Co-founder of Elephant Stone Records and wife of scribe and former Dionysus Records / Orange Sky employee Ben Vendetta, Arabella Proffer creates figurative and surreal portraits of imaginary subjects using oil and linen or panel. Taking her art a step further she writes a bio about each of her charicters. Her “Ephemeral Antidotes” can be seen at San Francisco’s Articulated Gallery through the end of January.

Proffer’s current works explores “medical superstitions and practices of centuries past,” inspired by her battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. While being treated and going through surgery, Proffer wondered what it would have been like to have lived through the process during her favorite periods in art history.

“After having a section of my leg removed, I began researching medicine from the Middle Ages through the 18th century; this series was a good way for me to work out my anger and be even more thankful that what I’m going through is nothing compared to old remedies and techniques. My art and interests were in the way society lived in the past, but with emphasis on the defiant, glamorous, and eccentric — not daily strife. You could have been rich, important, or beautiful, but if sick, you would still receive brutal or worthless treatment” states Proffer.

Proffer’s bold, colorful and darkly themed art is inspired by punk rock, Elizabethan fashion, gothic divas, religious icons, and the decline of European aristocracy. Many of her paintings can be seen in her recently released book “The National Portrait Gallery of Kessa.”

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Proffer earned her BFA from California Institute of the Arts and currently resides and works in Cleveland, Ohio.

View all “Ephemoral Antidotes” images and bios here

See the show at
Articulated Gallery
1681 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
articulatedgallery.com
415-551-1036
info@lovedtodeath.net

images:
“Skin of the Fox Cures the Pox” 16×20 oil on linen.
“Sawed” 16×20 oil on linen.

BEYOND EDEN returns this Sat, October 1st!!! This is our 3rd year putting this beast together and we feel this is the best year yet and can’t wait for you all to share in the goodness.

Please join the Beyond Eden ‘group’ on Facebook:

Website now updated with all info

FULL EVENT DETAILS
BEYOND EDEN 2011
Opening Reception:
Sat, October 1st 6-11PM
with 8PM award presentation for Anthony Ausgang

ALSO ON VIEW on Sun, October 2nd from Noon-5PM

Gallery LineUp:
Thinkspace
La Luz De Jesus
Copro Gallery
Toy Art Gallery
Gallery Nucleus
C.A.V.E. Gallery

Special Exhibitions from:
Cannibal Flower (underground LA area artists / 11th Anniversary)
Spoke Art (‘Round III’ – the LA stop of the traveling ‘Quentin vs. Coens’ exhibit)
‘Creator / Spectator’ – a showcase of LA street artists curated by local street artist Euth and presented by Thinkspace

In the media room:
A special showcase video of the ‘best of’ Sketch Theater (popular online site showcasing artists creating works from scratch on camera that is filmed from above)

Live painting from:
John Park, Hans Haveron, Anthony Clarkson, Michael Pukac, Mimi Yoon and Steven P. Williams

Presented by:
Arrested Motion
Blik Wall Graphics
Color Ink Book
Daily Dujour
Hi-Fructose
Juxtapoz
Lee Joseph Publicity for the Visual Arts
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates (LAMAGA)
Sketch Theater
Sour Harvest
Warholian

Special Event Details

La Luz de Jesus Gallery’s 25, Mark Todd, and more!
La Luz de Jesus Gallery will be featuring a new museum work from Wayne Martin Belger as part of the upcoming two-part exhibition and book, “La Luz de Jesus 25“, a celebration of the gallery’s 25th anniversary milestone opening in October and November. Also featured is a much requested encore of Mark Todd’s  “Power Fury Fireworks Shack ” installation -a 3:4 scale shack built from scratch and filledmwith hand-painted firework sculptures constructed in Todd’s distinct style (Note: these are sculptures and are not live fireworks!), along with encore presentations from Mark Gleason, Lyle Motley and Van Saro. La Luz de Jesus will also be featuring a rare screen print poster from their first show, 25 years ago by Daniel “DX” Segura. New works from Kristopher Sapp and Alex Manukyan will offer a special preview of the 2012 calendar, with other surprises  in store that are sure to delight attendees of all ages.

“Creator / Spectator”
Presented by Thinkspace and curated by Euth

Thinkspace is pleased to present “Creator / Spectator,” an exhibition curated by local artist Euth, featuring some of the most exciting names currently gracing the streets of Los Angeles with their work. The artists chosen to participate represent the outside circle of underground art in Los Angeles. These are individuals exploring concepts deeply rooted in their own personal history and that are not looking to follow in the footsteps of those who came before them. Each artist was selected because their work is not simply about a name and a product, but more so about who he or she is as a individual – this is not a group working towards a common title or theme like “street art” but instead a group of individuals who have found common ground in a medium that promotes the individuality of each component explored.

