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Tag: painting
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Josh Peters Interview Thursday, 08 December 2011 /// Written by Ryan Christian
Josh Peters is a La based painter/ curator/ cool guy/ I chatted with him recently about his work, here it is. -Ryan Travis Christian

So Josh, tell me a little bit about yourself.....
I'm from Massachusetts.. moved to NYC after grad school at Rutgers, spent 10 years there.... about half of which was spent art-making and half playing in a band. It got to the point in NYC where I was spending too much time working to support myself and not enough painting...so I moved up to Northampton, MA where I was able to afford to take a couple of years just getting back into it. In 2007 I taught painting for a semester at an art college in Oslo, Norway and then did a 3-month residency in Los Angeles, wanting to be back amongst a larger group of artists and a more active gallery scene. The residency was sort of to test the water in LA, and I loved it so ended up moving out here.. where I've lived for two years now... teaching and making my work.

So let's get down to business. Tell me a bit about the characters and places in your pieces, they seem utopic, but with a underlying darkness. It also feels like the work is just out of reach from narrative...
The source material for the paintings are film stills... usually older ones where the sunspots and grain reference a previous era. In the newest work, the proportions of the canvas actually mirrors that of a widescreen cinema format. I choose the frames that strike an emotional chord with me, hoping that they will also resonate with viewers. So it's really done intuitively, without much thought to 'theme' but there are obviously common threads... groups of people isolated in nature and an ambiguity in terms of their identity and what exactly is taking place, as you pointed out in your question. So I would agree with that and say that it's intentional, as it hopefully creates a kind of compelling mystery and draws viewers in.
I should also say that the pieces that I'm working on now might well be the last that come out of this process; the process of finding a single, pre-existing image and translating it into paint.
I view these paintings as a kind of pop art because of this; they are pre-existing images in the culture, though of course not as recognizable as product packaging or celebrities.
The original image is also going through more of a transformation because the use of the materials is painterly and not deadpan, as in pop art, but just the same, I feel that with these paintings, once the frame has been selected, the die is cast and the work is half done... I'm hoping to start working more interpretively, more from the imagination, with chance and chaos coming into it more. I want to push beyond the nostalgia of these paintings.

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Charles Martin for 11.11.11 Wednesday, 30 November 2011 /// Written by Trippe
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.
Charles Martin is now showing in the group show 11.11.11 running through Dec 17th at San Francisco's FFDG.
Age? Location? Website?
Twenty, New York City, I do not have a website.

Describe your work a little bit.
The things I make are a reflection of my ideas, coupled with a strong desire to make them tangible.
Our world is on my brain a lot; I like to think that if I'm conscious of what's going on that it will naturally filter into my work.
Most of my art is an investigation, sometimes about very specific content, and other work may strictly be about the medium.

I make work that references the past, and at the same time I like to read my imagery as futuristic. When I look at my paintings the first thing that comes to mind is making them, so in this way each becomes a mirror of the time in which they are created.
In a lot of my pictures I draw outer space, I feel that there is a strong connection between the universe and the mind. Both infinite in possibility and mass, I enjoy drawing from outside of the atmosphere because it allows me to explore.
Limitations exist with drawing from land, more recently I've been trying to make stuff that combines unbounded space with our flat world. Picture compositions that display an earth embodying characteristics of space, and then imagine the opposite.
Music heavy on your playlist these days?
A lot of hip hop, Jazz, Instrumentals, Nas Illmatic!


Favorite medium's to work within?
Printing, Painting, Drawing, Photo, Sculpture, Sound, Writing, Skating.
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Nathan Brown for 11.11.11 Friday, 25 November 2011 /// Written by Trippe
Nathan is curently showing in the group show 11.11.11 up now @FFDG here in San Francisco through Dec 17th. We've been interviewing the 10 artists participating in the show over the last couple weeks. Say hello to this talented Canada native.
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Age? Location? Website? And who do you think you are?
24, A West-coaster living in Montreal, Quebec, NathanAlexisBrown.com, No-Valleys

Romulus and Remus": Rice paper overlay, ink and acrylic, on paper, 4ft x 4ft, 2011.
Describe your work a little bit.
My work depicts scenes from a dripping, glowing, shifting world were a cast of delinquent characters struggle to unearth a greater understanding of my personal mythology. Springing from past, present and future the narratives of my work are entangled and multilayered, destruction and creation often become indistinguishable as the characters constantly chase their goals in circles: their quest for personal clarity constantly unfulfilled.
Music heavy on your playlist these days?
70’s punk, 80’s hardcore, weird rock n’ roll, random originals.

