Something To Do Tonight

If you are in the Carrboro, NC area (which I now am), there is something that looks like it will be fun and toy/art related going on tonight. Tonight is the re-opening of Wootini at their new gallery space (not in Carr Mill Mall anymore) along with the opening of the Wootini Gallery Roadshow, featuring works of art by the likes of Steff Bomb, Fish McGill, CHema Skandal (apparently the "H" is capitalized, this is not a typo), Mike Ski, Evoker, Shawnimals, and other people with equally ridiculous names. There will probably be music, possibly by Family, and maybe even some beer or wine or other drinkies for the folkies. And of course, they got toys! Anne is going to a wine tasting, but I prefer an art opening, so this is where I will be. Maybe not from 7-11pm, but at some point.

Mike Mignola Y'all!

I know it has been forever, but whatever, get it while you can.

Anyway, the artwork of Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy, will be featured tonight, one night only, at Secret Headquarters in Sunset Junction from 8-10pm.


Secret Headquarters will also be offering a limited edition Mignola illustrated letterpress print made specifically for this show. The prints feature never before seen Hellboy artwork by Mike Mignola with color supervision by Dave Stewart. These 3 color letterpress prints have been beautifully made by Aardvark Letterpress of Los Angeles.


Complimentary wine provided by Bear Flag.

Also, Kwong Dynasty: Noodle Fantasy will be parked in front of Secret Headquarters for all of your delicious noodle slurping needs.

Now get off my back about posting stuff, y'all! I needs my beauty sleep!

The Ballad Of Lando Calrissian

Alright, I have been pretty bad about posting recently, but I have been very busy and very tired. I am working 7 am to 4 pm at Art Territory, but usually stay until five, then when I get home I have been busy working on stuff for the Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina. I am too exhausted by the time I am done with that to type anything else, so Anne and I have been watching TV on Seth's HD projector through my computer.

It has been an interesting week, though. On Wednesday, I got to work with one of my heroes, the great Lando Calrissian... I mean Billy Dee Williams [pictured above]. I am working on putting together a series of prints for him based on a painting that he did. He is a really good artist and a very nice guy. He has soft hands and he smells wonderful. And he is an impeccable dresser. I will be working with him more this coming week. He really liked what I did with his piece. Did that last paragraph sound a little gay? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Anyway, last weekend, last Friday night, Anne and I went to an 80's singalong at the Los Angeles Music Center, which is right next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which is one of my favorite pieces of architecture ever. Designed by Frank Gehry, it is an amazingly shiny, curvy building which probably causes a lot of traffice accidents from people gawking at it and from the gleam that comes off of it in the morning when the sun hits it just right. How could you not love a building that kills people? Like the Stephen King story Christine, but with a building.

Saturday night, we went to the gallery opening for Buried Beneath Me at project:gallery. It was pretty fun, free beer, good art, lots of friendly hipsters. I forgot my camera, otherwise I would show y'all some pictures. There was another gallery open that night, two doors down from project:gallery, called The Lab 101 which was really fun. It was smaller that project:gallery, which isn't very big to begin with, but that just made it cozier, and after a couple of beers, easier to meet people. Anne met a couple of young turk artist type ladies named Andrea Shear and Sara Brum down there who do some interesting artwork. They were fun to hang out with, too. Y'all should check them out.

We have been looking around for apartments in West Hollywood and have seen some nice places down there, in our price range and close to where we work. I can't wait to get out of Seth's place and into somewhere that has air conditioning and a little more space. Kallie the Kat will appreciate it too. Also, she will probably be able to go outside, which she will love!


This weekend is the Sunset Junction Street Festival [pictured above], which we will be going to later this afternoon and tomorrow. Like Apple Chill, but more chill. Broken Social Scene is playing tonight and Black Keys are playing tomorrow night. In all, 36 bands and nine DJ's. Isaac Hayes was supposed to play, but we all know what happened there. Anyway, it should be a lot of fun!

Well, that's all that is going on for now. I'll let y'all know how the street fest was.

A Face Only A Mother Could Love

Wootini has a new exhibit opening tonight featuring the work of Brendan Danielsson [pictured above], Jason Murphy, Katie Ridley, and Meagan Ridley of the Art Dorks Collective. The show will begin at 7 pm this evening and will run through August 5th. There will be snacks and drinks at the opening reception and "Family" is expected to bring the music. Here's what Michael had to say about the show:

So who are the Art Dorks? Brendan Danielsson originally started it as a web community which grew into the young artist collective it is today. If they fit into a genre, it would be something between Pop Surrealism, Low Brow, and a 1980's hightop sneaker. Being young artists, they've been collectively bombarded with media since the day they were born and it's bound to influence their work.

Let's talk a little about the contributing artists for this show. The Ridley sisters, Jason Murphy and Brendan Danielsson all attended the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Like one big giant artist family, Brendan and Meagan have been married for 2 years, and Jason and Katie will wed later this year making them all 'kin'. They all currently live in Atlanta and work (or have worked) for CNN. Katie is a part time designer for CNN and a freelance illustrator while Meagan is a designer for CNN Headline News. Brendan works as a compositor for CNN. Jason is a designer for Mind's Eye, but at one time worked for CNN. But don't judge them with media bias, or confuse them with the "fair and balanced" fox news people. It's just that they need to pay the bills somehow.

