RL Fine Arts: Contemporary Art Project
Roarrr | acrylic and oil on canvas | 30 x 40 inches | 2011
Ari Lankin
Windows of Self
Exhibition:
October 12 to November 12, 2011
Opening reception:
Wednesday October 12 6:00 to 8:30pm
Remember the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year? It’s a distant thought, like most news gone by. Yet, it’s something we will never forget. With no decisive image how will we remember it?
First an account of the events according to Wikipedia: At 9:45 P.M. CDT on 20 April 2010, during the final phases of drilling the exploratory well at Macondo, a geyser of seawater erupted from the marine riser onto the rig, shooting 240 ft (73 m) into the air. This was soon followed by the eruption of a slushy combination of mud, methane gas, and water. The gas component of the slushy material quickly transitioned into a fully gaseous state and then ignited into a series of explosions and then a firestorm. An attempt was made to activate the blowout preventer, but it failed. The resultant oil spill continued until July 15 when it was temporarily closed by a cap. Relief wells were used to permanently seal the well, which was declared “effectively dead” on September 19, 2010.
I was watching the live feed of the oil cap while I was listening to music and painting. I became mesmerized how the cap hovered around the screen much like footage of the first moon landing. In the corner of my eye it looked like a combination of a fish tank and a fireplace. Eventually I started a new painting of what I was watching on the screen, the capping of Deepwater Horizon.
This is by far the coolest still life I have ever done. I would compare it to a reverse cubist experience. I studied the subject from thousands of angles created from a hovering point of view on a flat computer screen instead of representing observed reality from multiple points of view while flattening the image on the picture plane. That’s a lot of ideas for one sentence.
I’ll keep it short the rest of the way.
I was watching this live feed off of my computer screen taken by the Skandi Neptune support vessel. If you didn’t know what it was it may be very strange at first glance. After extended viewing it continues to look strange to me… space alien machine cartoon monster.
I was ready to rock right out of the gate because I had been painting all day. I liked how the subject was literally built by joining smaller pieces. I took a similar approach to building the imagery.
Most of the subject was constructed, but I hadn’t decided how to resolve the edges.
At times it felt like I was painting a still life on a table. In a way I was, a computer screen sitting on my desk. I eventuallty painted the edges black like the physical computer screen.
The red in the upper right was sea debris drifting around the frame. In the painter as director position I decided to paint it on the edge of the frame. Since it’s a static image we don’t know if it is entering or exiting the view.
The Capping of Deepwater Horizon | oil on canvas | 22 x 28 inches | 2010
History is a funny thing. Who decides what to remember, and how we remind? How does technology change the way we are delivered information and remember the past?
Click image for a larger photo.
Notice the texture of the paint and how the image was made by laying impasto strokes and scraping down to the gessoed canvas.
On July 14th the reception for Clipped, a group show featuring the work of Andrew Matsumoto, Michael Serafino, Jeremy Penn, Flip Skip, Ari Lankin and Borbay was held at Le Salon d’ Art. Orignally scheduled from 7-10pm this party didn’t end until about 1am. This is what happens when you get a great group of people together and a very large quantity of refreshments that kept being replenished by the many happy guests. We would like to thank all of our loyal fans and the many new ones that came out for great art, conversation, and NYC style revelry. We’ll see if the streak continues and anyone gets married from meeting each other at this show. Sparks were flying, art was consumed, and drinks were flowing.
All of the photos (except the first two and the last) are by the very talented Tessa Beligue Photography. When you are finished with these take a minute to check out more of Tessa’s photos. I particularly like her portraits, night shots, unique perspectives, and intense use of color.
Relive the glory, or experience if for the first time…
Ari Lankin, Jason Borbay, and Jeremy Penn pose for a picture a few minutes before the show starts with the always early art/entertainment guru G (in green). Photo courtesy of according2G.com, check out the link for his really cool blog. He is everywhere and sees everything.
