The home of "Freelance" "Curator".
We are a free-floating curatorial concern dedicated to bringing the highest quality contemporary arts programming to whatever community we happen to be in at the time... or something.
"Freelance" "Curator" is run by its founders, artist-curators Bernie Brooks and Kristen Gallerneaux.
Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, brought us in as visiting artists / critics this week. It was a really great, gratifying experience. So thank you to everyone who made it happen, who came out to our talk, and let us into their studios. It was the best. We could do this sort of thing every day.
We are in San Diego now. Getting settled. Getting done being ill. Getting right with God. THIS is in Oregon. The show is FREE. GARDENS are friends of ours, so, if you are in the area, don't bone them. Go to this and buy a record. Help these scruffy psych-garage punks get to Missoula and beyond. If you are not in the Willamette Valley they are playing many more shows in many more places.
Gardens will be playing at the Axe + Fiddle in Cottage Grove, OR, on Wednesday, Nov 2nd. The show is free. Starts at 8 PM.
It's been a while since we rapped at you, but you know how it goes (probably). And we thought it might be a good idea to let you all know what we've been up to lately, what projects we've been working on, etc. We're back home in Detroit (finally!), for the time being at least, and busy working on a number of things. Though most are related to our personal art practices or academic research, and only tangentially connected to our "Freelance" "Curator" endeavors, it's possible you might still be interested? I hope? More after the cut.
If you are in the Detroit area tonight, Sonny & The Sunsets and The Sandwitches are playing the Pike Room in Pontiac. Doors are at 7:30 PM, which probably means The Sandwitches will be on a bit after 10? It will be amazing! FOR REAL.
So the last 6 - 8 weeks have been spent in a frenzy of stress and logistics helping Sonny and Mark and Perry bring the show to the Islington Mills Arts Club in Salford, UK. There were artwork surgeries, shippers bailing on us--it was gnarly. But we did it, and when we found out that the work--and the newly redesigned jukebox!--reached greater Manchester safely, rainbows shot out of our eyes and we levitated off of the ground about 3/4 of an inch.
Anyways, the show is open right now, and it is as good a way as any to celebrate the royal wedding. 100 Records is also a part of Sunday's Sounds of the Other City Festival, which is sure to be awesome. There are dozens of bands, including Sonny and the Sunsets, who are playing the Comfortable On A Tightrope stage at 7:45 PM.
You are cordially invited to attend the closing reception of Sonny Smith's 100 Records. If you happen to be in the Eugene area tomorrow night, why not stop by from 5:30 - 8:30 PM and have a gander at some amazing artwork and listen to some tunes on the jukebox? If you live around here and haven't seen the show yet, don't be a sucker! Tomorrow is your last chance, dudes. Then it is off to Manchester, England (England!), across the Atlantic Sea. I mean, seriously, when was the last time Ed Ruscha had a piece in a show in downtown Eugene? Never? Probably. Will he have a piece in downtown Eugene ever again? Never? Probably. And that's just one example. Last chance, guys. It'll be fun. We swear.
Warmest regards,
"Freelance" "Curator"
P.S. Here is a new jam by Sonny and the Sunsets. It will be on their new LP Hit After Hit. It is a reworking of an Earth Girl Helen Brown track of the same name, and equally rad, though in a different way. Enjoy! Sonny And The Sunsets - "I Wanna Do It" by forcefieldpr
100 Records will be open today from 12 PM - 5 PM. The closing reception will be tomorrow during First Friday Artwalk, from 5:30 - 8:30 PM. As always we are at 942 Olive in the old "Musique Gourmet" space. We still have some 100 Records related stuff for sale, too. Check out previous posts for details on all that.
Sonny Smith: top shelf artist, musician, and number one nicest guy ever. This should be written in a classy font with many serifs to imply gravitas. A big thank you to everyone who helped make yesterday's event possible! And more thanks to everyone who came out to the show! Congratulate yourselves on your good taste. You deserve a pat on the back.
PS: We got the re-up on merch! One more box set, some more 45s, some copies of the One Act Plays CD, some comics, and some buttons. Once again, feel free, upon visiting the show, to make it rain.
