A Cry for Help

‘A Cry For Help' @ Thinkspace
A benefit show for the endangered species of the world presented by Born Free USA & the Animal Protection Institute

Opening Reception: Friday, Jan. 8th 7-11PM
On View: Jan. 8th, 2009 – Feb. 5th, 2010
20% of all proceeds will be donated to Born Free USA

This special exhibit will feature an installation from Bumblebee as well as a group show featuring the works of over 100 artists (full list is below).

(Los Angeles, CA) Thinkspace is proud to present "A Cry For Help," a benefit exhibition with the goal of raising awareness about the plight of animals in our modern world. Featuring more than 100 artists who represent every branch of the new contemporary scene, this show has been curated with an eye to representing the unique and innovative attributes of a select group of seasoned veterans and fresh-eyed newcomers from five continents. In keeping with the benefit's mission, each artist will explore different facets of our complicated relationship with the creatures with whom we share this planet.

Though we live in the city, animals exist all around us – they sleep in our beds, creep past our windows at night and visit us in our dreams. Symbolizing all that is free, unspoiled and elemental in the world, they also comfort us with guileless affection, amuse us with their playful abandon, and represent us metaphorically in a million works of art and literature. In every niche of the new contemporary scene, artists have employed animals to envisage concepts ranging from the wonder of childhood to the death of nature, while exploiting an ever-widening array of aesthetics, from surreal naturalism to street fables, apocalyptic visions to modern mythology, uncanny allegories to sylvan dreamscapes.

In celebration of the magnificent creatures with whom we share the planet, Thinkspace will donate 20% of the sale price of each piece of art to Born Free USA and the Animal Protection Institute, which operate jointly as a non-profit organization that advocates worldwide for the ethical treatment and protection of animals, and also maintains a large sanctuary for rescued primates. Throughout the month, the gallery will host pet adoptions, slide shows, lectures and more. The world can indeed be changed through random individual acts of kindness, so please don't miss this opportunity to kick off the New Year with a good deed, as well as a great piece of art.

ARTISTS TAKING PART INCLUDE:

