Making A Better Yesterday Today

If you haven’t seen me in a while it’s because I’ve been in “art jail” working on pieces for my show, which opens this Saturday. (See helpful info below.)  Please come on over to the show and say hi, I’m kinda starving for human contact after all my time toiling away in hermitude!

Meanwhile, here’s a few fun facts:

1) In this show is the largest painting I’ve done in about 20 years.  (This says a lot more about the usual size of my work — kinda on the small side — than the enormity of this piece.  Still, I’m pretty amped about it.)

“Abduction of the Simian Women” oil on wood, 36 x 36 inches

2) I don’t usually do prints, partly because the whole idea of prints on paper never really excited me very much.  This is probably why I tend to make things like jigsaw puzzles and porcelain collector’s plates instead.  But technology has finally caught up with my oddball quirks and for this show we are going to be offering ten, count ’em ten different images as prints on wood.  This is ultra cool to me because I paint on wood panels, so, you know, it’s kinda perfect.  Plus they don’t need to be framed — they’re ready to hang right on the wall!

Only 53 shopping days till Christmas! Just sayin’…

3) It’s actually two shows in one! In a riff on the show’s title, there will be a room of “Today” (the new paintings) and “Yesterday” (a curated selection of past favorites).  I love this.

“Get Your Hero On” oil on wood, 25 x 20 inches

4) I’m still obsessed with Batman and Catwoman.

“Cloud Nine” oil on wood, 19 x 16 inches

5) We did something really nifty — if you have a smartphone with a QR (Quick Response) Reader App, you can listen to me yap a bit about each of the new paintings.  Just scan the code on the wall by each piece and you’ll hear real actual thoughts that came out of my real actual head via my mouth.  (If you search ‘QR Reader’ in the App store there are several free apps that you can download to your phone, any of which will read the code and link you to an image specific audio clip.)

6) I’ve hidden a pineapple somewhere in every painting.  Okay that’s not even a tiny bit true. But I’ll think about it for the next show.  Maybe.

So please come and say hello —

“Making A Better Yesterday Today,” Opening Party on Saturday, November 3rd, 6-9pm, Varnish Fine Art, 16 Jessie St., San Francisco, CA

And if you can’t make it, you can scope it all out virtually right here.

Aw Nutz!

Ok yes that was me standing at the window yesterday with a slingshot, firing wine corks at a squirrel.  To be clear A) I was aiming over his furry little head, B) I never hit him, C) I totally dig squirrels, D) I totally dig my figs too, and E) completely un-phased by the barrage of corks sailing over his noggin, he sat just out of reach and calmly ate a fig to taunt me.

I know I don’t stand a chance against these characters — they’ve been around forever.  Have you seen the prehistoric saber-toothed squirrel?

No wait, that’s not the right one… this one!

Hang on, that’s not right either — that is an actual Protosciurus or “first squirrel” from the fossil beds in Oregon, but it’s not much to look at.  I was actually thinking about these toothy little buggers, the Saber-toothed squirrels who lived in Argentina 220 million years ago.

Take the figs!  Take all the figs you want!  Truth be told, even though they keep calling it a “saber-toothed squirrel” apparently it’s not actually a squirrel. (Just as well.)  Lest you be in danger of having any squirrel nightmares, gaze at this for a moment…

Ah, all better now.  My own ode to squirrel coolness, “Nutz,” will be on display at “Awakened,” a show curated by Alix Sloan and on view at AFA Gallery in NYC.  It started out a bit like this —

And ended up like this —

The show opens Sept. 20th and a portion of every sale goes to Adopt-A-Pet in support of their mission to find loving homes for homeless pets.  There’s a great roster of artists involved with this show, including a live auction of hard to find prints, and you can read all about it right here.

“Awakened”, AFA Gallery, opening Sept. 20th 5-8pm, 54 Greene St. in Soho, NYC. Because a large turnout is expected, please RSVP to rsvp@afanyc.com if you think you’ll be dropping by.

Now As In Right NOW!

