Deluxe Distribution here in San Francisco, makers of Real, Antihero, Thunder, Spitfire, Krooked, Venture, host their very first art show in their 20 plus years at 111 Minna opening Friday, July 31st (7pm - late) in San Francisco.

DLX artists will showcase their personal and work related artworks. With MUSIC by TOMMY GUERRERO (maybe playing live?), JOHN CARDIEL and ORB

Deluxe presents: HELP WANTED an artshow from the bowels of the Deluxe Artroom

Featuring Deluxe Artists:
AMANDA FOX, MATT CANTRELL, LOU BARBERIO, ANDY PITTS, SAM DAVIDSON, SHAWN BUSH, TODD FRANCIS, CHRIS BOND, GABE MORFORD, DENNIS McNETT, CHRIS WRIGHT, MARK GONZALES, and Deluxe friends

with MUSIC by TOMMY GUERRERO, JOHN CARDIEL and ORB

PREMIERE OF THE THE #DELUXEWAREHOUSEVIDO 8:00AM at 9PM

FEATURING: Adam Becerra, Alex Fatemi, Adrian Vega, Alex Wolslagel, Zech Stewart, And Many More

FRIDAY, JULY 31st 7PM
111 MINNA GALLERY
111 Minna Street SF CA
Must be 21+

Do you live in Amsterdamn? I wanna live in Amsterdamn. They have good schools, ya? We have a one year old son that could use a solid Amsterdamn education... I would love to speak Dutch with him... Is it Dutch they speak? I think so.

Jim Houser speaking Dutch in Amsterdamn. Be there or be square.

Some recent paintings from London based Cain Caser.

FFDG in San Francisco, with Rachel Ralph now at the helm, will host an opening reception for their new group show "Six Degrees" Friday (7-10pm) featuring works from Brett Amory, John Felix Arnold III, Mario Ayala, Mariel Bayona, Ryan Beavers, Jud Bergeron, Chris Burch, Ryan De La Hoz, Martin Machado, Jess Mudgett, Meryl Pataky, Lucien Shapiro, Mike Shine, Minka Sicklinger, Nicomi Nix Turner, and Alex Ziv.

"Six Degrees"
@FFDG
Opening: Friday, Jan 16th (7-10pm)
2277 Mission St @19th St.

Below is an awesome piece by Marion Ayala.

I'm an Illustrator living in Brooklyn and I really like how FF is curated. I wanted to reach out and submit my work for a possible feature. Here is a link to my website. Let me know, thanks! -Graham

We check in with SF based Ferris Plock to see what he's been up to. Recently participated in a group show down in Southern CA, featured artist with the music festival Noise Pop, and is working towards a couple two person shows with his wife Kelly Tunstall... He's also looking forward to seeing the new film Godzilla.

It went great... It was super cool to finally meet Don Pendleton and Jason Adams. I've been a fan of Don's boards since his Alien days... Jason is a total ripper... The people at Artists Republic 4 Tomorrow Gallery are super amazing + hospitable. The new space is rad, and they've built some close relationships with Vans so all their events are pretty exceptional.

I usually wake up to a kiss or shake or a slap or a "poppy! Get up!" from my oldest son. I immediately make too much coffee... Make some lunch for Brixton who eats at preschool most days. I take Brixton to Baker Beach or China Beach or Lands End and meet up with some other dads with kids. We play for a bit and then I skateboard with Brixton who is on his scooter to school... I go home and take Gus off of Kelly's hands which means listening to music and drumming or going to Mountain Lake Park. I put Gus down to nap... Draw a bit... Go pick up Brixton on my board... Come home... Play in the back yard... Make dinner... Watch Frozen or Ninjago with Brixton... Tell him a story in bed... then! Art! 8pm-3am art... Sleep... Repeat.

I really enjoyed Her... I loved the concept... the acting... Thank God he put his rapping career on hold. I can't wait for the new Godzilla movie though... I've seen every Godzilla out there I think.

I'm doing a couple collaboration shows with Kelly Tunstall aka my wife this summer. One with White Walls/Shooting Gallery and the other with Antler Gallery in Portland. Excited (understatement) to be working with her on shows again.

Sarah Burwash grew up Rossland, a small mountain town in British Columbia, Canada. Burwash currently resides in Nova Scotia, working full time as an artist and freelance illustrator. Her practice encompasses a lifestyle that approaches all things with intention, creativity and a pioneer spirit.

These drawings by Art Center student Eric Fabbro really should be viewed much larger with all that's going on in them. Be sure to click the images for a larger view... Thanks for the email. Eric.

LONDON --- Beyond money, individual success and fame, there is something humans long for: time. Or more adequately stated: More Time. It is the largest capital that human beings have, and it’s spent faster than any fortune.

We are born to live. A chronometer starts and seems to accelerate over the years. Only death can stop time. At the end of the road, our memories determine who we are, what we have lived and how we managed our time.

Vinz Feel Free recently held the indoor/ outdoor show Tempus Fugit in London with 8 works on the streets while the other 8 rested on the walls at RexRomae Gallery.

