Modart » Kid Zoom

Project 5

Maxi — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Project 5 is an urban arts initiative presented by Cockle Bay Wharf, designed and curated by aMBUSH Gallery to support the arts through pop-up live art, music and auction events held each year.

Each Project 5 event commissions four artists to paint large scale artworks in a pop-up live art and music event, which artworks are then auctioned in a high profile auction event to raise money for charity (the fifth member of Project 5). 100% of the proceeds are donated to charity to support creative programs for young people.

After the success of the first Project 5 pop-up live art event held in December 2009 with leading artists Ben Frost, Shannon Crees, Beastman and Phibs and the first auction event held in May 2010, which raised a groundbreaking $10,000 for Information and Cultural Exchange, Project 5 is now established as an ongoing arts initiative.

In 2010, Project 5 raised $25,000.00 from a total of 8 artwork sales – a record breaking result. The second Project 5 live art event in August featured Anthony Lister, Meggs, Ears and WeBuyYourKids which auction event raised a phenomenal $15,000.00 for our nominated charity.

Upcoming weekend my favorite Australian street artist Ghostpatrol was invited to participate at the live art event, joining Kid Zoom, Deb and James Jirat Patradoon. I’m curious to see what amount these heroes will be able to raise.

If you can’t make it you can access the live webcast of the event here.

Video- Kid Zoom This City Will Eat Me Alive

Lori — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:32:25 +0000

I’ve barely seen my buddy over the past few months since his opening. Kid Zoom has been so crazily busy, working on collabos with Chris B., painting and planning for his next show, and toiling away at this amazing video, largely filmed by Dan Gutt. I can’t wait til he gets back from Australia and we can dance it out to Heavy D again.

This video, the fruit of his loins, pretty much sums up his time in New York thus far. Enjoy!!!

KID ZOOM – This City Will Eat Me Alive from kidzoom on Vimeo.

This City Won’t Eat Zoom Alive

Lori — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:54:20 +0000

Ian “Kid Zoom” Strange’s New York debut has come to a close, on December 30th to be exact. I feel like over the last few months I’ve watched him grow up, from young innocent into a mature artist. Ok, maybe not “mature artist”- but now he has his license to drive.

His show, “This City Will Eat Me Alive” was possibly the most ambitious first show I’ve ever seen. It felt complete and thought through, despite the fact that it was huge, both in size and number of pieces, which sometimes can cause a creative strain. The opening was packed, and visitors steadily stopped by the space in the Meatpacking District for the duration of the show. Many pieces sold, some even at the opening.

This is all almost unheard of for an artist who was virtually unknown in New York a few months ago. Ian’s attributes his successful debutante ball to the guidance of a few good friends (I’d like to think myself), Ron English, and Opera Gallery’s George Benias, who has gone above and beyond for Ian. I can’t tell you how many stories I hear from artists about their gallerists taking advantage, or not being supportive enough, or seeing dollar signs instead of what is best for an artist’s career. No, I’m not saying this is across the board, but I’ve heard many horror stories by young artists whose galleries don’t earn their 50 percent.

Though Ian is not only an extremely talented and focused artist, but also one of the most humble and grateful people I know, which makes it really easy to help him. George took on the role that a gallery director should, he helped Ian create the best show possible. He found Ian an amazing raw space on Gansevoort Street, rather than in Opera’s Soho Gallery, as the pop up would set him apart. He also is involved with Ian’s work, guiding him to take note from great painters, and steering his gallery work away from his street art style.

Not that Ian doesn’t know what he is doing. Everything about this show has been perfectly calculated, from his personal Chuck Close-esque portraits of his girlfriend and his best friend, to his hand portraiture and take on a New York City cab, dotted with the attention getting giant Zoom-tagged taxidermy bear which greets visitors. Each piece shows off his skill and talent in everyway. I immediately envisioned his museum retrospective, with the beginning of his chronology wowing me and leading me strongly into his mid career work. Now that he has proven himself, he has already begun his evolution to the next stage of his work, which will be much more personal and introspective.

Ian’s show has also gained much more media attention than most artists starting out, which as a lot to do with the fact that he is simply a nice guy (with a lot of talent of course). But also his skill has attracted the attention of Chris Brown, whom he is working on an upcoming project with. His next solo exhibition is planned for late late 2011, probably here in New York. As far as I’m concerned, he has already made his mark, and I can’t wait to see what this year brings for my brother from another mother.

Special thanks to Joe Russo and Arrested Motion for the photographs