Recent trip to L.A. & the LBC

I just spent the weekend cruising around southern California for a little bit of work and a little bit of fun. Of course whatever the reason I do anything I am always on the look for visual stimulation and creative outlet. While driving Melrose Ave to pick up part of my Halloween costume I noticed the huge amount of graffiti, some by amateurs, some by the pros. I snapped a couple pics of artists you should have seen somewhere by now.

Seeing BANKSY is the reason I decided to whip out the camera.

“I’m out of bed and dressed, what more do you want?”

EINE was all over. I don’t know how he does it.

He was usually painting the first letter of the shop’s name.

And of course Shepard Fairey was around, but I didn’t feel like stopping.
You can probably just but this on a shirt at Zumies.

I don’t know much about graffiti but these were the artists I immediately noticed. There is a lot of good stuff out there, but I was trying to stay on schedule and couldn’t stop for all of it.

The night before I was kickin’ it with my old roommate and we carved out a jack-o-lantern in honor of Where the Wild Things Are.

 

Forest Stearns gettin’ a nod

Hometown Hero, Forest Stearns, and his hommie, Arian Stevens, got up in Juxtapoz’s Calendar for their upcoming show in Oregon. It is only a matter of time before they are featured on the cover! You can read the show description here. Their upcoming show will be at the new Portland-area gallery known as the Someone Gallery. I looks like a cool place to chill if you find yourself in Oregon. I know I will be hitting it up the next chance I get.

Someone Gallery

Someone Gallery is brand new to the down town Portland area. Located right next door to PSU at 2718 SW Kelly, Someone Gallery is part of a much bigger multi-faceted project. The layout of our building has a wide variety of hardwood flooring everywhere you look making our presentation space immaculate. The Gallery is also part of the Someone Clothing shop, where artist Someone offers tons of art-driven clothing and one-of-a-kind products plus he continues the art shows with his own art, which will be on permanent display. We keep two artists up for two months at a time, and there is a room downstairs that we have dedicated solely to art installations. Though the shows run for two months, the installation room will be painted every month at the Last Friday party we throw. Along with our monthly parties, we also have in-store performances and events frequently, so keep posted to www.someoneclothing.com and come visit us soon!

 

Of Dinosaurs, Comic Book & Super-Heroes

Below is an article/interview written about me by local artist Patti Cherry for the Sierra Lodestar, a weekly supplement for the tri-county area. She explains how we met and all so read on!

(Photo taken by Justin Calbert)

Zac Calbert:  Of Dinosaurs, Comic Book & Super-Heroes

I first met Zac Calbert at a planning meeting for Sonora Art Trails.  Quite honestly he seemed out of place.  He was and is an extremely polite young man in a meeting full of outspoken artists who are loquacious to say the least.  We were discussing next years open studio tour.  If you’ve ever attended a meeting with artists you would know that it is a bit like herding cats.  There sat this polite young man, quiet and waiting his turn, that in itself was an anomaly.  Since at this meeting I was head cat herder, I finally got to ask him was he interested in taking part of next years open studio tour.

“I’d like to but I don’t have a studio,” he replied.

“Some of our artists are happy to share their studio, would you like to share studio space with one of us for that week-end?” I asked.

“No, I don’t have a large enough body of work”.

“Well, Zac what can we do for you?”

“You (meaning all of us) can give me a reason to stay in Sonora. I don’t know where all the young people have gone, where they hang out, where they work.”

I tell this story by way of introducing Zac because he articulated an issue that many of us have experienced – young people trying to find their way in the Gold Country.  We need our young people; obviously they are our future.  Two years have gone by and now Zac is moving into a family member’s home and turning the garage into a studio.  He has developed a few graphic design clients.  He is doing his art and slowly carving out a niche for himself.  Check out his blog at utltrn.wordpress.com.  He and others like him deserve our support.

Zac was born and raised in Sonora, graduating from Sonora High School in 2002.  He returned two years ago and was and is on of the key people who brought about “The Returning Artist Show”.  Last years show was successful so they decided to have it again.  You can see it until October 18, at Stage 3 in downtown Sonora.  Thankfully Stage 3 sees the importance of helping out young artists.  He is thankful to them and to others like BZ Smith who have been so helpful to young artists in our community.

