Score another victory for Pop Culture enthusiasts. Following six years of success in Los Angeles, Gallery 1988's popular Crazy4Cult exhibit has finally made its way to the East Coast for a limited run in New York City's Meatpacking District. Founded by Jensen Karp and Katie Cromwell, this must-see show has numerous imaginative works from over 200 artists inspired by cult film related imagery.
I caught up with Gallery1988's Jensen Karp about the history of the exhibit on Thursday evening, as final preps were being made shortly before the opening night festivities were set to begin.
"In the past artists were inspired by the pioneers and the masters. Nowadays you find a lot of influence from pop culture icons, whether its Nintendo, movies, or TV, and we sort of encourage artists to do that," Karp said, who came up with the idea for the show with Kevin Smith and Scott Moiser, the creative team behind
Clerks and
Mallrats. "Now we are here in New York bringing the sixth annual. We bypassed LA this year and brought it to a new coast."
"Abstract art does not speak to me at all," he admitted. "I like the Sistine Chapel, but I don't want it in my house. But I would love a piece based on the
‘Burbs or
Repo Man. I was a film student at USC and I thought if we did artwork that was prints and paintings based on cult movies people would come. I would buy it. That was six years ago."
The hot summer August weather on opening night had no effect on the turnout of eager fans who formed a line that wrapped around the block, all in hopes to be among the first in the door. "People have been sleeping out since 10pm last night. It's cool that the fury we have in LA is happening in another city, " Karp said.
A quick look at the diverse art in the gallery quickly reveals that among the many popular images that would be familiar to most passing movie fans like RoboCop, Edward Scissorhands, Doc Brown, and Marty McFly, there are also as many clever, more obscure, pieces that will hit home with the true pop culture aficionado.
Case in point there is "Check Please!" a painting by
Derek Deal based on a classic scene from the end of
Spaceballs, when the film parodies the chest bursting sequence from
Alien complete with a song and dance man Xenomorph. On the 3D end of the art, there is a clever re-created POV from
They Live as seen through the special sunglasses worn by Roddy Piper.
The canvas of films represented is vast, but it's evident there is a popular niche regarding some films that have multiple works represented based upon their characters,
The Princess Bride,
Back To The Future,
Escape From New York,
The Goonies,
Donnie Darko,
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World,
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and
Little Shop Of Horrors just to name a few.
"We've been told a hundred times how this isn’t our city and how it's supposed to be all pompous art galleries. People just don’t know the new world. People who speak to that just don't know the internet and what people are looking for. We’re that age group. For us it’s a no brainer. We like it when people tell us we can't come," Karp asserted.
Gallery 1988 has card carrying pop culture figures like Christopher Guest and Joss Whedon who are not only fans that support the cause, but have purchased some of the limited edition prints. "Kevin Smith is a huge buyer. We’ve sold to Judd Apatow and J.J. Abrams. Sam Jackson has walked in and hung out at the show."
There show typically has a 60/40 split toward prints over paintings. Some editions have a run of under 100, though mostly under 50. "There's original paintings, there’s a one of a kind plush in there and sculptures. We don't ever limit the medium."
Karp also makes a distinction regarding the passionate people who have their imagery on display. "We don’t really have fan artists. We do artists that are fans."
"While we do most of
our business on the internet, there is something about coming to the
show and seeing it in person. And we wanted to bring it to our other favorite city."
Gallery1988's Crazy4Cult exhibit runs from August 9th - September 1st, located at 64 Gansvoort Street.
