The Best Eclectic Shopping in the San Francisco Bay Area

Eclectix is all about eclectic - with something for just about everyone on your list. One stop shopping with artful, one-of-a-kind, unique and different gifts. Specializing in recycled, green and locally handmade. New & vintage: clothes, jewelry, kid’s stuff, Mid-Century, furniture, Elvis items, lamps, Day of the Dead, housewares, Isabel Samaras, Tiki items. Fun and strange, Tim Burton, lava lights, rock and roll, Emily the Strange, cards, Mark Ryden, lunchboxes, Hi-Fructose, folk art and masks. Art-related items galore...

And the two galleries exhibit creative, exciting, alternative fine art; really worth the trip! They are chock full of great original art and prints, starting at just $35.00 and up.

Here is just a tiny bit of the specific gifts EclectiXmas has to offer:

Warm, vintage wool coats with satin linings, perfect condition for that fashionable woman. Guitar pick earrings. "Accordian Babe" locally made calendars for that musician dude. A Robert Crumb "Devil Girl" lunchbox for the comic lover. Beautiful 1950's table top lamps. Tattoo design onesies for the hip little baby in your life. A Michael Jackson candle to light on New Year's Eve. Soaps sculpted into little hands for the dirty. A set of vintage crystal martini glasses for the couple that needs a housewarming gift. Miriam Wosk, Camille Rose Garcia, Rolling Stone, Todd Schorr, Annie Leibowitz and Eric Joyner art books for that artist friend. Hand made, artisan fine jewelry. A Fender jazz bass scale model for your desk. Hand painted skeleton plates & figures from Mexico for folk art collectors. Pirate and Cupcake bandages stocking stuffers for little ragamuffins. A 1940's rhinestone and jet Art Deco style necklace for New Year's Eve. Or a "Boss Lady" re-cycled shopper. A set of Caran d'Ache pencils for the doodler. A pair of 1950's china pink cows for the collector. Hand painted Frida tables for the Frida Kahlo fan. Silk scarves of every color for anyone. A "Tweet" artist tee for the Twitter fan. Pool ball ornaments. An emerald green silk dress from the 1960's for that holiday party... or a striped skinny tie from the 1950's, all cleaned & pressed, ready to wear. And there is so much more!

By shopping Eclectix you help support local the local art & business community. Skip the mall, keep the X in your Xmas and make it an EclectiXmas!

For more on the store go to: http://web.me.com/eclectixp/Eclectix/Eclectix_Store.html

For more on the gallery go to: http://web.me.com/eclectixp/Eclectix/Exhibits_News.html

Eclectix Store & Gallery

10082 San Pablo Ave. El Cerrito, CA

(just north of Berkeley, at Central Ave.)

Bay Area Townie: Miz Jennybird Alcantara's Art

I've been following Jennybird's art for at least 6 years (it just keeps getting better) and over the last few it has matured, really coming into it's own. Her work is quite arresting, full of vivid, deep colors, exploding symbolic imagery and expertly rendered. Why she hasn't gotten more recognition, is beyond me, she certainly deserves to be "up there" with the bigger Newbrow names. Maybe it's because she doesn't cater to the "half-naked-adolescent-girl-with-big-breasts" stereotype (yawn) or maybe because the old boy network is too busy patting itself on the back, to notice other artists anymore. Regardless, her art cranks. Varnish Gallery recently had a nice big solo of her works and it was breathtaking.

Her images are often part animal, part human - anthropomorphic compositions of union and conflict. Her creatures are often characterized with a side profile, just one eye is revealed, much like a whale's gaze. It has reminded me of illustrator Janet Woolley's early collage work.

Jennybird's compositions call to mind a spiritual side, arranged mandala-like and symmetrical, somehow reminiscent of Tibetan Buddhist art. They have an other-worldly feel, almost underwater in the way the images are suspended, floating ethereal, submerged and dis-connected. Mix this with the influence of vintage, anatomical science text illustrations, her wonderfully saturated hues, juxtapositions of animal & human life, symbols of life & death and end result is that of an apocalyptic, yet painfully beautiful panoramic narrative.