This exhibit looks to explore beyond the mentality that the medium is the message. This is about a path of life chosen by these artists that constitutes the very nature of who they are. Each artist involved in this show offers something unique to the city of Los Angeles, a personal message to which they are both creator and spectator.

Featuring works from:
Cat Cult, Corrina Corina, CRYPTIK, Duart JDI, Euth, Line Line Dot, NOMADE, Smog City

Sketch Theater Video Screenings
featuring the best episodes of Sketch Theater

Sketch Theatre is a popular online showplace where viewers can watch the process of professional artists creating original sketches via timelapse photography set to inspirational music. Sketch Theatre showcases artists who make their livings in the fields of Fine Art, Video Game Design, Motion Picture Visual Effects & Concept Art, Comic Book & Graphic Novel Illustration, Commercial Illustration & Advertising Art, Tattoos, Animation, and Fashion Design. As such it provides education and inspiration to aspiring artists of a diverse range of interests and skill levels.

The brilliant myriad of artists featured on Sketch Theatre strip down and expose raw sketches on camera, never failing to captivate and inspire.   Sketch Theatre combines visuals with music as all of their artists feel strongly about how music has shaped their lives and inspired their work.

sketchtheatre.com

“Quentin vs. Coen – Round III”
San Francisco’s Spoke Art is proud to present the third and final installment of the touring “Quentin vs. Coen” art show at Beyond Eden. Following their successful stops in New York City and San Francisco, they will be bringing the highly publicized show to the pop culture capital of the world, Los Angeles.

An art show tribute that pits the films of cult favorites Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brother sagainst each other, “Quentin vs. Coen” is a battle royale (with cheese) of painting, sculpture, prints and collage. Featuring over 100 different artists from around the world, the show serves as a look at some of the most iconic and memorable scenes, characters and films from the highly heralded director’s oeuvres.

The Beyond Eden 2011 installment of “Quentin vs. Coen” will feature:
Max Dalton, Steven Foundling, Christopher Brewer, Robert Bowen, Dave Correia, Derek Gores, Irma Rivera, Peter Adamyan, Andrew Spear, Anville, Boxx, Dave Greco, David Choquette, Evanimal, Greg Gossel, Gustavo Ponce, Jason Vivona, Gwendolyn, Jeff Rassie, Jesse Riggle, Johannah O’Donnell, Kenyon Bajus, Lucas Gluesenkamp,, Killer Napkins, Rich Pellegrino, Morgan Blair, Roland Tamayo, Sam Wolfe, Connelly, Sandi Calistro, Steve Seeley, Tatiana Suarez, Tessa Morrison, Tom Haubrick, Ken Guardano, Zach Landrum

spoke-art.com

Special showcase of local underground talent from Cannibal Flower
Cannibal Flower is a once-a-month, portable venue that showcases art, music, dance, film, projections, magic and fashion shows. Started in the year 2000 by L.Croskey, Jean-Paul Garnier, Michele Waterman as a means for a group of friends to showcase their art and music without having to deal with the politics of the conventional gallery, Cannibal Flower believes that if there’s an artist that’s truly passionate and dedicated to what they do, they deserve a chance to be seen.Cannibal Flower aims to create artist unity and collaboration, hence the beauty and liveliness of their “venue” being portable. By working with other galleries and alternative spaces, they not only bring promotion to other locations but bring the arts to wider audience. Every Cannibal Flowershow is entirely different, bringing in all walks and groups of people young and old.

Cannibal Flower’s Beyond Eden installation will feature Sean Joyce, Lauren Haggis , Kelly Berg , William Zdan, Andrea Iakovidis, Mimi Yoon, Nate Seubert, Cody Lusby, Stephen Williams, Michael Christy, N.S. David, Norman Maxwell, Ariel Deandrea, Michael Pukac, Crystal Sylver, Nicole Bruckman, Rafael Delgado Jr., David Natale, Michael Ramstead, Carlos Ulloa, L. Croskey, Tony Venegas and Erik Siador

cannibalflower.com  

Live painting throughout the event!
John Park, Hans Haveron, Anthony Clarkson, Michael Pukac, Mimi Yoon and Steven P. Williams

