Because of the large crowd, it was difficult to see all of the photographs, but that wasn't really the point of Friday night. The skateboarding community came out in full force to see what was happening here in San Francisco as well as internationally in places like France, where Magenta Skateboards is based. The video was shown strategically on the back wall at 8 so that the people in the street could watch while they finished smoking their cigarettes. No beer was served, which is unusual for Book and Job, but it was brown-bag friendly and most took advantage of that.

The photographs themselves range from the stylistic skate photos of Isaac McKay-Randozzi and Ben Gore, to the more abstracted and colorful mini photos by Evan Kinori on the stairs. Most, if not all, of the photographs were taken here in the city and helped to maintain cohesion between the artwork and the video. But, Friday night was really about the video. If you missed it, it's available online at magentaskateboards.com, but the photographs will be up through October 31st. Even if you did make it to the opening, I would suggest a second round to really spend some time with the pictures. It is worth it, and great inspiration for an afternoon skate session in the city.

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Reportage by Rachel Ralph, Fecal Face's new San Francisco correspondent. You can email her at rachel(at)fecalface.com

Matt Medium emailed in this great drawing of Fecal Face Los Angeles contributor and artist, Michael Hsiung yesterday. Love it.

Matt Medium Is a Boston based Illustrator, Designer, Photographer, and Human Being. Matt is well known for his love of drinking beer while watching TV, he also makes art, He is kind of awesome. http://mattmedium.tumblr.com/

Michael C Hsiung is characterized by: large mustache (one of the few remaining facially hairy Asians surviving today) with all of the species capable of reaching one ton or more in weight; herbivorous diet; and a thin yellow protective skin, 1.5-5 cm thick, formed from layers of collagen positioned in a lattice structure; and a relatively small brain for a mammal of his size (400-600g).

Chris Lux's work consists of sculptures and paintings along with the studies he completed in their making. Of his pieces, the largest was Depeche Mode “Halo” depicting a black man actively pursuing a white woman. Because of its size, it was utterly unavoidable. A girl looking at this piece and talking about its inherent racism mentioned it being "completely offensive" but she said it with smile before having another sip of her wine. Besides the painting, Lux has several graphic gouache pieces in black and white hung in a small room built in the back. I hope it was built recently (and is still in process), because there was no paint on the wood walls and it was completely segregated from the rest of the show.

On the other side of the gallery are many works by Dane Johnson in photography, painting and sculpture, none missing out on his sexual overtone. His work incorporates iconographic figures from pop culture, ranging from Mickey Mouse to Derek Jeter, removed from any other pop culture reference and presented as fine art. However, the hallmark piece of his show is Untitled (White Guys Taking Black Cocks/ The Monstercock Max de Long Experience 2) which was basically a collage of photographs of masculine camping supplies resting on two shelves full of porno (which is where the title comes from). It combines both the sexuality and racial nature of the show without disguising it whatsoever.

Ultimately, I think "Eating Out of the Drain" is operating on shock tactics and references to pop culture. By making the show inherently sexual and racial, there will inevitably be discussions raised by it; however, those discussions probably won't have any mention of the actual aesthetic quality in the work, as it has been completely covered in order to appall audiences.

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Reportage by Rachel Ralph, Fecal Face's new San Francisco correspondent. You can email her at rachel(at)fecalface.com

The group show, The Diamond Sea, runs through Nov 10th in San Francisco at FFDG. We've been profiling the artists in the show and we contiue with one of our favorite painters who happens to reside in Vancouver.

Russell Leng is currently living in Edinburgh, UK, pursuing a MFA from Edinburgh College of Art and has been exhibited throughout North America and Europe, and awards include 1st Place Painting Prize from the Surrey Art Gallery, and a BMO Student Invitational nomination. He has been featured in numerous online and print publications including Gestalten, Chronicle, and the Globe and Mail.

C9, Edinburgh. B.A. from Trinity Western University, and currently pursing a M.F.A. from Edinburgh College of Art.

I'm interested in opposites and finding ways to negotiate between them. Inquiries into natural vs. fabricated environments, chance vs. control, and digital vs. firsthand experiences have all been recent investigations that aim to articulate contemporary in-between states I find myself in. In my paintings I have been focusing specifically on the conglomeration of natural and man-made environments melding together through rigid shapes interacting with loose marks.

The good ones and the bad ones.

Toss up between Indonesia and Colombia.

RIPO emailed over some pics from a recent wall he painted in Tudela de Navarra, Spain. It reads Surreal But So Real and was painted as part of the Avant-Garde Urbano Festival, curated by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada. Other artists in the festival were Escif, C215, and JCHM IX.

Work by Xiau Fong Wee

111 Minna never disappoints and Friday night was no exception. Even the uber-corporate crowd, with their glowing ID badges couldn't detract from the quality of the work in their newest show, "Corporeal Clusters" with works from Kelly Allen, Melissa Arendt and Xiau-Fong Wee. The place was packed, as I stepped on more than one shined toe from men's dress shoes, and was filled playing top 40 hits, a weird atmosphere for the gallery. However, the quality of the work is what prevails; there are some really beautiful paintings here.