Acorn http://www.flickr.com/photos/acornsgrow/
Allison Sommers http://allisonsommers.typepad.com/
Amy Sol http://www.amysol.com
Andrea Offermann http://www.andreaoffermann.com/
Andrew Hem http://www.andrewhem.com/
Angry Woebots http://www.armyofsnipers.com/
Anthony Clarkson http://www.anthonyclarksonart.com/
Anthony Ausgang http://www.ausgangart.com/
Apak http://apakstudio.com/apak/
Ashira Siegel http://www.redridinghoodproductions.com/
Ben Strawn http://benstrawn.carbonmade.com/
Bradley Delay http://www.delayart.com/
Buff Monster http://www.buffmonster.com
Bumblebee http://www.flickr.com/photos/theuglyyou
Catherine Brooks http://thearborgeistproject.tumblr.com/
Charlie Immer http://www.charlieimmer.com/
Chet Zar http://www.chetzar.com/
Chris Murray http://www.chrisbmurray.com/
Craig "Skibs" Barker http://www.skibsart.com/
Dabs Myla http://www.dabsmyla.com
Dan May http://dan-may.com/
Dan Quintana http://www.myspace.com/artslinger
Dan-ah Kim http://www.dkim-art.com/
David MacDowell http://www.macdowellstudio.com/
Dennis Hayes IV http://www.dennishayesiv.com/
Derek Ihnat http://www.myspace.com/visual_feast
Dolan Geiman http://www.dolangeiman.com/
Edwin Ushiro http://www.mrushiro.com/
Ekundayo http://www.ekunday.com
ELBOW-TOE http://www.elbow-toe.com/
Elisabeth Timpone http://listimpone.blogspot.com/
Eric Nyquist http://www.ericnyquist.com/
Erik Siador http://www.eriksiador.com/
Faith 47 http://www.faith47.com/
Gaia http://gaiastreetart.com/
Genevivie Zacconi http://www.genevive.com/
Germs http://www.germs4u.com/
Ghostpatrol http://ghostpatrol.net/
Guy McKinley http://www.flickr.com/photos/guymckinley
Heiko Mueller http://www.heikomueller.de/
Imminent Disaster http://www.flickr.com/photos/disasterstrikes/
J. Shea (#9) http://jshea9blog.blogspot.com/
Jacub Gagnon http://www.jacubgagnon.com/
Janet Grey
Jason Limon http://www.limon-art.com/
Jason Thielke http://www.jasonthielke.com/
Jen Lobo http://jenlobo.com/
Jennybird Alcantara http://www.jennybirdart.com/
Jesse Hotchkiss http://www.jessehotchkiss.com/
Jim Darling http://www.jimdarling.com/?id=206
Joao Ruas http://souvlaki.jp-ar.org/
John Park
Johnny 'KMNDZ' Rodriguez http://www.kmndz.com/
Joseph McSween (aka 2H) http://www.myspace.com/2hatred
Joshua Mays http://soldren.com/content/
Josie Morway http://www.josiemorway.com/
Justin Gibbens http://www.justingibbens.com/
Katelyn Alain http://www.katelynalain.com/
Kathleen Lolley http://www.lolleyland.com/
Kelly McKernan http://kellymckernan.com/
Kelly Vivanco http://www.kellyvivanco.com/
Kevin Earl Taylor http://www.kevinearltaylor.com/
Kevin Titzer http://www.kevintitzer.com/
Kris Lewis http://www.krislewisart.com/
Leontine Greenberg http://leontinemay.com/
Lesley Reppeteaux http://www.reppeteaux.com/
Liz Brizzi http://www.lizbrizzi.com/
Liz McGrath http://www.elizabethmcgrath.com/
Luke Kopycinski http://koppa.carbonmade.com/
Mari Inukai http://www.mariinukai.com/
Martin Wittfooth http://www.martinwittfooth.com/
Mear One http://www.mearone.com/
Michael Pukac http://www.michaelpukac.com/
Mike Brown http://www.myspace.com/funpig
Moki http://www.mioke.de/
Molly Crabapple http://www.mollycrabapple.com/
Nathan DeYoung http://www.nathandeyoung.com/
Nimit Malavia http://www.nimitmalavia.com/
Nouar http://www.noirnouar.com/
Paul Barnes http://www.paul-barnes.com/
Peter Taylor http://www.handmadefeat.com/
Raquel Aparicio http://www.raquelissima.com/
Rebecca Hahn http://rebeccahahn.com/
Renee French http://reneefrench.blogspot.com/
Rob Sato http://www.robsato.com/index.html
Rory Kurtz http://www.rorykurtzillustration.com/
Sarah Joncas http://www.teapartylove.digitalinkz.com/
Scott Belcastro http://www.scottbelcastro.com/
Scott G. Brooks http://www.scottgbrooks.com/
Scott Radke http://www.scottradke.com/
Tadaomi Shibuya http://www.tadaomishibuya.com/
Tessar Lo http://www.tessarlo.com/
Timothy Karpinski http://timothykarpinski.com/
Tina Darling http://tinadarling.com/?id=206
Tran Nguyen http://www.trannguyen.org/
Travis Louie http://www.travislouie.com/
Van Arno http://www.vanarno.com/
Wesley Burt http://www.wesleyburt.com/
Yoskay Yamamoto http://yoskay.com/
Yosuke Ueno http://www.spaceegg77.com/

La Ronde

La Ronde, 2009

Cut paper on birch panel

16 x 24 inches

I just delivered the collage La Ronde to Marc and Sara of Wooster Collective. After I showed them the piece they asked me to do a brief explanation of the work.

It's All About the Details

Busy in the studio will cut paper pieces again. I am working on some large scale hand-colored drawings for the spring. Above is a detail.

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
21 x 31 5/8 inches

Hand-pulled silkscreen on 250 grams Stonehenge Natural White moulde-made paper.

Edition limited to 50.

This print will be available via Black Rat Projects.

Black Rat Projects is delighted to invite you to the opening of London’s most unusual bookshop which takes place on 2nd December 2009.

The pop-up antiquarian bookshop is also rumoured to be haunted and is built inside our railway arch gallery.

