BECOME A BETTER YOU. Corey Smith Solo art show opens November 2nd. Mark your calendar. These 4Q’s with Corey were done September, keep an eye out for show updates SOON.

Out of many of the artists I’ve met over the past ten years, you seem to be showing your art quite regularly (and all over the world). Yeah I guess that’s true. Since much of my work is fairly simple and easy to make I’m able to make a lot of it. My work is more about sharing ideas rather than taking a year to finish a classical painting. I have a lot of ideas and I just need to manifest them as immediately as possible. I really enjoy showing my work. I really enjoy talking with people and sharing ideas.

What have been your favorite shows and where have you been showing in the past year? My favorite show was a solo show I had in 2010 at the Worksound Gallery in Portland Or. http://www.openwidepdx.com/?p=2798 It was my largest solo show. I haven’t really shown much in 2011 since I’ve was living in Tahoe and working on my Spring Break Snowboards project. Over the summer I’ve shown a collection of my existing work at the Blank Space pop up Gallery on La Brea. It was my most successful show to date, so I’m really happy about that.

You are making all new art for this show, what is your inspiration? Yes, I am attempting to make all new work. My inspiration for this show comes from get-rich-quick schemes, excersise equipment, extreme sports, weight-loss plans, and strategies for happiness.

Are you using any new techniques? any medium (or ideas) that you are experimenting with? I’m actually going back to mediums and techniques I developed years ago, very clean, minimalist line drawings, on wood panels, with high gloss finish. I guess that’s my style so I’m sticking to it.

More photos on OrangeCounty.com.

Amy Winehouse watched over us last night, her upper lip in a snarl and a faint image of the tattoo on her right arm peeking out from under her rolled-up sleeve. I think that she would agree that this was a decent-sized party… Then there was the iconic likeness of Keith Richards holding court in the gallery, bent over his guitar, wild hair. Oct. 6, 2011 was First Thursday Artwalk and the Artists Reception for Heaven’s on Fire, the music-themed art+photography show with inspiring interpretations of iconic musician rule breakers. It went off. The striking portrayal of Winehouse is the creation of Laguna Beach local Steve Whelan; the dramatic image of Richards is the mastery of renowned pop-artist Carson Grier. Grier also showcased his stainless steel art with a flashy Michael Jackson piece. Speaking of rule breakers, there were a handful who turned up last night (in addition to Grier and Whelan): live music duo Old Scratch — their sound broke rules of blues-rock. Photographers Lindsey Byrnes, Klee Van Hamersfeld, Jesse Fulton, rule breakers, Gary Copeland and Lisa Johnson — all photo rule breakers in enormously different ways. Artist David Blake’s screen print portraits on resin, with titles like “Well Hung: Jimi Hendrix” and “You are What you Eat: Kurt Cobain” — rule breaker. Sticky Shaw is a rule breaker, and his homage to Sid & Nancy and the Chelsea Hotel made a lot of people stop and stare. Daniel Edlen’s unreal vinyl paintings. Attendees packed the house, listened to Old Scratch play an hour, made away with some swigs of O’Shea Brewing Co. beer and perhaps broke a few more rules down the street at the Saloon… Come back and see Heaven’s on Fire 4 through the month of October. We’re open 4 days a week: Weds., Thurs., Fri. and Sat., 1-6pm, Oct. 6-30, 2011. Rock n’ roll angel faces by Josh Gunter.

Carson Grier stopped in AR4T with Scott today to enjoy some nice Laguna Beach sea breeze. The “king of stainless steel art,” Carson is showing iconic music legends in our space this month. He’s an impressive artist: at just 34 he’s completed over 600 pieces – of celebrities, for celebrities… Some pieces, like the rocking out Keith Richards, take him a month to create, and others, like the image of Michael Jackson on hand-brushed stainless steel, take five or six days — “long days,” he says.

Carson Grier’s pop art images of music icons each tell a story, more than just music — they become about the charisma of the world’s rare music legends. Each of the Heaven’s on Fire artists capture rock icons distinctly and differently…sooooo excited for this show!!

1. Can you give us some background on the shows that are documented in this collection?
JF - The photos in the gallery our from my recent trips to San Francisco…. I have a real soft spot in my heart for San Francisco. I love everything about the city, these pictures are for my love of San Francisco.

2. You recently moved to Hollywood. Tell us your favorite things about living there.
JF – My recent move to Hollywood is a real dream for me. I’m a real nerd when it comes down to the whole rock ‘n roll nostalgia thing. I get a real energy from the city life feeling. I love hiking in the hills, walking our dog Sid around town and on Hollywood Blvd.,  it’s always exciting just by the wild environment provided from the streets.  I like to surround myself with the things that inspire me, and my house is amazing. It has a special feel to it, good art, the love of music, quality roommate and dog Sid. I couldn’t be happier or more inspired.

