Archive for the Art Exhibits Category

« Older Entries

Obey Your Master Artist: Gail Potocki

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 30, 2011 by razor
Eve by Gail Potocki

Eve by Gail Potocki

Browsing through Gail Potocki’s website, I recognized one of her pieces – Eve.  I thought that perhaps I had seen it at a past art exhibit, but Gail has confirmed that she has not had works at any of the exhibits I have written about.  So exactly where I have seen Eve in the past remains a mystery.

Gail’s work is astoundingly detailed, and has a sense of grand classicism, but always with a hint of surrealism that make her paintings stand out above many works.  Gail studied and fine tuned her skills at the School of Representational Art in Chicago.  She has earned many honors, including taking first place in the Online Symbolist Art Exhibition competition, being named the first American recipient of the Ward Rogers Distinguished Artist award, and winning the Baron of Fulwood Award at the Society of Art and Imagination.  A collection of her works has been published by Olympian publishing, The Union of Hope and Sadness, and was released in 2006.

Gail’s paintings pursue narratives of relationship, and trust, and passionately explore the struggle between human desires and the order of nature.Influenced by the elegant strength of Anthony Van Dyck and the melancholic mystery of the late 19th century French and Belgian Symbolists, her expression is rooted in compelling realism, and branches seductively into the realms of possibility. (http://www.artofimagination.org/Pages/Potocki.html)

Gail commented on the piece that she is working on for the Obey Your Master exhibit:

Metallica is a very masculine band sonically, they’re very assertive. Lyrically and thematically though, I think Metallica has the hallmark of all great rock artists: they’re great storytellers.  The song that I’ve chosen as my influence tells a story more through a mental experience rather than a literal one and my piece will allegorically reflect what is intangible in the lyrics. (~Gail Potocki 11/29/2011)

We are excited to see the story that will unfold from Gail’s brush!

Botanica #23 by Gail Potocki

Botanica #23 by Gail Potocki

Plastic Vortex by Gail Potocki

Plastic Vortex by Gail Potocki

Fini by Gail Potocki

Fini by Gail Potocki

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: David Stoupakis

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 10, 2011 by razor

David Stoupakis was diagnosed with a learning disability early in his grade school years.  Some of his teachers were concerned about his “gloomy” art.  However, a teacher that saw his talents encouraged his creativity.  He attended The Art Institute of Boston for a short period, but decided that formal art training was not for him. Luckily for the art world, none of David’s creativity was squelched by formal training, and for the most part David is a self-developed, self-taught artist (David’s Bio from Official Site.)  Walking through his online gallery is like walking through an awesome, macabre Oz or Wonderland.

David Stoupakis' Cover Art for Korn - See You On The Other Side (2005)

David Stoupakis' Cover Art for Korn - See You On The Other Side (2005)

David’s honors include the IGN award for Best Album artwork for Korn’s “See You on the Other Side” in 2006 and the Direct Art Magazine Best Surrealist Artist Feature Award in 2003.  He has displayed solo and with group exhibits worldwide including in New York, California, Nevada, France and Germany.

Art Work by David Stoupakis

Unknown Title by David Stoupakis

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: Joe Petagno

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , , on November 8, 2011 by razor
Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Billboard by Joe Petagno

Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Billboard by Joe Petagno; Photo taken by G. Reynolds

Joe Petagno is best known in the metal world for his cover art and the creation of “Snaggletooth” for Motorhead. However, Petagno’s most extravagant work is his canvas work.  His online gallery is a detailed apocalyptic tour de force.

It has been said that Joe Petagno’s paintings never fail to smash the retina like a broad sword to the skull. Petagno’s unmistakeable art has spanned several generations and crept into the very sinews of the contemporary counter – cultural media. (Joe Petagno’s Official Website)

When asked if there were other bands that he would like to work for, he responded with a long list (which included Metallica) saying that “everyone should have a piece of Petagno art to grace their musical opus… [these bands] could all do with a lethal dose of Petagno.” (Steel Mill Interview with Joe Petagno)  And speaking of the upcoming Obey Your Master Art Show:

I was delighted to be invited to take part in this show – Viva La Metallica! I started my Career in LA in the heady 60’s doing  score’s of Black light posters. I left in ’72 for Europe, my last major piece in LA was Alice Cooper’s Billion dollar bill which was featured on a billboard on the Strip…the Prodigal Son returns. (~Joe Petagno 11/07/2011) 

