To celebrate the Grammy nominations of Brooklyn baritone rapper Mos Def, HVW8 Art & Design Gallery, Union LA and Frolab present a photo exhibition entitled MOS DEF: ECSTATIC MOMENTS. “Photographer Cognito showcases rare performance and behind-the-scenes images captured during the two year journey of making and supporting the June 2009 release of “The Ecstatic”.
MOS DEF: ECSTATIC MOMENTS
Opening VIP reception: Friday, January 29th, 7-10pm
RSVP at ecstatic@frolab.comHVW8 Art & Design Gallery
661 N. Spaulding Ave. Los Angeles CA, 90036
Show runs from January 30 through February 6, 2010
The Japanese Megane Zine crew, fresh off their release party/art show featuring artist/skater Ed Templeton at the HVW8 Art + Design Gallery last weekend, have really good taste. The upstart collective of best friends from Tokyo have suggested to check out the work of another one of their best friends and favorite artists, Hidehito Shinno this Thursday at Blends in downtown LA. And since I happen to think they have really good taste I’m suggesting you check out tomorrow’s show as well.
Hidehito Shinno
Opening reception: Thursday, January 14th, 6-10pm Blends
125 W 4th st. Los Angeles, CA 90013
The 2nd weekend of the new year brings a plethora of group shows to Los Angeles along with a Hamburger weekender.
Gallery 1988 on Melrose has been pumping out art shows depicting some of our most recognizable pop culture heroes and villains over the years (I AM 8-BIT, Crazy 4 Cult, Lost, etc.) so it comes as no surprise that our favorite childhood muscle bound bowl-cut hero from Eternia has over 100 artists making pieces of him and his pals for the show Under the Influence: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
(Click image for more info and full artist lineup)
You Can Heal Your Life! at the Circus Gallery on Lexington that is at their group show which features the works of Sister Corita among others. Curated by Emma Gray, the “art works in this show seek to address issues of religion, spirituality and self-help through performance, sculpture, painting, video and printmaking.“
(Click image for more info and full artist lineup)
For animal and art lovers alike, Thinkspace in Silver Lake is putting out A Cry For Help, a group show of over 100 artists with the goal of raising awareness about the plight of animals in our modern world. *20% of all proceeds will be donated to Born Free USA.
(Click image for more info and full artist lineup)
A Cry For Help
Opening reception: Friday, January 8th, 7-11pm
Thinkspace
4210 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029
Show runs from January 8 through February 5, 2010
(Click image for more info and full artist lineup)
Put Your Finger on the Button
Opening reception: Saturday, January 9th, 7-10pm
New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046
Show runs from January 9 through February 6, 2010
Speaking of Deanna Templeton, her husband Ed Templeton will be featured in the show for the Japanese publication Megane Zine at the HVW8 Art + Design Gallery off of Melrose. In addition to a limited edition HVW8 x Megane t-shirt designed by Ed for sale, comic zine’s will be given free to the first 20 people on January 9th.
(Click image for more info and full artist lineup)
And finally wrap up your weekend with family, laughter and Hamburger as the Cinefamily on Fairfax extends their Comedy Death Ray series with Neil Hamburger’s tribute to Frank Sinatra, Jr. I repeat Frank Sinatra, JUNIOR. In honor of Frank Jr.’s birthday, Hamburger has assembled this evening of rare, vintage Frank Jr. TV variety specials and film appearances!
The day after Thanksgiving, a.k.a. Black Friday, is upon us which of course means the holiday shopping season has officially begun (in the United States). Let the commerce commence!
In a novel approach to bring the art to the people, artist/designer Parra drives around LA with his mobile pop-up truck where he’ll be peddling both his art and clothing from his Rockwell Clothing line including various Stones Throw collabos. Truck stops at UNDFTD in Silver Lake from 12-2pm, HVW8 Gallery on Melrose from 3-5pm, and Archrival in Little Tokyo from 6-8pm. Take a peak at what items you may find via Freshnessmag.com.
Possibly the best place to do your gift shopping on the east side of LA is at the uniquely school themed boutique, Reform School. They may not have the crazy sales that many other chain stores are having today but they certainly have an abundance of those not-so-common gifts that are the hardest to find.
Reform School
3902 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029
And last but certainly not least is this little show I failed to mention last week and I can’t forgive myself for missing this one. Barry McGee (TWIST) and Phil Frost, two masters of graffiti-to-gallery art opened their group show Mind the Gap at the Prism gallery in West Hollywood last Friday. Curated by RVCA founder and fight aficionado PM Tenore.
