Opening this Saturday Night, January 9th at the Last Rites Gallery in New York is the second installment of the Dark Pop group show. The shows will feature artists that don’t necessarily always create dark art but will do so for this show. Some of the artists are mainly “dark” in all of their works, so it should be a good mix of ideas. The artists that will be participating are: Esao Andrews, John Cebollero (Interviewed), Joshua Clay, Molly Crabapple, Amy Crehore, Yoko d’Holbachie, Leslie Ditto, Eric Fortune, GAIA, Stella Im Hultberg, Sarah Joncas (Interviewed), Danni Shinya Luo, David MacDowell, Mike Maxwell, Tara McPherson, Michael Page, Leslie Reppeteaux, Mijn Schatje and more.
Take a look at the preview pics and then make sure you keep on eye on the site for the full show.

Last Rites Gallery

Here is the weekly rundown of art shows that will be taking opening up.

Friday:
Thinkspace Gallery will have three shows opening, “Farewell Avery” from Esao Andrews, “Mary In BronxZooLand” from Tony Philippou and in the project room will be Tempo Momento” from Joshua Mays

Halogen Gallery will open the last solo show from Kelly Vivanco for the next year, the show is selling out fast

Roq la Rue will have new works from Ana Bagayan and Ryan Heshka

Strychnin Gallery will open “Garden Of The Dispossessed” with all new works from David Hochbaum

Saturday:
101 Exhibit will host “Insomious” featuring new works from Jason Shawn Alexander

Gallery Nucleus will open “October Shadows” (presented by Nucleus and Creature Features) featuring work by Cam De Leon, Chet Zar, Gris Grimly, Jordu Schell, Miles Teves, Travis Louie, William Basso and more

The Beyond Eden Art Fair will be starting up. This is a multi-gallery event, if your in the area this is one event not to miss.

Billy Shire Fine Art will open “Hubris” featuring new works by Frank Kozik

Shooting Gallery will open a show with works from C3, Kmndz & Akira. Right next door at White Walls will be the “The Stencil Show” with art from Chris Stain, Adam 5100, Tes One, Ernesto Yerena, Casey Gray and David Soukup

Distinction Art will open “Striptease”, with art from Brian Viveros, Angelique Houtkamp, N.C. Winters, Molly Crabapple, Saratoga Sake and more

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

Coming this Saturday, March 21st 7pm to midnight at the Gnomon Gallery in Hollywood is “The Art of Sketch Theatre”. This is a group show featuring work by all of the talented artists that have been seen in the videos on the Sketch Theatre website. This is really a unique website, as you get to see the way that each of these artists work; as the video goes by you see the artwork unfold right before your eyes and are reminded of just how skilled these artists are.

The exhibit will feature raw sketches by Michael Hussar, Travis Louie, Ana Bagayan, Chet Zar, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Monk One, Gris Grimly, Shawn Barber, Nate Frizzell, Nikko Hurtado, Luke Chueh, Gene Guynn, Jordu Schell, Molly Crabapple, Jeff McMillan, Mari Inukai and many more. Click the “Read More” link to see the rest of the preview images. Also, Michael Hussar has a new video on the site, of the sketch seen 1st below, it’s a great sketch and will be at the show as well. Check it out Here

Gnomon Gallery

Art Basel is now over and for those of us (me) that missed the even, artist Molly Crabapple wrote a recap of the event. Focusing specifically on the “lowbrow/pop surrealist” contributions to the festivities.

I love how she touches on the idea that this genre is looked at as just illustrative, something I have argued with quite a few professors. It just isn’t getting the respect it deserves, but as she wrote in the article: “If pop-surrealists don’t envy high art’s pretense, they covet their cash.” Very true, she references the painting that Mark Ryden sold for one million dollars. Just illustration huh?

Check out the article here: Blogging Basel with Molly Crabapple