Ryan McLennan's Cryptozoology
For fans of taxidermy, cryptozoology or wildlife abstractions, Ryan McLennan's works inhabit a creepy, amorphous space. His fanciful creations demonstrate a certain dark undercurrent, while encouraging viewers to recognize the bizarre, the undocumented, mythology and legends in the world around us.
posted on 08/27/08 by Sasha Lee

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Anselm Kiefer... The Bulldozer!


Thank god for Anselm Kiefer. While much contemporary art struggles with relevance, skill or impact, Kiefer’s art hits you like a bulldozer. His body of work proves that modern paintings can have as much impact as any great master. Kiefer often draws on biblical sources, which is strangely refreshing. Why shouldn’t art address giant, fat, metaphysical questions? If it was good enough for the Renaissance, why can’t it be relevant today?
posted on 08/26/08 by AHF

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Anthology Interview: Aids 3d
Aids 3-D is an incredibly innovative duo working out of Berlin comprised of Nik Kosmos and Daniel Keller. Their irreverent work addresses themes of reconciling archaic symbolism and esoteric concepts with the banality of popular culture, and the decidedly anti-spiritual promises of technological advance. The results are iconic yet cynical commentaries that wade through the glut of high speed information and internet imagery to create an idiosyncratic language of symbol and gesture entirely their own.

To read the interview, go to Anthology.
posted on 08/26/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Lowrider Trike
Dzine pays homage to Chicano culture by creating iconic customized lowrider trikes, bicycles and cars. Dzine incorporates precious materials and processes traditionally used for royal regalia, such as minute engravings, detailed paintings, embedded crystal overlay and solid 24kt gold plating. The effect are stunning eye candy emblems that imbue the traditionally "lowbrow" art form with an irreverent sense of worth.
posted on 08/25/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, filmed in 1986


Two of the biggest art icons to ever come out of NYC discuss their work, have their photos taken and act like the weirdos that they were for British television.
posted on 08/23/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Big,Bigger,Biggest
Monica Palma's large scale drawings explore the relationship between closeness and distance, private and public, and the difficulties of integrating the two sides.
posted on 08/23/08 by amir

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Thurston Moore on Art


Sonic Youthlegend Thurston Moore discusses the bands long time friendship and collaboration with fine artists such as Raymond Pettibon and Christopher Wool at the Serpentine Gallery bookstore.
posted on 08/21/08 by AHF

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Anthology Interview: Bjorn Veno
I recently got the chance to talk to artist Bjorn Veno about his incredible photography. Bjorn largely manipulates himself as the subject of his portraits. My favorite series, “Sirkel,” captures Veno in uncanny/confounding performative gestures, caught within expansive and ominous Scandinavian landscapes. They appear at first to echo the solitary and painterly visual trappings of Kaspar David Freidrich—yet upon further inspection, reveal a subtle sense of humor. The artist created this series in order to re-create games he played as a child: intimating notions of play, imagination, loss and the shifting perspectives that come with adulthood. We also discussed his photo series , “The Paradigm, déjà vu,” as well as his inspiration, interest in philosophy, the role of the artist in society and upcoming projects.

To read the interview, go to Anthology.
posted on 08/12/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Inside Contemporary Chinese Art


The contemporary Chinese art scene is bigger than ever these days with artists selling works for well into the millions. This is a short documentary highlighting some of the most interesting artists working in the Chinese art world today.


posted on 08/19/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Frosti Gnarr
Maybe I am just a sucker for her amazing name, or all things Scandinavian (everything in Sweden, at least it seems, from people's homes to candy bars always have a certain aesthetic- clever, practical, bright colored, amazing patterns and slick design aesthetic), or even pink/flower/glitter/winged thing images...but these particular posters from Frosti Gnarr caught my eye. Frosti is a 22 year old graphic designer from Iceland. She has an interesting project on her blog where she creates a different poster for each day, with nearly 200 so far. Check it out for more cool posters.
posted on 08/18/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Dana Schutz's Self Eaters



NYC painter Dana Schutz discusses the themes of her "Self Eaters" series of paintings.
posted on 08/17/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (1) | Post a Comment

Neckface Update: No one under 17 admitted?
I heard a rumor flying around that the New Image Art Gallery press release stated that no one under the age of 17 will be admitted, due to the graphic nature of the works. I personally didnt see this anywhere on the New Image site. Regardless, what do you guys think- are the Neckface images too graphic? Should under 17 year olds be banned?


