Drunk At My Own Party

I've known Tim Skirven just shy of a decade, and I'm consistently amazed at his creativity and dedication to art and design. As a young twentysomething residing in various parts of Virginia, he's a photographer, printmaker, designer, webber, blogger, painter, jack-of-all-trades who is an inspiration and challenge to us all. I like to think of myself as an artist, but with a full-time job and a list of excuses a mile long to not sit down and get to work, it's people like Tim that remind me there's a LOT of time that needs to get put in to be a real artist.

Check out his site Drunk At My Own Party and p33p the video below. True to form, he took the time to do a walk through of his latest show so us minions who couldn't make it could still appreciate the work.

What's The Word, Thunderbird? from Tim Skirven on Vimeo.

Three Apples

To the millions of Sanrio fans out there, LISTEN UP. This weekend kicks off what should prove to be a great show in LA titled "Three Apples"; in honor of the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty, this phenomenal event is unlike anything that America has seen before, taking place at Royal-T (LA's first Japanese-style cosplay café). Unless you've had first hand experience of the Japanese mania surrounding this iconic figure, you have no idea the impact it has made in our country and around the world. The fact that this cutesy cat has lasted through over three decades of worldwide fame and is recognizable in virtually every country in the world is a testament to the designer who created her, and her entire band of Sanrio friends!

Come view the work of many of the big contemporary artists today, including Amada Visell, Buff Monster, Frank Kozik, Friends With You (FWY), Gary Baseman, Huck Gee, Luke Chueh, Natalia Fabia, Ron English, Simone Legno, Tara McPherson, and more! Don't miss the Happy Hour specials on Saturday after the opening; the show runs from October 23 through November 15. Plenty of time to stop by and getting cheered up/ creeped out by the perpetually perky feline!

8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
T 310 559 6300
F 310 559 6633

Oopsy Daisy/Studio Avo

The dawning of a new era! Today I had the privilege and pleasure of starting at No Boundaries, Inc., home of Oopsy Daisy and Studio Avo- wholesale website of fine art and miscellaneous items for children and adults! The day was filled with paperwork, tutorials, and introductions, and I think I'm going to be very happy to be a part of this dynamic, interesting, and creative environment!

The BEST part of my day was when the girl who sits next to me and I got to pick out our new wall art! New people means new views, and after flipping through the catalog we decided to go with two pieces by Andrea Cobb, a North Carolina based artist who had studied Illustration at Parsons School of Design in NYC:

Morning Pond

Evening Pond (images used from Studio Avo and are copyrighted Andrea Cobb).

I'm incredibly excited to be a part of this, and I'm looking forward to much more exposure to art and artists that I'm not familiar with. Check out both sites for extremely high quality, GREAT stuff for all ages.

Allison Schulnik

Enter a world where the grotesque meets the natural, thick layers mask shape, and the despair overwhelms the seemingly joyful faces presented as sculptures, drawings, and paintings so thick they take on a 3 dimensional life of their own. Allison Schulnik, an LA artist with a BFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts who works in EVERY DIMENSION... EVEN THE TWILIGHT ZONE PERHAPS?!?!

Her work explored the forlorn, abandoned, those who wish to be loved and when rejected present themselves as fierce, beaten, or dejected. Although she studied animation, her paintings, drawings, and sculpture add to her portfolio along with her films. It's a tightrope of disgusting and delicate that pulls the viewer to experience with eyes open and stomach clenched. Check out the interview by FecalFace here, and check back for several show openings in the coming months.





All images copyright Allison Schulnik.

Kidrobot Dunny 2009 Series

As of Thursday, it's here! The Dunny 2009 Series hits stores everywhere, so don't miss your chance to snag some of these hot items from designers like Amanda Visell, Andrew Bell, Amy Ruppel, Brandt Peters, Dalek, Devilrobots, Gary Taxali, Mori Chack, Huck Gee, Jeremyville, Kozik, Kronk, Luke Chueh, Mad, Pon, MR. Shane Jessup, Shawnimal, SupaKitch, Travis Cain, and Thomas Han. Not only are there 20 designs by these artists and more, try to catch the 2 chases and the Golden Ticket for a 3-inch Dunny not for sale anywhere!!!



All images copyright Kidrobot.

Sienna Gallery

Art jewelry is a booming underground niche in contemporary art circles. More and more galleries dedicated to the 3-dimensional handmade are popping up, my former alma mater Quirk included. Sienna Gallery is another space dedicated to the innovative, the craftsman, the wearable art that is taking hold in big and small towns alike. Nestled in Lenox, Massachusetts, this idyllic town has served as the perfect muse for generations of artisans; they specialize in the display of traditional and non-traditional jewelry presentations as works of art.

Sienna boasts a large, varied, and proud group of represented artists, such as Susie Ganch (Head of Metals at Virginia Commonwealth University), Sayumi Yokouchi (featured in Quirk's Sparkle Plenty 2), Barbara Seidenath (participant in Sparkle Plenty 3), Giampaolo Babetto, Lauren Kalman (an especially interesting artist whose unconventional unique work speaks volumes about body adornment and alternative social values), and a variety of assorted jewelers each making exciting statements about the way we present ourselves through ornamentation.


