Lower art side

The commenMr. & Mrs. Ralph Cerasuolo Mr. & Mrs. Ronald DeConne Mr. & Mrs. Ronald DeConne Mr. & Mrs. Edward Herve Mr. & Mrs. Randy Obituary Carlucci Bencivenga, 38, an artist and ‘connector’ By Albert Amateau Carlucci Bencivenga, a charismatic artist in media ranging from graffiti, video and new sound to painting and sculpture and a luminary of the Lower East Side arts scene, died Sun., Sept. 2, in his studio on Stanton St. at the age of 38. He apparently died in his sleep and his body was found by friends who were expecting him to take part in the Art Around the Park event around Tompkins Square Park at the HOWL! Festival the following weekend. As of Monday, the city’s medical examiner had not determined the cause of death. “He was a very high-energy guy with lots of ideas,” said Roberto Ragone, executive director of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. “Listening to him talk, you felt like you were riding a wave of words and ideas on a surfboard. He had a role in creating the BID’s E.L.S./L.E.S. tours — Every Last Sunday of Lower East Side artist studios,” Ragone said. Anthony Zito, a fellow artist and a friend of 10 years, recalled Carlucci’s Stanton St. studio was “a maniacal menagerie of curios — filled with stuff he found in the street, with his work. I always thought of it as a changing art installation.” Zito noted that in a milieu where drug use was common, Carlucci was a paragon of drug-free living. Born and raised in the Bronx, Carlucci was a member of the Morris Park Crew of graffiti bombers and his tag was ELF MPC, or ELF One. He was a graduate of the School of Visual Arts. He was also a member of The Eternalists performance art group. A fellow Eternalist, who goes by the name of True, recalled Carlucci’s involvement with him in a new music performance. “We filled a stage at the Knitting Factory with everything and anything that could make noise and ran around playing them,” True said. “We played in Judson Church for Movement Dance and at art openings.” “Carlucci was a real neighborhood guy,” said Josh Boyd, who opened Gallery Bar at 120 Orchard St. in January of this year. “When we opened, he came and donated a piece of his art and helped us organize our programs,” Boyd said. “He was a total magician. There was no one like him,” said Maggie Monaco, an East Village resident and friend. “He was a teacher to everyone. Anytime you engaged him in conversation you knew you were in for an intellectual roller coaster.” He curated several art shows, including “Make Art Not War” with over 60 artists. Carlucci was born in 1969 to Carl and Theresa Bencivenga, who survive him. A younger brother, Joseph, of the Bronx, also survives. The funeral was Fri., Sept. 8, in St. Clare’s Church in the Bronx and burial was in St. Raymond’s Cemetery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reader Services thevillager.com Email our editor View our previous issues Report Distribution Problems -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Villager is published by Community Media LLC. 145 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 229-1890 | Fax: (212) 229-2790 | Advertising: 646-452-2465 | © 2007 Community Media, LLC Obituary Carlucci Bencivenga, 38, an artist and ‘connector’ By Albert Amateau Carlucci Bencivenga, a charismatic artist in media ranging from graffiti, video and new sound to painting and sculpture and a luminary of the Lower East Side arts scene, died Sun., Sept. 2, in his studio on Stanton St. at the age of 38. He apparently died in his sleep and his body was found by friends who were expecting him to take part in the Art Around the Park event around Tompkins Square Park at the HOWL! Festival the following weekend. As of Monday, the city’s medical examiner had not determined the cause of death. “He was a very high-energy guy with lots of ideas,” said Roberto Ragone, executive director of the Lower East Side Business Improvement District. “Listening to him talk, you felt like you were riding a wave of words and ideas on a surfboard. He had a role in creating the BID’s E.L.S./L.E.S. tours — Every Last Sunday of Lower East Side artist studios,” Ragone said. Anthony Zito, a fellow artist and a friend of 10 years, recalled Carlucci’s Stanton St. studio was “a maniacal menagerie of curios — filled with stuff he found in the street, with his work. I always thought of it as a changing art installation.” Zito noted that in a milieu where drug use was common, Carlucci was a paragon of drug-free living. Born and raised in the Bronx, Carlucci was a member of the Morris Park Crew of graffiti bombers and his tag was ELF MPC, or ELF One. He was a graduate of the School of Visual Arts. He was also a member of The Eternalists performance art group. A fellow Eternalist, who goes by the name of True, recalled Carlucci’s involvement with him in a new music performance. “We filled a stage at the Knitting Factory with everything and anything that could make noise and ran around playing them,” True said. “We played in Judson Church for Movement Dance and at art openings.” “Carlucci was a real neighborhood guy,” said Josh Boyd, who opened Gallery Bar at 120 Orchard St. in January of this year. “When we opened, he came and donated a piece of his art and helped us organize our programs,” Boyd said. “He was a total magician. There was no one like him,” said Maggie Monaco, an East Village resident and friend. “He was a teacher to everyone. Anytime you engaged him in conversation you knew you were in for an intellectual roller coaster.” He curated several art shows, including “Make Art Not War” with over 60 artists. Carlucci was born in 1969 to Carl and Theresa Bencivenga, who survive him. A younger brother, Joseph, of the Bronx, also survives. The funeral was Fri., Sept. 8, in St. Clare’s Church in the Bronx and burial was in St. Raymond’s Cemetery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reader Services thevillager.com Email our editor View our previous issues Report Distribution Problems -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Villager is published by Community Media LLC. 145 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013 Phone: (212) 229-1890 | Fax: (212) 229-2790 | Advertising: 646-452-2465 | © 2007 Community Media, LLC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents of this newspaper, in whole or in part, can be reproduced or redistributed. Written permission of the publisher must be obtained before any of the contents of this newspaper, in whole or in part, can be reproduced or redistributed. Caruso & Family Mrs. Lisa DeConne Mr. & Mrs. Craig Sasse & Family t you type in this box will appear on the site

Very kind of you to list my little gallery: Bottom Feeders Studio Gallery. The gallery website is: http://home.mindspring.com/~jah48/ Currently open by appointment on Fridays, and also for the 195 Chrystie St. "Open Studio-Holiday 2007" featuring Artists and craftworkers in the building. Friday-December 7th 6-9 PM Saturday-December 8th 3-9PM Sunday-December 9th 12 to 9PM- ish Hope to see you, With respect- JAH