Friday, January 30, 2009
Music and transcendance
I have a confession. The only time I've seen Neil Young live was when he walked by me on Haight Street while I was busking one of my tunes about a year ago. (I'm still trying to have it not mean anything that my performance was not enough to interrupt his march to wherever he was going.) In fact, the first time I remember seeing a Neil Young *performance* was just a few minutes ago, when I watched the "Like A Hurricane" video above, and I'm just floored.
There's something transcendent about his performance. The music flows with a most powerful and eloquent grace. I feel embarrassed by admitting I've never seen Neil Young live and feel like a neophyte annoyingly spouting the obvious. But I wanted to share. Neil Young rocks.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Artist Statements: Spring Show
Artists showing Spring '09 at Ink Studios in Los Angeles, opening March 1st. 
Lynn Bridget
Over the past 10 years, I have created dozens of geometric designs. While appearing perfectly symmetrical, each piece is actually hand drawn adding an organic feeling to the work. With the launch of Bridget Imagines, I aim to create artwork and products for the home which are as beautiful on the surface as they are in their contribution to society. A lover of technology, design, spirituality, art, and science, I take interest in any convergence of those subjects.
Sofia Harrison
I create because I have to; story telling under broken shards of glass amuses and placates the inner sprites. My work embodies the collective thought patterns of our society: fractured but connected, expressing the combat of individuality, encompassing desire, spirit and reason. I am mixed. Media: paper, words, glass, paint, discarded and found objects, glue and grout.
The Materials & Process
I mainly cover old sash windowpanes, mannequin sculptures and furniture. Recently I have started working on wood boards. Truth is I will cover almost anything in glass and words if it’s not nailed down. I really enjoy using found objects, and I am a frequent ‘dumpster-diver’ and visitor to scrap yards --I like the idea of keeping things out of the landfills. I love glass, the feel the color and movement and I use a variety; stained, clear, dichrotic and mirror. I use oil pastels and or acrylics to paint out my piece first and then scrounge through magazines to clip out the words that will tell my stories. Each word is glued onto the hand cut glass and affixed to my ‘canvas’. I hand sand and grout the piece and then paint the grout. It is very much like traditional mosaic work but I have created my own twist through the incorporation of the word. When light shines from behind my windowpanes they become a different piece all together; I rather like the way the light can affect the piece.
Bren Bataclan
In the summer of 2003, I began my street art installation, “The Smile Boston Project.” The project involves me leaving my cartoon-inspired acrylic paintings for people to take for “free” all over Boston (park benches, trains, schools, malls, etc.).
Attached to each painting is a note saying, “This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often.” I have since gone worldwide with my “Smile Boston Project” and I have begun to exhibit my paintings across the country. The documentary about my street art project premiered at the Woods Hole Film Festival (Best Short Documentary winner) and a book about my artwork will be published by Gingko Press.
Goals:
- To bring art to people who typically do not visit art galleries and museums.
- Give paintings to folks who may not be able to afford original artwork.
- Just to see more smiles around the globe.
In a nutshell... I’ve always been a big fan of graffiti but I never had the guts to spray paint a wall. And so, I use different cities across the country and around the world as my exhibit spaces.
Artist site www.bataclan.com
Scott Kildall
I work at the intersection of media culture and human memory.
My artwork depicts collapse: between producer and consumer, viewer and viewed and simulated and real. I appropriate material, bend rules of consent, restage events and invite viewers to alter my exhibited pieces. These acts and products reflect a shift in cultural production — where ownership dips into a zone of ambiguity and image and sound is widely recycled. I use video, installation, prints, sculpture and performance to express desires for connection through a changing media landscape. In a recent project, I approached people at public events and asked them for a photograph. Instead, I took video. From these hundreds of clips, I compiled a 40-minute edit of strangers waiting in anticipation and smiling towards the unknown.