Fireside Installation (aka: "Smoke-Spirit") : Paint, weat-paste, and digital print, 2011.

"Hands-Off Houdini!": Rice paper overlay, ink and acrylic, on paper, 22in x 22in, 2011.
Favorite mediums to work within?
Paper: painted, inked, printed, cut, glued, sewn, you can make anything with that stuff!
Dream job other than artist?
Photojournalist, Cultural Documentarian? Something that would offer the opportunity for travel too, and immersion in, a multitude of places & cultures.
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Joyce Ho - Mini Interview Tuesday, 15 November 2011 /// Written by Kid Yellow
Who are you and what do you?
I am an interdisciplinary artist with an emphasis in painting, sculpture and theater.

Location? Age? Education? Website?
I moved to the United States from Taiwan when I was 14. This experience of being transplanted from my home, family, and culture had a huge impact on me and my works. After receiving my M.A. in studio arts from University of Iowa, I went back to Taiwan for my solo exhibition and a few set design projects. I plan to move back to the states in 2012.
www.joycehostudio.com, www.joyceho-art.blogspot.com

How would you describe your work to someone?
The images that I paint all have some disturbing quality, whether it's the angle of the character's head or the awkwardness of the distorted bodies. But in order to complicate these unsettling images, I use strong yellow hues to create a warm overall lighting that emanates throughout the entire space. I like this idea of “peaceful violence,” of seducing the viewer with bright colours, while simultaneously confronting them with the damaged characters.
Describe your process for creating new work.
I normally spend a few months developing a series of images and then over the course of an evening take a number of photographs and experiment with different compositions and lighting. For my works in my house, I usually choose rooms with more angular architecture and multiple lighting sources. There is something cold and inhuman about many of the new high rise apartments in Taipei, with their cold, reflective marble floors, fluorescent lights, and long corridors. These apartments seem more like conference rooms or hotels.

Working routine? Music? Time of day?
I usually work at night. ( late, late night ). I like listening to music when I work, but I always forget to turn it on.
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Ryan Bubnis for 11.11.11 Wednesday, 09 November 2011 /// Written by Van Edwards
We're going to featuring some mini interviews with artists participating in the group show 11.11.11 opening up at FFDG's temporary gallery space at 248 Clement St @4th Ave in the Inner Richmond on Friday, Nov 11th (6-9pm).
Also opening that same night at FFDG is the solo show, Everything Under the Sun, with San Francisco based Mario Martinez (Mars-1).
Age? Location? Website? And who do you think you are?
35. Portland Oregon. http://www.ryanbubnis.com/ Son, brother, cousin, husband, friend, cat owner, griller, camper, artist dude.

Describe your work a little bit.
Modern folk art inspired by life, love, death, friendship, nature, our struggles and mistakes and the mesmerizing glow of the campfire.
Music heavy on your playlist these days?
Rolling Stones, Starfucker, Timber Timbre, Connan Mockasin, Boards of Canada, Camera Obscura, Club 8, Kool Keith, Blue Cheer, etc. It changes all the time.
Favorite mediums to work within?
Acrylic, ink, reclaimed house paint, old stained paper, found wood chunks, pinecones, papier-mâché.

Dream job other than artist?
Teacher or chef/owner of a restaurant.
When not creating work, you can be found doing...
Hanging out with the wifey, reading, teaching, camping, BBQing, running, walking and playing records in my garage.
How would you describe your work to a stranger who's never seen it?
I make paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints and installations. Sometimes I paint figures and sometimes I create these clusters of faces or heads using textures, patterns and line work. The work can be illustrative and sometimes it's completely abstract. They usually nod their head and say, “Oh, ok.” But they usually have no idea what I'm talking about until I show them the work.

