Sometimes, an art show’s theme is not a gimmick, but a real story about the lives of its artists. In “You Are Here: Washington D.C.,” a show opening at Dorian Grey Gallery in New York’s East Village, the theme is strictly geographical, and the story is about a first-time curator from D.C. who gathered some of her most talented friends and members of the art community together for a monthlong show in New York. For some of the artists, this is the first time a New York audience will see their work, and for the one-year-old gallery, this show is the first that expands beyond the East Village and New York.

“You Are Here” will run October 15 – November 13. Artists showing include Trevor Young, Alexa Meada, Ryan Florig, Adrian Parsons, Marissa Long, Billy Colbert, Lily DeSaussure and Joey Manlapaz.

We caught up with the curator, Danielle Vu, and the gallery owner, Luis Accorsi to discuss the show, New York and art in general.

Dorian Grey Gallery
437 E 9th St.
New York NY 10009

Images and interview after the jump.

Self-taught painter Vanessa Prager reveals her latest works this Thursday (June 2, 2011 to be exact) in a special one-night-only exhibition hosted by Danny Masterson. The venue is fitting for Prager, a painter who finds inspiration in a mix of contemporary narrative and vintage photographs. In anticipation of the show, Prager and I got on the phone to discuss the idea behind Across the Universe and her process.

ADBD Gallery
8246 Beverly Blvd
LA, CA

Read our Q&A and check out Prager’s phenomenal paintings after the jump.

While sartorially conservative, New York clothier Seize Sur Vingt has a rebellious, tongue-in-cheek underbelly. The name of spin-off line Troglodyte Homunculus is evidence enough, but the true spirit of the line is most apparent through an quirky art program that has included sponsorship of the Vice Magazine Photo Annual and the presentation of a short film, “The Returning of the Sun,” by Japanese contemporary artist Noritoshi Hirakawa. The Seize Sur Vingt shop has hosted exhibitions by Larry Clark, Ryan McGinley, and John Waters… artists whose take on fashion and youth culture balance the traditional garments of SSV with a bit of radical counterculture brilliantly.

Seize Sur Vingt is currently showing photographs by Nan Goldin – beautiful transvestite portraits – at the 78 Greene Street flagship. With that, I took the opportunity to speak with James Jurney, who founded SSV in 1998 with wife Gwendolyn, about the role art plays in the brand’s identity.

Read the Q&A and view some more of Goldin’s fabulous photographs after the jump.

Photography by Jason Malihan.

With news of Ai Weiwei’s detainment all over international media and Chinese officials investigating Weiwei for economic crimes, the second portion of our chat with Alison Klayman, director of “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” comes amid a storm of Weiwei news. In this segment, Klayman talks about Weiwei’s process and interest in materials. Important throughout is the notion of the “idea” as the art.

Read the second part of my conversation with Alison Klayman after the jump.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is the first feature-length film about internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. With ambitious installations, including the much discussed Sunflower Seeds at Tate Modern, Weiwei’s star in the art world is equaled only by his stature as a political activist. Alison Klayman’s film examines the complexity of Weiwei as an artist and social activist, detailing preparation for major exhibitions as well as clashes with Chinese government.

With the official launch of Never Sorry coming by way of Frontline today, I am happy to begin sharing an exclusive conversation with Klayman here on Curated.

The Q&A will roll in three parts. Head to the jump for part one.