Art Show
Alvan Long / Chris Graichen / Dave Tree
SweetTree Ink Gallery, Watertown, MA 8/1/13
Well, here’s another art show review, one that I only went to the opening a week or so ago but because it’s only going on for a few weeks I submit the review in a timely manner. Deadlines, not music, nor art, nor writing is the main inspiration at the TNB office.
This is at Dave Tree’s gallery on Mount Auburn Street in Watertown. The last show opening I went to here was two days before the Marathon. Then in less than a week later there were bombs and guns being fired off not far from here in this usually quiet neighborhood- but on with the show!
Alvan Long is a name I know well. He was in two popular local bands in the eighties, November Group and Down Avenue and after that he created a well- known recording studio New Alliance that still exists today.
I enjoy very much the art he is displaying tonight as I’ve always enjoyed artists who skirt the traditional canvas and paint- though that style is great, too. He uses small wooden box objects or sometimes drawers and puts old advertisements from forties detective magazines, (advertising common objects like cigarettes or food), upon them. Each piece is similar but different at the same time and I find you can spend a long time looking at every part of his objects.
A couple of items were sold tonight but my favorite piece is called “Blue Sunset Motel” a place he actually stayed in New Mexico, I believe. These objects have different layers, different ads upon them and just add up to an interesting visual experience that I like a lot. Here are links to his website and facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alvan.long?fref=ts
Chris Graichen is another artist in the show. He’s a younger guy who shares a studio with Alvan and is also a sound engineer as well. He stated that he was very influenced by Alvan at first but now has started to branch out on to his own style which I can see, too. His most striking work is these long thin drawers with some material forming ridges or tiny walls in them; its effect is very eerie. I find out the material is rusted metal and while I’m there two smaller drawers of the same style are sold.
Another piece of his I really liked was a painted canvas of land and sky with a string extended off the canvas holding a small kite with a small paper boy, extended off the canvas as well, holding the string. Here’s a link to his artwork:
http://chrisgraichen.wordpress.com/artwork/
Dave Tree, the owner of the gallery, is very prolific and always has some different art to show. He uses different media, sometimes canvases but more often skateboards, small desk drawers or other found objects. His work sometimes has a 3-D effect to it and is frequently humorous, political or both.
Jess Punk (The Batman of the local art scene, I being Robin) and I both agree our favorite piece by him tonight is a sliver towel dispenser. You know the type you can see your reflection in and often find in an old mens room next to the sink. This one has an outlined face of a stern, old man who seems to be peering out at us. I find out it is a picture of politician Dick Cheney and was done using the silk screen method, what they use in making t-shirts and what Andy Warhol used a lot, and he succeeded in completing this one by laying upon it on his stomach. A victory for America, indeed.
This is a great show with lots of great art. For those who don’t know, Dave was the lead singer of a popular local punk band, Tree, not too far back. And he mentioned to me that he’s interested in showing the work from artists in the bands and the scenes we cover. So check it out if you’re an artist or a fan of art or just curious. Dave’s a fun guy and his gallery is very punk rock, not snooty Newbury Street Gallery and would be a great place to show your work. Here are some links for Mr. Tree:
https://www.facebook.com/dave.tree.14?fref=ts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/downtowntraveler/8543652874/
Until next time- Same Bat Time! Same Bat Channel!
(Slimedog)