In the heart of the no longer undiscovered but still hip and burgeoning area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn a group show hangs in a gallery/garage. The works cover the artsy batting zone from knees to ceiling. Its loose curatorial “theme” is East Coast meets West Coast. No competition here or opposing viewpoints. Merely, in the words of the energetic and charming curator Travis Lindquist who saw the paintings and thought, “Who made this crazy shit that I don’t get but I like a lot?”

The mostly paintings, with some photographs, drawings and collages are post-goth and mainly figurative. All are sort of casually anti-establishment (like, Yeah, I hate the American government, and Hollywood and my landlord….but who doesn’t?). Potential album covers mix with spray-painted (gasp!) toilet seats. The even more ham-fisted works feature pedophile priests and upside-down flags painted in pig’s blood and motor oil. There’s a keg of beer on the floor and young art makers are everywhere.

Talented artists such as Brantner Deatley, Eduardo Benedeto, Brian Leo, Deedee Cheriel, Cher Mar, Young Kim, David Hochbaum, Jason Douglas Griffin and David Stoupakis created these works without consciously referencing art history. The works are often cryptic and personal. Several get tripped up when in the “artist statement” mode. But this is a jovial bunch and it is visually rewarding to spend time with their acrylic diaries.

What’s happening here is noteworthy not because it is something new, but the sheer enthusiasm for painting is exciting in and of itself. A trend that Picasso—and certainly Warhol–would have liked. These people make art to amuse themselves and maybe impress a friend or two: Painting as Cool.

1. –David Hochbaum and Travis Lindquist painted every Saturday night together and thought “gay art night” sounded stupid, so they named their new ‘collective’ GoldMine Shithouse.

1. –Brian Leo’s small, memorable coffeepot on green background is painted from the memory of his father making espresso as he broke the news about the birds and the bees.

1. –The inked figures by Jason Douglas Griffin are arch and effortlessly alluring.

1. –Cher Zar’s expert horror mask painting is familiar, perhaps from his special effects work in major films.

1. –South Korea’s Young Kim offers a farmer in a field of pink bunnies that successfully makes us a part of the farmer’s nightmare.

Many of us keep coming back to stand in front David Stoupakis’s old masterish vampire child. David is in the room, and unlike his peers, he knows enough to skip the earnest artspeak backstory and let his painting do the talking.

Despite the fact that Brantner Deatley is an assistant to Tom Friedman - his first task for Friedman was to paint styrofoam balls for a mind-numbing period of days - and that several other artists in the room have enthusiastic collectors, the Chelsea Art Establishment couldn’t be further from their minds. They may have heard of Raymond Pettibon and of course revere R. Crumb, but if they think about it at all, they have no doubt that Matthew Barney is queer and Jack Pierson is overrated. (It is a personal highlight of my summer that the one person who asks me if I attended the art fair in Basel pronounces the city like the Italian herb.)

All of this fringy vibe is not to say that that the almighty dollar isn’t a motivating force: everything is for sale to the first discerning devotee. It’s now two hours into the opening and the price list still isn’t completed, so several buyers take to haranguing the gallery staff for prices. Red dots begin to appear. And no one in the room is worried about not getting invited to dinner at Barbara Gladstone’s.
– Doug McClemont

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1. ‘Sunset & St Marks’
2. Until August 7th
3. Capla Kesting Fine Art
4. 121 Roebling St.
5. Brooklyn, NY 11211
6. www.caplakesting.com