Creep Machine Magazine – Contemporary Art & Culture

Category: artist news

artist interviews, website updates, redesign, projects and contests

  • The Four Temperament Variations // Thomas Woodruff Solo Exhibition

    The recent opening reception for Thomas Woodruff‘s latest solo exhibition entitled “The Four Temperament Variations” at P.P.O.W. Gallery in New York’s Chelsea arts district was a wonderfully crowded affair.  A collection of three years worth of work, the exhibition fills the gallery’s three large rooms with compositions that explore, in Woodruff’s fantastical Neo-Fabulist style, the mythos of the Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic and Sanguinic temperaments.
    Woodruff is a conceptual artist who utilizes kitsch in the most intelligent and enjoyable of ways, playing with the dark imagery of alchemy and magic, sometimes (and most fittingly) on black silk velvet.  The Temperament paintings drip heavy with fanciful color, phallic objects, invented animals, smiling fruit, giant clusters of soft-petalled flowers and a myriad other lush extravagances.  Yet, his cornucopia of visceral delight is both disturbing and grand.  As Vincent Desiderio wrote in the exhibition catalog, “Dark secrets seem to be lurking behind the playful frolic of Woodruff’s neatly compartmentalized Temperaments – a repression, of sorts, of unfinished business too soon expunged from the discourse of modernity.”  Who’s unfinished business remains a mystery, but perhaps we can all relate.

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  • The Soft and Witty Works of Zoe Williams

    I recently met Zoe Williams when she came to my lecture in New York this Fall.  I’d initially discovered her fuzzy-surreal rabbit relief sculptures months prior, and was very excited to meet her in person!  Newly moved to Gotham from Seattle, she has been spending a lot of time meeting all the local characters in the scene as well as finding more spots for her soft and witty artwork. At this very moment, you can catch her work in The Matryoshka Show, curated by Michael Alm at Ghost Gallery in Seattle until January 8, or in Roq La Rue’s Lush Life 3 until January 6th. Coming up in February, her sculpture “Gold Rhino” can be viewed on the other side of the country in Hey Beautiful! at Amos Eno Gallery in Brooklyn from February 1 – February 25 with an opening reception on Feb. 2 6-9pm.

    Gold Rhino

     

    Crane, Egret and Ibis
    Seven Red Eyes
    Genesis/Deconstruction
    Antlers
    Parallax III

  • Calma’s New Asceticism at Jonathan Levine

    There’s not yet been much critical writing published about this century’s newly prevalent Urban Art.  Yet.  The genre has been gaining respect in recent years because its most important artists do much much more than tag walls and cars, and cannot be dismissed as being simplistic mark-makers.  With their work they are tackling social, political and environmental issues in the very backyards of those places that they hope to change, and they are doing it with intelligence and powerful imagery that has always made waves in the arts.

    One such artist is Stephan Doitschinoff (aka Calma) whose work is rife with symbols and text that explore the depths of the human condition in a multitude of ways.   Stephan’s art concepts originate from his explorations of religion and faith, and address sociopolitical issues that are not only prevalent in his home base of Brazil, but in the world-wide.  He indeed paints much of his work on city walls, however his installations in existing or specially-created religious structures transcend the American definition of simple Urban or Street Art by addressing society from its spiritual nodes.

    If you will be in New York this month, his newest works will be on view at Jonathan Levine Gallery starting tonight, December 10th, 2011, in an exhibit entitled Novo Asceticismo (New Asceticsm). To quote the gallery’s press release:

    In Novo Asceticismo (New Asceticsm), [Stephan Doitschinoff] reflects on the sacrifice and deprivation necessary for modern man to live purely, without feeling alienated or falling into vices, mental traps and social conditioning of contemporary society. He explores concepts constituting new forms of practicing austerity in regards to self-discipline in manners of sexuality and the body as well as contemporary Shamanism. The work is permeated by themes of Asceticsm, redefined to reflect political issues of our times.

    While Calma’s art works well in any environment, I’m a little skeptical that its impact will be the same in a commercial white box as on the streets of Brazil.  That’s not to say that I won’t be moved by this exhibition.  Don’t miss it!

     

     

  • New series of paintings by Edith Lebeau

    New series of paintings by Edith Lebeau

    Edith Lebeau currently has a new series of works on view at the Trifecta Gallery for their “minUMENTAL invitational 2011”. Each of the paintings below I imagine is no larger than 8″ x 8″, acrylic on wood panel. I love the idea that Edith created some smaller paintings, something that fans of smaller art can collect. I also like how the color palette is very congruous, and the position of each the figures also helps to make this a very strong series. I hope we see more tiny series like this from Edith in the future. Head on over to the gallery to check out the full show, and if you are interested in one of the paintings Edith created, message the gallery.






  • 100 Souls Project by Steven Russell Black

    An artist working out of Mill Vally, CA, Steven Russell Black is “completely in love with making images”, and one look at the skill and beauty of his work and there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with his images as well. Along with working in oils, Steven also creates with the use of graphite and prismacolor pencils — as seen in his latest ongoing series “100 Souls”. He states that “eyes are the windows to the soul”, and this series is about presenting 100 of them. The great thing about this series, aside from how outstanding they look, is the variety in what you see. Faces from different angles, sometimes bordering abstract, eyes that are from animals, skulls, or even made up creatures, and the idea that even though the viewer is really only seeing small portion of the face, the images allow us to infer our own idea of the mood and character of the figure we are looking at. You can keep up with this ongoing series by following Steven on Flickr, his blog, and even pick one of these drawings up over on his Etsy shop.

