Karyn and Her Major Arcana

Local artist Karyn Crisis has a whole new body of works based on The Major Arcana, a suit of 22 cards in the tarot deck. From the looks of the show announcement and the progress shots (below)-  it will be a fierce body of work. The show is at Sacred Rose Tattoo's gallery - SR2 in Berkeley and it opens on Oct. 1st, just in time for our much loved haunting season. The opening reception is from 6-9 PM and the exhibition will be up until Nov. 1st. See you all there!

From Karyn's blog:

 "I've found that in learning about Tarot, there are cards which have been misread by people no matter what time period they are speaking to or being used in. So with my deck, I would say my clairvoyance is taking me to the core of each card. Here is where, in updated symbolism (or symbolism that speaks to me and my inner language) I am "updating" cards with codes that carry the information in a way that speaks to me the story."

An "Altered Space" in Venice

Altered Space Gallery, Venice, Ca

Altered Space Gallery had the most varied, eclectic and solid exhibits going on of all the galleries we visited along Abbot Kinney Blvd. It is a large space and they featured very creative jewelry, sculpture, cool cards, etc. - as well as artworks. Nice people working there and a nice feel to the place.

Keba Konte

Our first fantastic fave was (surprise!, a home boy from Oakland) - Keba Konte. He had a stunning display of photo emulsions transfered onto old, yellowed plywood and found boards. These were softly shadowed with velvet blackest-blacks,  vintage-feeling and beautiful. Loved the way the lightest parts of the photos just bled into the wood grains.

Keba Konte

Keba Konte, detail from above

Keba Konte

Keba Konte, detail shot

Keba Konte

Keba Konte

The next pieces were water based sculptures by Tanya Clarke. Fun and odd segments of water pipes and faucets, vintage meters and glistening glass pendants forming the water drips. Many of them would light up, she has a number of large interesting industrial light sculptures - "Liquid Light" on her website.

Tanya Clarke

Tanya Clarke

The final artist we loved was Michele Mikesell, whose works were concentrated in the rear area. Some creepy, some sullen, some pretty - all were fun little characters with loose and fleshy strokes and one intense  "stink eye" looking at you. Delightful.

Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell, detail from above

Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell

Michele Mikesell, detail from above

Best of Cave Gallery & "Street Art" Exhibit - Abbot Kinney, Venice, Ca

Dropped in to check-out Cave Gallery in Venice (CA) on our travels and were able to see the opening of the current "Street Art Saved My Life Show". ( It's up thru Sept. 4th) Lots of nice rough and ready art in the show and on the back walls as well. Here are some of our favorites, plus some detail shots for all you detail-oriented artists out there.

Front, street view of sculpture assemblage by, NohJColey

Back, NohJColey

Back detail, NohJColey

This great piece by NohJColey (above) was in the window and grabbed our attention with it's expressive gesture and weathered found-wood components.  Apparently the artist chains the components around street poles to create the finished sculpture.

The next pick (above) was a mixed media piece by Chris Stain,  really beckoning, titled "Give 'Em Hell".

Hoodys Kissing, Dan Witz

Detail, Dan Witz

This "Hoodys Kissing" piece by Dan Witz was the top pick of the current exhibit. Daring and emotive with a twisted feel of gay monks doing it. Dan's figurative works are all wonderful and this was no exception.

Another really fantastic piece - "Past, Present, Future" by El Sol 25.  (above)

The next picks were all from the gallery's current consignment inventory and were hung about in back or along the stairs. There were many stupendous works here, "stealing the show" so to speak. First up is "Give Me New Love, Where Did My Tree Go?" (below) by Josh Hart - just wonderful!

And a work by Paul Chatem, "The Disillusionist" (below). Paul's works really have to be seen in person, they have a carnival feel with his own signature color palette,  painted on cut-out pieces of wood. Such depth, dimension and detail are way to hard to capture in a flat foto.

Paul Chatem

Detail, Paul Chatem

Not sure who the artist is (or the title) on the piece below, but we loved it nonetheless. Drop an email if you know and we will credit it.

Unknown

Loved this stylish, red-headed and original critter by Megz Majewski, "Sunbathing At Sea" (below).

The masterpieces (in our humble opinion) of all the art we viewed at Cave were the two below, by the artist, Macsorro. These two just floored us with their surreal and imaginative imagery. Wow!

Pheramone by Macsorro

The Dissipation of Our Childhood Dreams by Macsorro

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.

The Exquisite Miz Elsa Mora

Eclectix stumbled on Elsa (or Elsita) Mora while researching paper cut art and we are so happy to have her work on the exhibit card (below). 

She seems to be a one-woman dynamo, creating exquisite, impeccably beautiful art while managing  a family, an Etsy Shop and 5 blogs. The blogs are artworks in themselves, cleanly designed, well photographed with incredible, large close-up details of every work. Elsa also creates miniature books and art dolls. Her “The HeArt of Papercuts” is a wonderful place to get lost, we highly recommend viewing it. 

This is a detail from one of her rings - for your fingers!

Links below for more Mora...

  Elsa’s Etsy Shop LINK

Elsa Mora’s Main Blog

Miniature Artists’ Books

The Hidden Seed: Personal style

Elsa’s Handmade Doll Blog

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

Eclectix Interview With Artist Christine Benjamin

Christine is a true local, home grown in San Jose, one of the original Berryessa clan. A fantastic artist and all-around great person - full of life, vitality and cheer. She is a painter, illustrator and art doll maker; creating colorful, quirky and vibrant imagery of all sorts. Space women, skeletons, monsters, sock monkeys, robots and mod girls - all in various playful antics. Accomplished in so many medias, it’s hard to pin down her one strength....

For the whole interview & gallery go here - LINK.

Christine's Website - LINK

For more Eclectix art goodies go here - LINK.