Current Obsession: Heisuke Kitazawa

Also known as PCP: http://www.hypehopewonderland.com/

Strictly illustrations. Strictly colorful. With a pinch of digital editing (on some works).

When perusing through the artist's website, be sure to start from the current goods and work your way backwards. Though every year is consistent in being visually dynamic (and overall impressive), the use of pattern and surrealism is far more apparent in the illustrations dated 2009.

There's an immediate recognition of cultural implementations. The use of Japanese anime inspired creatures and colors is made apparent at initial observation, with no need of further research into the artist's background. It's visually delicious, and one can lose himself/herself in dissecting the intricate details in just one illustration. Totally inspiring.

The Shoe Show

Photo: Feb 9, 2008 - The Shoe Show (Pomona Arts Colony)

Brought To Life

Photo: Art student turns graffiti on wall into 3 dimensional art. So sick.

Wild Designs

Photo: Is this not the best bathroom ever? Urinals scare me, and these are no exception - but at least they take the edge off. I came across this pic a couple of months ago, and recently found it in my "temporary" folder. Wanted to share before I deleted it from my hard drive.


Photo: Stockholm's underground. So dope! Click here to read the accompanying article.

WK, Kobe, Lauren Hill

Ohhh snap! Why haven't I seen this before? Two of my great loves together: art & Kobe Bryant. Hate on haters, hate on.



http://www.wkinteract.com/

Neat Vimeo

This vimeo had me sayin whoa...

Luna Park and Heart Throb

Photo: Reception at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery

March has already proven to be an unexpectedly entertaining month. Sandy, Helen, and I had a quaint dinner at Luna Park over the weekend, followed by a romp through Heart Throb with Norma, my favorite. We capped off the evening at JP's Sports Bar in West LA. The fun never ends every time we get together (missing from photos: Jodi, our now Arlingtonian).

Post-script: I highly recommend Luna Park. Helen's Mac-n-Cheese dish was delish! And Sandy was absolutely correct, they make excellent Mojito's and Sangria's!

Post-post-script: I am SO art-galleried out. I've had my fix for the next couple of weeks (months?).

Photos: Norma, Sandy, Myself, Helen

L.A. Art Walk (March)

First stop on our art adventure was a visit to the Neo Art League. There we met Echo Lew, an abstract and mixed medium artist from Taiwan. The only thing more impressive than his (awesome) artwork was his personality. What a super guy.

Next stop was the Red Dot Gallery (where they also sell Weeneez Chili. Chili and art. Chilean Art. lol). I was impressed by some of the pieces, but Andrew, not so much. I believe he said, in verbatim, "digital art needs to stay on the computer." He can say that in all right - because he too is a digital artist.

Third stop was Billy's Coffee Shop (inmogallery.net). This was definitely an entertaining exhib. Not for the visual arts but for the performing arts. The most adorable (Irish?) boy was entertaining the crowd with violin goodness. We made eye contact. Total chemistry. But the artwork wasn't impressive. At all.

Photo: Boyfriend

Photo: Concept had potential.

Next stop (and highly entertaining) was The Art of Smoking Mirror (by Eduardo Villacis). It's, "A mock museum installation chronicling an alternative history in which the Aztecs conquer Europe in the year 1493 after encountering Columbus in 1492." Oh my gosh. This exhibit was very funny, and I highly recommend that you run by and see it. Presentation is key, and this gallery nailed it. Ends March 24th.

Then there were filler (and strictly for social gathering) galleries: Pharmaka Art, LA Center for Digital Art, El Nopal Press, Photograps of Iceland, and maybe one or two more that I can't recall.

Photo: Gallery Row?

Photo: Photograps

Last but not least (and my favorite exhib to cap off the night) was the Conceptual exhibit at Crewest Gallery on Winston St. It's "A huge group exhibition showcasing original works created on actual spray paint cans. Some of the globe's hottest artists recycle old and rusty aerosol cans into unique and exquisite pieces of art." Ends March 31 (and closing reception will have DJ's and live painting by select artists). For all you urban and street art lovers, check check it out.

Photo: One of the best ones.

On My March/April To-Do List

Photo: Heart Throb

So many gallery openings for the month of March! Be excited! For fans of the Van, read the above flyer. For fans of Mark Ryden, Flavorpill LA has listed the following on their calendar of events this weekend: Mark Ryden: The Tree Show between 12pm-6pm on March 10, 2007 at the Michael Kohn Gallery (8071 Beverly Blvd, 323-658-8088). This exhibition remains on display through April 28, 2007 (Tue-Fri: 10am-6pm / Sat: 11am-6pm).

And for those of you who have time to play tomorrow night, I'll be draggin' people out to the L.A. Artwalk (which will be preluded by a Ramen Dinner). Join us! Please!

Arts Colony

The 100th Pomona Art Walk successfully seduced the attendance of artists and art enthusiasts alike. Second street was dotted with craftsmen from all arenas of the interlocking art world, and was a place to mingle with a camera in one hand, and wine in the other.