Philip Smiley (is that a great name or what) emailed over a few recent images of his show now running at London's Celestine Eleven through May 31st. Smiley is a recent graduate of NYC's School of Visual Art and now resides in London. Great illustrative work.

SAO PAULO --- Our friends at Logo Gallery (Sao Paulo, Brazil) emailed over a few images from their current show Doma Collective: Multiverse featuring installations, drawings, prints, and objects from the Argentine collective Doma (PHOTOS)

Logo Gallery is a fantastic gallery in Sao Paulo. We visited with them a few years back, and had a blast. Be sure to check them out next time you're in Sao Paulo!

About Doma (Argentina, 1998)
Inspired by the idea that every action prompts a reaction, the Argentine collective Doma creates fantastic, absurd and often playful universes that have a direct reference in the society they live in. The group, formed by Julian Pablo Manzelli and Orilo Blandini, came of age in 1998 amid the Argentinean political and economic collapse, immediately taking a critical stance, yet optimistic and fun, against the chaotic environment they experienced. Doma’s early urban interventions made the group one of the most important collective in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. Currently, Doma works with various media, mainly audiovisual, creating animations, films, drawings, silkscreens, and sculptures, which are usually part of large installations. Their monumental plush toys not only challenge the visual perception, but also offer unusual points of view, forcing the viewer to an active reaction.

Before Jeremy Fish jumps on a plane bound for Sydney's Semi-Permanent (his speaking w/ Tony Hawk amongst others), we thought we'd touch base as he prepares for his August solo show at FFDG in San Francisco.

*Nothing else, sadly dude. Last year I took time off from traveling and shows to get married, and work on some other projects. This year, I'm back to a crazy workload, and a few shows, so I don't really have any time off to chill. I'm hoping to do some extended camping trips in Big Mike when we return from Australia later this month.

*Big Mike is currently in the hospital again. I put a rebuilt engine in him 10k miles ago, and apparently it was rebuilt incorrectly. Its under warranty, so at the moment I am waiting for his new new engine to be installed. We love that van, and so does my mechanic. He will be back on the road in another week or so with another brand new rebuilt engine, so we may drive him to the moon and back this summer.

The inside is kind of a boat / nautical theme, almost all done by Mike the original owner. Fully Insulated wood walls, 4 wall lanterns, the biggest bed in any vehicle known to man, mirror on the ceiling, mermaid ashtray built in the wall. It was the OG owner's masterpiece in the mid 70's. The tire cover was painted recently by the legendary Sonny Boy in LA. Long live the Vanimals van gang. I have been driving strange old vans for over a decade now!

Continue reading here

Milan, Italy based Mario Milizia ~ For over fifteen years now, Mario Milizia has been a curious tourist of our globalized modernity: he looks at the international forms of entertainment and consumption rituals; he highlights the intentionally “generic” identity of certain art, like certain architecture and modern music; he investigates the new identity of digitalized media.

Our friend Andrew Paytner emailed over this recent photo he shot of painter Serena Mitnik-Miller as she was completing a rather large mural commission for his 'Working Artists' series. Check out this great Evan Hecox feature/ studio visit he shot for Fecal Face a few years ago.

Fun fact about Andrew: He shot the album images for the last Tortoise Album "Beacons of Ancestorship".

Tech info, Hasselblad 500CM + Kodak portra film. Available light. - http://andrewpaynter.com/

Love this pair of shoes made completely out of trash found on the UK shoreline (including the Thames) by the English trio William Gubbins, Billy Turvey, and Charles Duffy.

"Whether dumped in a landfill or washed up on the shoreline, everything that you buy will inevitably end up as rubbish. --- With the development of plastic came a utopian promise – that this revolutionary material would change our lives. It has now become so materially ingrained in our lives and environment that it’s becoming increasingly indistinguishable and inseparable from nature.

We made these shoes completely out of rubbish we trawled from UK shorelines as a satirical communication tool to convey the direct correlation between waste and consumerism, and the disposability of contemporary products."

everythingisrubbish.co.uk

Los Angeles based Alison Blickle who showed here in San Francisco at Eleanor Harwood last year (PHOTOS) recently showed new paintings in New York at Kravets Wehby Gallery. Lovely works.

So what's interesting about Alison Blickle's pieces at Kravets Wehby Gallery is that she is taking the traditional concept (documented by Frazer so well) of magic and applying it to a type of inner process that seems to be the primary promise of most spiritual/religious systems. Magic is no longer the ritual to ensure good crops, better health or a smooth childbirth. -continue reading

OMG, this is the best email we've gotten in awhile, and we're not even Star Wars fanatics. Just think these works by Adam Lister are wonderful.

I'm a big fan of Fecal Face, great work man!!

I'm an artist that makes geometric paintings of images from pop culture. I've recently been working on a series of Star Wars inspired pictures. I wanted to share these with you and see if they might be of any interest to you and your followers.

I've attached a few images and the link to a new set of limited edition prints that are now available. Feel free to share with your fans.

It's not quite William Z. Shakespeare but The Oakland Sideshows vs. KRON's Stanley Roberts is def comic tragedy at its East Bay best.

