For Year Seventeen in my 20-Year-Guggenheim series, I returned to 89th Street and 5th Avenue to paint on-location. Once again, the vibes, energy, conversations and weather dictated the canvas… my reason for creating on-site.
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Jerry Seinfeld is a fan of “the”. Not wanting his writers to waste time coming up with titles… a simple equation was established = The + Situation.
In “The Letter”, Episode 21, Season 3; Jerry’s girlfriend paints a portrait of Kramer. The result? ‘The Kramer’. And so, my painting, based on a painting created on a show about nothing, is titled, ‘The, The Kramer’.
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For the 16th work in my 20-Year-Guggenheim Series, I re-visited to the streets of New York to paint on 5th Avenue.
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“Get The Picture” by Bianca Bosker is a fascinating art world exposé. The ART WORLD? Gigantic and infinitesimal. The center? Manhattan. My home of 13 years. Despite being full-time since July 2, 2009 — a self-represented artist based in Idaho is an extreme art world outsider.
Accordingly, the following had me spitting coffee:
“…at certain Brooklyn openings, you could reliably revive a stalled-out conversation by shitting on Gagosian, capitalism, or painting, all of which were roughly synonymous.”
Gold, Jerry. Gold! Right there and then, “Roughly Synonymous” was born.
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Guggenheim #14 in my 20-Year-Guggenheim painting series has arrived. This iteration was inspired by the incomparable Verner Panton. Specfically?
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Several beers deep, meandering past the Chelsea Hotel… I was beckoned — “Hit the bodega. Buy a sixer. Come inside.”
Make like a dealer, avoid eye contact, get to the elevators… climb stairs, lose yourself, absorb art…mingle with ghosts. On the roof, crack a beer, grab a hammock, take in the washed out stars… what does it all mean?
If you told me I’d paint this picture in my 40th year, living in Idaho as a father of three…
Introducing my latest, a 20”X20”X1.5”, acrylic and enamel painting of ‘The Chelsea’. Of late, I’ve been compelled to experiment… put away the ruler and paint with emotion. Buy the ticket, take the ride.
Only 113 days remain in 2020. This 366 day lap around the sun is about ceding control. And so, while creating the 12th work in my 20-year Guggenheim Painting Series — I embraced our new reality, and went rogue. This was painted entirely with my left hand. First with a brush, then with a palette knife. There was no plan… like 2020? It simply happened.
Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear, well, he eats you.
https://www.facebook.com/JasonBorbet/videos/10108198608120410
Being surrounded by the wondrous art created by my children, the importance of spontaneous creativity is palpable. Art, like life, is about routine, protocol, strategy… and sometimes, you must eschew the standard, and simply create.
2020 is here… and so is my first signed painting — the ‘White Horse Tavern’. For those of you with literary passion… the ghost of Dylan Thomas lives here.
And, in case you haven’t heard — the White Horse is now owned by Eytan Sugarman — a gentleman I’ve come to know since beginning this piece. I’m looking forward to kicking-it with Eytan at this iconic NYC institution, drink in hand.
Care to join me on a time lapse journey? Here’s sending lots of love to MH the Verb for the 🔥 soundtrack. Call me biased, but I’m partial to those with a ‘Borbay in their hallway’ — I also enjoy imported bottles of vodka from Norway.
On July 2, 2009 — I became a full-time artist. My first sale? A 30″X30″ painting of The Guggenheim, created on 5th Avenue, in front of The Guggenheim. When the desire to paint Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece struck again, it felt too opportunistic… unless. Unless it became something grandiose… a benchmark for my career.
So, I decided to paint The Guggenheim, each year, for twenty years. Back then, as a dude living in NYC with a steady girl and a scary new career — it felt impossible. Today, I find myself living in Idaho, married, with three kids and nine Gugg’s to go.
New Paintings. Works-in-Progress. Insider Art Market Information.
Another newsletter? You got that right. I'll honor and respect your inbox, as if it were my own. I endeavor to share everything happening at Borbay Studios & Gallery. No daily updates. No weekly updates. Simply a message, every month or two... updates on life, creativity, and the journey that began on July 2, 2009. Let's be in touch, as the first leg of my quest reaches completion in 2026. From a studio in my 600-foot Upper East Side apartment living room, to a museum collection. Oh, but friend, that is just the beginning. The road is long, and I am looking for cool, sophisticated company to navigate each challenging turn.
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