After convincing my good friend 'Re fried' to join me for a night of music in the streets and art from head to feet, we shimmied our way down the street's narrow corridors, and found ourselves atop the 2nd Street Bistro, oogling that which is Lisa and Ash's new art loft. Vaulted ceilings, brick wall facades, and floor to ceiling windows were all a cause for me to stand there green with envy. The loft was flat out amazing! So old, and so full of character. Lisa, a good friend and coworker, scored the keys to the sprawling space just last week. It was extremely convenient to have a pit stop amongst all of the galleries and mini-concerts taking place just below our feet.

For anyone interested, Metro Pomona hosts an art walk on every second Saturday of each month. Every gallery on 2nd Street and Garey Avenue are open to the general public - for free. It has definite potential to be an entertaining night out on the town.

Photo: 2nd St. Bistro

Banksy's Barely Legal

A couple weeks/months ago, I heard a small rumor that Banksy was to come to town (thanks to the bloggers over at Wooster). Since then, I've been patiently perusing art blog after art blog, hoping to be the first to learn of the location/time. Alas, his website finally released the location/time yesterday mornin.

I planned ahead and took the day off work. No joke guys. That's how much I love this man's work. I (and Andrew, whom I convinced to also take the day off work) had to have been one of the first ten people there. Stalker, I know.

Anyway, it was off theee hook. He had a lot of his famous stencils on display; and even had a room devoted to a slide show of his stealth-mode endeavors. All in all, it was a gallery of goodness that cannot be dismissed. Although, I do have to admit that seeing his work commercialized on a canvas isn't the same as passing it on a metropolitan street. It didn't make me stop and think - but it was still amazing.

It's a three day exhibit (there's still time!) in one of LA's ghettos. He doesn't provide an address, but with the aid of google maps (and me) you should have an easier time finding it than I had (three wrong turns).

Take the 10 and exit Santa Fe south. It's literally the next street over from the freeway. Actually, it's not even really a street - more like an alley. A shady alley. In the ghetto. You'll know you're in the right place when you hit the dead end.

Banksy News

I was randomly perusing through one of my favorite blogs when I came across this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5310416.stm

Too frickin' awesome! My boy strikes again.

My Boy Banksy is Back

The man kinda fell of the face of the earth for a while, but he's back... and he's in Brooklyn. I stole these off of the WC site. So sick.

Ecstacy

After nearly passing out post-myfirstfieldlossreport in the high desert, I popped in two advils and a cold shower to prepare myself for the drive to MOCA. I've been waiting months to see the ecstacy exhibit since reading about it in the times!

It was aesthetically pleasing and "visually complex".

Pretending not to hear a worker tell the woman beside us "ABSOLUTELY NO PICTURES," Andrew - in full blown stealth mode - hid behind a shroom & snapped away.. only to have the shutter sound go off and give us away. We got in mad trouble.. BUT we got a picture!!! weeee..

LACMA

For months now, I've been itching to visit the King Tut exhibit at LACMA. After countless, "no thanks Rowena, not my thing," replies from friends I've invited to share this experience, I finally said 'screw it' and made the 1+ hour drive out to Wilshire yesterday morn'.

I paid $22 and wasn't very impressed. While the thought of "wow he held that staff" entertained me for a few seconds, I've seen Egyptian relics that have tickled my fancy on a much greater level. The exhibit itself wasn't very big. There were way too many people pushing, smacking their lips, and begging their children to 'please stop crying'! While the structure of the exhibit meant to force the flow of paying visitors through the rooms swiftly, I found the placement of certain artifacts to be quite haphazard. It was way too crowded.

I probably would have been more impressed had I not seen Mummy: The Inside Story just last year. Now THAT was a good exhibit. For £4 (??), I watched a 3D film, saw more than one royal coffin, and was able to view a plethora of Egyptian relics. Sure, viewing King Tut's bling was a cool and new experience, but overall, the exhibit was so-so.

I spent the next three hours walking around LACMA east, visiting permanent exhibits and other temporary ones like Japan goes to the World's Fairs (boooring) and Renzo Piano and Building Workshop: Selected Projects (super impressive! highly recommend. Ends in 5 days!). The European portraits, nostalgia! The Korean gallery, nostalgia!


Photo: Contemporary art gallery.


Photo: Freakin awesome 3D model.

Banksy

Banksy is so freakin’ sick! No, he’s not just my favorite street artist because he’s British and I’m obsessed with all things English – but his talent is so pure and so original.

“Billboards are like having millionaires throw rocks at your head. You never asked to see them, they invade your life and make you feel inadequate. Time has come to pick up the rocks and throw them back.”

“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw wherever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a living breathing thing which belonged to everybody, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall - its wet.”



And if you're familiar with his work (meaning, you are cool), you may know him as the guy who gets all 'stealth mode' and puts up his own artwork in various museums using double sided sticky tape. The goods look legit!



http://www.banksy.co.uk/