The Chart Polski is also known as the Polish Greyhound. It is a strong,
noble, and athletic breed designed for the sole purpose of chasing down game
through the vast flat steppe lands of Poland. Though it is known as a greyhound
it would be in error to suggest that the breed was developed, related to, or
constructed from the common English Greyhound or the Russian Borzoi. This breed
was established and a part of daily Polish life as early as the 13th century and
predates the establishment of both the two aforesaid species of dog. It was
mentioned in writings of the Polish nobleman and scholar Hieronym Gostomski in
the early 15th century. Due to the hardships heaped upon the whole of Poland
during WWII the Chart Polski was rendered nearly extinct. Those that lived had
taken to the countryside and found ways to survive on their own. As of now there
are estimated to be less than 1,000 Chart Polskis in the world, the majority of
them in Poland itself. Due to the rarity of this breed it is often
misidentified.
Northern Illinois University will host guest
artist Gary Dobry whose work is currently on display @ The Jack Olson
Gallery in the show "Inked". Dobry will speak on Monday,
September 26, at 5:00pm. CLICK
HERE
FOR MORE INFO
8/29/11 - Jack Olson Gallery @ Northern
Illinois University
In Full Bloom, Gary Dobry, '11
with
Glen Davies * Gary Dobry * Maren Erwin * Michael Ferris Jr. * Mitch O'Connell
Curated by Agnes Ma and Peter Van Ael - Reception: September 22, 4:30-6:00
Boxing Coach to Lecture at NIU on the
Art of Tattoos
September 13, 2011 - Patch Article
Gary Dobry, owner of the School of Hard Knocks, will talk about boxing, his
paintings and tattoos at an art gallery in DeKalb.
Gary Dobry,
right-arm tattoo, 'Angelique', Sept. 11, 2011 @ Pug's Boxing Club
There are two Gary Dobrys: the boxing coach and the artist.
When he’s teaching a boxing class — with the “ding” of the automatic round
counter sounding and people shadowboxing in front of mirrors at The School of
Hard Knocks in Crystal Lake — Dobry speaks crudely, hollering at his pupils,
telling them to keep their hands up and to throw more jabs.
But he is soft-spoken and careful when talking about art. And his take on
tattoos as art may make you dizzy, like a stroll down Queer Street, a term in
boxing that connotes an out-of-body experience caused by a Sunday punch.
“A tattoo is literally you wearing your heart on your sleeve,” Dobry said.
“It’s like when scientists beam messages into outer space, hoping for a
response, for just a trace of humanity. A tattoo is a visual message, meant to
elicit a response.
“From the time cavemen first painted images on the wall, it’s always been
about one’s need to get some sort of response.”
During a lecture at Northern Illinois University later this month, Dobry will
specifically focus on the kinds of tattoos found on boxers. Dobry said a boxer
is likely to get a tattoo after a big ring loss, after he gets clobbered. Look
at Mike Tyson, he said.
Gary Dobry, left-arm tattoo, "El Diablo', Sept. 11, 2011 @ Pug's
Boxing Club
Dobry has two tattoos, one on each of the beefy upper portions of his arms.
They are renderings of boxers striking the classic pose: one the devil, with
horns, a pointy tail and on fire, and the other an angel, with a halo.
Ask Dobry to explain his own tattoos, and he is vague and evasive, in an
artistic way. He wants you to figure it out for yourself, for he believes there
is a relationship between the viewer and the artwork totally apart from the
artist.
Dobry, a few years ago, worked as a part-time tattoo artist, as an apprentice
under Ernie Gonzales at Fox Lake’s Electric Art Tattoo.
“I was never as good with a tattoo machine as I am with a paint brush,” Dobry
said. “Ernie taught me a lot. I wanted to grow as an artist. Ernie gave me that
chance.”
Dobry v. National Golden Glove semi-finalist,
Ruperto Chavez
Last year a show focusing on tattoos was well received at NIU so the
university decided to have another, said Peter Van Ael, coordinator for the art
gallery and museum studies program at NIU.
“Gary does it very well,” said Van Ael, commenting on why Dobry was one of a
handful of artists asked to the show. The exhibit is called “Inked: Tattoo
Imagery in Contemporary Art,” which runs through Oct. 13, according to NIU
Today.
