Window on the West Bank … Some of the work by graffiti artist Banksy, painted during a visit to Ramallah. Photograph: PA [source]

The Guardian has an article and photos related to my earlier mention of Banksy in the West Bank. A choice quote for those unfamiliar with the wall:

Although the paintings themselves are not overtly political, his feelings about the wall are apparent from his statement: “The Israeli government is building a wall surrounding the occupied Palestinian territories. It stands three times the height of the Berlin Wall and will eventually run for over 700km – the distance from London to Zurich. The wall is illegal under international law and essentially turns Palestine into the world’s largest open prison.”

Two things I enjoyed today:

First, Tom Moody on Paul McCarthy at the Haus der Kunst in Munich. An excerpt:

Unlike US art institutions, which filter art for the delicate sensibilities of small children, Victorian grandmothers, and Newt Gingrich, European museums don’t protect viewers from the sight of icky penises and soiled butt cheeks.

…

I watched most of this vid [Sailor’s Meat/Sailor’s Delight, 1974] at the Haus Der Kunst, sitting on a seat in the main gallery with all this kinky sexual imagery right out there in plain view. There were no furtive darkened rooms for creepy behavior as in the US, but headphones did protect the other museumgoers from McCarthy’s disturbing grunts and Deliverance-like squeals. Damn, the early 70s were an interestingly depraved time, partly owing to the end of the sexual revolution that conservatives are always complaining about, partly because the median age of the US population was about 22 and cranky oldsters were not allowed to run the show, as they do now.

Second, Wooster Collective images of Banksy in the West Bank, including the work he put directly on the West Bank “wall”.

from the series Paint Box, 2005
Oil and varnish on canvas

Installation shot

Last Sunday we saw these great paintings by Cristobal Dam (or Cris as he is generally known) at Dam, Sthultrager. Due to the layering of oil and varnish, they are quite shiny, which is hard to convey in photos. That, plus the way they are framed, makes them feel like lovely enameled objects.

Yes, the name of the gallery includes his name. He and Leah Stuhltrager run this exciting and eclectic Williamsburg gallery, but this is no vanity exhibition. Artist and fan-run galleries are getting rarer, even in Williamsburg. Go by and see these wonderful paintings for yourself.

[images provided by the gallery]

Shaun Doyle & Mally Mallinson
Cape Disappointment

Here are two images from the dissolute budgies of a budgie “housing project” gone terribly wrong in this sculpture by Shaun Doyle & Mally Mallinson in the current show at Cynthia Broan, titled This Show is Ribbed For Her Pleasure. Luckily, ours is faring a bit better so far.

The exhibition is curated by Andrew Clarkin and Simon Pittuck, the Directors of Keith Talent Gallery in East London. Bonus points for anyone who gets the reference for the title of the gallery.

I also enjoyed the brightly colored ink jet prints by Oran O’Reilly and the sculptures by Adam Gillam, with the installation instructions written all over the works.

ak burns
fountain of salmacis (a heart for Jack)

Rune Olsen
Hear me Roar

You still have a change to see Homomuseum at Exit Art, as the show has been extended until August 19. Each of the artists in the show chose a hero, and their statements are mounted next to their work. I suspect you won’t be surprised to learn that Jack Smith is the hero of ak burns. Rune Olsen chose the Bonobo monkeys, famous for their polysexuality, as a reminder that those who use the word “unnatural” to describe homosexuals are denying the way nature really operates. His sculpture is of two female Bonobos having sex as a younger male looks on.

I didn’t put up an image, but I also loved the black and white photos of the piers by Alvin Baltrop. The photographer died in 2004, but there is a foundation web site with images from the series.

If you’re into Jack Smith, and who isn’t these days, also check out the show Jonathan Berger curated at Grimm Rosenfeld, titled Founders Day.

The bicycle was above the doorway.

Bryan Zimmerman installation view

How many people can say they spent the day looking at art on the west side between 43rd and 29th Streets? We made our first visit to Archibald Arts today to see a group show featuring Bryan Zimmerman, Brandon Ballengée, Daniel Zeller, and Rina Banerjee.

Angela Merkel and her husband arrive at the premier of Tristan und Isolde. dpa photo [source]

It’s hard enough to imagine a Democratic candidate for president attending a performance of Tristan und Isolde. Can you imagine Bush doing that?

Merkel is chair of the conservative party in Germany, the Christian Democratic Union. At least they’re honest with the titles of political parties.