Curated by Jan Corey Helford, this past May 15th marked the opening of the “Art From the New World” group exhibition at the Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery. This show will run until August 22nd, but for those of us that aren’t able to see it in person, we now have some images of the art and even behind the scenes photos of the preparation and build up to opening day (see here).

Last year the Bristol City Museum featured the works of Banksy, and during the course of the exhibition over 300,000 visited the museum. Now for the “Art From the New World” show, there have been over 5,000 visitors in the first 6 days of the opening. This is not only a very exciting show, but an important one for the future of the art we love so much. Originally referred to as a scene filled with “illustrators”, this art is now gaining more momentum than ever. Museums are taking notice, and the fan-base is becoming larger than ever. There is some amazing work in this show, from artists such as Kent Williams, David Stoupakis, Joe Sorren, Brandi Milne, Buff Monster, Camille Rose Garcia, Dave Kinsey, Travis Louie, Mercedes Helnwein, Ray Ceasar, Sas Christian, Melissa Forman, Jason Shawn Alexander, Dave Cooper, Liz McGrath, Mike Stilkey, Gary Baseman, Craola, Luke Chueh, Coop, Natalia Fabia, Chris Anthony, AJ Fosik, Joe Ledbetter, Todd Schorr, Van Arno, Martin Wittfooth, Josh Agle, Lola, Sylvia Ji, Marion Peck, Mark Ryden and many more. How is that for a lineup? I really wish this show was going to travel and come to some museums here in the states. Take a look at the preview images here, and then head over for the full preview.

Art From the New World: Here and Here

This past March 13th, the Copro Galley opened the 5th Anniversary Exhibition for Hi Fructose. Along with this amazing group show, Eric Fortune and Michael Page also had solo shows up as well. The group show featured some inspiring work by KMNDZ, Scott Hove, Martin Wittfooth, Lori Earley, Eric Fortune, Craola, Chet Zar, Amy Sol, Kris Kuksi, Jonathan Viner, Chris Mars and many more. The Eric Fortune works are not up on the site as of yet, but the Michael Page solo show is. His latest works have been more abstract, and less figurative than earlier pieces. These paintings still hold the same narrative feel that his older works had, and are even more mysterious than ever. The colors are breathtaking, and I like the idea that he decided to change his work up a bit. Take a look at the preview images from the shows, and then head on over and see all of the works.

Copro Gallery

Last week, the “Lush Life 2″ group invitational opened at Roq La Rue in Seattle. The shows features new works by Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Marion Peck, Kris Kuksi, Travis Louie, Brian Despain, John Brophy, Martin Wittfooth, Ryan Heshka, Michael Brown, Charlie Immer, Mandy Greer, Gail Potocki, Laurie Hogin, Boomer, Madeline Von Foerster, Ryan Heshka and more. How is that for a line-up? With so much amazing work in one gallery it makes me wish Seattle was just a little closer. The show isn’t fully online yet for those of us that weren’t able to make the reception, but there is a web preview you can check out. So far from the preview, all of the works are very strong, but I am particularly taken with Travis Louie’s “The Ghost Of Laura From The Reeds”. His paintings are insane in person, the level of detail is very impressive to say the least. I also like that he adds stories to each of his characters. I often did this with my mothers Cabinet photo and tintype collection, but my stories were not as entertaining as the ones Travis comes up with.

I really liked that a good majority of the artists in this show, are either inspired by classical themes, or paint in the style of classical masters. This is seen with the work of Madeline Von Foerster, Andrew Arconti and the “Lady Clown” from Marion Peck. That painting is so perfect, the color palette, the inspiration from Francisco Goya’s “La maja desnuda“, and the expression that clown face has. I really hope this is turned into a print soon.

Check out the preview here: Lush Life 2 @ Roq La Rue

Thinkspace Gallery will open “A Cry For Help” benefit show this coming Friday, January 8th. The show is presented by Born Free USA, whom along with the Animal Protection Institute helped Thinkspace with the “Fight For Flight” exhibition back in 2008. The theme for this years show is animals, endangered as well as thriving species, and supporting the ethical treatment of animals and making sure current and future generations understand about habitat loss and how important animals are for all of us.