Untitled by Joe Petagno

Untitled by Joe Petagno

1 Comment »

First Friday Art Walk: November 4, 2011

Posted in Art Exhibits, Art with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 8, 2011 by razor

Here are some of my favorites from this past First Friday Art Walk:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: N8 Van Dyke

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 3, 2011 by razor

N8 Van Dyke with Baby ChimpI literally spent a week on N8 Van Dyke’s website and blog.  His physical appearance is stunning – with his Vin Diesel shaved head, and his 6 feet 9 inch frame.  But I have to admit, he had me when he described his experience when working with the chimp Jake for the first time:

Being with Jake was spiritual.  It’s weird, like here’s this animal I’ve drawn a million times and to see it all of a sudden in real life I just realized that I’ve never done a drawing that has done chimps justice… Hanging out with [Jake] and when he first held my hands – time froze. (Interview for Juxtapoz Magazine, July 2008)

N8′s commercial work includes illustrations for EMI records, GAP/Old Navy, Levi Strauss, and MSN.  But his personal work is more intriguing by far.  And he is a Web 2.0 illustrator – posting many of his personal works from finished sketch books on his blog.

Enter Sandman by N8 Van Dyke

Enter Sandman by N8 Van Dyke

N8 says that he has always wanted to collaborate with Metallica, and now he is getting his chance!  He has already done one Metallica inspired piece for the I Want My Music Video Art Show.  His contribution for that art show was inspired by Metallica’s Enter Sandman.  His piece for The Obey Your Master Art Show is currently under wraps (all artists have been asked to keep the song they have chosen to work with a secret until the opening reception.)  He did give us a hint about which song he has chosen however:

I went against the grain and picked one of Metallica’s “newer” songs. I snagged a song off of the LOAD album (it was actually my third song pic after Sandman and One) and I LOVE what I have in mind for this song choice as I’ve been doing a lot of sketching in preparation for this piece. Still working out some kinks before I dive into it. It is going to be a beast of a piece, I assure you. ~N8 Van Dyke 11/02/2012

A.D by N8 Van Dyke

A.D by N8 Van Dyke

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: Tony Alva

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , on November 1, 2011 by razor

Die Posers Die PosterTony Alva is best known for his skating and his skateboards.  He got his first skateboard when he was 10 years old in 1967.  Since then his life has revolved around the skating world.  He opened his own skateboard company in 1977, and some of his achievements include Mens Overall World Professional Skateboard Championship (1977), Skateboarder of the Year in Skateboarder Magazine Reader Poll (1977), World Record In Barrel Jump (1977),  X Games Lifetime Achievement Award (1999), Transworld Skateboarding Magazine Legend Award (2002), and  ID Magazine 100 Most Influential People in Fashion Award (2003).

He seems to be a frequent collaborator with Exhibit A Gallery, and already participated in an earlier exhibition at the gallery early this year – Die Posers Die.

He has also taken part in many films:

Recently he was featured in the Sundance and Independent Spirit award-winning documentary “Dogtown and Z-Boys” (2002). Tony Alva was an authenticity consultant and stunt coordinator on the upcoming Sony feature film, “Lords Of Dogtown” (2005), based on his life with the Z-Boys. The first skateboarder to successfully market himself as a brand name, Tony Alva continues to own and operate the innovative Alva Skateboard Company in Oceanside, California. Considered the originator of vertical skateboarding, Alva continues to develop new technology to advance the sport he loves. Staying true to his roots, Tony Alva surfs and skates pools almost everyday. (Tony Alva’s Official Website)

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: Lauren Bergman

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits, Music, Video with tags , , , , , , , on October 31, 2011 by razor

I have to admit that as I was reading Lauren Bergman’s Bio and looking at her art – I thought that I am incredibly interested to see what she will produce for the Obey Your Master art show.  Lauren Bergman was raised in the D.C. area and was greatly influenced by her “mother’s revolutionary disposition, reacting against cultural expectations of the times, an environment that encouraged Bergman to become an accomplished artist.” (Lauren Bergman’s Official Website – Bio)  Her art explores “the complexities of female identity” and her recent exhibition, Calhalla, portrays “the ‘idealized female’ within the context of an idealized or ‘mythicized’ America.”  She uses California as the “archetype for the American idyll.” 