Jennybird also creates outlandish dolls with masterful aplomb. Some are mutant hybrids with insect limbs or wings spouting forth where arms might have been. With beautiful textiles, soft cottons, fun & furry hair-dos and shiny notions; the artist lures us past the darker side of a severed limb to experience beauty. So what if she has three breasts or eyes? So what if her intestines are on the outside looking in? Sure, her veins may be erupting outside of her skin but they are intricate, lacy veins waterfalling down a broken arm with painterly grace and abandon. And maybe her feet are on backwards but they're groovy in lace-up Victorian boots. Literally wearing her heart on her sleeve, it is surrounded by "satin n' tat" and who could do better than that?

Jennybird currently has two large dolls for sale, in the "All Dolled Up" exhibit at Eclectix Gallery. Try to see them in person, they are well worth the trip. Showing thru November 29th, 2009.

Halloween Art: The Kinetic Works of Nemo Gould

Recently visited all things Nemomatic at his studio & open house. Such a treat to see his workspace, as well as a number of his fantastic robotic & kinetic art sculptures. His studio was full of great tools, working surfaces and many collected objects on their way to becoming something else entirely.

Antique radio parts, display devices, metal bits and pieces culled from their former uses, discarded musical instruments, vintage paper memorabilia and eclectic framed shapes of wood and metal - all lounged about his shelves. Some were in the embryonic stage of being loosely arranged into a future creation. Most were just lying in wait.

Nemo's art is technically impeccable and asthetically lush. Don't let the snobbery of the "fine art" world detract from your appreciation. His art is not the usual maker faire, clumsy nuts and bolts inventions or folksy crafts goods. Rather, it is finely tuned sculpture, meticulously designed, elegantly assembled found objects, formed with a witty sense of play and an eye for vintage modernity. Weaving together eras - from streamlined Art Deco periods, designs reminescent of Norman Bel Geddes, to today's newbrow tentacles of science fiction and "Alien" inspired Geiger images. Nemo is a sculptural maestro of today's steampunk 3D art.

Experiencing his art in person is mandatory to appreciation. The precise execution, movement, the ambient glow of his lighting, the sensuous and gleaming surfaces of his metal finishes, to the mindplay juxtapositions of various components. Each anthropomorphic sculpture or diorama feels complete as it's own character or entity. He is a master editor, never under or over doing a piece, with an extraordinary sense of design. These are distinctly American pieces yet they've more than a hint of clean Japanese asthetic.

For a fun, step-by-step look at the evolution of one of his new pieces "Nowhere Fast", click here.

Nemo currently lives and works in the SF East Bay Area with a studio in Berkeley. He has two pieces, "One-Eyed Jack" and "Boogeyman" in the current Eclectix exhibit "Dementions". Do try to get in to see them in person.

A Nemo quote on what sparks his art -

"It was just a pure fascination with what else a thing could be, other than what it was."

Berlin Wall Art Gallery

Just blogged and posted a whole bunch of cool art from the Berlin Wall. This green monster dude fits the Halloween season very well.

Check it out at the Eclectix website -http://www.eclectix.com, then go to the blog. (eclectix, etc.)

Or just click on the title above...

"All Dolled Up"- An Art Doll Exhibit

An exhibit featuring the exquisite dolls of: JennyBird Alcantara, Anita Collins, Sheri DeBow and Kerry Kate.

Slightly twisted, painstakingly beautiful and hauntingly lifelike, these "art dolls" beg to be played with and fussed over. Quirky personalities that put Barbie to shame, the dolls are hand crafted wonders of moody, mixed media for the "big girl" (or boy) in you.

Exhibit dates: October 16th-Nov.29th
Opening Reception: Friday, October16th, 7 to 10 pm.
With live music by "Eclair De Lune" Catered by "Fume" Bistro & the "SweetRoll" truck will be rolling by...

Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530
Voted “Best Gallery” in the Bay Area by SF Chronicle’s ‘Best of the BayList’
For Hours and More - Please go to: http://www.eclectix.com

Dementions - Halloween Art Exhibit

The Fourth Annual Halloween Show!

Jam packed with scary, fun, demented, surreal, strangely beautiful and emotive art! The ultimate in Halloween viewing, hung salon style. With works by more than 45 artists in all mediums: dark gothic portraits, monsters, sexy vampires, voodoo dolls, skeletons, devils, surreal landscapes, Day of the Dead imagery and cute pumpkins. From our own Bay Area Newbrow art stars: gleaming, anthropomorphic robotic sculptures by Nemo Gould, a dark surprise from Annie Owens, fantastic monster cake sculptures by Scott Hove and a Franken-Animal by Isabel Samaras.

