Artists Space

Abasement #61

Music
November 7, 2022, 7pm

Lary 7, Taketo Shimada + Spencer Herbst duo, Masaaki, Sandy Smiles.
DJ Mick Collins. Projections by Cable_Visions (Hunter Lombard)

Collaged atop a purple, pink, and orange field is a series of abstract graphic and typewritten elements, including a man
[Collaged atop a purple, pink, and orange field is a series of abstract graphic and typewritten elements, including a man's face with a bandana covering his mouth. In the bottom left corner an upside down text reads "ABASEMENT 61." Smaller text above lists the participating musicians and artists.]

Abasement is a monthly music series featuring four performances, a guest DJ, and a projectionist. Beginning in 2015 at Max Fish bar, the evening brings together artists and bands working in free improvisation, jazz, noise, minimalism, and experimental composition. When Max Fish permanently closed due to Covid, one of the few experimental music venues in Manhattan ceased to exist. Artists Space is pleased to now host Abasement.

A figure plays the violin in front of a microphone.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure plays the violin in front of a microphone.]
A figure plays the keyboard in front of a microphone.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure plays the keyboard in front of a microphone.]
A figure plays the violin in front of a microphone.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure plays the violin in front of a microphone.]
Two figures play music on a stage, the left figure plays a keyboard. Washes of blue and green light are projected onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Two figures play music on a stage, the left figure plays a keyboard. Washes of blue and green light are projected onto them.]
Two figures perform on a stage with a keyboard. Washes of blue, green, orange and pink light are projected onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Two figures perform on a stage with a keyboard. Washes of blue, green, orange and pink light are projected onto them.]
Two figures perform on a stage in front of a projection.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Two figures perform on a stage in front of a projection.]
An audience watches a performance, smoke and an orange light fill the room.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [An audience watches a performance, smoke and an orange light fill the room.]
A figure dances on stage against an orange and blue projection.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure dances on stage against an orange and blue projection.]
Two figures dance on stage in black-and-white.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Two figures dance on stage in black-and-white.]
A figure dressed in leather performs on stage with a purple projection on them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure dressed in leather performs on stage with a purple projection on them.]
Portrait of a figure dancing on stage with purple projections cast onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Portrait of a figure dancing on stage with purple projections cast onto them.]
A figure stands in front of an orange and blue projection and performs with audio equipment.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure stands in front of an orange and blue projection and performs with audio equipment.]
A figure performs on stage into a microphone with a small electric guitar in their lap.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure performs on stage into a microphone with a small electric guitar in their lap.]
An audience watches a performance.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [An audience watches a performance.]
Two figures perform on stage. To the left a figure sits on the floor playing on a small wooden organ and to the right a figure stands behind a desk using a mixer. Orange and blue light are projected onto the stage.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Two figures perform on stage. To the left a figure sits on the floor playing on a small wooden organ and to the right a figure stands behind a desk using a mixer. Orange and blue light are projected onto the stage.]
A figure performs on stage behind a table with audio equipment and holds an audio box to their mouth.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure performs on stage behind a table with audio equipment and holds an audio box to their mouth.]
A figure leans into a microphone from the side with blue, purple, and pink projections cast onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure leans into a microphone from the side with blue, purple, and pink projections cast onto them.]
A figure leans into a microphone from the side with blue, purple, and pink projections cast onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure leans into a microphone from the side with blue, purple, and pink projections cast onto them.]
An audience watches a performance, smoke fills the room to the left and a projector casts dark blue light over the audience.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [An audience watches a performance, smoke fills the room to the left and a projector casts dark blue light over the audience.]
A figure unpacks various audio and projection equipment onto a table. Blue, purple and pink washes of light are projected onto them.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure unpacks various audio and projection equipment onto a table. Blue, purple and pink washes of light are projected onto them.]
A figure leans over to arranges audio equipment on a desk using a flashlight held in their mouth. Red light fills the background.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [A figure leans over to arranges audio equipment on a desk using a flashlight held in their mouth. Red light fills the background.]
Audio equipment is arranged in stacks across a desk.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Audio equipment is arranged in stacks across a desk.]
Portrait of a figure caught offguard.
Abasement #61. Performance documentation, November 7, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Joshua Wildman [Portrait of a figure caught offguard.]

Lary 7 is a multimedia artist/engineer working with modified and resurrected vintage electronics. 7 has been a prominent figure in New York’s experimental music scene since the late 1970's.

As a musician, Tokyo-born Taketo Shimada co-founded Messages with Tres Warren, Afuma with Stefan Tcherepnin, and Sink with Caitlin Cook and Calder Martin. In Japan, he plays shehnai with Watazumido shakuhachi player Sabu Orimo. As an artist, he most recently exhibited a group of photographs in Die Kette, Berlin. As a translator, he translates interviews and essays on Japanese postwar new music.

Spencer Herbst is a musician and artist based in Brooklyn NY with ties to Rhyton, Messages, and Matta Llama. He has performed, recorded & collaborated with a number of musicians in addition to his solo work.

雅秋 Masaaki (translated: elegance in autumn) is the experimental pop duo of Japanese artists Aki Goto (violin, vox) and Masami Tomihisa (piano, synth). Goto is a multimedia artist based in upstate New York whose media includes video, painting, and experimental performance. Tomihisa is a composer and pianist living in New York City.

Sandy Smiles is a Florida girl who studied music in the badlands back behind Kennedy Space Center. Sandy's sidekick tonight, Constance Cooper, has a PhD in composition from Princeton. Sandy had Cooper making her debut at rock venues this year, at age 77.

DJ Mick Collins is a guitarist and singer with roots in Detroit’s garage punk scene. Collins was the host of Night Train, a Saturday night show on WDET, Detroit Public Radio.

Working primarily with video synthesizers and bygone broadcast equipment, Cable_Visions explores the chaotic and colorful nature hidden in feedback loops and anachronistically analog signal paths.

Artists Space Venue is generously supported by Lonti Ebers, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Allan Schwartzman, David Zwirner, and an anonymous contributor.