Lauren Kalman


Anya Kivarkis


Esther Knobel


Myra Mimlitsch-Gray

Visit Sienna Gallery to see more work by these fabulous artists, upcoming shows, previous exhibitions, and more!

Ghost Town Design

With such a huge influx of "hot" designers and "must see" shows at any number of galleries across the world, it's sometimes hard to keep up with the real movers and shakers of the art industry as opposed to the 15 minute famers. Ghost Town Design, a screenprinting and design firm, seems to fall into the first category, having been in business since the early 2000's, with their client list including CBS, CMJ, Epitaph, Hard Rock Cafe, HBO, HellCat Records, Interscope, Reebook, Rolling Stone, Warner Bros., and more!

Originally a duo-turned-solo project, Ghost Town now consists of a whopping two designers in Rhode Island, a small state but a giant in the art world. Peter Cardoso and Darren Johnson are the artists/designers with an impressive portfolio of posters & fine art prints with a heavy emphasis on promo posters for bands like Wilco, Doomriders, Fucked Up, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Girl Talk, Kings of Leon, Iron & Wine, Death Cab for Cutie, Explosions in the Sky, Wu Tang Clan, Modest Mouse, Muse, Slayer, Belle and Sebastian, and WAY MORE. You can also view their individual portfolios here, with more fine art and individual prints available to purchase.

You've probably seen their work hanging on club promo boards or online at some point, so be sure to check it at the source. Ghost Town definitely seems like it is here to stay!

Olaf Bruening

First of all, GREAT intro to the site! I love when artists share their space to the public, even if it is via internet. It is such a helpful peek into their world, which is a huge insight into their work. Regardless, this was brought to my attention via VAFROMVA's tweets, and I am instantly in love. Kitschy, slightly NSFW drawings, and a multitude of twisted links showing random things like the location of her studio via Google maps, a refreshing page with "Click Me" appearing endlessly, and "Scroll Downs" which reveal nothing but a picture of a man holding a bottle of Orangina. However, there are some serious links as well, such as her blog, shop (just kidding!), photos, installations, drawings, and more. Just the site itself is a delight, so once you actually maneuver to her portfolio the happiness only grows. Line drawings exploring the seemingly innocent figure in perhaps innocuous situations, sometimes dangerous, silly, risque, and more. Great quick work by an artist that I can describe as "fun." There might not be a lot of serious "work" behind it, but who needs it to bring a smile to your face?

Kidrobot Dallas opens tomorrow!

Kidrobot hits Dallas! Tomorrow they open their doors at 5307 East Mockingbird Lane, with guest artist Huck Gee! He'll be on hand to sign his 3" Golden Ticket dunny which will be given away for FREE. A signed Huck Gee toy for free? If anyone is in the Dallas area, I would be your best friend if you got me one!

The opening is from 6-8 pm, so don't be late. I'm sure this will be a mass frenzy of excitement in the Lone Star State! Check out the KRonikle article about it here.

L.A.- Watch Out for PAINTALLICA!

Country Club Los Angeles is hosting PAINTALLICA, an installation group whose antics and artistic inspiration are definitely a not-to-miss event. It's happening Thursday, August 13th from 7-9 PM, featuring the stellar talents of Dan Attoe, Jaime Boling, Bill Donovan, Jesse Albrecht, CeCe Cole, Jeff Decker, Shelby Davis, Gordon Barnes, Posie Currin, David Dunlap, Jay Schmidt, Dominic Bisignano, Jeremy Tinder and Chris Miller. Jamie and CeCe were former adjuct faculty at VCU, and I was lucky enough to study under the tutelage of Jaime for a few semesters. Be sure to check out ALL of these talented artists' work, and other artists in the Country Club library (Ryan McGinness, a personal favorite of mine, is among them). If you are in the Los Angeles area during this event, I can't stress enough your need to experience PAINTALLICA.

Photo credit to CCLA.

MUTO by Blu

I stumbled across this free share video of public art made by BLU in Buenos Aires. Trust me, this interactive work in a public space is well worth checking out and passing along. Be sure to also check out the rest of the website for news about his latest book, drawings, and maybe even the shop? Enjoy!

Noah Scalin at Quirk

Everyone's seen the images- Skull-A-Day became an international phenomenon when Richmond artist Noah Scalin took on the task of creating a skull image every day in 2007 out of common materials and taking a photo of it on his blog. Now in year 3, Skull-A-Day now boasts a book and 2 other skullfan contributors. His project has been featured in Mad About Design, Boing Boing, HOW Magazine, Suite 101, Style Weekly, RVA Magazine, and also on the Martha Stewart show?! Now Quirk Gallery adds his work to their Main Gallery for July and August, so don't miss either First Friday events as they are sure to be insane crowds for this hometown hero.