Exhibit dates: October 16th-Nov.29th

Opening Reception: Friday, October16th, 7 to 10 pm.

With live music by "Eclair De Lune"

Catered by "Fume" Bistro and the "SweetRoll" truck will be rolling by...

Demented Artists: Patricia Anders, Christine Benjamin, Jude Berman, Ken Brose, Sean Chapell, Monica Crawford, Kristen Cumings, Jenny Dayton, Sheri DeBow, Jamie Fales, Missy Feigum, Dean Fleming, Jackie Gallagher, Mike Gallegos, Gabrielle Gamboa, Chris Gibbons, Heather Gleason, Nemo Gould, Chris Granillo, Dan Harding, Randall Heath, Dion Hitchings, Scott Hove, John Howard, James Ivey, Brooke Kent, Boris Koodrin, Frances Lerner, Alexis Lopez, Leon Loucheur, Polly Mania, Katie McCann, James McDaniel, Dean McDowell, Derek McKindles, Sonia Melnikova-Raich, Buddy Nestor, Onomar, Annie Owens, Barbara Rockhold, David Rose, Isabel Samaras, Xandria Sarmenta, Clee Sobieski, William Stoneham, Tina Tarnoff, Mark Thompson, Les Toil, Sam Vaughan , Sherwin Viray, Michelle Waters, Chris White, Anna Zusman

Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530

Voted “Best Gallery” in the Bay Area by SF Chronicle’s ‘Best of the BayList’

For Hours and More - Please go to: http://www.eclectix.com

Christopher Conn Askew, Beyond Tattoo

Conn's works are dynamic vivid compositions, beautifully executed and graphic show stoppers. There are definite influences of Japanese art in his composition, solid and elegant line work, evident historically in Japanese watercolors and tattoo art. Also evident is an ode to classic, old time story book illustrations, rendered in decorative realism with a modern twist. There is also an element of European art deco poster design, his use of typography is masterful and clean, creating overall images of graceful yet bold design. Chris incorporates the traditional line work of tattoo with subtle hues and deft rendering, shading, shadows and modeling; to create some of the most beautifully luscious works out there today. One can see the painstaking time, thought and effort in each one of his pieces without any of the cliches of today's pop artists. No sexy adolescents or big eyed girls here, just consummate artworks that will last thru the ages.

I first came across Chris's art in a Haight Street tattoo shop while crusing for local artists for the (then up-coming) Tattoon Show. My eyes were riveted by an incredible watercolor on the wall of a parlor and I instantly recognized his style from an old issue of Juxtapoz. Always in the market for local artists, I was very excited to stumble upon such professional work, right here at home. (It is much "greener" to use local artists rather than artists who have to ship here using jet fuel.) After googling Chris it seemed he lived in SF, so finding his art felt like a score. Sometimes it can be a challenge to find enough quality local art for a solid exhibit. After several attempts to contact him, he finally responded. Sadly, he declined to exhibit any works in the show, oddly stating "I am not doing anything even remotely tattoo related, anymore". Too bad, his art was sorely missed and would have been a welcome and fitting addition to this great show.

For more of his beautiful works, go to his website: Christopher Conn Askew

The Tattoon Show: Tattoo and Cartoon Inspired Art

Eclectix Gallery presents a fantastic exhibition of tattoo & cartoon inspired art by 30 artists. Sugar, spice, and everything nice and un-nice. Satire, fun, politics, elegant beauty and soooo cute; this show has it all!

If you haven't been to see the show, come on by, it's up until October 4th.

Artists Exhibiting: Adam Lunoe, Angelique Houtkamp, Alexis Lopez, Anna Todaro, Annie Owens, Arabella Proffer, Barry Focha, Ben Jelter, Calamity Cole, Catherine Lagman, Chris Buzelli, Chris Kanyusik, Christine Benjamin, Eric October, Garrett Bossio, James Ivey, John Seabury, Kurtis Rykovich, Lady Reni, Larimie Garcia, Les Toil, Louis Balestier, Lucianne Walkowicz, Matt Wuerker, Marco Mejia, Nicolas Caesar, Polly Mania, Phillip Hall, Sandi Calistro, Stephanie Mufson, Sheri DeBow, Sherwin Viray, Tim Sharman, Vince Packard

Notes on Just a Few of the Great Artists:

Angelique Houtkamp - inspirational Dutch tattoo mademoiselle of the modern art world. Ms. Houtkamp's work makes it's Northern California debut at Eclectix Gallery with this exhibit!

