21 minute read
LAURENCE GARTEL - THE VISIONARY “FATHER OF DIGITAL ART”
Story and Interview by LISA BELLA BOURGEOIS
Lifetime Achievement Award ~ Harajuku section of Tokyo, Japan
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Tell us about your childhood and how it has influenced your Art… realizing we are all products of our environments
We are definitely all products of our environment. You asked about my childhood. I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in the Bronx across the street from Joyce Kilmer Park on the Grand Concourse. The park across the street was where I learned everything about life. Old people who used to take their “lawn chairs” from my building to sit comfortably on their own chairs vs. the hard-wooden benches they have a frontrow seat to my building. To the left of my apartment building was an all-boys Catholic School called All Hallows. In the evenings, we used to play stickball or punchball in their courtyard. The park is where I played baseball, football, hide and go seek, and ride my bike till it got dark. My mother would yell to me from the 8th-floor window to come inside for dinner.
The building adjacent to mine had four times time the number of apartments than my building, and when it was time to trick or treat, I came home with three bags of candy. It literally lasted a whole year till the following season. My dad, a commercial residential and commercial painter was a hard worker that got up at 5AM every day and went to work. He always said, “the roller has to hit the wall by 10 to 7.” He and his workers would quit at 3PM. By the time he got home from his assignments, it was 5PM, and by 8PM, he was in bed fast asleep. His work ethic was very much instilled into my psyche. Hard work always brought a good quality of life. He had his work car and then he worked his way up to having a Cadillac Sedan DeVille. The world was very innocent and different than it is now. On my mother’s side of the family, she had three sisters and one brother. All the sisters (my aunts) were all in competition trying to outdo each other in their own ways. One aunt was a very talented leather designer, and her three children (my cousins) were all talented in their own ways: two dancers and one sculptor. Another aunt was an OffBroadway actress. Her three children were equally talented: A photographer, a folk singer/ producer and my male cousin went into his father’s business as a jeweler who to this day designs some magnificent highend pieces that sell at Sotheby’s. Her third and eldest sister was a homemaker who raised three sons: one a policeman, the other a salesman, and the eldest son had a PhD in education. *(Very diverse). My mother’s brother had two children: two girls that I was not close with at all. I was an only child born ten years after my parents were married, so I came as a surprise to everyone. My parents exalted me like I was a prince. *(Who was I to argue?) My mom bought me a Beatle wig from the local candy store and bought me a guitar. Then she made a sign out of cray paper, and wrote, “Laurence G, the Star.” I never forgot it and actually have a photo of this somewhere! This line took me through my entire life: “If my mother told me I was great; how could I disagree with my mother? My mother would never lie to me. I then went into the world and told everyone I was great. If they asked, “Why or who told you, I would say, “My mother told me so.” There really was no come back for this. It has been authenticated and validated my entire life. Another very important aspect of my childhood is the fact that my father was sick and had his first heart attack when I was just 9-years old. I recall having an ambulance come to the house with a stretcher, and I was so upset I didn’t know what to do. I took out my bag of crayons and just starting drawing. I couldn’t lookup. I just kept my head down to my piece of paper. I found solace in my Artwork. That was truly the start of everything. When my dad recovered, I recall my parents having a series of books on the living room coffee table. They came from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They were pristine in plastic sleeves to protect the covers. Why I mention, that is because I felt that they were very important and treated them as such. Van Gogh, Matisse, Renoir fascinated me, as did Monet, Manet and Picasso. I wondered to myself if there was ever a chance I could ever be as good. Could I become a master? – I thought to myself, even at a young age, this was a very lofty goal; nearly impossible. - - But it was surely worth a try. And with that conviction, I set out to be a very important Artist. I ingrained this concept in my head for all times, never to look back. How I was going to get there, I did not know. Art brought me so much comfort and joy. As an only child, Art spoke to me as if I had a brother or sister to talk to. Art had its own voice. I heard it. I could respond by making my own pictures. By ten years old, my mother enrolled me in the Pels School of Art, which was in the old Ansonia Hotel. *(Worth googling). My mother used to take me by subway on the number 4 train and get out at 72nd Street and