posted on 08/12/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Tired & Erect
Archie Scott Gobber's witty text based paintings, sculptures, billboards and drawings.
posted on 08/14/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

I Met The Walrus



In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon's every word in a cascading flood of multi pronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message.
posted on 08/13/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Leslie Baum
Leslie Baum's teetering homegrown constructions are at once seductive and funny. Her playful stacks of color and form are quirky and precarious. I'm instantly reminded for some reason of Natural history museum charts or school room geology illustrations, doodled over by a bored kid.
posted on 08/11/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Anthology Interview: Michael Berryhill
Michael Berryhill’s paintings generate a diverse world populated by imagery, ideas and situations idiosyncratic to Michael Berryhill’s unique visual vocabulary. They display an interest in architectural structure, overlayed on representational images, tropes appropriated from Western “masterworks,” and, of course mustaches. I recently sat down with Michael to discuss his inspiration and creative process.

To read the interview, go to anthology.
posted on 08/07/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Ken Fandell
Ken Fandell creates composite photographs of skies at varying times and from various cities. These sublime, seemingly "transcendental" photos are sort of what I imagine Michelangelo would use on the Sistene Chapel if he had access to photoshop. They are extremely Rococo in their bombastically ostentatious spectacles- fit for a king.
posted on 08/11/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

She comes in colors
DIANA GUERRERO-MACIÁ's piece "Like a Rainbow" from her upcoming show, Devoured By Symbols at Tony Wight Gallery caught my eye. Maybe because she references the psychedelic Stones' song with an irreverent directness, or somehow managed to incorporate a rainbow into a painting, I don't know. Many of her words play with signifier and signified, text, and the loss of poetics and sublime imagery within ironic contemporary works. Her odd choice of wool, vinyl and felt often sewed to canvas is interesting.

Her show will run at Tony Wight Gallery September 5 - October 11, 2008.
posted on 08/11/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (3) | Post a Comment

Matthew Paladino
Matthew Paladino's kooky, brightly colored constructions pay homage to early Mission school artists but reinfuse the narrative with an interestingly idiosyncratic perspective. Paladino comments on current cultural/political hotspots and tensions, such as the over sexualization of women or tense race relations. His works reference everything from public murals to avant garde design, creating truly stunning works.
posted on 08/08/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Neckface @ New Image Art Opens August 16
Neckface's deceptively dark images pay homage to the black underbelly of popular culture. All things epic are incorporated into his cartoonish imaginations- from the masked metal antics of King Diamond, to Eddie, the zombie mascot of Iron Maiden, to Slayer's morose violent descripptives, to new generation slacker style ruminations akin to Raymond Pettibon.

Neckface will be in Los Angeles shortly for his first solo exhibition at New Image Art Gallery. His show will feature drawings and paintings on paper and discarded objects, a wall of sculptured metal masks and an installation of felt witches.

For more information, click the link above to visit New Image Art Gallery's website.

August 16- September 20

OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY, 16 7-11 PM
posted on 08/08/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (5) | Post a Comment

Lyle Owerko's Vintage Boomboxes
Not too long ago, we sat down to interview photographer Lyle Owerko for Anthology regarding his work, in particular his chilling and iconic images of the so-called 9/11 "jumpers," falling free form from the collapsing buildings. Click here to read the interview: Interview: Lyle Owerko. Lyle recently emailed me his newest work site- a fun collection of vintage boomboxes. For all you children of the 80's, Im sure you will have fun perusing these images and recalling the days you made mix tapes for your friends. From hip-hop to punk-rock, the blaring loud boombox (usually in public spaces or busses) was always the speakerphone of youth culture. Check them out at his website.
posted on 08/06/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Elizabeth Peyton
The first survey of Elizabeth Peyton's work in an American institution will premier at the New Museum on 10/8/08. The exhibition, entitled "Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton" will include more than 100 works made over the past fifteen years. If you're not familiar with her work, Peyton captures iconic imagery culled from both personal narratives and popular culture, often with a subtle blending of sexuality. Her depictions of gender is often soft focus blurred- men appear in a rococo, bon vivant fashion with rosy cheeks and pink lips, women appear as men. Peyton reveals a mind and culture obsessed with beauty, vapidity, and emptiness through seductive paintings.
posted on 08/06/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Recycled Busts
Michael Ferris Jr.'s sculptures are made from recycled wood that is both applied and carved, and held in place by pigmented grout. Richly textured and brightly patterned the works are all portraits of the artist’s family and friends. Ferris’ intention is to interpret the sitter’s psychological state and to capture his emotional connection to his subject through a combination of crude and refined carved surfaces as well as bold patterns that recall Maori tattoos and Byzantine mosaics.


