LOOK INTO MY OWL

More than 15 years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing a large traveling exhibition covering the work of Martin Puryear. The experience is one that I treasured at the time and continues to stake clear residence in deep memory.
Since that exhibit the art of Martin Puryear has continued along it’s path always discovering new territories. The importance of this artist has not been overlooked as he’s been granted a large scale retrospect at the National Gallery of Art in DC.
Forty six sculptures make up this review that spans the East and West buildings. The National Gallery has not installed a show that has taken both buildings until now. It’s an appropriate choice as Puryear’s aesthetic also bridges the old to the new.

Martin Puryear
22 June - 28 September 2008
National Gallery of Art
Washington, DC

The art of Mark Mothersbaugh cannot be summed up. This is a man unafraid of reinventing himself and changing his perspective. An unusual trait in an art climate that frowns on versatility. His latest excursion at Perihelion Arts is no exception. The show, “Beautiful Mutants” is made up of altered photographs collected by the artist over the past eight years. More than 3,000 tests were done and the exhibition features the best results culled from this grand experiment.

Mark Mothersbaugh
Beautiful Mutants
4 July - 31 July 2008
Perihelion Arts
Phoenix, AZ

There is a strong sense of polarity in the works of Brooks Salzwedel. This opposition is the element that holds the art together both in content and process. The contraposition of nature and technology exists in these seemingly serene floating islands. The methods employed by Salzwedel in the creation of these environmental pieces is in itself toxic. Resin is layered with graphite to produce the ghostly effect found in the bulk of his catalog.

Brooks Salzwedel
Modern Soil
28 June - 26 July 2008
Black Maria Gallery
Los Angeles, California

At 7AM Eastern, the landscape of NYC was altered drastically. Forget the cost, forget how far the scaffolding would reach if the pipes were placed end to end… forget the details and enjoy the spectacle. Get out New York! An artist has invited you to explore your city. Go see all four waterfalls.

Olafur Eliasson
The New York City Waterfalls
26 June - 13 October 2008

The Graffiti Research Lab is, “dedicated to outfitting graffiti artists with open source technologies for urban communication”. This entity is encouraging community within the public arts while expanding the genre at an unprecedented rate.
Enjoy “L.A.S.E.R. Tag” it is a stunning use of simple technologies. The Graffiti Research Lab and Theodore Watson offer free open source software and complete instructions so that you can build one for yourself. Now that’s going BIG!

The Laguna Art Museum is raising the brow with their current exhibition, “In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor”. Over the past 15 years Juxtapoz Magazine has become a criterion for contemporary art. In fact, Juxtapoz is now the most widely read art magazine in America.
One hundred and fifty artists that have been featured in the magazine are included in this epic exhibition. A deep bow to Robert Williams and all those involved in Juxtapoz over the years. Special thanks are also due to the exhibit curator Meg Linton and director Bolton Colburn of the Laguna Art Museum.

In the Land of Retinal Delights
The Juxtapoz Factor
22 June - 5 October 2008
Laguna Art Museum
Laguna Beach, California

Mike Kelley has furnished the Wiels Centre for Contemporary Art in Brussels with a retrospect of his past 13 years. “Educational Complex Onwards” is a huge selection of artworks spanning many media. The exhibition was curated from some very large international collections that were kind enough to loan pieces for the show.
The vein of content pervading Kelley’s art is the autobiographical working in conjunction and opposition with the institutional. It’s that juxtaposition that makes his work so engaging. The Piezo prints above, “Horse Dance of the Fake Virgin” were advanced from the Gagosian Gallery. They call attention to our primitive social nature and the truly limited way that our human tribe has advanced since the dawn of communal living.

Mike Kelley
Educational Complex Onwards, 1995-2008
12 April - 27 July 2008
Wiels Center for Contemporary Art
Brussels, Belgium

Sylvia Ji has exposed White Walls to her latest installment of the creepy and the beautiful. The show is made up of 30 paintings, all acrylic with the feeling of oil.

Sylvia Ji
14 June - 5 July 2008
White Walls
San Francisco

This is street art in top form. The guerrilla gardening crew is always searching for public spaces that have fallen into neglect. These hoodlums are tilling the soil and replacing weeds with sunflowers, garbage with geraniums. GuerrillaGardening.org has tips for the burgeoning vandal and all the information to get you started. You can also head to their forum and hook up with others in your area that are looking to “throw-up”. What are you waiting on? Wreck your hood.

Announcing “Nonpareil” a group exhibit of unique and customized figurative sculpture at NOWhere Limited. The work has started flooding in here at the gallery. It’s very exciting to arrive at the post office to find ineffable surprises waiting. We hooked up with some very talented artists to bring you this show which will be viewable both online and in the gallery. Come on up to 8,000+ft above sea level for an enjoyable 4th of July. Our party starts at 4pm and you’ll want to stay for the huge fireworks spectacle over Barker Reservoir just after sunset.

NONPAREIL
A Customs Group Show
4 - 27 July 2008
NOWhere Limited
Nederland, Colorado

Loris Gréaud has produced a prodigious installation that is currently on view at the ICA in London. “Cellar Door” is a hybrid exhibition encompassing architecture, sculpture and opera. Periodically, black champagne is served by identical triplets. Museum visitors are also invited to enjoy candy available in a vending machine in the ICA’s bar. The candy has no flavor, Gréaud encourages the audience to project their own sensibilities onto the sweets. In fact, this is how Loris Gréaud would prefer the entire exhibit to be perceived. This piece will continue to grow and reappear in new forms over time.

Here is a video from Artreview enjoy an interview with Loris Gréaud and “Cellar Door” in it’s automated, strobing glory.

Loris Gréaud
Cellar Door (Once is Always Twice)
25 April - 22 June 2008
Institute of Contemporary Arts
London

Stef has rolled out an elegant new screen print. “Babelon” measures approximately 20 x 14″ and is available in a minuscule edition of 8. The prints exhibit slight variation due to the two color spray hand finishing. The tower keeps growing. Head over to Hoodacious and get yours before someone else does.