Six For Five
Six For Five is my ongoing project over the last few years.
The term Six For Five is old street term for money lending.
Its a series of portraits of Jewish -American gangsters, gamblers and lowlifes from 1900 to the eve of World War II, and the entire project has turned into a bit of a runaway train.
The samples here give you an obvious idea of the work, which is based on archival reference material from mugshots, newspapers and news photo agencies, and personal family photos. Using rapidograph pens, watercolors, and white pencil and white acrylic for highlights - I try to bring a new life to the material.
I am currently working on book dedicated to the entire project as well, and maintain a blog at sixforfive where you can find more about this fascinating slice of Jewish-American history
Forty - six originals were exhibited earlier this year at the Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery in Washington, DC from Feb.17 to May 17, 2009, with an additional six high quality reproductions at The National Museum Of Crime and Punishment.
Press reaction to the exhibit was very positive overall.
Here are links to some of the reviews and write ups:
Washington City Paper
The Washington Diplomat
DC Labor.org
Washington Jewish Week
MAD in the District blog
Express Night Out
Stay tuned for the possibility of future exhibits traveling to different cities.
The term Six For Five is old street term for money lending.
Its a series of portraits of Jewish -American gangsters, gamblers and lowlifes from 1900 to the eve of World War II, and the entire project has turned into a bit of a runaway train.
The samples here give you an obvious idea of the work, which is based on archival reference material from mugshots, newspapers and news photo agencies, and personal family photos. Using rapidograph pens, watercolors, and white pencil and white acrylic for highlights - I try to bring a new life to the material.
I am currently working on book dedicated to the entire project as well, and maintain a blog at sixforfive where you can find more about this fascinating slice of Jewish-American history
Forty - six originals were exhibited earlier this year at the Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery in Washington, DC from Feb.17 to May 17, 2009, with an additional six high quality reproductions at The National Museum Of Crime and Punishment.
Press reaction to the exhibit was very positive overall.
Here are links to some of the reviews and write ups:
Washington City Paper
The Washington Diplomat
DC Labor.org
Washington Jewish Week
MAD in the District blog
Express Night Out
Stay tuned for the possibility of future exhibits traveling to different cities.
