Dahlia Elsayed - author and artist

Dahlia Elsayed's typewriter in her studio, NJ

Dahlia Elsayed in her studio, NJ

Newark Penn Station - Newark, NJ

A recent maiden voyage on New York's Newark bound PATH train took me to the studio of talented New Jersey based writer and map artist, Dahlia Elsayed.  Just back from Egypt, following her inclusion in the XII International Cairo Biennale, Dahlia's energy and optimism is contagious. The walls of her studios adorned with painted text leaves you in no doubt that the mapping of words, is central to her practise as an artist.  Perhaps then, I shouldn't have been surprised when she revealed to me the source of her paintings - autobiographic hand typed carbon copy done on an old typewriter permanently situated in her studio.  Edited down, she takes a word or a phrase to the painting relocating it within a new terrain, and in doing so plays with meaning, and to a larger extent, with the viewer, as one inevitably attempts to contextualise the words.  She is a rare talent and her work has an universal appeal. 

Armory week over - are we post-recession?

Nadia Hebson showing at VOLTA with VANE, Newcastle

Whitechapel Gallery Limited Editions at The Armory Show

Early opening of The Armory Show 2011

As the dust settles after Armory week, the feedback is that sales were good at the fair, despite strong competition from alternative shows, such as ADAA, the Independent, and Pulse.  Hobby joined me this year to scope out places to exhibit TAG's stable of artists in 2012.  We were very impressed with VOLTA and, in particular, with Nadia Hebson's beautiful portrait works,  hosted by VANE gallery based in Newcastle.  It was wonderful to see the Whitechapel Gallery exhibiting their Limited Editions for the first time at the Armory.