Lately, I have been using Second Life — an online world with simulated physical space — as a site for artistic inquiry. Here, I remediate iconic performances and realize “imaginary objects” as paper sculptures. Traditional and new media collide then recombine into a hybrid form. The notion of the original form sinks in wake of these acts. My work reveals how humans express emotions in this new topography.
www.kildall.com
Robyn Holmes
Robyn Holmes is a native mid-westerner, with a Bachelors in Fine Art from Rhode Island School of Design. She worked in New York as a graphic designer, and is currently working in the film industry in Los Angeles. She has continued to make art, selling to private collectors, and has shown in cities as diverse as Memphis, New Delhi, and Washington, D.C.
Abstract Landscapes is a series of assemblages on paper representing my personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Paint on hand-made paper with found objects from nature, telephone wire, and other objects creates meaningful textures. Torn paper and painted symbols create graphic patterns and language relating to these experiences.
The series of Etheric Faces in pastel represents different ethnicities and world cultures in history. The color within and surrounding the face represents the nature of that personality. These faces have been simplified down to their basic shape in order to focus on their etheric qualities. As some historical paintings show an aura surrounding a saint, these portraits represent ordinary people with their own particular energy levels.
J.Scott Cilmi
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the prestigious Tyler School of Art, Scott Cilmi studied painting with Frank Bramblett, Martha Diamond and Sidney Greene. He moved to the Bay Area in 1989. Always drawn to abstraction, the move to the west coast provided inspiration and motivation to explore color and form which serves as the backbone of all his paintings.
New Work The focus of my recent abstract paintings has been to create a sense of energy and spirit through color, composition, line and shape. The energy may be loud and powerful or quiet and subtle. I let the painting decide. I am interested in using juxtapositions of color exploring how each layer affects the other. The paintings are more about what is left over after the process is completed. I do not set out with a specific image in mind, although there are certain images that are consistent, underlying rhythms that act as a starting point for each composition.
Tim Weldon
An imaginative painter, Weldon practices what might be called
“a carnival of folkloric figuration.”
Weldon’s works are created with “DUENDE”, an inspired power of scorching passion laden with poetic verse that swirls through the composition like a cool breeze and leaves the viewer with feelings of déjà vu.
As a self-taught artist, Weldon’s body of work reveals a rich variety of themes and stylistic approaches, all facilitating a fertile arena of development.
Representing the confrontation of reality, Weldon’s paintings burst with energy and blazing color which culminate in an absolute celebration of life. Just as an illustrated fable provokes an emotion, each painting by Weldon invokes the color of life.
His surfaces are coated with thickly worked pigment mixed with sand and other materials to build layers of emotional texture. Then an assortment of rescued objects, like buttons, keys, sheet music, newsprint, old records and musical instruments are playfully choreographed, and inserted as metaphors to the dialogue and cast of characters thus defining each surface in terms of the centralized figure-ground and poetic relationship.
Paul E.Meyers, Step Gallery, New York
Lynn Bridget
Over the past 10 years, I have created dozens of geometric designs. While appearing perfectly symmetrical, each piece is actually hand drawn adding an organic feeling to the work. With the launch of Bridget Imagines, I aim to create artwork and products for the home which are as beautiful on the surface as they are in their contribution to society. A lover of technology, design, spirituality, art, and science, I take interest in any convergence of those subjects.
Sofia Harrison
I create because I have to; story telling under broken shards of glass amuses and placates the inner sprites. My work embodies the collective thought patterns of our society: fractured but connected, expressing the combat of individuality, encompassing desire, spirit and reason. I am mixed. Media: paper, words, glass, paint, discarded and found objects, glue and grout.
