Cause: Hope For Them Foundation’s Holiday Toy Drive

Date: 12/17/2011

Unscripted shot of Borbay losing his religion.  That’s him in the spotlight, losing his religion.  R.E.M.

Me becoming one with my brushes before the painting starts.

Borbay on the right. Lankin on the left.  About 20 minutes into the paintings, before Gallery 151 got packed with philanthropic revelers.

Only process shot I took, at this point I figured out the palette and composition.  I was feeding off the lively energy of the venue, thoughts of hope, teamwork, joy, celebration, happiness, and helping.  Check out the Getty Images link at the bottom for earlier shots of my painting.

Right after I signed the painting I added a few touches to the upper left as up-and-coming photographer Alex Gurvich stealthily snapped this photo.

Hope For Them | 18 x 24 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2011

And with about 20 minutes remaining it’s finished, my first abstract live painting at an event. Click image for a larger version.

Borbay’s live painting, Old Tyme NYC:

Click image below to see his interesting process and recap.

Old Tyme NYC | 20 x 20 inches | acrylic and graphite on canvas | 2011 | Borbay

Check out some more pics of the event, including early stages of my painting that are considerably different than the final product, Borbay in action, and a healthy dose of sexiness.

Painters Ari Lankin and Borbay are teaming up with talented artists and great organizations to benefit school children of Haiti for one night of festive holiday philanthropy.  Each artist will create a four hour painting during the festive toy drive on the night of December 17th, 7-11pm.  Proceeds from the paintings will benefit the Hope For Them Foundation.

If you would like to spend your Saturday the 17th,  from 7-11 PM watching Lankin and Borbay paint, while rocking out to music by DJ Super Jaimie and a live performance by Kate Nauta, sipping fantastic cocktails courtesy of St. Germain and Evening Land Vineyards, enjoying hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Alison Eighteen — all for a great cause, please RSVP here.

***Act now for 2 for 1 admission with this prepaid special.

Lankin and Charity

Lankin has live-painted for charities including Broadway Cares NY, Broadway Cares Las Vegas.  Additionally, he has donated work for auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Doug Varone and Dancers, and Jewish National Fund.

Borbay and Charity

Borbay has live-painted for charities including Broadway Cares NY,Broadway Cares Las Vegas and We Love Japan. Additionally, Borbay has donated work for auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children of Armenia Foundation, A.C.E. and The Skin Cancer Foundation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - HopeForThem, Edeyo, and im.material Global are excited to unite the worlds of art and philanthropy in a festive holiday toy drive.

The toy drive will be on December 17th, 2011 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm at Gallery 151, 132 West 18^th Street, hosted by Ines Ferre of CNN, benefiting the school children of Haiti.

Inspired cocktails by St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and artisan wines from Evening Land Vineyards. Delicious food from Alison Price Becker and Chef Robert Gurvich, soon to open the new restaurant Alison Eighteen.

Music by DJ Super Jaimie.

Live performance by upcoming singer and Hollywood star Kate Nauta; best known for her performance in the movie Transporter 2.

Live painting by Borbay and Ari Lankin. Exclusive paintings by William Quigley and Jean-Baptiste Frantz to be auctioned off live, in addition to a Michael Jackson signed book.

For admission to the event, guests will be required to bring an unwrapped toy (valued under $25) with an additional $30 donation; or, to donate $50 without a toy.

The HopeForThem Foundation is a non-profit organization that delivers aid to disaster-stricken areas around the world. After the catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti in January of 2010, founder Mike Jean committed his organization to providing relief to his home country.

Unik Ernest and the Edeyo Team is a non-profit made up of dedicated business, medical and educational professionals.  They are currently re-building the Joyous Heart School which was demolished in the January 2010 earthquake.  He has devoted his energy and talents to educating and enlightening the world about Haiti, bringing hope to the future of these disadvantaged children.

im.material global is a non-for-profit group that builds strong and sustainable communities in developing nations. Founder Patrick Simeon leads a team currently building a village in Haiti to accommodate the homeless people of the post-earthquake devastation.

The exhibitions and events at Gallery 151 would not be possible without the generous support and sponsorship of Michael Namer and his company Alfa Development , Chelsea Green at 151 West 21^st Street, and Alison Eighteen.

