Eat your heart out, OMG Posters

I like OMG Posters from time to time, but it's pretty much Fairey, Stout, Kinsey crazy. Try matching these sweet horror prints from Aiyana Udesen at Dirty Pilot. Totally 80s. 10 in the edition, $60.

Blek Le Rat - Buy Cheap

While there's time, make sure you pick up Blek Le Rat's "Getting Through the Walls" on clearance at Urban Outfitters.com. It's only $9.99.

SF, CA

I have been in San Francisco for the week for work and I can't wait to get home. I didn't even get to do half of what I wanted to do. I am a bit bummed because I'm here in between shows and missing out on a lot of cool stuff. Plus, I'm tired. My days and nights have been long.

So first off, the Warhol exhibition is at the de Young and I will miss it. It moves to Montreal at the end of the year in Montreal. Maybe I'll make it out. Joshua Petker's show opens tomorrow at The Shooting Gallery. Damn. Then, Harry Kim's film, Dirty Hands, is playing tomorrow. I also leave tomorrow. The only thing I got to see was the GRSF show. Albert Reyes is my favorite.

Oh, by the way, Jen Corace's Hansel and Gretal book (illustrations) is on clearance at Urban Outfitters. It's ridiculously good and ridiculously cheap (under $5).

Number 2 of the Beasts!

Make sure you pick up a copy of Beasts!: Book 2 that was just released from Fantagraphics. It's probably one of the best looking low brow art survey books I've seen. Speaking from publishing experience, of course. It's also really interesting, like a Weird NJ book crossed with the Bible with cool art. Hardcover, gold foil, beautiful print... Thanks Jacob Covey, who curated this massive collection. There's also a Beasts! show at Giant Robot SF that I'm really bummed that I can't see in person.

The Beasts! blog.

"Jack-in-Irons" (bringing the Glum back!), by Derek Albeck :



















And for your viewing pleasure, on a related topic:

Labs With Abs

How happy does this dog look? Because the dog is frolicking in a meadow or because it has a washboard stomach? Hmmm, both.



















(the above is a letterpress print from Poketo!)

Andrew Jeffrey Wright's Labs with Abs have popped up everywhere and he's even published a book on them. Sweet. You might know his collaboration with Obey Clothing and he's co-founder of Space 1026.

Reign in Blood

I finished reading Reign in Blood by D.X. Ferris from Continuum's 33 1/3 series. I've only read two other titles in this series - Unknown Pleasures and Meat is Murder. I'd have to say this was the most accessible of the three and it had really good coverage of the album as a whole. What I found interesting was the mention of artist, Larry Carroll, responsible for the memorable artwork on Reign in Blood. The 3-foot mixed media piece was given away by the artist who, in turn, sold it. Damn shame, because it's the most epic piece of album artwork and it still scares me.

You can read an interesting interview with Larry here. He also mentions what happened with the original piece.

Vice Knows Metal

Everything Vice puts out is incredible. I just finished watching Heavy Metal in Baghdad. I thoroughly enjoy documentaries but anything on metal is the shit. I think would have named it Iroq: Heavy Metal in Baghdad. Get it? Iraq. I-rock...Ahh, nevermind.

I definitely recommend watching this - you can definitely see the hopelessness in what was going at that time in Iraq (and currently still going on). Obviously the story is uplifting but I won't reveal to you what happens for you people that hate spoilers so here's a preview.



Not every story is so uplifting though. 4.7 million Iraqi's have left their homes of these, 2 million Iraqis are dispersed in Iraq.

Read up here.

Back when I was in Dallas this March for a business trip, I attempted a visit out to The Public Trust gallery. I sent an email prior to the trip but I never received a response. When I had made it to Dallas, made the trip out on my first day because I would have been too busy with work to make a visit. Bummer. It was closed and I remember seeing half-filled wine glasses on the front counter. It had the look of going to a party a day late. I was staying at the Fairmont and there weren't any cabs around. The hotel provided a complimentary car service who were super nice about driving my dorky ass around. I was really disappointed. I mean, whenever will I be back in Dallas? I did catch a reception at the Nasher Sculpture Center that I would highly recommend. It's indoor and outdoor.

Love these bronze headless statues by Magdalena Abakanowicz (thanks random photo from Flickr):
















and Jonathan Borofsky's "Walking to the Sky":

Atencion

Man, I'm psyched. The Bronx, one of my favorite bands, are putting out two albums. One album will be their classic dirty rock and the other, dirty mariachi. Having just returned from Mexico, this is just too fresh!



On the subject Mexican-influenced music, support Mexican artists, Date Farmers. Viva Senior Obama!

I'm back.

I'm back. My March through August has been pretty hectic. I've been to Dallas, DC, Chicago, Michigan, London and my vacation in Mexico.

I forgot to finish up my top 5 of 2007 and now I can't even remember. I can't remember #2 but my # 1 was the Ignite What's Next tour. Great show no matter what kind of work Choe, Saber and Retna were producing. I don't have anything new to post, I've been out of sorts lately. I did catch Banksy's Cans Festival and pictures are up on my Flickr.