posted on 08/06/08 by AHF

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Monica Nouwen's New Public High Schools
To photograph architecture as the designer envisions is an outmoded practice. An architect’s attempt to resist or guide criticism by presenting their work devoid of the complexity of everyday life is no longer convincing. The work of Monica Nouwens inspires new direction for architectural photography. Her photographs provide critical edge, without the kitsch of a designer’s staging or rhetoric; her contemporary flare reveals an optical unconscious through stunning images that provoke understanding of the relationships between real buildings, people, and their urban atmosphere.

As a metropolitan flâneur with distance from her subjects, Nouwens casts architecture in a most compelling light. As German literary critic Walter Benjamin well understood, the city is like a crime scene in need of profane illumination through photography. Nouwen’s photographic research in Los Angeles, challenges the effects that recent school revitalization projects have had on the everyday lives of its city residents. Nouwen’s images reveal schools that create a training ground for the next generation through big, vast, powerful and contemporary building structures. -Stephen Phillips
posted on 08/05/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (1) | Post a Comment

VIMBY presents: 111 Minna Gallery

VIMBY - 111 Minna Gallery

When I used to live up in San Francisco, I always went to rad art openings/parties at 111 Minna Gallery. I didn't realize the gallery was still up and running until I saw this VIMBY video. It looks 111 Minna still has a selection of interesting emerging artists in their arsenal. To find out more, check out the video above that my friends at VIMBY have made.

In case you didn't know, VIMBY (Video in my backyard) is an awesome lifestyle/fashion/art/music online video content site devoted to capturing whatever is happening across the nation. Each week they deliver original first-run programming that gives you a peek into various creative communities. VIMBY effectively brings you news that you will not see on corporate mainstream television, which seems mostly preoccupied with squirrels surfing or dogs skateboarding or Paris Lohan losing her dog or doing drugs or whatever. Click the link above to check out other great videos!



posted on 08/05/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Interview: Johnston Foster
Johnston Foster creates rough-hewn sculptures literally forged from the detritus of American throwaway culture. Gathering cast-off materials from the dumpsters, trash heaps and construction sites nearby his house, Foster buys only the screws to assemble his works. The works have a playful, animated quality with nods to both mythological-invoking animal imagery and the trappings of classic “normal suburban life styles”: golf clubs, Christmas trees, etc. However, lurking beneath their brightly colored façade lies a darker, more subversive narrative. With titles such as “Welcome to the Dark Ages” or “Seasons in the Abyss,” Johnston calls attention to the waste of commodity culture. It is as if our trash has risen Phoenix like, revived from its own ashes, into a monstrous Frankenstein, leering at our wastefulness by pushing it back into our faces.

For the full interview, go to Anthology.



posted on 08/05/08 by Sasha Lee

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Artist Profile: Amy Longenecker-Brown
Amy Longenecker-Brown's self-aware slacker antics address the nature of representation with a healthy dose of self-parody and irony. Her hilarious meta-paintings repeat simple premises to ridiculous ends like recurrent dreams; her existentialist investigations appear as contemporary homages to Magritte’s visual painting puns. The above works from the "Companion Series" are simply titled Sunday - Contemplating Choice of Companion, Monday with Jesus, Saturday with Guston, Friday with Pets.

Amy Longenecker-Brown currently shows at Monya Rowe Gallery.
posted on 08/05/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (1) | Post a Comment

222 Gallery + Kim Giannone
Kim Giannone's art is inspired by her nomadic upbringing. Born in Philadelphia in the 70s, she began to chronicle her observations at age 11, and by 16 she was obsessed with making still images. This passion led Kim to the New England School of Photography, and from there she embarked on an exploration of theUnited States. She hasn't stopped moving since. A "pro hobo," her work reflects a constant change of scenery. Shooting, writing and wandering for the better part of seven years, Kim has lived in Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Wyoming, Illinois, Austin and San Francisco, all the while relying on the kindness of strangers for good conversation and an occasional lift. She finds much love and support from her friends, and even an occasional bed. Kim has shown in Philadelphia, Chicago,Worcester and Boston.