    Steven Russell Black Etsy




  • The Decline of Conceptual Art

    The Decline of Conceptual Art

    Those few people that have talked with me about art, something I am always excited to do, know I am not the biggest fan of conceptual art. I don’t dislike all of it, some conceptual artists have done some amazing things such as Joseph Bueys 7,000 Oaks Project. Always good to plant more trees, even if it’s labeled an art project. However, most of the time when I think about conceptual art I think of Paul McCarthy’s Class Fool performance in 1979, in which he threw himself around in a ketchup splattered room at UC San Diego until injured, vomited a few times and then inserted a Barbie Doll in his anus. Most of the viewers could not stand to finish watching the performance. This type of art makes for great headlines, articles, and conversations, but in the end I feel that this kind of art takes attention away from those artists that create something as skilled technically as it is conceptually, but lack the instant shock factor, or as Jonathan Jones states in his latest article “it’s a laugh, it’s entertainment, it’s spectacular, it’s cool … art now aspires to be all the things fashion is.” (source)

    Entitled Art As We Know It Is Dead, Jones talks about the idea that current art is over. It has shown itself as nothing more than “the decor of an age of mercantile madness”. To a certain extent I agree with this. One can no doubt look at pieces by Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, and many more as art-factory-made products, in which the money attached to the piece is more important than the art itself. Of course many of the fans of lowbrow/pop surrealism know that not all current art is like this, and many of the ideas and political/social connections that the more public contemporary art is lacking, this scene is more attuned to. I often think of artists such as Francisco Goya, being inspired by the invasion of the French, created his timeless works The Third of May 1808 and The Disasters of War series and wonder where are the artists today that are creating art based on the issues that are going on in the real world. I think it’s great to be entertained, to escape, and most importantly laugh, but is that balance between reality and fantasy even there with the majority of the conceptual art world? I would like to see more reality based art in the contemporary scene we pay attention to, but I know it is at least going in that direction.

    Read the Article Here
    Above image is Medicine Cabinets by Damien Hirst.

  • This Black Friday support small businesses and artists

    Black Friday is here again, and along with the great savings comes sitting overnight in the cold, dealing with a crazy mob of people, and possibly getting pepper sprayed because you took the last xbox 360 (source). So avoid the mayhem, and support your local, small businesses and better yet artists. Many of your favorite artists are having black friday/holiday sales. This is a great opportunity to not only score some art, prints, shirt, and more, but you also know you are helping out a person and not some mega-corporation. Here is a short rundown of some of the artists/online stores you can save at, if you know any more add them to the comments.

    Stella Im Hultberg has added some small originals to her shop for this years sale: Shop here

    Need some horror shirts? Fright Rags is having a huge sale on mens tees, girly tees, posters and more: Shop Here

    Spoke Art is having a sale on all inventory, prints and originals. Use SPOKEARTSALE, and save 10%, it ends Monday. Shop Here

    Vannen Watches is having a 40% off sale, just use BLACK40 during checkout. Shop Here

    WWA Gallery will be donating 15% from all sales to 1 of children’s charities. WWA Gallery

    Aunia Kahn is having a big sale on here online shop, click here for all the codes. Shop Here

    Gris Grimly is having a 50% off sale over at his online shop. Check it out here

    Edith Lebeau added a bunch of new paintings to her online shop. See Here

    Use LE2011 over at Cate Rangel’s shop and save 40% on all limited edition prints. Shop Here

    Dan Harding is having a sale in his new online shop. Just use TURKEY and save 20%. Shop Here

    Get a free print over at Tara McPherson’s Cotton Candy Machine when you buy anything online. Check it Out

    Chet Zar added two new sculpture, Hammerhead and The Dead Pope, both on sale. Shop Here

    If your in the need for some clothes, Disturbia Clothing is also having a sale this weekend. Shop Here

    Save 30% on selected items at Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins online shop. Shop Here

    Phone Booth Gallery is having a “mystery tube” sale. For $75 you tube Includes rare prints, blems, misprints, sketches, leftovers, extras, and more from all your favorite PBG artists!
    Shop Here

    Contact the folks over at Virtu Art Gallery for 50% off Lori Earley’s Annabelle print. Shop Here

    Kelly McKernan is having a big sale over at her online shop, Check it out

    Arabella Proffer’s first book is ready for pre-order, with a foreward by your truly… Get it here

    Save 20% off everything at Gallery Nucleus. Just use GOBBLE20 during checkout. Shop Here

    Save 30% off at Brian Ewing’s store by using COOKIES during checkout. Shop Here

    At Steven Daily’s online shop save 50% on all paper products, and up to 50 on giclee prints. Shop Here

  • New work by Michael Ryan

    Michael Ryan has been pretty busy in the past few months creating new work. He recently had a show at Modern Eden, and has also updated his webpage with new work. Head on over to his homepage to check out the new painting, three of which are seen below. I was very happy to see that he was still painting away, been a fan of his for a few years now.

    Michael Ryan Art