Travis Louie's Monster? Group Art Show

Travis Louie's Monster? Group Art Show is opening this Saturday, July 11 at CoproGallery in Santa Monica, CA. the cool thing is all of the works in the show can be seen online.

Some of the artists featured are: Dan May; Jessica Joslin; Audrey Kawasaki; Brom; Bob Eggleton; Amy Botello; Molly Crabapple; David Chung; and many more.


"Creature" by Vincent DiFate

Unbound Saga Trailer

Unbound Saga at IGN.com

Our pal, Mike Kennedy, over at Vogster Entertainment has written a fun PSP game called Unbound Saga. Check out the trailer.

Audrey Tautou and Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Two of my favorite artists work together again in a Chanel No. 5 advert.

Conceptart.org Reverie in Dallas

Well, Dave Dorman and I made it thru a very bumpy flight to Dallas. We're in Texas for Conceptart.org's Reverie workshop, which is another like the Revelations Symposium in Seattle last January. Dave is an instructor at this one and I'm just here being an artist. I loved the last one and I see no reason that Dallas won't be better.

The whole thing kicks off tomorrow in typical Conceptart.org fashion with a huge party that starts at 9PM in conjunction with the AFI Festival going on here. Dave and I will probably hit the Dallas Art Museum tomorrow, since it is one block from our hotel. I'll be taking pics and vids and will do my best to keep everyone posted.

Vampire Wins Gold!

The Spectrum 16 winners were announced tonight. Spectrum is a prestigious annual dedicated to the "Fantastic Arts" and is one of the most coveted awards in illustration.


© 2008 Craig Elliott

Craig Elliott won the Gold Medal in Editorial for his Damali Richards painting in the concept art book, Exotic Contraband: L. A. Banks' Vampire Huntress Legend, published by The Devil's Candy Store.

Another Devil's Candy Store artist, Jon Foster, won the Gold Medal for Comic Books.

Congratulations to them both!

Big Man Japan

Holy S#!t! You have got to see this.

WETA Makes Mermaid Dream Come True

A double-amputee New Zealander approached WETA to help her realize her dream of becoming a mermaid. And WETA came through.

Final Day for Madame Isis Sword Contest

Tonight's the night! At the stroke of midnight, January 31, your the chance to be The Keeper of the Sword will be over.

You can own Damali Richard’s Madame Isis shero sword. The Devil’s Candy Store is holding an essay contest that will be judged by L. A. Banks. The winner will receive the Madame Isis sword created by Hollywood armourer, Tony Swatton (a $6,000 value).

Originally to be offered at auction, this gold-plated, gem-encrusted, one-of-a-kind vampire-killing sword will end up in the hands of the Vampire Huntress Legend most deserving fan. The winner will be presented with the Madame Isis sword on Saturday, February 14, 2009 during the Twelve Tribes Convergence Summit in Philadelphia, PA. (You don't have to present at the 12 Tribes Summit to win.)

Please read the contest rules! Unfortunately, this contest is only open to anyone 21 years of age and older. This is a real sword, forged on an anvil.

Conceptart.org and Massive Black Symposium

Hell, ya. Sweet news for all of you artists out there:

ConceptArt.Org International Art and Design Workshop: DALLAS TEXAS - March 28-31 2009

Stay tuned for registration details and other stuff coming out this week. The Symposium in Seattle last January was inspiring and mind-blowing. Check these videos of past events.

PLUS: The Massive Black Concept Art book is out.

This video of the Seattle Revelations Symposium from last January gives you an idea of what you are in for.

Ray Frenden Rocks

Ray Frenden worked on five of these puppies for Black Tide. Art direction and animation, Motherland. Characters, Ray. Kick ass.

Packer Schopf Gallery - Talluto and Simon

© Debra Simon "Roost"

Friday, January 9, 6-9PM
Packer Schopf Gallery
942 W. Lake Street
Chicago

Packer Schopf is having a gallery reception for Amy Talluto and Debra Simon. Both are fomr New York and do cool work. Simon actually creates life size Indian Bats which are about 2 feet in length. I want one.

