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.

“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

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

On January 26th, 2012, Brooklyn artist Dennis McNett quietly arrived in Laguna Beach, CA. Since then he has been working in the shadow of secrecy to change the landscape of AR4T Gallery and the town of Laguna. Dennis continues his work up to February 4, 2012, when mythical creatures of ancient folklore take shape to live among us…

From The Editors at Boardistan: “On Saturday, January 7, 2012 Laguna Beach, California’s AR4T Gallery will host the opening party of a photography exhibit titled Still Life With Wood. The exhibit features a collection of work from some of the best men to ever point highly polished glass at a rolling slab of maple:”

The artists reception to welcome in STILL LIFE with wood and the new year at AR4T Gallery did not disappoint. Grant Brittain, Miki Vuckovich and their families were some of the first people to walk through the door, and Grant and Laura Brittain were the last to leave – the party was just that good.

Artist Jay Croft flew in for the evening, and it was awesome to get to hang with Dave Swift and James & Tracy Cassimus. A sea of smiling faces that have been part of skateboarding for decades came out to celebrate: Ben Schroeder, Jeff Grosso, Jim Gray, Lee Crane, Paul Schmitt, Ryan Kingman, Jon Foster, Ewan Morrison, Don Brown, Chris & Pam Zam, Lee Crane, Danny Zapalac, Brian Ridgeway… the list goes on and on. A few artists with upcoming shows in 2012 helped kick off the new year as well….Russ Pope & his wife Jennifer, Sticky Shaw, & Brennan Coyle. As requested by Grant and Swift, IPA from O’Shea Brewing Co. was served, and for the occasion of the music of el mysterioso – so was a little Tecate. Thanks to Pete Stow for taking photos of the evening. You can see more of Pete’s photos at Spire1.com, and photos from Lee Crane on Boardistan.

All photos of STILL LIFE with wood are available for purchase – please see the show page for pricing and info.

In life there are rare times when you meet people who have so much soul for what they’re doing,  you can’t help but stop, listen, and believe.

Here’s the back story on why curator/owner Torrey called forth this particular group of photographers (“the monsters of skate”) into AR4T gallery for our first show of 2012 (Still Life with Wood Jan. 5-22): She originally met them – Grant Brittain, Dave Swift, Miki Vuckovich, Atiba Jefferson, James Cassimus and Jon Humprhies – in 1996 when she worked in the Transworld offices for a magazine called Warp. They were all part of the Transworld team in the office next door. “These guys have an integrity and a love for skateboarding and the skateboarding community that has not drifted off course one inch in the time from then until now.” At The Skateboard Mag their fearless operation to maintain the independent nature of skateboarding is the kind of thing that inspires us. To say the least.

One big happy family! at THE STORYTELLERS Artists Reception and Hospitality Night Dec. 1-2:

Thursday night reception/ Laguna Beach Artwalk – LCAD student Trace Mendoza joined AR4T extended family with artists Sticky and the Sabori family, Taylor Reeve, Grace Lee, Veronica Lowe,  Jason Carrougher and Chantal de Felice who was showing her jewelry. Artwork by Brennan Coyle, Traci Hartless, Karlee Mackie, Chad Hasegawa and 2Jaws accompanied by PG stories of kings, moon travels, rainbows and Thrash-fish – for the kids and kid in all of us…

On Friday night the young Milk & Cookies artists made time in their busy Santa viewing schedule to make ornaments and generally go nuts. “Isn’t that what the holidays are for?” Torrey likes to remind us (is that whiskey in your apple cider?).

Thanks to Dano Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show, LCAD and Mini & Maximus. Up next, MILK & COOKIES Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club SATURDAY DEC. 10. Kids Yoga with Mindful Octopus SATURDAY DEC. 17.

BRENNAN – Any ideas?
DANA – Granfather and Grandmother Owl.
BRENNAN – I’m cool with gramps. I’m calling it Timeless Romance.
DANA – Done.