KEITH HARING

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Keith Haring: 1978-1982 exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.  I've always been enamored by the scope and reach of Haring's work, produced in such a short time span.

I briefly discussed Haring's work before here, but the Brooklyn Museum exhibition was the first time I'd experienced such a wide range of media.  Haring's classic imagery such as the radiant baby and barking dog were well represented, but there were also a number of unfamiliar pieces that provided new insight to his work as a whole.

Central to the exhibition was a selection of party photos from the Keith Haring archives that showcased Haring's involvement in the East Village club culture, as well as his association with other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf.  In addition, excerpts from Haring's journals gave insight into his artistic process.

A particularly poignant piece in the exhibition is a film that I saw for the first time, Painting Myself Into a Corner, from 1979.  The work is an excellent example of the way that Haring's work, life, and essentially, his being, overlapped.

Before his death in 1990, he founded the Keith Haring Foundation, which provides funding and imagery to AIDS organizations, and has continued Haring's legacy of social and political awareness with a sense of humor.

I'm wearing a Keith Haring x Patricia Field dress, United Nude shoes, and an H&M necklace.

Keith Haring: 1978-1982 is on view at the Brooklyn Museum through July 8.
Visit their website for more information and interaction, including a playlist meant to accompany the exhibition.

SCHARF MURAL

Walking along Houston the other night, I was delighted to come across the new Kenny Scharf mural at the intersection of the Bowery. This famous wall has been home to work by Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, and Os Gemeos in the past, and, most recently, an illegal tribute to the late Dash Snow.

Scharf is a multimedia artist, who was a fixture in the 1980s East Village scene, along with artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

He uses cartoon characters, whether appropriated, or of his own creation, to make his work accessible and instantly recognizable.

One very important and guiding principle to my work is to reach out beyond the elitist boundaries of fine art and connect to popular culture through my art.

--Kenny Scharf

I loved how the bold colors and black outline in the mural corresponded to what I was wearing: a vintage leather jacket, vintage leopard silk blouse, H&M scarf, Uniqlo jeans, BCBG boots, and a Marc bag. These photos were taken by Kathy on site in the East Village.

FINALLY, the winner of the CSN stores giveaway was Prutha! Thank you to everyone who dropped by and left a comment. Look for another giveaway soon.