Antiquated Alchemical Machinations

Collaboration with Sean Desmond at 323 East Gallery

2012-01-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

While in Detroit I also had a chance to work on a wall piece with SF based photographer Sean Desmond. Sean first wheat pasted a large photo from his series The Tenderloin Project, then I proceeded to improvise some patterns and blends.

Woodward Windows Detroit: Process

2012-01-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

I spent last week in Detroit working on a few new projects, mainly my addition to the Woodward Windows project put on by Street Culture Mash in conjunction with 323 East Gallery. The finished panels will be installed into a storefront window along Woodward Avenue in Downtown Detroit.

Detroit Masonic Temple

2012-01-14T23:33:00.000-08:00

Today I met with a Thirty Third degree Master Mason who took me on a detailed tour of the Detroit Masonic Temple, the largest in the world.

The main lobby entrance.

To enter the building you must pass through truth (veritas) and strength (virtus)

This giant seal is on the floor of the entrance designed by Corrado Parducci.

Theatre Bizarre in Detroit

2012-01-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

My first day back in Detroit I decided to check out this strange and unique part of the city's recent art movement.
"Since the turn of the century, Theatre Bizarre has layered darkness on top of darkness. In the shadow of the now dormant Michigan State Fairgrounds it stands in a largely abandoned neighborhood – surrounded by dozens of homes left vacant and decaying on the northernmost edge of Detroit. Built by an army of volunteers and emerging for only one incomparable masquerade each year, Theatre Bizarre has become the city’s most famous and infamous underground party
Shut down by the city of Detroit in 2010, Theatre Bizarre lives on."
From the Theatre Bizarre website. More info and photos available here.

Abandoned Oil Refinery

2012-01-08T09:11:00.000-08:00

While back in Southern California I took an afternoon trip to check out an old oil refining facility with a couple of friends. What I thought would be just a few rusted out drums turned out to be an incredible labyrinth of pipes, dozens of forty-foot tall tanks, and smokestacks over several acres.

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox

Miami Art Basel ReCap Video

2011-12-18T16:14:00.000-08:00

Take a look at some of the highlights from Miami Art Basel as well as some clips of my live painting at the Basel Castle.

Basel Castle 2011 ReCap from TOTT Global on Vimeo.

Live painting at Basel Castle Miami 2011

2011-12-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

I was asked by the guys over at TOTT Global to paint live at the Basel Castle this year, one of the best parties during Art Basel Miami. Here are a few process shots taken throughout the night.

Mural collaboration with EN MASSE

2011-12-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

I recently worked with the Montreal based art collective EN MASSE on this collaborative mural located on NW 24th St. in the Wynwood district of Miami.

More info and process photos available here:
http://www.safewalls.org/news/safewalls-x-en-masse-x-primary-flight/

Basel Castle Miami

2011-11-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

I just finished this painting for the gallery exhibit at this year's Basel Castle in Miami curated by TOTT Global.

Backfire
oil on wood
12 x 24 inches

High-Fructose Coverage

2011-11-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

High-Fructose Magazine featured some work and opening photos from the 13th Hour Show at Last Rites. Take a look here:
http://hifructose.com/the-blog/1878-the-thirteenth-hour.html
and here:
http://hifructose.com/the-blog/1890-13th-hour-at-last-rites-gallery.html

Israeli Doorways

2011-10-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Whenever I travel I'm always on the lookout for beautiful and interesting patterns and ornamentation to use in my paintings. Israel did not disappoint. Some of the most amazing examples were the doorways in Jerusalem and Jaffa. I'm really looking foward to incorporating some of this into my next body of work.

13th Hour at Last Rites

2011-10-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

I just finished this painting for the 13th Hour group show at Last Rites Gallery in NYC. Come to the opening next Friday the 28th from 7 to 11pm.

