Anytime photographer Liz Wolfe releases new work, you know it's going to be a good day. But when she revamps her website and launches a new online store, that's even better.
We've had our eye on Wolfe for a while. In her latest work she continues to explore the visual and emotional interplay of creatures and confections. Cute and vile simultaneously, her photos are always a surprise. Innocent at first glance, each pieces shifts upon closer inspection, and what you see isn’t really what it seems.
In "Meat Tree", plasticine rainbows, rough and seemingly made by a child, sit like fruit inside a round tree made not of branches, but of ground beef. In "Diseased Deer", a smiling, pure white proto-Bambi sits on a bed of yellow flowers. Its affliction? A rash of candy confetti. Wolfe is an expert not only at creating visually arresting images, but of layering her subjects so that you always have to look twice. In each photo, despite it's candy-coated veneer, there is something more devious rippling beneath the surface.
In her new online store, two new miniphoto collections are now up for grabs. Focusing on two main themes of her work, "Sugar" and "Creature" each contain 10 6"x8" archive prints. Conversation inducing and featuring Wolfe's signature acid-bright colours, now you can have a little piece of Liz Wolfe in every room. Sweet.
Amy Martin designed these irreverent Time Travel Posters for McSweeney’s 826LA and the newest branch of the non-profit literary institution, the Echo Park Time Travel Mart in Los Angeles. With tongue wedged deeply into cheek, the voyage-themed posters feature vintage-feeling graphics paired with sayings like “Enjoy Fantastic Feudal Japan” and “Ice Age: A Winter Wonderland All Year Round!” They’d make a great present for a frequent traveler who runs into tacky vacation ads all too often. They cost only $19.99 each, but if you get all five in the collection, 826LA will take $10 off. All proceeds, as usual, will go to the organization. They go on display at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart tomorrow.
Joshua Gorchov has already done some impressive editorial/commercial graphic design work that has graced the pages of several major magazines, but his next project promises to be epic. In preparation Gorchov has launched a new website, The Big Black Cloud. The site marks the beginning of a collection of narrative heavy paintings that depict a man with a box shaped head and his curiously creepy world. Plus, the titles to his works are amazing: “Superhuman Strength and Physical Proportions” or “Miraculous Resurrection of One Sort or Another.” The exhibition becomes a journey of childlike innocence interacting with nature. And, like all good journeys, there is a blog and nice little breadcrumbs in his esty shop. We’ll let you know when exhibition details are available.
When curator Henry Urbach joined the staff of the SFMoMA in the autumn of 2006 he began collecting a wide variety of objects ranging from architectural drawings and models, industrial-design objects, books, posters, photographs, and furniture. All in all he gathered over 246 items all of which are now being shown in the museum’s 246 and Counting Exhibit. Among our favorite works on display are the three pieces from New York-based artist and designer Ju$t Another Rich Kid’s Indulgences (for the man who has absolutely everything!) collection. Rich Kid’s gold dipped charms, Cokespoon 1, Cokespoon2, and Swizzle Sticks add a dose of rebelliousness to the whole affair, but are just a handful of works to glimpse as the museum offers the rare chance to sneak a peak at every work stockpiled in one department over a two-year period.
Here’s the other Shepard Fairey news: three original prints of his iconic Barack Obama “Hope” illustration are being auctioned off for Russell Simmons’ performing arts charity, Art for Life. The 4′ x 6′ prints are the only three in existence, which means the bidding will be fast and high. Go here to place your bid. The online auction ends on Wednesday, July 16th, with the live auction continuing by phone July 19th.
Yesterday there was a lot of Shepard Fairey news to cover. Today we have an update from his better half. Shepard’s wife Amanda, the curator and co-founder of Subliminal Projects gallery in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles, takes a second to explain in an exclusive interview with Karmaloop TV why this fresh art space focuses on promoting artistic diversity and discussion.
Most motels across the country are unique reminders of an era in roadside elegance long gone. Their rooms are adorned by Bob Ross-esque landscape paintings and beds that vibrate for the small fee of a nickel. The Presidio Motel seeks to bring the American travel outpost up to date. Each of the recently relaunched Santa Barbara, California motel’s rooms break the cookie-cutter mold with distinct vinyl sticker art installations courtesy of Kat Trajano and Stephanie Mansolf, as well as stylish modern furnishings, adding 21st-century appeal to a mid 20th-century staple. If you happen to drive by on your way to San Francisco you may want to stop in for a stay.
Fresh off returning from his traveling art exhibition in support of his Our Mountain book release, Steven Harrington (National Forest Design) has thrown more visual stimulation our way. With the help of his friends at Element Skateboards, Harrington gives us a sneak peak into the preparation that helped make his recent art tour a success. This brief clip shows a day in the life of Our Mountain as Harrington and company get ready for their opening at Paris’ Lazy Dog Gallery. It’s an interesting slice of life for those of us who have never been privy to the calm before the storm.
