Mr. Brainwash on the Carson Daly show...

Juxtapoz post early preview of our show this May with Kathleen Lolley...

"Goodbye Dear Friend" / Oil on wood

Kathleen Lolley
...Away From The Things Of Man
@ Thinkspace this May

Opening Reception: Fri, May 8th 7-11PM

View the early preview from Juxtapoz here. Juxtapoz will also be doing their '20 Questions' feature with her in the next week or two... so be sure to watch for that.

Speaking of, our interview with Kathleen will be posted here soon as well.

Kathleen will be in town for the opening from Kentucky, so be sure to mark your calendar now and come on out to say hi.

In the meantime, keep your eye on the 'Sneak Peek' set for the show here.

The first solo show ever from the infamous LA tagger Chaka...

Mid-City Arts is pleased to present the first solo show ever from the infamous LA tagger, Chaka. Resurrection opens April 25th and will feature highly anticipated new work from the mysterious Chaka.

Daniel Ramos, AKA Chaka, was 18 when he was arrested and charged in 1991 with 48 counts of vandalism, trespassing and causing $500,000 in property damage. Chaka’s signature tag had appeared in a staggering 10,000 locations from Orange County to San Francisco. At the height of his notoriety Chaka was demonized by mainstream media and culture as being little more than a prolific vandal. At the same time he was celebrated by street artists who admired the ability of a teenager from the projects to literally make his mark on the vast, glitzy LA cityscape in such a ubiquitous manner. He is credited with breaking away from the New York “wildstyle” popular at the time and introducing clearer, more blockish lettering into tagging. Chaka was one of the first to create a reputation as a recognizable individual tagger, and spawned many imitators. However Chaka was not just a lone operative. He was part of the LOD crew and as such, his work in reclaiming hard to reach places of the cityscape (freeway overpasses, walls, trains etc) on behalf of his crew is recognized by fellow taggers as a selfless achievement for LA’s graffiti scene as a whole.

After spending a year tracking down the once unavoidable Chaka, Mid-City Arts presents his first solo show. For Chaka’s fans as well as street art collectors, this will be a rare opportunity to revisit the nostalgia of the early 90’s, and own a piece of LA’s cultural history. Chaka himself will be in attendance and there will be a limited number of signed posters in addition to his works available for sale.

Opening Reception: April 25th, 7:00-9:00pm
Mid-City Arts
5113 West Pico Blvd in Los Angeles

For more info visit: http://www.chakaone.com/

*Note: the above is the official PR from the show / we've edited this post just a bit / see first comment post to read another viewpoint on this story...

Recommended openings to catch this weekend...

Edward Walton Wilcox (opening this Sat @ Merry Karnowsky)

Sat, April 25th 8-11PM
Merry Karnowsky Gallery
170 South La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles / 323.933.4408
New works from Edward Walton Wilcox
(On view through May 23rd)
http://www.mkgallery.com/

Sat, April 25th, 7-9PM
Mid-City Arts
5113 West Pico Blvd in Los Angeles
"Resurrection" features new works from Los Angeles’ one and only graffiti legend “Chaka” – own a piece of LA’s cultural history – a not miss show!
http://www.chakaone.com/

Sat, April 25th 6-10PM
Swiv-Tackle Circus
530 South Coast Highway in Oceanside
“Native” group show featuring art, film, furniture, bikes, headdresses & other native curiosities from Miki Iwasaki, Josh Higgins, Jeffrey Durkin, Thatcher, Tocayo, Stacy Kelley, Sean Kelley, Shaney Jo Darden & Jeff Black
(On view through mid-May)
http://swivtacklecircus.com/

Sat, April 25th 7-11PM
Tylerspencer Studio
3362 Glendale Blvd in Los Angeles
“Cornish Acid” – the return of Tofer Chin’s signature Eggman – a collaboration with jewelry designer Han Cholo – limited to 250 pendants – each signed and numbered by the artist
http://www.tylerspencer.com/

Sat, April 25th 8-11PM
Wax Poetic
3208 West Magnolia Blvd in Burbank / 818.843.9469
New works from Ronald J. Llanos
http://waxpoeticsalon.com/Art-Gallery/Next-Show.aspx

Tue, April 28th 7-10PM
Gallery 1988 Los Angeles
7020 Melrose Ave in Los Angeles / 323.937.7088
“The Lost MacGuffin” new works from Mark Brown
(On view through May 21st)

http://www.nineteeneightyeight.com/

Damon Soule prepares for his solo at Fecal Face Gallery this May...

