Soul i-D  is the newest book offering from Taschen. It is a look inside of some of the most creative minds of our time. It is a collage of great images, creative and inttelectual thought and is certainly a book nearly any person would enjoy. - Joe Dirosa

Life, love, and wisdom as seen by i-D

Alexey Kallima will present a new body of work Chechnya Women's Team of Parachute Jumping and Its Virtual Fans for his first solo gallery exhibition in New York. A refugee from Grozny, Chechnya, Kallima fled to Moscow shortly after the Russian invasion in 1994. The artist frequently references the effects of this turmoil in his politically-charged paintings and installations. For this exhibition, Kallima will present a group of new large scale paintings and a dynamic installation referencing the current Russian police state.

Although Alexey Kallima has moved beyond the traditional academic training he received at the University of Krasnodar towards a more expressive language, he acknowledges the monumental character and principles of historical painting in his work, which examines the ongoing Russian/Chechen conflict and his personal and highly political response as a refugee. The paintings and drawings depict young women in varying stages of parachuting that recall the segregated teams Kallima observed as a child. While Russian propaganda maintains that the conflict is over, the Chechen economy has been paralyzed and segregation is still prevalent. Kallima's work imagines a utopian world where ethnicity does not temper equality. His use of perspective and expressive brushstroke reveals his interest in representing the heroism of the Chechen people and his affection towards them. 

July 18th through August 29th, 2008
Opening July 17th, 6-8 pm
Curated by Amy Brandt

New York, July 8, 2008- Affirmation Arts launches their newly renovated space at 523 West 37th street and inaugurates the gallery’s programming with the exhibition, Garbage Picker! The Contemporary Artist as Chiffonnier(e). The 15,000 square foot space, designed by Peter Matthews AIA, houses a 2,200 square foot gallery, studios and offices. The building is situated in the west side’s Hudson Yards district in proximity to cutting-edge contemporary art spaces like Exit Art and The Baryshnikov Arts Center.  Curated by independent curator Amy Brandt, the exhibition features the work of artists Jinkee Choi, Dianna Cohen, Charlie Coolidge, Christopher Jordan, Portia Munson, and Maya Onoda. 

Due to Taschen Books timely 25th Anniversary this year we are graced with another opportunity to look into the intricate and sometime devilish mind of one of New York's most self expressive photographers. Leaving literally no perversion untouched Terry Richardson's Terryworld brings us closer to the extremes of sexual expression.  Maybe because Terry's mom dated Jimi Hendrix or possibly for some other reason but Mr. Richardson brings is more freedom of sexual expression than the orgy tent at Woodstock. Occasionally thrown into the pages are looks into the deep seeded personalities of several celebrities as well. 

** Warning don't try the Little Boy Blue totally naked over the fire at home!**

We proudly announce that Matt Pond PA is our headliner this year. You will also see groundbreaking performances by the space-psyche troupe Glint, recently featured in February’s Billboard Magazine, supernumblivemachine, containing the famous rockers Paul Kostabi and Tony Mann. We are pleased to have recently added Anti-Folker Don McCloskey and virtuosic solo acoustic guitarist Justin King to the bill.

Please visit the official peaceXpiece website for all festival details about our activities , the 1,000 piece art mural, and other breaking news.