After a soft launch this past September and with several exhibitions since then, WALLWORKS NEW YORK in Port Morris will officially launch their gallery tomorrow, Saturday, January 10th at 6PM with the exhibition ‘Ikonoclasts’ featuring the works of the late trio of graff artists, A-One, Dondi, and Rammellzee.
When we first interviewed Crash, aka John Matos last year, he told us about his vision for WALLWORKS:
“I want it to be an updated Fashion Moda, a space where we can have exhibitions of local artists, small music events, poetry readings, workshops for kids, as well as showcasing work from around the world.”
He added that, “If it weren’t for Fashion Moda, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now talking about this.”
Crash said that he doesn’t want to display his work and doesn’t want to make the space about him. The gallery is a way of being able to give back what he was afforded in his youth and throughout his life.”
Check out what Crash has to say on ‘Ikonoclasts’.
Here’s the press release for tomorrow’s gallery launch along with more information on ‘Ikonoclasts’:
WALLWORKS NEW YORK
contemporary. art. uptown.
IKONOCLASTS
A-One, Dondi, Rammellzee
January 10 – February 25, 2015
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10, 6-9pm
BRONX, NY (January 5, 2015) – WALLWORKS NEW YORK is proud to announce our official launch of the
gallery with the opening of IKONOCLASTS, an exhibition of never before exhibited works from the late,
great A-One, Dondi and Rammellzee.
The traditional definition of “iconoclast” is as “a person who attacked cherished beliefs, traditional institutions,
etc. as being based on error or superstition”. Stemming from 17th century European religious roots, it may
seem a strange title for an exhibition focusing on three artists from New York who all began creating art in the
1970s and 1980s. But Rammellzee, Dondi White, and Anthony “A-One” Clark all hold vital roles in the Graffiti
art movement—a movement that challenged the values and traditions of art and society in 1970s New York
City. While all three artists have passed away, their influence on Graffiti art—and the art world in general—is
vast.
ABOUT A-ONE
Anthony A-One Clark (1964 – 2001) was raised in The Bronx and was a legendary New York Graffiti artist.
Beginning his career in the subways in the mid 1970s, he became an influential artist of the movement when
he moved to canvas work in the early 1980s. He was exhibited at Sidney Janis Gallery and worked with
Savatore Ala in New York and Italy. He was one of the youngest artists exhibited at the Venice Biennale in
1984. His work is part of the permanent collections of prominent European museums including The Piccolo
Museum in Lecce, Italy and Galerie Quintessens in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
ABOUT DONDI
Dondi White (1961 – 1998) was raised in the East New York section of Brooklyn and is considered to be one of
the most influential artists of the New York Graffiti movement. Known for his dynamic letters and stick figures,
he began on the subways in the early 1970s. Around 1980 he became involved in the East Village art scene
when he moved to canvas work alongside artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Futura 2000. He
was the first Graffiti artist to have a solo show in the Netherlands and Germany, and his work is heavily sought
after by many major European museums.
ABOUT RAMMELLZEE
Rammellzee (1961 – 2010) from Far Rockaway was a contemporary Graffiti artist, writer, musician,
performance artist and art theorist known in many circles for his association and thoughts on language and art.
He is known within the early Graffiti world as a proponent of “Wild Style” tagging. Elusive and selfmythologizing
figure, he was rarely photographed without wearing one of his elaborate science-fiction style
costumes. He also was the founder of the theory of Gothic Futurism—an idea that attempts to deconstruct the
English language as it is known and that language is the tool to fight the oppressive nature of the alphabet.
ABOUT WALLWORKS NEW YORK
A new contemporary art gallery, WALLWORKS NEW YORK is invested in bringing exciting and interesting art
back to The Bronx. The passion project of John CRASH Matos and Robert Kantor, the gallery exhibits work
from both local artists and artists from all over the world, both established and emerging.
Anna A. Matos | Gallery Director
WALLWORKS NEW YORK | 39 Bruckner Blvd.| 917.825.9342 | wallworksny.com | wallworksny@gmail.com
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