On one side, stands Stan the Man. Mr. Roberts is a classic blowhard sensationalist. Ellsworth Toohey on local TV news. His segment People Behaving Badly is man-on-the-street reporting at his comic apex (for example). Adorable, right? Lately he's had a particular taste for the Sideshows. Starting with this gem. And then this one. And this. And this. And this. And then it finally peaked with this lovely segment. But the Sideshows are almost as old as Stanley. Nearly 4 decades of donuts and burn outs and ghost rides. Some things just can't be killed. And if you can't kill something, maybe it's just better to leave it be. Or something like this might happen. So on and on and on and on it goes.

And with Sideshow Summer Season creeping around the corner, there will probably be a lot of hot smokey nights in East Oakland. Hope to see you out there... -Zackary Canepari

Berlin based Jay Bo (interviewed) recently held a solo show at Hamburg's Circle Culture featuring some of his most recent paintings. We lvoe his work.

I am perpetually influenced by everything, my work is based on layers, as our memories are. The raster made out of thoses bring me to new horizons. That's why I am not only influenced by the old paint masters but also on the multiple failures of mankind. by the nature, by your questioning as well as by the silence in the morning, by the words of poets, and by the screams of Earth. ~continue reading

Ferris Plock's online show is now... well, online as of 12pm, April 25th.

Ferris Plock is a San Francisco-based artist who lives within the city with his wife, Kelly Tunstall (Plock's partner in the artistic duo KeFe), and son Brixton. Plock brings a dedicated focus to his work that is paired with a wild sense of originality. Through a variety of mediums including acrylic, watercolor, spray paint, India ink, gold or silver leaf, and collage Plock creates highly detailed works, often character-based paintings on wood panel, that combine contemporary pop culture with the aesthetic of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblocks. Widely-accomplished and with a diverse range of artistic interests, Plock has created illustrations for many high-profile clients, has been involved in solo and group exhibitions both nationally and abroad, and also served as the 2010 SF Recology Artist in Resident.

5 new paintings are available for purchase: www.ffdg.net

MELBOURNE --- We've been fans of Australian street artist Mik Shida for years now. This MASSIVE mural in Hong Kong may take the top prize, but we also are enjoying this recent work done in Melbourne on the corner of Johnston and Wellington Streets.

FFDG is pleased to announce an exclusive online show with San Francisco based Ferris Plock opening on Friday, April 25th (12pm Pacific Time) featuring 5 new medium sized acrylic paintings on wood.

This show will be available first to previous buyers of Plock's work and to those on our preview list. To be added to the list, email: info(at)ffdg.net

Available now. Retailing $1200 - This beautiful piece from Mexico City based muralist and painter, Curiot (Favio Martinez) from the current group show "Salt the Skies". 15" x 20" graphite, colored pencils and ink.

inquires, email: info(at)ffdg.net

Matt Wagner recently emailed over some photos from The Hellion Gallery in Tokyo, who recently put together a show with AJ Fosik (Portland) called Beast From a Foreign Land. The gallery gave twelve of Fosik's sculptures to twelve Japanese artists (including Hiro Kurata who is currently showing in our group show Salt the Skies) to paint, burn, or build upon (PHOTOS).

The show runs from April 18th to May 11th and I wish I was able to see it. Not only do I absolutely love Fosik's work, but this kind of international collaboration is unique and powerful. By combining some of the best work from literally across the globe, Wagner has inevitably connected artists working in very different places and brought all of their work to one space. I'm really glad he shared these photos with us, and if you have the chance to see it in person, I would suggest doing so.

Hiro Kurata's AJ Fosik mask.

Shohei's AJ Fosik mask.

Aj Fosik and Nigamushi

Nigamushi's AJ Fosik mask

Opening: Friday, April 25th (12pm Pacific)
purchase queue: info(at)ffdg.net

This show will be available first to previous buyers of Plock's work and to those on our preview list. To be added to the list, email: info(at)ffdg.net

Wolf Wizard by Ferris Plock - acrylic on wood - 20" x 30" - info(at)ffdg.net

LOS ANGELES --- San Francisco based Fecal Pal Jeremy Fish opened his latest solo show Hunting Trophies at LA's Mark Moore Gallery last week to massive crowds and cabin walls lined with imagery pertaining to modern conquest and obsession (PHOTOS).

The artist's trademark sculptural paintings appear as prizes on a cabin's walls, rife with imagery pertaining to modern conquest and obsession. Fish intimates that such voracity can meet an ominous end, but with the layered, congenial plot of a parable.

Jeremy Fish's next solo show will open at FFDG in August. To be added to the growing preview list, email: info(at)ffdg.net

Mark Moore Gallery is proud to present “Hunting Trophies,” an immersive installation and exhibition in the Project Room of new work by interdisciplinary artist Jeremy Fish. Marking the artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery, this body of work showcases Fish’s adept capacity to translate sociopolitical and autobiographical topics into allegorical narratives and imaginative spaces. Much like a raconteur divulging a tale, Fish renders characters and places that allude to a greater fable – but are recounted in whimsical language all his own.

