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

WIP Interview and More...

While attending Conceptart.org's Reverie workshop in Dallas with Dave Dorman, I participated in a WIP podcast by Peter Mohrbacher and Jeff Himmelman (also, with WIP is Anna Mohrbacher.) You can listen to the WIP interview and read more about WIP at John Schindehette's Art Order blog. As an added bonus, there is a link to Devil's Candy Store artist, George Pratt, and work process.

ArtOrder: George Pratt, Renato Faccini, WIP Podcast, and a question

Reverie '09 - Monday, March 30

Greg Manchess


Bobby Chiu shows Dave Dorman the digital ropes


Bobby Chiu teaches class


Dave Dorman paints acrylics over oil (You can't do that)


Dave Dorman paints digitally for the first time!

Reverie '09 - Sunday, March 29

Waiting for Reverie to officially start


Jason Manley of Massive Black gets the ball rolling


Andrew Jones paints from life


Shawn Barber, Carl Dobsky, and Dave Dorman paint with oil


Dave Dorman lays down the background in oil. Tomorrow he will finish with acrylics. And, yes, that defies the laws of physics.


Carl Dobsky


Kim Saigh (tattoo artist from L.A. Ink) and Shawn Barber

Reverie 09 Kick-off Party Video

Just a quick peek at the dj dance floor, model setups and the crowd.

Reverie Workshop - Part 2

More scenes from the kick-off party at FIG.

Reverie '09 - Sunday, March 29

A few quick scenes from the kick-off party for Conceptart.org's Reverie Workshop in Dallas, Texas.

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.

The Keene Act and You

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.

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.

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

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)

Bettie Page Is Gone At 85

Bettie Page held a special place in my life, as I am sure she did for most of my friends. She was beautiful, cool, a Muse that inspired, a Pin-Up Queen from an other-worldly place and time.


Detail from a multimedia Bettie Page piece for World Tattoo Gallery

The first piece of gallery art I ever sold was a Bettie Page piece. It was at Tony Fitzpatrick's World Tattoo Gallery on the southside of Chicago in 1993. The show was called "The B-Girl Show" and images of Bettie were everywhere. Mine was the first piece in the show to sell. I had priced it at $1,000.00, because I actually didn't want to sell it and in the days before digital cameras, I hadn't taken the time to document it. It is only a good memory now.

I remember being in Barcelona in 1990 and marveling at my good fortune in finding some photo collections of Bettie I hadn't found anywhere else. Collecting Bettie Page photos pre-internet was akin to hunting down rare overseas 45's of an obscure STIFF Records artist. A peek into another world that certainly wasn't outside my front door and a knowing look into a timeless era that you knew would be remembered forever. You just knew that if your drawings had that energy and verve that projected from Bettie's photos you were onto something.

We'll miss you, Bettie Page. Rest in peace.

Battlestar Galactica Auction

Frak Me! They are auctioning off EVERYTHING from BSG. Production art. Models. Props. Costumes. Set pieces! The Resurrection Tub, fer Frak's sake.


One the many dresses worn by Six (Tricia Helfer)


Tricia Helfer in said dress


The Cylon Resurrection Tub!

Our Thoughts Go Out to Bettie Page

Bettie Page

Our thoughts go out to Bettie Page who suffered from a heart attack Tuesday. She is listed in critical condition in a coma.

Survival Research Lab Turns 30

If you don't know about Mark Pauline and SRL, you should.


Image by Garth Webb

In 1990, at Art Futura in Barcelona, I got to attend the conference by being an "aide to SRL". While I did very little to help them, it was fascinating watching them up close as they prepared for a performance. It was at this conference that I formally met William Gibson, among others. It has been a touchstone in my life, as well as for many other artists in the tech field. It is amazing how many times over the last two decades that I have met some astounding pioneering artists who attended that particular Art Futura.

One of the most telling moments was when a lot of us were drinking at the Universal Bar and watching art videos on the TVs around the bar. At some point the screens started showing bomb POV shots as they fell to their targets. Lots of things started blowing up. We thought it must be an SRL performance video. Turns out it was CNN's coverage of the start of the first Gulf War as Bush Senior bombed Baghdad. Very surreal discussing how smart bombs must work with Bill Gibson while surrounded by the exotically beautiful Amazonian barmaids dancing to pulsing Euro-dance music.

VOTE

Go vote. Americans have fought and died for your right to vote. Go vote.

Clive Barker at Packer Schopf Gallery

This past weekend, after the Music Box Massacre 4 event, Clive Barker had a showing of his artwork at the Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago, which included new pieces based on Midnight Meat Train. It was well attended and the new pieces are spectacular.

Photos from the Packer Schopf show.


Clive Barker and Charlie Athanas
© 2008 Anthony Kosar

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