Upcoming projects/ shows?
11.11.11 @ Fecal Face & a few other group exhibitions throughout the rest of the year. Super secret magic plans for 2012.
What gives you the right?
Um, I dunno. I just make sure no ones looking and then I just go for it. I'll worry about the consequences later.
Last words?
Trust your gut.
* FREE Tacos from El Tonayense
* Music from BLKTOP Project featuring Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, Chuck Treece and Matt Rodriguez
* Vodka from Blue Angel
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Everything Under the Sun, Friday Tuesday, 08 November 2011 /// Written by Trippe
Everything Under The Sun
Solo show with Mario Martinez (Mars-1)
Opening Friday Nov. 11, 2011, 6-9pm
@ FFDG, San Francisco
* FREE Tacos from El Tonayense
* Music from BLKTOP Project featuring Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, Chuck Treece and Matt Rodriguez
* Vodka from Blue Angel
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Russell Leng for 11.11.11 Friday, 28 October 2011 /// Written by Trippe
We're going to featuring some mini interviews with artists participating in the group show 11.11.11 opening up at FFDG's temporary gallery space at 248 Clement St @4th Ave in the Inner Richmond on Friday, Nov 11th (6-10pm).
Also opening that same night at FFDG is the solo show, Everything Under the Sun, with San Francisco based Mario Martinez (Mars-1).
Age? Location? Website? And who do you think you are?
25. From Vancouver, Canada but currently living in Edinburgh Scotland. Artist.

Describe your work a little bit.
I use hard-edge geometric shapes and loose marks to articulate the relationship between natural and man-made structures. The result is an extraction or sample from the conglomeration of these opposite forms of environment.
Music heavy on your playlist these days?
No Gold, Brasstronaut, and Radiozero podcasts for the old home. Belle and Sebastian for the new home.

Favorite mediums to work within?
My paintings are mostly acrylic and spray paint, but recently I have been using wood and glass to experiment with sculpture and installation.
Dream job other than artist?
Island caretaker

When not creating work, you can be found doing...
Hanging out with my wife and exploring my new city.
How would you describe your work to a stranger who's never seen it?
A collision of gradients, geometric shapes, and lines that come together to create a new (usually floating) entity.
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David Chung & Ben Kehoe @WWA Friday, 28 October 2011 /// Written by Michael C. Hsiung
The old battle axe and I headed out to Culver City to check out WWA gallery's latest two-person show featuring David Chung’s Smells Better Than it Tastesand Ben Kehoe’s The Endless Frontier which opened Saturday, October 14th. Los Angeles based artist, David Chung's works ranged from ink brush moleskin works to colorfully cute and humorous paintings, all of which worked well along side Pittsburgh-based painter, Ben Kehoe's subtly absurd and darkly humored paintings, filled with texture and color washes, focused on pioneers and frontiersmen of the new world and old west that the wonders and terrors they faced.
David Chung, affectionately known as The Chung, lives in Los Angeles yet works out of some dark, strange corner of the human imagination that the rest of us generally knows to stay away from. His artwork, filled with humor and awkwardness, is a sort of catharsis for the moments of humiliation which inevitably stain all of our lives. Working as both an illustrator and a fine artist, Chung has shown in galleries all over Los Angeles and has had works featured at Miami’s Art Basel. As an illustrator he has worked for clients such as Nickelodeon, Disney, NPR, Nesquik, Kellogg’s, Six Flags, Mattel, Kraft, Metro Times and G4TV.


The Virgin Shrympee Ramen Noodle Soup by David Chung.

Work by Ben Kehoe
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Works by Matt Momchilov Thursday, 20 October 2011 /// Written by Trippe
New to us, recent CCA graduate Matt Momchilov opens a show at Unspeakable Projects (735 Tehama St) here in SF on Thursday, Oct 27th (6-9pm)... Actually, we've yet to check out Unspeakable Projects which, according to Google St. view, is a work/ live space near 9th and Howard streets here in SF. Check out a small sample of Matt's great paintings. Everyone loves Regan! Put your balls on it!!
Say It. Acrylic on canvas. 14 in. x 18 in. 2010.
Last Kind Words. Oil on canvas. 46 in. x 46 in. 2009.
Pile. Oil on canvas. 50 in. x 68 in. 2009/2010.
http://mattmomchilov.com
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Ferris Plock @The Shooting Gallery Monday, 03 October 2011 /// Written by Trippe
Ferris Plock
@The Shooting Gallery
Oct 1 - 2011
After trying to hail a cab for over an hour on Saturday, we barely made the opening where San Francisco based Ferris Plock opened Just For One Day, his latest in the traditional Japanese style. Acrylic paintings on wood-stained backgrounds/ a modernized recreation of Japanese ukiyo-e wood block prints.


