Lights Out Beach City: Art anthem of summer 2012

Introducing 14 years of works by the artist Ben Brough
Opening Night on Cinco de Mayo
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 6-9pm
Musical guest Dano Forte

About the art: Ben Brough’s new solo show features works from six feet in size to 2.5×2.5-inches. Presented as loud thoughts and after thoughts derived from nomadic journals kept from 1998-2012, Lights Out Beach City expands on the highly vagrant work over fourteen years using space, color, cartooning, collage, and painting techniques. Screeching imagery of food, music, coastal living, cinema, sex and landscapes in styles and mediums selected to clash by intention. Using mediums “found within arm’s reach” and presenting the show in a space as imagined, designed and installed by Brough, the viewer will be presented with a raucous landscape that brings to mind the fast and hard-edged DIY ethic only ever found lurking in the deepest subcultures of youth and punk rock.

Says the artist:  “I wanted to put everything out there. Moving around has always been a way of life, and 1998 is the year I started really spending a lot of time abroad and recording images and enjoying it. I have always worked in different styles and I wanted to see them together in one room at one time. The fast-paced consumerist lifestyle mixed with the richness of the laid-back surf history here, I’ve grown to see the great qualities of California.”

Show runs May 3-26, 2012. Come check it out.

Last week AR4T Gallery owner Torrey Cook went up to the city by the bay for a little self-guided walking tour. Luckily the sun was shining and it was a beautiful 70 degree spring day!! Of course there is so much to see and do but the day went like this…

First stop at Cain Schulte Gallery to see David Buckingham art. The space is wonderful – big bright windows just a few steps off Union Square – but a little stuffy unless you look like money. Strolled by Spoke Art (was just a little too early & they were closed) on the way to White Walls and Shooting Gallery. Paul Chatem at Shooting Gallery was great, but Michael Page’s large oil paintings were what I came up to see and they were well worth the entire trip. Characters living between worlds of the masters and contemporary street jumped straight off the canvas, brilliant colors pulling on strings of emotions long buried. Michael Page is constantly pushing forward and Elan Vital a show not to miss. But then again, Justin, Tova and the White Walls / Shooting Gallery / 941 team have been consistently bringing shows to SF that are each better than the next. This team works hard!! They do a great job and that’s why they are the best.

Tova pointed me in the direction of Hemlock Alley where Herakut was working on a mural before their Saturday opening at 941 Geary. A fly on the wall, I got to snap a few photos and say hello – and I was fortunate to meet the people of Wall Space SF – a team that works with building owners and the city to procure wall space for artists to use.

After a quick stop at The Luggage Store to see Chad Hasegawa’s bears, I walked up to FIFTY24SF Gallery (closed) and was directed by the good folks of Upper Playground toward a new mural by the legendary bay area artist Sam Flores – amazing. (Sam… please come back and show more. The art world needs you!!)

Last few stops at Needles and Pens to see what was new, Clarion Alley to add a sticker, and end of the day a famous mojito from Cha Cha Cha on Mission at 19th.

Till next time SF!!

More photos on Facebook

Surfer’s Eyes Photography is so kind to give us a sneak peek of KALM’s new work:

View the rest of the images (taken at Karlee’s home studio in Aus. April 21, 2012) here – Surferseyes.com

“This morning Kuni dropped into Karlee Mackie’s home art studio where she was filming for Rush TV. The program will be airing later in the year, on ABC3 in Australia. The Art Karlee worked on during the shoot will be displayed at her first overseas solo exhibition on June 30 at AR4T in Laguna Beach, California…”

Coming this May AR4T Gallery presents Lights Out Beach City, Ben Brough’s new solo show, presented as loud thoughts and after thoughts derived from nomadic journals kept from 1998-2012. Opens May 5, 2012.

Here are 4 Questions with the artist:

1. Will this show touch on your life of travel?
BB: Yes, definitely. I spent a great deal of my youth on the move and truly loved the different places I ended up in. No matter what, it’s influenced me wherever I was – that bar in San Sebastian Spain, getting a new surfboard in west Australia or hanging out on Catalina Island.

2. Why is AR4T the right gallery setting for this show and what are you going to do with it?
BB: Because the ocean is across the street and it’s Lights Out Beach City … I’m going to cover the space with paintings, collages, drawings and some empty wine bottles with the goal of making it all have a nice visual ring to it and making the moment pleasing to all who attend.

3. How does the California landscape influence your work?
BB: California has it all. I do miss Hawaii where I grew up, but you can go from the desert to the beach to the mountains and so many hidden gems all with the greatest of ease in California. The fast-paced consumerist lifestyle mixed with the richness of the laid-back surf history here, I’ve grown to see the great qualities of California.

4. Why delve back to 1998 for your work in this show?
BB: I wanted to put everything out there and somewhat behind me, kind of like an art cleanse. I like to work in different styles usually, and I wanted to see them all together in one room at one time. 1998 is the year I started really spending a lot of time abroad and recording images and fucking off on a professional level and enjoying life. Most of the work prior to this in inaccessible because it’s either with owners or destroyed.

