Gallery

Known Gallery Presents: Zes/Retna “Excavated Revelations” (Los Angeles, CA)

February 9, 2012 , , , , , ,

Excavated Revelations

EXCAVATED REVELATIONS
Featuring: ZES & RETNA

Opening reception: February 11, 2012 | 8 – 11 pm
Show runs: February 11 – 25, 2012

Known Gallery
441 North Fairfax Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@knowngallery.com

 

“Back in the day, there were these old buildings in downtown Los Angeles on Broadway Street that were abandoned, but they were so beautiful.  Zes and I wanted to climb them no matter how high they were, just so we could write on them.  They might not have been paintings, but to me, they were still works of art.” – RETNA

Known Gallery is proud to present Excavated Revelations, a dual exhibition featuring new work by Los Angeles-based artists ZES and RETNA.   Introduced in their youth by their mutual friend AYER, ZES and RETNA led parallel lives through an upbringing in graffiti. Utilizing a fluidity and precision they mastered by painting some of the most coveted walls in the city, their refined technique is now exemplified in this fresh body of abstract work.

ZES began his career at the young age of thirteen and gained recognition for his determination to climb some of the city’s most challenging locations, stealthily navigating the streets of Los Angeles and commandeering its obscure walls at night. Growing up in the heart of the city, by the age of fifteen, ZES became one of the youngest members of the legendary MSK crew and has helped define the contemporary graffiti movement. Widely respected for his innovations to West Coast wild style, his determination to overcome the obstacles the nature of graffiti presented resulted in a fervent approach to his modus operandi.  His longevity has allowed him to produce a substantial amount of work on the streets, making him one of the most influential and recognized graffiti artists not only in the city, but also internationally, along with his contemporaries AYER, REVOK, and SABER. He has traveled from coast to coast in search of new environments that challenge him to climb higher and paint pieces that express his creative intensity.  To this day, ZES can still be found on rooftops, ledges and fire escapes.

RETNA is always brimming with new ideas.  This past year alone, his work has been spotted everywhere from tail wings of jets to the walls of the Museum of Contemporary Art.  RETNA continuously pushes personal, artistic and physical boundaries as demonstrated in Excavated Revelations.  In this exhibition, he challenges himself with various methods including etching, the most esteemed technique used for master printing.  The age-old process utilizes zinc plates, produced and manipulated through washes and resists and placed in a bath charged with an electric current that physically “etches” the plate. An impression is then printed by running the plate and a sheet of paper through a press at about 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. The result is beautifully embossed into the paper.

Known Gallery
441 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@knowngallery.com
310-860-6263

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Mighty Tanaka Gallery Presents: “Inside-Out” Featuring Works by Don Pablo Pedro and Cake (Brooklyn, NYC)

February 9, 2012 , , , , ,

Inside Out

Mighty Tanaka presents:
Inside Out
Featuring the artwork of Cake & Don Pablo Pedro

Look in the mirror, what do you see? Does your reflection smile back at you? Or does it hide behind layers of doubt? As each of us interprets the notion of self differently, the ways in which we choose to outwardly express ourselves varies greatly. For some, personal identity cannot always be communicated simply with words alone, so other means are utilized to translate the inner dialogue. Mighty Tanaka is pleased to bring you our next show, Inside Out, featuring the artwork of Cake & Don Pablo Pedro.

Inside Out is the outward expression of ones innermost feelings. The figurative and symbolic imagery relates to the personal struggle for understanding and emphasizes the desire to be heard. It’s the rare insight into the mind of another, a visual representation of an individual’s emotions. In essence, Inside Out is the exploration of self.

Cake & Don Pablo Pedro, two artists who’s work both compliments and conflicts, juxtapose each other in a complimentary way. From the soft touch of muslin fabric to the rigid edges of a wooden panel, their chosen materials are representational of their message, as they open themselves to the world.