Top Shows of 2007 # 3

If you've been patiently waiting (or even waiting at all) here's my # 3.

Shepard Fairey's "E Pluribus Venom" (out of many, poison) at Jonathan Levine Gallery. I know this one's a bit predictable but this was his most ambitious to date at that time. Particularly, all of the large works shown at a separate exhibit (DUMBO exhibition space in Brooklyn) were incredible.

There's a reason why he's had numerous solo shows for 2007. It's also a bit hard to say much since now it feels like he's over saturated us with his works.

I'm trying to imagine the transaction: "Um, I'd like to buy this 11' X 16' foot mural..."

















Or:

"Hmm, I'd like a giant mural for the side of my house."

For 10 Dollar, Everyting You Want

10 dollars buys you a deal of a print from Deth P. Sun at Rowan Morrison Gallery. Seriously, it's an awesome print and you won't get a better price than this:





















Finally, check out one of the best Morning Becomes Eclectic broadcasts performed by M.I.A.

Top Shows of 2007 # 4

#4.

"Charity By Numbers" at Corey Helford Gallery.

Good cause, good artists, good shit. Essentially taking what Banksy has recently popularized, artists retouched works of those paint by numbers styled pieces.

All strong work was shown from top artists like Mark Ryden, Camille Rose Garcia, Audrey Kawasaki, Dave Kinsey, Jeff Soto, Luke Chueh, Sage Vaughn, Ron English, Sam Flores and Tim Biskup.

One of my favorite pieces from the show by Camille Rose Garcia:









Closeup:

More blogs

I'm going to put my #4 of '07 together. In the meantime, I've added some artist and gallery blogs if you've noticed.

Enjoy this video. Another gem I found on You Tube today:



I'm not a huge R.E.M. fan but this is just too good.

Top Shows of 2007 # 5

Last year was a pretty good year for shows and I'd like to list my top 5.

#5.
I'm going with Gallery 1988's "Crazy 4 Cult" from last July. Not that Kevin Smith's appearance had anything to do with this because quite frankly he practically bought half of the pieces from the show. Check Kevin's post here.

Between Smith's movies, Willy Wonka and Leon, not much cult going on here. I would have liked to have seen maybe John Hughes, some zombie action or even John Cusack (just one piece was in the show). From a marketing standpoint it was really successful show that will now be an annual event with endless future prints. Among works from over 50 artists including Scott Campbell, Stella Im Hultberg, Kathie Olivas, Luke Chueh, the best piece in my opinion was Derek Albeck's piece from the Boondock Saints.



















Great piece. Captures the movie and Derek's style.

Nothing New

I remember Jon Stewart's late night show had some really good music guests.

But I don't know where I was when I missed this:




Jonah Matranga is another frontman that needs to stick with one band...a kickass song nonetheless

Spidey is an Everyday Man

Gallery 1998 has the longest URL...Luckily, Scott Campbell posted some kick ass Spidey illustrations on his blog for the Stan Lee tribute show. I think just about everyone has fantasized their favorite superheroes doing everyday activities. I've always wondered myself why Superman needed a job. He had a no rent crystal cave, we never saw him eat and had two outfits (maybe three for work).

2008.

Uggh...the New Year. 2007 was a blur, especially the end of the year. I've had enough of business travel and I haven't had a vacation.

I have nothing else to update. No New Year's resolutions.

But I'll have something soon.

Going Down

As people come and go every day, commerce must do the same. Unfortunately, it is this scene, this community that loses two great art galleries this month, Motel Gallery and Lab 101 Gallery. I bought one of my first pieces at Motel from Jenn Armbrust, who is incredibly nice and I wish her the best. Lab 101 is also great with shows this year that housed the artwork of Albert Reyes, Sam Flores, Kathleen Lolley and Blaine Fontana. The store is still up so check out what is still available. There are several exclusive prints from notable artists like Michael Seiben and Mel Kadel.


To the aforementioned galleries, I guess this is your time:


(I really like this song, it reminds me of really good hardcore, circa mid to late-90s. Plus, they have a really cool band name)

Jonathan Levine Gallery Streets of Europe Exhibition

My news post (my second one in a week) on The Streets of Europe Exhibition at Jonathan Levine Gallery is up on Juxtapoz. Check it.

On December 1st, New York City's Jonathan LeVine Gallery will be transformed into one of the most significant US exhibitions on European street art to date. Not one, not two, not three of the finest European street artists, but six! Obviously, we're not talking about Banksy here, but he once said about one of the starring six, "Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek Le Rat has done it as well. Only twenty years earlier..." The Streets of Europe: A Survey of European Street Art will showcase work from Space Invader [previously], D*Face, Blek Le Rat, Blu, Microbo and Bo130, all who have their own style, medium and definition. Yes, they do what they do well. If you can't make it to the opening, or Europe, the show will be up through December 29th. Bios on each artist can be read here.