Know Hope opens debut LA solo show @ Carmichael...

Israeli artist Know Hope (pictured above) opened his debut LA solo show, ‘the times won’t save you (this rain smells of memory)’, at Carmichael Gallery last night to a very enthusiastic crowd.

The focal point of the show was his 400 sq ft installation featuring over 30,000 hand-cut rain drops, a handmade city constructed of old cardboard boxes and several life size renditions of his signature characters. As a whole, it was breathtaking. With the lighting low, the mood that was set was just perfect.

Know Hope installation close up views (above and below)...

It was awesome to see his 'The Anytimes' paper worked into the installation. The gallery should have some copies of this special paper still on hand, so be sure to roll through and grab a copy.

In addition to his incredible install, Know Hope also presented a series of smaller works all on cardboard, that complimented four of his larger framed works that all highlighted his dizzying diorama skills. All in all, a great debut solo show for Know Hope and one that is sure to have folks talking for a while. Don’t sleep on this guy, so much great and affordable work in this show.

Close up of one of Know Hope's intense diorama pieces...

While talking to Know Hope I learned he’d be going on to NYC now after this, for a special installation project at a non-profit venue that just popped up. So watch for more on that soon…

The crowd grew thick as the night drew on...

Also opening last night, and causing much discussion, was the ‘Moodswings’ group show in the back, where the large new work from Asbestos (shown above) stole the show.

Also featured was some amazing new works from Imminent Disaster (above and below). The new work is showing continued growth and maturity and we're eager to see what she creates for her return to Los Angeles next year when she hits Thinkspace again alongside ARMSROCK.

Though not to be outdone, the up and coming Bumblebee rocked things and had but one piece left when we left at 1030PM (see images of his work below). Go Bumblebee!!!

The ever elusive Bumblebee...

One of his signature hive pieces installed in an old vacant phonebooth. AMAZING.

Detail shot of the above phonebooth piece. This lil' roller, is created from a nail, a paperclip and some sculpey modeling clay. Insane detail and looks so good.

Bumblebee flies high over LA...

Both shows on view through July 2nd

Carmichael Gallery

1257 N. La Brea Avenue in West Hollywood

www.carmichaelgallery.com

Tons of love for thinkspace in new issue of Juxtapoz...

A full-page of opening night shots from 'Mostly Memory' with ELBOW-TOE and ARMSROCK and 'Life Sentence' with Jon Todd are included in the 'Pop Life' section...

Plus a 'Showstoppers' feature for our current exhibition 'From the Streets of Brooklyn'...

Pick up the new issue of Juxtapoz on stands now with cover art from the one and only Mars-1

CommandaX interviews Imminent Disaster...

Below is a lil' excerpt of the intro to the in-depth interview just posted by our good friend CommandaX over at her blog Erratic Phenomena with NY based artist Imminent Disaster (now showing in our project room as part of 'From the Streets of Brooklyn'):

Disaster's graceful, flowing work combines the concept of impermanence, disintegration and the cruelty of time with political themes about power, poverty and the position of women in society. "For some reason I’ve always been drawn to a macabre and cynical view of the world," she admits. Yet her work, despite its gravity, isn't depressing. Rather, it has a haunting, ethereal quality that's quite rare in street art.

Many of Disaster's pieces are inspired by the sort of history recounted in books like Luc Sante's Low Life, a fascinating exploration of New York's underbelly between 1840 and 1920, but she also blends in Latin influences gathered during her extensive travels in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. "I am really fascinated by the whole South American continent and want to continue to get to know it better," she explained in an interview with NY Art Beat. "There’s a certain authenticity in their lifestyle that I think our culture has lost in its quest for commodities."

Read the full Erratic Phenomena interview with Disaster here. We highly recommend checking it out if you've a bit of time to kill as it provides some great insight into Disaster's highly-detailed and thought provoking work.

Be sure to make it out to check out her installation in our project room before it comes down on February 6th. Check out pics here, just in case you can't make it. Also, get stoked, as we sure the hell are... Disaster will be back in March 2010 in a 2-person show alongside ARMSROCK. More on that soon, as we are still in the midst of one of the coolest installs to ever grace our gallery, so be sure to swing through if you get the chance. View works from the show here.

Keep up with Disaster here.

'From the Streets of Brooklyn' - the install @ thinkspace continues...

The installation process for 'From the Streets of Brooklyn' continues at Thinkspace. Look to Arrested Motion and Daily DuJour for add'l behind the scenes shots to be posted in the coming days, as well as over at the Wooster Collective.

Imminent Disaster is just flat out killing it with her massive installation in our project room (see shots above and below). Crazy thing is... she's just getting started. Can't wait for you all to see this!

We'll be posting some great shots tomorrow of Gaia and Rachel Lowing getting busy on their installation in our front entry way... then Thursday Ellis G. arrives into town... oh yeah!

'From the Streets of Brooklyn' - day one of install @ thinkspace...

Day one of the installation process for our epic 'From the Streets of Brooklyn' group show began on Sunday afternoon... gallery shot above of the works being unpacked... over 100 works will be on view this Fri, Jan. 9th once we open to the public...

Imminent Disaster arrived into town safely and was quickly underway on her huge installation (see above)... more on this later in the week...

Gaia and Rachel Lowing have also safely arrived and are in the thick of thier installation as well (shown above working on 'the bridge' aspect of their install)... you'll have to wait and see what that's all about...

Celso and Stikman are also lurking about in the shadows of LA... keep an eye out for them about town.

Many more artists arriving as the week progresses and we near the opening this Fri, Jan. 9th for 'From the Streets of Brooklyn' at Thinkspace... so can't wait! More behind the scenes action posted soon...

From The Streets Of Brooklyn...

Get ready... coming this January.