In this exhibition, Fish encourages us to question the concept of value. As a society, we have become increasingly fixated on acquiring prize possessions. Be it the newest technological gadget, or a “trophy piece” for a collector’s art collection, we have been conditioned to pursue “the best” at all costs. In letting the thrill of the chase dictate the cost of our objectives, we find ourselves progressively dispassionate about ideological or noncommercial worth in favor of competitive gain. Fish confronts this predatory attitude by inviting us to enter the hunter’s mind, and take inventory of his spoils. The artist’s trademark sculptural paintings appear as prizes on a cabin’s walls, rife with imagery pertaining to modern conquest and obsession. Fish intimates that such voracity can meet an ominous end, but with the layered, congenial plot of a parable. With the guidance of the artist-as-narrator, the “Hunting Trophies” on display bespeak an unfolding saga – complete with unprecedented risk, obscure protagonists, and capricious villains – of which we may never learn the lesson.

Well, John Felix Arnold III is at it again. This time, he and Carolyn LeBourgios packed an entire show into the back of a Prius and drove across the country to install it at Superchief Gallery in NYC. I met with him last week as he told me about the trip over delicious burritos at Taqueria Cancun (which is right across the street from FFDG and serves what I think is the best burrito in the city) as the self proclaimed "Only overweight artist in the game" spilled all the details.

The first stop of the trip was of course to FFDG as he was part of our group show Salt the Skies before literally hitting the road out of our front door. He and Carolyn headed straight down south and went to Texas before heading to New Orleans, and then up the East Coast to NYC. At first glance, the 'Stand with Israel' sign just seemed like an odd, East Texas painted wall, but I have recently learned that some of the biggest supporters of the Israeli conflict are in the bible belt, as Christians in this area believe that in order to bring upon Armageddon, war must happen (between Israelis and Palestinians) in which Christians will be raptured and Jews will be forced to convert to Christianity to be saved. While I'm not going to jump into that argument, this wall is a little piece of that struggle, even in all of its oddly painted glory.

The rest of the south, through New Orleans and the Carolinas, brought Pope dogs, oil fields (straight out of a scene of True Detective), and delicious snacks along the way before getting into the grind that is New York. Once the duo arrived at Superchief in Manhattan, it was on. Installation on both floors of the gallery started immediately and the show was hung efficiently for the opening of Excorrigia – The Scourge. The works range from his Astroknot figures on larger wood panels to more abstract, smaller works and give the show a lot of diversity while still maintaining its consistency. As another portal into his world of Unstoppable Tomorrow, Excorrigia allows visitors to experience the post-apocalyptic feeling generated by the works while still maintaining themselves as impeccably-produced works of art.

The opening was a gathering of Felix's friends, both old and new, and was just another step in his career. He will be back showing in San Francisco this spring and fall with solo shows at both the Shooting Gallery in May and here at FFDG in October. Keep your eyes open for him, as I know he'll be up late at night painting, eating the most delicious food the bay has to offer, and giving us access to his world and his work. I can't wait.

London based illustrator FRENCH recently held a show of new works at the Melbourne based Mild Manners (PHOTOS).

Blast from the past right there. We did this podcast interview with FRENCH back in 2007. Probably the more interesting would be his DEATH METAL MIX.

FRENCH in front of his work.

Images from RUN, an Italian street artist based in London. The work which reminds us a bit of Anthony Lister (PHOTOS).

RUN's current show is running at London's Hang-Up Gallery with works from Banksy, David Choe, KAWS, Faile and others.

Brazilian FREDONE FONE emailed over a recent outdoor work ~ love the style. ~wanna go back

NYCHOS completed this great new mural on the corner of Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco on Tuesday. Looks Amazing.

Check out this great tiger mural he did last year here in the city.

Some recent work by SF based Charles Martin. Back in '11 we wrote about him this way:

We met a young skater named Charles Martin, an interesting guy studying at SFAI, through our friend Henry Gunderson. Charles would stop in the gallery from time to time, and the last time he came through he told us he was off to NYC to study at Cooper Union where his brother also studys. Getting into Cooper Union is no small feat. They're one of the most selective schools in the U.S. Well known for their art and science programs, C.U. admits students based on merit alone and provides each with a full-tuition scholarship. A FREE top rate highly demanding education.

From Mike Kershnar --- With rising rent in SF and knowing mostly other young artists without capitol, I desired a way to live rent free, have a space to do my craft, and get to see more of the world. Inspired by the many historical artists who have longed similar longings I discovered the beauty of artist residencies. Lilo runs Adhoc Collective in Vienna which not only has a fully equipped artists creative studio, but an indoor halfpipe, and private artist quarters. It was like a modern day castle or skate cathedral. It exists in almost a utopic state, totally free to those that apply and come with a real passion for both art and skateboarding (PHOTOS).

I just wanted to share with you a piece I recently finished which took me 4 years to complete. Titled "How To Lose Yourself Completely (The September Issue)", it consists of a copy of the September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine (the issue they made the documentary about) with all faces masked with a sharpie, and everything else entirely whited out. 840 pages of fun. -Bryan Schnelle

Some great work from San Francisco based Tyler Bewley.

