Juan Gatti Has Got It

Argentine born Juan Gatti calls himself a graphic designer, humble enough to make no bones about creating for pay. But an artist he is, first and foremost - as all really good graphic designers must be. His talented eye has graced many areas of pop culture - Italian Vogue covers in the 1980’s, typography and graphics for Pedro Almodóvar's films and multitudes of posters and book covers.

"A good title sequence should be seductive," observes Gatti. "It should have a hypnotic quality that gets the audience into the mood of the movie."

His new exhibit in Madrid is titled Ciencia Naturales. Full of lush, tapestried collage work, mixing vintage  human anatomy with natural forms. Showing through October 28th. To see all Juan’s magnificent works at La Fresh Gallery, click here, you’ll be entranced by the slideshow.

LINK to an interview with Vs. Magazine

LINK to an article in the New York Times on Juan’s graphics for films

(Originally posted in the Eclectix  "Bad To The Bone" Issue, Sept-Oct. 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of anatomy-related art, LINK HERE.)

David Ball & Locals in "The City We Love" Exhibit

This Saturday, Aug. 13th - an all locals group show opens at 941 Geary-  "The City We Love." It has a large line up of great artists, predominantly all male, some of which we have blogged before. From the gallery site:

"The show is co-curated by Justin Giarla and local graffiti practitioner APEX, and features new work from artists actively engaged in San Francisco’s graffiti and street art culture. The opening reception is on Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 6- 

9 pm, and the exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing through September 3."

Featured here are the works of one of the artists, David Ball. His surreal narrative works are sure to be one of the highlights - beautiful collage and mixed media spectaculars. When we asked David about his technique process, here's what he shared with us : "Acrylic, collage, and colored pencil. It starts with abstract paint, then goes to collage. From there it alternates between acrylic and pencil with the occasional collage addition, as it makes sense." And a wondrous sense they all make!

For a wonderful video on David and his insightful, non-toxic thoughts on art, click here.

For some informative tips from David on his mixed media technique, click here for the interview by Argot & Ochre.

Tinted by Tar & THC, the Sepia Collages of Cliff Maynard

Talk about recycling! 

Eclectix featured artist - Cliff Maynard uses the paper from roaches to compose his artworks. Tiny little frail pieces from roaches are taken and flattened, sorted according to color and then carefully arranged and glued into the final image. Each piece of paper resembles a watercolor brushstroke in the completed works, with the layering adding a textured and mottled depth. The process is slow and methodical, with images taking hundreds of pieces to complete. The results are beautiful, subtle colorations of sepia, ranging from the darkest almost-black browns to light pale tans and golds.

“I was studying mosaics in school” recalls Cliff. “I just remember sort of making this connection in my head between the tiles and roach papers.”

Cliff's Website Link

Originally posted in the Eclectix BURN Issue, July 2011,

 along with the permanent online exhibit of fire-related art, LINK HERE.

The Collage Works of Alexis Anne Mackenzie

Eclectix first spotted local SF artist Alexis’ works at a little shop in the Mission District of San Francisco years ago. Beautifully detailed and elegantly composed collages that speak of vintage times, organic shapes and anatomical darkness. Her vision progressed to more text and word based imagery which slowly reveal a message. Her newest works ( very bottom piece) are much more abstract and non-figurative with a light airy feel and muted palette. 

Interview with Fecal Face here - LINK

“All of my collages are composed by hand – cut from books I’ve been collecting for years, and painstakingly pieced together as seamlessly as possible. They create themselves through a process beginning with a loose concept, followed by a series of trials and errors, subtle maneuvers, selection/elimination, harmonious unions, and happy accidents. It is a meditative process, and there is a lot of decision-making behind each element involved.

My general intent, throughout all my work, is to portray the world as a flawed thing of beauty – a place that shines brightly, but has a dark side to match."

You can view her works at her website and see some of her more recent efforts at the POVevolving Gallery.

Originally posted in the Eclectix Paper & Arts Issue, June 2011 along with the online exhibit of paper arts - LINK

Victorian Meets Peep Show, The Collages of Vahge

New York based artist Vahge creates wondrous collages, most with more than a touch of Victoriana-meets-modern-girl. Other influences invade with hints of girly magazines, steampunk, anthropomorphic critters, fashion hazards  and skeletal elements. They almost feel like historical documents,  tattered and worn snapshot tapestries. With delicate yet strong imagery, they are wise and sullen ladies who dare. Her work is all cut and paste, old style. Unlike most newer digital works, the tactile collage feel survives, popping the edges through-out her imagery.

