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 They almost feel like historical documents,  tattered and worn snapshot tapestries.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

Paper Fashion, Nakao's Runway Art Attacks

Brazilian based Jum Nakao makes incredible dresses out of vegetable paper (papyrus or parchment.) They are light, lovely and delicate fashions that contrast well with the dark, robot-like, hard edged models. 

From Jum- “A term used by John Calvin: “The precise use of the vague” - which allows the reading of a more playful universe.”

He creates artistic events or happenings along with his shows. At the end of one - Desfile, the models tear the dresses off themselves, destroying them while the audience gasps in horror - LINK. In another, rats slowly tear and feed upon the dresses LINK.

“That is why we destroy everything, to show that there is something more important, something much more lasting than what people see and value at first sight.”

For an interview and overlook at some of his work - PingMag LINK And a backstage look at Jum setting up a show - LINK

A Look/See at Congregation Gallery, Los Angeles

Swooped thru Congregation Gallery on our LA trip in March to take a peek. This gallery is located in Forgotten Saints on Melrose Ave. - the gallery and tattoo space is in the back but there is art slathered all over the walls through-out. The front store section has tons of cool Goth-Victorian-Steampunk clothes and accessories, many hand-made. Most of the artists were familiar and it was wonderful to see their dark and twisted works up close and personal. It was refreshing to see a lot of 3D work and sculptures as well as paintings. Just a few of the dynamite artists who were showing- Dan Harding, Steve Rodgers, Larkin, Cam Rackkam, Krystopher Sapp and Dean Fleming. 
Previous Eclectix interview with Dean

The current exhibit at Congregation is three, (count em' three!) solos by - Dan Harding "Splinters", Larkin "Rhinestone Deities", and Patrick Deignan, "Bad Obsession". Check it out!

Choice Exhibit Alerts- In LA, SF, Seaside and Seattle...

Some updates for upcoming and ongoing exhibits that look just fantastic!

Dan Harding

May 14th- ongoing, Los Angeles: Congregation Gallery presents three solos - Dan Harding "Splinters", Larkin "Rhinestone Deities", and Patrick Deignan, "Bad Obsession".

Patrick Deignan

Larkin

On May 21st, Los Angeles:  Corey Helford Gallery is pleased to present “Flight and Fable” featuring new works by three remarkable female artists from New Contemporary Fine Art Movement: Sarah Folkman, Krista Huot and Isabel Samaras.

Isabel Samaras

Krista Huot

Sarah Folkman

 May 13th - ongoing, Seaside: Alternative Cafe Gallery presents the "Fourth Annual New Brow Exhibition". Featuring the works of Anthony Ausgang, Van Arno, Shawn Barber, Chrystal Chan, Luke Chueh, Andy B. Clarkson, Amy Crehore, Adam Flores, David Joseph Gough, Eric Joyner, Jophen Stein, Kevin E. Taylor, Jason Limon, Chris Mars, Buddy Nestor, Terribly Odd, Charmaine Olivia, Michael Page, Everett Peck, Christopher Polentz, Dan Quintana, Isabel Samaras and Kelly Vivanco.

David Joseph Gough

Chrystal Chan

June 10th, Seattle - Roq La Rue presents John Brophy, "The Long Arm of the Zeitgeist" and Melissa Forman, "Misplaced Memories Long Forgotten"

Melissa Forman

John Brophy

 

May 14th - June 4th, San Francisco: Shooting Gallery is pleased to present "American Iconomics", a dual exhibition of works by Akira Beard and James Charles. The two bodies of work presented are intertwined in their subject matter – with both artists fixating on the idea of the “contemporary American icon.”

Akira Beard

James Charles

Eclectix Sale: A Wonderful Dark "Holy" by Anita Collins

Anita Collin's newest piece is "Holy X" and she is just crying for a new home.  Holy is fully protected on the outside like a full plaster body cast but , still wounded on the inside. What simple pill or prayer can or soothe heal her... only love could... 

She is all hand made and one-of-a-kind, 5" bust.  

Price $800, contact: eclectixp@yahoo.com

New Eclectix Interview With Owen Smith

Owen is a master fine artist - a painter, muralist, mosaic artist and a sculptor. A local husband and father, whose lively works were featured in the last Eclectix “Flesh” issue, he is currently working for the San Francisco Arts Commission and teaches at the California College of the Arts.  His illustrative and fine art works have graced many editorials, CD covers and magazines - permeating pop culture for at least the last 20 years. They have a vibrant, lusty feel to them, conjuring up 1940’s Los Angeles, vintage detective stories and film noir ....

For the rest of the interview and a gallery of Owen's works, go here.

For the current Eclectix issue on "Paper & Art" go here.

KMNDZ at Fifty24SF, The Heaviest

Visited the new gallery space, Fifty24SF to see KMNDZ's new show - "The Heaviest" and loved it. KMNDZ ( aka Johnny Rodriguez) has a commanding painterly style, lots of texture and brushstroke against saturated darks and vivid colors. His images reminded me of Jeff Soto's works in the past, especially the robots, another artist whose works I admire. The exposed wood and collage feel of the backgrounds also spoke of Rauschenberg, especially where the images were layered, squared off and segmented within the whole. The excellent metallic sheen on his bombs and robots just pop out at you and the glistening refractions in the jewels and droplets are unbeatable. Really enjoyed the whole exhibit and the woman working there was a sweetie pie- friendly and helpful without being in-your-face. The space is a nice size, not very big- but big enough and they had a closet in which they hung some of KMNDZ's smaller works - a very cool little niche. Took some cropped, closer up, detail shots of the artworks for those of you who like to see a little more. Strongly recommend the show, it's up thru May 19th, located in the Lower Haight Street area of San Francisco.

Pulp Fashion Exhibit at the Legion of Honor

The current exhibit "Pulp Fashion" at S.F.'s Legion of Honor is beautifully executed and laid out. All the costumes are created out of paper by the artist Isabelle de Borchgrave and her minions. For info and more photos of the garments, as well as some of Isabelle working, click here.
Isabelle hand-makes the paper, manipulates the pulp, stretching, crinkling and puckering. And then she tears, sews, wrinkles, folds and pleats. If you look closely you can even find the inner structures of cardboard boxes - as in one of the intricate lace collars. Spotted some shredded packing materials in there as well. Multitudes of textures abound- delicate rice papers for gauze veils and petticoats, shiny satin-like papers and matte hued thicker papers. She paints detailed patterns and backgrounds, paying historical homage to the likes of the Medici family, Coco Chanel and Marie-Antoinette. From buttons to bows, beads to lace, corsets to belts (even the coolest little Aladdin-like slippers) no detail was left out. Many of the mannequins were also layered in paper bringing a tactile uniformity to the displays. Every outfit is an incredible assemblage, really makes one wonder just how many hours it took to complete this huge collection.

Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave, 
February 5, 2011 - June 5, 2011