Charley Friedman, a 2006 Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant recipient, produces sculpture, photographs, installations, videos and performance. Humor acts as the common thread. “Because humor has no material preference, I have the freedom to explore different materials and processes,” he says. Some of his most recognized works include Carpet World, a massive globe completely latch hooked by hand (featured in the New York Times last year), and Felix, Flowers, Flags and Poems, a Valentine’s Day performance where he sold candy actually used by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, who employed sweets in many of his conceptual works.
“What I love about Charley’s work is his ability to disarm the viewer by using humor,” says Nina Johnson, owner of Diet. “He’s discussing really complex themes and often using insider art world jokes but because he starts out with comedy, which everyone can relate.”
A’Cappella will take over Diet’s 2,300-square-foot space, and feature a broad variety of media: a four-channel video in which he sings Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a clock made from lobster shells and the infamous Carpet World.
