This month, contemporary art website thecreativelives.com adds a new documentary series to its informative offerings. A feature on  San Diego painter Kelsey Brookes, available now, will launch the series, while future presentations will explore the work of Mark Dean Veca, Megan Whitmarsh, Porous Walker, Barry McGee, and more.

Sanrio’s Three Apples Hello Kitty show continues to pack-in crowds a full two weeks after the initial opening.  Special events during the weekends have amplified the magnetic draw of the iconic cute character.  Last Saturday’s (11.7) ‘Meet the Artists’ event drew a large number of artists from the Three Apples group show curated by Jamie Rivadeneira.  The evening featured live painting from multiple artists including Camilla d’Errico (above), Angry Woebots, and Peekaboo Monster.   The completed pieces were offered via silent auction.

In addition to the live painting, live Tee screening by Hit+Run proved to be popular with the crowd drawing a steady line for most of the evening.  For $20, fans could create a custom shirt featuring  three of six silkscreen designs by group show artists including Buff Monster and Mark Dean Veca.  Hit the jump for plenty of pics of the celebration.  Three Apples runs through next weekend – November 15th 2009.

Royal/T
8910 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.559.6300

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Get a two for one value at the next opening reception at Jonathan Levine. On September 12 the gallery will open their exhibit for artists D*Face and Mark Dean Veca. Street artist D*Face’s “Ludovico Aversion Therapy/All You Dreams Belong to Us” refers to a human reconditioning therapy in the film A Clockwork Orange in which a person’s eyelids are forced open to watch alarming images. In his artist statement, D*Face explains his thought process behind the show.  “If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside of my mind, this body of work is it. A visual interpretation of lucid dreams—the replaying, disassembly and reconfiguring of images held in one’s mind… it’s as much ‘Exquisite Corpse’ as everyday Ludovico Aversion Therapy.”

Mark Dean Veca’s “As Cold as They Come” will feature 20 new ink and acrylic paintings that are influenced by everything from renaissance and contemporary art to film and advertising. The title of the show comes from a line in the film The Godfather when character Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is given a pistol that is impossible to trace.

Also check out the interview and studio visit with Veca posted earlier here:

Jonathan Levine Gallery
529 West 20th Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10011
212.243.3822

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I had the pleasure of dropping by the home and studio of artist Mark Dean Veca this weekend as he prepared to send work off to his upcoming solo exhibition at Jonathan Levine Gallery next month.

Mark was gracious enough to unwrap some of his new work and talk about where the work is going. Mark actually stepped away from his usual style of fully patterned paintings and focuses our attention on individual images…all the while keeping his signature pattern work inside the character boundaries.

After several shows with massive installations, Veca will be taking a break and letting viewers focus on the work alone, which is actually a nice change of pace. Even in his studio, the ability to focus on individual paintings give you the chance to see his outstanding technique and skill with a brush.

Make sure to catch Veca’s show:

Mark Dean Veca
As Cold As They Come
Jonathan Levine Gallery
Sep 12 thru Oct 10, 2009
Opening Reception- Saturday, September 12th, 7-9pm

More images and info after the jump…

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Mike Shinoda, OYAKODON

Sunday July 10th Suru will be presenting “Celeritas” a group show that will benefit Riders for Health. The show features work by an amazing group of artists who have appropriated elements from motorcycle racing culture as their medium.

Artists include: Barry McGee, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Audrey Kawasaki, Estevan Oriol, Mark Dean Veca and more…

I think Mike on www.mikeshinoda.com summed it up pretty well, “Art show to benefit Riders for Health. I painted a motorcycle helmet. At Suru…going to be dope…”

Sunday July 12th, 12-8:00 pm
Suru
7662 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles CA 90046

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Mark Dean Veca unveiled his breathtaking Phantasmagoria site specific installation at Otis College of Art and Design’s Ben Maltz Gallery this past Saturday night.  The large rectangular space’s four white walls are now emblazoned with fiery oranges and reds.  Over 17 days of work and with the help of several assistants, Veca created the huge wrap-around wall murals featuring a tidal wave pattern along the bottom and intricate characters throughout.  While the murals could easily stand on their own, they serve as elaborate frames for several individual hyper-detailed paintings on pvc panel featuring a heady mix of iconic figures drawn from religion, pop culture, and some of the brightest artists working today including Damien Hirst, KAWS, and Jeff Koons.

In between gawking at the work, we held the finger down on the shutter release and brought back a bunch of pictures.  If you’re in SoCal, consider this a preview.  You need to go down and check it out for yourself.  It’s one thing to look at the pretty pics, but it’s quite  another to stand in the middle of the room surrounded by this impressive piece of art.   The installation will remain up until December 6th, so there’s plenty of time to catch it. Just do it.

Ben Maltz Gallery
9045 Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310.665.6905

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Otis Alum Mark Dean Veca has moved back to Los Angeles just in time for his appointment as the Fall 2008 Jennifer Howard Coleman Distinguished Lecturer and Resident.  In addition to his work with students throughout the fall, Mark has been hard at work on Phantasmagoria, a massive site-specific install that spans the entire Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis.  In case you had overlooked it or are just hungry for more here’s a small preview of the show pieces including a look at Mark’s efforts to transform the normally white staid walls of  the gallery with his  wild hyper-kinetic vision.

Cast in bright orange with strong black details, the installation features intricate floor to ceiling wall painting that serves as the expansive frame for several original paintings.  The paintings put culture, pop and otherwise, into a blender  on high with impressive results combining disparate elements such as Damien Hirst’s legendary Diamond Skull, Popeye, Charlie Tuna, Jesus and Mary, Michaelangelo’s David, Kaws’s X eyes  and Jeff Koons’  Bunny Rabbit. While the combinations are noteworthy it’s the execution that separates Mark’s work – the characters are shapes to be filled with immense and varied detail – sort of figurative canvases.    All the original paintings are available for sale through the retail gallery that reps Veca’s work.

Judging by the preview paintings, the WIP shots of the installation and his previous room installations, the opening of Phantasmagoria this Saturday from 5- 7 PM is not to be missed.

[Source Ben Maltz Gallery + additional info from Supertouch Art.  Photos – Chris Warner (paintings) & Daniel Davidson (installation)].

Ben Maltz Gallery
Bronya and Andy Galef Center for Fine Arts
9045 Lincoln Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90045

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