If you’re anywhere in the SF Bay Area you might wanna swing over to the East Bay (or the “Beast Aye” as they say in fashionable Pig Latin) to check out the “Oakland NOW” exhibition opening tonight, curated by Ken Harmon of Spoke Art. This weekend things should be particularly frisky as it’s tied in with the 12th Annual Art and Soul festival. This guy will be looking for you —

“Wize” oil on wood panel

“Oakland NOW will feature some of our favorite East Bay emerging and established artists. With mediums ranging from illustration to sculpture to painting, this show is intended to serve as a cross section of the diverse art community living and working in Oakland and beyond. Some of the prominent lineup of artists include: Aaron Nagel, Andy Witrak, Brendan Monroe, Brett Amory. Deth P Sun, GATS, Gina Tuzzi, Isabel Samaras, Jason Munn, Jeremiah Jenkins, Jesse Hernandez, John Casey, Justin Lovato, Kelly Allen, Ken Davis, Lucien Shapiro, Marcos LaFarga, Monica Canilao, Nicomi Nix Turner, Rich Jacobs and Scott Hove.”

Opening weekend:
Friday August 3rd (First Friday) 6pm-10pm
Saturday August 4th (Art & Soul) 2pm-midnight
Sunday August 5th (Art & Soul) noon-6pm

Show on view through Saturday August 25, 2012

What: Oakland NOW
Where: lOAKal art gallery and boutique – 1423 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
Website: http://www.spoke-art.com/

Bags Are The New Black

I mean the bags under my eyes. Just got back from Paris, unpacking to re-pack because I depart for LA tomorrow morning. Not sure if this makes me Jet Set or just jet lagged.

Getting used to living out of a bag, and yup, that's a ukulele case in the background.

But if you are in the LA area or have any of your digits on the pulse of the Pop Surrealist/Lowbrow art world, then you already know that La Luz de Jesus Gallery is celebrating their big 25th anniversary with a BIG show (so immense they had to break it into two consecutive exhibits in October and November). You can get all the info and oggle the massive list of artists gathered up to honor Billy Shire and his gallery right here. It’s damn impressive.

The man behind it all, as captured by the brush of Shawn Barber.

There will also be a companion book available, so if you can’t make it to the show, bring the show to your living room! All the work from both tandem shows will be compiled in its pages, along with essays written by all the artists, and you can see a much better picture of my piece “It’s Like That” in the book.

See you in LA! (I’ll be the one snoozing in the corner.)

Rev Up Your Transporter…

… so you can check out both these fab openings happening this Saturday, March 12th —

“New Beginnings” at Space Gallery, 1141 Polk Street right here in San Francisco, CA .  I’ve got four paintings hanging, so if you’re in the Bay Area, swing on by, should be a fun show.

And if you happen to be in Rome (or figured out that transporter thing — in which case we really, really need to talk), be sure to check out “Pop Surrealism Big Bang!” also opening this Saturday, March 12th, at MondoPOP Gallery in Rome.  I’ve got two pieces over there, and you can check out the roster of other artists rounded up for this eye feast right here.

Cool Things That Came In The Mail

I get pretty excited when a delivery truck pulls up — you just never know what it’s gonna be!  (Vintage platform shoes? A cool book from a far flung friend? Chocolate?) In this case it was the new CD from Stones Throw Records:  “Madlib Medicine Show #11: Low Budget Hi Fi Music” by Madlib.  Not only is this thing brimming with ear-gratifying goodness — “one of the few beat-heads left that use the sampler as a musical instrument to further explore Hip Hop’s more ethereal sounds without sacrificing his L.A. street credibility” — it’s pretty easy on the eyes too.  (The CD booklet is stuffed with my artwork.) 

You can listen to some sample tracks and score a copy for your very own self from Stones Throw right here.

Who’s this Madlib anyway?  He’s a prolific and critically acclaimed hip hop producer who collaborated with a heap of hip hop artists including Erykah Badu, The Alkaholics, Mos Def, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, MF DOOM as Madvillain, and the late J DILLA as Jaylib. Madlib has described himself as a “DJ first, producer second, and MC last.” His projects range from blunted out heady beats, to club rap, electronic influenced soul funk and reggae.   He was asked to remix the Blue Note catalog, creating one of the most classic remix albums of all time:  Shades of Blue.

If you’re here in the SF Bay Area, lucky you!  ‘Cause you can come out and see Madlib TONIGHT at 10pm in a rare show with Robot Koch & Change the Beat.  Info here.  Not to be missed.

Free Drawings!