Zac’s art is refreshing, full of humor and mythical creatures.  He creates linocuts and woodcuts.  He is interested in illustration and comic books among many other mediums.

“I do Graphic Design, to earn a living and I like it.  It is the field I got my education in.  I do posters, t-shirts and screen-printing.  One of my clients is a swim wear company and I design all of their marketing collateral.  But when you work at the computer all day, it feels good to change up and create linocuts and woodcuts, and printmaking because of the process.  I get to move around, work with my hands, learn new techniques, and take all the sequential steps.”

“I like to use found objects.  For instance my dad and brother refinish furniture and they were discarding an old chair that was too far gone.  I liked the back so I reclaimed it disassembled it and carved out a ‘Happy Cyclops‘, on it.  I like crypto zoology”.

Admitting that I didn’t know what crypto zoology meant, (although it is fun to say). He explained, “Basically it’s the study of mythological creatures, like the Loch Ness Monster and Big Foot.   A lot of my work revolves around those themes.  I’ve been criticized for having an immature outlook, because I still love dinosaurs, comic book stores, and super-heroes.  A lot of my work revolves around those themes.”

Being an old artist I couldn’t help advise him to follow his heart that George Lucas also liked mythology and probably still has a so called immature outlook.  George studied with Joseph Campbell to learn all about the hero myth.  We agreed George didn’t do so badly, and that he is looking forward to checking out some of the many books Mr. Campbell left us.

He explained the process of linocut to me.

“I conceive of the design and try to draw out the block first, either linoleum or wood.  You have to carve out what you are not drawing; you have to carve out the negative.   Its easy to make a mistake.  The end result is like a giant rubber stamp.   When I’m ready to print I soak a piece of heavy linen paper, blot and then dry it.  I put that over the inked up block.  The hardest part is if you have a bunch of text, the words have to be backwards and its easy to mess up.”

“I’m really grateful for all of the resources this community has created.  I’m now connected with a couple of other groups of young artists; we are soaking up as much of that as we can. We would like to create and then share with the next generation.”

For me it is inspirational to get to know younger artists like Zac, learn about his artistic aspirations and especially to learn about how our community has reached out to him.  I hope he now has a reason to stay.

But, now I am off to the Marin Coast to paint at Tamales Bay with a group of Plein Aire Painters.  It’s tough duty I know but someone’s got to do it.

Where artists live and work, communities thrive.

P

 

Art Community to Honor Celebrated Local Artist Evelyn Sullivan

Art Community to Honor Celebrated Local Artist Evelyn Sullivan with Tribute Art Show of her work at JG Design Studio in Sonora

Friends of celebrated Jamestown artist, the late Evelyn Sullivan, will be holding an exhibition and sale of her work at JG Design Studio on October 10^th -11^th 2009. The show will celebrate the artist’s creative energy and the many styles and media that she worked with. From ceramics, painting, computer generated images and, of course, her wonderful found-object creations, she worked with it all. Evelyn Sullivan was a victim of cancer and passed away in January of this year.

Sullivan described her relationship with her art:

“My creative mind seems to work in bits and pieces, every object I see I visualize a work of art. I’m a free spirit experimenting with different materials, found objects, not limiting myself to one medium. My works vary from realism, to abstract, to the very humorous. I find the challenge in creating a work of art most gratifying, and most humbling. For the past two years my digital camera and computer have been a new learning experience. These pieces evolved from this process which I find very exciting.”

The show will be open from noon to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, October 10 th and 11^th 2009. Works will be displayed indoor and on the street-side entry to the studio.  The pieces will include new watercolor, sculptures and stacked ceramics not previously displayed, along with digital images that Sullivan was working on for the past two years.

The exhibition is sponsored by Judy Grossman’s Studio, JG Designs  and by Don Hukari, who collaborated with Sullivan on the popular Christmas shows at the Bradford Building during the 1990’s until 2005. Bill Sullivan, Evelyn’s husband and now curator of Evelyn’s work, is helping to select pieces for the exhibition. Evelyn Sullivan’s many friends in the art community are joining in providing refreshments for a fun celebration. The public is encouraged to attend and view the artwork of Evelyn Sullivan!