20% of the proceeds of the sales will go to Born Free and A.P.I, as well as 100% of the proceeds from the limited editions that will be released the night of the reception. A great cause with some amazing art. What a perfect way to start out 2010. The list of participating artists is nothing short of spectacular. Paintings from such artists as Allison Sommers, Amy Sol, Andrew Hem, Andy Kehoe, Buff Monster, Catherine Brooks (Featured), Charlie Immer, Chet Zar (Interviewed, 2), Dan May, David MacDowell, Fred Harper, Heiko Müller, Jennybird Alcantara, Joao Ruas, Kelly Vivanco (Interviewed), Luke Kopycinski (Featured), Martin Wittfooth, Nimit Malavia, Rory Kurtz, Sarah Joncas (Interviewed), Scott G. Brooks, Tran Nguyen, Travis Louie, Van Arno and many more will be on view. If you are in the area there is no reason to miss this show, there is just too much good work to pass up seeing it all in person. Here is a small preview of works, keep your eyes open for the full list of art to show up on the galleries site.

Thinkspace Gallery

Here is the rundown of art shows that will be opening up this weekend.

Friday:
Swarm Gallery will host an exhibition of new works by Josh Keyes.

Perihilion Arts will open “Black Eyed Mouseketeers”, a new series of paintings by Bob Dob. The show is online and looks great.

Cave Gallery will open “Outside my Window”, a group show featuring art by Liz Brizzi, Adam Flores, Max Kauffman and more.

La Luz de Jesus is opening its four shows, as mentioned in an earlier post, with new art from Scott Holloway, Jessica Dalva, Misato Otake & Jasmine Worth.

Varnish Art will be having its last show at the current location, and will end it all with a new solo show entitled “ThankYouGoodbye” with works from Michael Page.

Strychnin Gallery will host “The Red Thread”, which features work by Jennybird Alcantra, Bethany Marchman and Edith Lebeau, who was a featured artist on the Creep Machine. Congrats Edith!

Saturday:
Copro Gallery will open “The Blab! Show” featuring new paintings by Joe Sorren, Andy Kehoe, Alex Gross, Jeff Soto, Femke Hiemstra, Shag, Kris Kuksi, Ryan Heshka, Martin Wittfooth, XNO, Travis Lampe, Owen Smith, Kathleen Lolley, Natalia Fabia, Andrew Brandou, Gary Taxali and more

Disctinction Art will open “Scientific Evolution”, with new artwork from Dan Lyderson, Sean Christopher, Jasmine Worth, Gene Guynn, Christian Van Minnen, Dave MacDowell and more. 10% of proceeds to benefit stem cell research.

This July 11th at the Copro Gallery will be “Monster”, a group show curated by Travis Louie and features the work of over 50 artists. I’m a big fan of the work of Mr Louie, and was raised on monster artwork, so this show is right up my alley. Some of the artists that will be at this show are Ron English, Femke Hiemstra, Jessica Joslin, Audrey Kawasaki, Tessar Lo, Martin Wittfooth, Chet Zar, Amanda Visell, Ana Bagayan, Annie Owens, Attaboy, Brandt Peters, Brian Despain, Brom, Chris Ryniak, Dan Quintana, Ekundayo, Dave Chung, Dave DeVries, Davey Wong, Deseo, Dice Tsutsumi, Francesco LoCastro, Fred Harper, Heidi Taillefer, Isabel Samaras, James Zar, Jason D’Aquino, Amy Botello, Kris Kuksi, Kris Lewis, Lola, Mari Inukai, Mark Texiera, Miles Teves, Molly Crabapple, Nouar, Xiaoqing Ding and many more. If you head on over to Erratic Phenomena you can see an interview done with Travis about the show and his stance on the art scene and where it is going. I like how Travis brought up that some of the art we see is short on conception and lacks creativity. My favorite bit is:

A gallery owner (I won’t say who) tried to tell me how great someone’s brushwork was, and he really had no clue about what constitutes “good brushwork.” Folks, there is a significant difference between having a strong style that exaggerates anatomy, and exaggeration because of a lack of anatomical knowledge. I’m not saying I’d like to see all things painted realistically or naturalistically, but I would prefer that the artists know how to draw something, at least. I’ve seen so many artists whose drawing was so bad I can’t believe they got shows.