Tonight at the Oakland Museum, Post-It-Note Drawing Gift Giveaway Party — 6 -10pm — come draw on Post-It Notes with me and other Bay Area artists. You make a drawing and can take a drawing!

The Holidaze Are Upon Us!

Okay clearly I have quite a lot of catching up to do, but the wackiness of the holidaze are upon us, they’ve set their pointy teeth in our necks and are wringing us like chickens!  (Or is that just me?)  Well panic not, even though there are only 21 shopping days left till Christmas — here are a couple great opportunities to score some unique treats for all the good boys and girls on your list. (For everyone else, just do what I do and keep a handy sack of Kingford Charcoal Briquettes around.)

First up, December 10th, 7 – 10:30pm at 63 Bluxome Street Gallery (which they’ve cleverly hidden away at 63 Bluxome St. in San Francisco) is the 2nd Annual Affordable Art Show.  And no misnomer this!  There will be wide variety of cheap affordable goodies by such folks as Dave Eggers, Frank Kozik, Marc Sanchez, Missy Feigum, Mr. Clam Lynch, Lil Tuffy, and oh yeah — me! You might also get a glimpse of my boyfriend, Basil.

You sharp eyed types will notice the sale continues the next day, Dec. 11th from 3-8pm, but you were there last night so on Saturday, Dec. 11th, you’re going to want to hoof it over to Oakland for Inky Oxnard’s Holiday Frenzy!

This wacky wonderfulness takes place at Tobi Designs from 11am to 5pm, and will feature more cheap affordable goodies, a veritable sparkly wonderland of gifts including screenprints at ridiculously low prices, lovingly printed t-shirts, framed art, a few pieces on wood from the Super Furry Animals show, landscapes, Squirrel Plates, stickers, books, paintings on canvas, wood, and cardboard. There will be gifts to fit every budget. We will make it worth your while, people. PLUS there will be snacks. Oh, yes, you read that right:  snacks.  AND as an added bonus, there is a rumor that Andy Cowitt and I will be playing holiday tunes on our ukuleles.  So come and sing “Santa Baby” with us!  Artists include Michael Wertz, Lloyd Dangle, Jim Winters, Dave Warnke and me (again).

Behind the 8 Ball

Sadly I can’t rattle on about anything particularly fun today — I am totally crammed behind the 8 Ball (and not the Magic 8 Ball —  though I’m sure if I asked it whether today was going to be fun it would say “Outlook Not So Good”).  Back in spring when I was really, really busy it seemed like a genius idea to file an extension on my taxes, you know “why put off for tomorrow what you can put off for several months?”  These bright ideas take hold of my brain from time to time.  But it’s got to get done right now or I’m condemning my sweet tax guy Jay to many sleepless nights to squeak my numbers in under the wire.  In case anybody was wondering:  I hate math, numbers (except my lucky #7!), receipts, taxes, and the very idea of shoveling these fistfuls of money over when I had to bust my ass so hard to get them in the first place.

Plus I haven’t eaten lunch yet, so there’s the whole low-blood-sugar-crabbies thing going on too. But if you’re on Crackbook, I posted a few pics from the “Everyday” opening at 111 Minna Gallery last week — truly you should go see the show in person because the photos do not do the work justice.  At all.  It’s all art by California tattoo artists, but the art might surprise you.

And I promise to stop whining and come back with something fun soon.  I’m working on a diptych commission right now and it’s a total hoot!

Finished!

I meant to post these progress shots as I was going along but there’s only so many hours in the day and… I forgot.  But here’s a the continuing saga of the lovely “Beaver Boobs”…

Yes, come rain or shine… who am I kidding?  It’s California.  It was always sunny.  But sometimes is was chilly and sometimes hot…

The World Cup was a little bit distracting…

…but eventually I finished!

Many thanks to the gorgeous castee who donated her time and shapely form to this project.  This piece is now on it’s way to the Tiki Oasis 10 Anniversary Extravaganza in San Diego, the original “Tiki Weekender”,  a three day, non-stop, jam-packed celebration including the Keep-A-Breast art show organized by Baby Doe von Stroheim and featuring over 24 artists creating painted and multi-media breast casts. The proceeds go to The Keep-A-Breast Foundation. www.keep-a-breast.org. Go pick up a nice rack for yourself and support a good cause!