A reception for artists is planned from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Northern
Illinois University’s Jack Olson Gallery, at the School of Art, 200 Visual Arts
Building, DeKalb.
Dobry will be lecturing from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26.
'L'il Devil', 40" X 30", acrylic on canvas, Gary Dobry
Local Boxing Gym Owner part of, 'Inked: Tattoo Imagery
in Contemporary Art'
Gary Dobry, head trainer at Pugs Boxing Club at the School of Hard
Knocks at 824 S. Main St. in Crystal Lake, will be exhibiting some of his
paintings with a star-studded line-up of heavyweight artists including Glen
Davies, Maren Erwin, Michael Ferris Jr. and Mitch O'Connell at the Jack Olson
Gallery at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb August 29th through October
13th. The exhibit, titled 'Inked: Tattoo Imagery in Contemporary Art' is
curated by Agnes Ma and Peter Van Ael and focuses on contemporary artists who
utilize the universality of tattoo imagery as a means for expression. There is
a reception and gallery talks, including one by Dobry on Boxing and Tattoo, on
Thursday, September 22nd from 4:30-6:00PM. All these artists are exhibiting
courtesy of Aron Packer and the Packer Schopf Gallery located at 942 W. Lake,
Chicago. For more info about the exhibition, go to:
http://www.niu.edu/olsongallery/upcomingexhibitions/index.shtml
June 15, 2011 - Art Matrix Gallery @ The Zhou
B Art Center
June 9, 2011
Two Heavyweights Show their Canvases
by Gary Dobry
by Bob Novak
Crystal Lake boxing gym owner, Gary Dobry, and Chicago Blues
Legend, Bumble-Bee Bob Novak, get together for a 2-man art exhibit opening at
the Art Matrix Gallery at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago on June 17th at
7PM.
Dobry met the "Bee" when he was a teen-ager sneaking into Chicago blues clubs
like the Kingston Mines where Novak was a mainstay siding for local blues
icons like Hound Dog Taylor, Pine-Top Perkins and Chicago Slim. Novak
graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago the same year as
another Chicago icon, Ed Paschke. At the School of the Art Institute Novak and
Paschke, best of friends, studied under Isabelle MacKinnon, a student of Hans
Hoffman. Dobry was an apprentice to both Novak and Paschke and was himself
admitted to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on the strength of
reference letters from both Paschke and Novak.
Dobry and Novak paintings and drawings will exhibit through July 15th and they
will also be playing the same blues they played in the clubs and streets of
Paris in the early 1990's at the June 17th opening. Dobry will also be
exhibiting in, and sitting on the panel of, the 'Tattoo' exhibition opening in
August at the Jack Olson Museum Gallery at Northern Illinois University in
Dekalb. For more info on the Zhou B Art Center exhibition contact Art Matrix
gallery director, Daniel McClenaghan at 773 254 4020 or Gary Dobry at the
School of Hard Knocks in Crystal Lake, 815 356 6572
Nexus Plexus (with Venus Rising), 2010, Gary Dobry
Gary Dobry, a former boxer schooled in the "manly art", is the head trainer at
Pug's Boxing Club in the School of Hard Knocks located at 824 S Main St. in
Crystal Lake. He's more than just a "knockout artist". This year alone Dobry's
paintings have exhibited at Galerie L'Art Rien in Paris, France and the Henry
Miller Library in Big Sur, California. On November 19th a solo exhibition of
the paintings Dobry did with writer Henry Miller's last great love, Brenda
Venus, will exhibit at the Chicago Art Matrix Gallery at the Zhou B Art Center
in Chicago. Henry Miller is recognized as the leader of the 60's sexual
revolution and is best known for his literary masterpiece, 'Tropic of Cancer'.
Dobry was an apprentice and life-long friend of Chicago artist, Ed Paschke. In
this body of work Dobry and Venus celebrate finding their own artistic voices
after being under the strong influences of their mentors, and join those
voices to sing praise to Miller and Paschke. Selected Miller watercolors of
Venus, from her private collection, and selected Miller love letters to Venus,
as published in 'Dear Dear Brenda' will also be on exhibit with Dobry's
paintings. The show opens November 19th and runs through December 14th. For
more information, contact the gallery's director, Daniel Pierre McClenaghan at
773 254 4020 or Dobry direct at the School of Hard Knocks, 815 356 6572.