However, it is not the California that may be most familiar to Metallica’s fans or their genre.  As I viewed this art and Bergman’s commentary on it, I could not help but think of the contrast of the California I think of when I think of metal bands, especially hair metal band of the 80′s – LA strip, with all of it’s girly bars.  And the Metallica video that came to mind was “Turn the Page”.  In the video, a woman, a stripper, is protrayed as highly sexualized – as in Bergman’s paintings, with the contrast of the innocence of a child (the stripper’s daughter) – but the protrayal in Metallica’s video is far from idealized.  Like Bergman’s art, I believe that this video makes a highly politicized statement.

I can’t wait to see how Bergman will pose her tribute to Metallica!

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: Dan May

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , on October 27, 2011 by razor
Ignition of the Infinite Escape by Dan May; 12" X 16", acrylic on wood panel

Ignition of the Infinite Escape by Dan May; 12" X 16", acrylic on wood panel

Dan May currently lives in Chicago.  He is a graduate of Syracuse University and was raised in the Rochester, New York area.  His artwork has been displayed across the United States and abroad.  Some of the museums that have displayed his art include, the Rotfugi Gallery in Illinois; the Corpo Gallery in California, and the Bluebottle Gallery in Washington.  He has also contributed atrwork to Pangeaseed and JapanLa in Tokyo, Japan.  Pangeaseed is a grassroots organization that educates about the plight of the shark, and JapanLa donates money to support the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue.His work is held in high regard by collectors worldwide.

His detail-intensive works have become widely recognized for their dreamlike ability to transcend the natural states of space and time – mostly due to his usage of a very finely honed usage of line. May’s propensity for using hair as a metaphor has become a focal point that he has built on to speak about larger aspects of humanity as well as the dream world, and gives a strong nod to his progressive personal growth and evolution as an artist. (Future Artist Info for Dan May’s Official Website)

Dan says that he is “excited to be part of [the Obey Your Master] exhibition.”  And we are equally excited to see the creation he will contribute!

Roscoe's Fall by Dan May; Acrylic on wood panel, 16" X 20"

Roscoe's Fall by Dan May; Acrylic on wood panel, 16" X 20"

Leave A Comment »

Obey Your Master Artist: Chloe Trujillo

Posted in Art, Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , , , on October 24, 2011 by razor
The Essence of Life; Drawing by Chloe Trujillo

The Essence of Life by Chloe Trujillo

Chloe Trujillo has walked a spritual journey.  She expresses her connection with the Source, and her life experiences in her art.  She paints, draws, and sings, and could probably even do a mathematical proof for you with her earned degree in Science and Matter Structure.

Chloe’s art exudes a powerful balance of color, primal spiritual elegance and attitude sometimes floating around concepts of death through life. She presents images through dreams or personal experiences, some beautiful and some dangerous, it’s almost as if her art flows hand in hand with a style that is musical, sometimes heavy,sometimes classic, but always with a certain mystery… Robert Trujillo (Chloe’s Official Website)

When asked about her art and the Obey Your Master art exhibit, Chloe said:

…this is really what it’s all about: Connection!
As a songwriter, painter and performer, there is always that strong link between all of these disciplines.  I might start a painting and immediately words, melodies come to me, or I might be writing a song and an image will come through…
It is all connected, so there again, I think this show is going to prove that statement even more and what an awesome opportunity to get to see the work of a bunch of amazing artists so different from each other getting together through the inspiration of the music of Metallica!
I can’t wait for the opening!!!

 We can’t wait either Chloe!

Identite; Painting by Chloe Trujillo

Identite; Painting by Chloe Trujillo

1 Comment »

Artists Announced for “Obey Your Master” Art Show

Posted in Art Exhibits with tags , , , , , on October 19, 2011 by razor

Obey Your Master Art Exhibit LogoExhibit A Gallery in Los Angeles announced the artists that will have their art featured at the “Obey Your Master” exhibit.  The exhibit will feature art work that was inspired by Metallica and their music.  Some of the featured artists will include: Andy Biersack, Shepard Fairey, Usugrow, Chloe Trujillo, Dan May, Lauren Bergman, Tony Alva, Nate Van Dyke, David Stoupakis, Joe Petagno, Gail Potocki, Paul Chatem, Travis Smith, Sylvia Ji, Victor Castillo, Robert Hardgrave, Chris Peters, Shawn Barber, Kim Saigh, Steve Caballero, Brian M. Viveros, Travis Louie, and Dan Harding.  The exhibit opens on January 20, 2012, with an invite only reception.  Keep checking back as I write feature articles about the artists and their works.

Leave A Comment »

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.