Video: ACID HEAD - The Conceptual Realism Of Robert Williams

Robert Williams (born March 2, 1943) is an American painter, cartoonist, and founder of Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine but you may know him as the man who designed the original art work for Guns N’ Roses’ Lp Appetite for Destruction.

Williams was part of the Zap Collective along with other underground cartoonists such as Robert Crumb and Gilbert Shelton. His mix of California car culture, cinematic apocalypticism, and film noir helped to create a new genre of psychedelic imagery that many refer to as the Lowbrow art movement, a term Williams Coined himself.

In the video below Robert reviews a very large portion of his work spanning various periods in his career. Speaking of the techniques, influences and process involved in creating some of these modern masterpieces the film is  a must for fans of his work, contemporary painting and pop culture enthusiasts.

Peter Gronquist - "The Evolution Will Be Fabulous" Gallery 1988

Peter Gronquist - "Untitled (Greater Kudu)" Mixed Media 58 x 76 x 32 inches

“Peter Gronquist was born in Portland, Oregon in 1979.  Growing up in a creative family, he began drawing and painting at a very early age.  This led to obsessive artmaking throughout his childhood that continues today.  After highschool, Peter attended the School of Visual Arts for two years, then finished his bfa at the San Francisco Art Institute in 2001.  Peter currently resides in Oakland California and tries to paint every day.”

Peter’s latest show “The Evolution Will be Fabulous” opened this week at Gallery 1988 and will be open till November 4th, 2011. The show is a glorious mix of gilded luxe brands, weaponry, skeletons and taxidermy that must be seen, enjoy some highlights below as well as a short video of the instilation being put up.

Peter Gronquist - "Untitled (Gazelle)" Mixed Media 43 x 42 x 27 inches





 

Peter Gronquist - "Untitled (Lesser Kudu)" Mixed Media 72 x 77 x 55 inches

Peter Gronquist - "Untitled (Lesser Kudu)" Mixed Media 72 x 77 x 55 inches

Peter Gronquist - "Untitled (Cape Buffalo)" Mixed Media 58 x 34 x 47 inches

Video: Ben Venom’s Heavy Metal Quilts

If you were a metal-head ever you probably have a collection of concert t-shirts stashed away in some closet, you know that prized Napalm Death shirt that the parents use to try and get rid of at every opportunity.

Well San Francisco based artist Ben Venom has come up with an unusual use for those old cotton gems — he sews them into quilts.

Venom (a.k.a. Ben Baumgartner) say’s that he was inspired by a 2006 quilt show at San Francisco's de Young Museum, featuring works from rural Alabama. "I was completely blown away by the architecture of the quilts, the handmade nature of them, and probably [for] over 130 years they've been making these quilts," he says.

Venom says his concert T's were logical materials because "they've been lying around my closet for years. Like my Testament shirt was completely threadbare; you could see my nipples through it," he says, "It's not very heavy metal to wear that out in public."

"I'm interested in juxtaposing traditional handmade crafts with one of the more extreme musical genres, Heavy Metal. My work can be described as a collision of Iron Maiden Metal ballads with the outrageous stage antics of Ozzy Osbourne. Serious, yet attempting to take on a B movie Horror film style where even the beasts of Metal need a warm blanket to sleep with. The question remains… Can I play with madness?"

You can check out some of Ben’s devilish duvet’s at Use Me, curated by Yuri Psinakis which opens at the Scion Space this Saturday, October 15th.

Video by Kai Tsing

Don't Wake Me Lucifer! / 83" x 95" / 2010 Hand-made Quilt, Heavy Metal T-Shirts, Fabric, Batting, Thread

 

Am I Demon? / 41” x 51” / 2010 Hand-made Quilt, Heavy Metal T-Shirts, Fabric, Batting, Thread

See You on the Other Side / 155” x 175” / 2011 Hand-made Quilt, Heavy Metal T-Shirts, Fabric, Batting, Thread

Video: Cleon Peterson gets interviewed for Mediapart

Here is a video interview with Cleon Peterson where the artist discuses various facets of his work and personal life ranging from the ever present exploration of dualism as a subject matter in his paintings to living in NY, to growing up in a bed and breakfast  to meeting and working for Shepard Fairey to his struggles with drug addiction and crime. The 11 min. plus video has a real somber feel to it complete with ominous music and Cleon’s vulnerability shining through as he answers the wide range of questions.

Cleon Peterson: témoin du désordre by Mediapart

Garbage Pail Kids art show... Gallery1988

Wow, I just heard about this one. Gallery1988 in Melrose is throwing a Garbage Pail Kids tribute show on Sept. 2 including over 100 artists interpretations of their own nasty kiddies. Word is the show is co-sponsored by original GPK creators, Topps cards, and there is a possibility that works at the show may make their way into a new series of cards. The incredibly shitty 1987 "Garbage Pail Kids will be shown at the event.

I ate through a ton of nasty, rock-hard, bright pink "gum" trying to find the EVIL EDDIE card. and would distribute them to friends in the bathroom in 2nd grade as they were banned in my school. John Pound's art was amazing and his productivity even more so (close to 600 different cards).

Looks like there are a number of gigposter artists represented at this show (Rhys Cooper, Budai, Little Friends, Two Arms Inc, Delicious Design, etc..). Will keep on top of this one and will post info and images as they come up....

Steve Nishimoto's Skate Toy Soldiers

New York City-based artist/designer Steve Nishimoto has been modifying your standard variety toy soldiers turning them into skaters, with a series of custom-made poses of course. Exact information on them isn’t readily available but Steve does have an interesting array of projects on display through his website.

Loving the Art of Scott Hove

Bite Cake II, detail Acrylic and Mixed Media on Polyurethane Foam, 15" x 21" x 4", 2010

In the spirit of yesterday’s post on AJ Fosik’s sculpture work and the unintentional posting of art cakes from time to time I thought it was only right to showcase Scott Hove’s work. I discovered Scott’s work some years ago and it instantly was a hit with me. Scott’s work encompasses a broad variety of media, from sculptural installations to painting. The works reflect on the relationship between the natural world and mechanical civilization, and the drama that occurs during this interaction. The materials and techniques borrow from traditional and decorative arts and craft to render the oftentimes jarring objects and fantasy installations.



Black Cherry Acrylic and Mixed Media on Polyurethane Foam, 24”h x 44”w x 15”d, 2010

Maraschino is Murder Acrylic and Mixed Media on Polyurethane Foam, 12" x 25" x 16", 2010

Release: James Jean – “Fungi III”

James Jean has just released one of his sketches as a print here. The 9.5 x 12 inch limited edition is entitled "Fungi III" and is priced at $70 with a run of 100. These usually don’t last long so hurry over if interested.

Miss Van Jonathan Levine opening

Jonathan Levine Gallery is currently playing host to Miss Van, check out the great interview below from Bullet Magazine.

Miss Van from BULLETT MAGAZINE on Vimeo.