Living in San Francisco, I am constantly inspired by the intersection of urban and natural surroundings. In pencil, acrylic, and gauche on paper and wood, I illustrate the conversation, and inherent tensions, between man and nature. My work celebrates the intricacy and delicate beauty of natural forms, while exploring the impact of humanity imposing itself upon our environment, contorting it and shaping it to our will. My drawings form a lens to illuminate and personalize the importance of our current ecological state and the need for stewardship and preservation in our future.

LOS ANGELES --- Jeremy Fish opens Hunting Trophies tonight, Saturday April 5th, at the Los Angeles based Mark Moore Gallery. The show features new work from Fish inside the "hunting lodge" where viewers climb inside the head of the hunter and explore the history of all the animals he's killed. (PREVIEW)

There will also be 24 copies of Jeremy Fish's newest book Happily Ever After available at the opening as well.

San Francisco people, FFDG opens a solo show with Jeremy Fish this upcoming August.

Mark Moore Gallery is proud to present "Hunting Trophies," an immersive installation and exhibition in Gallery Two of new work by interdisciplinary artist Jeremy Fish. Marking the artist's first solo exhibition with the gallery, this body of work showcases Fish's adept capacity to translate sociopolitical and autobiographical topics into allegorical narratives and imaginative spaces. Much like a raconteur divulging a tale, Fish renders characters and places that allude to a greater fable – but are recounted in whimsical language all his own.

Beautiful piece entitled "The Albatross and the Shipping Container", Ink on Paper, Mounted to Panel, 47" Diameter, by San Francisco based Martin Machado now on display at FFDG. Stop in Saturday (1-6pm) to view the group show "Salt the Skies" now running through April 19th. 2277 Mission St. at 19th.

Hey, this is a little overdue, but congrats to friends Andrew Scott and Michelle Blade of &Pens on the birth of their new little girl, Lula Bell!

We can't wait to say howdy and apply a high 5.

If you're down in LA, be sure to swing through &Pens to congratulate the happy parents and to pick up a book or zine, because the place is crawling with a bunch of great selections!

http://www.andpens.com/

For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to quit my job, move out of my house, leave everything and travel again.

So on August 21, 2013 I pushed a canoe packed full of gear into the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Lake Itasca, Minnesota, along with four of my best friends. Exactly 100 days later, I arrived at a marina near the Gulf of Mexico in a sailboat.

For weeks before our departure date I became terribly depressed. I had heard countless warnings and cries from very concerned friends and family members about how dangerous the Mississippi River is, and how many lives it claims each year. Everyone had his or her doubts that we would make it; either we'd give up somewhere down the line, or someone would die.

Hell, I even had my own doubts. Many told me that they didn't want me to go. They were terrified of what might happen (and so was I); yet there was no stopping any of us.

I had to accept that at least one of us was either going to drown, or get killed by the countless predators that haunt the Mississippi (bears, alligators, bull sharks). I was forced to watch my mother cry when we met for dinner, for what she believed would be our last.

But it was a feeling that I'm starting to become comfortable with. There's that certain fear you must embrace when you take that first step out your door. I'd felt the same feelings the day before I flew to Thailand in August 2012. I decided that I wanted to travel because if I didn't, I would destroy myself at home—death by boredom, so to speak. But at the same time living a traveling, inconsistent lifestyle is like signing your own death warrant.

Well, I didn't die.

Three of those friends I started with called it quits around St. Cloud, MN, for various reasons, leaving Conner and I to set out by ourselves again. After over 50 days of paddling, we landed in Pepin, WI, where our trip would take a big turn.

It's an understatement to say that you learn a lot when you travel—about yourself, others, and the world around you.

For example: I learned that I hate canoeing. -->CONTINUE READING

SAO PAULO --- Our buddy Flavio Samelo down there in Brazil does all kinds of great work including this recent mural project in downtown Sao Paulo in front of one of the most important modern buildings of Oscar Niemeyer from the 60's, THE COPAN.

BERLIN --- Last week we posted the install for the Project M, a temporary art project with the objective to improve the neighborhood in Berlin. At regular intervals Urban Nation with director Yasha Young invites a group of internationally reclaimed contemporary urban artists to re-design the facade and shop windows of a prominent residential building in Berlin, while it is being reconstructed. (PHOTOS)

San Francisco based Schuyler Beecroft emailed over the great new series of paintings he's completed entitled "Touching Base", 16x20in on mounted wood panel. Like them.

Last year we posted photos from another one of Simon Hjermind Jensen's Fire Shelters he's made in Copenhagen.

This time around the Copenhagen based artist/ designer created one for the Papay Gyro Nights 2014 way up in on the Orkney Islands in Northern Scotland (PHOTOS).

Beautiful painting by NYC based Hiro Kurata now on display at SF's FFDG through April 19th as part of the group show "Salt the Skies".

Hiro Kurata
Kurata concentrates his works on dealing with many Baseball figures. He portrays his personal childhood memories of Baseball players as his hero figure and relocate them in a surreal-fantasy world that he creates. He currently lives and works in New York City.
http://www.shiloku.com/

"Salt the Skies" at SF's FFDG through 4/19

2277 Mission St. @19th. hours: wed thru sat (1-6pm) ffdg.net

San Francisco based David Young V emailed over a few recent works. His latest show with Eddie Colla and Hugh Leeman ran last month at 111 Minna (PICS)

"Salt the Skies" opened on the 21st at FFDG and features this great piece by Mexico City based Curiot (Favio Martinez) whose sold out 2013 show Age of Omuktlans ran at FFDG. His forthcoming solo show is slated for March 2015.

