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The Bastard Art Gallery opened its space on 20 sep 2006 to a selected crowd of bootleg, mash-up and remix art-lovers.
While our striking hostesses served exquisite drinks supplied by our sponsors (Veuve Cliquot, Johnnie Walker and Martini), every room of the premises was open for the public. The photo ops were many, the bastardly celebs select! On hand were a who's who of the artworld power plays and a lot of very caring, generous persons who truly love the bootlegged arts.
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Among the public we noticed Belgium's fine fleur of severe art critics, notorious art collectors, world-famous musicians, one of the noblest dukes and glamourous baroness who seldom leave their wealthy castle outside Antwerp, and furthermore a fine set of smart dressed chaps and some of the most flirtuous gals of the planet!
All of them elbow to elbow, schmoozing over bubbling champagne and temperatured whisky, catching up on the latest arty developments, the deals, the tricks, the off-hand affairs, the necking and the gossip. Everywhere you turned you could see the powerful, the connected, the savvy and the suave tightly, tentatively navigating very crowded cocktail and conversation space:
Susan has found many ways to share her love for the arts. She created specialty goods for movie prop designers, she volunteered in an animal training school, and led art workshops for students. She designs and constructs liturgical banners and works in many aspects of fiber, wax and rubber. Lynette loves the arts for their intrinsic as well as educational and social benefits. She gives her time to make sure that all the community benefits. She is modest about her accomplishments. Sandra is passionate about arts and culture. She studied design and metal crafts. A Brasschaat resident of 28 years, she has enjoyed many arts programs. Her favorite is Helter Skelter. Our Chair, Bobby, devotes his time to serving his community in many varied ways. He is currently Executive Director of the Gallery Concerts in Bruges and he is pastor of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church. Bringing his passion and 20 years experience of leading arts and social service organizations, he will be an amazing advocate for the arts at the Bastard Art Gallery.
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Of course the 'Diggin' for Gordon' Hole turned out to be the main attraction. People flocked to the side of the hole to get a glimpse down the 250cm (at this time) deep construction and gasped as the mouldy smelling air caught up. In the basement space humidity is pretty high, so that added to the sultry atmosphere of packed bodies hot with excitement.
On the other hand there was nervous stir as everybody was waiting for the "Re-Formance" of Terry Fox' 'Corner Push', but that would be later.
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Johnnie Walker Loves the Arts, that was clear. Through the shiny gold liquor, our photographer caught the marble slab that holds the "On Kawara is not Dead" jewel project.
Even the most severe Conceptual Art lovers were struck by the piercing directness of this piece which simply closes the gap between oil on canvas and stamp-ink on newspaper-paper aka art and life with a deadly smash. For several hours they stayed glued to the work as hypnotized or frozen in time between past and present, then and there, right here, right now.
We overheard Norman, executive director of a large artbooks publishing company. Norman says he loves the arts. He has been a small-press editor, director and university teacher for over 20 years. He has taught more than 44 different courses at four universities. Norman remembers that he was 16 when On Kawara was born. "My tastes and interests are more eclectic than my Dad's, since I grew up listening to Bob Dylan's "Basement Tape", and I loved the Doors almost as much as The Velvet Underground." In his spare time, Norman loves to play racquetball, throw rawhide sticks for his toy poodle, Harvey and go to the cabaret. He says he is delighted to reconnect with On Kawara at the Bastard Art Gallery.
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For the first time some of the stunning project sites could be pryed upon by visitors' eyes. After all The Eyes Have it!
Our waitress, a slim maturing body in neat sport clothes and tickling cowboy boots, slender sunburned face with bright eyes and long blond hair challenged people to taste the "Taste of Pleasure" to end all pleasures. She seemed about to smile. Under her curious gaze Holly suddenly blushed, and her face became defiant while it reddened. The girl was pretty. Facing her, the pale young woman had become beautiful; her eyes were long, heavily lashed, set well apart under a smooth broad brow, her mouth was not small but sensitively carved and mobile, and in the light from Dan Flavin' Flavours the surfaces of her face were as clearly defined as sculptured planes. She imagined red wild cherries on a bed of almost blueish white tender flesh between her lips, exploring the dark and deep to finally witness a lotus flower bloom. But that was for later, first they would get love drunk off their humps with Carl Cryplant's Diggin' Music Vol 1....
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After a half-hour of patter our resident DJ for the night Carl Cryplant got going in setting up his gear while our guests continued enjoying open bar and plucking miniature Johnny Walker and Martini bottles from between our striking hostesses' somewhat challenging 'open source' clothing, the distinguished guests drifted into the grand ballroom to fill 44 tables to enjoy our most delightful chocolate cake. What awaited them was a culinary one-time only trendy tour for the tastebuds, precisely prepared, flakey but willowly and slender, irresistibly, indolently posed seductively on redesigned covers of posh art magazines to complete the picture. It was a gourmand's match, garnished with a choice of more delicately gleaming drinks from our sponsors. Not exactly the ghastly regional beergarden we're used to at openings, no dried out paëllas nor humid heaps of potato chips, because hey, this is the Bastard Art Gallery we're talking about!
Continue our night (& more!) with Carl Cryplant's Diggin' Music Vol 1....
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