Broadway. My uncle had a jewelry store there, and I recall visiting on several occasions. Sadly, he was shot and killed one day in a hold up at the store. My aunt was in tremendous grief with her three children. I went to visit her with my mother shortly after. I was only at her apartment once in my life, and that was the time. My cousin Brad had a friend over, and he was tripping on LSD. It was so surreal. They did not want me to know they were doing drugs and thus attempted to get the other kid out of the apartment before I would tell my mother. This made a deep impression on me, and in 1997 I created a work of Art titled, “Lies of Aunt Ruth.” It described this incident 30-years prior. This work of Art was the feature of my special exhibition at the “Editions of Art Fair” in Innsbruck, Austria in 1998 where the Chancellor of Austria, Viktor Klima, honored me. The work “Lies of Aunt Ruth” were published in dozens of newspapers around the world. How incredible that such a moment would gain such notoriety and praise. The year prior, “Lies of Aunt Ruth” was translated into a poster for my exhibition at The Amerika Haus” in Frankfurt. The discovery of Computer Art came when I followed my High School girlfriend up to Buffalo, where she was enrolled in sociology courses at the University of Buffalo. I took a semester off from the School of Visual Arts, where I was a junior and took transferable credits at Buffalo State University. There I was in a Film Appreciation course watching a Charlie Chaplin movie, “Modern Times.” I was in the last row and had a camera with a long lens taking pictures and wondering if I could freeze a frame and make a still picture. A fellow classmate came up to me and asked me what I was doing, and I explain to him what I was attempting. He told me that they had a center to do some “very interesting things.” I should meet him there on Friday night at 8PM in what would be considered a bad neighborhood in Buffalo. My curiosity got the best of me, and my girlfriend and I went to investigate. The place was called “Media Study/Buffalo” on Main Street and I further learned it was started by a guy named Gerry O’ Grady. There I met Video Artist Nam June Paik at Media Study, and I was taking pictures off the screen of images I was creating. I believed that an electronic image could replace a painting on the wall.” This was such a unique and novel concept. Nobody ever thought that, or even mentioned it. I was a 19-year old Artist who saw the future. Paik called me a “crazy man” for my ideas, and I took that as a compliment. I never looked back after that. But now the challenge was on I was not a technical person. Nor did I know what any machine did…or why. Or even how. Imagine staring at a piano (times 1000) and knowing you wanted to make compelling music. It was indeed a tall order and something that an Artist would hardly want to confront. Coming from a background learning Art history and studying the masters along with contemporary Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Minimalism, this was a completely different animal, never tried, never qualified or quantified, it was an open road of pure experimentation. – I wholeheartedly embraced it.
What motivated a 19-year-old to “keep swimming” in light of always being told no & having so many people saying you were crazy for your vision?
When asked about how did I keep going against adversity and negativity, I can only say, “I saw what the future would be. How Digital Media was going to take over the world as a communicative vehicle.” Visionaries can see into the future. They have insight and intuition. Most of the world follows trends and stay with the status quo. All pioneers suffer ridicule and doubt. It is easy to dismiss something
that has not had a proven track record. We see this with technology all the time. I recall being interviewed by NBC Nightly News at the Computer Electronic Publishing Show (CEPS) at McCormick Place in Chicago, and they had a counterpoint from the director of the NYU Gray Gallery say, “Computer Art has no long-term validity and value.” – Boy did he look dumb after that. Especially for the fact that I was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune Business Section (1990) and recently was the Front Cover of Forbes (1989). It also shows that people who have high positions are short on the global scope. They only know their narrow field, whatever that might be. “Other people’s doubts should never become your own.” Why would one person know more than you do? I always asked myself this question. As a matter of fact, I presented my Polaroid SX-70 Mural titled, “Moz Ocean” on the floor of the Museum of Modern Art Photography Director John Szarkowski in 1982. He was showing Cartier-Bresson at the time. My work was so far advanced he could not make out what it was or how this was a bellwether artwork right in front of him. Shortly after this experience, the work was shown at the Long Beach Museum of Art in California for an exhibition titled, “The Artist and the Computer.” It received critical acclaim as well as being the cover of a periodical called “INFO WORLD.” Years later, MoMA showed this work in an exhibition titled “Exchange of Information.” You cannot take someone’s opinion as gospel when you know better than him or her regardless of who or what they are. Intuition and knowingness are innate. The determination was based on sheer fortitude, building one success after another. My Art has been shown in institutions such as the Bibliotheque Nationale Paris, Smithsonian Institute Museum of American History, Victoria & Albert Museum London, Amerika Haus Germany, along with inclusion in art history books: La Storia Dell Arte, Leggere D’ Art, published by Edizioni Giunti, Florence, Art of the Digital Age, published by Thames and Hudson, UK and The World of Digital Art published by HF Ullman, Germany. All of this has contributed greatly to establishing the legitimacy of my career and the Digital Art medium at large. Having the most important Art Critic Pierre Restany write the Introduction to my personal monograph book, “GARTEL: Arte e Tecnologia” published by Edizioni Mazzotta, Italy was a great mark of acknowledgement.
First State of Art Car
I understand you worked with a group of students creating the First State of Art Car… I am sure it was a learning experience of their life for the students to assist in pioneering the First State of Art Car… what did you take away from that collaboration with our youth?