Veins of Octulen , detail

Photos from Curiot's last show "Age of Omuktlans"

This print is too great. Dave Kinsey & Mike Giant team up for this wonderful "Circa 1998" print which sells for $120. Grab one HERE.

Rome based multimedia artist Alice Pasquini emailed over a recent mural completed in the historic working class neighborhood of Rome called Tufello.

Alice Pasquini is a Multimedia artist based in Rome: painting, illustration, installations and animation are her main tools to create poetical and hopeful artworks. Her main subject is feminity, especially strong and independent women.

BERLIN --- Project M is a temporary art project with the objective to improve the neighborhood, to push creativity and to connect people. At regular intervals Urban Nation with director Yasha Young invites a group of internationally reclaimed contemporary urban artists to re-design the facade and shop windows of a prominent residential building in Berlin, while it is being reconstructed (PHOTOS)

John French with Hasselblad, photo collage/ hand cut paper on wooden panel, by Lola Dupre which will be part of tomorrow's opening of "Salt the Skies" at FFDG in San Francisco. 2277 Mission St. (6-9pm) - RSVP here.

Preview inquires, email info(at)ffdg.net

Lola Dupre
Lola Dupre is a collage artist and illustrator currently based near Elche, Spain. Her work has been featured in exhibitions in the USA, Germany, Japan, France, Australia, England, Scotland and Japan in recent years. Publications include, New York Magazine, the New Republic, Flaunt, Die Welt and Hi-Fructose. Currently she is working towards a solo show with CES Contemporary (Los Angeles) to open on the 5th of April 2014, and group shows at Glasgow International Art Festival and at London England's, Rook and Raven Gallery. From political portraits, to fashion editorial, key themes include the grotesque and the beautiful. Apparent in her work is an obsessive attention to detail and a wide pallet of influence.
http://www.loladupre.com/

Melbourne based Hamishi's upcoming show 'albeit tho' with blackartprojects opens March 22nd. Below is a small taste.

Hamishi showed with FFDG back in 2011 for the 11.11.11 group show <--- that was a fun night w/ Ray Barbee & Tommy Guererro

FFDG's spring show "Salt the Skies" is set to open on Friday, March 21st (6-9pm).

Featuring works by Brett Amory, John Felix Arnold, Mario Ayala, Jud Bergeron, Curiot (Favio Martinez), Christopher Burch, Lola Dupre, Michelle Fleck, Matt Gonzalez, Hiro Kurata, Marty Machado, Mark Mulroney, and Nicomi Nix Turner

Italian painter Angelo Volpe emailed over this great oil painting "The Virgin of Surf".

Know how they tell you that there's no ozone over Australia, and you think to yourself, "damn, that sucks. Humans are a horrible plague on the Earth" and what a bummer that our children are going to inherit the Earth with all our problems and blah blah blah???

Well, we went to Australia once some years back, and WOWZAS, the sun is super intense. You can feel it burning into your flesh while sitting for just a couple minutes. It's not the "wow, it's hot" kind of burning. No, it's like a magnifying glass burning ants kind of intensity. It's as though the Sun's rays are being focused onto your flesh and your being burned from the inside out kind of intense... It's on the verge of terrifying actually... But it is cute how the little school children wear these hats to not be burned to death.

Mik Shida completed this mural recently in Toowoomba regional Queensland, Australia for http://www.firstcoat.com.au/ -- Photos by Tim Caraco

Photography: Tre Packard

Dave Kinsey (born 1971, Pittsburgh, PA) is an American contemporary artist and designer who lives and works in Los Angeles and Three Rivers, California. He's known for his emotionally charged paintings and murals, as well as high-visibility logos and advertising campaigns, including the ubiquitous DC Shoes logo, The Black-Eyed Peas Elephunk album icon, N.E.R.D. "brain", Epitaph Records identity and, most recently, his work with the international Absolut Blank campaign.

French based Nicolas "Odo" Le Borgne emailed over some incredible new pop-surreal illustrations. We showed a piece of his in the group show The Diamond Sea back in 2012.

Nicolas aka Odo usually works with watercolor, pen & ink or acrylic.

Lysergic Acid Minnie

Pyscho Bob

Skull Snow

FFDG's spring show "Salt the Skies" is set to open on Friday, March 21st (6-9pm).

Featuring works by Brett Amory, John Felix Arnold, Mario Ayala, Jud Bergeron, Curiot (Favio Martinez), Christopher Burch, Lola Dupre, Michelle Fleck, Matt Gonzalez, Hiro Kurata, Marty Machado, Mark Mulroney, and Nicomi Nix Turner

San Francisco based Brian Barneclo was commissioned in 2006 to paint a HUGE mural on the side of "Foods Co" on Shotwell at 14th Streets (PHOTOS). Through the years it got pretty taxed by misc graffiti and pigeon shit.

Barneclo and assistant David Benzler were asked to clean it up and under a week's time they completed this great 225 foot food chain themed mural.

