Research Archive

In the summer of 1985 without a studio to work in, John Fekner turned a Sunday painter using his car as a traveling studio and setup shop at a few of his favorite locations alongside a highway in Queens and a parkway in the Bronx. Fekner said it was the best place to work outside without being disturbed; no phone calls, only the birds and the whizzing of cars and trucks. A favorite spot was under the Long Island Expressway at the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway exit where he previously spray painted Trees, Toxic, and RUA Vidiot?

Read the rest of this entry »

Fekner’s stencil Wheels Over Indian Trails greeted motorists and international travelers arriving in New York City at the Pulaski Bridge Queens Midtown Tunnel from 1979-1990. The message remained untouched for eleven years, until Earth Day 1990, when Mr. Fekner, feeling the piece had run its course, painted over it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Robert C. Morgan, Domus Magazine, Italy

This is John Fekner’s second record album. His first was produced two years ago by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Fekner is a visual artist as well as a musician. He is clearly associated with the East Village “Post-Graffiti” group. His word/images were shown at the Civilian Warfare Gallery in May 1984. IDIOBLAST is distributed by EXIT Art in New York.

Read the rest of this entry »

By John Fekner & Don Leicht

Read the rest of this entry »

Summer/Fall 2009
John Fekner & Don Leicht
“This is Art” Galleri Jonas Kleerup and various locations in Stockholm, Sweden 2009

The Continuing Story of the Space Invaders

The Continuing Story of the Space Invaders consists of Green-Turn Green, READ (The End of Reading In A Straight Line) and Renegade Space Invaders. Our intention was to create a message-driven project that was stark, lean and concise. Our concern is to raise consciousness about the environment through our art. Is beauty only seen within a gallery setting? Can it be on the pavement?  Is it on the street? On the glass? In a bank? Perhaps on a screen? Is it an observation, a critique or a question?

Read the rest of this entry »

Group Show @ PS1

That Was Then…This Is Now

June 22 – September 24 2008
Organized by P.S.1 Director Alanna Heiss

Read the rest of this entry »

Poster and Video Project

John Fekner & Don Leicht
This collaborative poster and video project was specifically created and installed in Sweden, ranked (3rd) with Norway (2nd) and Switzerland (1st) on the global list of countries according to the 2008 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) produced by a team of environmental experts at Yale University and Columbia University. To see how your country is rated: http://epi.yale.edu

Read the rest of this entry »

Toxic Wastes from A to Z (coming after you and me) is a parody of a children’s alphabet learning aid which runs alphabetically through a list of toxic pollutants. Martin Nisenholtz invites Fekner, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and others to experiment with an early interactive computer graphics system (Telidon) at New York University’s Alternate Media Center (Interactive Telecommunications Program). Fekner generates colorful shapes and patterns in a deceptively simple lighthearted manner to engage the attention of the viewer concerning the seriousness of hazardous waste and the effect on both the general public and the environment.  Under the direction of Don Leicht, students in his class at P. S. 161 in the South Bronx participate on the rap chant of the video’s title. Using reconfigured audio toys, Fekner and Steve Grivas supplied the additional background sounds. Fekner received his first international award at Toronto’s Video Culture Festival in the Videotex category.

2min 12sec. color, sound, 8-bit computer graphics

Read the rest of this entry »

David Wojnarowicz was a special person. It was a pleasure to collaborate with him on a few projects including the painting Toxic Junky.

David was unique, intense and extremely generous. He was a sharing and supportive artist in every aspect of the collaborative process. Whatever the final outcome might be; a painting, a stencil and spray painted found object or a sound recording. David had integrity and was miles above other artists of the period.

Read the rest of this entry »

“I find them everywhere. Discarded objects from another time. The old folks are the only ones who remember the magic these shattered wooden cabinets possessed at one time.

They say these boxes contained a powerful light that could show you pictures of anything you might possible imagine. The old ones also tell stories of electricity and global telecommunications.

Read the rest of this entry »