OPENING RECEPTION:
Friday, February 17th, 2012
6:00PM – 9:00PM

Mighty Tanaka
111 Front St., Suite 224
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Office: 718.596.8781

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Physical Goods Gallery and The Site Unscene Present: A HISTORY OF QUEER STREET ART (Hollywood, CA)

February 6, 2012 , , , , , ,

A History of Queer Street Art

A HISTORY OF QUEER STREET ART opens for a limited engagement in Los
Angeles with an opening reception on February 9th from 7-11pm.

Location: Physical Goods Gallery – 1621 1/2 Cahuenga Blvd. – Hollywood, CA 90028

A History of Queer Street Art opens for its month long engagement at Physical Goods
Gallery in the heart of Hollywood, CA on February 9th and will run through February 29th 2012. Originally curated and exhibited in San Francisco by SF based street artist Jeremy Novy, the exhibit is re-imagined and brought to Los Angeles by LA’s own Homo Riot.
A History of Queer Street Art, first presented in 2011 at the SOMArts Center in San Francisco, documents the work of queer and pro-queer street artists from around the world. Spanning more than two decades of work, the collection includes pieces by notable queer street artists as well as showcasing present day street activists.
At the heart of the History of Queer Street Art is a timeline of works collected by Novy which incorporates prints, stencils, stickers, photos, street pasters and even the gallery’s walls — creating a “street art experience” from a queer perspective. The Los Angeles version of the exhibition, produced by Homo Riot, will also feature new works by well-known European street artists like Paul Le Chien, Adrian & Shane, as well as American mainstays like Prvtdncr and Jilly Ballistic, and many other young and emerging queer street artists. Homo Riot has curated video presentations as well as art installations throughout the Hollywood gallery to further enhance the experience.

“It was important for me to bring this show to Los Angeles. Not only is LA one of the most
influential cities in the world when it comes to street art but historically, the city has been the site of many central movements in the struggle for LGBTQ equality. I hope this show will be seen as an important milestone in the queer artistic history of LA.”…Homo Riot

“It’s important to celebrate our history and to know the outstanding LGBT artists past and
present who are bold enough to express themselves in public. I hope this show inspires future artists to create art for the world to see,” Brian Meiler of Physical Goods Gallery.

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Fun Friday 02.03.12

February 3, 2012 , , ,

1. The Skewvilles are turning 80 tonight (Bushwick, BK)
2. “Unpaid Dues” Cassius Fouler at Orchard Windows Tonight (LES, NYC)
3. “Should The Light Not Take Us” – Armsrock at the Galleri Profilen  (Aarhus, Denmark)
4. “Street Wall” at Fourth Wall Project Gallery Saturday (Boston)
5. Philip Lumbang solo show “New Arrival”
6. LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion with Shepard Fairey and Saber
7. New Sten & Lex Low Res VIDEO in Rome
8. MAMBO Goes for a Swim (VIDEO)
9. Creepy Tries to Control the Ocean (VIDEO)

We start Fun Friday this week with thanks to Don Cornelius for making the Soul Train an incredibly important part of the ride for lots of us for four decades.

Much respect to his work and to his family.

Here’s his interview with a new group called Run DMC.

 

The Skewvilles are turning 80 tonight (Bushwick, BK)

Join the Skewvilles today at Factory Fresh as they celebrate their 80th Birthday with a Retro-Retrospective. See some of the treasures they’ll be lugging out of the basement here in yesterday’s post.

Skewville (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here

“Unpaid Dues” Cassius Fouler at Orchard Windows Tonight (LES, NYC)

Despite initial apprehension, Orchard Windows Gallery is proud to present Cassius Fouler, who is in about four shows this month. Dang!

For further information regarding this show click here

“Should The Light Not Take Us” – Armsrock at the Galleri Profilen  (Aarhus, Denmark)

Armsrock says his new show is an investigation of parapsychology, ideology and crisis, through drawings, objects and texts. His style is getting tighter too.