3. As a music photographer you get to go to all kinds of shows and festivals. What are some of your favorites that stand out in your memory in the last year or two?
JF – I love traveling and documenting music festivals. I like to be a part of the crowd, I love to be in the mix and capture moments that are forever changing peoples’ lives.  Party, Live, Camp & Dance with the people. I’m just as big of a fan as them. I think that comes out in my photography and people can relate to that. Lighting in a Bottle 2008 in the hills of Santa Barbara forever changed my life. It recharged my batteries and inspired me to pursue my dream of photography. I would have to say my favorite festival is the Sasquatch  music festival in Washington on the Gorge. Most amazing experiences I’ve ever had with my friends while watching my favorite bands play under the Washington stars: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Band Of Horses, Jane’s Addiction, NIN, Flaming Lips,  Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, etc., etc. For the best in festival life living I recommend a heavy dose of Sasquatch for you.

4. Who are the people who inspire you?
JF – I would have to say Glen E. Freidman would be my biggest influence as a photographer. He definitely had a big role in the direction my life is in today. He shot everything form Minor Threat, Ice-T,  Beastie Boys,  Run-Dmc, Suicidal Tendencies and his early work in the skateboarding world, all his work is timeless.  He captured his surroundings and friends perfectly. Local photographers Mark Nisbet and Danny Zapalac have also made a big impression in my life. My friends Justin, Zack, Hendo all helped me grow into who I am today. I’m forever in debt to my friends and family for supporting me through all my trials and tribulations. Currently Animal Collective and LCD Soundsystem have been my biggest influences. I love all aspects of the bands from the core up. They have a true pure vision of who they are as a band. But nothing tops Heath Kirchart skateboarding to “nights in white satin” for Sight Unseen edited by Ty Evans… It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever watched.

Jesse Fulton’s photography will be featured at AR4T Gallery Oct. 6-30 – “Heaven’s on Fire” – alongside seven accompanying creative artists and photographers. Jesse’s site is CeremonyVA.com.

(Sneak peek taken with instagram)

Heaven’s on Fire Oct. 6-30, 2011, artists reception Thurs., Oct. 6, 7-10pm!!!

More about Lisa Johnson: Lisa is one of the coolest rock photogs around. Her work is on permanent exhibition at the Slidebar Cafe in Fullerton, California and was recently exhibited at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s been a photographer for many years, and shot iconic images of bands like Rage Against The Machine, NOFX, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. She loves the Vans Warped Tour, confetti for all occasions and lives by the motto: Happiness is a really good burrito. Lisa recently collaborated with rocker William Francis on the poetry/photography paperback release Flowers + Filth, found exclusively online with Blurb.

lisajohnsonphoto.com

Steve Whelan on machismo, Amy Winehouse and punk rock. Part of Heaven’s on Fire, gracing our walls all October…

1. Who are your favorite subjects to paint?
SW – Take one look at the majority subject matter of movies, TV and music of today and you will see the public in general tend to be attracted to the underworld and all things associated with an out-of-the-box lifestyle. It’s a form of escape, if only for a short while… I like to choose subjects (people) whose backgrounds are somewhat sketchy. I believe an image has to grab someone’s attention and make want them to learn more about that person. Take for instance my image of “The Kray Twins.” One look at the image and you can’t but help but ask: who are these guys, what did they do, when did they do it? I like to appeal to the machismo side of people, and I’m not just talking about the guys. We all have a little machismo in all of us.

2. What is it about Amy Winehouse that makes her a good subject?
SW – Amy is a great example of good girl/bad girl. The media mostly portrayed her as the the rundown, crack addicted, washed up has-been, but I saw a talented, beautiful singer, so the image I created showed a more sophisticated Amy with a little bit of that anti-social Winehouse thrown in.

3. Tell us about your friendship with David Blake who also has art featured in this show. Have you been friends for a long time?
SW – Dave and I met whilst learning about the process of screen printing about a year ago. Being into punk rock in my teens I was immediately drawn to his image of “Sid and Nancy.” We got to talking and realized we had the same interests concerning art subject matter… We bounced ideas and technique suggestions off each other and over time became good friends. We even traded work from time to time. Dave is always supportive and quick to offer advice, which is another quality I liked about him. Dave is a talented artist, and I can already see him being well respected in the urban art community.

4. Both of you regularly contribute art to charities. What is your favorite cause?
SW - I have been a supporter of  a charity called Acres of Love (based here in Orange County) for quite a while. The charity adopts abandoned children with aid in South Africa and nurtures them back to health within their private safe homes. Their mission is “to provide the most vulnerable infants and children with the highest possible quality of care: through love, a strong early childhood development foundation, a community-based safety net and hope.”

Steve hails from Coventry, England and now calls Orange County home. Working on large canvases, furniture, light fixtures and screen printing (all largely influenced by the DJ music scene, urban street art and notorious icons), he often produces videos of his creative process for added insight.