The bookshop will be filled with an unusual selection of books from major and independent book publishers. A large selection of second hand books and artist made fanzines, counter cultural manuals and films will be available. Artwork by Swoon, Grayson Perry, Giles Walker, Matt Small and Lucas Price will also be on display. Reports have already been received of eerie incidents and strange happenings, with books magically flying off shelves, and lights switching themselves on and off. Halloween may have been and gone but the real ghosts and ghouls work all year round. In addition to this we will be releasing a new edition by ELBOW-TOE.

The idea of creating the bookshop came when we slept in the gallery one evening and were woken by the toilet flushing and books falling from the office bookshelves. Thinking we were being burgled, we turned the lights on only to find the gallery empty. Asking around, a local landlord mentioned that the gallery had been used to store the stock of legendary Victorian book dealer F. J. Williams who disappeared in 1903 and is rumoured to haunt various pubs and houses around the East End.

Black Dog Books promises to be one of the year’s most interesting art and book events. Working with support from publishers including the Tate, Thames and Hudson and Drago, the project promises to not only provide a unique experience, but also a great place to do a little alternative Christmas shopping.

Black Dog Books is a fully functional bookshop complete with customer assistant, working antique till and books available to buy. The book shop has been designed by Will Randall and Giles Walker and can accommodate up to 10 people at a time. Invites to the launch will be sent out in the next few days.

Black Dog Books

Black Rat Press: The pop-up antiquarian bookshop is also rumoured to be haunted and is built inside our railway arch gallery. The bookshop will be filled with an unusual selection of books from major and independent book publishers. A large selection of second hand books and artist made fanzines, counter cultural manuals and films will be available. Artwork by Swoon, Grayson Perry, Giles Walker, Matt Small and Lucas Price will also be on display. Reports have already been received of eerie incidents and strange happenings, with books magically flying off shelves, and lights switching themselves on and off. Halloween may have been and gone but the real ghosts and ghouls work all year round. In addition to this we will be releasing a new edition by Brian Douglas (ELBOW-TOE).

The bookstore opens 12.02.09 at 6:30 pm.

Lost in thought

I experienced a most unique moment today. I was sitting on my back porch having lunch. The sky was intensely clear and rich in it's blue hue. It was cold and warm at the same time, the sun, extra bright from the depth of color in the sky. I began to think about being older in my house. And then I started thinking about the fact that I could see myself living someday downstairs. Then suddenly I was the me downstairs as an old man, and I was looking back at myself at this day at this time and thinking how it was an extremely memorable day in my life. That things are were really pretty good, that I had made the right choices, as best as I could blindly not knowing any repercussions. Time and space felt extremely fluid. I was experiencing my present moment with all the nostalgia I hold for the memorable times of my childhood.

One Last Reminder

Just a reminder I am participating in A.G.A.S.T (Annual Gowanus Artist Studio Tour) this Saturday and Sunday, October 17 & 18 from 1 - 6 pm.

At this event, you will have the unique opportunity to get small (Recession Sized) versions of ELBOW-TOE pieces at extremely friendly (Recession Priced) prices. I will be selling 10 different prints from my latest street work as well as some oldies but goodies. These works are single color silk screens reduced to sizes ranging from 5x8 inches up to 12x10 inches and will be sold for approximately $30 a piece + shipping and handling if I need to mail them. They will be limited to editions of 30.
There will be a 10% discount if you buy the entire folio.

I will be setting up an ETSY store to make the ease of purchasing them more convenient for you. Once that is established I will have links from a shop section on my website.

Also if you are interested in acquiring these images in their actual size, hand colored and mounted on my traditional wood sculpture format please contact Mike Snelle at Black Rat Press. His email is mike@blackratpress.com .

My studio is located at 94 9th Street 4th floor studio 23, Brooklyn NY 11215.

Due to bad planning on the part of the MTA Smith/ 9th Street station is closed on the F and G trains. They will be offering a free shuttle from Jay St Borough hall to Smith Street. The quicker method for getting here if you are taking a train is to take the N train to 4th Ave/9th street in Park slope and walk down 2 blocks to the studio along 9th street. The R train is the usual local on that line but this weekend the N train is running local.