The Materials & ProcessI mainly cover old sash windowpanes, mannequin sculptures and furniture. Recently I have started working on wood boards. Truth is I will cover almost anything in glass and words if it’s not nailed down. I really enjoy using found objects, and I am a frequent ‘dumpster-diver’ and visitor to scrap yards --I like the idea of keeping things out of the landfills. I love glass, the feel the color and movement and I use a variety; stained, clear, dichrotic and mirror. I use oil pastels and or acrylics to paint out my piece first and then scrounge through magazines to clip out the words that will tell my stories. Each word is glued onto the hand cut glass and affixed to my ‘canvas’. I hand sand and grout the piece and then paint the grout. It is very much like traditional mosaic work but I have created my own twist through the incorporation of the word. When light shines from behind my windowpanes they become a different piece all together; I rather like the way the light can affect the piece.
Bren Bataclan
In the summer of 2003, I began my street art installation, “The Smile Boston Project.” The project involves me leaving my cartoon-inspired acrylic paintings for people to take for “free” all over Boston (park benches, trains, schools, malls, etc.).
Attached to each painting is a note saying, “This painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often.” I have since gone worldwide with my “Smile Boston Project” and I have begun to exhibit my paintings across the country. The documentary about my street art project premiered at the Woods Hole Film Festival (Best Short Documentary winner) and a book about my artwork will be published by Gingko Press.Goals:
- To bring art to people who typically do not visit art galleries and museums.
- Give paintings to folks who may not be able to afford original artwork.
- Just to see more smiles around the globe.
In a nutshell... I’ve always been a big fan of graffiti but I never had the guts to spray paint a wall. And so, I use different cities across the country and around the world as my exhibit spaces.
Artist site www.bataclan.com
Scott Kildall
I work at the intersection of media culture and human memory.
My artwork depicts collapse: between producer and consumer, viewer and viewed and simulated and real. I appropriate material, bend rules of consent, restage events and invite viewers to alter my exhibited pieces. These acts and products reflect a shift in cultural production — where ownership dips into a zone of ambiguity and image and sound is widely recycled. I use video, installation, prints, sculpture and performance to express desires for connection through a changing media landscape. In a recent project, I approached people at public events and asked them for a photograph. Instead, I took video. From these hundreds of clips, I compiled a 40-minute edit of strangers waiting in anticipation and smiling towards the unknown.
Lately, I have been using Second Life — an online world with simulated physical space — as a site for artistic inquiry. Here, I remediate iconic performances and realize “imaginary objects” as paper sculptures. Traditional and new media collide then recombine into a hybrid form. The notion of the original form sinks in wake of these acts. My work reveals how humans express emotions in this new topography.www.kildall.com
Robyn Holmes
Robyn Holmes is a native mid-westerner, with a Bachelors in Fine Art from Rhode Island School of Design. She worked in New York as a graphic designer, and is currently working in the film industry in Los Angeles. She has continued to make art, selling to private collectors, and has shown in cities as diverse as Memphis, New Delhi, and Washington, D.C.
Abstract Landscapes is a series of assemblages on paper representing my personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Paint on hand-made paper with found objects from nature, telephone wire, and other objects creates meaningful textures. Torn paper and painted symbols create graphic patterns and language relating to these experiences.
The series of Etheric Faces in pastel represents different ethnicities and world cultures in history. The color within and surrounding the face represents the nature of that personality. These faces have been simplified down to their basic shape in order to focus on their etheric qualities. As some historical paintings show an aura surrounding a saint, these portraits represent ordinary people with their own particular energy levels.
J.Scott Cilmi
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of the prestigious Tyler School of Art, Scott Cilmi studied painting with Frank Bramblett, Martha Diamond and Sidney Greene. He moved to the Bay Area in 1989. Always drawn to abstraction, the move to the west coast provided inspiration and motivation to explore color and form which serves as the backbone of all his paintings.
New Work The focus of my recent abstract paintings has been to create a sense of energy and spirit through color, composition, line and shape. The energy may be loud and powerful or quiet and subtle. I let the painting decide. I am interested in using juxtapositions of color exploring how each layer affects the other. The paintings are more about what is left over after the process is completed. I do not set out with a specific image in mind, although there are certain images that are consistent, underlying rhythms that act as a starting point for each composition. (copyright J. Scott Cilmi)
I work on several paintings concurrently, differing in scale, over a number of sessions; therefore, each painting is not the result of a single creative output but a culmination or refinement of a number of concentrated sessions. My work is a lot about looking at and making many small decisions within the composition until the painting says it is “done” and I have learned something from the piece.Tim Weldon
An imaginative painter, Weldon practices what might be called“a carnival of folkloric figuration.”
