Crocheted bike by Olek. Located at 127 Elizabeth Street.
The art of crochet artist Olek is built to last! Her exhibit “Knitting is For Pus***” is still on display at the Christopher Henry Gallery located at 127 Elizabeth Street in New York. I’ve written about this exhibit many times and for good reason – it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before! A studio apartment has been erected inside the Christopher Henry Gallery and Olek has crocheted over every object inside of it! From a toilet to a bed, this colorful and wildly imaginative exhibit is a must see!
In other Olek news, a collaborative project with Devan Harlan will be on display at LZ Project Space beginning next week. See a picture of the Electric Bicycle on the Happy Famous Artists’ website. It looks amazing!
On February 4, 2011, I was fortunate enough to have another chance to step inside the crocheted world of Polish artist Olek. Olek’s exhibit “Knitting is for Pus***” is currently on display at the Christopher Henry Gallery (located at 127 Elizabeth Street in New York). The exhibit was supposed to be on view for one month last August, but due to overwhelming popularity, the exhibit has traveled across the United States and has been written about on nearly every important art site across the globe. As you’ll see in the above video, Olek crocheted the contents of an apartment built inside the Christopher Henry Gallery and it’s incredible! I’ve had the opportunity to wear Olek’s crocheted body suits before and every time I’ve done so, I’ve had an amazing experience.
For this adventure (as you’ll see in the clip), I wore a blue body suit. My instructions were to hang out in the apartment and get some ironing done while Olek was being interviewed. No problem. Once the NBC crew showed up, we were given a new assignment: go outside in 20 degree weather and spread the colorful message of crotchet to the people we passed on the street. Was it freezing outside? Yes. Was it an experience I’ll never forget? Yes. Would I do it again? Hell yes! Thanks again Olek!
As I’ve said previously, 2011 is the year of Olek! The Polish born artist has conquered New York and is set to take over the world! Her exhibit “Knitting is for Pus***” at the Christopher Henry Gallery has been written up by just about every art blog and magazine and has been featured on news programs across the globe. Recently, I wore one of Olek’s crocheted bodysuits for a feature on Polish TV. You can see the clip below. The video is in Polish and at the end of the clip, they reference the day that Olek took over Wall Street. You can see that clip by clicking on the hyperlink in the second sentence of this story. By the way, in the video I’m the one wearing the green outfit, fixing my hair, because it’s a personal rule to look stylish under any circumstance! You can step inside the wonderful world of Olek on her official website.
In The Middle of Erewhon by Aga Ousseinov. Now showing at the Christopher Henry Gallery in New York through January 16, 2011.
Aga Ousseinov grew up in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. When his optimism of alternate realities was squashed by the harsh fact of dealing with life as it is, he used his imagination to escape into fantasy worlds. ”In the Middle of Erewhon,” Aga Ousseinov’s second solo exhibition at the Christopher Henry Gallery in New York shows off some of the inventions that help the viewer escape from pessimistic reality and escape into a world of imagining the impossible. Aga Ousseinov has been selected for the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition that runs from June 4 to November 21, 2011.
Partial Gallery View
The Christopher Henry Gallery is located at 127 Elizabeth Street, Wednesday – Sunday from 11 to 6. While you are there, make sure you go upstairs and check out “Knitting is for Pus***” by Olek. Your eyes will thank you for it.
Last summer, Polish born and New York based artist Agata Olek had an exhibit at the Christopher Henry Gallery in Manhattan entitled “Knitting is For Pus***.” The exhibit featured a miniature apartment in which every object inside was crocheted! You can see a bit of the apartment in the above picture. The exhibit was supposed to last for one month and due to overwhelming demand it kept getting extended. In fact, you still have a chance to see the exhibit (so go to 127 Elizabeth Street in Manhattan ASAP!). As the exhibit gained popularity, Olek and her unique art have been featured in magazines and on TV channels across the world.
And then she went viral. On Christmas Eve, Olek left a gift for the citizens of New York. If you haven’t seen this video of Olek crocheting an outfit on the bull that presides over Wall Street, you’re about to fall in love….
I had the great fortune of wearing Olek’s crocheted outfits on two occasions last year (one of those occasions resulted in a really cool photo shoot for an article that appeared in Paper Magazine) and 2011 marked occasion number three. Olek did an interview for Polish TV today and I was there not only to catch the action, but to be the action!
Olek being interviewed for Polish TV
It ain't easy being green. That's me on the phone in Olek's world.
No visit with an artist or celebrity is complete without my infamous “take it with your hand” photo.
Olek and G
2011 is looking extremely bright for Olek and I am so pleased for her. She’s tremendously talented and she’s one of the coolest people you could ever hope to meet. Just remember, this is Olek’s world and we are just living in it!
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