Mechanical Butterflies in Motion!

Ave Rose's Watchbot City has been getting a lot of attention, but unless you've seen her magnificent Butterflyport in person, it's difficult to understand exactly how much more the motion enriches these delicate sculptures. The butterflies are real, by the way, and the antique gear mechanisms were acquired on a recent trip to the Philippines. The film above (shot by Treiops Treyfid) will be quite illuminating to those too far away to travel to La Luz de Jesus Gallery and witness in person the exquisite miniscule metropolis.

Extended by Popular Demand: Disasterland!

Drunk on Love 2

 We generally open our shows on the first Friday of each month and end them on the last Sunday, but the overwhelming popularity of José Rodolfo Loaiza Ontiveros' latest exhibition Disasterland has necessitated that we extend to the first Sunday of next month!

By now you probably know that his Drunk Snow White image (above) is at the center of the Twihard break-up between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. A scorned wife upon hearing of Stewart's affair with her husband tweeted the image just about a week before Disasterland opened. We were quickly flooded with press requests and international sales (and Perez Hilton hyped us –twice!), and now there are only a handful of pieces not yet sold . But if you think Rodolfo is in the only reason to rush in and check out the show, you'll be very pleasantly surprised by the steampunky exhibitions in Gallery II.

Christopher Bales

Ave Rose

 Christopher Bales sold three pieces in a single day last week to different buyers from his current feature in a show that highlights the jury winners form this year's Laluzapalooza. That tallies four displayed pieces sold over all, and while it's a common sentiment that the images on the site don't do justice to the works in person, his really is a collection that must be seen. The works are three dimensional collages with delicate and antique components. All are wall-hanging and quite beautiful.

Ave Rose is another of the jury winners whose work is on display, and her creations are so layered, intricate and complex that  we had to showcase multiple angle photos that still don't do justice to the movement of her mechanized butterflies that recall Fritz Lang's Metropolis by way of Victorian entomology. She recently gave a presentation of her work for a few lucky patrons on Thursday evening, explaining that she warmed to the idea of incorporating insects into her watchbot world after coming across a video of ChouChou, the Japanese electric butterfly –and taking it to the next logical (and slightly gothic) extreme. Her battery powered display stands allow 360° views, but her hand-cranked butterfly wing flappers really have to be seen to be believed.


Click Mort sold a great many of his pieces before the exhibition opened, allowing more pieces to be brought and displayed in their stead. His remixed novelty sculptures reveal a basic creepiness inherent in all table-top nostalgia pieces –but with a true surrealist perspective.

Many of Anthony Purcell's Victorian-style portraits look normal enough until you walk past them, and you realize the sausage pocket watch chains or miniature eyeballs adorning the frames. But even when the twist is as obvious as spaghetti exploding from a hole in the head, the technicality of his brush work keeps you lingering.

Byung's military animals, D.W. Marino's culture bombs, Heather O'Shaughnessy's beeswax reliefs, and Richard Meyer's perplexed pets all carry an element of awesome that demands a second look, too.

And they'll all be on display until September 2nd, so now you've no reason to miss them.

Midwestern Mysticism

Some of you may have heard that I drove a truck to Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago. I did it in 40 hours, sleeping for a single hour on the New Mexico / Texas border, and pretty much only stopping for fuel the rest of the way. To keep fuel costs low, I drove the entire way without any air conditioning during the hottest summer on record. Suffice to say that there aren't a lot of people that I would do this for, but Myron Dyal is definitely one of them.

Shauta Marsh of the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art contacted me about half a year ago to discuss me acting as a guest curator for an available spot in August. I've been looking for a museum setting for Myron's work since we hosted the original Charon's Pantheon back in February 2011. We were able to showcase this important exhibition in Orange County at the Grand Central Art Center of Santa Ana, and performances of Jennifer Logan's musical score to Myron's sculptures were held at Occidental College and elsewhere, but the opportunity to indoctrinate a completely new audience in a MOCA setting was a dream come true.

We were a little worried at first about how the people in Chick-fil-A, territory would react to Myron's intensely spiritual portraits and sculptures. Since I was unable to attend, I was concerned about not being able to help explain the pieces if things got rowdy, but the press and reviews have been absolute raves. The Indianapolis Star listed the show as a top-five, must-see event, and below is a 5 star review from NUVO's Dan Grossman, who might be the most important art critic in the mid-west. So, many thanks to Shauta Marsh for having the courage to book us, and a warm, hearty congrats to Myron Dyal for getting some serious recognition in a serious space.

From NUVO: Indy's Alternative Voice:

Review: Myron Conan Dyal, 'Charon's Pantheon'

by Dan Grossman

As a child, Myron Conan Dyal's fundamentalist Christian parents subjected him to bouts of isolation and crude forms of exorcism in response to his epilepsy. The visions associated with this condition ultimately inspired a body of artwork that would puncture the boundaries of the religion that he was immersed in as a child.

