Erwin Olaf at Fotomuseum, Den Haag

by Suzanne on September 26th, 2008

The Classroom by Erwin Olaf, 2005 – click for details

Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf - previously featured here – seems to be getting a lot of attention both in the Olde and the New World right now – with shows in Belgium, Winston Salem (NC) and who knows where. I, for one, have completely lost track.

His next exhibition due to open, however, is Rain, Hope, Grief & Fall at Fotomuseum in Den Haag – featuring photographs from four of Olaf's most celebrated series – Rain, Hope (c.f. images above and below), Grief (c.f. previous post) & Fall – his most recent project. You can find all the relevant exhibition details below.

The Boxingschool by Erwin Olaf, 2005 – click for details

Opening: Tomorrow, Saturday, September 27, 2008, 8 PM

Artist's website

Ferdinand Schmutzer at Anzenberger Gallery, Vienna

by Suzanne on September 26th, 2008

Albert Einstein by Ferdinand Schmutzer, 1921 – click for details

Ferdinand Schmutzer was a famous Viennese etcher and engraver and a little known photographer who - during his lifetime from 1870 – 1928 - happened to portray some of the most illustrious personalities of the glorious past century. His photographic oeuvre, however, disappeared from public knowledge and was only rediscovered under a Viennese rooftop 7 years ago.

His work is now the focus of a publication and a greatly deserved exhibition titled Ferdinand Schmutzer – The Photographic Oevre 1894-1928 that opened at Anzenberger Gallery in Vienna the other day. You can find all necessary details below.

On a personal note, I selected the portraits of Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud for a reason: Ever since reading their lucid exchange of letters entitled Warum Krieg? (Why War?) seeing them and their great minds together has always made me feel strangely awestruck, inspired and endlessly grateful for the way they - and their fellow 20th century scientists – passed their immense knowledge on to us – the future generations that would eventually fuck everything up. o_O

Anyway, I can highly recommend the little book as some kind of anticlimactic reading material that will make you wonder where all the big thinkers and changers of the 21st century are hiding.

Sigmund Freud by Ferdinand Schmutzer, 1926 – click for details

On show: September 25, 2008 – January 31, 2009

Publication: Ferdinand Schmutzer by Regina Maria Anzenberger and Uwe Schögl (editors), 228 pages, 100 photographs, published by Moser Verlag, Munich 2008

Andrew Foster & Co. at Wal*Art, L.A.

by Suzanne on September 19th, 2008

Girl Talk by Andrew Foster, oil on canvas, 2007

Please forgive the frantic posting today, but since I work in a gallery, Thursdays & Fridays are pretty much my “weekend” before the art week starts again (and again… and again…) and the only days I actually have time to read emails, feeds and post to the blog these days (it has always made me slightly suspicious that so many blogging folks out there somehow “find” the time to post updates from work – it seems to me that I never have a single second to myself when I love my work and devote myself entirely to it, but I guess I’m just old-fashioned in this regard and that’s an entii-iiirely different story, innit?)

Anyway, now that the days are getting shorter and colder again, it can’t do any harm to remind ourselves of all that’s great about summer: Sock puppeteering under the late, golden afternoon sun with your best friend wearing your favourite underwear.

I think Andrew Foster - the artist of the above piece - has truly understood more about the essence and the meaning of life than anyone else. It all comes down to sock puppets. Yes.

You can see more of Andrew‘s oeuvre at Brad Benedict’s NowBrow group show – “a whole new collection of thrills, chills, wonders and curiosities”.

The extensive list of over 30 artists includes works by great talents such as Paul Chatem, Erik Sandberg, Chris Peters, Andrew Brandou & Gregg Gibbs.

The exhibition opens tomorrow at Wal*Art. That’s Wal*Art, not Wal*Mart. I know… confusing. One is for mass produced rubbish for a consumerist society and the other one is.. well.. a gallery, I guess.

All details below.

Opening reception: Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, 2008, 7 – 11 PM

Preview works

JennyBird & Craig LaRotonda at Black Maria: Final Days!

by Suzanne on September 19th, 2008

Sleepwalker by JennyBird Alcantara, oil on wood, 2008 – click on image for details

Eeeeep! I completely forgot to announce JennyBird & Craig LaRotonda‘s (previously featured here) double exhibition Creeps and Dreamers which is currently on show at Black Maria Gallery in L.A.

Turns out that tomorrow is already the closing date, so you’ll have to hurry if you still want to see the oeuvre of these two visionary artists.

Details below.

The Wormlings by Craig LaRotonda , mixed media on wood – click on image for details

Closing: Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, 2008, 6 PM

Artists’ websites: JennyBird Alcantara | Craig LaRotonda

James Jean Book Signing Tomorrow Night!

by Suzanne on September 19th, 2008

From the AIDES poster series by James Jean – click on image for details

Übertalented WurzelFavourite® James Jean (previously featured here & here) will be signing copies of his spanking new XOXO postcard books at Nucleus Gallery in Alhambra tomorrow night.

Don’t miss this if you’re in the area – it’s a one-night-only event and free refreshments will be provided. Wooooohooooo!

