BWW Previews: THEATRALISCHER TOD, The Art of Jon Clue & Needles at Sacred Gallery in NYC

Sacred Gallery will present "Theatralischer Tod" The Art of Jon Clue and Needles. The exhibition will open on November 8th and be on display through December 31st. Sacred Gallery is located at 424 Broadway, near the Canal Street intersection on the second floor. It is free and open to the public daily from noon to 8:00 pm.

Jon Clue began tattooing in the summer of 1993 in Selden, N.Y. and since has traveled far and wide tattooing alongside and collaborating with some of the most sought after artists in the industry. His work has appeared in countless trade publications, tattoo conventions, and art galleries worldwide. His imaginative style and close attention to detail and texture can easily be recognized in his unique approach in rendering vividly colored bio-organic, cosmic landscapes appropriately inhabited by critters ranging from slithering reptilians, to slimy amphibians, or denizens of the deep sea with glowing appendages, or on the darker side of life with images of skulls and bones that also appear to be bleak landscapes that you may have seen in a terrifying nightmare.

Jon Clue said, "The universe does not work like a machine... It is however human nature to make order of chaos...If we could just let go of this need, and surrender ourselves to the true organic nature of the universe, we will become one with it, it will flow freely through us, as we traverse freely through it..."

Clue made a statement about his art. "From a young age I was enthralled by cinema, which, to me, was like watching moving paintings. Through the viewing of films, I was constantly inspired to create, leading me to explore more of what cinema had to offer for the sole purpose of expanding my inspirations to create art. I began painting in oils over twenty years ago as an art student at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. As the years went on I transitioned into many different mediums to create my art, abandoning oil altogether. In many cases I employed several mediums within the same piece; creating on paper, board, cardboard, wood, or anything I could get my hands on, yet was always drawn back to the idea of working on canvas with one medium alone. Fast forward to present time, where I have come full circle and gone back to the beginnings of my career to re-explore oil paint once again. These works are the culmination of my efforts to re-familiarize myself with the versatile medium of oil paint over the last few months, only to fall deeply in love with the application of oil on canvas. Returning to this amazing medium has opened up a whole new world to me artistically, just as film opened up my eyes to the possibilities of a creative individual."

He spoke further about his fascination with film. "Film has been such a source of inspiration for me that it was inevitable that it would be the subject of my newest series of oil paintings, focusing on portraiture. Many of the characters and films represented in this series have some deep personal meaning to me, compelling me to paint them. I feel they express my admiration for both film and art. Without my exposure to them, I would not be the artist that I am today. Some of the recurring themes in this series revolve around the dichotomy of hyper-realism and the deconstruction of form. Light, shadow, and texture combined with the marriage of focus or lack there of are the vital components of this series. All of these elements coexist to elicit a nostalgic emotional response upon viewing."

Clue has worked in a number of mediums. "The very first medium I can recall experimenting with would have to be Prismacolor/colored pencil. I've always had an affinity for the medium, even as a young child. I'm very blessed to have the opportunity to share these works alongside my oil paintings. I feel that with Prismacolor I've always been able to take an extremely realistic and painterly approach. I feel these pieces are great companions to the works I've created in oils. Both mediums showcase my love for film and art. I hope that you agree and enjoy them, as they hold a special place in my heart, not only as the artist, but as a viewer of art, as well."

Visitors to Jon Clue's exhibition at Sacred Gallery will see an excellent representation of his work. Sacred Gallery was established in December of 2009 by Gallery Director Kevin Wilson. The gallery's mission is to exhibit a wide variety of works and artists. Over the last 4 years, Sacred has featured graffiti artists, painters, photographers, print makers, comic book artists, documenters, and many other types of artists using a variety of mediums, including blood and live performance graffiti. The gallery prides itself on the accommodations that are provided to the diverse communities of artists that New York City and the world have to offer.

Sacred Gallery and its sister business, Sacred Tattoo are highly acclaimed and have received a great deal of media attention for their work. For more information, visit www.sacredtattoo.com. For purchase inquiries in the gallery, please email the gallery director at Kevin@SacredGalleryNYC.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sacred Tattoo