I’m really excited about launching this new “featured artists” series as it will bring a different focus on Artcards Review. There are so many talented artists here in New York, and it’s usually the fresh and emerging who need to voice out, which is where we will focus the spotlight. Our first Featured Artist of the Week is Kevin Cyr. For this fabulous encounter between Kevin and I, we met at his latest show entitled “Gimme Shelter,” a group exhibition currently at Mixed Greens Gallery.

When I first saw Kevin’s Camper Kart I was as excited as a child walking into a toy store. Not quite hippy, nor scientifically geeky, this installation hit me in a profoundly personal way. The exterior is only a fraction of the entire piece. First the combination of a shopping cart with a Chinese-Mongolianesque shaped tent is one of the craziest juxtapositions I’ve seen. Then reality starts to seep away as I peek inside the little windows and imagine a life inside this romantic place.

Inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s novel “The Road” and the scene here in Brooklyn, Kevin explains that although this is a shelter on top of a crazy but practical object, this project symbolizes mobility and shelter. The shopping cart is a sign of the recently failed economy. Being brought up as a camper kid, Kevin knows what goes on inside a cramped and compact trailer space. So besides being aesthetically amusing, it would also act as a practical escaping vehicle.

image courtesy of the artist

Part of his experience comes from doing field research in Beijing. And having been there myself, I can say that it’s definitely a fun trip to ride in those cozy little rickshaws covered with canvas and vinyl. Which was an inspiration behind the Camper Bike series.

If you get a chance, check out Kevin’s on-going dead-pan Van Series, that’ll surely make your eyes drool for more. And what’s interesting is that he is replicating all the graffiti tagged on those vans himself, but without the controversy of being in the public eye.