SELBY GALLERY
RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
[The Exhibition]
August 13-September 20, 2014
Selby Gallery I:
Low Fidelity: Still Photographs by Bobby Grossman 1975-1983
Selby Gallery II:
Underground Forces: Target Video 1977-1984
These two exhibitions each offer a distinctive perspective on the “Punk” music scene through the lens of photographer Bobby Grossman and Target Viedo’s Co-Founder Jill Hoffman-Kowal. Both had rare opportunities to document the musicians and celebrities associated with this unique time period in modern music history. (Attendees are encouraged to come in their favorite “punk” fashions.)
Low Fidelity: Still Photographs by Bobby Grossman 1975-1983
Bobby Grossman’s sharp eye and warm personality made him an insider, photographing the major players and characters that made up the new wave “punk” era in New York in the mid 70s to early 80s as a professional but also as a friend. With over 25 photographs of the musicians, artists, writers and performers who changed pop culture – including such icons as Debbie Harry, Talking Heads, Basquiat, Warhol, and Burroughs – Grossman presents his unique vision of that time and place along with three present day collaborations with Japanese “Millenial” artist, Choco Moo.
[Bobby Grossman] Bobby Grossman is an artist and photographer. He was born in Manhattan, grew up in Westchester, NY and earned his BFA at The Rhode Island School of Design. In 1976 Grossman moved to New York City and took up residency at the Hotel Chelsea. Working as a freelancer by day he quickly found his way to Warhol’s famed Factory on Union Square where he was regarded as an insider. He soon became a regular presence, documenting the scene at CBGB and eventually the Mudd Club. Before long Grossman’s reputation as a contributing photographer to both major publications and underground journals became well established.
Bobby Grossman’s work has appeared in numerous exhibitions, catalogues and films. His first photo credit was the cover shot for Talking Heads EP and single “Psycho Killer.” Exhibitions include the legendary Times Square Show and New Wave/New York at PS1 and more recently “Bande a part” and “The Cool and The Crazy.” His work has been shown in museums and galleries worldwide including recent solo exhibits in New York City and Boca Raton. His contribution to film includes The Radiant Child about Jean Michel Basquiat, the William Burroughs documentary The Man Within and Blank City. Grossman was the official photographer for Glenn O’Brien’s public access “TV Party” and made a cameo in the film Downtown ’81. His work is included in the new documentary “Andy Warhol: Fifteen Minutes Eternal,” celebrating the Warhol Museum’s 20th anniversary. He is currently working on a book of his own photographs called “Light Sensitive.” For more information on Bobby Grossman: www.bobbygrossman.com
[Choco Moo]
In Choco Moo’s own words, “Art is my life.” From high profile collaborations with fashion brands and musicians to media appearances and gallery shows in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and New York, her career has exploded from humble beginnings. The closest she’s come to formal art education is the arts and crafts classes she took as a small child in Japan. As an independent female artist, she’s a rarity in the entertainment industry. Despite her rising popularity, Choco Moo remains committed to her underground roots. Her signature monochromatic palette, mysterious name, and punk attitude represent her own fusion of Japanese and American pop cultures. Choco Moo credits cult film, music, especially Hip Hop culture, and artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat among her inspirations. At the heart of her modern art inspired style is an essential traditional visual art form, calligraphy. The elegance and simplicity of calligraphy writing can be traced in her cheeky black and white cartoon characters drawn from memory. Today, her work can be found regularly featured by international publications and prestigious art galleries around the world. chocomoo.blogspot.com
[Choco Moo x Bobby Grossman]
Choco Moo counts Andy Warhol among her art heroes. She has followed in Warhol’s footsteps so intimately documented by Bobby Grossman’s now-iconic photographs. It is beyond faith that this would lead her to their collaboration- Grossman’s first with a ‘Millenial’ contemporary artist and Choco Moo’s first with a photographer. “I was a little nervous to draw illustrations on Bobby’s photographs of these great icons of the past. When I look at these pictures, I sense the same moment of the photo’s capture, that moment where the artist becomes my model. Once I found the breathing space between us, I was able to draw freely.” Choco Moo represents a new generation of artists that celebrates its pop culture, identified by the modern motifs she had added to each portrait. This collaboration is a preview for their East and West coast exhibitions planned for next year.
