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

Crono Street Artists: Painting Portugal

Crono is a Portugese Urban Art project with the intention of pairing some of the best street artists with huge, beautiful (abandoned) buildings in Lisbon. The idea already has had a significant impact on the ‘look’ of the city and will continue to provide some amazing street art.

-Via LostAtEMinor

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...

Amy Kollar Anderson's New Mural, Progress Shots

Amy just completed this uplifting and fun mural and sent a link to her step-by-step blog. Nice to see all the layers and progress during the process. I love the little olive bulb flowers...

Visit it here.

And below is a killer new work from her site, titled Intoxicating...
and it certainly is!

Laurie Hassold's "Bone Hut" Art

Just posted a question and answer with wonder woman Laurie on her newest art for the upcoming Art Shack show in Laguna. She also supplied some great in-progress shots of the bony abode.

For it all go here.

Crystal Morey's Wounded and Wonderful Clay World

Crystal Morey's ceramic work is delicately moving, graceful yet forceful; artwork that makes a statement without hitting you over the head with it. Subtle, sensuous curves that make you want to caress the dusty clay, combine to form a message about losses to our environment and/or hearts. Eclectix visited her studio at the last First Fridays in Oakland's Compound Gallery. Poked the camera around once again to capture the great Morey vibe, art supplies and personal touch. Very happy to spot a number of beautiful new sculptures, inspired by flora and fauna. The next issue of Eclectix is concentrating on this theme and will feature some of her works in it - but for now, just enjoy a little look at her porcelain world, inspired, completed and in-progress.

Crystal's Site

"The Dark Between A Double Rainbow" Exhibit, Alternative Cafe

Visited the Alternative Cafe down in Seaside (by Monterey)- finally! Been wanting to trek down there ever since noticing the newbrow art shows they have been having. Josh, at CreepMachine, turned me onto AC by curating some killer shows there. It is a nice space, not real big, but with a cafe and some definite sound equipment for events. The owner- Scott, was friendly and forth coming, chatting about his artful endeavors including the construction and design of the deco style coffee bar. 

The current exhibit is The Dark Between A Double Rainbow, with art by Jon Carling, Chloe Wilson, and Kai Peter Martin. The inked works by Jon Carling were very special. Fun little escapades of people and animals, drawn and painted on found vintage papers. He has an affinity for bird imagery, which is an added bonus. A nice body of work reminding me a little of Edward Gorey.

Also liked some of the works by Chloe Wilson, a series based on the obituaries, portraits of the recently departed. She seemed to have given them life again, whether adding her own projected personality to them or trying to depict their real lives. Great little idea for a series.

In the cafe area was a mini-exhibit of mailed-in art, including an actual clothespin with the postage and address squeezed on it. A collage postcard (above), was the stand out piece.

Next time you are in the area, stop in to support this gallery, the Bay Area needs newbrow venues! And this seems to be the only space in the area, that isn't over-flowing with the same old Carmel seascapes.

Alternative Cafe Link

Wanda Exhibit, New Works by Kurtis Rykovich at Kaleid Gallery, San Jose

Made it down to San Jose's Kaleid Gallery to see Kurtis Rykovich's new works, "Wanda". A heartfelt homage to his mother and the victims of breast cancer, this was a personal and emotional exhibit. I was very, very moved by the artworks and scrawled notations on the walls next to each painting. Kurtis's work had one dedicated wall in the gallery space which he painted it a loose pastel green, complete with roller paths and drips. It gave a nice contrasting edge to the primarily pink and white palette of his works. The works themselves were wonderful, sad but beautifully haunting with happy memories.
From Kurtis:
" I hope that when these paintings are viewed that they are not blunt about the disease but show a beauty and respect for those that might be going or have gone through this war."
His goal was achieved and then some; the care, tenderness and thought behind the art is obvious. These beautiful women and symbolic cures float graceful and strong in their netherworlds of hope.

The "Wanda" show is up thru April 30th, try to get down to see it. Take a gurlfriend or your mom. :)
Kaleid Gallery
Kurtis has shown in a number of Eclectix exhibits, as well a solo show "Delicate". For more of his works, visit the site here: Eclectix Available Art

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

Eclectix Interview With Artist Kmye Chan

A little gallery of Kmye Chan's heart filled art and the Eclectix interview with her. From France with love...

Interview Link

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/