Damon Soule
Same Loud No

Opening Reception: Thurs. May 7th, '09
Fecal Face Gallery

Check out a brand new interview Fecal Face just did with Damon here.

As a child Damon Soule (b. 1974) became so engrossed in his drawing that it became a distraction; at age 16 he dropped out of school opting for the immediacy of GED. At 19, with $300, a packed bag of clothes, and small box of art supplies, Damon moved to San Francisco, CA and enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Program at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 1996 Soule became the Art Director and Co-founder of FIT skateboards and Civilian Clothing. After art directing the brands for a number of years, he sold his portion of the business to pursue art full-time.

Soule's paintings and drawings have since been featured in group exhibitions in San Francisco at 111 Minna Gallery, White Walls, Punch Gallery, Southern Exposure Gallery, Rizzoli Gallery, Culture Cache, New Langton Arts ("I Dart SF", 2003) and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts ("Outside Art", 2002). Recent shows also include "New Works" by Oliver Vernon and Damon Soule at BLVD Gallery, Seattle (2007); "Green Art Exhibition" at Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica (2007); and "Stories From the Wonderland" at Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome, Italy (2008). His show "Amused Loon" ran to praise reviews at Joshua Liner Gallery in New York City this past Oct.

Fecal Face Gallery
66 Gough St @ Market
San Francisco, CA

Keep tabs on Damon Soule via his blog here.

Look for Damon to invade Los Angeles next spring... more on that soon.

ARMSROCK prepares for 1st European solo...

ARMSROCK is hard at work on his upcoming debut European solo show, set to take place at Intoxicated Demons in Berlin, Germany.

“A Horrible Jungle”
A room installation made of drawings, and an archive of things done
May 16th - June 7th
Intoxicated Demons Gallery
Berlin, Germany
info@intoxicated-demons.com
http://www.intoxicated-demons.com/


Juxtapoz also just posted a fresh set of '20 Questions' with the man, check it out here.


ARMSROCK's statement on his new series for "A Horrible Jungle":

Because I used to regard art and its attached institutions as a method and a space, through which and where I could examine and convey things, I have become a collector of information and images. Because I was secretly hoping that the collected amount of visual debris and human byproduct would yield some kind of answer from which I could wrench out some kind of sense. Therefor it seems only natural to me, that I would set out to create an archive. Most of everything I do seems to be connected to the assembling of information for this notebook on the human condition. Therefor it is not easy for me to identify or name the specific nature of this archive. It is a traveling black box...

It is a unsorted pile of vicious and unvictorious information that they brought in the newspapers, the books, the televisions. It is an echo of something that they shouted in the streets, and it is the smell of smoke from its own burning. It's a theatrical violence report. A letter of acknowledgment of my own subjective fear andfascination combined with that which is dreadful and violent, grotesque and morbid. It is a paradox. It is pathos. It is a collage of registrations and colliding observations. An examination of the riddle that lies within that which is made visible as well as a study of invisible mechanisms. It is an attempt to,create comprehensibility while also striving to break it apart. An axis of accumulated signals and mis-communication...

To “know” each thing and its form. To make “signs” of the multitudinous, the incomprehensible, the impassable. To make these thing graspable. All the while acknowledging their fleeting and in-graspable nature. An attempt of decoding through the creation of form in imagery. To strive to identify those abstract powers that propels us into action. To make the human figure into a tool, as it has been so often and for so long, through which the language of form can transmit the identity of ”deed”. It is an attempt to keep nihilism at bay, and positivism in check.

