Dan’s Papers January 7, 2011 danspapers.com Page 29
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Elvis Comes to Sag Harbor
HONORING THE ARTIST
by Marion Wolberg Weiss
Joe Chierchio While Joe Chierchio is known for his “traditional” images of figures in familiar settings (including this week’s cover featuring a school bus on a snowy day), his newest project is different—at least at first glance. Called “Mixed Messages,” the series still juxtaposes people in a definable environment, but this time it’s Chierchio’s New York City: sexy, energized and gritty. One image includes the Brooklyn Bridge—a personal icon for the artist. But this series is more intense, with sexual images (like a woman sitting on a water hydrant) often predominating. Another example includes a woman running down a street strewn with fruit (particularly apples). Expressionism is the prevalent style, with raked angles (worm’s-eye-view) adding distortion. A third recurring trait is the presence of foreground/background objects. Q: You like to experiment, as is obvious with
movies. We’re going to show him in the early days, actually playing with these guys – his ‘label mates’ from Sun Studios in Memphis. It’s Elvis doing what he does best.” Also included will be clips of Wanda Jackson, who Lauro called “the female Elvis, the queen of rockabilly.” After the film, keeping with the rockabilly theme, there will be dancing to the tunes of the band The Lone Sharks. Lauro said he’s also trying to get rights to material from Elvis’s 1968 come back, “before he became the fat Elvis,” he laughed. “We’re sticking with the skinny Elvis.” The party continues Saturday with a screening of the 1961 film Blue Hawaii, where Elvis plays the young socialite Chad Gates, recently discharged from the Army, and happily back to surfing with his buddies in Hawaii. Rather than work in the corporation of his father’s choos-
A young Elvis Presley.
“Mixed Media.” Any other things you’re doing differently? A: I’m working with watercolors now. It’s a very tricky medium. You have to wait for the paper to dry or else you get a smear. Q: Why are you changing media from colored pencils. A: If you’re truly a creative painter, you have to try different media. If not, the work becomes safe. It’s nice to make yourself uncomfortable. Artists can’t just do what the public wants. Everyone wants Tony Bennett to sing, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Q: Doesn’t he paint? A: He’s a very sweet painter. He says, “I’m a work in progress.” I agree with that. If you think you’re there, you may not be. Q: Your latest experiment, “Mixed Messages,” is very different. A: It’s my most contemporary work. We make digital prints of the imagery using my drawings, which are fantasy, and Cosimo Scianna’s photographs, which are realistic. Q: How did you and Cosimo come to collaborate? A: We grew up together, went to art school together and worked together. We both left the commercial field and went into fine art. Cosimo said,”Let’s collaborate.” Q: What talents did you use from your advertising days to create this series? A: Graphic design, composition and concept. The
ing, Chad decides to become a tour guide at his girlfriend’s agency. In the following bit of dialogue, he defends his choice to his mother, played by Angela Landsbury. Chad: I like my job, mum. It’s fun, it’s interesting and I meet a lot of nice people. Sarah Lee Gates: Nonsense. Tourists aren’t people. They’re... They’re tourists. Add to that a lot of bikinis and tight white swim trunks, some ukuleles – you get the gist. Elvis Weekend at Bay Street The Legends Series presents Elvis and Friends, Friday, Jan, 7, 8:00 p.m. $20 for the film and the live band afterwards. The Picture Show presents Elvis in Blue Hawaii; Saturday, Jan. 8, 8:00 p.m. $5.00 Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor
idea comes first. Art has to talk to the viewer. Q: How did the importance of the idea work in your experience at an ad agency? A: When the writer would write copy with the visual in mind, that was good. Then it was easier for me to come up with images. Q: Do you find yourself analyzing ad campaigns now? What’s your general opinion of them? A: I look at ads all the time. Most are full of tricks, gimmicks, sensationalism. If you look carefully, they are all technique. A lot of “show” and no “biz.” Q: Or no “fizz.” A: The point is, sell the sizzle rather than the steak. Concept comes first, execution comes second. That’s my philosophy. Joe Chierchio’s work is on view at Southampton’s Arthur Kalaher Fine Art Gallery. Call 631-204-0383 for information.
SPRINGSTEEL L
Gallery
Fine Paintings And Sculptures RECEPTION: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 8TH / 5-7
PM
Works of Bernard Springsteel and Guest Artist Photographer Jay Webster
419 Main Street / Greenport Winter Hours: Saturday And Sunday 11am-5pm 477-6818
614
By Susan M. Galardi It’s that time of year again: Time to go to movies. In the last few years in the Hamptons, we’ve gotten some great new film options. The UA in East Hampton has 3-D—woohoo! The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall has the mother of all movie screens, with state of the art sound and projection technology. Like the John Drew, the Bay Street Theatre, Parrish Art Museum and of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts (WHBPAC) are offering more and more in the off season for movie lovers who are looking for off the beaten path choices. This weekend, there are some interesting options: The Metropolitan Opera simulcast of Puccini’s Fanciulla Del West at the John Drew Theatre (Sunday, 1 p.m., see Day by Day calendar); the dark comedy Nora’s Will from Mexico at the WHBPAC, January 7, 8 & 9 (see Day by Day, Friday), and at the Bay Street Theatre, TWO film celebrations of Elvis, just in time for The King’s birthday on January 8. He would’ve been 76 this year. Bay Street has been doing an Elvis weekend for a while, and this year the celebration begins on Friday with another of Joe Lauro’s highly entertaining Legends Series offering – Elvis and Friends. “I’m going to focus on the people who came up with Elvis – Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins – the Sun Records guys featured in the Broadway show Million Dollar Quartet,” said Lauro. “Elvis will be in and out of it, but it’s all about him.” Lauro said that the film will include only live performance clips of Elvis. “There will be no clips from