JON SARKIN THE UNCHAINED BRAIN
A one-person show presented at the Open Door Gallery

Special Boston ARTweek event:
May 5, 5:30 PM to 8 PM with an artist’s talk at 6 PM

VSA Massachusetts ~ In collaboration with Law and Water Gallery,
89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111
Show Dates: April 29 to July 28, 2016
M – F 10:00 to 5:00 and by appointment
Contact: Charles Washburn, VP / COO 617-350-7713 x 102

Jon Sarkin is a prolific, even compulsive artist who creates elaborate drawings and paintings cluttered with words and images. His work has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, ABC Primetime, This American Life, GQ, ArtNews, The American Visionary Art Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

After a brain hemorrhage and a stroke that nearly killed him, the once-shy ambitious chiropractor awoke with an effusive, unfocused need to create.  He was a different man in body-deaf in one ear, his vision splintered, his balance permanently skewed-and in mind.

Jon’s work lacks complete inhibitions as he creates vigorously almost to the point of obsession/compulsive. His brain constantly tries to make sense of the world, and he constantly tries to make sense of his brain’s failure-through colors and images and words.  He cannot stop; he does not want to stop.  In fact, he is afraid to stop.  Jon has been referred to as the, “Accidental Artist.”  He needs to create, put it all down on paper; it’s his engine, his purpose in life.

Jon is unable to see the world as a whole and unable to ignore it in its infinite detail.  His brain constantly tries to make sense of the world, and he constantly tries to make sense of his brain’s failure- through colors and images and words.  He cannot stop; he does not want to stop.  In fact, he is afraid to stop.  He is an accidental artist, but he needs to draw, to put it all down on paper, is his engine, his purpose for living.

GLOUCESTER: WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST

a book of photographs by Nubar Alexanian

The public is invited to a celebratory “Meet The Author” and book launch party at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, 6 Wonson St. Gloucester, on Thursday, May 5, at 7:30 PM.

Retail Price: $295, Pre-publication price: $125. (Orders before May 6.)

Walker Creek Media and the Rocky Neck Art Colony announce the release of GLOUCESTER: WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST, a limited edition beautifully reproduced large format book (14”x11.5”) of 67 photographs by celebrated photographer Nubar Alexanian from his Gloucester collection.

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A New England native and Gloucester resident, Alexanian accompanied the Brancaleone family of Gloucester and their crew aboard the Joseph and Lucia II on four ten-day fishing trips to Georges Bank in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, just prior to the collapse of the fishing industry.  His photos from these trips form the heart of this book and reflect his deep connection to these Gloucester fishermen.  They record the last glory days of commercial fishing out of Gloucester harbor, and also life as it was lived in Gloucester over a forty year period. In his introduction Sandy Tolan writes: “This book is a love poem to Gloucester; it is, as Nubar says, a ‘historical document describing a way of life that will never ‘be’ again.’ “

Copies of GLOUCESTER: WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST are available to individuals at a pre-publication price of $125 from March 25, 2016 through May 5, 2016.  See the book’s official website, walkercreekmedia.com/gloucester.

GLOUCESTER: WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST is distributed exclusively through the Rocky Neck Art Colony.

Resellers interested in carrying this limited edition title may order through the Rocky Neck Art Colony, 978-515-7004 or by emailing info@rockyneckartcolony.org.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of GLOUCESTER: WHEN THE FISH CAME FIRST will be donated to the Northeast Seafood Coalition.