“Vahge celebrates oddity with elegance.”

Some images cropped to show detail.

Vahge's website - LINK

Originally published in Eclectix, May 2011 with the "Paper & Art" Issue, Volume 7

Eclectix Volume 7 On "Paper & Art"

Paper & Art

Eclectix, Volume 7

This issue is all about paper and art. Torn, sliced and/or diced. Books, sheets, cardboard, scrolls and objects. Glued, molded,  drawn on, folded, collaged and sculpted.

For the ongoing exhibition and gallery click here. 

For new homepage related posts, updated weekly, click here.

Cris Brodahl Rocks The Seattle Art Museum

Spent the good part of a cold day strolling around the Seattle Art Museum and was riveted by the works of Cris. Her paintings are based on collages from magazines that she puts together, so from far away they really look like huge collages. Up close it is obviously a painting... They have a great mixed marriage of surrealism and symbolism- added with the dark sepia tonalities, they juxtapose modern day with vintage times, in a strange but beguiling way. Easily the best stuff on display in the museum, better than even the huge Picasso exhibit. Skip the lines for Picasso and go see Cris instead.
SAM link.

Open Studios With Katie McCann

Stopped in to see Katie's little studio space crammed full of her intriguing collage menagerie. It was quite crowded with interested folks all taking a look around. Her works are very reasonable, a steal in fact, and the Victorian flavor is wonderful.

She has a few walls of her "bug ladies" available and has quite a few more up at a show in Emeryville at Asia Art Now. Our camera poked around and came up with these personal details to share.

Katie is having her open studio this week-end and next week-end as well. June 5th & 6th, 11am-6pm and June 12th & 13th, 11am-6pm

Related Eclectix posts: Entomology

Entomology: McCann's Ladybug Collection

A must see at Eclectix, Katie McCann’s latest body of works, “Entomology”, comprise elegant insects, Victorian images and recycled materials into her specimen creations & “Lady Bugs”. Using collage, beads, fabric, old photos and paint she weaves a wonderful web of eclectic personas.  

Surreal Collage by Carrie Ann Baade

"It's about making the unreal real, making it believable for someone else."



Recently found the art of Carrie and was floored by the dreamy, fantasy world yet somewhat creepy (in a good way) quality of her works. They are incredible multi-layered tapestries of hallucinatory scenery. She has transcended the crafty image of collage and pushed it into the sphere of surrealist masterpieces.  Intrigued by her method and technique, I tried to do a little hunting to see what I could find out. Many artists are very secretive and downright shut mouthed about their techniques. Here is a little of what I found on her process.

"There are very real things that I am not aloud to speak of in polite society, the more I translate them into elaborate images to spell out my rage, my dissatisfaction, my pain, my secrets, and my loves which may also be secrets."
"I collect images, I dive into my piles of cut outs that I have been archiving for the past 5 years. The composition of the collage can be immediate or go through 15 hours of revisions. It is like reading cards, the answer will come as I am searching and the answer is usually visually surprising."
"Idea!, snip, cut, and collect - with lots of cello tape!, play and laugh at how funny images can be, revisions for 12 years, prepare copper, transfer image, paint in grisaille....totally tonal image with no chroma, paint in color, glaze and glaze, agonize, tell the painting it is the most beautiful thing that I have EVER created, frame, eject from studio to be hung in the gallery never to be seen again....next!"

Some added words of wisdom for the struggling artist out there...
"Pretend that each letter of rejection means you get to go out to dinner. I have decided that I will have an exhibit of all my letters of rejection as soon as I have enough to cover a gallery. I am only 1/3 of the way there. Beyond that, my credo is: IGNORANCE AND BALLZ! I say ignorance because I don't ask questions. Never ask why you are doing this. Never question your ability. Never wonder if you would be richer or happier doing something else. Ballz is the momentum to keep doing it despite impossible odds."

Sources and more info:

Beinart Surreal Art Collective -
http://beinart.org/modules/Word-Press/2007/06/12/beinart-interview-with-carrie-ann-baade/

Phantasasmaphile -
http://www.phantasmaphile.com/2006/09/interview_with_.html

My ArtSpace -
http://www.myartspace.com/blog/2006/11/art-space-talk-carrie-ann-baade_08.html