Ryan McGinness Ping Pong Table - P 2013
Courtesy of BFAArtist Ryan McGinness has become a household name in the art world in recent years as his pop infographic images have slipped over from the walls of galleries and museums to soccer balls, Uniqlo T-shirts and computer cases. He recently collaborated with The Standard on the creation of a black-light ping-pong table, which was unveiled on Thursday night at a party hosted by Michael Kohn Gallery, Quint Contemporary Art, and Maker magazine. Attendees such as Shepard Fairey and McGinness played ping-pong throughout the night’s proceedings. Works from McGinness’ “Women” series were installed in vinyl on the windows of the club and Fairey was the special guest DJ for the evening.
The scene was typically subdued, with the darkness required for the black-lighted table adding a sci-fi noir vibe to the event. Notable guests including Stacy London, Marc Forster, Faustina Agolley, Madeleine Von Frommer, Luke Youngblood, Alyse Archer-Coité, Jillian Choi and gallerist Michael Kohn.
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McGinness was also celebrating his new book, Women: New (Re)Presentations, available at Quint Contemporary. As for the psychedelic table that brought the room together, the artist said succinctly: “It’s exciting to bring the painted ping-pong table to (black) light.”
Fairey was enthusiastic about all the elements coming together that night: “First of all, I’m happy to be here because I love The Standard. It’s just a fun spot. But Ryan McGinness is one of my oldest artist friends, we go back over 20 years. And you know, this artwork combined with the interactive experience of playing ping-pong with a party and music, it’s pretty unique. It’s something you’re not going to find anywhere else.”
On his role as DJ, Fairey added: “It’s a good eclectic situation, a great group, and I’m playing music which is something I always have fun doing, whether everyone else is having fun or not.”
