Creep Machine Magazine – Contemporary Art & Culture

Tag: Michael Mararian

  • The 2nd Annual Coaster Show at La Luz de Jesus

    The 2nd Annual Coaster Show at La Luz de Jesus

    On September 5th, 2014, the 2nd Annual Coaster Show opened at La Luz de Jesus in Los Angeles, CA. Each artist was supplied 4″ Tondo Coasters, courtesy of the fine people at L.A. Beer Week. The only rules they needed to follow, was that each piece must be a solitary work and must be priced $250 or less. Last year the show featured over 700 tiny works of art and this year they decided to outdo that by showcasing over 1000 works of art.

    It’s easy to dismiss something as tiny as a beer coaster to be something that would allow for great art, but this years show—and last years to be honest—proved that tiny works of art can be just as exciting as larger works can. I love seeing what each artist was able to do with the limited area. Many artists stayed within the 4″ diameter, but I was happy to see that quite a few such as Peter Adamyan, Caitlin Anne Drop, Matthew Dutton, and Jeff Gillette, used the coaster as a support to create a larger 3-dimensional piece.

    There are so may works in this show, it was pretty hard to choose a selection here to feature. I kept telling myself to not pick too may but then there would be another coaster I had to share. Lee Joseph has a great Flickr album (here) showing how the gallery went about installing this unique show. The exhibition runs until September 28th, so if you’re in the area make sure to stop by. Otherwise, take a look at our preview and then head over to the gallery’s homepage for the full show: 2nd Annual Coaster Show at La Luz de Jesus

    (Click for Larger Image, Use Arrow Keys to Browse, ESC to end slideshow)

  • ArtFusion collaborative group show @ Last Rites Gallery

    On February 11th, Last Rites Gallery in New York held the first part of the ArtFusion Charity event with a live painting day, and on Feb 25th will hold the gala and charity auction. ArtFusion bring together a over 15 talented, diverse, and well known artists to create collaborative works of art which will benefit The International Children’s Art Foundation (ICAF). Work by Ana Bagayan, Angie Mason, Annie Owens, Anthony Pontius, Billy Norrby, Brian Despain, Brian Murphy, Buddy Nestor, Chris Mars, David MacDowell, David Stoupakis, Dan Harding, Ewelina, Fred Harper, Genevive Zacconi, Jason D’Aquino, Jason Levesque, Jason Limon, Jennybird Alcantara, Mia Araujo, Michael Mararian, Paul Booth, Scott G Brooks, Vincent Castiglia, and many more can be seen during this event. The gallery sent out 15 canvas panels to be sketched on, which were then in turn painted by a group of selected artists to be collaboratively painted on.
    If you head to the galleries homepage you will see the finished painting, as well as the drawing that was originally made. I love collaborative works, and this show has some outstanding examples of how great they can be. For example Dave MacDowell’s “Paul Booth” drawing painted by Scott G Brooks and Mark Elliot, as well as Chris Mars’ drawing painted by Paul Booth & David Stoupakis.

    Check out the rest of the works: Last Rites x ArtFusion



  • The 13th Hour 4th Annual Group Show @ Last Rites

    Just a few days before Halloween, on October 28th, Last Rites Gallery in New York opened the 4th annual group show The 13th Hour. The gallery is known for consistently showing the best in dark and surreal art, and the 13th Hour is a show that focuses on dark surrealist works from a broad variety of artists. This year the list of participating artists included: Shawn Barber, Matthew Bone, Paul Booth, Colin Christian, Sas Christian, Jason D’aquino, Tom Gabriel Fischer, HR Giger, Fred Harper, Naoto Hattori, Michael Hussar, Joka, Sarah Joncas, Aunia Kahn, Michael Mararian, Chris Mars, Annie Owens, Chris Peters, Anthony Pontius, Dan Quintana, David Stoupakis, and many more.
    Aside from the outstanding dark art shows the gallery opens month after month, I love the shows that feature dark works of art from artists that rarely contribute to these types of shows, and art from those you might not have expected, such as Self Deceased XXXII by Tom Gabriel Fisher — otherwise known as Tom Warrior of Celtic Frost fame and most recently Triptykon. Eli Livingston also created a sculpture, one that seems to be able to light up from the inside. leslie Ditto also created some prints from her painting Witching Hour, that might still be available from her Facebook page. If your in the area make sure to stop by and see these works in person, you have until November 27th. Otherwise the show is now online to view.

