Adam Wallcavage
Les Trésors de la Tanière de Neptune

Gallery II
Solo Exhibition

June 28, 2008 through July 26, 2008

NEW YORK, NY — Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to announce Les Trésors de la Tanière de Neptune, a solo exhibition featuring new works by Adam Wallacavage. Inspired by nature, and organic sea life in particular, Wallacavage finds inventive ways to blend Art Nouveau and Surrealist influence into something “Biomorphically Baroque,” as described by fellow artist Lord Whimsy. Having created a new collection of his famous octopus shaped chandeliers, the Philadelphia-based photographer and sculptor extraordinaire returns to the gallery for what will be his first solo show in New York.

Les Trésors de la Tanière de Neptune (French for: The Treasures of Neptune’s Lair) brings together the largest collection of Adam’s chandeliers to date, creating a sub-aquatic spectacle on dry land. Striking creatures of varying shape and size mingle together in a shining sea of vibrant color, their curvaceous tendrils appear dripping wet and writhing with life. Self-taught in the traditional craft of ornamental plastering, Wallacavage uses this method to cast his trademark tentacles which he then paints in pigmented epoxy resin, adding iridescent powders and glitter to further enhance their eccentric beauty.

The pieces—all functional light fixtures—will be shown as a site-specific installation in the project room of the gallery, fully illuminated and suspended from the ceiling. Complementing his under-water theme, the walls surrounding Adam’s chandeliers will be covered in custom designed, flocked-velvet wallpaper featuring a multi-colored sea kelp pattern, created by the artist himself especially for the show. This will be the third custom wallpaper Adam has produced for installation at Jonathan LeVine Gallery (after collaborating with fellow artists on the two previous designs) as part of his latest venture Curio Wallcoverings.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Inspired by an obsession with the ocean and a fascination with extravagant interiors of old churches, Adam Wallacavage transformed the dining room of his South Philadelphia Victorian Brownstone into something from the pages of a Jules Verne novel. Teaching himself the traditional craft of ornamental plastering, Adam evolved his new found skills into making plaster cast octopus shaped chandeliers as the final touch to his underwater themed room. Adam continued his experimentation by making more and more. He changed the shapes and colors and even collaborated with famed jewelry designer, Tarina Tarantino, who supplied the beautiful pearls for his pink glitter chandelier featured in his first showing at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in June of 2006. Beyond making chandeliers, Adam Wallacavage is also an accomplished photographer, documenting artists, musicians, daredevils and all things weird and wonderful. His first book, Monster Size Monsters, was released in August of 2006 through Gingko Press and spans fifteen years of his photography.