Bookshelf Envy

If you are going to be me a present for my birthday, this will be the one you will buy.

Lynda Barry Seminar 2009

Writing the Unthinkable

I'm on a roll now. 2008 started with an inspirational, ass-kicking symposium with Massive Black's Revelation event in Seattle, Washington. This year's ass-kicker was Lynda Barry's Writing the Unthinkable two-day seminar at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Lynda was funny, informative, witty and a diligent taskmaster getting us all to write and write and write over two days. The goal was not to critique, but to write. Folks read their work (me too) without fear of attacks and the stuff was pretty magical for first draft, 8 minute, out-of-the-blue prose. It has given my vampire project a needed boost in the writing department. I have been writing dialog and scenes I like, but this has given me the insight (I think) to really get to the heart of the matter in these scenes. A great start to 2009 thanks to the Queen Bee, her badass self, Lynda Barry.


Me and Lynda Barry

Massive Black Concept Art book

Massive Black is releasing a 700-page concept art book to be published by Ballistic Publishing. There are various editions, so get yours now.

Massive Black Concept Art book

Massive Black is releasing a 700-page concept art book to be published by Ballistic Publishing. There are various editions, so get yours now.

L. A. Banks Madame Isis Sword Contest

Damali Richard's Madame Isis Vampire-Killing Sword

You can own Damali Richard’s Madame Isis shero sword. The Devil’s Candy Store is holding an essay contest that will be judged by L. A. Banks. The winner will receive the Madame Isis sword created by Hollywood armourer, Tony Swatton (a $6,000 value).

Originally to be offered at auction, this gold-plated, gem-encrusted, one-of-a-kind vampire-killing sword will end up in the hands of the Vampire Huntress Legend most deserving fan. The winner will be presented with the Madame Isis sword on Saturday, February 14, 2009 during the Twelve Tribes Convergence Summit in Philadelphia, PA.

Here is the contest:
1. Write a one page essay that answers these questions:
a. Which major themes in the Vampire Huntress Legend series resonated with you?
b. Why will you make the best "Keeper of the Sword"?
2. The font size must be no smaller than 12 point.
3. No more than 600 words.
4. Any entry not meeting the criteria will be disqualified.
5. Entries must be by e-mailed to charlie.athanas@thedevilscandystore.com by midnight, January 31, 2009.

Contest Small Print (Please read):
- Applicants must be age 21 or over, as this sword can be considered a weapon.
- All essays will be passed on to L. A. Banks without names attached to allow the best essay to win on it’s own merits.
- Armourer Tony Swatton, The Devil's Candy Store, L.A. Banks are not responsible in any way for any injury sustained in the future by the sword.
- Armourer Tony Swatton, The Devil's Candy Store, L.A. Banks are not responsible for any future repairs of the Madame Isis Sword and/or its case.
- The deadline for receipt of your essay is midnight on January 31, 2009.
- This contest is sponsored by The Devil's Candy Store and in accordance with the wishes of author and creator L.A. Banks.
- Only one entry per person is accepted. - The winner need not be present.
- The prize is as stated and there will be no exchanges of prizes given.
- The Devil's Candy Store, L.A. Banks, and the L.A. Banks Street Team all have the right to post the winning entry and winner's image on any promotional materials, printed material, YouTube, and on all L.A. Banks and The Devil’s Candy Store related forums, blogs and online social networks.
- The winner must sign an image release permitting use of their image on any promotional materials to qualify for receipt of the Madame Isis sword.


