Andrew Van Sickle opened AVS ART Gallery in April 2008 with the two-fold goal of exhibiting Pop Art-influenced and outsider work of local and national interest and cultivating the next generation of art collectors. For the past six months, the gallery has achieved this through a combination of clever, fun group exhibits and unique special events such as the recent blogger party. The gallery's next exhibit, entitled Up in the Air, promises to fulfill both goals.
Opening on Saturday, 18 Oct 2008, Up in the Air will feature the work of fifteen national artists with roots in graffiti and other forms of street art, some of whom were included in the seminal Beautiful Losers exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center in 2004. Indeed, artist Jason Brunson, who curated Up in the Air with owner Andrew Van Sickle, was involved with Beautiful Losers. Participating artists include: Ewok, Biff Baxter, Dalek, Jesse Geller, Brett Ryan, Jason Brunson, Tony Curanaj, Richard Coleman, Josh Lazcano, Chris Gliebe, Lydia Fong, Carter Gilliss, and Stephen Powers.
Philadelphia-raised and New York City-based Stephen Powers, a.k.a. ESPO, is a recent recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship and author of The Art of Getting Over, published nine years ago by St. Martin's Press and considered by many to be a classic book on the history of graffiti. Kansas City's Scribe has also published a children's book, There's an Octopus Under My Bed, through Cincinnati's Shake It Ink. James Marshall, a.k.a. Dalek, became well-known for his Space Monkey characters and has exhibited internationally. The work of San Francisco-based Richard Coleman has been published in a monograph entitled I Was Just Leaving, from Gingko Press. Cincinnati's own Chris Gliebe straddles the world's of fine art and graphic design, with a ten-year exhibition history and commercial commissions for diverse clients in the cultural sector.
This Saturday's opening reception is scheduled for 7-10 pm. Up in the Air includes approximately 40 pieces, as well as an on-site collaboration among six of the exhibiting artists, which will be unveiled Thursday, 23 Oct, 7-10 pm. Up in the Air will be up through the end of October. The timing of the exhibit coincides with Scribble Jam [23-26 Oct], an annual event known as "America's Largest Hip Hop Festival" which has been taking place right here in Cincinnati for the past 10 years.
AVS Art's location on funky West 4th St. downtown adds a much-needed injection of art to an already eclectic mix of businesses, including unheardof and Bang night club. Indeed, according to VanSickle, West 4th was a thriving arts district during the 1970s and 1980s, and he believes the timing is right for a resurgence of the independent arts scene downtown. The space was also the location of the Linda Schwartz Gallery. VanSickle is optimistic about the refurbished Fountain Square a few blocks away, more people moving downtown, and increased events and destinations in the area.
Already, events at AVS ART have drawn big crowds, and the work in recent exhibits has been generating an excited buzz. An upcoming show of artist-decorated skateboards is sure to continue to build the gallery's reputation for street-infused creative provocation. And, in just a few short months, VanSickle has managed to single-handedly generate sizable attention for West 4th St. In fact, local art critic Sara Pearce dubbed him "the master of spin."
Andrew VanSickle's own career has been strongly shaped by his early relationship with outsider artist Rev. Howard Finster. The Toledo native lived in Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville, Georgia in 1987, where he was encouraged to start painting. He considers Finster to have been a mentor figure to him, and his own curatorial history includes two celebrations of the artist's work -- 1987's Howard Finster: Man of Visions at the University of Cincinnati the recent Weeping Supergirl and the Outsiders, which included Finster's work, at AVS ART.
Other outsider and folk artists VanSickle has befriended over the years include Mose Tolliver, R.A. Miller, Billie Lemming, and Rev. B.F. Perkins. In 1989, he met Paul Warhola, Andy Warhol's older brother, and became his creative director and manager. Throughout his career, VanSickle, who holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati, has collaborated with folk artists and has developed a reputation as their "idea" person. Art direction experience at Club Clau helped to fine-tune VanSickle's approach to the cross-promotion of visual culture, as well as his two-pronged dedication to the development of younger art collectors and increased exposure for emerging artists. He has also curated exhibits, obviously paving the way for the opening of his own gallery.
VanSickle's own art, which has been displayed at AVS ART, is fueled by both a strong sense of color and what he calls "false gods of the American experience," including real and fictitious pop cultural icons. "Real or not, the American fantasy of pop culture is what fuels Americans' positive thoughts." Sexed-up vamps with exaggerated proportions are a recurring subject, whether it's the Weeping Supergirl motif for which he's become known, or Britney Spears in her slightly younger, perkier years. Over all, the work is vibrant and cartoonish, and perhaps somewhat cynical. It is also the perfect complement to the sleek, pristinely white gallery space VanSickle has created.
Despite his boundless enthusiasm for his gallery as a Cincinnati art scene catalyst, VanSickle won't give away too many details about upcoming exhibits. In addition to the above-mentioned skateboard show, expect more Pop-influenced group exhibits showcasing local and national artists, and more opportunities to see artists from Visionaries & Voices, a top area arts non-profit with which VanSickle has been involved. Just don't expect safe art; VanSickle's vision is here to push the boundaries of the sometimes stodgy local arts scene.
Perfect for?
Anyone curious about contemporary art
Where to get it?
315 West 4th St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513.328.3456
http://avsart.com
How much?
Prices for art vary widely, but gawking is always free.
Fantastic place. West 4th is definitely coming into its own. I just saw another place (next door to unheardof) getting worked on with a sign in the window. Any info on that new place?
No clue, but we will send the BuyCincy Investigative Team down there stat!
I've now been told that someone saw the name as Fanatic. I'm interested to hear what's going on there.
The BCIT? I bet we can pitch that as a crime drama to CBS.
Looks like a DIY high school spirit shop.
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/BIZ01/807300322/-1/today
"Also planned for the block is a new clothing store called Fanatic, where high school students can come to design their own school spirit wear, Heuser said."