Erythraean Sibyl
32 x 44 inches
oil on canvas

NEW YORK, NY (October 28th, 2011) — Last Rites Gallery opens it’s fourth annual The 13th Hour group exhibit, celebrating the spirit of the Halloween season. In it’s annual exhibit, Last Rites sets out to present a broad-spectrum representation of Dark Surrealism. Held during Halloween weekend, the show is the gallery’s largest group exhibit, and features renowned artists from around the globe- working in an array of mediums including painting, photography, and sculpture. From gothic elegance to finely crafted grotesquery, the beauty within the darkness is embraced and brought into the spotlight.
Artists Include: Shawn Barber, Nick Baxter, Matthew Bone, Paul Booth, Colin Christian, Sas Christian, Jason D’aquino, Pedro De Kastro, Tom Gabriel Fischer, HR Giger, Fred Harper, Naoto Hattori, Michael Hussar, Joka, Sarah Joncas, Aunia Kahn, Eli Livingston, Michael Mararian, Chris Mars, Annie Owens, Chris Peters, Anthony Pontius, Dan Quintana, Matt Rota, Paul Rumsey, Beau Stanton, David Stoupakis, Jasmine Worth, and more.

Wes Anderson Tribute Show at Spoke Art

2011-10-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

My Crayon Ponyfish for Spoke Art's 2nd Annual Bad Dads: A Tribute to the films of Wes Anderson.

Crayon Ponyfish
8 x 12 inches
oil on wood

Spoke Art is proud to present the second annual Bad Dads art show tribute to the films of Wes Anderson. The exhibit opens on Halloween Eve at our San Francisco gallery space and will feature some of the best contemporary artists reinterpreting their favorite characters, scenes and films.

The opening will take place on Sunday, October 30th from 6PM to 11PM and will be free and open to the public.
Spoke Art
816 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
http://spoke-art.com/

Sanguine Machine Opening Night

2011-09-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

More pictures can be found here.

Sanguine Machine Solo Exhibition

2011-09-03T16:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the opening of my first solo exhibition at Gallery Hijinks in San Francisco. More info below.

September 3rd to September 24th, 2011
Opening: September 3rd 2011, 6-10pm

Gallery Hijinks is proud to present Sanguine Machine: Antediluvian Artifacts from Futures Past, a solo exhibition by Beau Stanton. This collection of oil paintings is heavily influenced by the relationship between destruction and creation, the end of a cycle, and the beauty that can be found in its degradation. Please join us for the opening reception on September 3rd, 2011 from 6-10pm.

A member of the third generation of Pop Surrealism, Stanton hails from California and is influenced heavily by Realist painters Andrew Wyeth and Alphonse Mucha as well as the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th Century. He relocated to New York after graduation in 2008, and has since been mentored by New York Pop Surrealist Ron English. He has also curated pop-up exhibitions in both New York and Los Angeles and has shown work with Ad Hoc Art, Opera New York, and Last Rites Galleries.

Excerpt of SF Weekly's 'Surrealist Art: New Work from Beau Stanton' written by Ruby Perez: "When it comes to surrealism, we can't help but moon over artists who produce such detailed and complex pieces... It's astounding what the human mind is capable of transferring onto a canvas, just take Beau Stanton's 19th century letterpress-inspired paintings." Read full article here.
For more information on the exhibition or Beau Stanton please visit galleryhijinks.com or email us at info@galleryhijinks.com.

South Park at Comic Con San Diego

2011-08-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

The South Park exhibit at Comic Con was insane.

In front of my Ascension of the Kenny.

Glenview Mansion Visit

2011-06-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

Overlooking the Hudson River and Glenwood Power Station, Glenview Mansion is an incredible example of Aesthetic Movement design and Architecture. Begun in 1876 and completed 1877, the house has been mostly restored to reflect the period lifestyle of the John Bond Trevor family who lived at Glenview until around mid century.

Even the floor tiles where meticulously designed.

Rotating bookshelf. Probably my favorite find at the mansion.

Stained glass skylight above the staircase.

Solo show preview

2011-06-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

New painting titled Deus Ex Machina for my upcoming solo show at Gallery Hijinks in San Francisco this September.

Bannerman's Island

2011-06-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

I just took a visit to Bannerman's Castle; an odd structure on an island with a rich history located in the Hudson River about 90 minutes north of New York City.

Since the time of the revolution there have been only five owners of Pollepel Island, now known more familiarly as Bannerman's Island.

In November 1900, gilded age businessman and arms dealer, Francis Bannerman VI purchased the island for use as a storage facility for his growing surplus business. His dangerous munitions stockpiles, stored in New York City warehouses, were no longer welcome in the densely populated area forcing his move to a more remote location.

