Hi dujourers. On April 2nd the first friday of the month GH will be hosting Balls Out. A full on giz into the eyeballs of the viewer with over 50 artists doing square panels. The theme- Go Balls Out. Put all your art love and juice into one piece of work. The line-up is… well, it’s flipping awesome. I’ll post that soon. First let’s start with the gold medal winner for getting in their first image via digi, Appropriately titled “Goo”.. Thanks Evah Fan. You are a winner and a champion.

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Known within the urban arts community for his self-proclaimed stained glass style, skateboarding merchandise/apparel artist David Flores is releasing a new line entitled M-LAB.

Much of Flores’s work has inspired skateboard visual culture; the artist has designed countless skateboard decks, while his prints have had lasting effects on skateboarding shoes, clothing, and accessories.

Check for new developments on the under-construction mlabconcepts.com. Meanwhile, visit the artist’s site to view his work.

One of the perks of this job is getting to work with truly amazing people all of the time. But occasionally, I get to collaborate with people who have had a direct impact on my life. Such is the case with Dave McKean.

Dave McKean is what we used to refer to as a “hyphenate.” He’s a multi-talented illustrator-photographer-comic-book-artist-graphic-designer-filmmaker-musician, who just happens to excel at each one of his specialties.

As an artist, Dave McKean changed the look of comic books when his illustrated-photo-assemblage works began gracing the covers of Neil Gaiman’s reboot of the Sandman character at DC Comics. He next tackled an incredibly ambitious Batman tale that focused not on the caped crusader, but instead on the mental institution that housed the more macabre among his rogues’ gallery. That story written by Grant Morrison was Arkham Asylum, and it quickly became (and remains) one of the best selling graphic novels of all time. His comic book works have won numerous well deserved accolades and awards, but he’s also won a World Fantasy Award for “Best Artist,” three Spectrum Awards in the categories of “Advertising”, “Book”, and “Comic,” A British Science Fiction Award in “Short Fiction” (shared with Neil Gaiman), and his film directorial debut, MirrorMask premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005. His concept designs shaped the look and feel of two entries in the Harry Potter film series, and if your CD collection veers on the darker side of pop, metal, and avant-garde, odds are you’ve got a few Dave McKean images there, too. Did I mention that he’s an accomplished jazz musician and discerning foodie?

So it would be an understatement to say that I’m feverishly proud to welcome Dave McKean this weekend at two incredible events:

On Friday, February 12th, from 6-9 PM, Dave is signing comics, books, DVDs, CD’s and limited edition art prints at La Luz de Jesus Gallery (inside the Soap Plant / Wacko complex at 4633 Hollywood Blvd., LA, CA 90027). For every item that purchase at the signing, Dave will sign one item that you bring from home. NO EXCEPTIONS! So don’t bring your entire collection of Sandman comics for him to autograph unless you plan on buying 75 items at the signing. He’s a wonderful guy and he’ll be happy to speak with you and answer questions -especially about his new body of work, which is debuting on Saturday night at Billy Shire Fine Arts.

New Works from Early Cinema is showing in conjunction with Nitrate & Kinogeists, an event sponsored by Chicago’s Century Guild and includes highlights from their inventory of historically significant and undeniably beautiful silent film posters, most of which have been lost and unseen by the public before now. In addition to large format paintings, Dave has included a series of ten smaller ink illustrations that are priced for fans. Believe me -you can totally afford these, so check out the preview on Thursday evening. Whether you’re a comic book fan or a patron of the fine arts, if you’ve been looking to add a McKean original to your collection, this is your opportunity to do so. There are also some limited edition prints for which this will be a Release Event.
Since the exhibition references and pays tribute to lost films from the silent era, there will be Video Installation with two screens playing footage of recently unearthed and restored films previously thought lost.
The artist’s reception is Saturday, February 13th, from 7-10 PM at Billy Shire Fine Arts, 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. A full and complete preview will be available by Thursday evening. The paintings and posters are live on site now.

Last Saturday I stopped into Raid Projects at The Brewery for the opening of their current exhibition Default State Network, curated by New York based artist Ryan Wallace.  The gallery has recently shown new life since artists Ryan Callis and David De Boer have taken over programing.

Default State Network features work by Alex Dodge, Chris Duncan, Elise Ferguson, Glen Baldridge, Will Yackulic, Joseph Hart, Andrew Shoultz, Leslie Shows and Ryan Wallace and runs through February 27.  Be sure to check it out!

A must see show on portraiture is currently on view at The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.  “Gaze: Portraiture after Ingres” includes  works ranging from Van Gogh to Warhol.  One of my personal favorites is Marcel Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q. or Jaconde (1964, replica of 1919 original). Ever the trickster, Duchamp drew a mustache and goatee on a post card of Mona Lisa.  The title translates (phonetically) to “There is fire down below”. Rewr!

Now, if Warhol and Duchamp can’t get you out to Pasadena to see this show, I don’t know what can!

Follower of Leonardo da Vinci, probably before 1750, “Portrait of a Woman”, called “La Belle Ferronnière”. (55 x 43.5 cm) 21 5/8 x 17 1/8 inches. Est. $300/500,000. Sold for more than $1.5 million. Photo: Sotheby’s.

A portrait once believed to have been painted by Leonardo da Vinci sold for more than $1.5 million in New York on Thursday, around treble the top price estimated ahead of the auction.

Auction house Sotheby’s said another version of the portrait, “La Belle Ferronniere,” is in the Louvre in Paris and it is that painting that is now generally agreed to have been by da Vinci himself or one of his pupils, while the painting sold in New York was a later copy.

The painting is thought to be of Lucrezia Crivelli who was a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, and was painted sometime before 1750 by a follower of the Renaissance master.