Weldon’s works are created with “DUENDE”, an inspired power of scorching passion laden with poetic verse that swirls through the composition like a cool breeze and leaves the viewer with feelings of déjà vu.
As a self-taught artist, Weldon’s body of work reveals a rich variety of themes and stylistic approaches, all facilitating a fertile arena of development.
Representing the confrontation of reality, Weldon’s paintings burst with energy and blazing color which culminate in an absolute celebration of life. Just as an illustrated fable provokes an emotion, each painting by Weldon invokes the color of life.
His surfaces are coated with thickly worked pigment mixed with sand and other materials to build layers of emotional texture. Then an assortment of rescued objects, like buttons, keys, sheet music, newsprint, old records and musical instruments are playfully choreographed, and inserted as metaphors to the dialogue and cast of characters thus defining each surface in terms of the centralized figure-ground and poetic relationship.
Paul E.Meyers, Step Gallery, New York
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Science Exploration and more
Love the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park - quite an extraordinary place. After ten years and $500 Mill, its finally here. Complete with 4-story rainforest, among many other wonders including the architectural design.
Besides all of the fun you can have learning and testing your science, every Thurs. night (feb-Oct) the venue is transformed into a lively urban center for music, science, mingling and other such provocations.
Schedule of events on-line
If you're in the Bay Area or NYC you may wish to catch one of Richie Havens upcoming shows at the most select venues, including the Napa Valley Opera House (3/6), Great American - SF (3/7) or Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC - 5/15. His new record out - Nobody Left to Crown.
Ray Manzarek and Robby Kreiger also play an evening at Napa Opera House this spring.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A few Delights of NAMM
Ink Studios hit both NAMM and Sundance this year -
At Namm, we got some great interview footage of Chad Smith - drummer for the Chili Peppers for Music in Schools on just how he got his start in music. Chad said it was at age 5 and inspired by his older brother and sister - who played guitar and piano. He says they had a 'Brady bunch style family band' and is largely a self taught musician. We'll post the interview once we get the edits.
We were big fans of Hall Glassworks crystal flutes and didjerido and demo - beautiful and impressive sound quality too.
One of the cooler somewhat random things spotted at NAMM was this little invention called the Vibramate seems like an obvious one for guitar geeks- but no one did it until now.
When we get the sparkie report in from Sundance will update more about the Ink there.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Follow Your HeART - Next Art Showing
What an AMAZING Day! It is with great gratitude that we welcome in our new Prez Obama!
Our affirmation: live in the present moment, follow your heart and be Love
Next Open Studio show theme therefore will be to Follow your Heart
Be present so you can receive the gifts and share the rich offerings
do not drown them out and peace will always be at your side
do the work that comes thru you naturally and effortlessly-
do not resist the calls,
be attuned as best you can for every sign of love that surrounds you
and be thankful always for that which you do have
your gifts are to be kind, loving and non-judgemental
know that you are timeless
nourish the spirit,
your soul with the richest of fortitude
the love of all things and a peaceful existence
And always be free on the path.
Our affirmation: live in the present moment, follow your heart and be Love
Next Open Studio show theme therefore will be to Follow your Heart
Be present so you can receive the gifts and share the rich offerings
do not drown them out and peace will always be at your side
do the work that comes thru you naturally and effortlessly-
do not resist the calls,
be attuned as best you can for every sign of love that surrounds you
and be thankful always for that which you do have
your gifts are to be kind, loving and non-judgemental
know that you are timeless
nourish the spirit,
your soul with the richest of fortitude
the love of all things and a peaceful existence
And always be free on the path.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Rules of Rock
Afraid to ask?
