Archive for June 21st, 2007

“Free cash while supplies last!” Jonathan LeVine Gallery coyly advertised for tonight’s reception of Shepard Fairey’s E Pluribus Venom. By 7 PM the line to get in was already snaking long past the 81 Front Street entrance of the DUMBO installation space. Sure enough, the opening was a goldmine for art scensters.

The money was on the walls. With clever turns of phrase, Fairey — co-founder of the aptly named Swindle magazine — reimagined the Almighty Dollar in terms of America’s ruthless capitalism. In two floor-to-ceiling paintings of dollar bills, the artist quipped:

OBEDIENCE IS THE MOST VALUABLE CURRENCY
INDISCRIMINATE CAPITALISM
IN LESSER GODS WE TRUST
CASH CONQUERS ALL

REPETITION WORKS
MANUFACTURING DISSENT SINCE 1989

He even took a stab at money’s hold on the press:

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS GUARANTEED TO THOSE WHO OWN ONE

He continued his tongue-in-cheek critique of money in one of his paintings over muted collages, with the statement, “U.S. TREASURY. BRINGING DREAMS TO LIFE.”

Bundled up with money were themes of obedience (Fairey is famous for his “Obey Giant” street campaign), government, and war, suggesting that many people are blindly nationalistic.

Not suprisingly, red, black, and gold typified Fairey’s palette, although a smattering of paint adorned the floor in a kind of we-don’t-need-a-fancy-gallery-to-show-our-art type of way.

To top off the Dewars-fueled evening, Fairey was DJing his own reception, along with Cosmo Baker (The Rub) and 10 Fingers (700 Club Philly).

The DUMBO exhibit will be on view Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 - 7 PM, from June 22nd to July 7.

A second exhibition will open this Saturday, June 23, at Jonathan LeVine Gallery (529 West 20th St., 9th Fl, Manhattan), and will run through July 21.