BAZAAR

120 Essex St. between Delancey and Rivington.
(Inside the Essex St. Food Market at the South end of the building)

August 9th - September 6th, 2003 Opening reception: Sat, August 9th, 4-6pm
Open daily thereafter, Monday through Saturday 12:00 noon to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays.

BAZAAR

A brief documentary of graffiti through the artists who are practicing in the present moment.

Cer, David Ellis, Rage Johnson, Jest, Cris Mendoza, Ryan McGinness, Parlá - Ease*, Rey Parlá, Clayton Patterson, Pablo Power, Lee Quinones, Romon Yang - Rostarre

Curated by Jason Yang and Ease

At CUCHIFRITOS art gallery/project space.

"Art is not idolatry, they say, nor is it advertising, and I would agree - with the caveat that idolatry and advertising are, indeed, art, and that the greatest works of art are always and inevitably a bit of both." - Dave Hickey from "Enter the Dragon: On the Vernacular of Beauty".

Bazaar is a group show consisting of artists working in different mediums with a similar sense of self-advertising and image making. Most of the artists in this show started by making their name on the street before making a name in the gallery. Because of this, their names or pseudonyms are much more closely connected to their artwork, often becoming part of the work, and part of their instantly recognizable self-advertising.

These artists view the street, media, fashion, popular culture, and any possible surface as a chance for art and self-advertising. To them, the gallery is only one of many venues for their expression because they view any media as a valid form of communication to their public, without putting any form on a pedestal. This view of media carries over to their view of culture, where everything becomes a source or a symbol and a chance for reflection. And it is a reflection, where everything is a source and everywhere a mirror.

A bazaar... of odds and ends... it's all a marketplace... and all are products.

This exhibit was made possible by the following: LMCC's Fund For Creative Communities/NYSCA, The New York City Economic Development Corporation, The Puffin Foundation, the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, and the members of the Artists Alliance Incorporated.