Jomar Statkun

December 27, 2013 (New York, NY) — Garis & Hahn is pleased to present Jomar Statkun, an exhibition of the artist’s complete work to date. The collection will be installed in the gallery's downstairs space, leaving the upstairs empty until work is introduced through weekly “decorations” that will slowly transform the main space. Through participation and performance, visitors will be invited to the basement “Public Viewing Room” to interact with the artist as well as look at, examine, and handle the works of art. This marks the gallery’s first solo show by an exhibiting artist. An opening reception will be held on January 19th, 2014 from 6 to 8 PM at Garis & Hahn (263 Bowery), to be followed by a weekly roster of programming developed around Statkun’s work. At the start of the exhibition, the gallery's upstairs space will be empty. As a result of various prompts, interactions, games, and activities, the upstairs will be gradually “decorated” with works from the collection that reside in the basement. A new prompt, interaction, game, or activity, which addresses a 'Presentation,' will be introduced on select days throughout the duration of the exhibition (a total of 5 weeks). A history of these weekly “decorations” will remain on the upstairs gallery walls in varying forms of reproductions. Throughout the exhibition Jomar Statkun will assume the roles of art handler, curator, dealer, and artist on a daily basis. The 'Presentations’ will include:  “Art Presence: A Buyer's Feathers” (Reception: Sunday, January 19th from 6 – 8 PM) The opening week will be solely dedicated to the artworks that are sold during that week.  For any interested buyers, Jomar Statkun will be available to discuss the work, pricing options, and possible installation of the work into the exhibition. Naturally, a form of “Art Presence:  A Buyer's Feathers” will continue throughout the duration of the exhibition. “Players: An Artist Ready to Retire” (Performance:  Sunday, January 26th, starts at 5 PM) L'artisan is a game created by Jomar Statkun. It is based on the German board game, Carcassonne, in which players compete to occupy and complete cities, roads and farmland.  For L'artisan, Statkun has remade all the pieces by hand (114 gaming tiles, game board pieces, and a wooden box that houses the complete game) and transformed the structure and objective of the game to navigating the “Art World” - cities are now galleries, roads are paths of collectors, and farmland is cultural capital.  During the game, the players take on the role of artists, and the pieces they use on the board represent their artwork.  At the beginning of the week, a game of L'artisan will be played by a select group of individuals who, by playing the game, will win opportunities to choose their favorite Jomar Statkun artworks from the basement and have them installed into the exhibition in the upstairs gallery space wherever they choose.  Following this opening game, L'artisan will be on view at the gallery for the duration of the exhibition. “Labor of Love: A Fabricator's Hamburger Helper” (Reception: Sunday, February 2nd from 6 – 8 PM) A number of works by Jomar Statkun have been made in collaboration with a painting reproduction factory in China.  During this week, through an exchange and collaboration, the painters in China will be invited to insert “their own” paintings into the exhibition in the upstairs gallery space. “Think Inside of the Box: A Gallery's Gallery” (Reception:  Sunday, February 9th from 6 – 8 PM) Mary Garis and Sophie Hahn from Garis & Hahn gallery will be invited to select Jomar Statkun artworks from the basement and have them installed into the exhibition in the upstairs gallery space. “Take it to be Framed: A Critic's Tail” (Sunday, February 16th - Sunday, February 23rd) A week dedicated to criticism. About the Artist Jomar Statkun was born in Freehold, New Jersey in 1972.  His official/birth certificate name is Joseph Marino Statkun.  It's believed he was born in the same hospital as Bruce Springsteen.  He grew up in a small town called Allentown (that's Allentown, New Jersey, not Pennsylvania).  He is a quarter Filipino, a quarter Chinese, a quarter Polish, and a quarter Lithuanian.  His father used to be a missionary priest.  Growing up, his greatest mentor was the cosmologist and geologian, Thomas Berry.  In high school he had the school record for the 400 meter hurdles at 55.5 seconds.  He loved to organize and invent games for his friends in the neighborhood where he grew up.  He can play the theme song to E.T. on the piano.  He was awarded the Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn award at Boston University where he received his MFA degree.  He is a founding member of the project This Red Door.  He has worked at Art Crating and Gagosian Gallery.  He has been a professor at Columbia University and Pratt Institute, and has been a visiting artist at numerous institutions. Jomar Statkun currently lives and works in New York. About Garis & Hahn             Garis & Hahn is a gallery-cum-Kunsthalle that mounts exhibitions focused on conceptual narratives and relevant conversations in contemporary art. By displaying an array of carefully curated artists, the gallery endeavors to provide accessibility, education, awareness, and a market to the art while engaging both the arts community and a broader general audience. Location Garis & Hahn 263 Bowery New York, NY 10002 Contact P. 212.228.8457 F. 212.228.8941 info@garisandhahn.com Gallery Hours Wednesday – Sunday, 11-7 Media Contact Lainya Magaña | A&O PR (P) 415.577.1275 | (E) lainya@aopublic.com #fineartmagazine