The original involved MASSIVE mural (note the cars) completed in 2006 by Brian Barneclo.

Brian Barneclo's 225' long mural on Shotwell and 14th in San Francisco.

Our friend John Felix Arnold III is at it again, making artwork in the service of music, but this time on the east coast in downtown Brooklyn at BRIC House (PHOTOS).

In the year or so that I've known Felix, almost every one of his shows has had a live musical element and it seems perfect that he would be included in a show called Art Into Music. He commandeered the corner of the gallery to create an installation that houses not only his drawing, but also an entire drum kit, amps and a dude playing a guitar. The warm wood paneling stands out in contrast to the matte grey boom-box tower and the muted wall of album covers and looks like a beacon calling to the crowd saying "this is what you shoud be looking at." However, it's not in a "look at me" attention-starved desperation, more like a welcoming invitation into his world.

I wish I could have seen the opening in person, but keep your eyes peeled as we cover Felix's cross-country roadtrip culminating in his upcoming solo show at Superchief Gallery again in NY opening April 3rd. His solo show at FFDG opens Oct 2014. -Rachel Ralph (rachel(at)fecalface.com)

FFDG will open a group show on March 21st featuring works by Mark Mulroney amoung others (details shortly). Mulroney will be featured in this weekend's NYC Volta art fair running 3/6- 3/9 through Mixed Greens Gallery.

VOLTA NY is an invitational show of emerging solo artists' projects and the American incarnation of the successful young fair founded in Basel in 2005. VOLTA NY was conceived in 2008 by Artistic Director Amanda Coulson as a tightly-focused, boutique event that is a place for discovery, a showcase for relevant art contemporary positions regardless of the artist's or gallery's age.

Mark Mulroney
loves his wife and is working earnestly on becoming a better golfer. He lives in the forest and chops wood when it is needed. He occasionally throws walnuts at squirrels but is pretty sure they don't mind.
http://www.markmulroney.com

Wonderful illustration by NYC based Gina Martynova who emailed over a few samples of her works. My work is an exploration of nature's fundamental paradox and it's role in folklore, fashion and art.

SKATEBOARDS BIKES SNOWBOARDS WANDERING DRAWING PAINTING BREATHING SMOKE DRINKING BEERS GETTING UP TO NO GOOD ROLLING WITH THE BOYS <-- illustrations by Christian Stearry

We're sad to have learned this morning that local artist Shawn Whisenant passed away this past weekend from, what it sounds like, a long term illness. Shawn has contributed to Photo of the Day over the years and was actually randomly featured for this past Saturday's Photo of the Day.

Be sure to scroll through his photos on his site, and we'd like to sincerely pass our condolences to his friends and family... Thanks, Shawn, for contributing to San Francisco's visual stimuli. ---> Pass your good vibes on Shawn's Facebook page.

Below are a few photos he submitted to Fecal Face's Photo of the Day with his words.

Shawn Whisenant on the right

6/27/13 - Lurking down Larkin Street, and I run into these 2! San Francisco 2013

7/13/12 - Taking at SF's Civic Center awhile back.

9/9/13 - Out lurking around the city I found Santa at the Jack n Box by Union Square. Someone should tell him xmas ain't for a few more months.

I've been following your website for years and love it. Maybe you would like to feature some of my artwork on your site?

Yes please... we do, and if people want more of this chaos, check: flickr.com/photos/jlcoffinwasher

Be sure to swing in and view Mike Giant's show at FFDG running through March 8th. 2277 Mission St. @19th. Hours: Wed thru Sat (1-6pm).

If you miss this show, don't fret. Mike Giant will be back at FFDG with an opening scheduled for February 2015... His shows sell out quick, so if you want to get high on the list, now might be the time: info(at)ffdg.net

Inspired by the world known Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa and its sentence “We are avatars of past stupidity”, “Estúpidos – Porque todas as pessoas o são!” (“Stupids – Because all people are!”) is an art project by the artist “Panda do Transe”. It consists in a circuit of installations that is invading Lisbon streets, squares and other city public spaces. Until the end of January, Panda do Transe planned to install a total of 10 sculptures, which will show up at unpredictable places, as if they were a friendly but also ironic alien invasion.

“Stupids” project aims to stir up consciousness by promoting a satirical and artistic rebellion against cultural apathy and towards a sustainable gentrification, a city more affordable and open to artists, alternative forms of creation and expression.

Each figure story is completed by public interaction, the amusing installations challenges original selfies, suspicious hugs or just smiles from people passing by. They are exhibit for as long as the pieces are kept in place (the first one installed in a well known Lisbon belvedere disappeared before New Year ’s Eve) or until “stupidity” is proclaimed a illicit form of public space occupation.

Stupids – Because all people are! 2013/2014

by Panda do Transe

Several locations, Lisbon – Portugal

For more information about the project and the artist, please follow: www.facebook.com/pandatranse

Bay Area painter Brett Amory is set to open Twenty-Four in London, a continuation of the critically acclaimed "Waiting" series, at London's Lazarides on March 6th - Show details

Amory spent a week traversing London via bike capturing his essence of the city through photos and videos which he then created paintings from.