According to Chris Isaak,
(as inscribed by Chris on this here Gretsch guitar)
The Rules of Rock:
1. Get Paid First
2. Play Louder Than The Singer Likes It
3. Avoid The Cello Player
4. They Ain't No Rules In Rock
(photo courtesy: G. Rose)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Random Noteworthy of Jan '09
Architects of a New Dawn launched 1/1/09
Carlos Santana's Media Channel
Carlos' 'vision for AOAND is a multi-tiered media company whose approach to building a new reality for the planet is based on inspiration, creativity, love & forgiveness. This is where my passion lies, and I wish to bring it forth by combining music, sacred thoughts and inspirational media. ." For more on that vision, visit the site.
Burning Man Announces '09 Theme Evolution: A Tangled Bank
prompting three related questions:
What are we as humans beings?
Where have we come from?
How may we adapt to meet an ever-changing world?
Burning Man is now accepting art proposals for the 2009 event until February 1.
GraceNote gave a first look at their CarStars Stereo system at CES "which scans your music collection and selects an artist to be your personal musical guide, giving you track suggestions depending on where you happen to be driving" Check out this video review from CNET
The company announced their support for video formats (in addition to their patented music recognition technology, a core component of ITunes and other music players).
Grissom Says Goodbye
CSI's hot thespian, William Peterson, is staying true to his core artist roots, and finally leaving CSI (after 9 seasons) for theatre back in Chi town.
Paradise Lounge , the old mainstay rock club in San Francisco, has re-opened after another reprieve between owners. A dance club, not sure if there will be any live shows. If you catch a show/event before we do, let us know. For a walk down memory lane in the locale -
Carlos Santana's Media Channel
Carlos' 'vision for AOAND is a multi-tiered media company whose approach to building a new reality for the planet is based on inspiration, creativity, love & forgiveness. This is where my passion lies, and I wish to bring it forth by combining music, sacred thoughts and inspirational media. ." For more on that vision, visit the site.
Burning Man Announces '09 Theme Evolution: A Tangled Bank
prompting three related questions:
What are we as humans beings?
Where have we come from?
How may we adapt to meet an ever-changing world?
Burning Man is now accepting art proposals for the 2009 event until February 1.
GraceNote gave a first look at their CarStars Stereo system at CES "which scans your music collection and selects an artist to be your personal musical guide, giving you track suggestions depending on where you happen to be driving" Check out this video review from CNET
The company announced their support for video formats (in addition to their patented music recognition technology, a core component of ITunes and other music players).
Grissom Says Goodbye
CSI's hot thespian, William Peterson, is staying true to his core artist roots, and finally leaving CSI (after 9 seasons) for theatre back in Chi town.
Paradise Lounge , the old mainstay rock club in San Francisco, has re-opened after another reprieve between owners. A dance club, not sure if there will be any live shows. If you catch a show/event before we do, let us know. For a walk down memory lane in the locale -
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Goin' Native @ LOL
Funnyman Larry Omaha takes the stage at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival at the El Rey Theatre, Jan 18-19th in Los Angeles.
(Showtime Live Taping of Larry's "Goin' Native"- Indian Comedy Slam)*.
Larry has appeared on the hit Comedy Central show, "Mind of Mencia" and the very popular syndicated show, "Comics Unleashed."
Last month we caught a live show of Omaha's and now know why he makes a living causing laughter. Go see his show, you will laugh and you will thank us for suggesting it.
*The comedy special taping will be at the El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036. January 18th. Show begins at 5:30 PM and should last 90 minutes.
We love when you smile:)(photo courtesy: E. Dennis)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Fret on these - Ltd Edition Prototype Bigsby
wow, these are quite stunning guitars even if you are not a musician...
We happened to stumble upon these in conversation recently with an industry friend while talking shop about the upcoming NAMM show. Here's the run down and links on these exclusive musical masterpieces.