Artists and husband and wife duo Ferris Plock and Kelly Tunstall.

Due to some crazy SF cab shortage, we just caught the last 5 minutes of the reception.

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Anne Wolk - Mini Interview Wednesday, 28 September 2011 /// Written by Trippe
Location? Age? Education? Website?
Berlin, 28, MFA Fine Arts, www.annewoelk.de

How would you describe your work to someone?
I am a contemporary figurative painter, who creates mixed-media paintings with a penchant for bright colors, geometric shapes, and street-art forms. My work explores the relationship between cultural plurality and a recycling of pop-culture, by layering different motifs from Science Fiction film stills and quotations from an art historical background, like Symbolism and color-field paintings. Overall I am constantly studying the possibilities of oil paint as a medium and trying to push my boundaries.
Influences?
I appreciate the work of Kai Althoff, Corinne Wasmuht, Daniel Richter, David Hockney, Franz West, Gerhard Richter, Pierre Soulages, Barnett Newman, and Mark Rothko.

Cheese burgers or tofu burgers?
I always get two with cheese.
Favorite place traveled?
In the summer of 2009 I undertook a journey by car for several weeks along the French and Spanish-Atlantic coast with stops in Paris, Bordeaux, Vieux-Boucau, Biarritz, San Sebastian and Bilbao. I enjoyed myself immensely.

Working routine? Music? Time of day?
Sometimes I like the sound and the noise of the studio building with its different characters, but usually I love to listen to: audio books, The Cure, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu, The Fugees, Faith No More, Jeff Buckley, Amy Winehouse, John Lennon, and Lassie Singers, (among others). Honestly I have no real daily routine, I paint when I am hot for my work. Late in the evening is the best time to concentrate. During the nighttime I get ready for new things and I have my best ideas.
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Kim Cogan Tonight in NYC Thursday, 22 September 2011 /// Written by Trippe
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
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Kelly Tunstall @111 Minna Friday, 09 September 2011 /// Written by Trippe
Being exhuasted last night, we didn't stay too long at Kelly Tunstall's latest solo show Secret State at 111 Minna. We did though get some photos of her newest paintings.
We'll let some of her PR describe the works. The simplicity of the messages are enhanced by the underlying vitality and complex layering within the work. In her portraits, Tunstall renders stylized female figures and their pets, prey, powers, dreams and whims in symbolic environments: nests built of painted boards held together by drawn nails or far off planets. The physical form and its accompanying exterior become a mirror for internal thought processes and turmoil.

Kelly Tunstall




Kent Uyehara, owner of the skateboarding institution, FTC.
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The No Watch Watch
Friday, 24 May 2013 15:55
Like wearing a watch but don't want to bother with all that pesky technology, Barcelona based artist Axel Brechensbauer has you covered... We also dig this great truck sculpture.
Perfect watch for the Memorial Weekend

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Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:39

Zoltron RollUP
Thursday, 23 May 2013 12:46
Rollup by Zoltron as spotted near Fecal Face HQ at 18th and Valencia which he completed a couple weeks back.
Zoltron on Valencia at 18th

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Wednesday, 25 April 2012 11:56

Watch Out, Art World: Amazon Is About to Start Selling Art
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 11:05
This day may have been inevitable, but now it's finally here. In its attempt to take over the world - or at least everything that can be bought and sold in the world, Amazon is launching an art gallery.
This summer Amazon is planning to launch a Fine Art Gallery where customers will be able to purchase original artwork offered by a select group of invited galleries via Amazon.com. ~continue reading

“INSIDE OUT” SHOWCASES THE EYE-POPPING STREET ART THAT AIMS TO CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE FACE AT A TIME
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 10:43
A new HBO documentary looks at the work of street artist JR, whose giant portraits force people in troubled areas to confront the humanity that's all around them... On the day JR found out he'd won the $100,000 TED Prize, the French pasteup artist found himself in China being questioned by police for doing his thing on the streets of Shanghai. ~continue reading
Street artist JR HBO documentary premiered yesterday, May 20th