From Kensington and Wimbledon to Hackney and Brixton, each painting portrays a localised arena featuring a diverse demographic of the city dwellers including night clubbers, commuters, school children and traders all going about their daily routine. Each unique setting is quietly and calmly depicted through the artist’s distinctive painterly brushstrokes and scenic anticipation.

Lazarides is pleased to present Twenty-Four in London, a continuation of the critically acclaimed ‘Waiting’ series by American contemporary artist Brett Amory. Following his 2012 and 2013 exhibitions, Twenty-Four in San Francisco and Twenty-Four in New York, respectively, Amory’s first solo exhibition at Lazarides Rathbone will present twenty-four paintings of London's most iconic locations, including The National Museum, Abbey Road and The Blind Beggar alongside multimedia installations in their flagship gallery on Rathbone Place.

SAN FRANCISCO --- 111 Minna is currently featuring the works of San Francisco based Eddie Colla, D Young V and Hugh Leeman. The 3 person show opened last Feb 7th. If you find yourself downtown, be sure to swing through and view it in person. The show will be on view through March 29th. A preview here.

Wonderful piece by Lola Dupre who works out of Alpujarra de la Sierra, Andalucia, Spain.

We've featured her collages many times over the years and are happy to say that she will be showing the brilliant piece below in our next group show @FFDG opening Friday, March 21st - details soon.

John French Hasselblad by Lola Dupre will be on display at FFDG beginning on March 21st.

Lola Dupre was commisioned by the New Republic for this brilliant collage of Bashar al-Assad for its cover.

http://www.loladupre.com/

We're putting together a group show opening March 21st here at FFDG which Mexico City based Curiot will be participating in. The colored pencil piece below which is 15" x 20" will be included in the show.

Curiot's sold-out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran April '13 @FFDG. His next solo show at FFDG opens March 2015.

Oakland based John Felix Arnold (showing at FFDG in Oct '14) emailed over some work from his friend and artist Christopher Burch whose show The Missed Adventures of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Death in the Land of Shadows: Stepping Razors, Chapter 22-Dem Bloodletting Blues (PHOTOS) just ran at Hoffman Lachance Contemporary in St. Louis last month.

Christopher Burch & John Felix Arnold both got their MFAs from SFAI at the same time back in '06.

Anyone elses' parents read them Br'er Rabbit stories when they were kids? Guess if your parents were from the south and were born in the 1920s, like my dad, then maybe.

The Br'er Rabbit stories can be traced back to trickster figures in Africa, particularly the hare that figures prominently in the storytelling traditions in West, Central, and Southern Africa. These tales continue to be part of the traditional folklore of numerous peoples throughout those regions. In the Akan traditions of West Africa, the trickster is usually the spider Anansi, though the plots in his tales are often identical with those of stories of Br'er Rabbit.

LOS ANGELES --- LA based Marco Zamora who we've shown here at FFDG is set to open a new show of new paintings at The Standard in downtown LA this Thursday, Feb 20th.

My name is Akira Horikawa, born in Japan, live and work in NY. For past five years, I have been continuing a project called "1000 Drawing Project." In pocket size sketchbooks, I draw and reinterpret images that come into my mind, happenings, dreams, and emotion at the time. Through the project, I try to re-evaluate values and cognition that I have experienced in my life to welcome the nonsense with awe. Currently, there are about 36 pages left to reach 1000. I have created a blog about last 100 drawings of the project. -Akira Horikawa

A collab between Hyuro and Vinz done in Valencia, Spain.

Above is a piece done by Hyuro.

Another great mural by done by Hyuro in Valencia, Spain, 2013.

Works from Mike Giant's solo show "Modern Hieroglyphics" are now online and available for purchase through FFDG. The show runs through March 8th. Details: ffdg.net

I started to look at modern tattoo designs as well as corporate and band logos as "modern hieroglyphics". I thought a lot about how the symbols of our time would be objectively translated by future generations. And instead of trying to explain it, I made drawings to codify the symbolic language of our time for future observers to translate for themselves. -Mike Giant

All works from the show can be viewed online here: ffdg.net

French Industrial designer Jose Cabrita has created a sleek and interesting way to display artwork/ prints in your home with being able to quickly and easily switch out what you'd want to display. CONTEXTE uses magnets with a cork interior to not damage whatever it is you're hanging.

A little pricey at 150 Euros, but we still want one.

ROME --- Nicola Alessandrini & Gio Pistone went to town in the under ground gallery space of House of Architecture in ROME. Nice work, and really like the use of the online virtual tour.

Liking these new ink and marker works from NYC based Andre Razo.

And speaking of Andre, check out Full Bleed (NYC Skateboard Photography) he edited along with Alex Corporan and Ivory Serra. You can pick up a copy on Amazon HERE

http://andrerazo.com/

Part 3 of my comprehensive Ernest Zacharevic coverage of an excellent and interactive public piece, which is located on a beach in Penang, Malaysia. This is without doubt one of the most beautiful surroundings I have been shooting in.

Be sure to view Zacharevic's great show (PICS) which opened last month at Hin Company Bus Depot in Penang, Malaysia along with his work also on display at the fabulous Eastern & Oriental Hotel.