Rick Prol Studio Visit

James Kalm visits some of the artsy sites on West 11th Street before dropping in spontaneously on Rick Prol. Prol has been a controversial long time presence on the New York painting scene. Coming to prominence during the ascension of the East Village, he maintained a studio/gallery on East 6th Street a stones throw from the original Pat Hearn Gallery for decades. In his involvements hes seen the tragic culmination of the EV community close up and personal, having worked with Jean-Michel Basquiat Despite the challenges, hes maintained his artistic practice, as well a serious commitment to music and poetry.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• James
• Kalm
• Rick
• Prol
• East
• Village
• painting
• drawing
• sculpture
• Expressionism
• Neo-Expressionism

[nightrader1]

Great Job James. Whose Kate btw?

[jcjim99]

Also the EV 81 came about because there were ton's of artists who couldn't get a show in SoHo so they set up in the EV, a veritable shithole at that time ( +Heroin capitol of the world) where rent was dirt cheap.

The EV didn't die with the passing of Warhol + JMB+ AIDS, a romantic notion, but not at all true. Gentrification killed it. Guys like Peter Halley & Jeff Koons are still HUGE art stars.

EV never really "died". It just morphed into something else.

[jcjim99]

i would have liked less chit-chat and more views of the paintings. i actually don't agree 100% with the "we are all accidents" comment. some truth in that, but we are free to make our own choices as well. ultimately it was JMB's choice to shoot dope just as one chooses anything in Life.

[LStarCooperative]

Thanks so much James Kalm..

[LawrenceCharlesMille]

Rick Prol is one of my favorite painters. He has a good crap detector. Thanks James Kalm. Best -

[fox408]

another great post...thanks james!

[andblast]

great one, this. I'm really enjoying the street tours you've been adding on too

[4ureally]

Paraphrase: "painting is a game and you have to deepen the game. You have to deepen the game to make the work look interesting. Job of the artist is harder because you have to make it look interesting and that is hard and harder to do."

And that IS THE PROBLEM!!

[3589546]

Bacon remarks are good. So much more interesting to see this in this format than an art magazine article. Great stuff.

[STEVENLEE011]

A moving personal take on the East Village art scene. Thanks James. Great interview!