results. The original inspiration was from the painter Egon Shiele, but somehow through a long series of photo sessions we came to this point. When I think of Prague, I think of magic. I think of the magic of alchemy and transformation. The idea of starting with the paintings of Egon Schiele and coming to the point of the exploration of light, shadow and colours with nudity perhaps is a long way from Egon Schiele, but somehow I think he would have approved.      

Bohemian Nudes: Rebeca 2

 

If you are one of those people offended by nudity get out of here now! This is the second photo here of Rebeca. Please read in the first photo below of Rebeca about the history of the project and about Rebeca. I was not going to place any of the actual nude portraits here on the site. I wanted to have the photos only for exhibitions or for private viewing. We had many sessions and created lots of incredible photos together. I finally thought it would be best to at least to have two photos that represented the actual nude series. I exhibited these two photos in a gallery show in New York called the Club 57 Art Show. It was a group of artists from the former '80s creative club called Club 57. We all showed work that we did back at that time and work that we do now to show a sense of continuity. This particular photo was a long collaboration between Rebeca and me. The idea behind the Bohemian Nude project was to do a mutual creative collaboration together with photographer and model. Rebeca put as much creative energy and ideas as I did. It was totally equal. That was one of the main points of the project and I felt that we achieved that and more.

We thought out this particular photo. I will leave the interpretation to the viewer. Rebeca collected snails, bird feathers and eggs over a period of time. She painted the backdrop. I organized the photo studio. We exchanged ideas for a long time and we finally shot it. Rebeca exposed herself to create a strong image. The snail on her left breast was not abused. It is living a nice life in a Prague garden. Rebeca is back in Spain being the free spirit that she is and I am back to work in Prague.