Not only am I crazy about Art History, but I am also quite big on anatomy and classical ways of painting/drawing. I hope to see more of these disciplines as well. Anway, make sure you head on over to Erratic Phenomena to read the interview and check out the gallery for the full preview of works.

Monster @ Copro Gallery

Here is the rundown of the shows that will be taking place this weekend.

Friday:
Eclectix Gallery will open “All Gurlz” show featuring more than thirty female artists

Halogen Gallery previously Suite 100, has a show featuring new work by Kendra Binney, Rudy Fig and Jeremiah Ketner

Thinkspace Gallery will open “…Away From The Things Of Man” by Kathleen Lolley, “A Brief History” by Allison Sommers and in the project room “Inner Myth Pt. 1″ by João Ruas

Roq la rue will open “Lush Life”, a group show featuring work by Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Chris Conn Askew, Mia Araujo,, Melissa Forman, Travis Louie, Madeline Von Foerster, Martin Wittfooth, Kukula, Ryan Heshka, John Brophy, Tin, Brian Despain, Glenn Barr, Dan Quintana, Femke Hiemstra, Laurie Hogin, Lisa Petrucci
& Andrew Arconti.

Hyaena Gallery has a one night event, Albrecht Durer and his ” “The Monstrous Sow
of Landser (1496)” engraving for sale. There will also be work by Chris “The Creep” Densmore, Clint Carney, Dan Harding, Alex Pardee, Erick De La Vega, .W. Frydendall, Delphia, Chuck Hodi and many more. The show is only night and is online, so check it out now.

Saturday:
Congregation Gallery is opening “Voodoo, Hoodoo, and Santeria: The Art of Conjure Black Carpet Arrivals” with new work from D. W. Frydendall, Christopher Ulrich, Munk One, Evil Paul, Eli Livingston, 13:11, Cate Rangel, Shawn Du Val Humiston, Glenda Rolie, Lloyd Mattews, Gene Guynn, Patrick Segui, David Cook, Sarah Hestal, Tiffany Garcia, Elizabeth Caffey, George De La Santos, Cam Rackam, Erick De La Vega, Skullmaster, Kevin Klemm, Steve Rodgers, Nicholas Caesar, Tatomir, Jim Parchen, RT Vegas, Dean Karr, Alina Stempa, Dave Rose, Romesh Mccullough, Tom Zimmerman, Renato Ruiz, Skip Crank, Jeremy Cross Voodoo Tarot Readings Cuban Cigar Roller Personal Voodoo Doll Maker

The Parlour Gallery at Halloween Town will open the Edgar Allan Poe group art show, with some work from Dan Harding, Eric Pigors, Gris Grimly, Zombienose and more.

Last Rites Gallery will open “Southern” a duo show with new work from Brian Viveros and Matthew Bone.

Lebasse Projects will open “Hello and Goodbye” by Yoskay Yamamoto and “Wild Fields” by Melissa Haslam

Shooting Gallery SF will open “Into The Woodz” a new solo show from Isabel Samaras. Then at the Gallery Three “Fantastic in the Sack” New Works By Dustin Olson

Copro Gallery will have “Strange Grooming Habits” by Travis Louie and “Sentimental” by Kathie Olivas

Here is the rundown of the shows that will be opening up this weekend.

Friday:
Grass Hut Corp will be opening “The Squirrels Made Me Do It”, a group show featuring work by Anna Chambers, Joe Ledbetter, Michelle Valigura & Amanda Visell.

T&P Fine Arts is opening the group show “The Kids Are Alright”. This show is curated by Beau Basse and will feature work by Nimit Malavia, Yuta Onoda, Danni Shinya Luo, Jeremy Lynch, Eric Davison and many more.

Ad Hoc Art will be hosting new works from Ekundayo and Joshua Clay in the main room, and TheDirtyFabulous in the project room.

Saturday:
Rivet Art will be showing new works from Annie Owens ans Laurie Lipton.

Gallery 1988 SF will open a dual show of Dan McCarthy and Daniel Danger. There will be some prints released at the reception.

