25 Years of Pixar, A Review of the Oakland Exhibit That Kicks Ass!

The current Pixar exhibit (at the Oakland Museum) is one of the best I have seen at a contemporary art museum since the Todd Schorr solo in San Jose. This show is a "significantly enhanced" version of the exhibition, which is returning home to Oakland after a world tour that began at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2005. Kind of sad that it didn't begin here, since Pixar is right next door to Oaktown in Emeryville, but it's hard to compete with MOMA's draw. It should have opened right here in their own hood, then it would have been a true homecoming. Hats off to the Oakland Museum curators, for taking the helm to steer this museum in a much needed, fresh and new direction. (Support the place - spend some money there!)

Jessie!.. still in love with her, even after all these years...

This is a large, very solid show - full of room after room of 25 years of wonderful art. Original sketches, paintings, models and storyboards from all the wonderful Pixar animated endeavors. Pencil sketches, watercolors, oils, digital paintings, sculpture, charcoal, pastels - you name it, all your fave Pixar creations in every media imaginable. Beautiful sketches and renderings of tons of characters, from Buzz to Ratatouille.

The darkened room encasing the "Toy Story Zoetrope," (above) is a knock-out, really enlightens one on the essence of animation and how it all works. It comprises a 3D turntable populated by the Toy Story figures in carefully sequenced postures that spring to life when it all spins under the strobe lights. Leave yourself at least 15 minutes to stare in wonder at this puppy.

This Bug's Life art is titled as a pencil drawing!  Unbelievable rendering.

Roz in all her glory... did you fill out your paperwork?

When you go, make sure you leave enough time to see everything, at the very least - two hours...  And you may want to book your tickets ahead, they are admitting in intervals to keep the crowds down. When I went the pace was perfect, not too crowded, although the girl at the ticket desk could have used another helper.

The charcoals by Nathan Fowkes for "Sharks Tale" were jaw dropping.

Can't beat "slinky dog"...

Don't you pay any mind to all those hi-brow art critics out there that refuse to realize animation and cartooning is "real" art.
Just remember the great quote by Anton Ego from Ratatouille -

"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."

This show is so good I will be going back for a second injection. The amount of Pixar artists and their incredible art here is a true feast. A historical journey thru our joint Pixar past, all the characters, places and life lessons that made us smile, gasp, laugh and cry.  

Michael Wertz, Dreamy Dog Dreams at SFCB

Dropped in for a quickie look at the book release party for Michael's "Dog Dreams". Really wished I could have stayed longer but had stupidly made prior commitments. The gathering at the San Francisco Center for the Book was a really welcoming crowd.

Good vibrations with a family ambiance, unpretentious types enjoying Michael and his art. I first became familiar with his art when he bought in his wonderful silk screened, Chinese Horoscope book, "Zoodiac" to Eclectix, a lovely designed and hand printed work.

His new "Dog Dreams"  is a limited edition, letterpressed on Vandercook presses, little book of doggies doing all kinds of human stuff. A beautiful quality piece printed on paper you love to caress; the kind they used to use on all mass produced books, way back when there were plenty of trees to cut down.

Michael displayed some preliminary rough sketches for his book as well as a doggy collection of inspirational items.

Vintage books, memorabilia, photos and strange eclectic objects. (Sorry the reflective cases made the photos glare a bit) Very fun to peruse and it all gave the viewer a nice sense of the dedicated persona behind the work.

A great  bonus - Michael and his partner sung and strummed together in a performance of dreamy oldies, including a fave 'Mamas and Papas' song. A sensitive, warm and touchy-feely time for all attending with great art to boot.
From SFCB: "Dog Dreams, written and illustrated by Michael Wertz, is a children's board book that imaginatively reveals the hopes, wishes, and ambitions of over a dozen dozing canines through playful imagery and rhyming text. "


There is also a fantastic exhibit of LA Lotteria images up at the center.


Buy the book- for your kids or the kid in you- here.
For a great set of production photos go here.
For the Wertzateria site go here.