Art Basel to bring international flair to Hong Kong
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 10:37
Art lovers, collectors and gallerists will gather on Thursday for Hong Kong's inaugural edition of Art Basel, sealing the city's status as an international art hub and Asia's leading art destination... Hong Kong has surged to third place in the global art auction market behind New York and London and Western galleries are falling over each other to open franchises in the former British colony. ~continue reading

Ferris Plock Friday at Benny Gold
Monday, 20 May 2013 11:07
Our buddy Ferris Plock opens a small show of drawings at Benny Gold on 3169 16th St this Friday, May 24th (7-10pm) featuring 31 drawings priced at 75-140 bucks.
Ferris also released the video Fingered! he produced with animator Jim Dirschberger. View it
Ferris Plock Friday at Benny Gold in SF

SFAI's MFA Show "Currency" Opening Friday
Thursday, 16 May 2013 09:00
Wowzas, there's a lot of art happenings this weekend, and while you're making the rounds, be sure to stop at SFAI's MFA show Currency opening Friday, May 17th at the beautiful old SF Mint Building (88 5th Street).
SFAI's 2013 MFA graduates—working in painting, photography, printmaking, film, sculpture, installation, digital media, performance, and across media—will present work that embraces the Institute's signature spirit of experimentation and conceptual risk-taking.
Opening reception: Friday, May 17, 7–9 pm & running through Sunday 11-6pm daily. -- complete details
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| Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival
More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.
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| TrustCorp @Lebasse (+Los Angeles)
TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.
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| The Sound of Dust
I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.
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| Murals at Harry Wirtz Elementary
Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.
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| Ryan De La Hoz @RVCA through 5/25
Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.
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| Daniel Chen @The Book and Job Gallery (SF)
The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future
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| Skull & Sword at FFDG, SF
FFDG opened up the group show featuring original works by the artists of the world famous Skull & Sword tattoo last Friday here in San Francisco. Thanks to the huge crowd who turned out to support these four incredibly talented artists. Here is a taste of the show, and be sure to swing in to view in person. The show runs through June 8th.
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| Gary Baseman Interview
Gary Baseman's retrospective "The Door is Always Open" at the Skirball in LA opened recently to massive crowds in a huge celebratory opening party. The exhibition is so complex and personal, delving into Baseman's background, family history, and all the layers of prolific work that he has done over the years. After the opening festivities winded down, I caught up with Baseman for an interview. We discussed the underlying meaning to some of the components of the show and how it felt for him, coming from such an honest personal perspective in putting this massive show together.
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| Mark Mulroney at Ever Gold (+Photos)
Fertile Menace, a new show of Mark Mulroney's (NY) work opened at Ever Gold on May 4th and it's not one to be missed. It is intelligently hilarious, with jokes riffing off sex, Foucault, and the body, and while it makes you laugh it's also going to make you think.
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| Sanjay & Craig Premieres Saturday
Our buddies Jay Howell, Andreas Trolf, and Jim Dirschberger are hyped as their show, which they've been working on for like 2 years, premieres on Nickelodeon Saturday. From the trailers we've seen so far and from what Jay has told us about, the show is going to be pretty epic. Congrats to those radical fellas.
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| Skull & Sword at FFDG, Friday (7-10pm)
Here's a little taste of work by the artists of the world famous The Skull and Sword tattoo shop who open their show at San Francisco's FFDG on Friday, May 17th (7-10pm).
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| Amir H. Fallah Studio Visit
Following his solo exhibition "The Collected" at Gallery Wendi Norris, painter Amir H. Fallah is in the throes of developing more new works for upcoming international exhibits. We spent some time in his studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles recently, discussing his process and inspiration.
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| Bubi Canal's "Chrystelle" (+video)
We were first introduced to the photography of Spanish born NYC based Bubi Canal when he emailed us his great video Trust in Me a couple years ago. His solo show Special Moment recently ran at NYC's Munch Gallery in February, and he recently released his newest video Chrystelle below.
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| Michael Garlington & The Metaphysical Fundraiser at 111 Minna
