Lowbrow Society is all about getting down and dirty with art. They re about getting the art out of the pristine gallery settings and into the streets and bars and lofts where it can be yours. They are about exposing talent that might not have a venue to show it yet and are bringing creative people together to form an army of artists. I will let Najva and Lenora explain.
Lenora: We started on a sort of whim, really. It was almost serendipitous. Najva and I were looking for a way to begin to put our work out there, and a friend had just opened a bar in Brooklyn and was looking to put art on the walls. As a student who is still just beginning her career, I found the art world to be bewildering territory for me, and many of my friends. It's hard to know where to begin when you're starting out. We were surrounded by so many brilliantly talented, thoughtful people, who all share a common disregard for convention.
We're a pretty excellent team. Najva is a writer and general social-butterfly, whereas I'm a little more introverted and visually-oriented. I do illustration and a lot of our branding and design; she's great at networking and finding crazy, wonderful people to pull in for our next best thing.
Najva: We found ourselves wanting to create a group, and realized a title was key. After Lowbrow Society got coined, the rest fell into place. The name came from the idea that we wanted to depart from the "highbrow" art world, and make it more accessible and fun! Lenora and I are Ying and Yang- she'll hang the paintings and I'll write the bios or she will paint a kissing booth while I book VJs.
Most interesting projects you have done so far?Lowbrow is still in it's fledgling stages, so we've done only a few projects so far, but the most interesting was definitely the #$@K Off! Party we did with Sam Black/Newmindspace. It was a true multimedia excursion for us, where we really had a hand in so many elements of the party. We brought in fire performers, VJ's, set up a photobooth and other social activities, and designed the flyer. We learned a lot about how to get a party going. Unfortunately, it got going a little too well, and was crashed by the police shortly after midnight.
What would be a dream project?A block party would be amazing, a siren call to the community to join in our revelry. We could have art out on the street, making our event public and all-inclusive. Music, dancing, culture, fun- that would be perfect.
We want to incorporate more participation and collaboration at our parties as well, using a live element to draw in spectators and encourage them to try or do something they've never done before.
Craziest experience or most memorable?The craziest was definitely the Valentine's Day party, we've never seen a space fill up so fast, and of course the untimely demise! Having a party get shut down is always a little scary.
The most memorable was our very first Smut show at Southside Speakeasy, it was incredible to see so many different groups of artists come together and connect. It was also very satisfying to see that people really ARE interested in art and not just going out solely to party. And they are ready to converse, engage and think about new ideas! People found that they had the oddest connections to others, and there were more than a few more- ahem- romantically inclined couples formed by the naughty chemistry of it all.
Who are some of the artists you have collaborated with?Najva: We've worked with quite a few local artists, and we have a lot of wonderful people we've come back to again and again. Some of them include Baby Sinead, Igor, Carey Baldwin, Nicky Divine, and more. Lenora and I both show our own work as well.
In addition, we've got a vast network of performers and other creative types. We had Soña Z do our photobooth last party, Bianca Merbaum go-go danced for us, Anita Delvalle (from Glassbeads Collective) VJ-ing, Madame Burns spinning fire, and that's not even half of it! There are many artists still waiting in the sidelines too - we are insanely lucky!
Projects you have been working on for 2009?Currently we're in talks of doing a more art-oriented multimedia event with a West Coast-based performance collective, which is exciting. We're also looking to do another art show that further explores the themes of what is "Taboo" in our society, which is something we began to touch upon with the "Smut" show- we want to push some boundaries! There are also rustlings on painting a community mural in the Lower East Side.
We are also looking into working with the Antagonist Art Movement, who has great shows with a similar philosophy- but they have been around about ten years longer than we have.
Favorite artists?Lenora: Ah! I don't even know where to start with this one. Some contemporary artists I really love are: Swoon, James Jean, DeeDee Seruga, Kime Buzelli, Floria Sigismondi, Mars-1. I'm incredibly drawn to color, design and elements of fashion, as well as artwork with an interesting narrative.
Najva: Pretty much everyone at the Fountain Art Show last weekend. Nan Goldin, Sophie Calle, Miranda July, Mike Mills, Diane Arbus... I can't even begin to count! Then there are writers, which I consider artists too. Basically, I like people and stories in art, and the more avant garde the better.
Favorite websites?Lenora: I read way too many blogs to mention.
Some sites I really love are:
Del.icio.us, Lookbook.nu, the Wooster Collective blog, HypeMachine, which is a great music blog aggregator; and Smashing Magazine, which is one of my favorite design resources ever.
Najva: Postsecret, Toothpaste for Dinner, Someecards, Juxtapoz, Artist David Horvitz's site, my friend Jessica Yatrofsky's blog on Nerve.com.
http://myspace.com/lowbrowsocietyforthearts
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