Django Reinhardt , the gipsy jazz "king", new life out of Brooklyn.

I love Django Reinhardt music so Sunday I learned that somewhere in Brooklyn, in Park Slope to be exact, a band was playing his music. It reminded me so much of a period before and after  World War 2 , I never knew but always  been curious about. Something rebellious and elegant where poetry and music were in black and white , an era  with movies with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

My friends and I decided to drive from midtown Manhattan to this bar, called "Barbes." With a name like that, my mind was already geared towards something special. It’s also the name of a famous area in Paris full of great Parisian history, when you read Zola, you will know what I am talking about.

The journey through Brooklyn was really interesting, this borough keeps getting more and more fascinating so much is happening there, so many projects and developments, I really encourage you to take a trip here and observe for yourself what is today a bustling and dynamic district.

We finally arrived to this bar, "Barbes", extremely charming and low key, a red velvet atmosphere, with great Brooklyn characters sitting and drinking their lager. I immediately felt very comfortable and at ease. Almost in Paris on a Sunday night. A long hallway with bar stools everywhere and in the end, there was a small room with a stage and many people sitting, drinking and waiting to hear the band. Three people walked towards the small stage with their instruments. Here they are ,  really looking like musicians , or at least a hip band.

I was holding in my hand a small prospectus with the schedule for the evening.
STEPHANE WREMBEL presents THE DJANGO EXPERIMENT: French virtuoso Guitarist Stephaney Wrembel seems to have channeled both the technique and the fire of Django Reinhardt. He studied for years with the manouche (the French Gypsies) but has also gotten deep into American vernacular musical styles. His weekly sets will mix up the traditional Django repertoire along gypsy swing re-interpretations of standards.

the band

Wow, I said to myself. And to tell you the truth, I was very happy to be there, Stephane announced that he wrote the music of the last Woody Allen movie, and from his opinion, the best movie ever by Allen. 

With a wry sense of humor , I asked , how was Carla in the movie, and the comment from Stephane was excellent. Every one applauded and thought I was funny.

Apparently Paris is being the center of the movie,  and it's really great. I think Stephane thought that if Paris was the main character of the movie , it was enough to certify , its greatness. No one can disagree with him on this one .

So I cannot wait to see the movie. I want to share with you a little of the evening in this little clip , I taped.

After a few drinks and a great time listening to some great gig , I decided to drive back to Manhattan but in my heart , I wished Brooklyn was my home now, it is so cool. If you look for authenticity , it's the place to be

A most enchanting morning

Early this morning, I was on my way to work in my studio in Long Island City, a beautiful sunny day with a crisp blue sky, a gorgeous aquamarine that you find only in a New York spring day. I entered my industrial loft building and got into the elevator like I do now regularly for years. This is the kind of blue-collar neighborhood, which exudes the guts of the city, it is electric, tense and so real in emotions with a rainbow of people from all over the world. I push my elevator button and in short time got into my floor. I then realize that something very special is occurring, a sound, an incredible sound was reverberating through my hallway; I had never experienced such a thing, it was as if you were in a cathedral. Something highly magical was happening, curious as I am I walked along this long hallway, and there in a corner hidden, a man was playing his guitar with such heavenly talent that I  could not believe  what I was witnessing. Alone in a corner, sitting on a broken chair, he was playing for himself, some magical songs. Not used for this kind of situation, I just stood there and listened to his music, almost levitating. I felt totally spiritually elevated, seeing this amazing musician playing for an audience of one. He told me that he was from Haiti and was here for the last 40 years, and that his name was Lionel Germain.

I introduced myself and told him that I was an artist and working on the floor and that he was most welcomed to come and play in my studio whenever he felt like it. My soul was opening as if I was praying, it was surreal.

I stood there for another 10 minutes, and was counting my blessings, this beautiful gift that was offered to me to start the day with the sound of music and talent.

Lionel touched my soul in a unique way; he works during the day, as a clerk in a big commercial enterprise, to earn his keeps. But in the morning before working, he is there in the hallway enchanting the space with his talent, and getting an enormous pleasure doing what he loves above all.