The show opens with Kelly Allen's photorealistic paintings of animals combined with geometric and biomorphic shapes, setting the tone with a geometric and animalistic thread that runs throughout the entire gallery. Next on inside are Melissa Arendt's paintings on wood panels using geometric shapes and human figures, while letting the grain of the wood compose the background. I was especially attracted to the grouping Clusterfuck Series #s 11, 6, 7, 9, 5. Is that Bowie a la Labrynth I see in the center? Why yes it is, and it made my day. Her next grouping had several works which incorporated glitter, and most of these had been sold by the time I had gotten there at 8:00.

While there is no question of the beauty in both Allen's and Arendt's works, the standout for me were the acrylic paintings on canvas by Xiau-Fong Wee. My god are they beautiful. All I could say (literally) was "wow." The works have amorphous animal/human figures, most of which have the female form, indicating a connection with mother nature. The delicate treatment of the surface of the paintings and the natural aesthetic qualities reminded me of the surreal beauty of Tiffany Bozic's work, but taken to a whole new, dream-like level.

Ultimately, the crowd won the battle of wits, and I just had to get out of there. I will definitely be back before the show closes on November 10th, when I can actually see the paintings, without the soul-crushing music and the creepy businessmen. Really, this show is a must-see, and I guarantee you that you don't want to miss it. -more photos

Xiau-Fong Wee, Slow Motion, 2012

Last weekend Vans sent me down to check out opening night of Supply and Demand, art gallery and installation, which opened October 12that the House of Vans for a one-night invite-only event. (You might remember seeing the Supply & Demand show post from last year as well). Supply and Demand, set up by Russ Pope and Vans, featured the works of Neil Blender, Nathaniel Russell, Chris Yormick, Jay Howell, Jamahl Williams, Russ Pope, Rich Jacobs, Dennis McNett, and Jai Tanju in a one night special event with free mini burgers, quesadillas, beverages, and a musical performance by Super Juice. Thanks again to Vans and Russ Pope for sending me out there for the event.

Philadelphia-based artist Yis "Nosego" Goodwin emailed over some photos from a recent mural he did just a block down the street from Fecal Face at 20th and Mission. How we missed it is beyond us, but here it is and we're feeling it... Be sure to check out Nosego's painting work here.

I'm feeling the Holy Ghost around here. The momentum of Free Fridayz is happening. Last week's winner was a tie between Alain Cheung (Montreal) and Ishi (Melbourne). Congrats to you two. You get socks. (Reminds of what would have been a depression era contest winning) Alain would have took the victory if all the votes would have logged in. Similiar to registering to vote. TELL ALL YOUR HOMIES TO LOG IN WHEN THEY VOTE! (Facebook, Disqus, Twitter, Google...)

This weeks entries are looking nice. I'm diggin the Ryland Fortie piece. Big Props to Eric Sauve for hitting up a canvas. Keep pushing those brushes.

Next weeks theme, dedicated to political shenanigans, presidential debates and pigeons will be Talking Heads.

Next weeks theme: Talking Heads

Submission Guidelines for next week:
We had some great entries this week that we couldn't run, either because they weren't sized right or had nothing to do with theme. Just to be clear, when the next theme comes out the old theme is officially over. Please don't send in more submissions for old themes. It makes up feel bad when you send us stuff and we can't post it up so please read the guidlines below:

- This is a drawing/ illustration fun contest. Photography generally not accepted.
- The size formatting is 695 pixels in width OR length. So if you have a long skinny one, please make sure it is not over 695 in length or we will not be able to see it well.
- Name your submission your first and last name. Example: john_doe.jpg
- Include the words "Fecal Face" somewhere in the art so we know you created it (please do not to add it in later with Photoshop).
- One submission per person by Friday October 12th at 12pm PST.
- If you have a website (or two) please specify which one you would like me to link in the body of your email. Also, let us know where you're from! Send it all to freefridayz (at) fecalface.com.

Photo: Tom Shea (Salt Lake City, Utah)

//////////////////~ submit your photos to: potd(at)fecalface.com ~ make sure they're at least 700 pixels in width.

See more Photo of the Days

The Diamond Sea
Artists include Brett Amory, Shawn Barber, Michelle Blade, Clayton Brothers, Curiot, Jeff Depner, Meredith Dittmar, Jeremy Fish, Jay Howell, Mel Kadel, Hiro Kurata, Nicolas LeBorgne, Russell Leng, Alexis Mackenzie, Travis Millard, Ralph Pugay, Winnie Truong, and Mathew Zefeldt.
@FFDG
Oct 13th - Nov 10th, 2012

The Grass Pipe
Jay Howell
ink and gouache on paper, framed
24" x 19"
pricing and availability, email
info(at)ffdg.net

Half the Time (B), 2012
Clayton Brothers
Mixed media on paper
framed
8 X 10 CM: 20.32 X 25.4
pricing and availability, email
info(at)ffdg.net

We've been covering the Fame Festival that went down in Italy featuring street art works from Erica Il Cane, Vhils, Interesni Kazki, Conor Harrington, Cyop & Kaf, Momo, Lucy McLauchlan, Bastardilla, Moneyless, Boris Hoppek and the local artist Giorgio Di Palma. Besides the works on the street (blog one | blog two) there was also this indoor exhibition to coincide.

Photos: Henrik Haven