Armsrock in Brooklyn NYC 2007  (photo © Jaime Rojo)

For further information regarding this show click here

“Street Wall” at Fourth Wall Project Gallery Saturday (Boston)

New York is chocolate and Boston is peanut butter so when you mix these artists from both Street Art scenes together in one show you get something grittily sweet that will  stick to the roof of your mouth.  Want a root beer? Vodka? Featuring LNY, Radical!, Tiptoe, Nanook, The Phantom, Geoff Hargadon, Zatara and Blackmath.

Geoff Hargadon CFYW in Los Angeles. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Check out more about this show here.

Also happening this weekend:

Philip Lumbang solo show “New Arrival” at the Unit 44 Gallery in Newcastle, UK opens today. Click here for more details on this show.

LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion with Shepard Fairey and Saber at Lab Art Gallery in Los Angeles. Find out how the new mural laws in Los Angeles are affecting the Urban Art and what the answers are to your questions. This event takes place on Saturday. Click here for more details.

New Sten & Lex Low Res VIDEO in Rome

Italian Duo Sten & Lex have a new body of work on the streets of Rome. Here they show us how The Stencil Poster was born.

MAMBO Goes for a Swim (VIDEO)

MAMBO pays tribute to Johnny Weissmuller and the Molitor swimming pool in Paris:

Creepy Tries to Control the Ocean (VIDEO)

Creepy “If We Can’t Control the Boat Let’s Control the Ocean” by K. Hughes-Odgers

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The Active Space Presents: Criminy Johnson AKA QRST “Dreaming Without Sleeping” (Brooklyn NYC)

February 2, 2012 , , , , ,

QRST

Dichotomy, by Criminy Johnson. Oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches.

The Active Space opens an all-new exhibition space
in its Bushwick facility with a reception for “Dreaming Without
Sleeping,” a presentation of new works by Criminy Johnson | QRST, on
February 24, 2012.

“Dreaming Without Sleeping” allows viewers to glimpse the artist’s
view of our waking world: a bent, slightly pessimistic and
occasionally hostile place populated by animals and people who are
often reluctant to be interrupted by the viewer.

“Criminy makes oil paintings in his studio but often makes wheatpastes
that relate to these in some way. Many people are familiar with
Criminy’s work but may have seen it outside of a gallery setting, and
QRST fans might be discovering Criminy Johnson’s paintings for the
first time,” says curator Robin Grearson, who worked with Johnson last
year on a group show at the Active Space. “Criminy has been in
Bushwick for a few years, and QRST’s street work often shows up here,
so the Active Space is an ideal location to present the two styles
together.”

“We opened in February of last year, so I’m happy that the first show
in our building’s brand-new gallery space falls on our first
anniversary,” says Ashley Zelinskie, director of The Active Space.
“Robin is an accomplished writer, yet this is the third show she has
curated here. Last year we discovered that we really work well
together, and one thing I appreciate about my role as director of a
Bushwick art space is the opportunity I have to support emerging
artists and curators I believe in.” Zelinskie says.

The opening reception for “Dreaming Without Sleeping” takes place
February 24, 2012, from 7-10 PM. The show will be open to the public
by appointment through April 20, 2012. Email ashley@566johnsonave.com.

Dreaming Without Sleeping
February 24, 2012 through April 20, 2012
The Active Space
566 Johnson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11237
www.566johnsonave.com

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Lab Art Gallery Presents: Q & A “Legal Walls” A Conversation (Los Angeles, CA)

February 2, 2012 , , , ,

Legal Walls

LAB ART Presents Q&A – LEGAL WALLS

A CONVERSATION BETWEEN STREET ARTISTS AND LA CITY OFFICIALS

January 27th, 2012, Los Angeles, CA – LAB ART, the largest art gallery in North America dedicated to Street Art, opens up a new era in the Los Angeles art scene by creating a dialog between LA City Officials and Street Artists with their new panel discussion ‘Q&A – LEGAL WALLS.’ LAB ART is thrilled to bring a new conversation to the LA art scene where LA City Officials sit down with Street Artists and discuss how the policies they created really affect the Artist.