For more than 80 years the identity of the artist was in dispute and the controversial work was the subject of a slander trial in the 1920s, as well as two books.

“The story of “La Belle Ferronniere” is as much about the aesthetic and scientific foundations of modern art history as it is about the authenticity of the painting itself,” Sotheby’s said in a catalog note.

Sotheby’s said on its website that the painting, artist unknown, sold on Thursday for $1.538 million, compared to pre-auction estimates of $300,000-$500,000.

you can read the whole article over at Artdaily.

Jeffrey Deitch, MOCA’s new director, announced that his New York gallery’s final exhibit will be devoted to street artist Shepard Fairey. In it, Fairey will present his “vision of America,” featuring portraits of the artist’s “American heroes:” such as Woody Guthrie and Debbie Harry as well as international political figures including Aung San Suu Kyi (above) and the Dalai Lama.  The exhibit will also feature outdoor murals.

Set to open at Deitch Projects in SoHo on May 1st, the exhibit will run through the end of month.

Find more info at the LA Times Arts Blog.

Shepard Fairey / May 1st, 2010
Deitch Projects
18 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 941-9475

From 1957 to 1966, LA’s Ferus Gallery on La Cienega was a thriving scene for post-World War II art. While exposing the talents of Los Angeles artists like Billy Al Bengston, Robert Irwin, and Ed Moses, the gallery also showcased works from East Coast artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg.  From February 9 to March 13, Santa Monica’s Samuel Freeman Gallery will host a replica of the Ferus, including the gallery’s original front door and a re-creation of the Ferus’s 1960 solo Bengston exhibit.

Samuel Freeman’s creative decision commemorates the 50th anniversary of the exhibit, entitled “Billy.” A spokesman for the gallery stated the exhibit’s content might be unpredictable, reflective of the capricious artist. However, Bengston has confirmed that he’ll display some original Heart/Anthurium paintings.

More info at the LA Times Culture Monster.

According to Bloomberg.com, Jeff Koons’s and Damien Hirst’s work, amidst that of other contemporary artists, is currently selling for approximately half of its 2008 price. In 2009, Bloomberg reports, collectors shunned contemporary art, favoring 20th-century modernist work, Art Deco furniture, Old Masters and Chinese artworks. Dealers predict that about a decade will pass before Hirst and Koons pieces resume record-breaking sales.

We are sure this won’t stop these artists and others from pushing even bigger and more exciting projects out there. There are only a few living artists that command the prices of these guys so even down 50% they are still in good shape.

Read the original story HERE

More Images after the jump:

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The New York Times reported that workers at the Tate Britain Museum have sanded and painted over a Turner Prize-winning painting by Richard Wright…all according to the artist’s plan.

Wright’s prize winning fresco,  an abstract work in gold leaf saw art handlers sand and paint over the work at the end of last week, following the closure of his Turner prize exhibition. According to the Guardian UK: “Wright didn’t see it go: the Glasgow-based artist tends not to linger at the grave of his works. This is what the artist wanted. Wright’s pieces are intended to be ­temporary, to exist in the memory ­after their destruction.”

As reported earlier here, Bravo TV has developed another reality show based on the contemporary art world. To be titled “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist” the show will bring together 14 aspiring artists to compete for a solo show at a nationally recognized museum and a generous cash prize.

Hosting this colorful new series is art enthusiast China Chow, alongside world-renowned art auctioneer, Simon de Pury. Joining them on the judging panel are experts Bill Powers, a New York Gallery owner and literary art contributor, Jerry Saltz, current art critic for New York Magazine, and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, esteemed curator and owner of Salon94 gallery.

It will remain to be seen how “Great” the artists will be or how the TV exposure will help (or hinder) a career as an artist for the winner. In today’s world of “Reality” stars we almost can bet against the power of Bravo. At the very least the show is already judged by insiders dePury and Jerry Saltz. Air dates announced soon.

In each episode, contestants are faced with the challenge of creating unique pieces in a variety of media such as painting, sculpture, photography, collage and industrial design. The weekly assignments are exciting, original and will challenge the artists to push the limits of their technical skills and creative boundaries. Completed works of art will be appraised by the panel of top art world figures alongside a new celebrated guest judge every week. Through a gallery showing at the end of each challenge, the industry luminaries dictate which artists have successfully mastered the subject matter and creation of their piece, as well as whose concept leaves the greatest impact.

“Work of Art: The Next Great Artist” is produced by Pretty Matches and Magical Elves for Bravo. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson and Eli Holzman serve as executive producers.

Courtesy ArtDaily.org

Photos from the opening of From Me To You have just been posted to Show & Tell Gallery’s flickr page. Check them out here.

Discover affordable art, and a talented group of artists at the Space 1026 Art Auction Preview, a week of free events in Philadelphia. A first look at the auction, comedy and movie night, plus a print party and band night, the collective will have you interacting all the way to the official December 11th auction,  hosted by Todd B. Kimmell known as ‘Philadelphia’s perennial gentelman of the arts.’

Expect donations from artists:
Matt Leines, AJ Fosik, Alex DaCorte, Steve Powers, Brian Chippendale, Annette Monnier, Taylor McKimens, Eddie Martinez, Suzannah Sinclair, Andrew Schoultz, Joseph Hart, Jeanette Mundt, Hilary Pecis, Matthew Palladino, Steven Harrington, Billy Dufala, Tim Gough, Caleb Neelon, Adam Wallacavage and many, many more.

And from all of your favorite Space 1026-ers like Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Thom Lessner, Bill McRight, Chris Kline, Greg Pizzoli, Bonnie Brenda Scott and the rest of the collective.

For more information and a full line up of events, visit
www.space1026.com/auction