Mikey's debut!

http://www.vargagallery.com

On Friday at 6 p.m. the VARGA Gallery at 130 Tinker St. in Woodstock presents a solo exhibition of original paintings by self-taught artist Mikey Teutul, of the same family now famous for the hit series "American Chopper" on Discovery Channel. "Mikey Teutul: Unleashed" runs through Dec. 31 and is the last exhibit of 2011 at VARGA Gallery.

Teutul's medium is commercial-grade canned paint poured or splattered onto canvas and other surfaces. He has had no formal art training, and his work expresses a raw, unconstrained nature and belies his amiable TV persona. His foray into art blossomed out of aimlessness working at Orange County Choppers. "American Chopper" producer Adam Moyer suggested he paint portraits of the cast and crew. "So I started painting everybody. I didn't think anyone would want to buy any of my art, I just wanted to paint. I really enjoyed it, and I found it therapeutic. If I don't concentrate my addictive behavior on something positive, it will definitely go to the negative. I don't make any bones about that." Teutul's struggles with addiction are known to his fans. "It's nice to express that on canvas, rather than abuse myself, like I used to," he adds.

Teutul enjoys "being constructive, and not destructive" and is finding his footing in creative expression while "making a real go at something." His influences include the obvious, Jackson Pollack, but his approach is his own. As Teutul puts it, he is to Pollack what Britney Spears is to Meryl Streep. With some of his paintings taking only seconds, Teutul envisions a day he can "make more money than A-Rod, but I'll be happy if I can make enough to keep my doors open, afford some paint and canvas, and continue to do what I enjoy."

The exhibition includes a year-end group show of artists represented by VARGA Gallery, seasonal holiday gift-giving small works, and Occupy Wall Street art, propaganda, performance and paraphernalia.