Chris Buzelli - distinguished, surreal dreamscape artist whose work has been featured in Rolling Stone, NY Times, and Playboy, to name a few.

Matt Wuerker - 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist, Washinton DC based, esteemed editorial and political cartoonist. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, LA Times, and NY Times.

Annie Owens - the Bay Area's own established artist and quiet mastermind behind Hi-Fructose Magazine. Ms. Owens' work elegantly walks the fine line between whimsy and dark, daintiness and strength.

Ben Jelter - awarded illustrator, artist, graphic novelist and Academy of Art University instructor.

Voted “Best Gallery” in the Bay Area by SF Chronicle’s ‘Best of the BayList’

Eclectix Gallery, 10082 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530 For Hours and More - Please go to: http://www.eclectix.com

Bay Area Townie: Bradley Platz's Art

Fifth In a Series on Bay Area Artists

Bradley's art is masterful, edgy yet serene, calling forth the Old Masters - elements from renaissance imagery - with a wonderfully disquieting bit of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion thrown in. Based on or inspired by myth, allegories and fables of old, he injects his own modern twist of our mortality and circumstance with seeming ease and grace.

Dictionary definition of "allegory" - a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.

One of my faves by Bradley is "Charon and the Shades"- (fourth from the top). The painting depicts Nicole Ritchie, (as a general symbol for the modern celebrity and wealth) on the boat with Charon. Charon was the ferryman on the river Styx, the mythological old man who took the souls of the dead across the river into Hades, provided that they had a gold coin to pay for passage. Historically, among the wealthier classes a gold coin was nearly always placed under the tongue of the departed for this reason. Nicole is represented dry and emaciated, having little physical beauty left but a wealth of gold which, ironically, is pouring out of her mouth in a familiar cathartic expulsion. The "shades" or souls trapped in purgatory are swarming the boat, these are souls with no money for Charon, eternally stranded on the shores of the Styx. The painting represents celebrity privilege as the continuation of the aristocratic privileges that have extended back to the time of myths and gods.

Besides the larger epic works, Bradley also has an ever-growing series of enticing little portraits. Pictured here are some early works "Creatures" done on black velvet. His "Creatures" are playful, little gargoyle-like beings which radiate golden light and simple minded expressions in floating postures. Bradley's later (and currently developing) characters are gothic portraits with a "Night Gallery" ambiance. With names like "Mistress" and "Patriarch" or "St. Nihilist", these evoke lost souls captured for eternity within a delicate small oval Victorian frame. They have a beautifully poetic, historical bent; the images are small, yet powerfully potent, full of personality, expression and emotion.

"I believe that a painter should honor what has come before and show respect where respect is deserved. My work is based upon religious icons and renaissance imagery which is set in a modern context. It is a constant personal inquiry; piece by piece it is a task of deconstructing our idols of worship and considering how they have changed through the centuries. "

Bradley currently lives, works and paints in San Francisco. He has been a regular contributor to Eclectix Gallery exhibits as well as part of a two-man show with artist Michael Ryan, aptly titled "Portraits & Allegories", in 2008.

Bay Area Townie:Sheri DeBow's Art

Fourth In a Series on Bay Area Artists:

Inspired by the "This Town" Exhibit at Eclectix Gallery, Thru August 16th

Sheri's art is full of fun exuberant energy and feminine wiles. Creating art dolls and 3D sculptures out of eclectic sources, just about everything and anything. She uses paper mache, paper clay, fabrics, trims, clays, found objects and paints to fashion characters in perky and exotic poses. In fashions inspired by vintage, punk, a hint of the 80's and some Victorian influences, her women come alive with bright color, captured forever in a moment. Sparking our curiosity, she makes us want to know the story behind the character. Fairy tales, myths, child-like emotions and circumstance all merge in her beautiful assemblages. From her pieces in " The All-Gurlz Show" at Eclectix to her recent solo show "Caught in the Headlights" at Bloom in Napa, we were once again enthralled to lay our eyes on the art that so reflects her as a person - the incredible positive vibes and warmth layered with an undercurrent of dark wonder. Just like her dolls, caught in the moment, our eyes were opened wide and happy about it!

Sheri will have some work in the up-coming exhibit, The Tattoon Show at Eclectix Gallery.