True his existence, I realized how blessed I am to do what I really like without having to compromise like Lionel. His smile and his “joie de vivre” is infectious, probably a modest life, but in a way, I was jealous of his freedom and his ability to carry his guitar and create these unforgettable moments for strangers to admire.

Another one of these untypical New York characters that create a beautiful tapestry of people that have this spark that makes you think about your luck and destiny. This was a grateful moment that reinforces my conviction about why this city, always surprises me, even at my doorstep.

 Lionel Germain

Soutine/Bacon at Helly Nahmad Gallery, wow !

Last night , I went to the opening of  Soutine/Bacon at Helly Nahmad Gallery on Madison Avenue.  The Gallery opening on a Sunday evening was by itself , an audacious gesture. Incredibly the Gallery had it right , the exhibition curated by Maurice Tuchman is a bold and impressive display of imagination and inventiveness. Rarely do you see such impressive vision, Helly Nahmad with this exhibition is presenting to New Yorkers , one of the most fascinating and articulated art show in these last couple of years.

Who would have thought to present Soutine/Bacon, and now that is it on the walls , no one appears to be surprised, this is the beauty of this powerful event.

You have to see the exhibition to really understand , it’s message and it’s derived influence. Maurice Tuchman has genius and in this show and the amazing catalog produced by the Gallery, you realize the effort and courage that it took to gather the works from the world’s best collections and the Nahmad’s own collection.

Just a word also on the opening itself, it was exceptionally well attended, and I had a great time , I always loved Soutine and Bacon. In the world of art , this show will create , a “disruption”, from now on curators will be challenged to think differently when they plan their next show.

photos:

http://bfanyc.com/home/event/1108?page=5

Katarina Ellingsen and Ron Agam at party

for the opening of the Soutine/Bacon show

My few minutes with Tim Hetherington

Yesterday I was going trough a pile of business cards that I had collected trough the last few months in order to use them for inviting people to my next opening in May 5. Nothing exceptional till I hit a specific card. It was a card that Tim Hetherington had given me sometime in October.  

I had met him during a private screening for his movie “Restrepo”. Patricia Duff , the founder and soul of the “Common Good” had invited him and Sebastian Junger to discuss the movie that they directed and produced.

It was an animated questions and answers  forum with fascinating questions, a hallmark of the Common Good. It was one of these evening that you will never forget, sitting in the darkness of a movie hall. You were suddenly projected into the life of an American platoon in the worlds most dangerous and beautiful landscape somewhere in Afghanistan in the midst of Taliban land. This documentary was breathing life and death as if it was your daily environment, urban citizens of the world.

For over an hour , I thought, I was with them the platoon , in Afghanistan , living with them , in defense of democracy, thousand of miles away .These young , brave American soldiers , with a unique temper and a soul , that sometime will make you cry , as you confront with them their mission somewhere in a place call hell ,the Korengal Valley, also know as "The Valley of Death.”

So in looking at his card, it reminded the few minutes , we had conversed on Afghanistan and its future. It was so informative. He was a kind and humble man and you could sense , his passion. I assume, he must has been a fun guy to have as a friend. Knowing he was living here in Williamsburg near my own studio, I had intended to sent him an invitation, unfortunately , the horrible news of his death in Libya  this week are a reminder that courage of a photo journalist sometimes also ends in a tragic way. 

For me this encounter was now another symbol of why in the world there are people like Tim and then the rest of us.

http://www.thecommongoodusa.com

Did you say God ?

My famous father always repeats this phrase “ Man was created at the image of God”; imagine being a child hearing that quite often. In my little mind, my dad was the strongest image not God, I did not even comprehend what is a God and why would I even think about a subject so obscure and almost ethereal.

Then slowly with time and some “schooling”, a more developed mind started to develop a narrative and configure a strategy that will enable me to become an "artist". As a child, I used to spend time every weekend drawing and creating, sitting next  to my father on a table that seemed as long as a railroad track. I was fascinated by this man who would spend hours and days of his life drawing squares and circles and triangles in almost all the colors of the rainbow. In his atelier , there was like a monastic silence, it was a temple for Art.