Penn and Borbay lounging in the plush salon chairs before the doors open. Photo courtesy of according2G.com
Michael Serafino hanging out by Borbay’s home base.
Matsumoto, Victoria, Lankin, and Serafino pause for a moment. A camera in a photo, so real, surreal.
The ever alert Serafino, nothing gets by him. The lovely Ms. Wells and Penn chat it up in the background.
Sanpaku eyes gaze through the crowd as the party starts to pop. People getting locked and loaded.
Now thats how you carry a cell phone.
Matsumoto!
Lankin and Shiva Krishna in the middle of a formal discussion.
The vibe.
The view from behind the bar. Borbay’s Marilyn holding strong. Read more about his painting here.
Reflections, people reflecting, don’t blink, or rather blink twice and move along.
The Deception of William Murphy by Jeremy Penn.
Paparazzi started to get out of hand. Two photographer’s passing in the night.
Borbay’s work including his newly finished Old Bay painting hang above the mirrors.
James Serafino, a handsome fella, a good bartender, but a much better illustrator.
Full house.
Who could resist that smile? RED
Where’s Courtney?
More vibin’
Lankin and the always interesting Ms. Dubash discuss the art of staying young at heart forever.
Penn, Lankin, and Serafino. One for the ages.
Ed. Nuff said.
Just having fun.
A Penn, Victoria, Lankin sandwich. Hold the cheese.
Gallery/Salon owner Hans Kerremans and his spectacular wife Grace.
V is for Vogue.
Borbay, Jon-O, Ms. Grignon, and Lankin take a moment even Mr. Kodak would be proud of.
Shiva supports Borbay as he gives a rousing impromptu speech to the masses. Artist Paul Zepeda in the background.
How many speeches end with people high fiving?
Newly hitched husband and wife. Congratulations!
Chessa and Matsumoto. She is clearly overwhelmed, but rises to the challenge, with how to pose alongside the artist.
Stunning portrait of Christina. I love Tessa’s portraits. That’s why we hired her to cover our show.
Fedora, Shades, and Sanpaku.
Vibin’ continued….
A couple of rad fashionistas, Christina and Nigella.
Has anyone seen Edvard Munch? I demand answers! L, Z, and C hold a tribunal in the background.
Closing down the shop almost 3 hours after scheduled ending time. You know how we roll.
The End.
Thank you to everyone for coming out.
This post is brought to you by Borbay via Borbay.com
AUCTION NOW LIVE
New York, NY – July 21, 2011 — On Sunday, June 19th, Broadway Bares put on two exceptional(ly titillating) shows at the Roseland Ballroom, which raised (to date) a record breaking $1,103,072.00 for Equity Fights AIDS. Six paintings were created that night and are up for auction, are you ready to get your acquisition on?
Full disclosure, I didn’t strip down while painting (mostly to protect the fine patrons of the show(s)), I did, however, recap our evening at the Roseland Ballroom, as well as Broadway Bares, Las Vegas. If you have any questions about the works, don’t be shy.
Read Ari Lankin’s recap of Broadway Bares: 21 in NYC, as well as Broadway Bares: 2 Hot from Las Vegas.
Get some (art), after the jump.
On Fathers day 2011 Borbay and I painted during two Broadway Bares shows at Roseland Ballroom.
The resulting four paintings are now being auctioned with all proceeds supporting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids.
You can bid now, the auction ends July 27th. Remember all proceeds go to support the foundation.
Ari Lankin:
Lankin Painting From First Show
Lankin Painting From Second Show
Borbay:
Borbay Painting From First Show
Borbay Painting From Second Show
The addition of live painting fit perfectly. The show was called Masterpiece and had many great art historical references.
Broadway Bares proves once again that art is the sexiest thing in New York: looking at it, making it, talking about it, making love to it.
Let me take you there…
Two sold out back to back shows = early que. Shot outside of Roseland as I arrive two hours before the first show.
