With so many art-loving financiers losing their pants in the current economy, the art world might be in for some tough times. But Nate Lowman isn't going down without a smile. Or, more specifically, without a smiley face. That familiar little yellow circle with two dots and a curve was the ruling icon at his Saturday night opening party at the Maccarone gallery. A festive crowd of fashion and art world aficionados―and even two tween rappers called Little Wiki and Powered By Googs―came out to show Lowman support (Wiki and Googsdid so by free-styling by the front door). Despite the buzz, Lowman admitted to feeling not quite up to smiley-face standards. "I'm too tired," he said, acknowledging he hadn't slept much in the weeks leading up to the show. "Though I did manage to work in a shower before, which was nice." Explaining the smiley faces, Lowman said he thought now was a good time to showcase something reminiscent of happier times―childhood doodles and the feel-good seventies. Lowman's girlfriend, Mary-Kate Olsen―there with her sister, Ashley―was working a few oldies but goodies of her own: A vintage Prada brown leather jacket with fringe and a very late-nineties messy half ponytail. Further in the back of the gallery, where the likes of Camilla Nickerson and Jen Brill had congregated with the artist's father, Lowman showed some of his more traditional pieces, including grainy images of an old headstone. (My favorites, however, were a picture of three dirty bottoms and a traditional landscape turned on its side, which suggested something naughtier.) Hopefully Lowman enjoyed his night out―it looked that way later at the Beatrice Inn― because on Sunday day he was starting his next project, a large installation that will debut at the Venice Biennale.
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