Kim's show will be opening at 222 Gallery this Thursday, August 7th, from 7-10. The show will be on display until August 29. For more information, click the link above to visit 222 Gallery's site.
posted on 08/04/08 by sasha

Permalink | Discussion (0) | Post a Comment

Ellen Gallagher's "DeLuxe"


Ellen Gallagher was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1965, and lives and works in New York and Rotterdam, Holland. Repetition, structure, pattern and modification are central to Gallagher’s treatment of advertisements that she appropriates from popular magazines. In this video, she discusses her 2 year piece dealing with DeLuxe magazine, an alternative black publication. Initially, Gallagher was drawn to the wig advertisements because of their grid-like structure. Later she realized that it was the accompanying language and narrative, figurative possibilities that attracted her, and she began to bring these ‘narratives’ into her paintings—making them function through the characters of the advertisements as a kind of chart of lost worlds. Although the work has often been interpreted strictly as an examination of race, Gallagher also suggests a more formal reading with respect to materials, processes, and insistences. Gallagher has been influenced by the sublime aesthetics of Agnes Martin’s paintings as well the subtle shifts and repetitions of Gertrude Stein’s writing. In her earlier works, Gallagher glued pages of penmanship paper onto stretched canvas and then drew and painted on it. In “Watery Ecstatic” (2002-04), she literally carved images into thick watercolor paper in her own version of scrimshaw, from which emerge images of the sea creatures from Drexciya, a mythical underwater Black Atlantis.

This exhibition is currently on view at Stockholm's Moderna Museet until August 24. For more Moderna Museet videos, click the link above.


posted on 08/04/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Color Rays And Waves
Gary Peterson's abstract paintings and drawings flirt with representation and act as a bridge between the real and the imagined. See more work by Gary on his site by clicking the title link above.


posted on 08/03/08 by AHF

Permalink | Discussion (1) | Post a Comment

Jimmy Joe Roche's Bogus Trips


Jimmy Joe Roche is a Baltimore based performance/video artist/filmmaker. The above video, “Brother Wolf Spirit” is probably one of the most hilarious videos I’ve seen in a while. Jimmy Joe Roche’s text to accompany his video on You Tube: “Shamanistic manifestation of the demon brother. Go with preacher in the forest.” Roche blends mushroom mindbending iconography with obsolete bogus shamanistic visions all while wearing some pseudo Peruvian stitched kaftan. He pretty much makes anyone who thinks they have had some cosmological insight in the “forest” or discovered their spirit animals on peyote in a cave feel like an asshole. Even the way he begins the video in the classic “Namaste” position while gyrating in an Egyptian pyramid makes me cringe at the yoga classes I have taken at 24 hour fitness or those lame headbands I have totally worn. Perhaps the funniest comment on You Tube to his video is the debatably spiritual insight from one viewer: “Shamans dont use dark magic, Sorcers do, useing the term demonic might mean sorcery dark magic,be careful what you say in this way of life.”

Jimmy Joe Roche recently returned from the famed Roskilde Festival in Denmark where he and Dan Deacon performed their music and video epic, Ultimate Reality. Last summer they toured this work to many locations throughout America and Canada, including the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the New York Underground Film Festival.

He recently showed his cut paper works “Totems” at RARE Gallery.


posted on 08/01/08 by Sasha

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Polymer Pig... AKA Corporate Pig
Meredith Dittmar creates surreal relief sculptors using polymer clay and acrylic. While some of them are a bit too kitsch for my tastes others are quite nice. She currently is part of group show up at Riviera Gallery in Brooklyn, NY. The show comes down on August 10th so make sure to catch it before it comes down.
posted on 08/01/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Nadav Kander's Melancholy
Nadav Kander's eerie and detached images of Chernobyl, The Artic Circle, God Country.
posted on 08/01/08 by john

Permalink | Discussion (5) | Post a Comment

Casey Smith
Casey Smith's pen and colored pencil drawings.
posted on 08/01/08 by ahf

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Gnarls Barkley's Bleeding Heart


Thanks to our friends at The Gluttony we discovered this brilliantly innovative video directed by photograher/director Chris Milk for Gnarls Barkley's "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?".
posted on 08/01/08 by Amir

Permalink | Discussion (2) | Post a Comment

Archive:
2008: 06 07 08
2007: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
2006: 12