PPS: We are taking the day off on Saturday. After last night's explosion of greatness and First Friday Artwalk tonight, I think you'll agree we deserve a little rest. Regular show hours will resume next week:
Th - Sat, 12 - 5 PM.
PPPS: John Fenn shot a video of Sonny and Graham playing "Mario" at last night's show. It's a little dark, but the sound is really good, and note the artful addition of fancy "olde-tyme" effects! It is after the jump.
This is incredibly exciting! Sonny Smith will be in town this Thursday for a special performance in the 100 Records gallery space at 942 Olive (the old Musique Gourmet space) in downtown Eugene. Sonny will be performing jams (solo-ish, with a drummer, but sans Sunsets) and talking about the exhibit. The show is free, but space is limited, so don't try and be one of those cool guys who shows up to everything an hour late or whatever. Doors are at 7:30.
As always, the show is on view Thursday - Saturday, 12 - 5 PM.
Well, we've pretty much hit the halfway point of 100 Records' stay in Eugene, and it occurred to me some people might still be wondering what it's all about. Maybe missed it in the papers or whatever. So I've posted the full, updated press release after the jump. Read on and be illuminated:
Very excited about this! I got a box full of jams in the mail today from Sonny. We now have a very limited quantity of CDs and 45's for sale, all of which contain some tracks from the show. First come first serve! Here's what we have for you to buy:
100 Records Volume II--I Miss The Jams (Turn Up Record Co.) Ten tracks from the show spread over five 45's. Awesome packaging! Super limited! We have two copies. 45 bones and worth every penny.
Sonny & the Sandwitches 7" (Empty Cellar) Four more tracks from 100 Records featuring Heidi & Grace of the Sandwitches. Comes with four full-color reproductions of work in the show--one for each track--and an intensely personal mini-comic by Hank Champion and Teppei Ando. Beautiful! We have four copies. 7 clams.
The Hypnotist 7" (Future Stress) Four tracks from Sonny & the Sunsets. These ones will blow minds! Two-color, blue/yellow vinyl! Limited to 500 copies. We have two. 7 bucks.
Broom & Dustpan 7" (Home Skillet) "Broom & Dustpan" is a classic! It is backed with "E.S.P." on peach-colored vinyl. Sweet! We have two copies. 7 bills.
Tomorrow Is Alright CD (Fat Possum) The 2010 re-release of Sonny & the Sunsets' 2009 monster. So so good. We have three copies. 10 smackers.
Sonny Smith's 100 Records is on view at the Musique Gourmet space at 942 Olive in downtown Eugene. Open Thursday - Saturday 12 - 5 PM. Through Feb 4. Come on down and make it rain.
One of my heroes passed away yesterday morning. Trish Keenan of Broadcast died at 9 AM on Friday from complications related to pneumonia. Broadcast are/were one of my very, very favorite groups. To say that their body of work (including album covers) had a profound influence on my art practice during my mid-twenties would be an understatement. I only got to see them live once, and it was a revelatory show... and then we were too broke or busy or tired to see them in Portland when they played last fall. Missed opportunities. So sad--she was only 42. It is impossible to overstate just how much I cherish the music she left behind. The extent to which experimental pop is indebted to Broadcast is mind-boggling (Beach House or Atlas Sound anyone?). So, Peace and Respect, Trish. Thank you for everything.
Sonny Smith's 100 Records is on view through 4 February 2011 in the old "Musique Gourmet" space at 942 Olive next to Bradford's Hi-Fi in downtown Eugene. Gallery hours are 12- 5 PM, Th - Sat.
During the past couple of months I practically killed myself to bring Sonny Smith's 100 Records to Eugene, but then Kristen joined up, "Freelance" "Curator" was born, and we pulled it off. The show is presented in conjunction with the University of Oregon Arts Administration and Art Programs, the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts, and Bradford's Hi-Fi. It is so good. It is my favorite thing. If you are anywhere in the Willamette Valley during January, you must come to the old "Musique Gourmet" space at 942 Olive and check it out! Open 12 - 5 PM. Th - Sat.
Sonny is a hero. Go to his website right now. Maybe you could order some stuff or something? http://sonnysmith.com
