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

Christopher Conn Askew, Beyond Tattoo

Conn's works are dynamic vivid compositions, beautifully executed and graphic show stoppers. There are definite influences of Japanese art in his composition, solid and elegant line work, evident historically in Japanese watercolors and tattoo art. Also evident is an ode to classic, old time story book illustrations, rendered in decorative realism with a modern twist. There is also an element of European art deco poster design, his use of typography is masterful and clean, creating overall images of graceful yet bold design. Chris incorporates the traditional line work of tattoo with subtle hues and deft rendering, shading, shadows and modeling; to create some of the most beautifully luscious works out there today. One can see the painstaking time, thought and effort in each one of his pieces without any of the cliches of today's pop artists. No sexy adolescents or big eyed girls here, just consummate artworks that will last thru the ages.

I first came across Chris's art in a Haight Street tattoo shop while crusing for local artists for the (then up-coming) Tattoon Show. My eyes were riveted by an incredible watercolor on the wall of a parlor and I instantly recognized his style from an old issue of Juxtapoz. Always in the market for local artists, I was very excited to stumble upon such professional work, right here at home. (It is much "greener" to use local artists rather than artists who have to ship here using jet fuel.) After googling Chris it seemed he lived in SF, so finding his art felt like a score. Sometimes it can be a challenge to find enough quality local art for a solid exhibit. After several attempts to contact him, he finally responded. Sadly, he declined to exhibit any works in the show, oddly stating "I am not doing anything even remotely tattoo related, anymore". Too bad, his art was sorely missed and would have been a welcome and fitting addition to this great show.

For more of his beautiful works, go to his website: Christopher Conn Askew

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

Bay Area Townie: Bradley Platz's Art

Fifth In a Series on Bay Area Artists

Bradley's art is masterful, edgy yet serene, calling forth the Old Masters - elements from renaissance imagery - with a wonderfully disquieting bit of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion thrown in. Based on or inspired by myth, allegories and fables of old, he injects his own modern twist of our mortality and circumstance with seeming ease and grace.

Dictionary definition of "allegory" - a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.

One of my faves by Bradley is "Charon and the Shades"- (fourth from the top). The painting depicts Nicole Ritchie, (as a general symbol for the modern celebrity and wealth) on the boat with Charon. Charon was the ferryman on the river Styx, the mythological old man who took the souls of the dead across the river into Hades, provided that they had a gold coin to pay for passage. Historically, among the wealthier classes a gold coin was nearly always placed under the tongue of the departed for this reason. Nicole is represented dry and emaciated, having little physical beauty left but a wealth of gold which, ironically, is pouring out of her mouth in a familiar cathartic expulsion. The "shades" or souls trapped in purgatory are swarming the boat, these are souls with no money for Charon, eternally stranded on the shores of the Styx. The painting represents celebrity privilege as the continuation of the aristocratic privileges that have extended back to the time of myths and gods.

Besides the larger epic works, Bradley also has an ever-growing series of enticing little portraits. Pictured here are some early works "Creatures" done on black velvet. His "Creatures" are playful, little gargoyle-like beings which radiate golden light and simple minded expressions in floating postures. Bradley's later (and currently developing) characters are gothic portraits with a "Night Gallery" ambiance. With names like "Mistress" and "Patriarch" or "St. Nihilist", these evoke lost souls captured for eternity within a delicate small oval Victorian frame. They have a beautifully poetic, historical bent; the images are small, yet powerfully potent, full of personality, expression and emotion.

"I believe that a painter should honor what has come before and show respect where respect is deserved. My work is based upon religious icons and renaissance imagery which is set in a modern context. It is a constant personal inquiry; piece by piece it is a task of deconstructing our idols of worship and considering how they have changed through the centuries. "

Bradley currently lives, works and paints in San Francisco. He has been a regular contributor to Eclectix Gallery exhibits as well as part of a two-man show with artist Michael Ryan, aptly titled "Portraits & Allegories", in 2008.

Bay Area Townie:Sheri DeBow's Art

Fourth In a Series on Bay Area Artists:

Inspired by the "This Town" Exhibit at Eclectix Gallery, Thru August 16th

Sheri's art is full of fun exuberant energy and feminine wiles. Creating art dolls and 3D sculptures out of eclectic sources, just about everything and anything. She uses paper mache, paper clay, fabrics, trims, clays, found objects and paints to fashion characters in perky and exotic poses. In fashions inspired by vintage, punk, a hint of the 80's and some Victorian influences, her women come alive with bright color, captured forever in a moment. Sparking our curiosity, she makes us want to know the story behind the character. Fairy tales, myths, child-like emotions and circumstance all merge in her beautiful assemblages. From her pieces in " The All-Gurlz Show" at Eclectix to her recent solo show "Caught in the Headlights" at Bloom in Napa, we were once again enthralled to lay our eyes on the art that so reflects her as a person - the incredible positive vibes and warmth layered with an undercurrent of dark wonder. Just like her dolls, caught in the moment, our eyes were opened wide and happy about it!

Sheri will have some work in the up-coming exhibit, The Tattoon Show at Eclectix Gallery.