Velvet Speakeasy will be transformed into a dark candle lit temple of worship embellished with gold walls, religious symbolism and Kevin Ledo’s beautifully ironic icon paintings. Opening night will have a focus on a multisensory experience as Ledo teamed up with Dj Milton Clark to provide a truly unique soundscape that may go so far as to cultivate an eerie ambiance.
The body of work presented in this exhibition is a sample from the series “The Guiding Light” which draws parallels between luxury fashion institutions and medieval religious authorities and their comparable use of icon worship.Works in the exhibit include “The Grace of
Saint Calvin Klein, The Fall of Saint Prada and Saint Alberta Ferretti of Milan.”

VELVET RENAISSANCE is a monthly event, hosted by DL Jones & Alex Brosseau, showcasing an artist’s expression of his/her craft given the Velvet Speakeasy as a canvas.  The title of the event implies the metaphorical rebirth of the space with the coming of a new artist, as well as the encouragement of the arts as in the time of the Italian Renaissance.  Invited artists are encouraged to
push the limits of creativity and to put their signature on the space, knowing that everything, save one detail will be erased to make room for the next artist.

The first VELVET RENAISSANCE featured Montreal graffiti artist OMEN (http://www.omen514.com/), the second which will take place on March 18th will feature Kevin Ledo (http://www.kevinledo.com/).
The spectrum of selected artists is not intended to be limited to fine artists, but includes graphic designers, fashion designers, tattoo artists, A/V artists, etc. For example, the April edition of VELVET RENAISSANCE will feature Jean-François Proulx (http://www.balistique.ca/), who will be
unveiling the VELVET book, a quarterly publication and calendar, as well as the new VELVET graphic identity: logo, website, menus, etc.

Velvet Speakeasy
420 St-Gabriel, Montréal
www.kevinledo.com
www.techno.fm/miltonclark
http://twitter.com/LedoKevin
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25589615524

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