Photo by Larry of Blue Ridge Light Forms
ART + BOOZE = AWESOME
Absolut Artini started in 2006 as a contest/fundraiser for Second Street Gallery. It featured the works of 9 local artists (Russell U. Richards, Fleming Cunningham Lunsford, Sharon Shapiro, Charles Peale, Lisa Beane, Monty Montgomery, Michael Fitts, Steve Taylor, Sean Samohey) put on collectible coasters to be served at 9 participating bars who also designed art-inspired theme martinis using Absolut vodka. Local judges went around to each place and tasted their Artini and judged which one was the best. The event culminated in a huge bash in the IX building, with vodka flowing, dancing, a rainstorm, beds, and marvelous lighting.
Local blogger Outskirts guy has some fabulous photos here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/docmultimedia/sets/72157594176078727/
Artini 2 was just as incredible as the first, this time honed down to 6 local artists (Aaron Eichorst, Marcy Rampini, Russell Richards, Sharon Shapiro, Anne Vanderwarke, Therese Verkeke) but featuring 12 art- themed martinis from local restaurants. White beds surrounded a pond, girls walked around in body paint and bikinis, and a dancer undulated in a hoop of fire while young and old danced under a light show. Monty Montgomery had one of his signature style paintings on the wall in the VIP lounge and Edward Thomas had a side exhibition in the other part of the building with binoculars set up so you could look across and check out his small detailed oil scenes of C-ville.
The Artini events rule because they brought art to the restaurant scene and made it accessible and edgy. We really need to have this event every year. But… sources say no Artini 3 this year because:
1) Second Street Gallery chose to focus on their Art Auction
2) the enchanting IX building can no longer be used as venue since the floors are rotted
3) and Artini planner Alice Kim now works for the National Gallery of Art in D.C.
So that means no big art party this year. Except Festival of the Photograph. But it’s just not the same. *Sigh*…
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Tagged as: artini, second street gallery
sigh indeed! Both were extraordinary events. The first one was simply magical from that storm.
crossing fingers for analogues soon…
I attended the second one and loved it. Was really hoping for one this year, but I’m sure Festival of the Photograph rocks as well. Nice post Pinkie.
Thanks five.
P.S. y’all there are links in the text.
Seriously, Pinkie? That is really bad news. I had more fun at Artini than any party I’ve been to post-UVA.
that sucks bigtime. although i’ll be honest, i never could drink enough vodka to make me stop worrying that the ceiling was going to cave in.
Damn. I missed it both years and now it’s no more? Sad.
Also just generally upset the IX building can’t be used anymore. It is such a cool space.
I went to the first one and it was extraordinary, I was however only visiting town. And now that I moved here for real it won’t happen. Also with Starr Hill and Satellite closed the Yard Dogs Road Show will probably make a pass on Charlottesville and I don’t think there will be a Shentai or Wunderkammer or anything the like this year. So I can’t help but feeling it is all my fault….
What about the Dust Warehouse actually? I’ve never been there but it sounds like it might be a comparable space?
@ 8 - dust is a closet compared to the ix building. i love the space, but it’s much too small for something on artini’s scale.
I will miss Artini
No Wunderkammer / Shentai this year either. So sad
What is happening to Charlottesville? No more music venues, no more art parties.
Yeah, you’d think with so many willing artists and musicians in town and such a desire for the extraordinary, it should be possible to make it happen. Maybe MUSE needs to take some action?
If you want to satisfy your visual arts desires, I know of one gallery you can visit to get your itch scratched… No, we don’t serve free flowing vodka, but we do have killer art. In fact, show your true support for Cville’s art scene and buy a piece or two.
Former SSG Board President Steve Taylor has brought Artini to the Corcoran in DC. It’s happening this Wednesday, but from the looks of the site it will be nothing as cool as the Second Street Gallery version at the Ix. http://www.corcoran.org/membership/1869_events.htm
Wow, thanks for the info. That looks like its going to be nothing at all like our party. Makes me miss it even more!
Whilst strolling around First Friday and Friday after Five, my partner and I were discussing again the great loss of Artini for the party and art year of 2008. One idea we had and were able to entertain for a while is the big park house on Water Street, between Live Arts and the X-Lounge. In my hometown I have been to parties in Park Houses before and they do have a certain urban and avant-garde charme to them. The advantages are clear: Industrial flair and spaciousness of the former location, a great view over the city, open air (in case of rain it can be moved one flight down), walking distance from the mall, close proximity to second street gallery and of course plenty of parking. Even if this does not become the location for a new installment of Artini, it is a location to think about for a new annual, bohemian party tradition.
What do you guys think?