Skateboarding and art have always went hand in hand. Much like art, skating is all about creativity and originality. This weekend Boston welcomes the Dew Tour’s Skate Open, ISF Skateboarding World Championships to the TD Garden.In addition to world-class competitions, the two-day event will also include a FREE concert by break-out bands Neon Trees and Paper Tongues- taking place at City Hall Plaza on Thursday, June 24 at 8:00pm - and an interactive Festival Village. The Festival Village will feature Mountain Dew and FUEL TV’s Green Label Experience, the Nike iD program where fans can customize their own pair of shoes, the NERF Dart Tag World Championships, free product giveaways, demos of the latest Sony and PlayStation games and electronics and athlete autograph signings.The Green Label Experience will feature original designs from 35 skate-shops and artists across the country that are competing to have their art featured on a Mountain Dew Can. Click the link above, and once you register,  you can vote up to 7 times a day and you will be eligible for a custom prize pack or a trip to a Dew Tour event.I just got word that local Harvard Square skateshop/boutique Concepts has entered the competition with the help of South Boston based artist Bill Concannon. If you want to show some Boston pride, do your part and vote!I had a chance to catch up with P-Rod and Don Pendleton and discuss their project. (see below).

The contest will go all summer at the various tour stops and they will announce the winner at the Dew Tour in Las Vegas in October. The art will be on display to the general public both Friday and Saturday in the Green Label Experience tent.  The defending Skate Park World Champion and three-time Dew Cup Champion, Ryan Sheckler will look to repeat his World Champion status again in 2010. However, he will have to contend with the likes of Paul Rodriguez, Chaz Ortiz, Ryan Decenzo, Nick Dompierre, Jake Duncombe, Greg Lutzka and Boston-native Jereme Rogers. Fans can catch the skate park final streaming live on www.Allisports.com, Saturday, June 26 beginning at 7:45pm EST.Tickets to the Dew Tour’s Skate Open, ISF Skateboarding World Championships are available through Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster.com, and select Ticketmaster retail outlets, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Love him, hate him.. whatever..

He’s probably still put in more work than you..

and this time he’s reunited with Arkitip for issue No. 0051.

Shepard Fairey’s new show “May Day” at the Deitch Projects will be the last show for the NYC gallery and Arkitip has decided to sell this issue for 50% off for one day only(May 1st).  If you caught his show at the ICA but didn’t get to score one of his signed prints, now is your chance. This issue includes a signed print made just for this issue.

At half off, I suspect they will go pretty fast. Click here to get yours

Nothings sacred.  Or is it?
When I was a child I would doodle on anything in sight. Most of the time it was drawing mustaches, tattoos and such on images in the local TV guide.
Dr. Lakra has taken that pastime to a whole new level in his first U.S. solo show at the Institute of Contemporary Art/ Boston.

Jeronimo Lopez Ramirez, above, is a self-taught illustrator and tattoo artist who signs his work as Dr. Lakra. Using images found from flea markets and bookstores around the globe and painting over them he explores the cultural significance, taboos and prestige of tattoo based art. No image is safe, from portraits of politicians, seductive advertising and pop cultural figures,  Lakra changes their look and meaning all at once.

“I see my work, my tattoo work and other formats, as  a mixture of different iconographies from different cultures and places,” says Dr. Lakra. “I’m always trying to deal with this basic primal urge. Primitive instincts like Sex, violence, graffiti are all innate[to] human beings and not tied to one culture.”

In the piece above, you have Getulio Vargas, the former president of Brazil. He has been adorned with moko, the intricate body markings of the Maori. The photograph was appropriated from a program for a political gathering in the mid 20th century. These particular markings are reserved for chieftains and elite warriors from an indigenous New Zealand tribe, drawing parallels between the two types of leaders, asking the viewer to consider western representations of power. Moari, Chicano, Thai and Phillipine cultures are all present in his tattoo aesthetic, combining designs from inner-city gangs, religion, pulp fiction and pre-Columbian culture.

Aside from his tattoo work, Lakra draws and paints on various inanimate objects, from dolls(above) to ornate wall murals, straight forward portraits and vintage books. Using ink, pen and paint Lakra lends his brand of social commentary to a pre-existing image or idea.

One of my favorite images from the show is an actual 18th century woodblock print that Lakra has drawn directly on(above).
Using gang tattoos, he has turned this Sumo wrestler into an LA gangbanger. The Sumo image is one of strength and tradition. The tattoos really personify the similarities between the Sumo and the gangbanger as both cultures are steeped in history and tradition.

“Dr. Lakra” at the Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., through Sept. 16. Tickets: $10-$15; 617-478-3100, icaboston.org.

It’s safe to say that Suzannah Sinclair  is one of my favorite painters.  It’s not just because she paints hot naked women, though I’m sure that doesn’t hurt.  Using vintage magazines as photo reference, she paints a mood and a scene all at once.

Sister 2010 watercolor and pencil on birch panel 13 x 12 inches (33×30cm)

Is the subject sad? lonely? bored? playful? aloof? These are questions the viewer is inevitably left asking. The paintings are done on wood panels, and often the wood grain shows though the paint, or parts of the image are left intentionally blank so the background becomes part of the image. The organic nature of the canvas lends itself nicely to the figurative work. The brush strokes are delicate and thoughtful and bring to life emotion and curiosity.

