Saturday, August 29, 2009

Pursuit/Refinement/Culmination

Not sure what to title this post. Greg, a close friend, has been working away at an evolving personal concept for well over ten years now. It's roots may be his own emergence as a hippified persona, living within a conservative Christian community in Illinois, but he really has gone beyond that. I've watched as he has transformed his gallery/picture shop, forever tweaking and adjusting and organizing. He has used this physical location, through his constant manipulation of its purpose, to flesh out his own philosophies.

It's so interesting to see an artist push on for so long, towards an unknown, and possibly unstate-able goal. It's so interesting to watch someone who has something to figure out, and is compelled to do so. He may well be there now. He has melded together truly original visions of subcultural and religious philosophies.

This property is up for auction Sept. 16. If he does get booted out, it will be at a remarkably appropriate time in this process. If not, then be sure to visit the shop in the next year or so.

"Behind the Sign"

"Sign of Jsu is located at 3318 E. Tenth St., Indianapolis, IN USA (46201). On the sign is a little box containing free copies of parable doctrine (help yourself). Behind the sign is a subcultural thrift shop. I have for sale many back issues of 'Art News', 'New Yorker', and other magazines, a nice collection of experimental international music from the sixties and seventies on CD, over on hundred cassettes of the jazz greats from the Forties and Fifties, many Lp's with cool cover art, buckets of beads and beading supplies, pictures, and several examples of what is probably the only fiber craft practiced widely on a local level, the inexplicable 'afghan'. I accept donations of books, magazines, disks, and tapes. I am presently looking for introductory liberal arts text books. I would like to put sets of these together, like a B.A. in a box, for local distribution. The shop is theoretically open Fri. Sat, and Sun noon to seven (call ahead for the real hours and to hear Duoot play a tune on the message machine).


In the shop there is more parable literature including Hala Maloki's "Commentary on Parable Doctrine" and his "Application of Parable Doctrine to the Alternative Subcultures" (both in final draft form). There is online versions of parable literature at http://www.parabledoctrine.blogspot.com/, http://www.halamaloki.blogspot.com/, and http://www.signofjsu.blogspot.com/.

I welcome anyone who has something for Sub Art to give me a call, I am particularly interested in local art histories, especially any that involve the 'cheap art' movement of the 1990's, Contemporary art that is below the applicable standards, or anything that addresses subculture. For the religiously inclined; who would like parable literature mailed to them, who have a commentary or application to publish, or who might put up a sign, contact Greg @(317) 684-9883. telephone"

9 comments:

Nomi Lubin said...

I love the roof against all those other colors.

Up for auction? Does he own the building?

Carla said...

He doesn't own. It was auctioned a few years ago, but he was kept on as a tenant. Last time it went for $2500 I believe. We were stunned, because, well, I could have gotten that amount together.

Nomi Lubin said...

Oh, so not a foreclosure? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions.

Carla said...

It could be foreclosure. The owner gave no warning, until an auction sign was slapped on that perty facade. Greg's cool with whatever happens.

Carla said...

You maybe want to fly in and bid on it? :-)

Nomi Lubin said...

I would not be cool with whatever happens after working on it for ten years. A better man than I . . .

greg said...

Thanks for the nice write up. It has been a long ongoing deal, but it has worked out in many ways. I'm glad someone had the patience to pay attention to it for all that while.

Your college dream paintings are really cool!

Carla said...

Thanks, Greg.

Hala Maloki said...

The auction draws near. I'm beginning to wonder what the results might be. I am working on an artist's statement that makes the connections between art, religion, and subculture. It would be nice to complete it while occupying this particular 3D model. I'll be glad to get the auction banner off the front of the building so I can get some pictures of the new paint job befor the leaves fall. The gold paint you hipped me to Carla really works. From across the street it looks like a nice yellow, but when you get up to the building the metallic really jumps.

Good luck on your Four Star show!