Keep tabs on ARMSROCK via his blog here.

Audrey Kawasaki's 1st solo in Japan draws near...

Audrey Kawasaki @ Space Yui - May 9th

Space Yui

Tokyo, Japan
http://www.spaceyui.com/schedule.html

We first posted about this special show here back in late March. Audrey has recently updated her blog with a new image of works in progress (above). She continues to excel and the new works are just beautiful. Very much looking forward to seeing all the works in the show, as I'm sure many of you are as well. Soon as we see more, we'll be sure to post here to share.

João Ruas sneak peek at 'Inner Myth Pt. 1'...

João Ruas

"Enkindu & Gilgamesh"

11x11" / 28x28 cm

Watercolor, Gouache and Gold leaf on 300gms Fabriano

João Ruas is hard at work finishing up the final piece for his largest showing of works to date in the States. Opening on Fri, May 8th @ Thinkspace in our project room as part of our 'Fresh Faces' series, 'Inner Myth Pt. 1' will feature six new works. Big news is that João will be in town from Brazil for the opening reception.

"Enkindu & Gilgamesh" process shot

"Enkindu & Gilgamesh" process shot

"Enkindu & Gilgamesh" process shot

We leave you with a close up shot of "Elephantman"... more images and info soon, including an interview with João. In the meantime, check out our full 'Sneak Peek' set on Flickr here.

João Ruas

'Inner Myth Pt. 1'

Opening: Fri, May 8th 7-11PM

Thinkspace

4210 Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles (near Sunset Junction)

http://www.thinkspacegallery.com/

Press coverage for Brandi Milne & Cherri Wood's solos @ Thinkspace...

“…My girls are an endless narrative for me. She's my way of voicing an emotion in a piece, sad, innocent, scared. The happy characters around her are flash and silly like the world we live in. The strawberries I draw are symbolic for my heart, or the hearts of people that I love. There's a lot of strawberries in my recent work, for obvious reasons, they're really special to me right now.” – Brandi Milne

Brandi Milne completely knocked it out of the park with Run Rabbit, Run and the press and fans agree. We had a huge turnout on opening night to support Brandi and many were out front waiting for the doors to open to take part in Brandi’s special ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ that was held during the opening reception. In all, over 50 eggs were hidden about the gallery, both inside and out, and over 40 lucky winners walked away with some amazing prizes, including one-of-a-kind original drawings from Brandi as well as special hand-knit stuffed Easter Bunny heads on lil’ sticks with ribbons and bells attached. Be sure to check out the opening night shots for many of the lucky winners and their prizes as well as pics of all the action, including shots of all the artists that came out that evening to support Brandi.

View the opening night photo set on our Flickr page here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkspace/sets/72157616520749945/

Interviews set up around Run Rabbit, Run:
Juxtapoz ’20 Questions’:

http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5713

Juxtapoz ‘full interview’:

http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=5730

Mark Murphy / Murphy Design:
http://murphydesign1.blogspot.com/2009/04/brandi-milne-run-rabbit-run.html

Sour Harvest:

http://sourharvestblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-with-brandi-milne.html

*Please note each of these interviews has a different vibe to ‘em and expose different elements of Brandi's world... so please be sure to check ‘em all out if you're a fan of her work or just discovering it for the 1st time.

Press previews of Run Rabbit, Run:
Arrested Motion:

http://arrestedmotion.com/2009/04/preview-brandi-milne-run-rabbit-run-thinkspace-gallery/

Hurley studio visit: http://www.hurley.com/blog.cfm?aid=29238

Juxtapoz:

http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5804&Itemid=1

Hi-Fructose:

http://www.hifructose.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336&Itemid=56

Coverage of the opening night of Run Rabbit, Run:
Juxtapoz:

http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5855&Itemid=50

Arrested Motion:

http://arrestedmotion.com/2009/04/openings-brandi-milne-run-rabbit-run-thinkspace-gallery/

Daily DuJour:

http://dailydujour.com/2009/04/13/seen-brandi-milnes-cheri-woods-thinkspace/

If all that wasn't enough, she has a full interview in Vol. 11 of Hi Fructose now hitting stores and subscribers nationwide. If you are a subscriber, keep an eye out, you may be one of the lucky 100 to get one of Brandi's special prints.

