|
ALEXANDER VON AGOSTON
CHICAGO
|
Around the Coyote - September 2002
I participated in the Arround the Coyote Art Festival from 2002 to 2007.
| Chicago Art Shows: | Seattles Best 2002 | Boost Cafe 2003 | Coyote 2003 | Gerberhart 2003 | Coyote 2004 | Coyote 2005 |
Flat Iron Art Building
|
|
|
|
AROUND THE COYOTE, Around Chicagos Wicker Park, Fall Arts Festival, Damen/North/Milwaukee Avenues,
Flat Irons Art Building, 1579 N Milwaukee #352 Chicago, IL 60622, September 13th to September 15th 2002
|
|
|
|
There ist something special about Belmont Rocks.
I knew that these Rocks have been
built up by men, but the power of the water removed them over the
years and made them look like a work of God. Like a gift of
nature for the people of Chicago and those who admire Windy City.
Sitting on the Rocks I felt like in an other world.
In the background you see the skyline of Chicago which remembers
me to an middle age german City with many towers under the castle
line. When I took my early morning swim, the sun rieses over the
Michigan Sea. Only a few other swimmers are in the water now, one
named Jeff knows me already and says hello before diving in the
next wave. Friendly people around, I do enjoy my Chicago time.
Later on a man told me about the goverment plan to restore Belmont Rocks. Which means destroy them to built up a new clean sterile line of stairs. I think those stairs do not look bad, they are beautiful, but, and this is a big BUT, they never will be able to create an atmospere of men hospitality. No hidden places, no secrets possible.
|
|
But whats life without secrets?! Even open secrets are brilliant! And it is an open secret that Belmont Rock is an synonym for happy gay life.
I cant change governments decissions, but I want to thank the city of Chicago for lots of fun I have had on Bermont Rocks: Thath´s why I created this 10 to 10 feet big acrylic on canvas painting.
I worked on it during my guest time in the "friends of the arts" space of Cornelia Arts Building, in Cornelia Street, september 2002. (Thank you very much for inviting me, Richard Lange!) It was shown first in the "Around the Coyote" Fall Arts Festival in Flat Iron Building from september 12th to 14th 2002 as a part of the installation.
The special thing on this canvas
is, that it has two sides which are painted. Ja! The front side
shows men on the rocks wearing swimming trunks or bathing
costumes. On the back side they are naked.-
You can´t see the back side before not walking behind the
canvas, where is only a small one feet wide walkway between this
and the other big painting same sized, showing the face of a man
(a portrait of somebody I saw on the rocks) looking in the
direction of naked men fun. (secret). Above in the little light
dome other paintings in between the draped flag of USA are
leading the visitors glances to stars of heaven or sun at
daytime.
Its not a cozy atmosphere her behind, just because its such a narrow passage, so only a few people took the opportunity of walking through the way of knowledge.
And thats what I wanted to show with the installation:
Every men, every house, every
thing has a facade.
If you want to know more about men you have to talk to them.
If you want to know more about a house, you have to open the door
and walk in.
And so the same with every single thing in the world!
But you always have to be brave and not afraid ot coplete your knowledge!
 |
Only some people are without fear: they now have an idea what Belmont Rocks opened secret means.
A secret which will last in a legend.
Alexander von Agoston, Berlin, 2003
ŠA.v.A.
2003:
You can see the belmont Rock piece at the monthly reading of the New Town Writers at Bailwick Art Center on Sunday April 27th at 2 pm 2003.
(1229 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Il 606657/ 773.883.1090/ www.bailiwick.org)
September 14: Gerber/Hart Library Art Gallery, 1127 W. Granville, Chicago
On October 23 there will be the Off the Rocks Release Party at 7:30 p.m. The Belmont Rock piece will be hung in the Loft Theater. Some images you will find in the book as well.
| Chicago Art Shows: | Seattles Best 2002 | Boost Cafe 2003 | Coyote 2003 | Gerberhart 2003 | Coyote 2004 | Coyote 2005 |
Chicago
(Privatbesitz Paris)