Barry McGee (TWIST) and Phil FrostMind The GapPrism
8746 W. Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Show runs from November 20, 2009 through February 20, 2010
14 Artists
Opening reception: Friday, November 6, 7-10pm
New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046
Show runs from November 6th through January 2nd, 2010
Want more Manny? Of course you do! So I suggest you start waiting in line now at Hollywood’s Montálban Theateras Nike Sportswear presents Under the Hood with Manny Pacquiao, a send off celebration and Q&A with the man himself and his team of Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Alex Ariza. RSVP is mandatory and capacity will surely be reached, but if you can’t make it in person the event will be streaming live on Niksportswear.com, Complex.com, and Facebook.
Nike Sportswear presents Under the Hood with Manny Pacquiao
Saturday, November 7, 4:30pm event starts at 5pm
Nike Sportswear at The Montalbán
1615 Vine St. Hollywood, CA 90028
Michael, Kevin & Geoff
Opening reception: Saturday, November 7, 7-10pm
HVW8 Art+Design Gallery
661 N. Spaulding Ave. L.A. Ca 90036
Show runs from November 7th through December 20th, 2009
Ever wanted to know how to blow yourself up? If your answer is yes (or if you just want to see some good art) then you’re in luck as WK Interact teaches you how to do so at Echo Park’s Subliminal Projects with his solo show aptly titled How to Blow Yourself Up.
WK Interact-How to Blow Yourself Up
Opening reception: Saturday, November 7, 8-11pm
Subliminal Projects
1331 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
Show runs from November 7th through December 5th, 2009
Three Apples
All day event: Saturday, November 7, 10am-11pm
Royal/T Cafe
8910 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232
Exhibition runs from October 23rd through November 15th, 2009
And finally, another celebratory show as the clothing line Blood is the New Black celebrates their five years of existence with a group show and party at Silver Lake’s JÜNC Gallery. And what would an art party be without my talented friends, the lovely Jesse Spears and the sometimes bearded Dan Monick, among the many participating artists.
Blood is the New Black 5 Year Anniversary
Opening Reception and Party: Saturday November 7, 7-11pm
JÜNC Gallery
4017 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90029
Show runs from November 7th through December 14th, 2009
Dutch illustrator, graphic designer, Rockwell Clothing creator, and burgeoninginternational art star, Parra brings his highly saturated, boldly sarcastic style to his first solo show in Italy with his latest painted canvases, original drawings, prints, posters, as well as a site-specific installation at Milan’s Galleria Patricia Armocida with The Disco of Italo.
Also Parra’s current stateside show, Is That A Gun My Friend, is still up and running at Los Angeles’ HVW8 Gallery off of Melrose and will continue through May 29th. Click below to see more from the gallery.
Parra also has been dabbling in the disco with his musical side project LeLe. Check out the music video in which his signature typography get’s animated in “Breakfast”:
Plenty of inspiring openings and closings around LA this weekend, oh and some additional ass kicking as well.
The Secret Headquarters brings new art by comic book artist Josh Simmons to their not-so-secret shop in Silver Lake with Special Nice Cosmic Hyperdeath.
The Secret Headquarters
Opening reception Friday April 3rd 8-10pm
3817 w. Sunset blvd. Los Angeles, California 90026
The Constant Gallery
Colsing reception Saturday April 4th starting at 4pm 2673 S La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90034
KAWS‘ latest works in The Long Way Home will finally be going home as his much hyped first show in LA comes to a close at the Honor Fraser Gallery. Check out this amazing show as well as the closing of Bill McMullen’s at the Constant Gallery as they’re just a block from each other! Both well worth your time and travels (lot’s of other galleries in the area too!)
French artistic heavyweight Parra shows off his latest works with Is That A Gun My Friend? at Saturday’s HVW8 Gallery opening off of Melrose in Hollywood.
HVW8 Art + Design Gallery
April 4th-May 9th, 2009
Opening reception Saturday April 4th
RSVP to parra_rsvp@hvw8.com
661 N. Spaulding Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036
Art superstar Kehinde Wiley brings his latest works titled The World Stage: Brazil to Roberts & Tilton on Washington in Culver City. See more and read more about Wiley’s show inspirations here.
Roberts & Tilton
April 4th-May 30th, 2009
Opening reception Saturday, April 4th from 6-8pm
5801 Washington Blvd Culver City, California 90232
On another note, wanna cheer on former Asshole of the Year Chris Pouy as he kicks ass and gets his ass kicked Muay Thai style? Of course you do!
South Coast Martial Arts
Fight night Saturday April 4th starting at 7pmdoors open at 6pm
2990 Grace Ln. Costa Mesa CA 92626