Local musician/artist David Ribyat recently had an intimate showing of his paintings at MacKey Blue (1200 Washington St, Hoboken). Despite it’s address, the entrance is actually on 12th street. Walking in, I was immediately captivated by the bits of kitsch, knickknacks, toys, glassware, political buttons and more.
There were these old apothecary bottles that once held various snake oils for a conman to sell to gullible and sickly citizens. After a good laugh at some of the more disgusting medicinal bragging on the labels, we sipped some wine and it was time to admire David’s work.
His paintings are an abstract look at a specific reality. Faceless figures sitting in familiar places. Bars and restaurants. Faceless, but still full of emotion. I know these scenes. I know these people. Hey, is that me? Could be. But why no faces? David claims he just never figured out how to paint them. I don’t believe him.
The piece that garnered the most attention however was one of a different nature. David took several famous portraits of the Beatles and painted them cleverly into a whole new history. A live show that never happened, but looks just as we would all have remembered it. Somehow.
MacKey Blue was a perfect setting for David’s art, or for any art really. I liked how the paintings flowed in with the miscellany. It was way more comfortable than the usual gallery-type showing. Plus they have this old rotary phone I want. And that lunchbox. Oh and that 8mm movie camera like I had as a kid.
See Also:
Photo Gallery
Las Vandelays (David’s Band)