If I get out of work early enough, maybe I will head over for the opening. If Anne lets me out of the apartment. She likes to keep me tied up in the laundry room. We'll see!

Culver City Artalk

I got e-mail from my friends over at project:gallery letting me know that they will be participating in the Culver City Artwalk this Saturday, May 31st. They will be opening their doors to a group of collectors, friends and press for a pre-Culver City Artwalk preview of their new exhibit "insider trading", a group show of gallery represented artists. "A show curated specifically for the Annual Artwalk, 'insider trading' will showcase new work from Yoskay Yamamoto, Tessar Lo, Rebecca Urias, Nate Frizzell, Edwin Ushiro and Scott Belcastro." The preview is by invitation only, so go to project:gallery's website and sign up for their mailing list if you would like to be invited. Artists will be in attendance and there will be coffee, mimosas and pastries provided for those attending the preview.

Miss You

I got e-mail from Michael over at Wootini yesterday about a new exhibit entitled "I Will Miss You While I'm Gone" featuring the artist Dustin Hostetler, a.k.a. UPSO, opening tomorrow night, March 14th at 7pm. The exhibit will run from March 14 - April 8. Here's how Wootini describes UPSO's work:

UPSO's work is self-reflective, and pauses often to explore deep personal sentiment and emotion. In his latest collection, entitled "I Will Miss You When I'm Gone," he takes a moment to reflect upon and pay homage to the aspects of his life that he appreciates most. From people to possessions, his imagery is presented boldly and poignantly. It should serve to remind us that life is short indeed, but perhaps we could all benefit from drawing greater appreciation from the things in our lives that we tend to take for granted.

There will be food and refreshments and as usual, Family will be providing the stellar sounds.

My Paintings

My paintings will be on display at Beth El Synagogue located at 1004 Watts Street Durham, NC 27701 from now until April 21st. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, April 6th from 2-4pm. Snacks and booze will be provided.

Kidrobot Heats Up

I wish I could be in Miami tonight. Not just because it would be a lot warmer than it is up here in cold old North Cackalacka, but because the new Kidrobot Miami Store Grand Opening is tonight from 6-8pm. This is the largest Kidrobot store to date, featuring over 1,000 sq. ft. of designer urban toy goodness. For the opening, Kidrobot fave Huck Gee has created 305 super-limited Miamified 3" Skullhead Dunnys [pictured above]. Mr. Gee will be at the opening to sign figures for those lucky enough to get in through the maddening crowds. After the opening, there will be an after party at Miami hot-spot WISH at The Hotel (named one of the 50 Best New Restaurants in the World by Conde Naste Traveler and one of the most expensive restaurants near Kidrobot Miami) featuring contests and giveaways starting at 9pm sharp. Don't miss the madness! Kidrobot Miami is located at 638 Collins Ave. and WISH is located at 801 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach, FL.

Keep It Ninja

Shawnimals creator Shawn Smith has created a variety of new Ninjatown-inspired works for his My Plastic Heart art exhibition in December including never-before-seen fabric collages. These multi-layered wall-based felt constructions will involve the same style of imagery and illustration Shawn has become known for, except in a form somewhere between sculpture and painting, similar to relief. These new works will be accompanied by smaller painted panels, and two all-new handmade special edition plush – Pocket Zombie Ninja and Super Ninja – available in limited quantities which Shawn created alongside creative collaborator Jen Brody and the Shawnimals staff.

In addition, an exclusive Keep it Ninja exhibition t-shirt will be available and the all-new Ninjatown Micro Plush blind box series from Squibbles / Rotofugi. Other Shawnimals merchandise will be available as well, like shirts, buttons, stickers, and, of course, plush.

Something Other Than Shoes And Toys

    Hey, guess what? There are other things out there in the world of importance to me other than shoes and toys (and 16GB iPod Touches for Hanukkah, hint, hint). For instance, I like art. I paint. Sometimes I will even take a picture or two. Speaking of two pictures (nice segue, thank you very much), the Chapel Hill Public Arts Committee announced today a show of photographs by two photographers, Jonathan Andrews [pictured above, left] and Gina Gibson [above, right], opening this Saturday, November 17th at the Chapel Hill Public Library from 2:30-4pm. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be up until February 6, 2008. It sure feels weird to be writing 2008. I guess I should start getting used to it, 'cause it's only a few weeks away. Scary!

I Prefer Luxury

Punishment or Luxury?
New Design Objects by Abe Lincoln Jr.
Opening Reception
October 5th, 2007 6-9PM
Show runs through 11/04/07
646.290.6866
http://www.myplasticheartnyc.com
http://www.girlsbike.com

myplasticheartnyc
210 Forsyth St.
New York NY 10002
(between Houston St. and Stanton St.)