XOXO book cover by James Jean, 30 postcards, published by Chronicle Books, 2008 – click on image for details

Signing: Tomorrow, Saturday, September 20, 2008, 8 – 10 PM

Artist’s website & blog

Madeline von Foerster at Strychnin Berlin – Preview

by Suzanne on September 19th, 2008

Invasive Species I by Madeline von Foerster, oil and egg tempera on panel, 2008 – click on image for details

I normally don’t post exhibition announcements so early in advance, but when it comes to beloved Madeline von Foerster‘s work, I feel like I have to make an exception.

Yesterday evening, she announced a sneak preview of her upcoming Waldkammer (Forest Cabinet) show.

The show won’t be on until early November, but for those unfortunate souls like me who won’t be able to make it to Strychnin Berlin, the precious trompe-l’oeil gems that are now online will definitely offer some visual enjoyment. Please email Madeline if you’re interested in seeing a preview of some selected works that will be on show.

I always found it fascinating how Madeline ever so often (subconsciously?) embeds her surname (meaning “forester” in German – both words deriving from medieval Latin forestem silvam meaning “the outside woods”) thematically and theatrically in her oeuvre and I believe that Waldkammer is the most stunning example of this phenomenon yet.

But let’s hear the artist herself:

“[...] In this series, I have created nine imaginary cabinets, in which to explore humanity’s often destructive relationship with nature (and in particular, the crisis of deforestation). These wooden cabinets intentionally allude to the once-living trees that were their source. Some are carved into the shape of women, personifying trees, whose bodies have become cabinets. Meanwhile, the “curiosities” displayed are actual species, dependant on the trees for survival. [...]“

Redwood Cabinet by Madeline von Foerster, oil and egg tempera on panel, 2008 – click on image for details

Opening reception: Friday, November 7, 2008

Artist’s website

Taste of Bitter Love

by Suzanne on September 17th, 2008

Taste of Bitter Love café in Shoreditch (photo via Tom Marzipan)

By far the best vegan coffees in London and the loveliest lady serving you.

Go visit, order a soy cappuccino and say the girl from Nelly Duff sent you.

276 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London.

You won’t regret it.

Bye.

Sean Cheetham & Co. at Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra

by Suzanne on September 13th, 2008

Chantal by Sean Cheetham – click for details

Another, deeply intriguing group exhibition is opening its doors tonight: Figures & Grounds will go on show at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra – featuring the works of nine figurative artists including Sean Cheetham (c.f. above), Edwin Ushiro, Christian Rex Van Minnen, Mari Inukai & John Watkiss.

Further details below.

Opening reception: Tonight, Saturday, September 13, 2008, 7 – 11 PM

Sneak preview | Press release

“The Needle, The Paintbrush & The Knife” at the Proposition, New York

by Suzanne on September 13th, 2008

© Balint Tzsako – click for details

Back in May, Pam introduced me to the comprehensive works of Balint Tzsako – Mad King of Collaged Draperies.

While I could never quite warm up to his drawings and sculptural works, I immediately fell in love with his subtle collages which reminded me of the humorous works of Ruth Claxton and the enigmatic hidden portraits of Eva Eun-Sil Han – two female artists I deeply admire.

Opening tonight, The Needle, The Paintbrush and The Knife will feature textile and painted works created by Balint’s mother (Anna Torma) & his father (Istvan Zsako) alongside his own collages. I wish curators would pick up the idea of family exhibitions more often.

© Balint Tzsako – click for details

Opening reception: Tonight, Saturday, September 13, 2008

Artists’ websites: Balint Tzsako | Anna Torma

Sandrine Pelletier at Fette’s Gallery, Culver City

by Suzanne on September 12th, 2008

© Sandrine Pelletier – click for details

I’m the last person to ever get patriotic about anything (okay… maybe neat machines like the LHC and good old Helvetians like Hans-Ruedi Giger or Albert Hofmann do make me a tiny bit proud sometimes.. ), but when I found out the other day that long-admired multitalented young embroidery/lace/taxidermy/sculpture/photography/collage artist Sandrine Pelletier is actually Swiss, I felt a sudden warm pride grow in my tummy. Or maybe that was the little bug family I swallowed by mistake. I will probably never find out.

Aaaanyway, not that you readers really care about Sandrine‘s origin, I do, because Switzerland has in many ways been leading in the innovation and production of beautiful lace & embroidery – particularly the city of St. Gallen in the eastern corner of Helvetia which has been one of the main centers of the European textile industry ever since the 15th century. By 1714, the St. Gauls produced 38,000 pieces of cloth yearly and later developed some of the world’s first embroidery machines. Yup.

However, Sandrine herself is not actually from the Swiss East, but the West Coast and studied art at the prestigious École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ÉCAL).

So if you’re in Culver City these days, make sure to pop by Fette‘s to immerse yourself in Sandrine‘s embroidered dreamscapes.

Insekts opens tonight and will remain on view through October 18.

Opening reception: Tonight, Friday, September 12, 2008, 6 – 9 PM

Artist’s website