An award ceremony for Anthony Ausgang
2011 marks 20 years since Anthony Ausgang’s first solo show. In 1993 Ausgang was included in the Laguna Beach Art Museum’s seminal exhibit “Kustom Kulture” which investigated art influenced by gearhead car culture and in 1996 was featured in Juxtapoz Magazine. In 2003 Ausgang’s paintings could be seen in Morning Wood, a primer of Post Graf art; in 2004 his work graced the pages of contemporary art survey Pop Surrealism and in 2005 Weirdo Deluxe. Ausgang’s paintings have graced the covers of records released by Sympathy for the Record Industry, Bomp!, Sony UK, Columbia, Warner Japan and most recently Augang’s art appeard on MGMT’s 2010 release “Congtratulation” which went Gold in the US and Canada, and Platinum in Australia, Ireland and the UK. Ausgang will be presented with an appreciation of his work and longgevyt at Beyond Eden on Saturday Night at 8pm.

Beyond Eden Bar to benefit Latino Arts LA
Featured in the bar at this year’s will be beer from Davis microbrewers; Sudwerk’s Brewery. Their hand-crafted awarding winning Pilsner and seasonal Fest Marzen will be served in compostable glassware with proceeds donated to Latino Arts LA. Manning the Beyond Eden Bar will be famed local bar personality Ian Malcolm.  Known about town as Sir Ian Dangerous, Mr. Malcolm will be showcasing his amazing mixology skills with refreshing cocktails developed for the event  Join us  for this year’s no host bar as we celebrate the 3rd annual Beyond Eden

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park

LAMAG Benefit Auction – Sunday, May 1st · 3-6 PM

Final plans are in motion for the Auction and Party featuring more than 100 artists’ work to benefit the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. Don’t miss this evening of creativity and fun with a mix of artists and creators, business, cultural, and civic leaders – all celebrating LAMAG’s legacy and its bright future.

LAMAG is L.A.’s gallery and they need your support! To purchase tickets: Click here. To Preview the art works: Click here.

All proceeds from the benefit and auction will go to support the gallery’s innovative exhibitions, stimulating special programs, provocative lecture and educational events, cutting-edge curatorial initiatives, and insightful catalogues and publications.

Hors d’œuvres and wine are included in the price of admission. Music will be provided by DJ Colin Kim plus be on the look out for the Untitled Collective’s interventions that reveal (or conceal) layers of meaning and mystery.

Hot, established and emerging artists in the auction include:
Kim Abeles | Edith Abeyta | Suzanne Adelman | Lita Albuquerque | Juna Amano | Michael Arata | Edgar Arceneaux | John Baldessari | Judie Bamber | Kireilyn Barber | Christopher Barbour | Lou Beach | Barbara Berk | Richard Bilow | Sandow Birk | Caroline Blackburn | Richard Bilow | Jodi Bonassi | Amy Bouse | Angie Bray | Tony Brown | Nancy Buchanan | Anita Bunn | Rude Calderon | Jo Ann Callis | Max King Cap | Castillo | Ching Ching Cheng | Anthony Clarkson | Joe Davidson | Roberto Delgado | Raoul de la Sota | David DiMichele | Renee Dominique | Dana Duff | Sam Durant | Val Echavarria | Edem Elesh | Shepard Fairey | Nicholas Fedak II | Alice Fellows | Judy Fiskin | Kathi Flood | Martin Gantman | Carol Goldmark | Orestes Gonzalez | Phyllis Green | Todd Gray | Mark Steven Greenfield | Iva Gueorguieva | Mary Addison Hackett | Doug Harvey | Charles Hachadourian | Marybeth Heffernan | Bonita Helmer | Juan Carlos Muñoz Hernandez | Anne Hieronymus | Linda Jacobson | Gegam Kacherian | Mike Kelley & Michael Smith | Siri Kaur | Yoichi Kawamura | Soo Kim | Nicholette Kominos | Maddy LeMel | Christophe Leroux | J.J. L’Heureux | Peter Liashkov | Ronald J. Llanos | Nuttaphol Ma | Daniel Joseph Martinez | Meg Madison | Barry Markowitz | David MacDowell | Charlene Matthews | Mineo Mizuno | John Mooney | Aaron Morse | Manfred Müller | Rosalyn Myles | Kristen Neveu | John David O’Brien | Chris Oatey | Stas Orlovski | Ara Oshagan | Sheila Pinkel | Mei Xian Qiu | Megan Quinn | Stuart Rapeport | Tony de los Reyes | Rebecca Ripple | Frank Romero | Charlene Roth | Joy J. Rotblatt | Scarlett Rouge | Ross Rudel | Alison Saar | Betye Saar | Lezley Saar | Connie Samaras | Gwen Samuels | Richard Serra | Michael Sheehan | Kyungmi Shin | Peter Shire | Karen Sikie | Nathan Singer | Anna E. Siqueiros | May Sun | Kent Twitchell | Yosuke Ueno | Mauricio Vallejo | Margo Victor | Margaret von Biesen | Pat Warner | Marnie Weber | Weegee | Wayne White | Alexandra Wiesenfeld | Norton Wisdom | Karen Frimkess Wolff | Nan Wollman | Augusta Wood | Michiko Yao | Liat Yossifor | Mary Younakof | Liz Young | Carrie Yury

