January 12, 2007
Snatch
Neal Rock and I have been communicating a bit in the past online and for a while I had not heard much from him. This morning, I got an email out of the blue:
Dear Dennis,
We were in touch a while back regarding a group show that eventually didn't work out. But I'm now living and working in Las Vegas as artist in residence at UNLV, soon to move to LA. I've been asked somewhat belatedly to curate a show at the Donna Beam gallery in Las Vegas. It's a UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas) gallery that has had a good track record of shows and I would really love you to take part. However the show is due to open next week and I've no idea if you are around in California and have work available.
It's a very strong line up of artists which you can research on the web if you like. I'm also in touch with Dave Hickey to write a small essay to accompany the show. I'll list the artists below and also give you a contact cell no. to call me, if you can, by today. The no. is XXXXXXXX and it's Stephen Hendee, I'm with him all today and he's not only in the show but helping me curate.
The artists are:
Pearl C Chiung USA
Gordon Cheung UK
Neal Rock UK
Stephen Hendee USA
Caroline Castanyo USA
Kori Newkirk USA (to be confirmed)
Hope to hear from you very soon,
Best wishes,
Neal Rock
(hyperlinks and redacted phone numbers mine.)
Cool. So I called him back and he happened to be in ChinaTown. Excellent. I got to meet Neal and Stephen Hendee too, nice guys. I've long respected both of their work from afar.
As the Catalans say: "Pim pam poom, bocadilla atun", Neal asked to show one of the two paintings that were available in the studio, I said yes with a signature/title on the back and instructions on how to handle the work, they were off to load the painting in the truck bound for Vegas.
The only downside is that I'm starting work on the big painting and I am probably going to be wrestling with it as the show opens in Vegas next week. So I will likely miss the festivities. I'll fly over as soon as possible afterward. The upside is that I will later have an opportunity to talk undistractedly to Neal, Stephen, Dave Hickey and Libbly Lumpkin... facetime, if I'm lucky.
In Vegas, you gotta have luck on your side.
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