Paintings by a Crystal Lake boxing
coach will be on display later this month at the Henry Miller Library in Big
Sur, Calif.
Gary Dobry - owner of
The School of Hard Knocks Boxing Academy in Crystal Lake - works as a painter,
tattoo artist and novelist in his spare time.
In September, Dobry
embarked on a series of acrylic-on-canvas paintings focusing on movie actress
Brenda Venus, who was a love interest of writer Henry Miller when Venus was in
her 20s and Miller was in his 80s. Miller's 4,000 love letters to Venus
between 1976 and 1980 was turned into the book "Dear, Dear Brenda."
Miller, who died in
1980 at the age of 88, was an exotic intellectual who wrote the novel "Tropic
of Cancer," published in Paris in 1934. The novel is known for its graphic
descriptions of sex, but it was also considered a literary masterpiece.
Miller, advocate of a free-love society, was a point man for the sexual
revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. He faced obscenity charges when the book
was released in the U.S in 1961.
Dobry said Miller has
had a profound impact on his life as an artist. Dobry went to college in Paris
in the early 1990s and made money the same way Ernest Hemingway did 70 years
before, by giving boxing lessons. And, like Hemingway, Dobry weaves boxing
into his artwork and he writes about it.
But his true hero is
Miller.
"I
moved to Paris because I wanted to walk the same streets Miller walked
and breathe the same air Miller breathed," Dobry said. "Life is like a
crooked path through the forest. One just follows where it leads."
Dobry's exhibition to
be shown in Big Sur is titled: "Life After Henry Miller & Ed Pashcke," also
known as the "Mentors Series."
Dobry's personal
mentor was Ed Paschke, a renowned Chicago painter who died in 2004. To this
day, Paschke influences Dobry's work. Dobry uses stark colors and strong
images the same way Paschke did. Dobry said he was Paschke's apprentice and
lifelong friend. And it was a reference letter from Paschke that helped get
Dobry accepted to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Dobry's last show was in January at
the Galerie L'Art de Rien, Paris, France.
His art has been on exhibition with
Paschke's, Andy Warhol's and Leon Golub's.
His three novels "Kingdom Come," "En
La Lona" and "In Good Faith" will also become part of the Henry Miller
Library.
Venus just finished up her work on
"Love and Sex in L.A.," a film that she wrote, produced and directed.
Dobry's artistic statement:
An artist takes in everything, an overload on the senses, and out of
that abundance of information must find his own unique voice. Brenda and
myself were under the influence of two strong voices, Henry Miller and Ed
Paschke. Somehow we were able to liberate ourselves from our mentors and find
our own voices. In this body of work we join those voices together to sing
praise to Miller and Paschke.
"This more recent tradition, in which the realist and the caricatural
meet, was continued, as we see in chapter 5, in the work of George Bellows and
is also visible in other artists of the late nineteenth and early twentith
century period, for example, the early watercolors and pen and ink sketches of
Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957). It is also continued to the present day in the work
of contemporary artists such as Sergei Chepik (b. 1953) and the ex-boxer Gary Dobry." (page 149)
What separates the chaos of fighting from the coherent
ritual of boxing? According to author David
Scott, it is a collection of aesthetic constructions,
including the shape of the ring, the predictable
rhythm of timed rounds, the uniformity of the
boxers’ glamorous attire, and the stylization
of the combatants’ posture and punches. In The Art
and Aesthetics of Boxing, Scott explores the
ways in which these and other aesthetic elements
of the sport have evolved over time. Scott comprehensively
addresses the rich dialogue between boxing and the
arts, suggesting that boxing not only possesses
intrinsic aesthetic qualities but also has inspired
painters, graphic designers, surrealist
poets, and modern writers to identify, expand,
and respond to the aesthetic properties of the sport.
Divided into three parts, the book moves from a
consideration of the evolution and intrinsic aesthetics
of boxing to the responses to the sport by cubist
and futurist painters and sculptors, installation
artists, poster designers, photographers,
and, finally, surrealist poets and modernist
writers. With distinctive illustrations and
photographs in nine short chapters, Scott
creates a visual as well as a textual narrative that
supplements and concretely demonstrates
the deep, dynamic relationship between the
art of boxing and the world of art and literature.
