Eclectix's Main Mama Site

- Greetings Dearest Followers -

In case you haven't noticed, we are not posting much here on the Eclectix Arts blog anymore, all our features will now be found at the main mama site – Eclectix.com. We have redesigned the site, consolidating all the Eclectix art news features, artist interviews and exhibition listings into one happy home.

We have gotten all our ducks in a row, so to speak...

Eclectix Link

There are new share/follow buttons for you to keep up with Eclectix and our re-designed exhibit listing pages make it easier to find the cool shows when you are out and about – on your mobile device. Even if you are out of the country we’ve got some selected venues for you – in English, on the Arts Calendar.

Looking forward to seeing you there! 

Arts Calendar Link

A Darker Look at Christmas, New Art by Jeff Gillette

Artist Jeff Gillette just sent me this wonderfully twisted new piece he painted. A more realistic look at the holidays, perhaps. Titled "Christmas Slums", a take on where all the carnage ends up after the big day. Wish I could see this one in person, looks like there is a bunch of fun stuff going on in the refuse. I wonder what the vintage Santa is saying? Or is he singing?

Hey, at least it's all getting recycled somewhere...

Interview With Artist Dean Fleming

To read the latest Eclectix artist interview with Dean and view a gallery of his surreal art click here.

San Francisco Street Art Attack in the Mission

A very cool, block-long wall of urban art, outside of CELLspace in San Francisco. To see all the images click here.

Last Gasp Kickin' Ass Art at Their 40th Anniversary Exhibit, at 111 Minna Gallery in SF

Doggie Greeters

Great scene happening at the opening and celebration last night of Last Gasp's anniversary party. If you don't know who Last Gasp is - briefly they have been responsible for supporting and publishing many counter culture artists, cutting edge writers and poets and fringe musicians, here in San Francisco. Many who have gone on to fame and fortune, breaking ground in our cultural landscape.

Ed Hardy

The line up of artists is a veritable whose-who of pop-surrealism and kustom kulture - Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup Glenn Barr, Robert Crumb, Richard Corben, Guy Colwell, Ron English, Tony Fitzpatrick, Christopher Felver, Camille Rose Garcia, Justin Green, Bill Griffith, Rick Griffin, Ed Hardy, Frank Kozik, Joe Ledbetter, Carol Lay, Adrian Lee, Michael Manning, Chris Mars, Scott Musgrove, Junko Mizuno, Liz McGrath, Laurenn McCubbin, Mitch O’Connell, Annie Owens, The Pizz, Mark Ryden, Michael Rosen, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Dori Seda, Winston Smith, Eric White, Robert Williams, Attaboy, Aye Jay, and many more.

Chris Mars

Camille Rose Garcia

The crowd was a wonderful mish-mash of colorful artsy types. Lots of snappy dressers, friendly familiar faces, wierdos, usual art groupies, and freaks, just my kind of crowd. At one point there was some out-of-control, attention-sucking woman who kept flailing around in some sexy? dance on a bench, eventually hitting people around her, including artist Isabel Samaras who got it in the face. The place was nicely crowded and every 5 or so people there was a strong whiff of fresh herb, the pockets must have been packing it. Then there seemed to be a cadre of older women in leopard/cheetah spotted faux fur coats, not together- but they would have made a great photo if there had been room to herd them up.

Best Darn Shirts In The Place!

Jennybird Alcantara

Junko Mizuno

Dudes With An Agenda Of Some Sort

Reverend Levba

Winston Smith and Isabel Samaras

Mitch O"Connell

Striped Dude and Red Headed Tee Shirt Seller

The venue was 111 Minna, a bar, club and gallery. The past shows I had been to there, were poorly lit. Much of the art was stuck on temporary wall dividers in the middle of the space and you could barely see it. However, for this event, I was happy to see things were much cleaner. The dividers were gone, all the art was respectfully on the actual walls and it was all lit very well. The gurl DJ spun some great stuff including the Ramones, which always seem to cheer me up, along with a darn tasty margarita.

So much outstanding, eclectic art and eye candy, a very good vibe and friends meeting up again -  good time, great show, all around! 

http://www.lastgasp.com/
http://www.111minnagallery.com/

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.

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

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