JG Design Studio is located at 226 West Jackson at Seco Streets, Downtown Sonora.

 

Returning Show 2

{ Poster designed by me }

The second installment of the Returning Show kicks of this weekend at the Stage 3 Theatre in downtown Sonora. The show features artworks by several young artists who were raised in Tuolumne County. The reception will take place from 5-7pm this Saturday the 19th. There will be snacks and booze as well as art you won’t see anywhere else in the county. This isn’t the usual water color of flowers, photograph of the Red Church or oil painting of an old barn. This is art with a bit more of an edge. A happy cyclops, a dia de los muertos party, and Jesus with a .45 are just some of the subjects you will see here. So come on by and get yo art on before you drink the weekend into oblivion.

 

Blasphem Us At Show in L!A!

In case you haven’t heard yet I have been invited to ba a part of “Blasphem Us” an art show down in Los Angeles. It is to be held at the Art & Mayhem Gallery, which is apparently a tattoo parlor as well. So come on down for the reception on Saturday the 29th of August have some beers and say, “Hi!”

Here is a new painting that I will have there:

Jesus Raptor: Internet Phenomenon or Our Saviour?

Start Time:	Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Friday, September 11, 2009 at 11:00pm
Location:	Art and Mayhem Gallery
Street:	3416 Glendale Blvd.
City/Town:	Los Angeles, CA

 

Kountry Kittens vs. UTL

Here is an illustration I created for the Kountry Kittens Burlesque troop. Eventually I will print shirts featuring this image for them as well.

And here is a photo of the lovely ladies, look for them to preforming in a town near you.

 

Make Out Session Success

Well the printmaking tutorial, which I call Monoleum (mono print + linoleum) Printing, with the craft group known as the Make Out Session was a success. Here are some of the prints that resulted from the group. We used water based inks on a variety of materials. Take a look.

Derrick & My Prints:

Derrick zombie-fisted the hell out of some old Reader’s Digest illustrations,
experimenting with acrylic paint. I printed with arrows and cogs.

Jen’s (group founder) Prints:

Jen experimented with her vast collection of craft materials to get some amazing results.

Megan’s Prints:

The Arrows & Bones art collective was the central theme in Megan’s prints (not shown).

 

The Return of the Returning Show!

Good news everybody! I have recently been called upon by the Central Sierra Arts Council to resurrect the exhibit of young local artists, known as the Returning Show! The collection will be hung at the newly remodeled Stage 3 Theatre in downtown Sonora, CA. Many of the artist from the previous show will be displaying new works along with some new talent not yet seen in by the art community. The show is slated to run from September 18th–October 18th so don’t miss it. The reception will most likely be on Friday, Sept 18th with more art and an after party at the Frog & Fiddle (located right across the street). Negotiations with Fantasy Metal Island are in the works for the musical entertainment. I will post any new information for this event as I get it.

Here is a glimpse at some pieces I am working on that will make their appearance at the show:

{more linoleum icons for monoprints}

{Tucker v UTL : mixed media : collaborative piece in progress}

{I… I think I just saw something in the bushes…}

 

Artist Survey #15: Travis Logan

I met Travis some time after his brother Derrick and I became good friends which would have been sometime late in my elementary school career. He is older than us and was keen to a whole world of things we had yet to discover. He has greatly influenced Derrick’s life and as result mine too. I was introduced to heavy metal, psychotic cartoons and violent comics because of the Logan boys and I haven’t been the same since. Look for some of his work to return to Tuolumne County in the near future.

{Digital Collage : Self Portrait}

{Ceramic : Constructing Deconstruction}

{Mixed : Gambling with Everything}

{Digital Art : Tibet Sweat}

{New triptych in progress : Acrylic on Canvas}

Name: Travis Logan

Location: Las Vegas, NV.

