OBJECT ARCHIVE AND EXCAVATION PROGRAM

BON VIVANT ARTIST, JAMES J. WILLIAMS, AGREES TO AUCTION POSSESSIONS IN A BOLDLY UNCONVENTIONAL STYLE

Anyone familiar with our artist's highly-improvisational approach to timely rent-paying are never surprised by the impetuous maneuvering of Brooklyn's native son, James J. Williams III, but even those closest to him are strangely puzzled and intrigued by his latest undertaking.

With the cooperation of envoy and the James J. Williams III Historical Society, Jimmy has gathered many of his most cherished possessions, assembled them into distinctly-curated collections, and put them up for non-auction sale.

Like everything Jimmy does, the art resides in the act as much as the object, but on this occasion, both aspects are super-sized beyond recognition. Everyday items, luxurious grandeur and exhausted trinkets form a parade of textures and words and sounds and sensation.

And so we find ourselves here, on a sweltering summer day in New York, a day when old men sit in front of a fan and listen to the ballgame on radio. These collections are so timeless, you'll feel like a kid playing in the spray of an opened fire hydrant, only instead of the water, it'll be a bunch of stuff jimmy once had.

Historical Society Box 8: “Hello Shirley, It’s me”

$75 USD

Items:

01. One (1) candlestick.
02. One (1) rainsoaked model portfolio for “Henry Poole.”
03. One (1) unused vintage crystal decanter.
04. crumpled photocopies of chandelier photographs
05. Four (4) vintage Presto iron-on initials for the letters “P” and “N.”
06. One (1) broken hand mirror used in the Amanda Lear exhibition at envoy, April 2006.
07. One (1) brown Voodoo doll, faceless and featureless. Gift of Darryl Turner.
08. One (1) found photograph of old people at a wedding.
09. One (1) artist designed invite to “Fissure” by Heather Kelley.
10. One (1) Opium 1 postcard.
11. One (1) Treyf invite.
12. color samples
13. various photographs of artist in women’s clothing.
14. One (1) pair of eyelglasses, either Carver Stone’s or “The Kid.”
15. One (1) Ryan Schneider invite with the words written on the back, “Ryan says he’s good people…”
16. unfinished platonic love letters from Opium 2.
17. One (1) empty pack of Camel Lights. First purchased back of cigarette’s.
18. two small costume jewels.
19. One (1) avocado colored rotary telephone. Fully functional. Used in numerous exhibitions.
20. One (1) oversized dress from the Brandy Library that once belonged to Catherine Foulkrod for ONE day.

Historical Society Box 7: “The Goodbye Box”

$100 USD

Items:

