Jeff Gillette: "Dismayland" Awakes Our Apathyland

Jeff's art is the kind of home grown surreal imagery that touches the soul of this OC outcast. Along with other OC captives-turned-artists, Camille Rose Garcia, No Doubt and Social Distortion, he captures the wasteland that inspires rebellious commentary and attitude. I first became acquainted with his art thru his wife's wonderful assemblages. Won't bust their privacy here by mentioning names but they are an artist couple to be contended with, both are equally talented and fantastically creative originals in very different realms.

Part futuristic predictions of the Anaheim to come, part social commentary on the disparity between poverty and "having fun" behind the Orange Curtain, Jeff's work paints the panoramas only the real desperate housewives can relate to. He reminds us that our American  pursuits and commercialism are only enabled by the shanty town workforces in other countries. This juxtaposition of imagery drives home the results this consumerism may have in our future, a science fiction that's not too far from a non-fiction reality. With another twist, the fun and familiar cartoon images of our youth, sprinkled among the ruins, spark a warm note of nostalgia.

If I was in SoCal now I would be shaking my butt down to see this show before it's taken down. It will be up until May 1st, 2010 for all you folks in the vicinity.

Link To Gallery:

http://www.copronason.com/exhibitionsCurrent.html

Link to Jeff's Art Slant site

The Hi-Fructose 5th Anniversary Show in LA

Ewelina Ferruso, "Peace in the Garden"


The artsy folks at Hi-Fructose, Atta and Annie, are having their anniversary exhibit in Los Angeles right now. They've been producing this great, newbrow art magazine for 5 years now, so check it out if you haven't seen it. A much needed additional alternative to Juxtapoz. The show opened March 13th and will run thru April 3 at Copro Gallery. So if you are in that neck of the woods, get your head in there.
"The works included in this 5th Anniversary show pays an homage to the artists we’ve featured over the past 5 years and who’ve helped to shape and define the future of art in our culture." - Hi-Fructose
A mouth watering line up of artists with lovely, strange and fantastic art. 
Kris Kuksi, Jonathan Viner, Martin Witfooth, Candice Tripp, Jesse Hazelip, Lori Earley, Chris Mars, Jeff Soto, Kevin Cyr, Mark Ryden, Thomas Doyle, Scott Musgrove, Victor Castillo, Amy Sol, Audrey Kawasaki, Brendan Danielsson, Brian Dettmer, Greg "Craola" Simkins, Harma Heikens, Attaboy, Alex Pardee,Scott Hove, Sas Christian, Colin Christian, Yoko D'Holbachie, Travis Lampe, Junko Mizuno, Brandt Peters, Mia, Chet Zar, Kathie Olivas, Johnny “KMNDZ” Rodriguez, Sam Gibbons, Annie Owens, Yosuke Ueno, Skinner, Ewelina Ferruso, Shag, Mike Shine
You might recognize SF local, Scott Hove's "cake" art from the Eclectix "Eat It" exhibit. And Annie Owen's from the "All Gurlz" show has some gurlz there,  "Fishbowl". Both pieces are sold. Taking a peek at the Copro links it looks like Lori Earley's piece (Lee the Pink Sheep) also sold - for an astounding $25,000! You go, gurl! Here are just a few faves...

Mia, "Medusa"

Chris Mars,“Disappearing Ink”

Attaboy, "Winged Shmee" 



KMNDZ, "Birds Nest" 

For more go to -
http://www.copronason.com/
www.hifructose.com/

Eclectix Interviews Artist Gene Guynn

One of the featured artists in the "Erotix" exhibit is San Francisco based Gene Guynn. His paintings of dark elegance, dripping with movement and tactile substance lend his figurative works an intimate signature. He kindly shared some answers to our questions in the recent Eclectix interview.

Can you tell us where you were born and a little history about your childhood? 

I was born in Fort Worth, Texas in the heat of July in 1985! I grew up with very creative parents and it definitely rubbed off on me. My father is a musician, composer, and speaker engineer, whereas my mother is...

LINK to read the full interview.

Warm and Fuzzy Art in the East Bay, EclectiXmas!

The Warm and Fuzzy Show
Just in time for the holidaze, Eclectix offers up some warm art to wrap around your walls.
Featuring selected bodies of works by Arabella Proffer-Vendetta, Chad Frick, Chiami Sekine, Chrystal Chan, Jamie Fales, Johnny Thylacine, Michelle Waters, Sheri DeBow and Yvette Buigues.
Fun and furry creatures, cute little girls, fabulous and glamourous women in furs, warm little critters and fuzzy teddy bears. Of course, a few will also have that twisted, eclectic wit.
There will also be locally made, artisan fuzzy ornaments, perfect for stocking stuffers. Get your holiday cheer on here!

Exhibits Dates: December 11, 2009 - Jan. 10, 2010
Opening Reception: December 11th from 7-10 PM
Music by Eclair De Lune

Delicate, A Solo Show by Kurtis Rykovich
Luminous, lush and fashion savvy works by the Bay Area's own artist extraordinaire, Kurtis Rykovich. His "Nesting Among Lemons" won the "Best of Show" in the Eclectix "Eat It" exhibit and now he's back with all new works. Girls with dreamy expressions and stylin' fashions pose in their own beautiful fantasy worlds. Some are sexy, some are moody and some are downright deep thinkers; but all are embellished by brilliant hues, floating strands of delicate hair and sparkling adornments. Small works, priced right, for that special someone...( or for your special self ).

Great one-stop shopping in the Eclectix store as well, so get your Xmas gifts and support local art!

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

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

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.