About Jonathan Levin
Artist Statement
My approach to making art is like cooking. Here is my recipe. You can alter this slightly depending on your state of mind:
In a non-stick inherited cheap sauce pan, heat one ounce linseed oil mixed with 3 ounces of drama and an angry cat hiss. You can add a very small amount of seriousness, but not necessary. Whisk in one tablespoon each cobalt anger, song, betrayal, and cadmium acid reflux. Then in a small sauce pan, heat to 120 degrees 3 cups of laughter, 5 gessoed cat whiskers, and one adult magazine from 1977. Remove from helium inflated floating stove and cool until you understand what just happened. In a separate bowl, place 2 Wes Montgomery guitar solos, about a cup of Oh-Woe-Is-Me, and a very silly dance. The dance MUST be silly for best results. Pre-heat oven to reach the temperature of the sun. Or 325 degrees. Line a jelly-roll pan with one layer of hallucination and one happy raw sienna memory. Check your wallet to make sure that there is still no money in it. Pour 8 ounces of a good cry into wallet. Repeat. Go poop, and wash your hands. Bake ingredients above for 25 minutes or until you are mildly depressed and smiling. With a palette knife, playfully spread 6 to 10 high resolution black and white JPG photo files that have been opened, cleaned, and archived. This recipe goes well with small pieces of oil pastel and jalapenos pickled in mineral spirits, self-doubt, and thoughtful contemplation.
- Born 1956 in Chicago, Jonathan acquired his first camera at the age of nine. In 1976, he attended an Ansel Adams Photography Workshops in Yosemite National Park, California. He earned his BFA in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design in 1978; shortly afterward Jonathan opened the photography and video studio that he operated for over 43 years. Clients included major publications and universities, as well as corporate and healthcare companies. He's won awards for his video and photographic work and has been published internationally. Jonathan is an accomplished guitarist, painter, illustrator and cook. Since 2023, Jonathan dedicates his time working on publishing books, personal projects, art, and music. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife and two cats.
Exhibits and Film Premier
Glencoe Art Fair, Glencoe, IL 1969, 1970"Nude Self-Portraits/Transformation Series" photographic exhibit, New Trier East High School IL, 1974"Private Parts" erotic art show, Providence, RI (First art show in US history to be raided by law enforcement), 1978"Three Oh-Wow-Man Show" (Jonathan Levin, Paul Marvine, Ron Pearl) Woods-Gerry Gallery Providence, RI, 1978"Blues In F/Stop" Short comedy film premier (Paul Marvine, Jonathan Levin) Chicago, IL, 1983Bucktown Arts Festival, Chicago, IL, 2000Around The Coyote Arts Festival, Chicago, IL 2000 and 2001"Ten One Dollar Stories" video premier, YouTube.com, 2009"Halloween In Logan Square" video premier, YouTube.com, 2009"Fearless Fernando Hernandez: A Fighter's Journey" documentary video premier, YouTube.com, 2011"No Signal" video premier, YouTube.com, 2021
"Angels and Demons", group show, Chicago, IL, Stola Contemporary Art, 2023
"Scapes", group show, Chicago, IL, Stola Contemporary Art, 2023
Contact Jonathan Levin
Chicago, Illinois USA
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