Guest Auctioneer: Alex Slato, Associate Director, LA Artcore

BENEFIT COMMITTEE:
George Billis Gallery LA
Edward Cella, Edward Cella Art + Architecture
Mary Leigh Cherry, Cherry and Martin
Stephen Cohen, Photo LA/Art LA Projects
A. McLean Emenegger, Milo + Mclean/Mclean Fine Art
Kristi Engle, Kristi Engle Gallery
Sidney Felsen & Joni Moisant Weyl, Gemini G.E.L.
Lauri Firstenberg, LAXArt
Emi Fontana, West of Rome Public Art
Peter Frank, Huffington Post/Fabrik Magazine
Kathy Gallegos, Avenue 50 Studio
Eric Garcetti , LA City Council
Edward Goldman, Art Talk KCRW
Andrew Hosner, Thinkspace
Merry Karnowsky, Merry Karnowsky Gallery
Nowell J. Karten
Tom La Bonge, LA City Council
Steven Lavine, CalArts
Hillary Metz
Merry Norris, Merry Norris Contemporary Art
Jack Rutberg, Jack Rutberg Gallery
Billy Shire, La Luz de Jesus Gallery
Franklin Sirmans, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Rose Soshana, Rose Gallery
Louis Stern, Louis Stern Fine Arts

SPONSORS:
Artillery Magazine, Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, Fine Art Solutions, Finishing Concepts, Jeff Kies Custom Picture Framing, and New Alchemy Framing

For donations and information contact:
Meg Madison, Program Committee Chair
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates
meg@megmadison.com / 213.393.9333

Please have a look at the new issue of Pop Surrealism Magazine – a visual art publication geared towards the Pop Surrealism scene around Southern California. You can read the Spring 2011 issue on -line for free, you can also download to your iPad and iPHone for free!

The print version of the magazine will be available via subscription and at numerous art galleries and hotels around the Southern California area.

Click here to view the magazine online

These photos were snapped between March 1 and March 3 and document Billy Shire and assistants installing the massive 121 artist, 200+ piece  La Luz de Jesus Gallery juried group show, “Everything But The Kitschen Sync 14” along with the show’s artist preview night.

Roman Cho shot these photographs of the show’s opening party on March 4.

Have a look at the entire show at this link! There are still many great and affordable pieces for sale.

This show also features the music of Joe Wood and the Lonely Ones (Joe is a former member of TSOL) and food from the Don Chow Taco Truck!

This Saturday, January 16, 8:00-11:30 PM, Copro Gallery presents  “Desensitized” with the art of Brian Viveros & Dan Quintana. This is an incredible show for both artists and all the work is amazing. Its going to be a multi-media event in 5D with films being projected, soundtracks of bizarre music and sculptures as well as live music and costumed Desensitized girls. Everyone is encouraged to participate so please dress up in military gear like a Viveros or Quintana painting and get a free “Desensitized” poster. In gallery two, Bad Otis Link’s “You’ll Be Sorry When I’m Dead” which will also be in 5D with films, twisted puppets and warped art.

In a culture where we are bombarded with overwhelming visual stimuli, have we become desensitized to art? From sexual content on TV, graphic violence in the news, and flashy ads everywhere we look, obtrusive images are in constant competition for our attention. Brian Viveros and Dan Quintana are two painters whose respective backgrounds lie in creating the strong commercial imagery we see everyday, and this striking style has carried over into their fine art. Both of these artists know how to arrest your attention, and aim to captivate even the most jaded eyes.

Acting as book markers of the 20th Century, their paintings are both reflections of their own inner worlds and society at large; realms where fantasy intermingles with pop culture. Whether it be a doe-eyed beauty with a Marlboro dangling from her lips, or a Dominatrix acting as sheriff in the untamed West, in these painstakingly rendered vignettes romance battles vice and sensuality meets consumerism.

Adhering to the show’s theme, the opening reception itself will be an attack to the senses. In addition to the art on the walls, the event will feature a loop of Brian Viveros’ films “Dislandia” and “Southern,” a custom made sculpture of one of the paintings, cocktail servers costumed like the art, and the live music of Joe Wood and the Lonely Ones. Designed to open your eyes and invigorate your mind, this culmination of creativity is not to be missed.