Produced by: Mike Jean, Clark De-Marcus, Cole Blumstein and Ben Lang

Press passes: Jenny J. Kim jenny@hopeforthem.org - (860)580-9646

Tickets: www.hopeforthem.org/toys or http://hopeforthemtoydrive2011.charityhappenings.org/

The Details -

Uniting the Worlds of Art and Philanthropy

For the Children of Haiti

Dec. 17, 2011 from 7-11pm

Gallery 151 (132 W. 18th)

Hosted by Ines Ferre from CNN

Music by DJ Super Jaimie

Live Performance by Kate Nauta

Live Painting by Borbay & Ari Lankin

Cocktails by St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

Wine by Evening Lands Vineyards

Hors D?oeuvres by Alison Eighteen Restaurant

Admission:

$30 with a toy
$50 without a toy
(Toys must be unwrapped & valued under $25)

RSVP or Make a Donation at http://www.hopeforthem.org/toys

For Press Pass, contact Jenny

Jenny@hopeforthem.org
860.580.9646

Exploring the unknown is one of the most exciting things about the creative process. Starting a work of art without a preconceived final image leaves room for discovery in any direction. With a piece like MagiKid it’s hard to tell when the creative process began. Perhaps it was a few years ago when my friend gave me a Scrabble board game that was missing some pieces.  I saved it because I knew one day I could use it in a work of art.  Or perhaps it was over six years ago when I acquired the Yoda miniature action figure.

The story continues when I was in Las Vegas with artist Borbay doing location and live painting in April.  We decided to walk to our meeting at Vegas Seven magazine.  The walk was a little further and off the beaten path then we thought.  While walking in a half occupied industrial park I came across what looked like a discarded childs drawing in a parched leafless bush.  It was a great drawing, so i folded it up and put it in my back pocket.  The last ingredient was a magazine tribute to Michael Jackson that I saved since his death.

Las Vegas, April 2011.

Me celebrating the golden discovery.  Shirt off because the desert is hot.  Unlike a handful of other things, the drawing survived the Vegas trip, and a few months later ended up in this painting.  MagiKid is another addition to the assemblage painting series I started in 2004.

MagiKid | assemblage and acrylic on canvas | 8 x 10 inches | 2011

Click image for larger version.

MagiKid has several obvious references which I will touch upon, and other ambiguous layers of interpretation I will leave for your discovery.

Words are spelled out: liv(e), jedi, magi, kid, magik.

The standard seven letters of a Scrabble game on the top row add up to the number 18.  A special number in Judaism meaning life.  It’s essential to keep a child’s spirit as one grows old.

What’s in a name?  My middle name means Life.

What’s in the middle? The great wise man Yoda.

The Yoda toy is a third generation hand me down that i’ve had for at least six years.  The rock around his neck is from a necklace that a friend broke in my company.

The childs drawing alludes to Luke Skywalker, and holds a double saber of red and green, or perhaps good and evil.

A young Michael Jackson photo is cropped to look like Darth Vader’s helmet.

Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and Vader, a magi of knowledge, and knowledge is power.

It’s amazing how this piece came together.  For now i’ll leave the rest up to you and send it off with a quote by a great painter.

All children are artists.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. – Pablo Picasso

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.

Bid on Keegan Albrecht #1.

Bid on Keegan Albrecht #2.

Bid on Ari Lankin #1.

Bid on Ari Lankin #2.

Bid on Borbay #1.

Bid on Borbay #2.

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

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

MICHAEL SERAFINO

ANDREW MATSUMOTO

ARI LANKIN

FLIP SKIP

BORBAY

Press Inquires

Please direct all press inquiries to Borbay — 646.469.6496

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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.

About the Show

It’s been said that “all art is erotic” and 200 of Broadway’s sexiest bodies will prove that to be true as the 21st edition of Broadway Bares takes you inside an auction too hot for Sotheby’s and Christie’s. The most delectable dancers in New York will emulate the art world’s seductive nudes and give life to history’s sultriest sculptures.  Handle these masterpieces with care or fig leaves, sunflowers and water lilies just might fall off into the crowd. Get your bidding paddles ready before these Broadway bodies of art are “going, going, gone.”

This year’s Bares will feature Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (Baby It’s You) singing an original opening number, “Going, Going, Gone,” written by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. Tony nominee Patina Miller (Sister Act) will perform the finale, “The Final Masterpiece.” Other special guests include Tony nominee and Emmy Award winner Judith Light (Lombardi), Tony nominee Rory O’Malley (The Book of Mormon), Emmy winner Jim Parsons (The Normal Heart), Tony and Emmy winner David Hyde Pierce (La Béte), Tony winner Roger Rees (The Addams Family), Tony nominee Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles) and the always provocative New York Post columnist Michael Riedel.