01. One (1) VHS of “Kissing a Fool” left at 586 Dean by Mollie Sue Steenis when she moved back to Florida.
02. One (1) “Jimmy Replacement Application” used for the “The Replacement” episode of Third Place.
03. One (1) brown vest from a three-piece suit bought in 2000 to photograph JP Primiano in a Long Island pool.
04. One (1) drawing on kitchen counter liner accidentally destroyed by Rebecca Shulman.
05. One (1) stack of cards for “By Request…” exhibition.
06. One (1) rained on and faded sticker of Owen Reynolds Clements from Owen’s Birthday, 2007.
07. One (1) photograph of Joni Aschoff on an invite to Jennifer Aschoff’s solo exhibition.
08. color samples
09. One (1) drawing of Titian Rutkin’s boots, rained on and rusted.
10. unused platonic love letters from Opium 2.
11. One (1) ticket stub from a Yankee’s game during their last season at Yankee Stadium.
12. One (1) polaroid of artist and Rebekah Lou Davis.
13. One (1) polaroid of Katy Mayglothling and Milena. Circa 2002.
14. One (1) polaroid of Eddie Lloyd. Circa 2002.
15. One (1) melted red candle in a candlestick.
16. One (1) used and mostly empty box of oil pastels. Gifted by Laura Baran. Traveled the world over.
17. Two (2) photographs of artist and Mollie Steenis during first month at 586 Dean Street. Taken by Laura Baran.
18. One (1) Opium Magazine button.
19. One (1) string with Christmas tree on one end, and a heart on the other. Unknown origin.
20. various dried flowers
21. One (1) Baptism thank for you card from Lambert and Angela.
22. key ring with Fisher-Price plastic keys that once belonged to Eddie Lloyd during his raver days.
23. One (1) white art-handling glove.
24. One (1) makeup case. Unknown origin.
25. color swatches
26. One (1) empty Zippo money clip case. Birthday gift from Eddie Lloyd. 2004.
27. One (1) red pen that reads “Happy Holidays”
28. One (1) Statue of Libery sunglasses. Missing a lens. Unknown origin.
29. One (1) picture of artist drunk at Puck Fair.
30. One (1) pair of socks embroidered with a beach scene. Once belonged to Mollie Steenis.
31. One (1) minidisc mix to Lindsay Ljungkull.
32. One (1) box of art from some dude Adam in Binghamton.
32. One (1) crumpled photograph of James J. Williams, Jr. in garage. 2002
34. One (1) Miss Piggy t-shirt in the style of Barbara Streisand “A Star is Born” Re-gift of Fawn Krieger.
35. One (1) N’Sync t-shirt, with pre-fab tears. Never worn. Handed down by Rebecca Shulman.
36. One (1) editioned piece on newsprint, “I want to die by something beautiful.”
37. One (1) photograph from the internet of Jenny Lewis on transparency for making paintings of.
38. One (1) checklist from first Thorstein Foundation exhibition, June 2004.
39. One (1) toy soldier from Ryan McGuinness’ first exhibition at ALIFE.
40. One (1) piece of Smythson of Bond Street blue paper with the words “David Bowie” written on it. Mostly likely from Anja Rutkin.
41. One (1) photograph of a candle with Jesus on it.
42. One (1) photograph of artist in Dean Street living room. Pink walls.
43. One (1) miniature stuffed elephant. Gift of Titian Rutkin.
44. One (1) flier from Halycon’s Tuesday night party, “JFK-HOLE.”
45. One (1) folder with real estate information in South Carolina and a few personal letters to someone’s father. Found at Botanica bar.
46. One (1) hair clip stolen from Elizabeth Koch’s house for a dance party.
47. One (1) pair of artist’s favorite jeans. Torn to shreds. Levi’s 501. heart-shaped patch over crotch courtesy of Titian Rutkin.
48. One (1) piece of sealing wax.

Historical Society Box 6: “Seeing and Smelling”

$100 USD

Items:

01. Vintage Bell & Howell movie camera. Might work. Mostly used as a bookend. Once belonged to James J. Williams, Sr. aka “BUD”.
02. One (1) Argus imitation Brownie. Takes 620 film. Have to get 120 respooled to fit the right size. I think somewhere in Seattle does this.
03. One (1) box of liquid light courtesy of Lindsay Ljunkull. Probably expired. Might make some cool things happened. Received during very, very brief correspondence built around love of Glenlivet.
04. Ten (10) rolls Kodak 120 100GX chrome.
05. One (1) Vivitar 283 vintage strobe that I stole from Hicksville High School when I was 15. It has been with me for a dozen years. It still mostly works but the connections need to be cleaned. These old ones are much more functional than the ones that came out in the 80’s. It works great with a sock over it.
06. One (1) Nikon 1-touch point and shoot 35mm camera with tape that holds that batteries in. Rescued from Titian Rutkin.
07. Three (3) rolls of Fujichrome 35mm film. They were taken on a plane to paris, but protected from x-rays. SLIDES RULE!
08. One (1) telephoto lens in a sock. Minolta I think. 135mm. I did not take it out of the sock to check. Hardly ever used. Mostly for skate photography.
09. One (1) empty Dunhill cologne bottle. Traded Babak “Cucumber” Savari for 212 Carolina Herrera Men’s Fragrance.
10. One (1) empty Marc Jacobs Men cologne bottle. Rescued the dregs from Ross Neglia.
11. One (1) empty Helmut Lang cologne bottle. Found in closet. Was either Carver Stone’s or “The Kid”, some model who became a roughneck. Circa early Aughts.
12. One (1) full both Yonic and Phallic bottle of perfume. Not sure what the brand is, but who cares. Smells great!
13. One (1) polaroid of Titian Rutkin’s bedroom at 588 Dean Street, circa 2005.
14. Two (2) Islamic pendants of unknown origin.