Dyal's exhibit at iMOCA, curated by Matt Kennedy of Los Angeles's La Luz de Jesus Gallery, is grouped into two parts.

The smaller back gallery features a hothouse of colorful acrylic paintings and painted sculpture like "The Guardian of Male Energy," which seems a hybrid humanoid/flowering plant with a keyboard in hand (Dyal is a classically trained pianist). Paintings like "The Guardian," a chimerical humanoid figure with a ruminant-like skull for a head, suggest an animistic spirituality as well as a hermetic symbolism. Dyal's subjects seem to inhabit a netherworld between the living and the dead such as one might find in the rich rot of a tropical forest's floor.

The modus operandi behind Dyal's larger exhibit Charon's Pantheon, which occupies the larger, front gallery, is not diversity, as in the backroom, but unity. The piece collects 13 life-sized, paper mache sculptures in the forms of human - and humanoid - creatures. Six white sculptures and six black sculptures stand on either side of a "Red Shroud" statue, which remains completely veiled. This veil cannot be lifted physically; it's part of the sculpture.

While the "Red Shroud," by its placement, suggests a sort of birth mother from which the other figures spring, its exact symbolism remains hidden and mysterious, though Dyal offers interpretive clues via his poetry, included on the placards that identify each sculpture. Here and there, the figures bear a familiar countenance: the all-white figure of "As Above, So Below" resembles no one so much as the Virgin Mary.

If you've read your Joseph Campbell, you may know that Mary has her corollary in religious traditions more ancient than Christianity. And as you walk from left to right, from white to black, the figures become increasingly bizarre, chimerical, and foreboding - even primeval
While Dyal believes in conflict and dichotomies, he refuses to credit the black and white (and fundamentalist Christian) conception of good and evil. Like the Charon of Greek mythology, ferrying the dead across the River Styx to the afterlife, Dyal is leads past the boundary of art for art's sake toward his more primitive and all-encompassing vision. Through Sept. 15 at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art

Are you ready for Disasterland?

The photo at left was taken last night in the back gallery around 9PM. The walls are now all completely arranged and ready for the heavy foot traffic we're expecting tomorrow night.

Rodolfo Loaiza has been covered by Huffington Post, AOL Music, Univision, and about 200+ other media outlets since his Drunk on Love 2 (below) was tweeted by Liberty Ross to Kristen Stewart as a retaliation for the latter's affair with the former's husband, director Rupert Sanders.

Then Lady Gaga's Little Monsters ran images of Rodolfo's Magic Meat Dress painting, and that got picked up by seemingly every remaining media outlet that already hopped on the Loaiza fame wagon.

Well rest assured that there are still many surprises to come! The painter has a very special concept for his exhibition tomorrow night and those who miss it will be kicking themselves blue when they see the feeds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

That doesn't even address the incredible roster of talent in the very steampunk themed second gallery. The mechanical butterflies in Ave Rose's intricate sculptures are sure to garner as much attention as the meme-heavy attractions in the front room –and the costume she's got planned is simply not to be missed. I could go on at length about the work by Click Mort, Heather O'Shaughnessy, D. W. Marino, Byung, Richard Meyer, Christopher Bales and Anthony Purcell, but I'll let their work speak for itself.

The opening reception begins at 8PM, closes at 11PM, and I can't urge strongly enough that would-be attendees get here early. The parking situation is going to be out of control. Bite the bullet and valet at the local restaurants or carpool or take the very convenient public transportation system (we're half a block from the major Hollywood and Vermont bus artery, and one and a half blocks from the Sunset and Vermont metro stop on the Redline). Ride your bike or walk, but do not miss this show which is without hyperbole, the best show you'll see this summer.

Remedy for the Post ComiCon Blues

Tonight (at midnight, to be precise) I'll be filing into a movie theater with millions of other cinéastes fantastiques to see the final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. In honor of this momentous occasion, Billy has given me permission to offer a 25% discount on all graphic novels and comic books in WACKO. I don't know when was the last time you checked out our sequential art library, but we've got almost an entire aisle dedicated to comics and comix, and since we may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of comic books, we've got a lot of harder to find and even out of print collections that you definitely can't find for cover price anywhere else –and we're offering a 25% discount on top of it! Sales items are excluded, but our sale books are so cheap already that you'd be hard pressed to complain. The sale ends when the doors close on Sunday night, July 22nd –which will be later than usual to accommodate the Los Feliz Village Street Fair.

My catalog about comic art, POP SEQUENTIALISM, will also be part of the sale even though it's technically not a graphic novel or comic. It's a perfect place to start if you've developed an interest in superhero fiction, and I strongly recommend that you follow the POP SEQUENTIALISM BLOG for up to date reviews and news about the fine art of sequential storytelling. I post a new column weekly on Thursday mornings, with the occasional update in between.