Alice In Wonderland Make Up

Being a die hard junkie of all things Alice, just had to share this ever-so-cool make up set by Paul & Joe Beaute. Nothing like a little wonderland to smear all over your face!

"Mischief" Art at Studio Gallery, San Francisco

Sheri DeBow's piggy perfection- one of her best dolls, so far

Dropped into Studio Gallery to see the current exhibit "Mischief", a group exhibit with so many past Eclectix artists it felt like a flashback. The show has a lot of pieces, very reasonably priced, mostly on the smaller side. There was a series of large glitter fashion model type paintings which left me bored and a number of others that lacked a necessary spark. On the plus side, there were quite a few wonderful pieces, mostly by artists whose work I know and love, some new to me that were awesome as well. An eclectic show, lots of styles, tons of critters, a lot of birds especially. Something here for almost anyone's taste from more traditional studies to loud cartoons. Posted here are the cream of the crop (the ones there were room for...). Go see the show  in person and enjoy the mischief. (thru August 15th)

Chris Beck's fun watercolor ducks

Koji Nagao's had a knock-out trio of childlike doll sculptures

Lindsey Latimer's expressive and dynamic "Fun With Voodoo"

 Christine Benjamin's always energetic sweet, colorful and quirky pieces

Chad Frick's flora and fairy tale world grabbing us in 

Michelle Water's classic penguin beauty contestant, showing it... 

Missy Feigum's new bold. wild bunnies provided some needed mischief...

Chiami Sekine's poetic, achingly beautiful deers

Cameron Chung's loose painterly perfection

Rebecca Peter's awesome owl

Mark Ryden To Yak It Up At SF Moma

It's about time some "contemporary" museums got contemporary. SF Moma is finally taking notice of home-grown, fantastic artist Mark Ryden. Not that they are exhibiting his works like they should have already. But they are having him do a book signing on August 12th, of his latest works and book titled "The Snow Yak Show".
For info go here.

Kristen Cumings on Rachel Ray

Yahoot! Finally, some food art on Rachel Ray! Last year, Eclectix tried to get Rachel to check out some of the art and artists in the "Eat It'' exhibit but never heard back. It would have made an interesting show and a nice break from the usual recipe routine. Ray finally did a segment with the wonderful mistress of the jellybean, artist Kristen Cumings, famous of late for her "Jelly Belly Mona Lisa". 

Check out the Ray segment here

For the Eclectix interview and step-by-step with Kristen here.

Kristen also has a ton of sweet art that isn't made of jelly beans but actual paint. One of my faves from the "Dementions" Eclectix exhibit is her cyborg "Calculated", below...

For a look at Kristen's website click here.

Eye Candy Clown Mural by Ezra, Berkeley

This mural was in progress the first time I drove by. Oakland artist Ezra Li Eismont was hard at work on a glorious clown. A great piece of professional street art, bold and happy-creepy. I thought it was just art-for-art's-sake, but stupid me! Ended up it is an ad for Adult Swim. Shoulda' known better... however as far as ads go, at least they hired an artist and did a really nice job. Makes a boring brick wall so much nicer, let's hope all the taggers leave it alone... Good job, Ezra!

A Hat's Off to Coppola

Skimmed thru the Sonoma Magazine, found an interview they had with Francis Ford Coppola about his new winery park he is building. 


Thought this was a great quote from him and had to share-
 “Don’t you always notice, you go anywhere, there’s always a big line of ladies at the bathroom, and never at the men’s? That’s because they need more facilities, given all things. He said, OK, we’ll have twice as many lady’s rooms. And I said, OK, that’s fine.” 
But then, Coppola  recounts, “they went to the Planning Department, and they came back and said, well you know the Planning Department  doesn’t require that you build twice as many lady’s rooms as men’s, so let’s not do it. I said why? Oh, they said, because it’s not code. You don’t have to do it. I said, I’m not doing it for the code. I’m doing it because there should be twice as many ladys rooms as men’s rooms. And the people will hear. " 
From Sonoma Magazine


Thanks, Francis, I heard...