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2005-01-07: EXHIBITION: NECK FACE/ THE DATE FARMERS 1/05-3/05 |
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NECK FACE/ THE DATE FARMERS
January 7 - March 19, 2005
Opening: January 7, 6-8pm See IMAGES from exhibition
see
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
SF BAY GUARDIAN ART BUSINESS
The luggage store is pleased to present an exhibition of Neck Face; and The Date Farmers – Carlos Ramirez and Armando Lerma, curated by Darryl Smith/Laurie Lazer and co organized by Marsea Goldberg.
Neck Face is most known for writing NECK FACE –scrawled over the walls of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco (see recent article in The New Yorker. His first solo exhibition was at New Image Art, “Witch Hunt” and “Satan’s Bride,” his first book was subsequently published by KAWS.
Neck Face’s work at the luggage store features new metal sculpted masks, sculptures on sheet metal, and pierced drawings made with a cutting torch on old car and truck hoods.
Also featured are paintings on wood, small framed paintings, and work directly on the wall. The work generally depicts singular figures engaged in violent confrontational activities; from knife wielding, stabbing, eating dead babies, holding bleeding heads by the hair., monsters, double headed figures and snakes.
Other figures are groping or grasping or observing, The lines are simple, the work is campy, and filled with dark humor and pop culture, informed by Mexican vampires and/or “urban legends.”One might surmise that his work is influenced by the “Chuba Cabra” stories.
The Date Farmers, Carlos Ramirez and Armando Lerma of Coachella Valley (after meeting each other, they learned that both of their father’s farmed “dates,” hence their name -- The Date Farmers), often collaborate in their art, collage drawings,and words on discarded signs. Reminiscent of Mexican Revolutionary posters ala/Pancho Villa, as if Cesar Chavez is knocking on our door., Ramirez and Lerma explore the essential reality of the roots of California past and present culture. Their art depicts Mexican American religious icons and their style resembles prison art – their lettering strong in a low rider tradition of bold sign painting. |