Jeremy Gregory, Elise Richman & More at the Fulcrum Gallery in Tacoma

JEREMY GREGORY
With chalkboard paint, colored pencils, and colors that really pop off their black backgrounds, Jeremy Gregory’s works are always guaranteed to appeal to a wide array of individuals. The last time I came across one of his shows at Snowboard Connection, he did something few artists do, but more should: he shared his deepest animated secrets, in the form of about five sketchbooks completely scrawled with his thoughts, cartoons, and quick sketches. And this is what keeps Gregory’s work interesting. Whether he’s traversing through books about circus sideshows or sharing his sketchbooks, he’s always doing something subtle that sets him apart from the others.

For the Observations & Perceptions show at the Fulcrum Gallery in Tacoma this month, Gregory’s approach shall be no different. Here’s what he had to say about his display for :

“My part of the show will include an installation made to look like a workshop… there will be small illustrations representing the song “What’s He Building in There?” by Tom Waits. Also, I’m doing portraits of sex offenders that are located within 1 mile of the gallery.”

Sounds like a jolly good, mind-bending time.

Click here to view Jeremy Gregory’s artist gallery on REDEFINE Magazine.

ELISE RICHMAN
At this show, you can also expect some abstract paintings by Elise Richman, whose works which recall alien landscapes not unlike a wickedly colorful bacterial colony.

You might also expect sculpture and installation pieces, possibly involving glass, by Galen McCarty Turner, Oliver Doriss, and Conor McClellan.

Jason Sho Green’s Work Faces Transformations

Jason Sho Green has long been a buddy of REDEFINE; we interviewed him in 2005 for what what might’ve been his first interview, and he was extremely bashful about talking about himself then.

When I saw that his work was on display on the top floor of the 619 Building, I had to check it out. It’d effectively been a year since I’d really seen any of his work (since his 2007 Seattle International Film Festival campaign). Fresh off a one year stint taking art classes (as he was previously untrained), Green says that his current works are a more accurate reflection of his desires. Whereas he previously felt like he had to compromise his artistic vision in his final products, he now seems more confident in his technical abilities, and the results show a noticeable departure from his previous work. It is quite clear that Green has newfound technical abilities and more of a fine art side to him, but I’m interested in seeing what the future will bring for his pieces, how these changes will change his fanbase, and whether it will take him from the Seattle scene to elsewhere. Don’t worry, though… as evidenced by his awesome Threadless Tee (which I’ll have to buy since I’m a Sagittarius), Green still has a sense of humor.

Click here to read his post about this piece or here to see how the piece has evolved.

Marilyn Minter’s Strut – Photo or Painting?

Marilyn Minter’s Strut — and work in general — require a double take. She began as a photographer and received most of her attention with her photographic studies on her drug-addicted mother, and has also branched out to painting at some point in her life.

So, Is this piece a photo or a painting? It’s honestly hard to tell sometimes. Could it even be a little of both?

What do you think?

Frida Kahlo at the San Francisco MoMA

Self-Portrait with Thorns

Two women enjoying the bloody, bloody Henry Ford Hospital, inspired by Frida’s baby that was never born.

Caught the new exhibit about the famous Frida Kahlo, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, from now through September 28th, 2008. Bloody, colorful, sinister, and thought-provoking. More details at the MoMA website.

Greenwood/Phinney Art Walk 2008

Bunches and bunches of art from the Greenwood/Phinney Art Walk yesterday! Enjoy!

Let’s begin with my personal favorites from the entire walk… intricately painted and deeply thoughtful pieces by Seattle artist Don Farrell. This acrylic piece, on wood panel, is called “Metamorphosis of the Mad God.” Artist statement is as follows:

“This somewhat abstract image is inspired by the Greek god Dionysos, who is well known as the god of wine. His dominion is ecstatic, but it is also of fermentation, vitality from decomposition. Appropriately, he is often associated not only with wine grapes, but also with ivy, or any number of vine plants that consume and spread voraciously. He is brilliant madness within a benign order – the destruction and decay of matter that facilitates the emergence of the new and glorious.”