Historical Society Box 5: “Red Velvet”

$50 USD ***ON HOLD***

Items:

01. Mini Disco Balls salvaged from Orsett Terrace in London with Ben Mainwaring. Fun for earplugs or to pick up young women.
02. Scraps from stencils for editioned prints.
03. One (1) bottle of yellow nail polish taken from Kristen Williams. Inspiration was Cat Power “Cross Bones Style” video directed by Brett Vapnek. Looks like jaundice.
04. Three (3) metal circles that were originally intended to be fake currency.
05. One (1) die from Las Vegas with the words “Jimmy’s Casino” engraved into it. Gift of Titian Rutkin.
06. earplugs
07. One (1) broken and gutted ipod that once belonged to Ross Neglia. Used to hide various drugs when traveling.
08. One (1) broken minidisc player. The third and final minidisc player in artist’s possession. Circa 2002-2004
09. Fishing tackle weight thing with the number “5” on it.
10. One (1) Delta pack of “Hydrate”
11. Two (2) guitar picks, red.
12. pennies
13. Three (3) safety pins used for at home tattoo.
14. One (1) Geezersuite button.
15. One (1) Lagerfeld-esque leather glove found at Griesmar-Tamer in Paris.
16. One (1) generic red lip balm.
17. One (1) turniquette.
18. Two (2) women’s metal bangle bracelets.
19. One (1) used candle.
20. One (1) big red button used at the Museum of TV and Radio. Then taken away when a bigger, better “BIG RED BUTTON” was found. USELESS.
21. Two (2) price tags, one for “44.95” the other for “49.95”.
22. Drawings for unrealized furniture plans.
23. Brass chains with weights
24. One (1) key used in a variety of ways. I believe it once belonged to Catherine Foulkrod.
25. One (1) found note on the streets of Carroll Gardens.
26. One (1) Cheese dairy key chain of unknown origin.

Historical Society Box 4: “Sweet Blood and Devotion”

$100 USD ***SOLD***

Items:

01. One (1) telephone with 1/8” stereo hookup. Used to listen to anything with a headphone jack. Featured prominently in With Teeth exhibition at Priska Juska curated by Ryan Schneider. Only item ever purchased via the internet.
02. One (1) whiskey decanter. Used once or twice. Saved from James J. Williams Sr.’s basement bar at 2132 East 37th Street, Brooklyn.
03. One (1) shaving brush. Used from 2003-5. Retired.
04. One (1) wax seal box. Empty. First wax sealer. Gift of Rebecca Shulman.
05. One (1) champagne cork. Circa 2007.
06. One (1) bottle of nasal solution used to maintain nose after week-long narcotic binges.
07. One (1) pencil sharpener.
08. One (1) polaroid of a lighter. Lighter was lost on a plane back from Los Angeles in 2003.
09. One (1) painted black canvas. In a show in Paris, 2008.
10. One (1) chest x-ray referral from Callen-Lorde.
11. One (1) self-portrait after evening of taking too many Klonopin. Head wound and concussion.
12. One (1) unpaid ticket from the Transit Adjudication Bureau for hopping a turnstile.
13. Glenlivet tissue paper
14. One (1) coke straw, never used.
15. One (1) brown color sample.
16. One (1) white art handling glove.
17. One (1) piece of black lace.
18. invites from “A Cloak for any Occasion.”
19. One (1) piece of used sandpaper.
20. One (1) found photograph of woman who looks like artist’s Aunt Florence.
21. photocopies of drawing from Paris. Words say, “You murdered my kidney in a dream last night”
22. One (1) magazine tear of Deborah Harry photograph. 90’s-ish.
23. One (1) teacup cutout from 1961 Life Magazine, 1961. Meant for a collage that was never made.
24. One (1) white pencil.
25. photocopies of collage of Marlene Dietrich dancing.
26. List of checklist and original titles of double exhibition in Paris 2008.
27. One (1) broken pewter foot from something somewhere.
28. One (1) fax to mother from a court in Pennsylvania issuing a warrant for arrest.
29. critique from a college professor.
30. some phone numbers on the back of preliminary prose poetry for a reading.
31. One (1) illustration of a guillotine from a book entitled “Things.”
32. One (1) small screwdriver. For eyeglasses?
33. One (1) Doesteyevsky quote about lies written on a scrap of paper.
34. One (1) pipe that was once the property of Laura Baran. Used to smoke any number of substances.
35. One (1) piece of used sealing wax. Must have been a favorite. Rather small.
36. One (1) program from the Academy of Arts and Letters Induction Ceremony. Knew or met a surprising about of members. Nicole Stringfellow accompanied.
37. One (1) mock switchblade comb gift of Dan Estabrook. Reminded artist of cousin Christopher actually stabbing him with the comb. Ouch.