Representing the City of Los Angeles is ‘Tanner the Planner’ the well known Los Angeles city planning official who is cited by LA Weekly as single-handedly raising the issue of the 2007 controversial public mural moratorium and helping to rewrite the Mural Policy to lift the moratorium. Showing the support of the Los Angeles City Counsel for public art will be Council Member John Darnell of District 5.

Lydiaemily, Activist & Street Artist who was arrested by the LAPD and made an example of by the District Attorney for practicing her craft on the streets of LA, now gets a chance to create a practical dialog with the City that arrested her. Not something to miss.

“Our society seems to have a difficult time accepting responsibility, and as a guy who paints on walls I guess that means that I do as well.  As our attention span shortens from our sugar high, democracy has been replaced by capitalism. Rome is falling again. Hold on. Meanwhile let’s play in the streets and have a good laugh.” – DOC

Exclusive Street Artist DESIRE OBTAIN CHERISH (DOC) will be rounding out the panel as an artist who straddles both the urban world of street art and the high concept world of advertising as a graduate of Parsons. He recently contributed to the international Street Art scene by taking part in the Madrid Street Advertising Takeover (MaSAT) in Spain.

Starting @ 7PM till 9PM ‘LAB Art Presents Q&A – LEGAL WALLS, a A CONVERSATION BETWEEN STREET ARTIST AND LA CITY OFFICIALS’ will feature the following talking points.

– The Question of Materials : Who creates the official guide for muralists?

– Subject Matter : Who sets the ‘acceptable standards’ for independent walls?

– Existing ‘illegal’ Murals : How does the new policy effect existing murals? Will there be a ‘grandfather’ clause?

– Sponsor Art : What are the guidelines to distinguish ad from art? Where does sponsored art fall?

‘Tanner the Planner’ will be starting the night off with a quick presentation covering the following –

 

  • new murals have been banned in LA since 2002 due to an attack on LA’s public art exemption by the outdoor advertising industry.
  • In October 2011, the City Council voted to advance a “time/place/manner” administrative permit for murals;
  • City planner Tanner Blackman has the responsibility of drafting new mural regulations, workshopping the proposals with the public, and guiding the new ordinance through the legislative process.

About LAB ART –

LAB ART Los Angeles is dedicated to an alternative exhibition of street art and installation. The gallery features works of more than 30 of the most prominent and up-and-coming names of the Los Angeles Street Art scene and beyond. Spanning 6,500 square feet of gallery space, LAB ART offers art collectors and art lovers a dynamic roster of vibrant and thought-provoking exhibitions.
Tanner Blackman –
Tanner Blackman is a planner for the Code Studies Section of the City of LA’s Department of City Planning and an adjunct professor of urban planning at USC’s Price School of Public Policy.  He has taught in the Future Initiatives Program (SCIFI) at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.  He is responsible for drafting LA’s citywide mural ordinance.
Lydiaemily –
Lydiaemily Archibald is a political activist, and both a street and fine artist. Her fine art has been shown in galleries world wide. She has produced murals throughout California, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

DESIRE OBTAIN CHERISH  (DOC) –

DESIRE OBTAIN CHERISH lives and creates in Los Angeles. He graduated from Parsons and has won awards creating advertising campaigns, composing music, and art directing fashion magazines. DOC has gained respect for his sharp wit and graphic style on both the streets and in galleries. He has been attracting an international reputation as well by contributing to the Madrid Street Advertising Takeover (MaSAT) in Spain 2011, as well as numerous gallery shows across the US.

