“Curators as Artists” Exhibition

By Jennifer L. Warren
J_Warren@HVPress.net

(Beacon) - They pay rent, select and show art, curate and do invitational, theme or subject shows and events. They’re called curators, and seven of them were on hand for another “Second Saturday” evening in Beacon, displaying their artwork at the artist collective dubbed BAU (Beacon Artist Union). Over 200 guests inhabited the small collective’s quarters throughout the evening amidst frigid, single digit temperatures. They were provided with a rare treat, not only in terms of the wide spectrum of art, but the creators behind it.

“The Curators as Artists” shows the breath of contemporary art made by artists who are primarily curators,” said Christopher Staples, the Curator for the show as well as one of seven bau 2007 members. “Rarely do curators have their works shown as a group, but we are expecting a good reaction, as the showings here at bau are always well attended.”
If Saturday’s opening night attendance figures are any indication of the exhibit’s popularity, bau will again be another hot spot on Main Street for the next few weeks, as “Curators as Artists” will run through March 4, 2007. Now in its third year, bau showcases a new contemporary art exhibit each month. An artist collective that is member run, its members include: Staples, Vivian Altman, Gary Jacketti, Gary O’Connor, Franc Palaia, Joane Klein, and Elizabeth Winchester. A winner of the 2006 Dutchess County Executive Arts Award for Organization, bau, located on 161 Main Street, is open on Saturday and Sunday 12-6 and by appointment. Next up on its agenda is a panel discussion on the arts today, slated for Sunday, February 25, 2007 at 4 pm.

One of the panel’s participants will be Karlos Carcamo, an artist whose work can be viewed at bau’s current curator exhibit. Carcamo, who resides in Wappingers Falls and holds an MFA from Hunter College, is a conceptual artist. Additionally, he, along with Gregory Slick, co-own Beacon’s Go North Gallery. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, Carcamo does photography, painting and sculpture. One of his two featured pieces at bau Saturday night was “Untitled Self Portraits,” which used color inkjet prints with limousine tints in chrome frames. Dressed as a Hip Hopper, wearing red, white and blue bandannas, in three different images, Carcamo pays tribute to an artform that has had a profound effect on his life and work.
“I sample art history, just as a hip hop artist does with music, always looking for something to reconceptualize; whether its upfront or buried, the meaning is always there for me” explained Carcamo. “I grew up with Hip Hop, so I use it as my vocabulary to create art.”

Carcamo’s “Hip Hop” art lingo can again be detected in his other bau piece, “Looking for the Perfect Beat.” Composed of 300 stacked records, the authentic art was designed with a definite purpose.

“For me, the records reflect how Hip Hop is put together,” said Carcamo, whose art has appeared all over New York City and Florida. “It also shows the incredible influence it has on our culture, such as in things like marketing.”
You can find out more about Carcamo and his gallery by logging on to his website at: gonorthgallery.blogspot.com or visit the Beacon Artist Union website at: www.beaconartistunion.com.

Pictured Above: Karlos Carcamo