Joseph Arthur opens Brooklyn art gallery

Joseph Arthur: putting the “Art” in… his own name - and putting his own name into the title of a major New York gallery, dubbing his own exhibition space the Museum of Modern Arthur. Newly opened on 25 Jay Street in Brooklyn, MOMAR is a place for tourists to check out the musician’s paintings, and eventually the works of various Arthur-approved creative-types. His website lists the following tenants of operation, among others:

- MOMAR seeks to create a new approach to art patronage that includes but extends beyond the conventions of financial support and criticism, and allows for nontraditional contributions to and from the community, including volunteering, charity work and education.

- MOMAR is founded on the principle that Art has a conscience, is relevant and can foment positive social change. MOMAR believes that artists are responsible for illuminating truth.

- MOMAR answers the eternal question "What Is Art?" with another question: "what isn't?"

- MOMAR is finite. It is not an ongoing concern. Its building and its organization will disappear.

- MOMAR can, and will, party.

Yea-uh! Its opening celebration apparently included a party of the children-and-ice cream variety, which Arthur documented in his usual, lyrical fashion:

“The museum of modern arthur
Has now officially opened
As children screamed in states of sugar
euphoria
Paving the way to our gates
With endless amounts of ice cream
This is the best kind of omen

Its gonna be
A great summer
In Brooklyn”

This is no passing fancy for Arthur, who has designed nearly all of his own album covers, including the corpse-like painting on 1999’s Vacancy EP that earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package (beaten by Madonna’s Ray of Light).

Regarding a different segment of his ever-active right brain, Arthur has also completed a brand new solo album, title-less at the moment, due out early 2008.

Related links:
MuseumOfModernArthur.com
JosephArthur.com: MOMAR news update
Joseph Arthur MySpace

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