Quirk Gallery
311 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
804-644-5450

Alexis Mackenzie

Usually I don't like to just completely re-post an email I've gotten, but Fecal Face is such a repeat offender of awesome shows that it is sometimes difficult. Their studio visits are always a fantastic glimpse into the minds of the young movers and shakers in American art; Alexis Mackenzie is the latest of the lucky featured. I wasn't familiar with her work, but the exquisite details and floral facets weave together in beautiful pieces on paper. Her hodgepodge ideas can be seen here, along with the rest of her studio.

Her show at Park Life opens June 26th - July 27th in San Francisco, so be sure to stop by the opening reception on June 26th at 7 pm to get the first look at what is shaping up to be an amazing show.

Jason Polan

Printed Matter held the opening for Jason Polan's new zine, Eleven of My Things and One of Yours on Saturday, and it sounds like a fantastic time was had by all. It's a totally innovative and interactive concept in which Jason draws eleven of his possessions, and at the signing on the last page he drew whatever object the guest brought. Once this individualized, personal drawing was complete, the zine became One of my Favorite Things and Eleven of His. That sounds awesome! I wish I could have been there- I'm not sure what I would have brought but I bet he had some gems. I'd love to see a sampling of the drawings, so if anyone out there in internetland has a contact, let me know!

Another interesting fact- the REAL reason Jason Polan caught my attention- is his current project in which he is attempting to draw every person in New York. That's a mighty big venture, and I wish him luck!

Mike Shine

Stacy Peralta (pioneer skateboarder now award-winning filmmaker) has released the trailer for his new film "Raw Meat on the Doorstep" about the life and art of Mike Shine. His work is widely recognized and has shown at White Walls, Mollusk Surf Shop, and the Museum of Craft and Folk Art to name a few. Check out the trailer!

Raw Meat on the Doorstep from Eddie Ringer on Vimeo.

Huck Gee does it again

Ok, I am sick to death of Huck Gee. Why does he keep having to come out every 2 seconds with another highly collectible and highly EXPENSIVE must-have vinyl toy? Now he's even recycling previous designs in limited editions! His Skullhead Dunny from Series 1 is being re-released as a monstrous 20-inch Dunny from Kidrobot. Only 200 were made, and all are signed by the man himself. At $400, it's out of my price range, but not my desire range. Snatch yours up if you can!

Tiny Showcase Tuesday!

Time for another edition of every print lover's favorite event- Tiny Showcase print release Tuesdays! Today the artist is Sasha Barr, a Seattle illustrator/designer who relocated to the Pacific Northwest from Tennessee in 2007. I personally like that the first example of work on his website is his label for Daisy Cutter beer in Chicago (besides the fact that making labels for beer is awesome, beer is awesome too!) Check out his shop and work as well- the posters are especially fresh.

His print "One Way Out" comes in an edition of 100, and part of his proceeds are going towards the Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop in Memphis, a community based organization dedicated to providing maintenance for the working lower class and recycling parts. Great organization, great print, great bargan!

Outdated, old fashioned, a giant hassle- many words and phrases that come to mind when considering wallpapering vs. painting a room. Believe me, trying to change wallpaper is NOT a simple project for the antsy decorator who loves to change room decors per season. Still, if you're ready to make a semi-permanent decorating decision, then wallpaper is a funky and fun way to make a potential accent a major part of the decor. The Curiosity Shoppe has a new book out all about your options and project ideas! Wallpaper Projects by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith is available now in a 144 page hardcover edition that's chock full of amazing projects involving wallpaper, not always on walls! Pick one up if you're ready to take the plunge...

Enter their giveaway at their blog Smarts and Crafts to win a free copy!

Born Ugly mag

Holy cow. What a week. Things have been absolutely insane for me, so TGIF to the maxxx! Still, a bright spot in the week came from the news that Issue 1 of Born Ugly mag is now a reality! Jim Callahan (aka Barf) is already a Richmond underground icon with his memorable Municipal Waste art, Nowhere Skateboard line, and Tales from the Underground comic (check it out at Velocity- best place in Richmond for your comic and graphic novel needs). The link above is to the online .pdf of the mag, so be sure to snag a print copy wherever you can. Michael Brock of Wilted Roses was kind enough to pop one in the mail for me, so whenever I get that will be a happy day. If you're in the Richmond area, be sure to get to the launch party tomorrow, Saturday May 9th at Holly Street Park at 4 pm. I'm sure it will be a debaucherous event filled with only the finest of Richmond's youth!

North Park Festival of Arts

Come one, come all to the 13th annual North Park Festival of Arts! Sunday, May 17th between 30th and 32nd Streets from 10 AM to 6 PM will be you, your family, and 35,000 other people enjoying the arts, culture, and entertainment in this creative hub of San Diego. Unfortunately, I'll be returning from Las Vegas that day, so I'll miss out on the fun, but don't let my absence deter you! There will be artist demonstrations, animals for the kids, a variety of international food booths, and best of all, it's FREE! In this economy, anything free is welcomed and should be enjoyed to the fullest.