FILM

ART TODAY 030118 The variations of Rob Sussman’s world, exemplified in his deck of playing cards, “to mimic the heterogeneity of the Village Gate”

ART TODAY 030118 The variations of Rob Sussman’s world, exemplified in his deck of playing cards, “to mimic the heterogeneity of the Village Gate”

Clockwise from upper left: Emma Goldman, Nina Simone, Walt Whitman, card back, James Baldwin, Marcel Duchamp, Angela Davis, card back, Henry Geldzehler, Margaret Cho. The deck was inspired by famed Greenwich Village jazz and comedy club the Village Gate. Over the course of its 35 year history, the 3-story club hosted everyone from Nina Simone to Noam Chomsky, Richard Pryor to the Velvet Underground.

ART TODAY 022818 En Route to Père Lachaise – the extraordinary illustrative mastery of Rob Sussman

ART TODAY 022818 En Route to Père Lachaise – the extraordinary illustrative mastery of Rob Sussman

En Route to Père Lachaise – Interminable pointillist odyssey. I’d returned to LA from three weeks in Asia where, in the ancient city of Luoyang, capital of numerous Chinese dynasties, I had a kind of existential meltdown/breakthrough. All sorts of arbitrary habits and assumptions were thrown into high relief. I was drunk and felt like I was facing death. What Saul Bellow described as the dark backing of a mirror.

Rob Sussman’s TribeLA Magazine Acrostic Interview

Rob Sussman’s TribeLA Magazine Acrostic Interview

My sons have been the center of my life for 20+ years, lighting up my existence and offering great feedback (when they can be bothered). A couple teachers at Otis and SVA, my girlfriend, my mom, lots of amazing friends. Some favorite illustrators are Drew Friedman, Chris Ware, Zoe Matthiessen, Henrik Drescher.

ART TODAY 022318 Chris Bonno recommends Paul Torres in a review of an art piece from his personal collection

ART TODAY 022318 Chris Bonno recommends Paul Torres in a review of an art piece from his personal collection

His portraits have a sensuality to them and he clearly knows how to do a more traditional portrait (that can be stunning to observe) with excellent paint technique, volume, and creative use of color. Mostly, I see the creations, the people, the personalities, the vibe, the time he captures and the core or heart of his subjects. As a spectator, I am “let in” on how Torres’ cares for his work and his subjects. He creates an atmosphere while capturing the heart and attitude of the characters that we see around us but might not closely observe. By Chris Bonno

A political filmmaker’s swan song chronicles a haunting close to an artist’s life

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