On Monday morning I embark on a cross country drive to deliver and install a major retrospective at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art for one of my favorite artists (and good friend), Myron Dyal. The entire Charon's Pantheon exhibit will be exhibited along with important new and old works of papier-mâché and painted canvases. Myron will be flying out to attend his opening and hold court with patrons and contributors in a presentation that is sure to expand the local consciousness.

I won't even be able to stay and appreciate the fruits of my labor, as I have to hop a plane and return in time for Billy's Thursday Night Fishfry & Community Social, headlined by former CHRISTIAN DEATH vocalist Gitane Demone. Each of these monthly musical events has been better than the last, and the revolving roster of performers is lively and refreshing. Also appearing will be Sioux City Pete, Gabriel Hart, Michael Rozon, Scot Nery, and of course those Motorcycle Boys, Francois & John. Christy Kane will be projecting her Callalilly, and the festivities will be MC'ed by Blaine Capatch. Seth and Johnny will be behind the scenes with Billy, so be sure to cruise on over and enjoy yourself!

Tiki, Tats and Tarts!

Brad Parker & Miles Thomspon:
Two shows that blended nicely!

The La Luz de Jesus TIKI PARTY on Friday night was Smash Success!

Both Brad Parker and Miles Thompson experienced brisk sales all evening long in their dueling solo shows –each room complementing the next with matched themes of surf & sail.

Brad Parker stops to pose
with a longtime friend & patron

The summer gala was stockpiled with animators, other fine artists and tiki enthusiasts who had traveled as far as Hawaii to see in person the first Miles Thompson show since 2009, as well as witness the Tiki Shark himself, Brad Parker, who was able to include some awesome monster-themed skate decks mere hours before the exhibitions opened!

Miles is all smiles next to the proud
new owner of the showcard piece

Miles revisited the scene of his glory on Saturday to help a few patrons decide on which pieces to purchase and Brad returned on Sunday to host an audience of fans and students for an impromptu art talk that covered technique and tradition.

Our publicist Lee Joseph has posted some great photos from the opening on his Flickr account.

Shawn Barber & Danni Shinya Luo
Book Signing: Tuesday July 10th, 7-9PM

 While the holiday weekend is over and most have gotten back into the swing of the daily grind, I offer you a mid-week oasis of Tattoos and Trollops! I am speaking of course of the world premiere of Shawn Barber's latest art volume, Memoir as part of a two-person signing with Danni Shinya Luo, whose Soft Candy has finally arrived following her incredibly successful exhibition of the same name. Shawn's tattoo portraits and Danni's gorgeous girls seem like a great excuse to get out of the house again after the holiday weekend. Last Gasp Books is co-presenting this event tomorrow night (Tuesday, July 10th) which kicks of at 7 PM and runs until 9PM.

Miss Luo will have some of the sketches published in the book available for sale, too, so come on down and say, "Mahalo!

The Man Who Shot Rock & Roll

Iris Berry with John Scarpati

Last night's Cramp, Slash & Burn opening reception (from the book of the same title by photographer John Scarpati) brought back the era when punk and glam were twins. And many of John's subjects were on hand to celebrate with him.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Last Friday was the theatrical release of the hit musical Rock of Ages, which features the songs of the bands and era documented in Scarpati's book.  And the Annenberg Space for Photography show Who Shot Rock & Roll? opens tonight. Ed Colver, whose photos are featured in the Annenberg exhibition was on hand to give kudos to Scarpati and collect more than a few accolades, himself. One of my favorite moments of the night was series of reminiscences between Ed, John, Hugh Brown and myself about four different eras in the music business.

Legendary punk lensman Ed Colver

For those of you who missed the opening, there's some good news: not only is the show open to the public until Sunday, July 1st, but we're doing it again on Monday. Holding another opening, that is!

From 5-7 PM on Monday, June 25th, Scarpati will be here to dish some behind-the-scenes stories about the shoots captured in this exhibition. Then we're all heading up the hill to the Barnsdall Theater (within the Barnsdall Art Park complex –home of the Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock house) for the unveiling of John's iconic Fishbone photo which was just added to the Smithsonian Institute's permanent collection of important contemporary images.

Team Scarpati: Matt Kennedy, Lee Joseph,
Cindy Schwarzstein, Wendy Sherman & John Scarpati

This exhibition would not have happened if not for the efforts of Wendy Sherman and Cindy Schwarzstein who helped to guide everything into place, and of course praise must be given to Lee Joseph who made sure the right folks were aware of the importance of this event. He's put together a great collection of images from the evening's festivities on his Flickr page (which is where these images all came from).

Speaking of Rock & Roll, next Thursday is a Fishfry for the ages when Romeo Void vocalist Debora Iyal headlines an evening that includes The Groovy Rednecks and the Skip Heller Trio.


You really need to make into La Luz de Jesus Gallery more often...