Bizango Voodoo Altar, Haitian – American found in NYC early 1980’s.

MATERIA PRIMER: Extreme & Esoteric Exhibition

curated by Stephen Romano

November 4, 2016 – November 27, 2016

Opening Reception November 4, 2016 (5-9pm)

BLAM is pleased to announce the exhibition “MATERIA PRIMA”, curated by Stephen Romano. The exhibition is a mixture of leading contemporary artists, folk art, vernacular photography, esoteric ephemera, outsider art and unexpected images and objects.

Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn “The Creation”, “The Mystery of Life”, “The Central Spitural Sun” screen prints c. 1930’s.

“MATERIA PRIMA” is based on the theme of diverse magical practices, challenging the notion that all magic is necessarily dark in nature.

Curator Stephen Romano says,“The exhibition is an articulation of the esoteric nature of the artist as shaman, a producer of art works that serve as social healing devices, to make well again our collective consciousness. To re-inject the forces of hope, optimism and belief of magic into our declining culture. The true artist…the art they make, is a primary experience in and of itself. The creation is an act of magic, a conjuring or a protective spell. It is where the artist makes a stand: socially, politically and spiritually.

Ray Robinson l to r : “Janet Horne 1727”, “Birth of a Witch”, “Witch and her Dog Execurted on the Same Day” (Dog was shpwn Mercy and was Stragled before Burned)” 2015

We live in this universe that has no known boundary, the concept of the scale of spatial infinity is one that is impossible to comprehend, and equally we live for a very brief time, in a very microcosmic space. Given that realization, what is purpose? In my experience, which is what I try to articulate as a curator, what sustains us is the need for self-actualization, the perpetuation of the metaphysical, and contact with the higher order.

This is achieved through culture, in what Teilhard de Chardin would call a ‘biophilic’ experience as opposed to say, looking at something that would dumb down our perceptual senses, a ‘necrophilic’ moment; one that perpetuates the death of the psyche. Great art is an enrichment, and one that ought to be a shared social experience.”

Legion 49 Servitor Sculptural Series; Left – Balfori, middle – Biliko, right – Beelzebuth. Barry William Hale

When asked about the extreme and esoteric nature of the works in the exhibtion, Stephen Romano responded “We live in extremely times, the art of our time should be an extention and reflection of those extremes”

William Mortensen (1897 – 1965) “Faternal Practices, Betty Compton” c 1922

featuring contemporary and historical works of

Alexis Karl, Sarah Zar, Hanna Jaeun, Nyahzul Blanco, Barry William Hale, Dolorosa De La Cruz, Allessandro Siclordr, Linnea Strid, Colin Christian, Lena Viddo, Gigi Chen, Erin O’Shea, Sam Gliner, Damien Michaels, Matthew Dutton, Cendrine Ravoni, Ken Weaver, Jel Ena, Teiji Hayama, John D. Monteith, Ray Robinson, P54, Jaya Su Su, Erna KD, Charlotte Rodgers, Steven Baines, Lukasz Grochocki, Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule, Inge Vandormael, Cecilia Avendaño Bobillier, Travis Lawrence, Judith Vergara García, William Blayney, AW Sommers., Brian Sparrow, William Mortensen, Francesca Lith Nardi, A. Fiorello, Lori Field, Charles Dellschau, Jacob Bohme, Darcilio Lima…

See full detail of Exhibition here: MATERIA PRIMER

BLAM Gallery

56 Bogart Street

Brooklyn, NY 11206

BLAM Projects

brooklyn@blamgallery.com

Darcilio Lima (1944 – 1991) “The Prince” 1972

Erna Kd “Priestess with Pony Tail” 2015 ink on paper

Romeyn de Hooghe -MYTHOLOGY-ICONOLOGY-CHARON-TYPHO-HYROGLYPHIC -1735
Plate 29 shows evil Gods. This plate shows
A. Aspis; B. Otau; C. Zameluk; D. Typho; E. a statue symbolizing a bad year;
F-H. Furies; I. Charon; K. Stygian might; L. Furrina; M. Chimaera; N. Cerberus;
O. Maniae; P. Sphynxes; Q. obelisk; R. Semiramis; S. Jutrebok.