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Category: Past

Dreaming Without Sleeping Opens In Less Than A Week!

Pictured: Criminy Johnson artist books, available February 24.

Brooklyn, NEW YORK—The Active Space celebrates the grand opening of its new gallery space with an artist’s reception for “Dreaming Without Sleeping,” works by Criminy Johnson | QRST. February 24, 2012, 7-10 PM. Curated by Robin Grearson.

Exclusively for the grand opening, the artist has created a limited number of one-of-a-kind drawings that will be available to visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

“Dreaming Without Sleeping” allows viewers to glimpse the artist’s view of our waking world: a bent, slightly pessimistic and occasionally hostile place populated by animals and people who are often reluctant to be interrupted by the viewer.

Criminy Johnson creates oil paintings depicting the strange environments and subjects he imagines, and while working out his ideas, he often makes wheatpastes that relate to these in some way. Many people are familiar with Criminy’s style but may have seen it outside of a gallery setting. And QRST fans might be discovering Criminy Johnson’s paintings for the first time. At Bushwick’s The Active Space, Johnson will have the opportunity to showcase both styles.

After the reception, the show will remain open to the public by appointment through April 20, 2012. Email ashley@566johnsonave.com.

For additional images, artist bio and project information, please visit: http://robingrearson.com/about/criminy-dws-info/

Dreaming Without Sleeping
February 24, 2012 through April 20, 2012
The Active Space
566 Johnson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11237
www.566johnsonave.com


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The Beauty Debate: Detroit, Leap Day

Leap Day is this year, and it’s going to be fun!  I am part of a panel discussion called the Beauty Debate, which takes place in Detroit and is being produced by TheDetroiter.com, a blog where I have been having a conversation with the editor, Colin Darke, since last September about honesty, beauty, art…and sometimes writing. I won’t be going to Detroit: I’m participating via Skype, possibly from Hyperallergic HQ, as editor Hrag Vartanian is also participating.

The Beauty Debate panel discussion is held in advance of a related art show, TheDetroiter.com’s First Annual Beauty Invitational, which opens March 3 at Detroit’s Art Effect Gallery. The gallery will be showing artists whose work I know and love (Elle, Ashley Zelinskie, Vincent Cacciotti), and artists I don’t know but very well may love, once I see their work. Beauty: what is it? Discuss.

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Active Space Grand Opening with Criminy Johnson, February 24, 2012

So much more to tell about this show. But for now, here’s the press release and a pretty picture:

Brooklyn, NEW YORK—The Active Space opens an all-new exhibition space in its Bushwick facility with a reception for “Dreaming Without Sleeping,” a presentation of new works by Criminy Johnson | QRST, on February 24, 2012.

“Dreaming Without Sleeping” allows viewers to glimpse the artist’s view of our waking world: a bent, slightly pessimistic and occasionally hostile place populated by animals and people who are often reluctant to be interrupted by the viewer.

“Criminy makes oil paintings in his studio but often makes wheatpastes that relate to these in some way. Many people are familiar with Criminy’s work but may have seen it outside of a gallery setting, and QRST fans might be discovering Criminy Johnson’s paintings for the first time,” says curator Robin Grearson, who worked with Johnson last year on a group show at the Active Space.  “Criminy has been in Bushwick for a few years, and QRST’s street work often shows up here, so the Active Space is an ideal location to present the two styles together.”

“We opened in February of last year, so I’m happy that the first show in our building’s brand-new gallery space falls on our first anniversary,” says Ashley Zelinskie, director of The Active Space. “Robin is an accomplished writer, yet this is the third show she has curated here. Last year we discovered that we really work well together, and one thing I appreciate about my role as director of a Bushwick art space is the opportunity I have to support emerging artists and curators I believe in.” Zelinskie says.

The opening reception for “Dreaming Without Sleeping” takes place February 24, 2012, from 7-10 PM. The show will be open to the public by appointment through April 20, 2012. Email ashley@566johnsonave.com.

Dreaming Without Sleeping
February 24, 2012 through April 20, 2012
The Active Space
566 Johnson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11237
www.566johnsonave.com
Contacts:
media requests:
Robin Grearson, curator
Dreaming Without Sleeping
mail@robingrearson.com

gallery requests:
Ashley Zelinskie, director
The Active Space
Ashley@566johnsonave.com
646/284-6364

Image: Dichotomy, by Criminy Johnson. Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches.

 

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L-Train Notwork Kicked Ass!

Huge congratulations to Mark & Matt & Sean and Wemakecoolsh.it! Could not be happier with how this project evolved, came together, and popped up in random conversations for weeks afterward.

A few links about the L-Train Notwork:
Press (Everyone covered this. Everyone.)
Press release
Credits

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