The Art and Aesthetics
of Boxing
By David Scott, Roger Conover
Contributor Roger Conover
Edition: illustrated
Published by U of Nebraska Press, 2009
ISBN 0803213867, 9780803213869
March, 2008
Chicago Slim, Noel Shiff, passed away. One of the premiere blues harp players
of all time. Even though I'm pretty sure Slim was technically blind, he was also
a well-known Chicago Boxing judge. Not really sure if being blind is a
restriction for being a boxing judge in Chicago though ;0)
click pics to
see video performances of theold Chicago Slim Blues Band
Circa 1980's, Bumble Bee on guitar, Tommy Mitz on bass, Cadillac Sammy on the
drums and Slim blowing harp and playing slide guitar
I have some great memories of Slim. When I was a teen we opened-up for Muddy
Waters in Carbondale, Illinois @ Southern Illinois University. Me, Bumble Bee,
Slim & Cadillac Sammy Burton drove down there together in an old van I had.
Sammy's bass drum served as a poker table and we played cards the entire route,
from Chicago to Carbondale. All face cards wild. Hustlers - every one of 'em. I
even borrowed some money from Bee to stay in the game. When I got paid for the
gig, I had to give it all right back. He felt sorry for me though and bought me
dinner. Not Slim. In fact after that free meal, when the boys asked Slim if he
had a "tip", Slim said, "Yeah, tell the Chef to dip his hands in hot oil".
Slims' the same cat who wrote the tender love song, "Love Me Or I'll Kill 'Ya".
In fact, the only cat I ever saw get one-up on Slim, besides the Bee, was Muddy
himself. Slim asked Muddy, who was in his 70's at the time, "Hey Muddy, why'd
you marry an 18 year old?" Muddy, serious as a heart attack replied, "Cause I
couldn't find me no 16 year old." ;0)
10 count & 12 bars, my friend.
R.I.P.
January, 2008
Dobry paintings FOR SALE direct from
onthecanvas.com
Paintings that are not
currently in any gallery's inventory are available at a 50% discount direct from
this website. Visa, MC, Discover and American Express accepted. (credit card
orders by phone, 815 356 6572)
Mia Madre, 2007
My Comeback, 2007 (SOLD)
Little Devil, 2007
In 2000 I worked on a joint venture with tattoo-artist great, Ernie Gonzalez.
I was working on paintings for an exhibition at the Judy Saslow Gallery
in Chicago. At the time I was way into Old School tattoo work. Not just the
Sailor Jerry ultra-Americana type stuff all the rock-a-billy kids are into,
but hard-core Mexican style stuff, prison tats, Polynesian-style work that was
ultra minimalistic in approach, and black & gray work that was just the
opposite, tattoo work that had the elegance and fine lines of engraving or
etching. Tattoos only a master craftsman could pull-off.
Ernie Gonzalez
I designed a couple tattoos. One for each arm. I gave my sketches to Ernie
and instructed him do his thing with them. He did. I showed my arms, with the
paintings, at the opening for the exhibition. Here are the tats me & Ernie did
for the show:
Angelique (L Arm)
El Diablo (R)
I am currently doing an apprenticeship under Ernie at his shop in Fox Lake (you
can see my tats & flashhere). This comes at a
time in my career where I took a year off to study the works of great American
Banner painters like Fred Johnson, Johnny Meah, et al, so I could incorporate
their banner painting styles in my own pop-surrealism works. I never intended to
do derivative banner paintings of circus freaks like them. My intent was to
master their styles so I could express my own surrealistic pop ideas through
banner painting styles. The same is true of tattooing. My intent is not to
create derivate tattoo work. My idea is to master the different styles so I can
translate my own ideas on to skin. My ultimate goal is to be as facile with
tattoo machines as I am with a brush or pencil. I thank Ernie for taking me on.
We are brothers in Art.
