Crazy4Clut - Cult Movie Art 2 Review
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The Crazy4Cult exhibition has become something of an art icon. When the show came to the east coast, Gallery 1988 set up shop in a cool gallery space in Manhattans meat packing district.
Empty Lighthouse happened to arrive an hour early and to my astonishment, the line to get in looped around the block... as if Jay-z was performing. But no, instead you would walk in to find a collection of art that tugs at your pop-culture heart strings.
Everything you love about the past and present in the culture is on the wall, remixed in a new and clever perspective. It's no wonder that this show has attractive some big celebrities to its doors (Seth Rogan and Keven Smith to name a few).
In so many ways, Crazy4Cult is everything that is right with the art world and now it has been immortalized in the new book: Gallery 1988's Crazy4Cult: Cult Movie Art 2.
With an expectedly hilarious and obtuse introduction by Seth Rogan, the books stage is set. You know that in opposition to much of the seriousness that accompanies art, this is going to be a fun experience. Without a table of contents, you are thrust into the visual experience.
Page after page of beautifully created art tying itself to elements of recognition. You see a sculpture of Willy Wonka by Eric Price, a play off The Warriors by Dan Goodsell, and a reference to Warhol and Basquiat by Keith Noordzy.
And that is all in the first few pages.
One detail that really shines through in the book is the well thought-out layout. Just like the curated real life show, this book has been meticulously thought about and pieced together coherently.
On top of that, if there are pieces that don't stir up recognition, the cultural references are laid out for you in the descriptions.
Because the pieces are so strong, this may create a reverse discovery, where a pop-culture reference leads to the discovery of that pop-culture.
We had the opportunity to ask the co-owner of Gallery 1988 (Jensen Karp) some questions about the new book:
It's really something we never would've predicted and are so thankful for. The fact that we have people who will wait a few hours just to see (and buy) art is something I still pinch myself over. I think when we opened 10 years ago we thought that if we just stayed the course and produced shows that had artwork that actually spoke to our demographic, and more importantly friends, then people would show up. And that says a lot about the artists we've shown, especially in Crazy 4 Cult. We've been raised in a generation that sees pop culture, and what was at one time considered "low brow" - as the actual art. They were raised on Nintendo and the Coen Brothers being their masters. And now traditional art can depict that with G1988. And I think that's exciting for everyone and people want to see it. And that's the best news for us.
Why was it important to turn this show into a book?
I think after a few years of Crazy 4 Cult, we knew we were sitting on some of the best artwork inspired by film that had ever been created. There were just so many memorable pieces. The show would have it's run, then the pieces would go away from our website forever. We knew we wanted a place where all the work can be chronicled and saved for times sake. That was the reason for even thinking about it in the first place. We already had a relationship with Titan, so it just made sense. But it wasn't until we saw the layout of the first book that we realized how incredible it is as a book. I can't believe there was ever time we weren't thinking "This HAS to be a book." It's just so incredible for anyone who love art and/or movies.
What is your process for finding/discovering artists for the book (and shows)
Well, we're approaching our 10 year anniversary for the gallery - and 7th for Crazy 4 Cult (which will take place in NY again this year on December 13th), so that gives us a crazy large amount of artists we've worked with over the years, and that's where most of our artists come from. But we usually add 10-15% new artists per show, which we find through submissions and scouring the Internet. Then from the show, we work with Titan to curate what goes in the book. It's a tough process, but so exciting when we eventually see the book all finished.
Do categories of pop culture (Pee Wee Herman, Goonies, etc.) come together naturally, or is it suggested as a point of topic?
Every year we send out a list of films as inspiration, and a few titles change here and there - but it's pretty constant. We suggest people stay on the list, but if inspiration comes from outside of it, they just have to let us know. We've told people "no" before, but that's more based on the idea of if it's cult or not in our minds. But at this point, we know what sells and what could be a really cool addition to Crazy 4 Cult, so we help out a bit.
Overall it's hard to find anything to complain about with this book or the people behind it. In an age where print media is diminishing, it is art books like this one that keep my fingers to the paper. And with art museums filled with seriousness or NPRish humor, this is a breathe of fresh air.
This book is a reflection of the vision of Gallery 1988. That art, is for everyone.
Pick up the book here or here.