Underground Forces: Target Video 1977-1984
There will be three 90-minute shows from the Target Video archive with each show focused on a different region: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York/Europe running continuously. These videos were recently screened at The Getty Museum, The Cinefamily and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Live footage of featured bands from San Francisco include: The Dead Kennedys, Tuxedomoon, The Mutants, The Avengers, The Sleepers, Negative Trend, Crime at San Quentin and much more; bands from LA include, The Dils, The Wierdos, The Screamers, The Go Go’s, Devo, X, Minutemen, The Plugz, and more;
and bands from NY/Europe include: Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, Bush Tetras, DNA, Contortions, Ramones, Cramps, Siouxie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Lydia Lunch, the Stranglers, the Bad Brains, and more.
[Jill Hoffman-Kowal] became a serious artist in the early ’70’s while attending California College of Arts and Crafts. Inspiration came from her years collaborating with her long time partner Joe Rees during the birth of the Conceptual Art movement. Together they founded Target Video and began documenting the art performances and then a natural transition to the punk rock movement. As the success of Target Video evolved, so did Jill’s career. She became co-producer of shows and promoter of the Target Video “electronic cinema” tours in the U.S. and Europe; and also worked for Richard Branson’s NYC Virgin Records promotional office.
Her art extended to include photography as she documented the performances and personalities of the punk rock life, as well as creating photographic installations projected during the band shows. The experience culminated in a collection of work archiving a pop-culture phenomena. Together with team member Jackie Sharp, the largest punk rock library in the world was developed.
When Jill moved to Sarasota in 1983, her painting became the priority. She eventually married sculptor Dennis Kowal and created her series of minimalist paintings, which span over 2 decades, in a variety of series including large white paintings and other minimalist works. For more information on Jill Hoffman-Kowal: www.jillhoffman.net
[Target Video aka TargetVideo77] is a San Francisco-based studio, founded by artist Joe Rees, who in collaboration with Jackie Sharp, Jill Hoffman, Sam Edwards and others, archived early art performance, punk and hardcore bands on video and film. Performers and artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols, the Dead Kennedys, The Cramps, William S. Burroughs, The Clash, the Avengers, Mark Pauline, Survival Research Labs, The Go-Go’s, John Cooper Clarke, Bauhaus, X, The Dils, Johanna Went, Talking Heads, Black Flag, Flipper, and Crucifix were recorded in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Using multiple cameras, they produced some of the highest quality footage available of these bands performing in front of live audiences. In addition, videos often included interviews with members of the bands. For more information on Target Video: targetvideo.blogspot.com
For more information on the Selby Gallery please visit us on the web: www.ringling.ed/selbygallery
[EVENTS IN SELBY GALLERY]
Thursday, August 21, 7:00 pm: Interview with Bobby Grossman
Friday, August 22, 5-7 pm: Opening reception
Thursday, September 4, 9 pm: Video screening and interview with Jill Hoffman-Kowal
[SUMMER HOURS: MAY-AUGUST]
May – August: MONDAY – FRIDAY, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
September – April: MONDAY – FRIDAY, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM & TUESDAYS, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
[CONTACT US]
Phone: 941.359.7563 or 941.351.5100
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ringling.edu/selbygallery
[LOCATION] Selby Gallery is located on the Ringling College of Art and Design campus, one-half block east of 2700 N. Tamiami Trail on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Sarasota.
[ABOUT SELBY GALLERY] All Selby Gallery exhibitions and presentations (and most of our special events) are free and open to the public.
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