1stfans Twitter Art Feed Artist for September 2009: Duke Riley

Duke Riley has been on our minds a lot over the past month. I’ve received a crash course in his work and the man himself as a result of the Museum’s involvement with his naval battle “Those Who Are About To Die, Salute You,” which played out (in all of its insane, tomato-stained glory) two weeks ago. As I was busy getting pelted with tomatoes from point-blank range, it dawned on me that Duke had created a very “New York” experience. This is the type of spectacle—getting a couple thousand people to wear togas to a mock naval battle fought in a public park in the middle of Queens—that is completely ridiculous and yet seems somewhat unsurprising given what goes on daily here in NYC.

Duke and Squirrel via pixietart on Flickr.  All Rights Reserved.

What we have not done so far in the eight months of the 1stfans Twitter Art Feed is feature someone whose art often involves New York City itself, and that is why we’re pleased to announce that Duke Riley is going to be the Twitter Art Feed artist for September. Like other artists who have participated in the Feed, Duke’s work is in the Museum’s collection. That piece, “The Bright Passage” (2006), depicts the imagined inhabitants of Mill Rock Island, a little-known piece of NYC real estate just north of Roosevelt Island on the East River.

Duke has spent time in some of New York City’s least-visited (and accessible) spots, so we thought it would be interesting for him to give 1stfans access to the New York city he has come to know. Hence, “Duke Riley’s Map of New York City,” which will be an online map on which Duke will tweet out the locations that relate directly to his work. He’ll tweet out a location and a sentence about what that location means to him every couple days, and then at the end of the month the map will provide insight into how one of New York’s most notable (and notorious) artists working today.

Update 10/1/09 – Now that September is over, we thought it would be nice to share Duke’s map with everyone. Below is Duke Riley’s Map of New York City, which was revealed to 1stfans members via twitter over the last month:
View Duke Riley’s Map of New York City in a larger map

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The 1stfans Twitter Art Feed is no longer a benefit of 1stfans membership, but the original feed in its entirety has been archived on the Brooklyn Museum website.