Zoe Regoczy is a U.K.-based designer with a load of new prints available in her shop. Her style doesn't include a lot of variation, mostly layered colors of girl's faces. Well — not just any girls. These girls are dangerous, like James Bond's femme fatals. Her prints aren't on sale, but for £20 we're tempted to redecorate our walls with the faces of our lovers from when we were spies. Check out her site for a full portfolio and sketchbook.
If a party at a car wash sounds like the perfect method to cool down during the West Coast’s forecasted heat wave, check out Sam Spiegel’s (a.k.a. hot music producer Squeak E. Clean, a.k.a. half of the NASA DJ duo) big throwdown called SUDS rolling through various Southland car washes starting this Friday at the Hollywood Car Wash before it heads up to San Fran. While there won’t be any wet T-shirt contests going on (I can hear the collective sigh right now), a mysterious “car wash ride” is promised. Spiegel will man the wheels of steel, while Girl Skateboards pro team members put on a demo and people get their hair done for free by an on-site göt2b hair salon. Aaron Rose, curator extraordinaire of Beautiful Losers, will participate with art installations as well. And there’s talk of go-go dancers in body paint. Sounds like this event is meant to make you sweat, so bringing a water balloon or 20 is probably a good idea. Hit the site to RSVP for this free party.
Lately, all we’ve been hearing is sad news about the plight of the honeybees and their declining numbers. Thank goodness for conceptual artist Jonathon Keats‘ newest endeavor. Next week (July 19th to be exact) Keats will choreograph the first ever bee ballet.
By planting hundreds of precisely arranged flowers in neighborhoods in San Francisco, Keats claims the bees will “dance according to the locations of the flowers they’ve found.” Except, well, you won’t really be able to see it because they’ll be dancing back inside their hives. Says Keats, “The bees will dance for themselves, not for us.” Dance bees. Dance like nobody in is watching.
I know for a fact that I’m not the only person on Earth who’s always harbored secret dreams of starring in my own cartoon adventure. The idea of bopping funny-looking animals on the head, or being bopped myself until I’m flat as a coin and then springing back to normal size–that stuff would be more insane that going out to a nightclub in the real world and doing tequila shots.
It’s not entirely the full effect, but a team of three artists are bringing us that experience halfway with their novel Oups interactive video installation project. A participant gets in front of a screen, and through pre-programmed animation that’s divided into three layers, follows the person’s movements and becomes the star of the show. The sample videos on their site show people strapped to rockets, being electrocuted or chased by spacecraft. The artists just closed their requests to designers to help add to the Oups library, and will be showing some of those submitted in the showcase at Sao Paulo’s and Rio de Janeiro’s animation fest, Anima Mundi 2008, happening at the end of this month. I’d take this over a free open bar any day.
In 2+ years, the folks at 189 Pine View (also known as the artist team Plasmosis) transformed their house into a massive piece of conceptual art. Each room sends a message and could stand alone as something that makes you stop and think. The team’s work all led up to an “Open House / Art Gallery” that lasted for two days. Two days later, the walls were painted white and the house was (gulp) put up for sale. But the pictures shall remain...
Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Advisor and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.
Attention Northern California art enthusiasts: If you prefer your art to be functional — which is to say classy-looking sculpture and furniture — we think you’ll be down to check out Proliferation, an exhibition being held at FiveTenStudio from now until July 29. The show is centered around the work of Bay Area artist Annalisa Vobis, whose work (like the Second Nature sculpture) is inspired by organic influences such as coral reefs, as well as her own personal childhood recollections of growing up near Odin’s Forest in Germany. The exposition also features some practical, yet artistically rendered furnishings from other well-known designers such as Mike and Maaike and Ross Lovegrove Be there for the official reception on Friday July 11th from 6 – 9 p.m.
Joshua Gorchov
When curator Henry Urbach joined the staff of the 
Here’s the other Shepard Fairey news: three original prints of his iconic Barack Obama “Hope” illustration are being auctioned off for Russell Simmons’ performing arts charity, Art for Life. The 4′ x 6′ prints are the only three in existence, which means the bidding will be fast and high. 
Fresh off returning from his traveling art exhibition in support of his 
Zoe Regoczy is a U.K.-based designer with a load of new prints available in her 
If a party at a car wash sounds like the perfect method to cool down during the West Coast’s forecasted heat wave, check out Sam Spiegel’s (a.k.a. hot music producer Squeak E. Clean, a.k.a. half of the NASA DJ duo) big throwdown called 
Lately, all we’ve been hearing is sad news about the plight of the honeybees and their declining numbers. Thank goodness for conceptual artist 
In 2+ years, the folks at 189 Pine View (also known as the artist team 
Attention Northern California art enthusiasts: If you prefer your art to be functional — which is to say classy-looking sculpture and furniture — we think you’ll be down to check out Proliferation, an exhibition being held at 