YES. I did an Art Car with Franklin High School in New Hampshire. And you are right; it was a highlight of the student’s experience at that school, maybe their lives. The school chose the top senior Art students to work with. I had them create Artworks and then translated it for use on the front bumper of the car. When the entire vehicle was completed, we had a big party at the school inviting the entire community, parents, grandparents, local politicians as well as having a police
escort with the car around the neighborhood with lights flashing. It was a very, very big deal. The car was also unveiled at the Capital Building in Concord with the State Governor Maggie Hassan who gave a speech and read proclamations. It was the first State Art Car ever produced. It surely was a great thrill to the entire state. It’s not often a Governor gets behind an Art project, and an entire state embraces aesthetics instead of business. Art brings enjoyment and enrichment to a community. The students took so much pride in their individual creations, being part of something so noteworthy.
57th Annual Grammy Awards Poster
Congratulations on being chosen as the Official Grammy Artist for the 57th Grammy Awards! You showcased your fashion on the Red Carpet… Which came first your Art or your Fashion?
My days of fashion go way back. I started making tie-dye t-shirts when I was 15-years old during the 70s. Years later, I got more serious with this and started embroidering on them and improved the product. When I was married in the 80s, my wife and I created unique hand-painted one of a kind earrings. They were all sorts of shapes and very attractive. They were very different, and nothing like anything else on the market. We sold to Bloomingdales and did very well with them. In 2010 I was commissioned to create the first Electric Art Roadster for Elon Musk. I unveiled it during Art Basel at Nikki Beach. I held a fashion show whereby the models wore clothing that matched the car. There was a kind of fantastic synergy. My designer Bonnie McCabe made leggings, hoodies, shorts, scarves, long-sleeved shirts and other items. The Art Car went viral on the internet to over 25,000 websites. For me, a new industry was born creating Art Cars.
Grammy Fashion
The following year I produced several cars of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards Red in the form of a 1957 Lincoln Premiere Carpet. I created a dress for my girlfriend as Convertible, a1959 Cadillac Limousine for well as accessorize her in shoes and purse. SX-Liquors as well as a 1989 Rolls Royce My tuxedo was trimmed with my Art along Spirit decorated in the events of 1989 with my bow tie. All of it mirrored the Art inclusive Tiananmen Square, Steve Job’s on the Grammy Statue, which I designed. NeXT computer and the passing of Salvador It was both a tremendous moment for The Dali. We unveiled these cars the following Grammys and me. Moreover, it was seen by year Art Basel 2011 with Swedish company over 2-million people. Bang & Olufsen. By 2013 I was the Feature of the 113th New York International Auto Why is Art so Important? Show with my own Pavilion of 30,000 square feet. It was filled with Art Cars and Motorcycles. Always being original nobody To some, it’s not important at all. To others, it is a necessity: Like Air! ever saw a display like this before. The Daily How do you live without it? I’ve spent my News reported on the collection, and we had entire life immersed in Art. It is food for the hundreds of thousands of people coming to soul. Whether it is going to a museum or check out the vehicles through a four-day listening to a Symphony Orchestra, or a Rock period. Concert, human creativity is intoxicating. This all leads up to 2014 when I again revealed an Art Car at exclusive Fisher Island in the form of a Renntech Mercedes SL65 V-12. It was a special event for the Fisher Island Club Members Only and sponsored by Graff Diamonds. While only 150 attendees, this event went viral around the world to tens of thousands of media outlets. The car was then shipped out to Los Angeles to be part We have witnessed through the Coronavirus people are bored without engaging in some sort of cultural activity. At any age, be it a young child who takes dance or gymnastic classes or teens that enrol in Arts and Crafts classes, Art is very important. People can forget their immediate problems and lose themselves into a creative project. I am always looking to excel and top my latest creations.
Commissioned to create for IlluminArt to prevent bullying and promote tolerance in children. It is always in the best interest to promote positivity.
The Maserati Art Car to raise money for charity. Beyond the funds personally raised, the awareness of the charities involved, lead
Society in San Francisco.
Art commissioned to help fight LYME Disease Art to support the Leukemia
to much more philanthropic giving to each of the entities. It would be appropriate to say the awareness of the charities connected to this car gave way to much more giving.
Polo by Twilight - Skidmore College Scholarship Fund
Equine Advocates - Saving and caring for horses discarded and abused.
Saratoga Hospital Foundation
Saratoga Auto Museum
Laurence Gartel Final Statement: The last year has been rather prolific. I produced “Welcome to Miami for Richard Branson’s Miami Central Rail Station in the form of large metal letters adorned with my Art. People arriving and leaving the station are greeted by this bright and positive “MIAMI” structure. Not that invasive in size but approachable to take a picture with. I also created “Legends of Rock and Roll” for the all-new Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel Lobby. This commission consists of four (4) large metal panels based on the greatest musicians of “Vocal,” “Strings,” Percussion,” and “Keyboards.” While one often thinks of metal as “solid” the Artwork is printed with a great deal of “translucency.” The hallway that the Art is permanently displayed leads to the pool area, and thus the Art mirrors the concept of water with transparency. It is the perfect synergy between Art & Design, Art and Reality.