    13th Hour @ Last Rites Gallery



  • New Sponsor: 5 Pieces Gallery

    I would like to introduce the latest sponsor for the Creep Machine, 5 Pieces Gallery located in Berne, Switzerland. The gallery opened in December 2010, and focuses on young contemporary art in the mediums of painting, drawing, prints, and photography. The galleries goal is to be the worlds number one gallery when it comes to contemporary art. If you head on over to the site you will see work available by Brett Amory, Winston Chmielinski (featured), Anthony Lister, Michael Mararian, Aaron Nagel, Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and many more.

    Check it out: 5piecesgallery.com

  • Preview: Stephanie Henderson and Michael Mararian @ Last Rites Gallery

    Coming this Saturday, February 19th, to the Last Rites Gallery in New York is two solo exhibitions of new work. “Bread and Circuses” by Stephanie Henderson in Gallery I, and “Sow White” by Michael Mararian in Gallery II. Stephanie’s work is beautifully rendered in a variety of mediums. Some of the works have the feel of classical still life portraits, with a good amount of surreal elements. Mararian and his scratchy drawing style, is stepped up with some intricately created, pattern backgrounds. His characters straddle the line between humorous, and slightly depressing.

    Last Rites Gallery



  • Photos: 13th Hour and Creep in Day @ Last Rites Gallert

    Wrapping up our exclusive coverage of the Last Rites 13th Hour exhibition and Second Annual Creep In Day, we have some killer photos courtesy of Steve Prue. The Creep In day was a chance for fans to walk in an get tattooed by Paul Booth, who currently has a 3 year waiting list, along with some live painting from many of the artists in the show, and some live entertainment. It looks like it was a blast, hopefully next year I’ll be able to see these events in person. Click the read more link for the rest of the pics.

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  • 13th Hour @ Last Rites Gallery

    The most recent incarnation of the 13th Hour group show at the Last Rites Gallery opened this past Friday, October 29th. I am told by a few of the artist that attended the reception, that all went well, and it was one of the best show yet. The full show is now online to view, and seeing how today is Halloween you might want to head on over and check out some of the art. There is some really amazing work in this show, once again Scott G Brooks creates a mind-blowing painting, and I love how Sarah Joncas created something creepy in a Hitchcock kind of way.

    13th Hour 2010 @ Last Rites Gallery



  • Exclusive Preview: 13th Hour @ Last Rites Gallery

    Coming this Friday, October 29th, the Last Rites Gallery in New York will host the third annual “13th Hour” group exhibition, just in time for Halloween. The previous two 13th Hour shows were amazing, and from the lineup of participating artists this year will be the best one yet. Starting at 7pm, fans will see work from Paul Booth, Scott G. Brooks, Caniglia, John Cebollero, David R. Choquette, Christopher Conte, Brendan Danielsson, Jason D’Aquino, Pedro De Kastro, Paul Gerrard, Fred Harper, Naoto Hattori, Charlie Immer, Sarah Joncas, Laurie Lipton, Travis Louie, Michael Mararian, Chris Mars, Richard Meyer, Chris Peters, Anthony Pontius, Pooch, Paul Rumsey, José Manuel Schmill, David Stoupakis, Brian M. Viveros, Jasmine Worth, and Chet Zar.
 The Creep Machine was able to get an exclusive preview of some of the art that will be in this exhibition, take a look and keep your eye on the galleries site for the full show.

    Last Rites Gallery



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