Historical Society Box 3: “Complete and Utter Failures”

$100 USD ***SOLD***

Items:

01. One (1) unused collage from very weak solo exhibition at the Visual Arts Gallery in 2003.
02. One (1) sketchbook with strange, out of date, cartoonish drawings. NO THANKS!
03. One (1) handmade book of color photographs accompanied by way trite questions.
04. One (1) unfinished Amanda Lear story, handwritten in a composition book. Product of way too many benzos.
05. One (1) supposedly erotic prose poem. Boring, trite, un-sexy.
06. Two (1) rubber ducks from an unfinished photography book about Ducks and Heads.
07. One (1) list of all the cd’s that were sold when artist was too poor to pay for rent in 2005. Received a total of $218. Most records are now out of print.
08. One (1) email from Williams Nabers describing “slackertude.”
09. One (1) press release, typewritten, for “Twilight Hill-Hopping and Incidents at Gate-11,” a thin, often absurd, poorly executed exhibition.
10. Three (3) women’s names.
11. One (1) ticket from the Transit Adjudication Bureau for hopping a turnstile. Unpaid.
12. One (1) utility turn-off notice from Consolidated Edison. Ripped.
13. One (1) Social Security Statement.
14. One (1) unpaid hospital bill.
15. One (1) unopened bank statement, either for bounced check or to just routine statement.
16. One (1) unopened Consolidated Edison bill.
17. One (1) April To-Do list. Most things were not “done.”
18. One (1) palette on paper from painting that was almost good, then destroyed with one fell stroke. Trashed. Failed. Yuck.
19. unused collage parts
20. cards from unpublished editioned box. Proposed in 2003, then forgotten.
21. torn pages from 1998 and 1999 journal. Oh “the oh-poor me” seriousness of it all is just gross. GAG!
22. cards from By Request My Epitaph show. These cards were a success and the show a critical success, but ultimately did artist in financially.
23. One (1) inkjet print of photograph with drawing over it. Unseen. Unused. Kind of wrinkled.
24. One (1) misprinted ruined newsletter edition.
25. Margot Kidder posters
26. One (1) unrealized sketch of a vitrine for By Request… exhibition. Would have been pretty cool. Expensive.
27. sketches for failed and unfinished tattoo for John O’hara fueled by a night of beer and speed. Watched 8 1/2 instead of finishing. Product “il i” and a scribble.
28. One (1) set of papers with notes from Williams Nabers.
29. unpublished book “Sometimes Me and You” notes to decide order.
30. T-Mobile activation for mobile phone that was valid for only 6 months.
31. One (1) collage sketch for unrealized sculpture for some nondescript project. Fake grass is fun.
32. One (1) book outlining 2003 Cash Flow Totals.
32. One (1) failed notebook for Iceland project. Symbol was only thing cool to come of it. Show was a failure. Alcohol makes you stupid.
34. color samples never used anywhere. Poor color samples. Failed destiny.
35. One (1) pad of post-its that read, “I might be deep in debt, but at least I have letters at the end of my name.”
36. One (1) broken typewriter spacebar. Was replaced with chopstick and masking tape.
37. Five (5) boring silly paintings on tiles from 2002. Childish.
38. One (1) broken Samsung phone with charger and earpiece. Rain killed the screen. Battery might have been fried in the microwave.
39. One (1) polaroid of a rubber duck still-life.
40. One (1) drawing.
41. One (1) childhood photomat photograph with Kermit the Frog. Wearing red, corduroy overalls.
42. One (1) set of ear muffs never used and never intended to be used. Christmas gift from mother.
43. One (1) ankle wrap from 2007 ankle injury. Still used on occasion during basketball games. Dirty. Gross.
44. One (1) roll of strange yellow tape that has been lugged around since 1999, never finding any real creative use for. Used in one collage. ONE.
45. One (1) piece of navy blue fabric.

