I grew up in Southern California in the little suburb of Vista. My dad grew avocados and tropical plants for money, so when I wasn't spending weekends planting or picking fruit, we were usually at sea sport fishing for mako, bonito, yellowtail, dorado, and rockfish or casting in lakes all over the west. My father's obsession with fish rubbed off on me and I quickly became known as "the fisherman" in elementary school. I lugged around a huge shark trolling rod for halloween many years in a row, and would often bring odd sea creatures and baby sharks to class for show and tell. My dad is also partially responsible for my photography habit. Every fishing trip of my life was meticulously documented, or at least the catch of the day was recorded. I've recently been thumbing throw those old photographs with nostalgia. Not only are they a record of how much more fashionable I was in the 80's, they are also telling of how my early exposure to nature, the sea, and the endless quest to find fish helped solidify my fate as both photographer and commercial fisherman.

I've compiled some of the most compelling images into a series called "Fishing with My Dad 1978-1995". The images were shot by either my father or myself, as we would take turns photographing each other holding our catch. Nazraeli Press recently published a small book of these images as part of their One Picture Book Series #69 which includes an original signed print and lives in a limited edition of 500. You can watch a little youtube video of the book HERE

A solo exhibition of the images will open this Saturday, October 15th, 6-10pm at Ampersand Gallery and Fine Books in Portland, Oregon. My dad and I will be present. Hope to see you there!

-Corey Arnold

Whilst relaxing with the family back in Chicago I thought I'd see what was what artwise in the city. Turns out there was a shitton- I missed an Evan Hecox show and this dood speaking (D'OH) - Max Kauffman

Here's some of what I did catch:

Robert Hardgrave had an amazing new show at Ec Gallery

Randomly I found a Cody Hudson had a show at Andrew Rafacz, few blocks from the parents place... Not what I expected, but pretty rad.

Anastasakos Manolis in collaboration with Kretsis crew as seen in Athens, Greece. Apt considering the financial chaos happening now in that part of the world.

Sydney based illustrator Matt Huynh recently visited NYC, and while there made his way down to the Occupy Wall Street protests to see what it was all about. He created this drawing of every placard he found on display. You can download a high res of the drawing here. Download, print, and you'll have your own protest sign addressing multiple concerns in the simplicity of one sign.

NYC based fashion photographer Bradford Gregory emailed over another batch of images he shot at Occupy Wall Street in New York... "Pepper Spray Goldman-Sack".

Oakland based artist John Casey just opened Hands and Pants over at Swarm Gallery last Saturday, Oct 1st. We meant to add this preview last week, but the fire kept us pretty busy away from updating the site. In any case, check out these great works. A solid group of artists John collaborated with.

Hands & Pants is a broader collaborative venture, employing over 40 of John's artist peers. John drew either hands or pants (blue-jean-clad waist-down shod figures) or both, in his simple pen-and-ink style on 8"x10" Bristol paper. An invited artist was given the hands and/or pants and asked to complete the figure in any way the artist saw fit.

"Black Light", Pencil on Panel, 36"x48", 2011

"Blowing Smoke", Pencil on Panel, 14"x11", 2011

Hands & Pants collaboration with Scott Greenwalt, 10"x8", 2011

"Waterfall", Pencil on Panel, 14"x11", 2011

Ever Gold emailed over a taste of tonight's show w/ Toronto-based artist Lucas Soi whose show, We Bought The Seagram Building, explores the architecture of capitalism and the economic effects of globalization through dotted ink on paper works. Andrew of Ever Gold, who sent us these images, says that the work translates much different in person than through these photos of the work.

Lucas Soi
We Bought The Seagram Building
@Ever Gold Gallery
441 O’Farrell St.
Opening, Thursday, Oct 6th (6-10pm)

We're happy to report that FFDG will open at a temporary gallery space located at 248 Clement St @4th on Thursday, November 10th. We will be there until either 248 Fillmore is repaired and we can move back or if Fillmore is down for good and we need to find a new permanent home.

FFDG's temporary gallery space located at 248 Clement St. since recently displaced by the Haight & Fillmore fire last week.

Interesting that we're moving from 248 Fillmore to 248 Clement. Something about the number 248, we guess.

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Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 10th when we open a solo show from Mario Martinez (Mars-1).

Work from Mario Martinez (Mars-1). His show opens Nov 10th at FFDG's temporary gallery space on Clement.

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We will also open a group show featuring:
Charles Martin (New York City)
Lola Dupre (Glasgow, Scotland)
Ryan Da Le Hoz (San Francisco)
Winnie Truong (Toronto)
Russell Leng (Vancouver)
Eric Shaw (San Francisco)
Huey Crowley (New York City)
Nathan Brown (Montreal)
Ryan Bubnis (Portland)
Hamishi (Melbourne).

Special special special... very special thanks to our friends at Park Life who clued us in on the space and helped us procure it... Will be taking Jamie and Derek out for dinner when we get over there. Thanks, guys!

Old friend, NYC fashion photographer Bradford Gregory, emailed over a few photos he's been shooting of the Occupy Wall Street protest that's been doing on there in NYC... These young people on Wall Street are giving voice to many of the problems that working people in America have been confronting over the last several years.

Baltimore-based conceptual artist, Julia Kim Smith work focuses on the issues of identity, memory, and the artistic, social, and political landscape. Her recent photo series WITH BANKSY does just that- punking the elusive street-artist as she depicts herself doing daily tasks around the house while he just hangs out doing things like reading JUXTAPOZ magazine featuring Ed Hardy and drinking a Tesco beer. The satirical irony is on point. Check out this photo project along with her print series, OBEY TM and video collaboration with David Beadouin, EVER AFTER 9/11 at Seoul’s unique art space, Platoon Kunsthalle running from September 19 to September 30. Go here for more information about the show: http://www.kunsthalle.com/events/exhibition-julia-kim-smith. -Alyssa Perry

With Banksy: Great Artists Steal

With Banksy: Charlie Burn

Works by Ted Parker, a long time F.F.-visiter slash barista slash illustrator.

