Coop, the legendary pop painter and graphic artist, has made a return to the gallery world with his appropriately titled show, "New Works."  The show is on view May 29 - June 20, 2009 at Corey Helford Gallery.  Chris Cooper (aka Coop) has not shown any fine art work since 2006 but has been very busy in the meantime.  All kinds of goods with his artwork and design can be found at his merch website, www.coopstuff.com.  Coop's site welcomes you to the "merch juggarnaut" it has become - his art can be found for sale there on tee shirts, toys, skateboards, drinking glasses, zippo lighters, Guitar Hero faceplates, belt buckles, and even condoms!  Just another sign of how the do-it-yourself revolution that holds hands with the new contemporary fine art movement has revolutionized the way art is experienced, and collected.  He does have a serious cult of collectors following his work, and rightly so, it's really badass!
It does looks as though he has taken the time between shows to put aside some of his commerical art in exchange for exploring texture and a more abstract approach to his fine art.  Most of the "New Work" are large scale pop paintings that feature a bright dialogue between colors and a thicker layering of paint and stencil elements.  He has incorporated spray paint and some other hand painting techniques that add another dimension to his very graphic sensibility.  Coop is originally from Oklahoma, but moved out to Los Angeles after he finsihed high school.  His affinity for hot rod culture and the dark world of fetish has always influenced the subjects of his work and this show is no different.  His trademark devil with a cigar hanging out of his mouth can be found in this show along with his Lil' Mort skull that dons the middle finger.  The large work is really reminiscent of Warhol and Rauschenberg, but it has his toughguy Americana stamp all over it.  Be sure to go upstairs when you visit the gallery too - there is a small wall of black ink drawings that are too cool for school.  
Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Opening Reception is Friday, May 29, 2009  7 to 10pm


 

DailyServing.com is celebrating their 1000th entry on their site with an amazing art show at Scion Space titled, 1000 DAYS.  Seth Curcio, founder of DailyServing, curates the collection of paintings, installation, sculptures, and photography by emerging American artists.  He has pulled from the archives of DailyServing and sought out to make the show an experience similar to that of visiting the site.  All the written material in the program is going to be represented exactly the same on the site on the day of the opening, and Seth did a great job in reflecting the cyber world of his site in the huge space this gallery offers.  I mean, come on, we can only read about art so much until our mouth is watering to actually see it and experience it!  1000 DAYS features work by artists Caleb Weintraub, Chris Scarborough, Christina Seely, Julie Henson, Michael Rea, Mark Mulroney, Matt Phillips and Tivon Rice.  Much of the work is colorful and possesses a playful tone but with rather formal and somewhat serious subject matter.  Michael Rea's large wood sculptures are inspired by rock n roll and his love of sci-fi films, and they are interactive - a tank that you can climb inside of, and a machine gun that you can bolster on with ropes.  His craftsmanship is excellent and again, the space at the gallery really allows you to enjoy the large pieces and get a real sense of the relationships Michael is showing off.  Caleb Weintraub's large scale paintings are incredible.  He has been working along an apocalyptic narrative about children who kill off adults and take over the world.  Yes, you read right.  While the theme is a bit haunting, he uses color and pattern to create a vibrant happy tone within the subject.  Hence the work does not sting so much, and he really has so much detail.  Your eyes devour the work and don't just settle on one particular moment, but take in the whole scene.  Those are just two of the talented artists featured in the show.  I highly recommend checking it out.
Scion Space Presents: 1000 DAYS
May 23 - June 13, 2009 - Opening Reception is Saturday, May 23rd from 7-10pm
Curated by Seth Curcio
Scion Installation L.A.
3521 Helms Avenue (at National)
Culver City, CA. 90232
310.815.8840
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 11 AM - 6 PM & by appointment
 

Don't know if you have happened upon CHOKE before - it's an Eastside scooter shop...the owner Jeff, used to serve up a heck of a cappuccino there a time or two ago.  Tomorrow, Saturday, 5/16/09, he is hosting a one day art/coffee event called Cafe Legs, featuring fine coffee and a selection of rare and very desirable items curated by Aaron Rose.  Aaron Rose is a writer, art curator and the director of the cool documentary Beautiful Losers.  He is considered a main blood vessel of the 1990's DIY art movement (something influenced by the style and principles behind hip hop and punk - think skateboards, graffiti, getting loud on the microphone), which also popularized the work of artists such as Mike Mills, Shepard Fairey, Harmony Korine, and Barry McGee.  C'mon out if you're in the neighborhood.

