René Ricard died on February 1st 2014, he is dead. There, it’s been stated. I don’t want to talk about his life – that is the natural evolution thanks to online blogs and Facebook posts. Let us talk about Art.

I discovered René Ricard in death, actually through writing this article. I am enthralled. It is not because of his poetry which began his name in art circles, nor his later projects of transferring his poetry to a visual medium, an inversion of the ekphrastic poem. I am drawn to his ideas of art and its relevance not only as a commodity but as means through which language is transmitted. René’s art was this language of transcribing Art.

There are borders between what is acknowledged as Art and that which strives to achieve something new, to rise above the vernacular of the current culture. His writing in Artforum Magazine allowed his role as critic to dissect Art. It was here that his 1981 essay “The Radiant Child” presented Basquiat to the world as an artist which spoke in a new vernacular. His graffiti origins moved beyond just tagging in an attempt to offer a critique and insight. René was keen to this.

So Art is different from art. The capital “A” an implication of a poem, painting, or film that looks to create to press on the preconceived and accepted. He argues the public “need[s] recognizable evidence of our existence. Something has happened and we need, if not advice, at least a demonstration of the situation…”  Quoting Socrates “an intelligent word graven on the soul of the learner…knows when to speak and when to be silent.”

Yet again another boundary appears upon which Art’s constantly shifting form must be careful to straddle and never tumble into the disposability of consumerism or the often obscurity of too much of an Avant-garde.

A better view is the paradox that it needs to be porous and passive but also reactive and solid. The critic’s role, which René excelled at, was to find the work that spoke to something other than itself and then present it so others may experience it.

Sadly his voice will be unable to lead us towards new words that present the reality of existence.

Written by Chris Caruso

Rene Ricard’s Artwork Is Represented by Vito Schnabel.  Featured Photo by Rita Barros

The post The Radiant Child Scribe, Poet & Artist René Ricard Dead at 67 appeared first on Artiholics.

New York – Saturday, January 18, 2014

Very shocking and unfortunate news from the NY art world tonight.  9/11 first responder and fellow Castle Fitzjohns artist Jef Campion, also known in the street art community as Army Of One, has passed away.

“Very, very sorry to receive news this evening that my friend Jef, who many of you knew as Army Of One, died today… Always an encouraging and friendly word, a firefighter and this man did so much charity work particularly for his kids at Ronald McDonald House… Very sad news… RIP, my friend…” — Oh Captain My Captain

Video via  Everyday People Project

In Jef’s own words:

“I was born an Artist, I became a firefighter”,

But it took the tragic events of 9/11/01in NYC to unleash the Artist buried deep within me, and send me back into the Studio , after a global street Art Campaign to raise awareness to the plights of Children put in Harms way through War , Poverty and Disease , and,

Trough the ashes of Ground Zero ,this Artists soul and vision was unleashed,

Prior to 9/11/01,I had packed up my studio and art supplies and was content within the Firefighters ranks,

No Art, No Creative outlet, until the World Trade Center attack.

Through Days into Months spent on the pile at Ground Zero, coupled with the social, political and religious I was now experiencing , I retreated in to a world of PSTD and self destruction , finally realizing that humanity had lost its innocence .

Years of therapy and soul searching , followed by re opening my studio and my first portfolio” Atrophy”

Was born,

“Nearly 10 years After I Quit the Creative field , ” Atrophy” combined with Haunting and emotion stories and visceral Artwork, peeled back layer after decomposing layer of a life less ordinary, a hidden life of Drug ,sex and Alcohol Abuse, a highly dysfunctional upbringing and self destruction hidden deep inside my sub conscious , this Artwork and Writing is meant to awake Primal Emotion in the viewer, welcome to my world ,

The images and writing that make up the portfolio “Atrophy ” are not about 9/11/01 or Firefighting ,my artwork breaches the Tenacity of the human Spirit with survival Under the harshest realms of madness……

Art saved My Life……”

Jef

Written by Cojo “Art Juggernaut”
[Jef Campion portrait and photos by Cojo Art Juggernaut Jef Campion quote via. Castle Fitzjohns Gallery]

The post Breaking Art World News: Army Of One aka Jef Campion is Dead appeared first on Artiholics.

It is with a heavy and heavily shaken heart that I will begin to write this post.  The art and design worlds have lost a great talent this week, with the passing of Alexis Yraola, a beautiful, kind, and loving soul, who has shuffled off this mortal coil far, far too soon.  I just read the news  on her facebook page about an hour ago and am still in shock.