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Stolen Space Gallery Presents: “Love & Hate” A Group Show (London, UK)

February 2, 2012 , , , , ,

Love and Hate


Featuring:

Arth daniels
Chloe early
D*Face
Dan Witz
David Bray
Kai & Sunny
Miss Van
Ronzo
Sylvia Ji
Toshi
Will Barras
Word To Mother
Von
Jeff Soto
Pete Fowler
EINE
Josie Morway
Kelly Allen
Charles Krafft
Ramon Maiden
Ryan Callanan
Curtis Kulig
William Stevenson

STOLENSPACE GALLERY
Dray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane
London E1 6QL
United Kingdom

P: +44 (0) 207 247 2684
info@stolenspace.com

OPENING TIMES
Tuesday – Sunday
11:00am – 7:00pm

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Okazi Gallery Presents: Kyle Hughes-Odgers AKA Creepy: “If We Can’t Control The Boat, Let’s Control The Ocean” (Berlin, Germany)

February 1, 2012 , , , , ,

Kyle Hughes-Odgers

“IF WE CAN’T CONTROL THE BOAT,LET’S CONTROL THE OCEAN”
Kyle Hughes-Odgers – Okazi gallery Berlin.
Vernissage – February 10th – 6PM  with attendence of the artist


These new works explore the futility of an uncontrollable existence, shown in moments of clarity and small gestures of resistance.

Kyle Hughes-Odgers is an Australian artist. His working approach encompasses a range of mediums. Primarily muted warm acrylics on wood, canvas and large scale street work.

Focusing on ideas of nostalgia and story telling through figurative, pattern and abstract imagery. His work is inspired by ideas of communication, chaos and memory.

He has exhibited throughout Australia, as well as internationally in New York, Los Angeles and Paris. His street art and installations have been seen across the globe. His work has previously featured in publications such as Street Art New York (Prestel 2010), Kingbrown, and Empty magazine. In 2010 he completed a 45m public art commission for the Murdoch university art collection in Western Australia.

– OKAZI GALLERY –
OPENING RECEPTION – FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10 | 6PM
EXHIBITION RUNS FEBRUARY 11– 28
TÜRSCHMIDTSTRASSE 18 | 10317 BERLIN | S-NÖLDNERPLATZ |S-OSTKREUZ| TRAM 21 –
MARKTSTRASSE OPENING HOURS: TUESDAY | THURSDAY | SATURDAY 2–6PM

www.okazigallery.com
www.kylehughesodgers.com

 

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Shea & Ziegler In Conjunction With The Warrington Museum Present: “International Woman” A Group Show (Warrington, WA1 1JB. UK)

February 1, 2012 , , , , , ,

International Woman

International Woman – Warrington
2012
Exhibition Design, Fine Arts, Painting
Following the success of ‘Gossip Well Told’ group exhibition that launched the first Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival, Frankie Shea & Tina Ziegler return to Warrington Museum in March with an exhibition called ‘International Woman’. In conjunction with Moniker Projects, ‘International Woman’ brings together a stellar roster of more than 15 artists from 10 countries, being the first exhibition in the UK that highlights the cross-over of the Pop Surrealism and Urban fine art movements under one roof. Working in underground art movements these women have forged names for themselves by pushing the boundaries of contemporary art, experimenting with new mediums, ideas and visual concepts. Individually they have enhanced the overall direction of these underground movements, and as a collective they have changed the way women are viewed in urban culture today.Exhibiting artists: Catalina Estrada, Cheryl Dunn, Elizabeth Mcgrath, Faith 47, Hera, Kukula, Mel Kadel, Miss Van, Pam Glew, Sarah Joncas, Stella Im Hultberg, Swoon, Tara Mcpherson and Xue Wang.Curated by Frankie Shea and Tina Ziegler
Opening reception: March 29 th 2012. 6pm
On display until 7 July 2012
Museum Street, Warrington, WA1 1JB. United Kingdom
www.warrington.gov.uk/museum
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