Historical Society Box 2: “Beat Box”

$75 USD

Items:

01. One (1) pair of used Carver Stone Jordan III’s Black (Reissue) Left at Van Brunt Apartment. Ackward balance of weight
02. One (1) Sony Discman that once belonged to Elizabeth Koch that was used in the By Request, My Epitaph exhibition at envoy in 2006. Barely works.
03. One (1) pack of Phillies cigars with Five (5) remaining cigars. Left from Manuel Cirauqui’s visit in 2007. Taste awful, like cardboard.
04. speaker wire
05. One (1) quarter machine “Homie” priest gift of anonymous.
06. One (1) deck of cards. Completeness of deck shaky.
07. aem kei hip bag stolen from VICE Store during the year 2000 when Williams was intern at VICE Magazine and Assistant Office Manager.
08. One (1) Blahzay Blahzay cassette single for “Danger”
09. Four (4) minidiscs of hip-hop or soul origin. 1998-2003
10. One (1) bag of Ricky Powell coffee gifted to Williams from Tony Arcabasio. Was an insert in Arkitip 040.
11. One (1) photo-mat print of bathroom at Passerby circa 2004. Scalo bookstore and gallery shared the GBE and Passerby bathroom. Smells like beer.
12. One (1) photo-mat print of broken payphone on Carlton Avenue, Prospect Heights. Circa 2004.
13. One (1) polaroid of painting stuck in parents’ basement in Long Island.
14. One (1) photo-mat print of Sandra Savic applying lipstick in her Astoria Apartment, circa 2002.
15. ear plugs
16. One (1) bag of fat caps and regular caps for cans of spray paint. Gift of Tony Arcabascio and ALIFE, circa 2000-1
17. c-low dice, green. Gift of Darryl Turner.
18. One (1) fat Sharpee.
19. One (1) business card for turntable discount.
20. One (1) JEST bean bag purchased from ALIFE in 1999. LIMITED EDITION

Historical Society Box 1: “You Got Some Brass"

$100 USD ***SOLD***

Items:

01. One (1) castle painted on wood painted on Gold. Originally a gift for Jamie Isaia that was never gifted.
02. One (1) unopened deadbolt lock bought for my apartment when my landlord illegally locked me out.
03. One (1) piece of brass colored fabric
04. One (1) Etienne Aigner keychain that became the spare key to 586 Dean Street. One key is broken. The other intact.
05. One (1) sheet of gold foil paper, crumpled.
06. Five (5) piece brass faux Louis XIV teaset purchased at the St. James Bazaar in Danielson, Connecticut. Contents include spoon and some papers that contained some things from Afghanistan and South America.
07. Brass chains bought at metaliferous and used for JWT exhibition at the Museum of TV and Radio.
08. Some picture hangers.
09. Three (3) brass buttons for seafarer’s jacket.
10. Four (4) Etienne Aigner items and boxes collected since 2001.
11. One (1) Twining’s empty tin of Earl Grey tin from 2003. Contents include brass weights bought at metaliferous in 2005. Some foil still intact.
12. shiny colored thread with needle. Stolen from Erin Hosier's sewing box.
13. One (1) Aigner Group business card.
14. Lid to pocket watch with bald eagle. Gift from younger brother, Jared Williams, for birthday in 2005.
15. 1/8” to 1/4” stereo connect for headphones. DJ’s take notice.
16. One (1) broken counterpunch.
17. One (1) Veuve Clicqout Champagne bottle foil purchased by Pierre Blaizeau during NY5 trip.
18. One (1) empty bottle of Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia fragrance. The first ever fragrance(cologne) designed by a monk visiting Köln from Firenze.
19. One (1) brass thimble.
20. One (1) gold pen.