“Tax Included” opened last night to one of the biggest crowds at AR4T Gallery yet. Fans of Russ Pope came from far and near to see his latest work and to get a rare performance from Indian Wig. Here are a few snapshots to start… more at: https://www.facebook.com/Artists.Republic, and more at Vans Art Tumblr: http://vansart.tumblr.com/post/20576720503/opening-photos-from-russ-popes-tax-included-at-ar4t

Here’s a sneak peek of Tax Included: New works by Russ Pope

A bit of what will be unveiled during Laguna Beach Artwalk, the first Thursday of April!

Upcoming Russ Pope Solo Show April 5-28, 2012: Tax Included. Opening Reception Thurs. April 5, 2012 6-9pm. Here is a Q and A with the artist!

Q. What is the meaning behind he show’s title Tax Included?
Russ Pope: April is tax month. You’ll see some medium/large sized paintings on canvas, drawings on archival papers, 3 and 2-D painted wood pieces with acrylic paint, ink and aerosol paint.  Social commentary, tax info. Some installed pieces, those will be the wooded 3-D pieces.

Q: What kind of impact did winning Best Visual Artist of 2010 from OC Weekly have over the past year in 2011? Did it create any changes?
RP: It was a really nice gesture, happy to be included.

Q: What’s a common question that younger artists ask you, and what’s your advice for them?
RP: Two frequently asked questions are: “How do you find the time to produce so much work?” and “How do I go about showing my work?” You don’t find time, you take or make the time to produce work, is my answer on the first question. The answer to the second is more complicated. A big part of showing your work is based on relationships you have or need to have with galleries.

Q: How is 2012 shaping up for you? In addition to this show, what else do you have coming up?
RP: I have another solo show later in the year at Space 1026 in Philadelphia.  A mural project in L.A. and a 3 man show in S.F. that I’m curating and painting for.

The Whale of Gratitude by Dennis McNett grows and grows! Come see what we mean during Laguna Beach Artwalk March 1, 2012, 6-9pm: Dennis McNett original artwork, prints and handmade clay/wood/ leather masks along with viewing of the Whale of Gratitude.

Dennis McNett’s solo exhibit Wolfbat Shamans and the Whale of Gratitude goes through Mar. 24, 2012.

Plus, a special 1-night live demonstration feat. Camilla Taylor three dimensional printed pieces will also take place Mar. 1, 2012 during Laguna Beach Artwalk.

Camilla received her MFA with an emphasis in printmaking from California State University at Long Beach in 2011. She received her BFA, also in printmaking, from University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She is currently residing in downtown Los Angeles, CA.

Photo of Dennis McNett Shaman Mask: Peter Stow

Dennis McNett and the Wolfbat Shamans have arrived in Laguna Beach – bringing with them spirits not seen in these parts for decades… spirits from a time when mystical creatures walked the earth among their human counterparts, and their stories followed them through the ages to become legend. Right now as we read this, thanks to the art of Dennis McNett, creatures are stirring once again – laying the path for stories yet to be written.

Everyone who entered AR4T Gallery last Saturday was initiated as Wolfbat Tribesman on the opening night of Wolfbat Shamans and the Whale of Gratitude. McNett’s masked shamans, portholes and shields were regarded by old and young. Each tribesman brought their gifts of gratitude to the whale, as did the haunting vocal serenade of El Mysterioso. The combination made for one of the most captivating pictures to come out of our gallery.

McNett and his girlfriend Miryam had traveled from Brooklyn on what was M’s first trip to California. She noticed that everyone smiles here. So… it’s not a myth that happiness prevails; the Whale of Gratitude succeeded in its intention. What happens to the whale after? The story continues… Come see the installation, which took McNett four days to build from the ground up, for the full explanation.

On Saturday people were able to snag their first choice McNett print (priced from $20 to $350) discounted a little something extra on opening night. If you missed the opening,  prints and artwork will be on view and for purchase through March 24, 2012 (regular gallery hours Weds.-Sat. 3-8pm).

Photos: From the Instagram feeds of Dennis McNett (top) and Jesse Fulton (here). Photos below by Pete Stow. See more at Spire1.com.

Big thank you to Vans.

Thank you Michael Hsiung for an amazing collection of photos taken at the show! View a bunch more photos here >>  Vansart.tumblr

A few days before the official opening of Dennis McNett’s Wolfbat Shamans and The Whale of Gratitiude, a special group got together to celebrate. Wanted to share a couple of photos from that evening. Thank you to Doug Palladini from Vans for bringing Dennis out to LB from Brooklyn, and thank you to Thierry at Brussels Bistro for once again hosting a lovely dinner party.

Anika & Jon Warren with Dennis

Doug Palladini, Torrey Cook, Dennis & Greg Escalante

Annie Adchavanich and Chris O.

Ben and Marty

Mark Weiner, Russ & Jennifer Pope

Carl E Smith & the infamous Brian Cook

Jon & Bethany