Although I missed the opening of Northern-California photographer Michael Garlington's newest show, Constructed Realities, I was fortunate enough to see the work still up during the Metaphysical fundraiser a couple weeks back at 111 Minna. Metaphysical fundraiser, an auction to benefit Wayne Ernzer. --- The ghoulish photographs in their heavy, hand-made frames are reminiscent of photos from the old west, and the glass crucifixes, complete with fetuses and guns, emphasize the accumulated time within the works themselves. Whether you're looking at the frames, the photos, or both, this show deserves a visit, and a walk through the golden archway Garlington constructed around the front door.
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| John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 3)
Fecal Face contributor Rachel Ralph (rachel(at)fecalface.com) has been profiling this Oakland based painter as he travels about Japan. In this segment, we feature some photos as he prepared for this show and residency at Spes-LaB in Tokyo which opened last weekend. Arnold will be featured in SFMoMA's Minna Street windows on June 8th.
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| Alex Lukas & Richard Colman @Guerrero Gallery
Last Saturday, here in SF's Mission district, Guerrero Gallery opened two new shows with Philly based Alex Lukas and SF based Richard Colman respectively. Colman's work occupied the project space while Lukas' work and foliage was presented in the main space. Worth getting to if you haven't already.
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| High 5s: Mexico-Land
Just got back to SF after a little trip south to Sayulita, Mexico. After 10 years without a vacation, me and the Mrs. headed south for some mental time off sitting in the sun, swimming and enjoying the watery Mexican beer. Here are some photos as we get back into the swing of things again.
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| High 5s: Puttin' The Pee in the Pod
For 13 years I've been blogging up randomness. Here's more of it.
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| Dimitris Polychroniadis (+Greece)
Athens, Greece based designer, architect and artist Dimitris Polychroniadis emailed over more of his work which consists of mixed media, pop-humorous diorama sculptures that make a comment on the harsh realities my country and much of the world is facing at the moment.
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| Skull & Sword at FFDG Featuring: Grime, Henry Lewis, Yutaro, and Lango
FFDG will open a group show with the artists from the famed Skull & Sword Tattoo on Friday, May 17th (6-9pm). Artists: Grime, Henry Lewis, Yutaro, and Lango. Below are a series of videos on Grime for Vice's Tattoo Age produced in 2011. Fascinating look at one of the greatest tattoo artists alive today.
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| ARYZ at Fifty24SF
ARYZ (Spain) opened his newest gallery show at Fifty24SF last Friday and, if you live in the Bay Area, you need to go. This dude can obviously paint, and he doesn't need an entire building to show his impecable skill. The show has lots of small works on paper which contrast his highly-defined line work to his hard-edged painted objects. The contrast between the hard and soft was the most striking thing to me about his work, since I had never seen it in person before, and the washes blend with the thick paint seamlessly. The show also contains a larger work on canvas, a huge head suspended in the back of the room, and a big wood sculpture of a wolf figure. This diversity in such a small space was impressive, and those of us that went to the opening even got to meet the man in person. If you didn't make it out this weekend, check it out before May 31st when it closes and these works will be off to some very happy new homes.
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| David Bayus @Water McBeer
Water McBeer is please to announce its latest exhibition "Precious" a solo exhibition by David Bayus (April 6 - May 4, 2013) -- David Bayus born 1982 holds his BFA from the Savannah College of Art and his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. David lives and works in San Francisco and is a founding member of the basement collective. This will be his first exhibition with the world renown Water McBeer Gallery highlighting his most recent achievements with paint and digital media. David Bayus will be exhibiting 5 relatively large-scale mixed media works along with a collaborative object featuring Hungarian sculptor H.R KOONS.
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| Hard Time Mini Mall @The Shooting Gallery
The Shooting Gallery handed over the reins to the Red Truck Gallery (a New Orleans based gallery) which curated their new show, Hard Time Mini Mall and opened the it on Saturday night. This is my favorite show (so far) in the Shooting Gallery's new space and was packed full of art, a mini bar, and cowhide rugs. The Red Truck Gallery chose works with clear craftsmanship and it was easy to see in Ian Berry's denim assemblages and Chris Roberts-Antieau's awesome quilts. The space was completely packed, making it hard to see each piece individually, but this show deserves a second trip anyway. I look forward to spending more time with the chandeliers, automatons, and paintings before the show comes down on May 4th.
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