This location proved dangerous as well after at least two explosions occurred on the island throughout its use. On August 1920, 200 tons of shells and powder exploded in an ancillary structure, destroying a portion of the complex and blowing out building windows across the river in the city of Newburg.

Most of the building were devoted to the stores of army surplus but Bannerman built another castle in a smaller scale on top of the island near the main structure as a residence.

One of the only remaining turrets of the false harbor that once surrounded the island.

Bannerman's sales of military weapons to civilians declined during the early 20th century as a result of state and federal legislation. By 1950 the arsenal and island were essentially left vacant. The island and buildings were bought by New York State in 1967, after the old military merchandise had been removed, and tours of the island were given in 1968.

On August 8, 1969, fire devastated the Arsenal, and the roofs and floors were destroyed.The island was placed off-limits to the public. During the week before Sunday, December 28, 2009, parts of the castle collapsed. Officials estimate 30-40 percent of the structure's front wall and about half of the east wall collapsed. The castle now stands as a ruin with only about half of the structure to remind us of its once glorious presence on the Island.

Today, the castle is property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is mostly in ruins.

Welling Court Mural Project

2011-06-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

I just finished my addition to the Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria, Queens put together by Ad Hoc Art. Here are some images of the process:

AD HOC ART CONTINUES MAJOR PUBLIC MURAL PROJECT COMPRISING 44+ INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS REPRESENTING OVER 50 YEARS OF STREET ART

-- An Art Event Celebrating the Streets, Solidarity, Community, and Culture --

WHAT: The community of Welling Court in Queens, New York first asked Ad Hoc Art to help them spruce up their neighborhood in 2009. Ad Hoc Art was honored to do so and rose to the occasion in May 2010 organizing a project fitting for the diverse, enthusiastic, and energetic inhabitants. Now, a year later, Ad Hoc has assembled another spectacular crew of legendary and groundbreaking artists spanning more than 50 years of activity for the 2^nd Annual Welling Court Mural Project. The project has received remarkable global acclaim since its launch and continues to garner support as more walls, artists, and enthusiasts augment that success.

This second round is not to be missed as we bring ever-more art and eyes to this Queens gem. To celebrate, the community’s annual block party coincides with the project’s opening, featuring cuisine and music from the ethnically diverse and multi-talented hosts. Whereas this tiny neighborhood is providing some major hospitality, it cannot provide for all the thousands of attendees, so please think of it as a big social picnic potluck art fun action and bring some of your favorite tasty foods, beverages, or other contribution to share with your fellow revelers. If you would like to offer help or assistance to the artists, items always useful are: exterior bucket paint, paint rollers/brushes, spray paint, acrylic paint, exterior primer, etc.

The project transforms several city blocks into a 24/7 street-level gallery, bringing art from around the world directly to the heart of this community. Renowned artists with deep roots in the street movement have created site-specific works for this project and many will showcase various creative sundries for your perusal. This new array of visual experiences provides fresh contexts for how people working, visiting, and living in this diverse cultural gem of Queens think about and interact with their environment.

Artists include: Alice Mizrachi, Alison Buxton, Beau Stanton, Bunnie Reiss, Caleb Neelon, Chris Mendoza, Chris Stain, Celso, Cern, Cey Adams, Chor Boogie, CR, Cycle, Dan Witz, Darkclouds, Don Leicht, Ellis Gallagher, Ezra Li Eismont, Free5, Garrison Buxton, Greg Lamarche, Jesse Jones, JMR, Joe Iurato, John Ahearn, John Fekner, Jordan Seiler, Katie Yamasaki, Lady Pink, Leon Reid, Matt Siren, Michael De Feo, Michael Fumero, MIMEO, Mr. Kiji, Neko, Nuria, OverUnder, Pablo Power, R. Nicholas Kuszyk, ROA, Ron English, Royce Bannon, Sinned, Sofia Maldonado, TooFly, Tristan Eaton, Veng RWK, Zam, and more.

In addition to the murals and festivities, there are special events and artist’s projects happening throughout the day.

The project will remain up and visible for public viewing, 24/7/365.

WHO: Ad Hoc Art + Artists

The Community of Welling Court, Queens

You

WHERE: 11-98 Welling Court {@ 30^th Ave & 12^th Street}, Astoria, Queens 11102

WHEN: Saturday, June 25^th, 2011 from noon until 9pm.