Limited edition, Bigsby prototype guitars using many of the design features and ideas originally crafted by Paul Bigsby. http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/guitars/BY48NRT/index.html
Carved birds eye maple top with amber finish - single florentine cutaway - walnut birdseye headstock - playing card inlays on rosewood fretboard - set neck - 21 frets - Sorkin bridge base - 2 chrome control knobs vol/tone - 3 way selector switch - 2 Bigsby single coil dog-ear style pickups - Rosewood or Bigsby B3 tailpiece.
Link to several models;
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/products_guitars_ltd.html
For those who may not know - Bigbsy is considered the Father of the Modern Electric Solidbody Guitar
"Bigbsy made the first modern solidbody electric for musician Merle Travis, completing the instrument in May 1948. Nothing like it had been seen before. Every electric guitarist today should be grateful that Paul Bisgby did what he did back then. He changed the look and sound of the guitar forever."-quote from upcoming book about Paul Bigsby who designed and developed a revolutionary guitar vibrato that is still considered by many as the best type ever built-the Bigsby True Vibrato.
We happened to stumble upon these in conversation recently with an industry friend while talking shop about the upcoming NAMM show. Here's the run down and links on these exclusive musical masterpieces.
Limited edition, Bigsby prototype guitars using many of the design features and ideas originally crafted by Paul Bigsby. http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/guitars/BY48NRT/index.html
Carved birds eye maple top with amber finish - single florentine cutaway - walnut birdseye headstock - playing card inlays on rosewood fretboard - set neck - 21 frets - Sorkin bridge base - 2 chrome control knobs vol/tone - 3 way selector switch - 2 Bigsby single coil dog-ear style pickups - Rosewood or Bigsby B3 tailpiece.Link to several models;
http://www.bigsbyguitars.com/products_guitars_ltd.html
For those who may not know - Bigbsy is considered the Father of the Modern Electric Solidbody Guitar
"Bigbsy made the first modern solidbody electric for musician Merle Travis, completing the instrument in May 1948. Nothing like it had been seen before. Every electric guitarist today should be grateful that Paul Bisgby did what he did back then. He changed the look and sound of the guitar forever."-quote from upcoming book about Paul Bigsby who designed and developed a revolutionary guitar vibrato that is still considered by many as the best type ever built-the Bigsby True Vibrato.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Great Music Events This Month
January 10 & 11
Los Angeles (Venice Beach)
Raise the Vibration!
Call in the new year with legendary kirtan artist and bhakta Jai Uttal and servant of the shakti, Shiva Rea. Embark on a vocal journey through the sacred sounds of ancient India.
January 19th, Washington DC
Chant 4 Change
Celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Obama with sacred activist Shiva Rea, world-renowned kirtan/chant artists Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits and 400 other conscious revolutionaries. Join us for a full night of chant, dance, expression and teaching within sight of the White House and the Washington Monument.
Jan 16-20th
Anaheim, CA
NAMM
"The" Gear Show
Jan 23rd
San Rafael, CA
Eric McFadden & Faraway Brothers
Jan. 25th
Santa Monica, CA
Music For Peace
Free Concert, 2pm
World Peace Ikeda Auditorium
Los Angeles (Venice Beach)
Raise the Vibration!
Call in the new year with legendary kirtan artist and bhakta Jai Uttal and servant of the shakti, Shiva Rea. Embark on a vocal journey through the sacred sounds of ancient India.
January 19th, Washington DC
Chant 4 Change
Celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Obama with sacred activist Shiva Rea, world-renowned kirtan/chant artists Jai Uttal, Dave Stringer, Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits and 400 other conscious revolutionaries. Join us for a full night of chant, dance, expression and teaching within sight of the White House and the Washington Monument.
Jan 16-20th
Anaheim, CA
NAMM
"The" Gear Show
Jan 23rd
San Rafael, CA
Eric McFadden & Faraway Brothers
Jan. 25th
Santa Monica, CA
Music For Peace
Free Concert, 2pm
World Peace Ikeda Auditorium
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