Bad Otis Link
You’ll Be Sorry When I’m Dead
(More Junk for a World Out of Order)
with music by
Joe Wood and the Lonley Ones

In the words of Bad Otis Link, his new show consists of works “all done wrong, perfect for our current atmosphere.” In this show, Link revisits ink and watercolor on Bristol. “I worked with these mediums in  the ’80s and recently realized that I miss this style” states the artist, who puts a slightly different twist on the pieces, using more line work and less stipple than in his previous works. The show will also consist of acrylic on hardboard and some three dimensional pieces: puppets and experimental foam work. “You’ll be Sorry When I’m Dead…” is inspired, in title only, by a recent death hoax of a close friend and even more so, something Link’s mother always told him when he was young. Though there is no consistent theme to this show, Link’s work has (believe it or not) an environmental message. “I am somewhat of a realist, not in my art but in observation. I continue my attempts to illustrate how, as humans, we are so out of synch with the rest of the natural universe, noticing our human flaws and our collective mental illness and denials of the obvious, all that is wrong. I also like to inject odd little creature, birds (messengers in many ancient myths) and structures I would like to inhabit into the work” states Link.

Self-taught and self-educated, Link sharpened his distinct style in the late 70s through the mid 90s as one of Los Angeles premier and most notorious punk rock graphic artists. Link played saxophone in local punk bands while designing band logos, record covers, posters and producing merchandise for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Damned, Social Distortion, TSOL, The Adolescents, Danzig, The Circle Jerks, Wasted Youth, Goldenvoice Concerts and many others. In the early 90s, he designed and published the “True Life Murderers Trading Cards” which was the first set on the subject matter and attracted mass media attention. Link’s art has appeared in countless magazines, films and his projects have been praised and equally viciously attacked in the media by moralist groups and media hungry politicians. Link is entertained by the reactions of our puritan and mentally ill American culture. Aside from an occasional art exhibition, Link currently focuses his psychotic energy on filmmaking, puppet making, clothing design and directing. www.badotislink.com

Jennybird Alcantara – George Thomas

January 8 – 31, 2010
Artist reception: Friday, January 8, 2010,  8:00 -11:00 pm

LA LUZ DE JESUS GALLERY
4633 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323-666-7667 Fax: 323-663-0243
www.laluzdejesus.com

Click here to see more images

Jennybird Alcantara “Swooning at the River of Oblivion”

In a mingling of underwater and space realms, Jennybird Alcantara’s “Swooning at the River of Oblivion” depicts characters positioned between the waking world and the world of sleep, and a continued exploration of dual nature, created with oil on wood, acrylic on paper and mixed media dolls. The works are inspired in part by the mythology of Nyx, the primordial goddess of nighttime, Morpheus the Greek god of dreams as well as a quote from a Nick Cave song that reads “You jump into the Abyss to find, it only goes up to your knees”.

Alcantara’s work has at its core a narrative; She explores the complex interconnectedness of opposites as seen through the prism of myth, fable and fantasy using the symbolism of duality to explore the connection of life and death, as well as the relationship between the beauty and cruelness of nature, that of the natural world as well as human and animal nature. The anthropomorphic qualities in her characters show the relationship of the central figure to the world she inhabits. Her inspirations come from a wide variety of sources including fairytales and fables, mythology, the flora and fauna of the natural world and freaks of nature, melancholy and classical music, Victorian customs, folk art, costuming, creepy religious statues and paintings, Symbolism, carnivals, trips down memory lane, broken dolls and objects out of place, as well as all the beautiful and sad things that could not exist one without the other, life and death and the veil in between. Alcantara attended the San Francisco Art Institute where she earned her BFA, and currently lives and works in San Francisco. http://www.jennybirdart.com

George Thomas “The Best Cars Of Our Lives”

George Thomas spent his formative years surrounded by Googie architecture, automobiles with tremendous tailfins, theme parks, advertising and old Hollywood movies  in 1950s-1960s Orange County, California and it reflects in his art. Mixing the real with the surreal, sometimes separately and sometimes in the same piece, Thomas uses oil on canvas to portray a variety of subject matter, from landscapes and floral pictures, cars, mid-century architectural portraits, and iconic allegories, the latter of which are intricate, complex, retro-futuristic and nostalgic. Thomas, a father of three, is a graduate, with honors, from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and currently lives in the high desert country of the Antelope Valley. www.artbygeorgethomas.com