“Deities Obsolete” by the same artist. Here are two of the five paragraphs from his explanation of this piece:

“This painting is a somewhat whimsical commentary of the pomp of organized religion (not to be confused with spirituality), the futile quest it encourages (for vitality already found within), and the candy-coating of its savagery that would otherwise expose its hypocrisy.

A scene repeated symmetrically (loose structural mimicry of a playing card) depicts clergymen conferring. Of course, there is a hierarchy, and enthroned, looking papal, with sacred items held aloft, the high priest casts his spell. The niches behind his head house symbols from the dollar, including the Illimuminati pyramid, and above is the crown-jewel of his opulent throne. This church is one of many built right on top of the ruined remains of sacred places by conquerors with different gods…”

Fabric “vessels” by Cameron Anne Mason. These are simply beautiful and involve hours of work. The process involved designing the pattern of each piece, hand-dying the fabric, sewing it, and quilting it.

A brightly-colored piece by Paisley O’Farrell.

Due to glare, this is not the best photograph, but this is a piece by Mimi Williams, an artist from Olympia. She does linoleum prints on various pieces of paper and then collages them into one cohesive product. All of the colors in her image come from colored papers, and all the inks are black.

Cute acrylic pieces by Megan Marie Myers that could be perfect for children’s books.

Riding an alligator!!!!!

Riding an elephant!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful painted panels by Jim Stoccardo, on display at Herkimer Coffee.

And more!

“De-Mask” series by Kathy Liao. This is a huge self-portrait, which studies the different “masks” she wears in life.

Same as above, although this one explores – in particular – a stereotype by her Asian grandmother that pale is beautiful.

A cool mural by P. Darrington (details, anyone?) in Greenwood/Phinney. Beautiful.

Francine Seders Gallery – Maysey Craddock, Pat DeCaro, Gail Grinnell

I’ve been by the Francine Seders Gallery a million times but it has never been open. Today, for the first time, it was, as a part of the annual Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk! Yay.

The first image I saw at the gallery, and already, we’re off to a good start. This new body of work by Maysey Craddock features silhouettes of gouache trees, painted on paper bags sewn together with silk thread. Trees are certainly not a new theme but this is beautiful.

Same as above, but it’s much more obvious in this one that the canvas is nothing but a paper bag. Look forward to seeing more by Craddock, a painter and sculptor from Memphis (who is currently living and working in Munich).

“The Memory of a Tree” – A slight departure from the above pieces, this piece was embroidered on a found textile piece. $2,000.

Silhouetted figures in various positions. Ink on semi-transparent paper. By Pat DeCaro.

Mixed media collage by Gail Grinnell. Acrylic on polyester, silk, and paper.

More to come from the Greenwood/Phinney Art Walk.

Go Rilla Gallery’s Green Giants Art Show

For this group show, all of the pieces will depict each artist’s view on the ecological state of the world. Thanks to Aaron Kraten for these photos.

On display not at the Go Rilla! Gallery in Santa Ana.

Artwork by good ol’ musician / artist Susie Gheremani.

Awaiting the name of this artist

Two eye-catching pieces by Aaron Kraten.

Liz Adams‘ eco superhero… or something.

Artist…?

An ultra-hip neon piece by Tommii Lim.

A little plushie green giant by Heidi Kenney.

Ryan Bubnis Installation at Perihelion Arts, Phoenix

Came across a really cool and involved solo installation by Ryan Bubnis! The gallery seemed to give him an entire gallery world of his own. I particularly like the last installation and the adorable and awkwardly-shaped sculptures. Photography by Cecilia Singer.

Where The Good Thoughts Grow
Featuring new paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations from Portland artist Ryan Bubnis.

Partway through…

Drawing spread on the wall.

Some sculptures on shelves.

Wood chunks, yarn, and pine cones!!!

Side shot!! LOVE IT.

Was on display Friday April 4th-30th @ Perihelion Arts, Phoenix Arizona (www.perihelionarts.com/)

Ghost at BLVD Gallery

On display at the BLVD Gallery now through May 3rd is work by Ghost.