Madame Isis Vampire-Killing Sword (detail)

Tura Satana - Tattoo Factory Gallery

© 2008 Dave Dorman

This Thursday night, October 30th, the Tattoo Factory Gallery and Pabst Blue Ribbon present Tura! Tura! Tura! A group art show happening celebrating the stunning, sexy, kickasstastic Tura Satana! Superstar of Russ Meyer's "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

From 7-11PM at 4443 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Featuring artists like Shag, Niagara, Glenn Barr, Molly Grabapple, Lisa Petrucci, Mark Atomos Pilon, Lou Brooks, Dave Dorman, Alex Wald, Mitch O'Connell and many more. Live performances by burlesque showstoppers "The Flaming Dames", with D.J. Joe Black's Midnight Spook Show. Fire breathers! Searchlights! Valet parking!!

A portion of the proceedings benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Apna Ghar Domestic Violence Shelter.


© 2008 Alex Wald

Omnicircus Performance

In 1982, when I first arrived in Chicago, I answered a flyer in the Gingerman bar for a film looking for a synthesizer player. At the time I was sleeping on the floor of the Leo Lerner Theater box office, very broke, and often drunk. How could I say no? This was how I met the amazing Frank Garvey and his eternal film project - Omnicircus. In 1988, it turned into a live performance project. Think Survival Research Lab meets pre-war Munich and the birth of cabaret.

If you are in San Francisco, I urge you to check this event out. It is bound to entertain, mesmerize, and probably frighten and disturb you in ways you hadn't thought possible in our jaded universe today.



OmniCircus presents another fabulous EVENT-

A surreal anthem to the urban night
THOUSAND FACES BALL
DARK INDUSTRIAL CABARET!

Join Frank Garvey plus the MOTH NOR RUST Band for
2 BIG Saturday SHOWS!

November 1st & 8th @ 8pm

at OmniCircus

OPENING ACT: CUBAN CIGAR CRISIS

THOUSAND FACES BALL is a multimedia performance with
robots, music, projections, dance, performance and video...
Come experience our newest experimental surreal melo-drama
with the new OmniCircus band - MOTH NOR RUST

Featuring Underground Chanteuse and SUPERSTAR OmniDiva of
the Hell-blasted Streets -
JOAN LOON

The FIERY FURY of SPOKEN PREACHMENTS and Imprecations -
Reverand COSMO

The Honorable and Most Beneficial -
Colonel GEOFFREY POND
Of the Commandos of the LAST DAYS;

SARGENT-at-ARMS of the CHURCH of the 7th BARDO -
ARCHDUDE GARVEY

The Birdman of ABRACADABRA -
Dave GURSOM

The LADIES Auxiliary of the
JUNIOR DRAGONS of MYSTERY

And the Highly Sexually Sought-after CAN'T AFFORDIAN of the ACCORDIAN -
SPACE KAT THOMAS

As well as genius Multi-instrumentalist and Insta-mentalist -
COLFAX (aka Daniel BERKMAN)

and LINDEN the Lord of LOW-DOWN

And the Guru of Unholy Groundlings, the Terror and FIRST RESPONSE
PUNISHER of all Evolutionary LOTTERY LOSERS such as SMALL MAMMALS,
BIRDS, MICE and FLEAS...
SIR MONKEY!

PARTY AFTER THE SHOWS!!

$10 suggested donation
http://www.omnicircus.com
Please call 415-701-0686 for more information.

The OmniCircus is located at 550 Natoma Street,
between Mission and Howard and 6th and 7th Streets,
in San Francisco's South of Market (SoMa) district.
The door is on Russ Street.

Deathscribe October 6th

On October 6, 2008, WildClaw Theatre will premiere an annual event known as Deathscribe. It is a festival of juried entries for ten minute horror plays to be performed as radio plays with foley in a live theater setting. This year it will be at the Music Box theater.

Fangoria did a nice write-up about it.

The Devils at San Diego Comic-Con 08 This Week!

Come on by The Devil's Candy Store booth #1704 this week at the San Diego Comic-Con. We'll have L. A. Banks in our booth signing Vampire Huntress merchandise created by our own devils.


Dave Dorman's cover art. © 08 Dave Dorman.

Plus, you can pick up "Sex. Death. Art." t-shirts:



And Zippos™: