"Behind the Lens" at Joanne Artman Gallery

I'll be showing recent work at Joanne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach, California, opening Thursday November 1 and showing through the end of year. Joanne has a lovely gallery in an idyllic, seaside town right on Pacific Coast Hwy. The opening is part of the Thursday Laguna Art Walk.

The Mind Is Its Own Place

The mind is its own place, and in itself

Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n

Paradise Lost   1:254-255

Here's a composition inspired by John Milton's epic poem. I've recently discovered Paradise Lost. I haven't actually read it through (yet)– it's quite a slog of Olde English. (I bought the version that has the original text and modern translations side-by-side. Highly recommended.) Vivid imagery; God, Satan, epic scenes of worship and battle, Adam & Eve, flaming swords and the Garden of Paradise. Pretty incredible. It's the original Sympathy for the Devil. 

In progress: 

Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n.   PL 1:330

"Beautiful Mask II" at LAAA's Simulacrum

I'm showing this piece at the LA Art Association show opening Saturday night. Not sure that I know what "Simulacrum" actually means, but I guess Bennett Roberts from Roberts & Tilton decided it fits.

Visit LAAA.org to find out more.

At LACDA Thursday for the Downtown Art Walk

"Gilded Innocence"  (2012)   44x44"   ed/5

I'll be at the LA Center for Digital Arts'  May opening this Thursday showing the newest pieces from the "Beautiful Again" series. It's part of the Downtown LA Art Walk, a food, drink & art fest that you need to experience at least once in your life. Opening goes from 7-9pm. Cocktails with our peeps somewhere nearby afterwards. LACDA is at the corner of 5th & Main.

SXSPr2

We had a great time at South by South Pas Round II at the Studio last Saturday. Take a look at some of the party pics by my good friend Taesam Do.

South by South Pas

SXSP Round II

Saturday, May 5, 2012

4:30-10 pm

BurkeTriolo Studio

Once again we're hoisting the Open Studio banner at 538 Mission Street for this year's Music Festival and   art walk. The rear patio will become a new and improved stage where impressaria Marla Burke will present 5 hot young bands. Libations & pizza, artwork and friends. Shuttle to other South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival stages and art venues. Please join us for the event. Free admission.

Stage Lineup Tapioca and the Flea  9:30-10:15 facebook.com/tapiocaandtheflea  Strange Birds 8:15-9:00  facebook.com/strangebirds  Torches in Trees 7:00-7:45 facebook.com/torchesintrees  Seasons   5:45-6:30  facebook.com/SeasonsMusicLA Le Paige   4:30-5:15 facebook.com/LePaigeMusic  DJ sets between bands by Conway

"War In The Heavens"

"War In The Heavens"  (2012)  44x55" ed/5

7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.     Revelations 12 KJV

Great stuff that bible. Started this composition last November and have twisted it through some changes on the way. I'll be showing this and a couple of other new works at the upcoming Open Studio (5/5) and LACDA show (5/10).

"No Finality"

Another view of Paradise. This piece is titled "No Finality," but there's a longer thought behind it. The cryptic text reads:

"To live ten thousand lives on this planet
To live and live and live again in a never-ending spiral of life’s joys and sweet sorrows
No finality
Always another chance"

I worked on this image and then sat on it for a while, thinking about it. Enough thinking. It's one of my first attempts at incorporating typography into my work.