For more on that, check here:

http://www.hifructose.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=323&Itemid=56

THE Magazine also ran a nice preview in their April issue with an image accompanying the mention. View it here: http://www.thinkspacegallery.com/press/THE_pg1_apr09.jpg

Some amazing pieces are still on hand from the show. There are so many intricate levels of detail in each piece, many of which are hard to view online via a jpeg, so if you are local, please be sure to get out to view the show.

Brandi Milne - Run Rabbit, Run works:

http://www.thinkspacegallery.com/2009/04/works.php

For all the latest, watch Brandi’s blog: http://brandimilne.blogspot.com/

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Cherri Wood
trouble, clearly
On view in our project room through May 1st

Cherri Wood also debuted 22 new pieces for her debut Los Angeles solo show, opening in our project room, the same eve as Brandi’s show opened in our main gallery.

“This latest series is her best yet, with exploration of new techniques combined with a strong progression in the overall composition of her work.” – Arrested Motion

Arrested Motion preview:

http://arrestedmotion.com/2009/04/preview-cherri-wood-trouble-clearly-thinkspace-gallery/

Daily DuJour review:

http://dailydujour.com/2009/04/13/seen-brandi-milnes-cheri-woods-thinkspace/

Cherri Wood - trouble, clearly works:

http://www.thinkspacegallery.com/2009/04/project/works.php

For all the latest, watch Cherri’s blog: http://cherridarling.blogspot.com/

Both exhibits run through May 1st.

Please be sure to get on out and view these great shows before they come off view next Friday, May 1st.

Thinkspacegallery.com gets a new look...

We just launched the new version of www.thinkspacegallery.com last night. Please check out the new sleek look of the site. We've updated our 'Press' page with all the latest magazine covers / features and overhauled our 'Artists' page to feature all those that have passed through our gallery in the past. Lots of other new lil' features and more to be added throughout the month.

We've also updated the 'Available Artwork' section with some new works this week. Please keep in mind all is listed alphabetical by first name and there are four full pages of posted works currently available in our inventory.

Stella Im Hultberg busy at work on her upcoming solo with us...

Stella Im Hultberg recently moved to a bigger space in Brooklyn, NY with beautiful natural light and more space for a larger studio area (image of her new studio area is above).

She's currently hard at work on her upcoming solo show at Thinkspace scheduled to open on Fri, July 10th. We were excited to see the pics of her new studio space when she posted 'em the other day on her blog, and wanted to share the shot with you all. Look for much more here soon.

Acorn solo next week in Australia...

Acorn
'my kingdom, not yours'
April 30th - May 17th
Gorker Gallery
Fitzroy, Victoria
Australia
http://www.gorkergallery.com/

Super amped to view the works from this upcoming show. Acorn has been a big hit here at Thinkspace and we're huge fans of his work. We've even a few pieces still on hand here.

Acorn's work is described as a self-narrative based upon a world of collective consciousness, depicting no specific culture or religion. He works in water color and inks, creating extremely intimate works that need to be seen first hand to appreciate all the intense detail that goes into each.

Keep up with Acorn via his Flickr page here.

Watch out for his debut U.S. solo show next May at Thinkspace. Already counting the days!

Congratulations to Juxtapoz on their 15th Anniversary / 100th issue...

Juxtapoz celebrate their 100th issue this May (with Raymond Pettibon on cover) and this year also marks their 15th Anniversary.

Congratulations on two huge milestones!

www.juxtapoz.com

Sarah Joncas prepares to turn heads this June...

