Dailydujour recently caught up with Edwin Ushiro as he was prepping one of his larger pieces for his upcoming ‘Softly Encompassing the Womb’ solo which opens September 12th (7-10 PM) @ Lebasse Projects in Culver City.  Edwin’s work has an ethereal quality which is accentuated by his intricate process he’s developed on his own through experimentation. We’re not going to try to fully explain all the nuances, but  the basics are that he creates several smaller pieces on transfer paper (used for their transparency which lets light flow through the work) which he then aligns into a larger piece by adhering them to a clear sheet of vinyl.   That’s what you see in the picture above and the others after the jump.

As you can see, it’s not for the faint of heart.  Take a basically complete piece and then apply heavy amounts of varnish (also acts as an adhesive) and sandwich between a layer of vinyl.  Then, patiently and meticulously roll and squeegee out bubbles.  As you can imagine Edwin’s had some less than stellar results in the early stages of using this process, but he seemed perfectly calm today.

We also had a chance to talk to him about the themes of the show.  Many of the pieces are based around ghost stories he grew up hearing and learning as a child in Hawaii.  By casting childhood friends and school mates as characters in these paintings, he combines the surreal with the real, thus making the work personal.  In a small way, it’s his way of reconnecting with childhood memories and in a sense his earliest relationships.

LeBasse Projects
6023 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.558.0220

More Images + Info »

Yesterday we dropped in for a LIVE streaming studio visit with artist and DD contributor Joe Ledbetter to talk about his new book, a European Tour and to check out where he does al his painting and toy design. If you missed the live broadcast you can now catch up here: http://dailydujour.com/ddtv/

The video is on a LOOP, but you can click into the On-Demand section and view both parts.

Sunday April 5th, DailyduJour brings you another FREE preview screening, this time from Popaganda artist Ron English.

“Abraham Obama” is a humorous and provocative look at an unprecedented political art movement. A campaign to change the visual landscape of America yields a new President, and ushers in a new collective consciousness for America’s people.

Famous street artist Ron English gathers a crew of professional pranksters and hits the road on a grass-roots campaign to make public art and promote Obama’s campaign for the Presidency. “Abraham Obama” takes us on an unforgettable ride as the stories of Ron English unfold alongside musicians and artists such as Shepard Fairey, Jack Medicine, David Choe, Sam Flores, The Date Farmers, Will.I.Am, Morgan Spurlock, DJ Z-Trip and several others.

Directed by Kevin Chapados, and Produced by Daniel Lahoda and Ron English.

Sunday April 5th @ Royal/T
8910 Washington Blvd, Culver City
6:00-7:30pm Happy Hour
7:30pm Film Begins
9:00pm Q+A with director Kevin Chapados

Please RSVP to contact@dailydujour.com

Don’t forget this Sunday will be your only chance to see the documentary ‘Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara’ in LA – or for that matter anywhere!

Sunday, March 1st 7.30pm @ Royal/T in Culver City.

The 93 minute film follows Japanese art star Yoshitomo Nara and the GRAF design team on an international road trip as part of the preparation and creation of  his epic ‘A to Z’ exhibition which was held in his hometown of Hirosaki in the summer of ‘06.

So whether  you missed the previous LA screening last summer or want to see it for a second time, this is your chance to enjoy Nara’s brilliance within the amazing Royal/T art space.  And, if you’ve never been to Royal/T, this is the perfect occasion.

Sunday March 1st
6:30pm Happy Hour
7:30pm Screening time

Royal/T
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232

Edwin Ushiro

Atticus BCN in conjunction with Dailydujour will present the Nobody Walks in LA group show opening on Friday, January 23rd 2009 @ the Masters Gallery in Barcelona, Spain.  As you might guess by the name, the show features LA area painters exclusively.  Rather than simply a catchy pop culture reference the title refers to to the stereotypical idea that Los Angeles residents are all the same – when the reality is that Los Angeles has become one of the most diverse cities and cultural melting pots in the world. The artists in the show represent that melding of culture and styles with everything from urban street to abstract expressionism. Artists in the show are both LA natives and transplants.

Dailydujour was pleased to curate the show which includes an exciting selection  of local artists including:

• Amanda Visell, David Flores, Derek Albeck, Edwin Ushiro (above), Jack Long, Jeremy Lynch, Joe Ledbetter, Joshua Petker, Ken Garduno, KMNDZ, Mike Bilz, Mike Shinoda, Nate Frizzell, Nathan Ota, Nick Yarger, Patrick Haemmerlein, Randy Noborikawa, Scott Belcastro, Steven Daily, Tessar Lo, Tiffany Liu, Tom Haubrick and Yoskay Yamamoto.

For more info about the show check out the official show blog @  http://www.nobodywalksinla2009.blogspot.com/ which includes a full preview.  Thank you to all the artists who participated – the show is step one in our goal of making Dailydujour a living, breathing part of the art community both online and off.  We’ll have full coverage of the opening shortly after it goes down.

Opening reception: Friday / Viernes January 23, 2009
6-8pm FRESS / 8-12PM PUBLIC
Calle Johann Sebastian Bach 14, Barcelona Spain.
BARCELONA, SPAIN

More Images + Info »