Borbay and I meet up for a quick picture as we wait for the first show to start.
Getting a little more excited as the doors open for the first show. We flipped a coin to see who would start at which vantage point. The two vantage points were very different. In this picture you can see a tiny Borbay setting up in the corner on the mezzanine ledge across the venue from me. We decided to use the bigger canvas for the first painting. The consensus was it would be better to go hard right from the beginning.
A shot from my first vantage point, just left of the stage in the elevated VIP area. With some time to kill and a strong backlight showing through the canvas I decided to paint the canvas black. Right before the show we got hooked up with a clamp light. It’s a big help when you can see what you are painting.
No painting allowed until the show starts, but some valuable time is saved by laying out a preliminary palette. This palette was inspired by the energy in the building and the promise of exposed flesh. Amusing text messages were sent back and forth across the venue while waiting for the first show to start.
Borbay takes a shot of me mixing paint (center of the photo) before the beginning of the first show.
A finished shot of painting number one after an action packed 75 minute show. Really dynamic show full of dancing, witty dialogue, sexual overtones and a beautiful set, or maybe a few beautiful sets. In addition to the inspiring show, I would like to thank the group of loving patrons that cheered me on, and the friendly barista for quenching my thirst with unlimited adult beverages.
Painting number two. New location on the ledge of the mezzanine. Quite possibly the coolest place in Roseland to paint from. Not only was I floating high above from a perfect vantage point, I was directly under a giant air conditioner.
Feeling the sexual energy from the first show I focused my attention on recreating a scantily clad man, and one erotically outfitted woman. A rabid sold out crowd of over 3,000 rocked the house during the second show adding to the energy of my painting.
Borbay decides on a more architecturally anchored composition inspired by the set. Read his great recap here.
A very low lit photo right after the final curtain call. This painting has an expressive quality and a textured surface. The set was alive with references to major artists from 18th-20th centuries. The linear aspect of the background is referencing the mature work Piet Mondrian.
My hands after the second painting.
It’s been a pleasure supporting Broadway Cares. It’s an important cause with a wonderful group of people involved. Big thanks to Michael Graziano, Jerry Mitchell, Paula Caselton, and Sheila Buford.
Support a tremendous organization and bid on these special paintings.
You may remember in April we painted at the sister event in Las Vegas, Broadway Bares: 2 Hot.
LANKIN
Broadway Bares 21 #1 | acrylic on canvas | 14 x 28 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
Broadway Bares 21 #2 | acrylic on canvas | 15 x 11 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
BORBAY
Broadway Bares 21 #1 | acrylic on canvas | 14 x 28 inches | 2011 | Borbay
2011 Broadway Bares #2 NYC | acrylic on canvas | 15 x 11 inches | 2011 | Borbay
Immortal Captain | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
As many of you know I have nurtured my love of art for a long time, but I have been nurturing my passion for Flyers hockey since the day I was born. My parents have blessed our family with season tickets since 1973, well before I was born.
Today the supposed keystone of the Philadelphia Flyers team was traded. Captain Mike Richards was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings 30 minutes after fellow Flyers star and good friend Jeff Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The first deal was no real shocker. The team had salary cap pressure while trying to sign a new goalie, which apparently they did after the Richards trade.
The Richards trade was a little more to stomach.
Will next year be the year the Flyers recoup the Stanley Cup?
During the last week of the regular season I started a Mike Richards painting. Richards was The Flyers Captain and stud player who was destined to be the next great figure in Philadelphia sports. That was until the 2011 hockey season happened. Destiny waits for no man.
On June 23, 2011, The Flyers made big changes in the organization, and I made a big change in my Richards painting.
Here it is..
A spacious grid to give a framework to the structure of the painting. Screaming orange to set the mood for this painting.
Most of the body has solidified. And I start adding orange marks in the background.
Looks like this guy is Flyered Up. Here comes color number three. I love laying a dark color into a very light painting. The sensation is tangible.