Sarah Joncas is hard at work in her studio up in Toronto, Ontario putting the finishing touches on her debut solo show, 'Beneath The Seams', which opens at Thinkspace on Fri, June 12th.

The new works for 'Beneath The Seams' show an increased use of narrative and an excellent use of space. This exhibition will feature some of her largest and most personal work to date.

The above gem, with a working title of "Dinner and a Movie", measures 60" wide x 30" high. The image above is just a close up snippet of this beautiful piece, more wil be revealed soon.

To view some shots of her studio, along with some sketches and process shots, be sure to check out the 'Sneak Peek' set we're compiling over at our Flickr page here. Look for more images to be posted as the show gets closer.

Keep tabs on Sarah over at her live journal here.

Recommended openings to catch this weekend...

Heisuke Kitazawa aka PCP (showing this month at GR2)

Thurs, April 16th 7-11PM
Ronin Gallery
1924 Echo Park Ave in Los Angeles
“Burgeoning Heliotrope” with new works from Weirdo and Ego
http://www.theroningallery.com/

Fri, April 17th 7-10PM
The Art Center of Pasadena
1700 Lida Street in Pasadena / 626.396.2251 / Parking & Shuttle at Rose Bowl Parking Lot K
‘Grad Exhibition’ – graduation show featuring works from artists working in various mediums including but not limited to photography, film, illustration & graphic design
http://www.artcenter.edu/

Sat, April 18th & Sun, April 19th 11AM-6PM both days

Brewery Artwalk

2100 N. Main Street (5 Freeway at Main Street) in Los Angeles

The world’s largest art colony is located in downtown LA in the old Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery and twice a year they open their doors to the public for a walking self-guided tour of all the various studios, galleries and undiscovered lil’ nooks about the ol’ space that are just waiting to be discovered. Makes for a great day out and a must see at least once – check out their website for full details and directions

http://breweryartwalk.com/

Sat, April 18th 6-9PM
Cerasoli Gallery
8530-B Washington Ave in Culver City / 310.558.0911
“Glamour and Gloom” with new works from John Grande + “Nowhere Right Here” with new works from Franziska Klotz + “Society of Spectacle” with new works from Nick Potter
(On view through May 13th)
http://www.cerasoligallery.com/

Sat, April 18th 6:30-10PM
GR2
2062 Sawtelle Blvd in Los Angeles / 310.445.9276
“…and it rained all day” featuring new works from Heisuke Kitazawa (aka PCP)
(On view through May 6th)
http://www.gr2.net/

Sat, April 18th 6-10PM
Kinsey / DesForges
6009 Washington Blvd. In Culver City / 310.837.1989
“Chasing Castles” featuring new paintings and works on paper from Chloe Early and Connor Harrington
http://www.kinseydesforges.com/

Sat, April 18th 4-8PM
Monkeyhouse Toys and Art Gallery
1618 ½ Silver Lake Blvd in Los Angeles / 323.662.3437
“The Black Wall” with new works from Walt Hall
(On view through May 24th)
http://www.monkeyhousetoys.com/

Sat, April 18th 4-8PM
Billy Shire Fine Arts
5790 Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles / 323.297.0600
Special viewing of Esther Pearl Watson’s paintings from her showing at the Oakland Museum of California earlier this year, including “Waiting For The Future”, her largest work to date
http://www.billyshirefinearts.com/

Sat, April 18th 8PM-Midnight
Showcave
1930 Echo Park Ave in Los Angeles (Echo Park area)
“Cosmic Love” featuring the work of 11 artists exploring the nature of the cosmos with Kime Buzzelli, Miss KK, Annakim Violette, Mindy LeBrock, Owleyes (James Wiegel), Nora Keyes, Alia Penner, Veronica Ibarra, Joanne Burke, Tracy Conti and Valentine Lovecraft Falcon
(On view through April 25th)
http://www.showcave.org/

Yet another weekend packed with amazing shows - get out and support the scene!