[THROWBACK] 2011's ART TOP 5

"Death's Door" by Nina Hartmann, photo by the author

As we nudge up on the end of January, I've promised myself to celebrate the new year February 1st. I mean, I went to a killer party on the Real New Year's Eve, but January buzzed by as I hustled through my work day and home to writing and design gigs. Things have been hectic. So during the next week I'll be recapping 2011 and telling you about what's new in 2012 at Wisdom Tooth HQ.

To kick things off, here's a TOP 5 IN ART list:

Best Dan-Flavin-inspired boner
Jelsen Jargon, "Maman Said"
Repetition Repetition Repetition @ 17 Frost
(photos here)

Multimedia designer extraordinaire Jelsen Jargon hasn't shown in a gallery setting in years. He burst back onto the scene with clever and beautiful work at Repetition Repetition Repetition, which runs through January 2012.

Best monthly series
Dirty Looks curated by Bradford Nordeen
dirtylooksnyc.org

Curator Bradford Nordeen's roaming queer film night, Dirty Looks, combines contemporary and historical queer filmmakers as well as various other art-makers. Last year's program was hilarious, clever, tight, and never dull.

Best zine programming
Aimee Lusty's curated shows at Booklyn Artists Alliance
booklyn.org | aimeelusty.com

Booklyn has been taken over by young artist and zine-maker Aimee Lusty. Named gallery director in 2011, Lusty brought zine work to the gallery walls and re-examined how we use print in our artistic practice.

Best use of print media
OCCUPIED Wall Street Journal
occupiedmedia.us

In its most recent issue, the print companion to the Occupy movement doubled as a poster to be pasted around the city. With good design and a practical purpose, OWSJ has reinvigorated the purpose of print media in political movements.

Best one-night show
Summer of Hate (Nina Hartmann & Vinnie Smith) @ Youth Group Gallery
ninahartmann.com | collecteddust.blogspot.com

Hartmann and Smith's creepy-cool imagery was completely appropriate for a one-night-in-late-summer-show. Their prints brought to the surface all the terrible feelings that seep from our pores and our brains in the dogged heat.