Gary Dobry is now writing for Chicago Fighting Arts Magazine and
Chicago Fighting Arts OnLine. You can read his latest piece by
clicking here
Ed Paschke 1939 - 2004
Siamese Eds , 30" X 24" , Acrylic on Canvas , 2006
, Gary Dobry
Ed Paschke died on Thanksgiving eve, in his sleep. Ed has been a friend of
mine my entire teen & adult life. In fact, it was Ed's letter of
recommendation that got me into the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago. There is so much folks already know about Ed. Ed was a
famous, influential and important American artist. But I have memories of Ed
that are mine, and mine alone. Ed spent a lot of time at the Green Mill
Lounge on Broadway, next to the Uptown Theatre. He ran the art dept.
at Northwestern University and after work he'd head north up Sheridan Ave. to
Broadway and stop in The Green Mill for a tall cool one. I trained at the
old Northside Boxing Gym right above the lounge. Ed would come upstairs
and we'd talk boxing. He loved boxing. He knew boxing. I loved painting.
We'd talk painting. He knew painting. We'd talk art and painting. And freaks. We
both loved sideshow freaks. One Christmas, while I was still in Medicine, I sent
him a pair of SiameseTwin fetuses I had planned to dissect. Ed collected duck
decoys. His father crafted them. One of the biggest honors Ed ever bestowed upon
me was finding a place for the twins (in a glass jar of formalin) on the same
mantle with his old man's duck decoys.
Me & Ed, Judy Saslow Gallery, 1999
I was introduced to Ed by one of his SAIC classmates, "Bumble-Bee" Bob Novak.
They studied together under Isabelle MacKinnon at the Art Institute of Chicago.
MacKinnon was a student of Hans Hoffman. Every day I thank the Art gods that I
was blessed enough to collide into Paschke & Novak in the same artistic
universe.
I first exhibited with Paschke in 1992 at Tony Fitzpatrick's ALL ELVIS
ART SHOW at the World Tattoo Gallery in the south loop.
(Curiously enough, one of Tony's employees at the gallery was writer Zak Mucha
who interviewed me years later for for a feature in Gallery magazine). The last
time we were brought together publicly was at a 9/11 Panel Discussion &
exhibition at the old Jett Sett Gallery in Wrigleyville. I devoted a
chapter to Paschke in my second novel, In Good Faith.
Ed was a powerhouse. 65 is way to young to die. Ed always radiated youth and
energy to me. It's hard to give in to the idea Ed Paschke died in his sleep of a
heart attack??? I exhibited with Ed's wife Nancy at the Judy Saslow Gallery in
Chicago for years. How many knew Nancy had Parkinson's and Ed was hopelessly
devoted to her care? Ed was the epitome of strength and energy. Ed should've
gone out swinging in the last round of a championship fight. That's the Paschke
I know. The most important thing Ed ever told me was, "TAKE RISKS" . I never
miss an opportunity to take one.
artists in all genres, including: David Gista, The Goldmine Shithouse, Ed
Paschke, Roger Brown, Ivan Albright, Bert Menco, Michael Hernandez de Luna,
Steven Hazard, Diane Thodos, Bettina Blohm, Augustine Portillo, Elizabeth
Ockwell and Olan
January 11 - May, '03 -
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Art
GARY DOBRY with LEON GOLUB &
others
Religious, political, and
cultural figures, institutions, and organizations have signed petitions to stop
the war. In solidarity, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Art has organized an
exhibition by artists, writers and poets. The Museum has joined the growing
coalition of international, national and local anti-war groups in an effort
towards peace and a peaceful settlement in the Middle-East.
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 11th from 6:00
to 8:00PM
"...Gary Dobry is an American
ex boxer, now turned author and visionary artist. He has used his experiences in
the ring to produce allegorical, hauntingly beautiful iconographic images. He
works mainly in acrylic on canvas, and occasionally collage. His book 'Kingdom
Come' has recently been published in paperback, to much critical acclaim. ..."
.
Gary Dobry, 9/11/11
In Full Bloom, Gary Dobry, '11
Dobry v. National Golden Glove semi-finalist,
Ruperto Chavez
'L'il Devil', 40" X 30", acrylic on canvas, Gary Dobry
August
18, 2011
by Gary Dobry
by Bob Novak
Nexus Plexus (with Venus Rising), 2010, Gary Dobry
Mia Madre, 2007
My Comeback, 2007 (SOLD)
Little Devil, 2007
Ernie Gonzalez
Angelique (L Arm)
El Diablo (R)
Me & Ed, Judy Saslow Gallery, 1999
