WHO: Talented photographer Thi Chien will make his debut at GalleryBar with a new exhibit of photographs entitled Addiction. The self-taught artist will showcase a number of powerful images that convey in depth views on individuals and their struggles with addiction.  From power and money to sex and drugs, addictions are everywhere and Chien has zeroed in on a collection of shots that engage the viewer in thought and self-reflection.  The photographs will be used to create a book within a series by Chien to be titled ADDICTION through which the artist hopes to create a heightened sense of drug awareness and prevention.
“There are addictions everywhere we look,” says photographer Thi Chien. “What I wanted to do with this collection was focus in and draw attention to the bad ones.  One day I hope to create a book series dedicated to the topic, but for now I hope that my work provokes thought and emotion within all who view it.”

WHAT:  Addiction: A Collection of Photographs

WHERE: GalleryBar | 120 Orchard Street (btw Rivington and Delancey)
WHEN:  Opening event to take place on September 30th from 8pm – 12am with DJ Christian Rich

Exhibit will be on display through October 28

About Thi Chien

After purchasing his first camera in July 2007, the native Vietnamese visionary has not only had his work grace the pages of international publications like XXL Magazine and GQ Online, but he’s co-produced Busta Rhyme’s video “If You Don’t Know” featuring Big Tigga and he’s currently working on the “Life As…” series which spotlights the life and times of pop-cultural icon and entrepreneur, Damon Dash. Being self-taught and progressive, the now New Jersey dweller has captured everybody from superstar Kanye West and Mike Epps to Dipset’s Jim Jones and Juelz Santana to urban sensations like Fabolous, The Clipse and The Roots. From cover art to advertisements, videos to stock photography, Chien is consistently working toward his dream. For Thi Chien, his captured depictions of humanity are simple reflections of being human. With sincerity, his camera plays the role of his eyes- snapping shots of opportunity, engaging in the expressions of the forgotten and bridging the gap between dreams, reality and failure. For Thi Chien, art has no regulations or boundaries. Art simply is. http://www.myslantedvision.com/

spotted via Format Mag

Our famous friend Drew Thiele is profiled in Format Mag. He breaks down his influences, graffiti and Artek Creative Inc. Little known fact: Drew did The Famous Firm logo. Do you see it in the collage above?

Excerpt

Format: How would you describe Artek’s aesthetic? Is there even one specific style or does it change based on the client?
Drew: The Artek aesthetic is simple: GREAT WORK, from both the creative and business. In the design world, we try to push our clients’ message to new limits visually; my strategy is to take a client’s established brand message and break previous molds using my medium. Whether I’m providing art direction for a corporate campaign, or graphics for an upstart t-shirt line, the same theory applies.

On any given day, I’ll bounce around from working on corporate identity for a Fortune 500 company, to doing CD covers for an artist, to storyboarding a music video. So while creativity remains the pillar ARTEK NYC maintains the business side equally important. I think it is also very important to draw the fine line between art and commerce. A lot of designers out there are really are not artists at heart, and a lot of artists don’t have the business savvy to capitalize off there talent. Just because you know Photoshop doesn’t make you a designer, and just because you put a poster up in Soho doesn’t make you a street artist. I am a strong believer in artistic integrity and good workmanship. Creative minds equal wealthy pockets.

Format: Where do you find inspiration?
Drew: I know it sounds cliché, but I find my inspiration from everywhere. I find my inspiration from this interview. I soak it all in. A wise man once said “design is not something you do, its how you live.” I live by that. I can say I truly live art, music, and design. I love to be around people with a vision and I respect creativity in all forms. It’s a blessing to be living in this city and be surrounded by movers and shakers who are constantly in an entrepreneurial state of mind. My eyes are always open to new ideas. More recently, I look within for design inspiration. Since there is so much redundancy out there, it’s up to you to set a standard of individuality.