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

Creativity Explored is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art. We love the place and the work they display is always unique and interesting.

Last Thursday we swung through for their latest featuring clay sculptures by multiple Creativity Explored artists. The back space featured a wide range of work as well. Great place if you're a fan of folk art. Also a great place to buy holiday gifts as well. Interesting creative original works for cheap... And you get to feel good about yourself for supporting a good SF resource.

This guy had a whole collection of celebrities.

So hard NOT taking this guy home with us.

Afterwards we swung through Ever Gold for their opening of Lucas Soi's new works.

Mostly 2
+Tim Kerr, Jim Houser, Merrilee Challiss, Chrissy Piper and maybe, just maybe, Dan Higgs
@Domy Books
913 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702
Exhibition runs September 17 - October 20, 2011
BACKROOM GALLERY: William Gaynor and Conner O'Leary

The best game in town, Domy Books, once gain brought another stellar show to Austin, TX. A collaborative show between Tim Kerr and Jim Houser. The show was about being friends being friendly to one another. What an unpretentious concept right? Imagine that. Chrissy Piper, Merrilee Challiss, and long time partner in crime, Dan Higgs were invited by ringmaster, Tim Kerr, to participate. -Manik Nakra

I first discovered Jim Houser's work here on Fecal Face but finally got to see it in the flesh. He absolutely KILLED IT. This wooden shingle piece was my favorite. My buddies and I geeked out over his line work. In case this whole being a badass artist thing doesnt pan out, Jim could always be one of those people who write text on a grain of rice at the mall.

Tim and Jim's installation

Always tons of great limited edition books, toys, and zines at Domy. And they are constantly getting new stuff. Book People is a nationally known bookstore in Austin. Always at the top of National Best Bookstore lists. They dont even have the exclusives that Domy gets its hands on.

The Haunted
@Home Room
September 23 - 2011

Some shots of The Haunted, an interdisciplinary exploration of terror, the inaugural installation at Home Room, a new gallery / venue in Los Angeles. An interactive installation set up by some of the same artists who created TETRICIDE last year. Amy Darling who shoots for LA Record sent over these photos.

Checking out Clark Walter's animatronic "Go Fuck Yourself Defense"

"Hours" by Jessica Dalva

In front of the exterior mural by Champoy Hate

"Evelyn, circa 1940 with mysterious figure" by Allison Peck

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

'Sink or Swim' a Benefit for Sharks and Oceans at Spoke Art Gallery

(Words from PangeaSeed) In the spirit of ocean conservation the Japan-based non-profit organization, PangeaSeed, in collaboration with Spoke Art, is pleased to announce our inaugural transcontinental art exhibition, Sink or Swim, featuring original works from 30 internationally renowned artists such as Dave Kinsey, Josh Keyes, Dan May, Jim Phillips, Jeff Soto and many more. This gathering of widely acclaimed artists from around the globe will address one the biggest threats facing the health of world’s oceans today – the rapid and mass depletion of sharks.

PangeaSeed is a Tokyo-based grassroots organization dedicated to educating and raising international awareness on the plight of sharks. Through volunteer activism and various mediums including art, music, film, and photography, PangeaSeed aims to create an open dialog with the global community to develop an understanding of the need to preserve and protect sharks and their habitat.

Sink or Swim is not only a reference to the cruel practice of finning but also a reference to our relationship with the oceans as a whole. As human activity is causing sea levels to rise and coral reefs to die, we see fish stocks rapidly disappearing. The global population must change course if we want future generations to experience the sea as we have. We are living at a crucial time in terms of sustaining the oceans. We may sink and fail, or we may find a way to succeed and swim.

Tre' holding up a beautiful print from Josh Keyes.

In short, Sink or Swim is an SOS to the world that these issues facing the oceans need attention now more than ever. Following the success of Sink or Swim in Tokyo this past July, San Francisco is next in line to host this unique exhibition. Sink or Swim pays homage to the shark, this most important and beautiful of creatures, while critiquing their demise and offering hope for their future.

Dave Kinsey

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!