Join in the fun now by helping your favorite performer raise money in our annual Broadway Bares Strip-a-thon where fine art meets mighty fine bodies and every dollar counts.

Broadway Bares XXI: Masterpiece is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, executive produced by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde) and will be directed by Josh Rhodes (Sondheim: The Birthday Concert, The Drowsy Chaperone, Working at the Broadway Playhouse in Chicago).

Broadway Bares combines the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway. The event features the hottest male and female dancers on Broadway and has become one of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ signature events. The first Broadway Bares in 1992 featured seven dancers performing choreographed stripteases on a bar and $8,000. In the 20 editions so far, Broadway Bares has collectively raised more than $7.5 million.

via Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids

Lankin signing a live painting as the performance ends at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

About Ari Lankin

Ari Lankin explores the zeitgeist, and timeless ideas connected to the human condition. He is known for painting on location, at live events, and conceptual abstraction linked to emotions, nature and technology.  Lankin collaborates in a wide variety of projects including: design, apparel, film, performance, and street art.  He designed a shoe for adidas and assisted Tino Sehgal during his solo show at The Guggenheim Museum.  “Life is my muse. We make things with our hands, ideas, and experiences. The creativity travels with us wherever we go.  Life is art”  Ari lives and works in Manhattan.

About Borbay

Upper East Side artist Borbay has painted edgy portraits and famed locations around the world, including The Guggenheim, TriBeCa Grand, Woolworth Building, Elaine’s, Chrysler Building, Hancock Tower (Chicago), Runaway Bay (Jamaica) and San Marco Cathedral(Milan). His architectural impressionist collage paintings have been featured in Time Out New York , Wall Street Journal Japan, New York Post, Whitewall, The Huffington Post, The Source and more.

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Click here for Sketch of the Day Archive

A steel and glass pyramid stands tall in Nevada. A beam of light shoots out from its apex.  For our last painting we decided on the most recognizable hotel on the strip.  Our home base for 9 nights, the Luxor Hotel and Casino.  Old is new, and new is old, the space time continuum quivers.

Per my modus operandi, I zoned out listening to the same album on repeat.  I listened to Mac Miller’s K.I.D.S. on repeat for the first 7 hours of this painting.  You can download K.I.D.S. here for free. Mac Miller is a very talented 19-year-old rapper from Pittsburgh.

Let me take you through the development…

After deciding on a head-on composition I dove in with yellow.

Feeling out where to place the pyramid… a little more up and to the left, a little more, perfect.  Framing the main subject with the obelisk on the right edge of the canvas.  Now there are essentially two edges on the right side.

I decided to lay down gold for the sky and silver for the pyramid.  Here comes magenta to create some depth in the image.

More color and more depth.  It’s time to add the details now that the general composition is solidified. I put down a dark color for the pyramid, but decided to revert back to the silver.

An action shot with my subject in the background.  Headphone in the right ear.

Starting to carve out the form of the sphinx by adding shadows and blue on the headdress.

Jerry Shawback painting hard in the trenches of a vacant hotel lot across the street from the Luxor.

Another action shot now turned directly towards The Luxor.

It was hot out there and apparently my pockets got a little steamy.  I decided to put in the trees and was instantly happy with this executive decision. Time to darken the pyramid for real this time.

A quick visit to the other end of the block to say what’s up to Borbay.  Check out his Luxor painting.

Dramatic silhoutte photo opportunity on the way back to my easel.

Is that beam of light from the top of the pyramid visible from space? Apparently. Let me note for the record, even with this scientific miracle we had no wi-fi access in our room.

Everything is solidifying quite nicely.  A big jump at this time with: highlights and shadows on the trees,  reflections on the pyramid, the monorail track, and details on the sphinx.

The blue sky brings out the sphinx’s eyes, and here comes the monorail in the lower left.

Old Is New and New Is Old, The Luxor | 20 x 20 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2011

Fin.

View my other Las Vegas paintings:

Welcome To Las Vegas Sign

Welcome to Las Vegas | 24 x 24 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2011.

The Sahara Hotel & Casino

End Of An Era, The Sahara | 20 x 20 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2011.

El Cortez Hotel & Casino

El Cortez Hotel, 600 Fremont St | 24 x 24 inches | acrylic on canvas | 2011.

Broadway Bare: 2 Hot, Live Painting

Bares Cares, acrylic and ribbon on canvas, 20 x 20 inches, 2011.

Check out this great time lapse video of Las Vegas that includes us painting, by Allan Gange.

Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas from Allan Gange on Vimeo.