Medium(s): Oil, water, and acrylic Paint; Ceramic, plaster, steel and fiberglass sculptures; Graphite, charcoal, and ink drawing; Photography, digital and S.L.R, digital image creation, film-making and cartooning.

What do you consider yourself (artist/designer/other)? I am an artist but I still have trouble labeling myself as one. I know I’m an artist but feel that there are negative connotations as well as certain stigmas connected to being an artist.

Where can we see your work (place/publications/url)? Travislogan.net when my web page is up. Right now I’m working on updating it and have taken it down.

When did you start gaining interest in artistic forms of expression? When I was very young, maybe 4 years old.

Who/What inspired your interest? On the surface, I originally wanted to draw and make things that I thought looked cool and that others might like as well. I can’t name one individual inspiration because the list would probably be several pages long. Deep down I’ve always had the desire to create and turn ordinary items into art. Whether that is a painting with hidden images and meaning or sculpting something unnatural but visually intriguing.

Where do you first remember being exposed to art? I would say preschool. The first project I remember was tracing my hand on a plate that would be made into a dish. Of course this was something Cavemen did well before I had this idea but none the less, that got the gears turning and they haven’t stopped since.

What is your day job? Artist

Why do you create? I just have to! No matter where I am, good or bad, if I can at least draw it has a calming effect on me and gets me into a peaceful state of mind.

Is there any recurring theme in your work? I like to create images inside of larger images or objects. The idea is: nothing is what it seams! The material I use and the imagery may be different and constantly changing style but there is always a “surrealistic” dreamlike theme to my work.

What do you want from your work? A feeling of completion, satisfaction, accomplishment and pride is probably what I look for most with a finished peace.

What do you want viewers to take from your work? I would like viewers to be entertained. I want the viewer to get caught up in the image or object and truly take some time looking at it and possibly become transfixed; not just glance and say, “oh that’s nice, this would go well in the bathroom next to the shells and candles.”

How often do you work on personal projects? Everything I do is personal, some pieces are more heart felt than others but they are always personally meaningful; However I work on art projects not related to galleries or work daily. Unfortunately I have to many ideas and not enough time.

How often do you work on commissions or commercial work? In the past I have not worked on anything besides the ideas that came to mind with the exception of school projects. Recently, I have been working on paintings and some clothing designs for a couple of individuals who have commissioned me for my services. I would say fifty percent of my time is spent on projects for others.

Does your art support you financially? For the most part no, I could survive on what I make but I would have to sleep in my car and eat bugs for lunch (haha).

Do you feel preoccupied with your art, do you think about it often during the day and night and do you anticipate your next session? Yes but not in a negative way. Art is just part of life. I analyze the shapes, colors, images, and composition of every thing around me. I often wake up in the middle of the night or can’t sleep because I have to get ideas out or create something. I often feel like I have too many projects going at once and more ideas surfacing all the time. Life is too short for everything I want to create!

What do you do in your spare time besides your art? I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking and rock climbing. I used to love to go to the movies and still do occasionally; however I can’t stop my self from criticizing and picking apart all the flaws in the plot, editing, and cinematography. Blockbuster films have far too large of  budgets to be pumping out such crap, but I digress.

Which musicians are you currently interested in? NIN, Pearl Jam, Black Crows, Mudvayne, Beastie Boys, Tool, Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Frank Sinatra, Digital Underground, E-40 and Credence Clearwater. I am really interested in the Beastie Boys most of all.

Are there any events you are looking forward to attending? I don’t have anything planned but I would like to go see Dov Davidoff, the comedian, soon.

How long do you generally take on a piece? It can take me any where from a few weeks to a few years to complete a piece. If I really don’t like the way something is coming out I will put it up for a while and wait for inspiration. If it ends up I’m not feeling right about it after a while it becomes recycled in to another project.

Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of your art? Yes, I guess you could say that I didn’t see eye to eye with the last company I worked for. I was framing and matting art at the time. In short, they wanted to make a profit any way they could and I didn’t think the corners being cut (No pun intended) were ethical.

Do you work on multiple projects at once? Yes, I have to work on a few at a time. I bounce around from piece to piece, partly to keep myself thinking but mostly because I have a short attention span.