Copro Gallery will have three killer shows opening up. First Hi-Fructose brings us “Overdose” with work from Alex Pardee, Andrew Hem, Bob Dob, Anthony Ausgang, Brandi Milne, Brandt Peters, Brendan Danielsson, Chris Owens, Chris Peters, Chet Zar, Chris Berens, Craola, Dan May, Dan Quintana, Ekundayo, Erik Fortune, Femke Hiemstra, Glenn Barr, Gris Grimly, Jason D’Aquino, Joe Vaux, Josh Keyes, Kathie Olivas, KMNDZ, Kris Kuksi, Kukula, Lola, Luke Chueh, Mars-1, Martin Wittfooth, McBess, Mia, Michael Page, Naoto Hattori, Nathan Spoor, Robert Hardgrave, Scott Musgrove, Shag, Skot Olsen, Thomas Han, Tin, Tom Haubrick, Travis Louie, Viktor Safonkin, Vince Cacciotti, Yoskay Yamamoto, Yosuke Ueno, Yoko D’holbachie and more.
Then there will also be “Nightlight” by Kieth Weesner in gallery 2 and “The Herrings Hairdo” by Femke Hiemstra in gallery 3.

How is that for a group show?

Here is the rundown of the shows that will be opening this weekend.

Friday:
The Alternative Cafe is hosting “This is the End”. Curated by the Creep Machine and featuring work by 25 artists from all over the world. It’s going to be a truly exciting show. Check the work out, it is now online to view. If you can make it the reception is from 7-9pm.

Gallery 1988 SF will open “Sweet Surrender”, a group show featuring work by Krista Huot, Camilla d’Errico, Jennifer Tong and Allison Torneros. The show will be online at noon this Friday.

Definition Gallery has “Melancholy”, featuring new works by Bethany Marchman, Nicholas Harper and Brandon Maldonado

Joshua Liner Gallery has a solo exhibition from Tomokazu Matsuyama entitled “Glancing at the Twin Peak”. The work is online and looks great.

La Luz de Jesus opens “Everything But The Kitschen Sync” 12h annual group show. Some of the artists in this show are: Dave MacDowell, Apricot Mantle, Bob Dob, Nathan Ota, Chris Peters, Sean Stepanoff, Heather Watts, Paul Torres and many more.

Saturday:
Copro Gallery has two shows opening: “Natural Beauties”, Lola’s solo show and “SuperSchool” featuring work by Scott Musgrove, Travis Louie, Gary Baseman, Sas Christian, Chet Zar, Heiko Mueller, Dan May, Martin Wittfooth, Chris Ryniak, Nathan Spoor, Kris Lewis, Carrie Ann Baade, Michael Page, Ana Bagayan, Kevin Peterson, Naoto Hattori, Amy Sol, Francesco LoCastro, Reinier Gamboa, Mia, Brian Viveros, Dan Quintana , Tin and more. Much of the work is online to view, both shows are very strong.

Gallery Nucleus is opening “Home Slice”, a new solo show of Scott Campbell. He has such an amazing style, I can’t wait to see the new works, all of which should be up this weekend.

This is another one of those weekends were there is a bunch of really killer shows opening up.

Friday:

“Garter Belts and Gasoline” opens at the Alternative Cafe in Seaside, Ca. The show features work by Tyson Mcadoo, Dr. Sizzle, Glen Mcdowell and more. The work looks amazing, and if your a fan of pin-up style art this a show you’ll want to see.

“RAVELED” is a solo show featuring new works by Stella Im Hultberg. The show is online and from the looks of it, almost sold out. In the project room is new works from Dennis Hayes IV & Allison Sommers.

Saturday:

“Project 57″ the benefit show at Distinction Gallery has it’s reception from 6-10pm. You can also figure out if you won any of the works that you might have bid on during the past few days. There is some killer art, and the prices are very nice.

White Walls in SF is having a duo show with work from Kill Pixie and Cleon Peterson. The reception is from 7-11pm.

Copro Nason Gallery is opening up 5 solo shows! Work from Travis Louie, Kris Lewis, Chris Peters, Michael Page & Martin Wittfooth with be there to view. That’s quite a lineup, would love to be there in person.

“Enjoy it While it Lasts” is a group show at the DVA Gallery featuring members from Art Dorks Collective. The artists showing work in this show are: Heiko Muller, Brendan Danielsson, Meagan Ridley, Joseph Fiedler, Chris Mostyn, Chris Ryniak, Kim Scott, Jason Murphy, Katie Ridley, Justin DeGarmo, Melissa Forman & Amanda Louise Spayd.