The Combine
112 Greene Street, [email protected]
Soho
March 26 - April 18, 2009
Reception: Thursday, March 26, 6 - 10 PM
The Combine, Afrika Bambaata, Endless Love Crew (ELC) and “Royce” joined forces to bring you, “Work To Do”. This event is a benefit to support some of Greater New York’s public school art programs like, The Bronx High School of Visual Arts, The Urban Assembly School of Music and Art, The New Design High School, and The Children’s Art Carnival. Thematically the show is inspired by President Obama’s inauguration speech about his appeal to the nation about exemplifying selfless acts; evidently reflected in his declaration of Martin Luther King’s national holiday as a day to volunteer in support of our local communities.
Afrika Bambaata and The Soulsonic Force, known for releasing “Planet Rock”, have reunited. Mr. Biggs, G.L.O.B.E and Bambaata will be performing their new single titled, “Work To Do” at the show’s opening. Bambaata is the founder of the Zulu Nation, that united inner city youth from different gangs and hip-hop groups. The Soulsonic Force is made up of Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams), Pow Wow (Robert Darrell Allen), and Emcee G.L.O.B.E. (John B. Miller).
“Work To Do” will be held at 112 Greene Street; this space was one of the first conceptual art galleries in the seventies thanks to Jeffrey Lew and Gordon-Matta Clark of 112 Workshop. The space showed artists like Joseph Beuys, Chris Burden, Philip Glass, Dennis Oppenheim, Richard Serra, Marisol, and James Rosenquist to name a few. It later moved and was renamed White Columns. Then the space became the legendary Greene Street Recording Studios where many of the seminal hip hop songs were recorded. Currently, it is the permanent home of The Combine, created by Steve Loeb and John Robie for the purpose of creating an exciting new environment for the exhibition of art.
The Endless Love Crew is a collective of nine artists that work to improve the streets of New York City and beyond. The group is known for its live collaborative open-canvas sessions, which in a little over two years have attracted dozens of artists from all over the country and the world, including England, Japan, Norway, Brazil and Switzerland. “Royce” is a member of the ELC crew. He’s an artist born and bread in NYC, whose infamous Monsters can be seen pasted on doors and walls throughout the five boroughs. Currently, “Royce” is the art director for Diamond Headz NYC; a new clothing line promoting the life and culture of socially conscious city kids. For more information on this event please visit the ELC website, www.endlesslovecrew.com.
This 4,000 square feet raw space will exhibit works by Abby Goodman, Abe Lincoln Jr, Ad of Skewville, Alone art, Anera, Avoid pi and Maggie Vending machines, Avone, Bast, Bobby Hill, Buildmore, C. Damage, Cake, Celso, Chris RWK, Christopher Gordon, Chris Brennan, Dain, Dark Clouds, Deeker, Deo, Destroy and Rebuild, DR, Ellis G, Erica Faulke, Hush, Infinity, Jazzmine Beaulieu (photography), Keely, Kenji, Matt Siren, Moody, Lady Aiko, NohJ Coley, OHM, Pufferella, Royce, Smells, Veng RWK.
Jazzmine Beaulieu will unveil her new photography series titled, “When I Grow Up”. They are portraits of 21 students, ages 11-20 from various organizations like, The Door and The Youth Development Institute, who present their dreams and aspirations in the arts. Special thanks to Daniel Weinberg of The Door and The Cooper Square Committee.