80s Babies Exhibit Premieres! NYC 10/8 – 11/8

A fantastic exhibit from our own inimitable PopTen provocateur Jason Douglas Griffin kicks off this Thursday (Oct 8th) at the swanky Leo Kesting Gallery, in the heart of the Meat Packing District. 80s Babies is the visual soundtrack to our lives, portraits of the twentysomething cityfolk that surround us. The reception runs from 7-10pm this Thursday and promises to gather most of PopTen under one roof. We’d love to see you there.

The show continues from Oct 8th – Nov 8th.

More info below. Some pics of the work here: http://www.leokesting.com/

The raging 80’s- a time of sex, white lines and financial excess, gave way to a generation of twentysomethings worlds away from their baby boomer parents. With a title seemingly cribbed from a John Hughes’ film, “Getting to Know Someone: 80’s Babies” explores the intersection of self and city in a generation freshly bereft of their cultural icons.

80’s Babies continues Jason’s dialog with the 1980’s generation. “These works are elaborate profiles of the subject and the city in which they live,” states gallerist David Kesting, “With the incorporation of found materials, Griffin’s paintings capture the relationship between the city, the viewer and his subjects.”

This installation-heavy exhibition, a collection of figurative paintings and illustrations with strong influence from photography methods, marks the second solo endeavor by Griffin. “For me it represents a passion for people, collaborating with them to discover their story,“ Jason explains. “In this collection I am trying to discover the sitter’s narrative, the life they lead and where they lead it. It’s much more personal than any portrait.”

Personal narratives are a recurring theme in Griffin’s work. His recently celebrated book release “My Name is Jason : Mine Too” combines Griffin’s work with poet Jason Reynolds’ words, documenting their creative coming of age in New York City. The monograph released through HarperCollins publishing has received critical acclaim and has sold several thousand copies with write ups in the Washington Post and numerous other publications.

Jason Douglas Griffin’s sophomore solo exhibit “Getting to Know Someone : 80’s Babies” opens to the public with a reception for the artist at Leo Kesting Gallery on Thursday, October 8th from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.

Leo Kesting offers the art viewing public an opportunity to see forthcoming talents in an intimate setting where undiscovered, cutting-edge artists are presented to the contemporary art scene.

Leo Kesting Gallery is located at 812 Washington St at the corner of Gansevoort in Manhattan’s Meat Packing District. A, C, E, or L train to 8th Ave and 14th Street or 1,2,3 train to 14th Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 11am until 7pm.

about the artist:

Intensely personal, while at the same time unpretentious and accessible, Jason Douglas Griffin’s paintings borrow equally from classical artistic traditions, urban aesthetic, and pop culture. In Griffin’s work, the intersection of cultures and ideologies produce an innovative style that challenges the common perceptions of art and identity.

Griffin’s art has been featured in several cities around the country, including Miami, Chicago, Washington DC, and New York, as well internationally, in China and Holland. He has been written about in magazines like, NY Arts Magazine and The Economist, and has been featured in The Washington Post, numerous times.

Griffin not only works to exhibit his art in galleries, but he has also tapped into the literary world with his upcoming HarperCollins release, “My Name is Jason. Mine Too.,” scheduled to be released, Spring 2009.

Griffin currently resides in Queens, New York.

Leo Kesting Gallery Presents:
Jason Douglas Griffin – Getting to Know Someone : 80’s Babies
October 8 – November 8, 2008
Opening Night Reception: Thurs Oct 8th from 7 – 10pm
812 Washington St (at Gansevoort) NY, NY 10014
8th Ave A, C, E and L train Stop or 1,2,3 to 14th St
Tue – Sat from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm Sun 1– 6pm
Admission is free to the public phone: 917-650-3760 / 917-292-8865
http://www.leokesting.com