Theatre Bizarre in Detroit

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

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

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox

Photo courtesy of Ian Maddox

Miami Art Basel ReCap Video

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

 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

 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

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

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

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

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

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/