I’m of the school of thought that just about any recipe provides occasion for experimentation - in the kitchen you can be as controlled or as creative as you choose. That said, it’s good to know the ropes of some basics and what better to start with than bread. I stumbled on the below “no work” bread recipe a few months back and it’s winning combination of golden crust, light yeasty flavor and zero required skill level has quickly positioned it as a staple in our home. Make it and see for yourself (and listen to the crust crackle as it comes out of the oven).

No Work Bread ( Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery, NYC):

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus flour for dusting
• 1/2 tsp scant dry active yeast
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 cups water at 70-80 F
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• cornmeal/semolin, as needed

Continue...
download recipe as PDF

Nearly 1,000 people floated through from the two entrances in the first hours. Entering from Geary Street was like walking through one of Melbourne’s bombed out alleyways as the artists had taken the liberty to ‘decorate’ the walls beyond recognition.

The artists were working up until the last minute to prepare the final details for the show. Below are some of the images of the final day leading into the exhibition’s opening night. Young & Free: Contemporary Australian Street Artists is showing at 941 Geary in San Francisco until October 22nd.

Stencil artist Ha-Ha with the final layer of one of his iconic face stencils, used a little more literally in this sense.

Two thirds of Ha-Ha’s main exhibited work was actually of fellow artist Ben Frost, who is shown here against his homage pinning one of his prints to the wall.

Dabs Myla spent the day finishing a mural collaboration with members of Seventh Letter, the infamous crew that they were recently asked into.

Reka, a founding member of Everfresh known for his perfect lines and vivacious characters, mapping out the beginning of carcass character.

A gallery crew member placing ‘sold’ pins on Ben Frost’s work before opening.

Barcelona based RIPO, who does great mural works, releases this new (38"x28") giclee photo print Casa Nova which features a mural RIPO painted in a torn out house on the outskirts of of Barcelona in the winter of 2009.

print details:
Casa Nova
Archival giclée print
38" x 28" (approx. 97 x 71 cm)
Moab Entrada 300gsm Cotton Rag paper
Edition of 10
€310 each + shipping (will vary depending on your location). Payments will be accepted via PayPal.

If you’re interested please write to ripo.visuals@gmail.com.

SF based Kim Cogan has been oil painting SF street scenes for years. Now, for his 3rd solo show at the NYC gallery, Gallery Henoch, he also explores city scenes of that city as well. Amazing skill with oil paint and mood. The show opens tonight (6-8pm) and runs through Oct 15th.

Gallery Henoch is located at 555 West 25th St., NYC. Check it

Kim Cogan in his studio.

On the way to work, I recall along the way passing by a beautiful cherry red bicycle locked outside a store. Having passed by the bicycle twice a day to and from work, I assumed the owner lived or worked nearby and didn't pay much attention. It wasn't until one day I noticed that the seat had been stolen and a week later, the wheels were missing. Over a time period of a month, the thieves much like vultures, slowly picked away at the remains piece by piece until all that was left was a dented, rusty old frame which remained for several years chained to the parking meter.

Whenever I pass by bicycles with handlebars missing, or oddly warping wheels that look as though it is melting to the ground like from a Salvador Dali painting, I have often thought to document the slow transformation I had previously observed. I found plenty of subjects to choose from while walking around the streets of New York. -Kim Cogan

We were having adult beverages with SF based artist and long time friend Alexis Mackenzie the other day when it dawned on us that we haven't featured her work in awhile. Well, darn it, let's change that.

Alexis' collages are truely wonderful creations. And besides showing her works at galleries around the US, Alexis also does collage work for print publications like the New York Times... Now, can you read what they say?

Alexis Mackenzie taken recentely during a studio visit with the website The Flop Box.

Alika Cooper, Cherried
Opening Reception Saturday, September 17th, 7-10pm
@Eleanor Harwood
1295 Alabama St., San Francisco, CA

Alika, now living in LA, used to live here in SF and got her MFA from CCA (fun to say MFA from CCA). We've been fans of her work for years and now she's adopted a new medium:

The pieces in the show are realized through fabric and adhesive, collaged onto stretched fabric on strecher bars. Though the forms and ideas of the work remain generally in keeping with her previous work painted in gouache on paper and oil on canvas, their realization in a new medium adds an extra level of meaning to the work.

This spray painted wheat paste appeared overnight down the street from FFDG.

Not sure if Cafe du Soleil or the neighbors are feeling it, but we kinda like it... And speaking of Cafe du Soleil, try the open faced spicy chicken sandwich. It's very very good good. Goes best with a beer to cut through the spice. YUM

Detail

Have always been a fan of Upper Playground's city destroying walrus though. May trump the wheat paste.

Ryan Malley of 827 Ink headed down to Melbourne for a show w/ Sylvia Ji (blog) and on the way home stopped through Los Angeles and caught the streety street art street show. We're sure you've seen plenty of pics from it already, BUT in case you hadn't, here are a few more. blog town USA

Margaret Kilgallen

Brazilian twins... Os Gemeos

More sprawling Os Gemeos

Sounds about right.

Banksy.

Great piece from Banksy.

Retna

The little builtding is in Foligno and we did it for a festival called Attack, involved artists (108, Achille, Carlito Dalceggio, Dem, Ericailcane, Geo Poulidis, Graffiti Barbecue, Hitnes, Kindergarten, Ozmo).

VIDEO by Kintergarden.

The second wall is in Rome, in Via delle Conce on the wall of a club called Rising Love.

Check: STENLEX.NET