Building the form up with different shades of orange and white. Some Flyers symbols start popping up in the flames.
There was too much separation with the black background so I decided to lighten it with some dry brush marks. I was inspired by the look of ice.
More specifically the ice at a hockey rink. Art related hockey fact: White pigment is added to the water that is frozen to make the rink.
Starting to really catch that Mike Richards fierceness. He can really be a beast on the ice when he is on top of his game.
Immortal Captain | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
The painting now stands as tribute to all Flyers Captains. Especially the greatest Captain, the immortal number 16, Bobby Clarke.
I have faith in 2012 for this organization. I must admit this is an exciting move by Paul Holmgren. We welcome new Flyers Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, and Ilya Bryzgalov.
I would also like to give a big thank you to Richie and Carts for taking this team to high levels. You will always be a great part of Flyers history. I wish you both the very best in your careers. It’s unfortunate we won’t get to walk together forever.
You know what they say in hockey, its not the name on the back, its the crest on the front.
Let’s Go Flyers!
Jaromir Jagr | acrylic, oil, pen, collage, and cloth on canvas | 11 x 14 inches | 2011 | Ari Lankin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY - June 23, 2011 – The group exhibition: CLIPPED — “Appropriated Material From The Streets of New York,” will take place during July at Le Salon d’ Art Gallery. Running the entire month of July, this group exhibition will showcase six New York artists, including: Andrew Matsumoto, Michael Serafino, Jeremy Penn, Flip Skip, Ari Lankin and Borbay.
“CLIPPED” refers to the link these artists share using printed paper as their most common found material. These works embody and perpetuate our fractured reality by literally fracturing it even further. Materials, words, and images are clipped from their original context and reborn in new situations. The end result enables the viewer to slip into an infinite realm of the past, the present, and the future.
Artist Reception: July 14th, 2011, 7 – 10 PM
Show Duration: July 1 – July 31, 2011
Location: Le Salon d’ Art | 90 Stanton Street | Manhattan
More About the Show and Preview Images:
JEREMY PENN
New York, NY – June 16th, 2011 — BROADWAY BARES XXI: MASTERPIECE will be held on Sunday, June 19th with two performances only – at 9:30 pm & Midnight – at Roseland Ballroom, 239 West 52nd Street in New York. A benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, BROADWAY BARES XXI: MASTERPIECE will offer up a modern-day burlesque show packed with Broadway stars baring their delicious human canvas. The show is directed by Josh Rhodes, and the executive producer is the legendary Jerry Mitchell.
The 21st annual Broadway Bares benefit features more than 200 dancers and actors on their night off from Broadway shows. Artist’s Ari Lankin and Borbay will paint impromptu works of art inspired by the show. While watching the performance for the first time, they will paint for the duration of the show, stopping when the final curtain drops. The resulting canvas’ will be auctioned off with all proceeds benefitting the foundation. Check back after the show for the finished painting and where you can bid.
Photo by Andrew Eccles.
Read More
- I always carry paper to draw and take notes. The pictures below are from my daily drawings. Please put your link in the comment section below if you frequently post creative updates in any media on the web. Daily community of the zeitgeist.
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Click here for Sketch of the Day Archive
I love helping a worthwhile cause and I love painting in front of an audience. On the night of the highly anticipated Broadway Bares: Las Vegas 2 Hot performance at Planet Hollywood, Borbay and I painted live in front of 1,000 people.
Here’s how we got involved…
I met Sheila at the sign back on day one. She and her friend Veronica came over to see what I was working on and then requested a painted tattoo. She was friendly so I gladly offered my skills. While I was finishing her “I <3 NV” tattoo Sheila invited us to Broadway Bares. A one night all-star charity event she was choreographing and performing in. Very cool. Even better, I offered our painting services. The next day we received a call from organizer and performer Paula Caselton. She saw our work online and wanted us to join the show.