My mother would send me to my dad “atelier” so that she could have some rest from a very turbulent child and perhaps also wishing that I learn something helpful in my life. I am laughing now that I entered this very fascinating period of my life. I wish she could have been here today and see where I am in my life.

I was 4 or five. He will give me some paper and colors, and here I was becoming an artist. I would spend hours drawing and scribbling not realizing the privilege that I had to be seated next to “God”. I was doing my “gribouillage” with an intensity and passion that was truly unique. No one could stop me except when I had no more paper to draw.

My “artworks” were hanged and plastered all over his studio, a sign of a certain achievement, being a little boy, I could not be prouder.

One day a famous collector arrived to his studio and while opening the door, he saw some works, taped on a wall. Immediately, he looked at my father, and told him:" Agam, I love your new works, these drawing are really great." Needless to say, I repeated this story to every one who had ears to listen to me. I was so proud.  

I remember playing with Calder at his place in Sachet, he was older than my dad by many years, his stature was to me very impressive, he was very gregarious and friendly and with big smiles. After the visit to his place, I started to paint big red and yellow circles. 

Later on I learned that my father studio was also Paul Gauguin atelier for a period of his life. If I had known that as a child perhaps my art teacher would have given me an A+ instead of just an A.
And yes man was created at the image of God, we do not imitate, we are gifted to create and invent.  At 53, I finally found my childhood again.

Ron Agam in ELLE DECO magazine May Edition with Robert Couturier

In the new edition of ELLE DECO, May edition, the important design and architecture magazine, famed international interior designer Robert Couturier appears on the cover of the Magazine with an important story on him .
Robert has been involved in some of the most glamorous and expansive architectural projects in the world from 40 million dollar residences in NYC to palaces in Mexico , castles in Scotland and France to ranches in Aspen.
Robert Couturier who has been a great admirer and supporter of my work has allowed the magazine to photograph his magnificent apartment in New York , Soho district. In these photos you can see two monumental eight feet by eight feet works of Ron Agam that depicts flowers.   If you buy ELLE DÉCOR you will see more of the work and article that proudly display , the name of the artist as well .
I cannot be more honored to have been chosen by Robert Couturier for these two great works that are hanging in his living room.

 The Ron Agam artwork in Robert Couturier residence

If Picasso had a mac ?

Sometime I wonder what Picasso or better Andy Warhol would have created had they been born in the age of computers. As for Picasso his incredible production and constant reinvention would have probably been even greater; creativity wise, a synthetic digital brush would have been for Picasso, a magical creative wand that his playful hand would have embraced without reservation. Warhol whose paintings were essentially centered on silk-screening is an interesting example to analyze. I remember working with Rupert Smith who was his latest, silk-screening atelier in Tribeca, Andy would be presented ideas of portraits based on his favorite colors schemes by Rupert and this collaborative work was the alternative to using Photoshop and digital printers that really did not exist yet at the level they are today. Warhol with his constant use of silk screening did in fact rarely touched a brush or a canvas in the traditional sense of art, his favorite medium was the precursor of the digital printer.

So the evolution of painters from brushes, canvas to silk-screening where a great number of post war artists expressed themselves find itself challenged by a digital world that today explodes the notion of paintings. At MIT in Boston Massachusetts, the digital lab had for many years defined the role of computers in creativity, from animation to paintings. Some of these experiments dated as far as 40 years ago. Today we are witnessing an incredible cross-pollination between new media and old-fashioned painting techniques. I have for my part found a new source of inspiration in the diversity of tools offered by the digital world. I embrace this medium without reservation always hoping for new revelations. By mixing my mind, fingers with Intel processors, my imagination is soaring to new heights, I did not know existed, where only a brush and empty white canvas where the only norms , today’s technology offers me and my fellow artists substrates and platforms of expressions that keep our creative flow running towards new shapes, forms and colors constantly pushing the frontiers of  our imagination. My next exhibition opening in May 5 at the BDG gallery in Chelsea will includes a diverse visual experience based on this research both traditional and digital.