She kept in touch with friends and colleagues through social networking.  I’ve chatted with her just in the last couple weeks.  Her birthday was only two weeks ago, this is all very fresh and still quite unreal.  A note from her family, posting on her facebook account:

“Dear Friends,

It is with great sorrow that the Yraola Family has to write this note today. Alexis unexpectedly passed away on Friday. Our hearts are immeasurably broken; we miss her very much.

She will always be remembered as someone with a kind and generous heart, a humorous wit, and an amazing talent. She was quick with a quip but even faster with a hug. Alexis will be forever young and beautiful in our memories.

Her friends brought her great joy and we very much appreciate all that you have done to enrich her life.

There will be private services held for her in Queens, New York.

Feel free to leave your kind thoughts and fond recollections of Alexis. Please be aware that the family will not be responding to posts.

God Bless,
The Yraola Family”

We were classmates at The School of Visual Arts, and graduated together.  She was my age.

Photo of Alexis Yraola taken in 1999 by Cojo in the SVA Computer Lab.

I took the previously unpublished picture above of her back in school, she modeled for a few reference shots I needed for a drawing project. Ever since the invention of social networking the constant inside joke between her classmates and friends was that somehow out of all of us, she hasn’t aged.  She actually continually looked as though she was getting younger in every subsequent facebook post (funny because it was true).

A facebook comment conversation over one of her photos last month (15 Years Later).

In her art life, she was an amazing designer and art director.  After graduating SVA she worked for years for Elektra Records, J.Records, and RCA Music Group designing some iconic album covers for an eclectic range of artists from Alicia Keys, to Barry Manilow.  (Her Portfolio Website: Lexiyrao.com)

Recently (this past Wednesday) she went totally freelance and launched her own independent Shadowbox Art Company.

The brand was called Lexi and Bubba, and she was designing one of a kind handmade Shadowboxes.

The brand was based on her name, and the name of adorable dog Bubba.  Bubba, as her friends know was her online partner in crime.  Her facebook posts were usually about what her and Bubba were doing.  They addressed the audience as “everybunny,” causally typing as though Bubba were speaking and asking questions.  It seems like she really had a passion for making these Shadowboxes, and just launched the facebook page for it on May 29th, with the .com soon to come.  The Facebook  page was updating like mad, adding new pieces of art EVERY HOUR!Bubba with a ball- Photo by Alexis Yraola

Her last post and comment was a piece of Shadowbox Line Art titled “Dog Of The Year.”

This happened just two days into this new and exciting chapter in her professional art life…  It’s unreal.  I am truly at a loss of words.  Alexis, you will be sorely missed by all who knew you, all whom you inspired, and all who loved you.

Our sincere condolences go out to the Yraola family.

Written by Cojo “Art Juggernaut”

The post R.I.P. Alexis Yraola, The World Has Lost One More Talented Artist And Beautiful Spirit appeared first on Artiholics.

Today a legend in stop-motion animation died.  Ray Harryhausen’s stop motion model animation not only influenced Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and George Lucas, but basically breathed life into an art form which would have otherwise not have gotten a second wind.

According to Deadline.com

Harryhausen’s fascination with animated models began in the early 1930s after watching Willis O’Brien’s creations in King Kong with his childhood friend, the late Ray Bradbury. He began his lifelong adventure in filmmaking with his own home movies that featured his first attempts at model animation. His genius was in bringing his models to life, becoming characters in their own right. His other major works include Mighty Joe Young (1949), It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955), 20 Million Miles To Earth (1957), Mysterious Island (1961), One Million Years B.C. (1966), The Valley Of Gwangi, (1969), The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad (1973), Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger (1974) and Clash of the Titans (1981).

Think of all the stop-motion effects in Movies and and TV shows that would have never been invented if the stop-motion tradition hadn’t been carried on into color film.  Gumby,  the Noid, The California Raisins, South Park, Robot Chicken, I could go on and on.

“The Lord of the Rings is my ‘Ray Harryhausen movie.’ Without his life-long love of his wondrous images and storytelling it would never have been made — not by me at least.” -Peter Jackson

Ray’s influence is vast, and he will be missed.

Written by Cojo “Art Juggernaut”

[via Deadline & Npr]

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