I had an amazing dinner last week at Osteria Mozza (please, I urge you to go there and just try the Il Postino cocktail and perhaps the Beef Brasato with Polenta, so good!  www.mozza-la.com).  I went into the restroom to wash my hands before dinner and I noticed they stock Further hand soap at their sinks.  Further is an awesome product that is made from a sustainable production cycle.  For years, a man named Marshall was picking up waste grease from fine dining resturants and converting it to biofuel in his garage.  His wife Megan, a former event planner for Vogue, noticed he had a ton of glycerin drums lying around in the garage (glycerin is a by-product of the biofuel distillation process).  The couple combined the glycerin with essential oils of Bergamot, Olive, and exotic grasses to create Further hand soap.  The coolest part of this whole story is that they are picking up waste grease from Mozza...which means it is Iron Chef Mario Batali's grease being converted into soap that he is using in his restaurant's restrooms.  Waste not, want not, people!  www.furthersoap.com

I was standing outside The Powerhouse, a nightclub on 27th or 28th Street, when shiny black truck pulled up. Run-DMC and the Afros came out of the club, piled into the car, and pumped up the volume so everyone could dance. It was a classic summer in the city, and I was only 16. I don't even think I knew then what any of it meant, but it all seems so clear now.  And that's the truth of youth: you live it to the fullest.

The new book American Youth by the photographers of Redux Pictures celebrate the ingenue, the coming of the new, and the beauty of the idealism. Be it Iraq War widows or debutantes at the Plaza Hotel, JROTC in Virginia or transgenders in San Francisco, this compendium of some 25 photographers provides an unvarnished glimpse into the struggle between rebellion and tradition, self determination and vulnerability, rebellion and vulnerability on the newest generation of Americans.

On Friday, May 15, the New York Photo Festival will host a panel discussion featuring Redux photographers Gina LeVay, Mark Peterson, Nathaniel Welch; photography directors Bill Black (Reader's Digest), Bruce Perez (Redbook), Allyson Torrisi (Popular Mechanics); and moderated by Janene Outlaw (The New York Times) discussing their experiences sharing stories in photographic format, as well as providing perspective on how America's youth will define a not-too-distant future.

An exhibition of work from the book will be on view at the Festival from May 13-17 in the Tobacco Warehouse, which is open to the public through the park entrance. The Festival itself is a ticketed event and promises to provide a day's walking tour in Dumbo, traversing the cobbled streets and touring installations from the likes of Jody Quon, Chris Boot, William A. Ewing, and my faavorite, Jon Levy. Following the launch of American Youth, the winners of the New York Photo Awards will be honored along with another party, but by then I will be long gone, as Maripol is celebrating her birthday. I think she's turning 26.

St. Ann's Warehouse, 38 Water Street (right under the Brooklyn Bridge it is)
RSVP or festival pass required: Tel: 917.902.8515 or
email: AmericanYouthLaunch@gmail.com

I finally caught up with the Kogi BBQ truck last night! Maybe you already have...but it took me a few weeks to stalk this truck and get in line in my neighborhood for the most amazing Kogi Sliders ever!  I found it across the street from the 4100 Bar in Silver Lake...and at 1:15am the line was not that long.  I waited for 15 minutes to order - the yummy Sliders and (I wanted to try it all!) the Short Rib Burrito.  It was delicious and well worth the wait (that was not really a bad wait, I have heard reports of lines stretching down the block and wait times of 45 minutes).  The rage of the Korean BBQ served up Mexican style (tacos, burritos, tofu options, and even a  Kim Chee Quesadilla) is still hot in Los Angeles.  You can follow the truck via twitter or hit up their web site at www.kogibbq.com.  Their schedule today is:
Saturday
Roja
1PM-3PM@The Brig - Abbot Kinney and Palm in Venice
6PM-9PM@Buena Park - tbd
10:30PM-1AM@Eagle Rock - 4372 Eagle Rock Blvd.