Exploring Glenwood Power Station

2011-06-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

Located thirty minutes north of NYC directly on the Hudson River, Glenwood power station is an industrial historophile's dream. Seeing the brilliant structure on my weekly rides of the the metro north it quickly became the focus of my exploratory fascinations. Constructed between 1904 and 1906 to provide power for the electrification of the New York Central and Husdon River Railroad also helped to contend with the increased traffic from the newly built Grand Central Terminal.

The plant was put on standy in the 1950s and finally closed in 1960. Although there were plans to adapt the building for residential use, these have not come to fruition, and in 2008 the Preservation League of New York State named the plant as one of the seven most endangered sites in the state.

The entrance into the smaller of the two buildings, structurally sound but provided potentially dangerous obstacles.

A little tease into the 6 story building that housed the main generators.

The sound of the river could be heard echoing throughout both buildings.

The main generator room complete with balconies and control panels in tact. Its massive size and architecture had an overwhelming cathedral like presence .

The glory days.

Perhaps the best find in the power station...the east smokestack. The outer layers of brick have been crumbling and lined the floor as well as the tiny entrance inside.

Exiting the smokestack. The bricks pouring out from the door were the trail that lead us to the inside of the stack.

An easy entrance into the larger of the buildings wasn't as fortunate as it was with the first. A floorless catwalk from the smaller building into the larger was the only way in. A makeshift bridge made from scraps of wood, building doors and many "Dear Jesus's" provided access across.

Friday the 13th with Ad Hoc @ New Puppy LA

2011-05-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

My new painting for the exhibition I have a Dream, I have a nightmare: Friday the 13th curated by Ad Hoc Art at New Puppy Gallery in Los Angeles.

Bicuspid Botheration
11 x 14 inches
oil and collage on wood
2011

Ad Hoc Art gathers 33 international artists to explore dreams, nightmares, superstitions, and existence to yield creations ranging from the painfully real to the ethereal fantastic.

That we are living in very fascinating and unprecedented times on the cusp of something is crystal clear. What that "something" is, exactly, is not. What waits on the other side? Is it beautiful or horrendous, sustainable or cataclysmic, truthful or deceptive, just or fraudulent? We all play a leading role in guiding the future of this sweet unraveling already well underway.
On View: May 19 - June 18

New Puppy Gallery
2808 Elm Street, Unit 1
Los Angeles, CA 90065
213-652-1857

Dead Horse Bay Scavenging Expedition

2011-05-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

This Summer I will be going on weekly adventures to interesting abandoned sites in the NYC area to seek out new reference material for paintings. Dead horse Bay in South Brooklyn is the first of these outings.

From the New York Times: "Dead Horse Bay sits at the western edge of a marshland once dotted by more than two dozen horse-rendering plants, fish oil factories and garbage incinerators. From the 1850's until the 1930's, the carcasses of dead horses and other animals from New York City streets were used to manufacture glue, fertilizer and other products at the site. The chopped-up, boiled bones were later dumped into the water. The squalid bay, then accessible only by boat, was reviled for the putrid fumes that hung overhead."
By the end of the 19th century the site became a landfill that was filled by 1930, capped, and then blew open in the 1950's and has been spewing its antique garbage into the bay since.

Thousands of bottles can be found on the shore as well as tires, leather shoe soles, and other rusty metal artifacts.

My favorite find of the day, a rusty child's roller skate.

More random artifacts (from left to right): roller skate, porcelain lady legs, glass light bulb base, baby doll, metal crank thing, porcelain boy, car door mirror, and baby doll arm.

Bottles for everything. From what I can tell, the ones I found were mostly used for perfume, booze, and pharmaceuticals.

Feature on PMC Magazine

2011-05-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

The amazing Lori Zimmer wrote a great spot on me for her new column at Patrick McMullan Magazine.

Check it out here

South Park Opening @ Opera NYC

2011-03-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Me and Ron in front of my Ascension of the Kenny.

Matt Stone and Ron in front of his Last Supper in South Park.

15 ARTISTS INTERPRET "SOUTH PARK"

2011-03-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

Just finished this piece for the South Park show at Opera Gallery New York. More info below.