We always look at “What’s next.” In my case, I have created an Art Puzzle like a Rubik’s cube but even better. It is a piece of Art that every single person can change, alter and most important touch. Art is usually reserved for a wall or free-standing with a sign that says, “Don’t Touch.” In this case, I want you to touch and feel the Art. Combining multiple cubes leads to more possibilities, and the forms themselves become sculptural. The process can become addictive, but then again, that is the sign of something good! Look for #Shashibo by Laurence Gartel
#Shashibo
LAURENCE GARTEL is known to the world as the “FATHER” of Digital Art for over 40-years. His career started working side by side with video guru Nam June Paik at Media Study/Buffalo in upstate New York. He taught Andy Warhol how to use the Amiga Computer to produce the album cover for Debbie Harry (Blondie). Growing up in New York City during the Punk Rock era he was friends with Stiv Bators, Sid Vicious, Joey Ramone, Wendy O. Williams, and exhibited his work with Robert Mapplethorpe. Creating Digital Art before the birth of the personal computer his work has been exhibited with the Museum of Modern Art, Long Beach Museum of Art, Princeton Art Museum, Norton Museum of Art as well as included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History, Bibliothque Nationale Paris and Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, London. Gartel received the FotoMentor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Palm Beach Photographic Center in 2009. The year 2015 could have been its own book. Gartel was the Official Artist of the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, Los Angeles. He “wrapped” the large-scale, one of a kind Grammy Statue with his Digital Art printed to vinyl right here in South Florida. He was the Artist of the NASA MMS Mission, at Kennedy Space Center, as well as being the Artist of the Newport Jazz Festival wrapping a one of a kind Trumpet to honor the career of Miles Davis. Gartel unveiled the First National State Art Car at the Capital
Britney Spears
Gartel has traveled the world exhibiting and projecting his work in Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, as well as going to India, creating a Bollywood Music/Video for Universal Entertainment. He has been commissioned to produce Artwork on Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as for corporations such as Coca Cola, Philip Morris, Walt Disney, National Basketball Association, Gibson Guitars, Bang & Olufsen, and known to most for his ABSOLUT GARTEL ad for Absolut Vodka.
NASA MMS Mission
building in Concord with Governor Maggie Hassan, reading letters of Commendation from the House of Representatives, Senate, and Congress. Gartel participated in the Los Angeles Street Art Fair creating a commissioned Dodge Viper Art Car and was the Visionary of the 3D Print Conference in Santa Clara. Gartel showcased his 1978 groundbreaking “Self Portrait” film at the 7th Annual Cairo International Video Festival. He finished the year creating the Official Artwork for the Monaco International Film Festival.
Dodge Viper Art Car
His concentration the last several years has been focused on Art Cars, the first commission being the TESLA Electric Art Roadster during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2010. He was the “FEATURE” of the 113th New York International Auto Show with his own 30,000 square foot Pavilion in 2013. Mercedes Benz commissioned Gartel to create a very special Art Car to celebrate their “13th Million Friend on Facebook. Gartel unveiled a $250,000 Renntech Mercedes SL65 V-12 Art Car at Fisher Island Club during Art Basel Miami, December 2014, an Award Winner “Best of Class” at Amelia Island 2015. His “Care-Connect” VW Amarok represents the First Solar Satellite Art Truck. Gartel branded the Oslo Motor Show and produced a BMW Mini LIVE for the Norwegian public in October 2016. Gartel unveiled an Alfa Romeo “Giulia” Art Car to America in March 2017. His current museum show: “WARHOL vs. GARTEL HYP POP” was
shown at Palazzo Bufalini, Spoleto, Lucca Center of Contemporary Art and Art & Co, Lecce, MomArt in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, as well as book signings with Galerie Zum Harnisch during Art Basel Switzerland. Gartel’s Art graced the Front Cover of Boca Magazine, January 2018, and Pompano Magazine February 2018 issues respectively. Gartel produced a Maserati Car Art which opened and closed racing season in Saratoga Springs, NY commissioned by the #DePaulaDriveForCharity. GARTEL’s recent exhibition “Digital Titan” was held at the Palm Beach Photographic Museum, West Palm Beach. Gartel’s permanent Miami installation is located at the Overtown Courthouse Lobby along with his “Welcome to Miami” installation at Richard Branson’s Virgin Miami Central Rail station. His latest commission “Legends of Rock and Roll” is on permanent display at the new Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel.
In memory of Melody & Her Beloved Nikko
WARHOLvs.GARTEL HYP POP
