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Pakoh
12-06-2006, 12:04 PM
THIS AINT ART...

The Bong Show, or This Is Not a Pipe PICK
Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects
Chelsea
535 West 22nd Street, 6th floor
212-255-8450
December 9, 2006 - January 20, 2007
Opening: Saturday, December 9, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Web Site

Show Map
Elaine Reichek, _Ceci n'est pas un bong_, 2005, embroidery on linen, 10.25 x 13.5 inches

Elaine Reichek, Ceci n'est pas un bong, 2005, embroidery on linen, 10.25 × 13.5 inches

With works by Ann Agee, Nicole Cherubini, Anne Chu, Maria Elena Gonzalez, David Herbert, Michael Joo, Byron Kim, Liz Larner, Charles Long, Rita McBride, Josiah McElheny, John Miller, Curtis Mitchell, Elaine Reichek, Jack Risley, Aura Rosenberg, Allen Ruppersberg, Beverly Semmes, Arlene Shechet, Brian Tolle, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Kara Walker, Betty Woodman, and Arnie Zimmerman.

The artist Beverly Semmes wondered what would happen when serious artists contemplated a culturally-marginal object (a bong, for example) and decided to invite a group of her peers to do just that. This show is about testing the limits of art and craft, public and private, high and low, and going with the flow. It features many pieces made specifically for the exhibition as well as existing works, chosen by the artists themselves.

Among the works on view are Elaine Reichek's embroidered reinterpretation of a famous painting by Magritte; a pipe created by Ann Chu, inspired by the "lucky cat," whose raised beckoning paw brings good fortune and customers, and Michael Joo's Double-Barreled MSG Inhaler, consisting of two seven-foot polycarbonate tubes, connected by a crudely-fashioned oxygen mask that protrude from fifty-pound containers of monosodium glutamate. With a needle, a glass, and a copy of J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, Byron Kim commemorates a significant moment from his past and the necessity of improvising while on the road. Aura Rosenberg pays homage to the literary history of intoxication with a "stash box" made from a hollowed out edition of Walter Benjamin's book On Hashish (concealing an exquisitely tiny pipe). John Miller's altered covers of What Color is Your Parachute, A Separate Peace, Sensible Self-Help, and books by Rush Limbaugh and John Dewey feature images of bongs. Allen Ruppersberg presents books from his Remainders series including 1966 Was a Good Year, 1967 Was Fabulous. Liz Larner contributes "an impeccably stoned smile" of cast porcelain. Arlene Schechet's piece is inspired by a puff of smoke.

Also included are works by Curtis Mitchell made by pouring household chemicals onto photosensitive paper; Ann Agee's ashtray inspired by a sex education manual; a huge roughly hewn wooden "bowl" by Ursula von Rydingsvard; Beverly Semmes's Icicle Pipe, made of hand-sculptured crystal; ceramic pieces by Nicole Cherubini, Arnie Zimmerman, and Charles Long, and other works in a variety of mediums.

Beverly Semmes's artistic career has included solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries throughout the world. The Bong Show is her first curatorial project

Image from Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects.

Groundjoints.com
12-06-2006, 12:49 PM
Field Trip!!! Who else is going?

Chris Juedemann
12-06-2006, 02:25 PM
Josiah McElheny just picked up a MacArthur fellowship. Half a mil.

bzzzred
12-06-2006, 03:50 PM
Wait this show is in Chelsea as in NYC cause I am right near there? you got a link to the site or for more info?

Pakoh
12-07-2006, 11:39 AM
i will be going...

It is funny that when an Art Gallery in the trendy part of NYC wants to get controversial, they turn to the Bong...

I am surprised more people are not interested in this....

slinger
12-07-2006, 12:15 PM
i will be hitting this show up in mid decemeber too. not gonna make the opening, but i too am surprised more people sre commenting or interested in this, its pretty ironic..

bzzzred
12-07-2006, 02:23 PM
Im definetly going to the opening on sat. maybe I will see some of you there. I wonder how it will be, haven't heard of one being around new york at all

Brett A Tam
12-07-2006, 05:43 PM
Yawn...

blackstoneglass
12-07-2006, 08:46 PM
yo pakoh hit me up I would check it out. Also the night before there is an opening in brooklyn of some cool work my friend pete does in the hot shop . A universe platter instalation and a glass clock machined out of boro plate. peterenterprises.com for directions... it is at sonnys in red hook which is one of the coolest bars I have ever been to. it will be a blast

john madden
12-08-2006, 11:27 AM
sounds cool. another reason to be in the city this winter, just what i needed.