Ascension of the Kenny
oil, collage, and gold leaf on canvas
40 x 62 inches

NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 Kicking off "South Park's" 15th anniversary celebration, COMEDY CENTRAL and pop surrealist painter, Ron English, have joined forces to curate 15 Artists Interpret South Park at Opera Gallery New York beginning on Monday, March 28.

Famed street artist and pop surrealist painter, Ron English, has hand-picked 14 artists who are drawn from the street and the pop surrealism movement to join him in displaying their South Park interpretations. The artists are unified by their love of the hit series and the passion they bring to their work. Their interpretations feature the South Park characters and the iconic moments throughout the series history. The featured artists include: Ron English, Travis Louie, Colin Christian, Sas Christian, Beau Stanton, Kid Zoom, Dave White, KaNo, Kathie Olivas, Clark Fox, Greg Craola Simkins, Mark Dean Veca, Lindsey Way, Naoto Hattori and Tristan Eaton. The 15 Artists Interpret South Park exhibit will be on display at Opera Gallery New York beginning March 28 through April 10.

This summer the 15 Artists Interpret South Park exhibit will be traveling to Comic-Con in San Diego for COMEDY CENTRALs Ultimate South Park Fan Experience.

Rebaroque Artist Series Sound Wall @ SCOPE NY

2011-03-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

I recently teamed up with Rebaroque to create a custom artist series sound panel for its debut at SCOPE New York. Here's the result and a bit of info about the project.

The Rebaroque Artist Series Sound Wall, curated by Lori Zimmer, combines our passions- art, sustainable design and music. Each Rebaroque sound panel is made from vintage fabrics, frames, hand painting and high quality Pyle speakers, and hook right up with your iPod or smart device. We’ve selected 20 artists to create unique collaborative pieces that not only look great on your wall, but play your favorite music as well. Artists include Beau Stanton, Claw Money, Cycle, Ellis G, Gaia, Ian Kuali’i, Jim Avignon, Jon Burgerman, Jonathan Viner,M11X, Martin Wittfooth, Mr. Kiji, Nathan Pickett, Orlando Reyes, R OSTARR x Madluv, Ryan Bradley, Sharktoof, Tara McPherson and Vesta.
The pieces will be wired together- creating a wall of sound, which will play a curated program during the fair. We’ve asked some of our favorite artists, musicians and publications to put together the sounds and songs that inspire them, including Gogol Bordello, DJ DB’s BLURRRing Radio, Kid Zoom, DJs Ole Koretsky and Andy Rourke of The Smiths, jazz musician Brian Newman, pop culture blog The World’s Best Ever and more.

Group Show at Gallery Hijinks in SF

2011-03-02T14:23:00.000-08:00

I've got a new piece at Gallery Hijinks in San Francisco. Looks like its going to be an incredible show.

With over 50 artists from across North America, Gallery Hijinks is proud to present The Letter Collector. This exhibition aims to simulate the distinctive styles, shapes, and mediums of an antique collection of letterpress type, in the form of contemporary art. Please join us for the opening reception on March 5th, 2011, from 6-10pm.

A is for Aesthetic Excess
oil on canvas and paper
11 x 14 inches

The Letter Collector will be on display from March 5th, 2011 until March 26th, 2011, and is open to the public during gallery hours (11am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday).

Illumination

2011-01-21T05:46:00.000-08:00

Illumination (Left & Right)
36 x 36
Oil and Aerosol on Canvas

Two paintings I created live during the 4th Street Arts and Music Festival in Jersey City, now being exhibited in the JC City Hall.

Bold Hype Blog Feature

2011-01-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

Great interview by Bold Hype after a studio visit:
http://www.boldhype.net/blog.php

Dark Pop Show at Last Rites Gallery

2011-01-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

Come see my work in this show on Saturday, January 15 at Last Rites Gallery in Manhattan.

Ekphrasis

2011-01-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

These two paintings were created in the reverse practice of Ekphrasis, as a visual response to the poetry of Michael Liaw(first image) and Greg McClure(second image).

Bowled and Jigsawed
oil on canvas
24 x 24 inches

Gasp
oil on canvas
18 x 24 inches

Immaculate Combustion

2011-01-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

oil on canvas
14 x 28 inches