Writer’s note: Lately I’ve been getting invited to shows and events that… well, would have made my teenage self do backflips. In an effort to share more cultural significance with you all, I’ll occasionally post “Snaps’” highlighting these events, shows or projects for you to attend, or at least get a glimpse of, no matter where you happen to be physically.

If you’re in L.A., or can get here in the next few weeks, you absolutely have to check out the new Basquiat exhibition at The Grand LA, “King Pleasure.” Curated by his sisters and nieces, “King Pleasure” is a collection of rarely before seen work by the iconic artist, from his sketchbook doodles to more traditional fine art from throughout his education, on display now in Los Angeles after a highly successful run back in New York City.

Whether you’ve been a fan since back when he was doing the work, or you’re just joining the team now, “King Pleasure” is going to present Jean-Michel in a way you’ve never seen before. Recreating both his studio and his childhood living room within the expansive four gallery show, the depth of his creativity is really on display here. While you’ll see countless works in his signature style, you’ll also learn his abilities reached far past what some consider to be more abstract art pieces.

A few weeks back I had the chance to visit the show before it opened with my friend, and an iconic artist in his own right, Joey Colombo. As we navigated through the expansive collection that ranged from actual doodles to theater-sized canvases, I know I speak for both of us when I say our eyes were opened to just how incredible Basquiat’s life and work truly were. From getting to step inside his living studio, to admiring the improvised canvas he’d create to get an idea out, the artistry on display extends far beyond the work most of us are already familiar with. And some of it is GIGANTIC. The final gallery, which holds the pieces he made for the Palladium, will likely make you feel smaller than any other canvas work you’ve seen in the past. When it clicks that someone the same size as you did all that, and not some giant, it’s stunning. And they’re each a single canvas!

The show is about more than just the work though. It’s truly a celebration of his life. Complete with maps of New York City and Los Angeles pinpointing the places he grew up and found himself, as well as the hotspots he frequented, there’s a special type of intimacy here. You get to peruse his collection of keepsakes from around the world, and the notes in his sketchbook. I don’t know if I’ve seen ANY show offer this much insight into an artist’s being. You can see firsthand the things that were important to him. In the recreated studio you can feel his process. It’s really quite remarkable.

The New York Times wrote that the show “creates an emotional impact that’s hard to shake,” and TimeOut New York called it their “favorite exhibit of the year.”

For another actual artist’s perspective, Joey told me “[the] show was exciting and inspiring.. it got my creative juices flowing!” 

In addition to work by Basquiat, the show also has several of Warhol’s originals, including his iconic portrait of Jean-Michel, as well as those of his family—including Jeanine, this show’s curator.

On display through July, don’t miss your chance to experience these rarely and never before seen works, through the lens of his actual family. There’s over 200 of them, and there’s truly something for everybody. You can get your King Pleasure tickets here.

The post Culture Snap: Basquiat’s King Pleasure appeared first on High Times.

The post Culture Snap: Basquiat’s King Pleasure appeared first on Paradise Found.

The popular pop-up dedicated to the brilliant post-Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh, called “Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York,” will partner with cannabis lifestyle purveyor HappyMunkey for a special bring-your-own-cannabis (BYOC) event in New York City that will allow guests experience the exhibition after indulging in the herb outside.

By now, you’ve probably seen ads in your feeds for the mesmerizing immersive experience featuring one of the most respected artists in painting history. Immersive Van Gogh exhibitions are now in nearly 30 majors cities dotting the U.S.

The exhibit is created by artist Massimiliano Siccardi and Hamilton’s David Korins and according to its site, “with the help of 60,600 frames of video, 90,000,000 pixels, and 500,000+ cubic feet of projections, this captivating digital art exhibit merges state-of-the-art technology, theatrical storytelling, and world-class animation.”

Siccardi’s installations have been seen by over two million visitors in Paris, France. The event’s first showing took place on August 11. The second “HappyMunkey After Dark” event is set to take place on August 18, from 9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. ET. Tickets cost between $125 and $200—a bit higher than the normal $40-70 price tag for the exhibition.

Guests will gain access to a “waterfront consumption lounge experience” as smoking is prohibited inside the venue. The event will also provide access to a rental cushion in case you run out of energy, and a swag bag with event-specific merchandise—including a commemorative pin and a poster. 

“The event and waterfront consumption lounge experience is curated by HappyMunkey, a New York City cannabis lifestyle purveyor, providing its members an entrance to the New York cannabis lifestyle through events, podcasts, multimedia and editorial content,” the company stated.

You can even download the Immersive Van Gogh app from Google Play or the App Store. The Lighthouse Immersive app will give you access to “one-of-a-kind augmented reality elements at the original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York City.” 

A pass for Immersive Van Gogh is included in the HappyMunkey package. Cannabis will not be provided, however, but the event is BYOC. In New York, possession of cannabis is legal for adults, but the adult-use retail system is not in operation.

Artnet reports that the Immersive Van Gogh has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Pop-up events have sprung up in more than 20 cities across the country.

The experience arrived in New York this summer, setting up shop at Pier 36 NYC. Feverish anticipation followed: More than 250,000 advance tickets were sold before the opening, the event’s organizers said in June.  

Van Gogh and Absinthe

There is no evidence that Van Gogh smoked any cannabis, however he chain-smoked tobacco out of his trusty pipe—often having only coffee and a cigarette for meals. He even believed that tobacco’s stimulant effects combined with coffee would manifest in his manic painting style.

But Van Gogh drank the mysterious green drink called absinthe to the point of excess. Absinthe was also believed to cause the drinker to see yellow hue around objects, which some say can be seen in paintings such as “Starry Night.” But many skeptics are doubtful that enough absinthe could have been consumed to create this effect.

Back in 1977, High Times profiled the “Green Fairy”, which was believed to induce hallucinations. However, experts have debunked many of the exaggerated effects of absinthe, saying that psychoactive effects due to thujone—the active ingredient in absinthe—are minimal at best, and that most of the effects are due to alcohol.

Nowadays, absinthe is more or less a novelty drink that is consumed using a specially designed spoon and sugar cubes to complete the ritual.

Buy tickets for “Immersive Van Gogh New York” here. 

The post Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York City to Host Cannabis Night appeared first on High Times.

The post Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York City to Host Cannabis Night appeared first on Paradise Found.