Street artist RAE BK, ubiquitous with his line-drawing slap stickers, unique for his found-object sculptural pieces, knows how to put on an exhibition.
He staged a show that functioned as a fully-stocked bodega on Avenue C. Another (with a lengthy backstory involving an eviction and a microwave explosion) in a one-time butcher shop in a grimy Chinatown basement. His "bedroom" at the 21st Precinct was one of the best things at that 50-artist extravaganza. And though his latest exhibition, called "All Systems Go," perhaps lacks the same sort of installation drama of his other pop-ups—this is really more of a traditional gallery show—it makes up for it in the timing and choice of live entertainment. Namely: it opens tonight (that'd be New Year's Eve), with free-flowing booze and a set by the legendary hip-hop pioneer, DJ Kool Herc.
"All Systems Go" features 40 new works by RAE, including a number of his signature masks made from street detritus, several mixed-media pieces, lots of ink drawings, and a couple of large painted works on canvas. All of the objects used in the sculptural works were scavenged from the area around Willet Points in Queens, and the characters depicted therein are people RAE met while hanging around the chop shops.
The opening/NYE party will cost you $85, and includes as much alcohol as you can drink, a midnight raffle of one of RAE's framed works, and plenty of fresh beats from DJ Kool Herc. In case you already have plans, "All Systems Go" will remain on view here at 99 Bowery from January 2 through at least January 7.