I can’t post any more photos because of the racy nature of the work. I can say that they are tasteful nudes and it’s nothing I would consider pornographic. Click here to see more images

This is only her second solo show and it offers a great sign of things to come. Camilo Alvarez, the owner of samson projects , says “He’s happy to have a few of her original drawings in this exhibit as well, as they offer insight into her process and act as studies for the finished products”.

Check out her show 
March 26 - May 1, 2010
samson projects
450 Harrison Ave. / 29 Thayer St.
Boston, MA 02118
T 617 357 7177

Artist’s Reception:
Friday, March 26 / 6 - 8PM

preview show online at:samsonprojects.com

NEW Gallery Hours:
Wednesday to Saturday: 12 to 5
& by appointment

Art in Boston has never been so accessible.
The Boston Art Dealers Association has announced that The Art Bus, a free shuttle service between the Newbury Street and South End Art Districts, will begin on Saturday, 3 April 2010.

The Art Bus will transport gallery visitors between the Back Bay and South End free of charge from Noon to 4:00 PM on the first Saturday of each month from September to June. Bus riders can pick up an Art Bus pass by visiting any BADA member gallery and catch the bus as it runs a continuous loop making stops at:

 
• Thayer Street at Harrison Avenue

• Newbury Street at Berkeley Street (in front of the Church of the Covenant)

• Newbury Street at Dartmouth Street (in front of Fitz Inn parking lot)

 If riders need to get back to where they came from, they can pick up another pass at any BADA gallery.

Workbar Gallery
December 15 to March 15     Reception on January13, 5:30 - 8

  Sandra Cohen               Justin Pilotte
Mike Hammecker           Brent Refsland
Anna Koon                    Katrina Sustachek

Gallery at WorkBar is located at 711 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02111 - lower level

(Across from the South Station train platform and next to Boston Sports Club)

WorkBar has partnered with Alternate Currents in support of the local arts and to encourage commerce within the Boston community!  The Gallery @WorkBar is lined with wall-to-wall displays of artwork from local Boston artists! 

Normally I write about Boston based artists, but I was on the road to New York City last weekend and while I was there I got to catch up with Brooklyn based artist Tomokazu Matsuyama.

 Visiting his studio in an industrial warehouse in Greenpoint, I was instantly reminded of the Fort point section of Boston where I lived for many years. The dimly lit hallways, complete with peeling paint and steel doors made me feel very much at home. While navigating the hallways, you could almost feel the energy of all the artists that have used this building as their home base. After a quick phone call I was let in from the stairwell and, while walking down the hallway to his space, Matsuyama explains to me that a lot of what I’m about to see is for an upcoming show at the Frey Norris Gallery in San Francisco.

The space was pretty typical for a building of this nature, though the art was anything but. The first sight you see is a huge floor to ceiling 180 x 100 inches triptych, below.

The images jump out at you, and draw you in to the point where you feel like you could almost step into Matsuyama’s painted world. While the scenes seem to be of very traditional Japanese images, it’s the approach that makes these paintings so fresh.


Using these images, he updates them by filling them in with multiple patterns and colors, (seen above in this detail) no doubt influenced by the various contemporary artists that he respects. 

Born in Japan and having lived for quite some time in the U.S., his style, much like his persona, is a hybrid of Japanese and American culture. Much like traditional Japanese art, his paintings rely heavily on composition, but — in spite of all the information being conveyed to the viewer — they remain busy yet simplistic, an interesting and playful contradiction. This frenetic mixture is also a nod to the identity crisis that Matsuyama felt by not exactly fitting in to either of the two worlds he grew up in. 

The mythical Kirin, in the 2 paintings above, is a mixture of various animals, and seems to be a fitting subject to showcase Matsuyama’s unique style.

Matsuyama’s work can be found online here
Frey Norris Gallery / 456 Geary St.  during the month of February, click here for more details.

Chase Gallery is featuring Holly Farrell this December, and I have to say, she’s one of my favorites.

Using acrylics and oil on masonite, Farrell paints still-life’s out of everyday objects and makes them interesting, but make no mistake these are not your grandmothers still-life paintings.

In the above painting, ‘Barbi Ski Queen and Ken Ski Champion’, she captures the duo in style and with a whimsical snowflake pattern background that lends itself perfectly to the Barbi phenom era.

‘Sofa’ is a fantastic piece of composition and color. The empty wall space above the couch leaves room for the imagination and provides a nice juxtaposition to the heavily patterned couch. The patterned floor adds just enough weight to the bottom of the painting, without taking away from the simplicity of it.

Holly Farrell is a self-taught painter who didn’t start painting till she was 29. She sold her first painting at 31. She is now a full-time artist and is represented by 6 different galleries. If you get a chance, head out to the Chase gallery this month and see in person what all the buzz is about. You won’t be disappointed.

The opening reception is this Friday, December 4th from 6-8pm.
The show will run from December 2 - 31 , 2009.

The pieces above are (from top to bottom)
‘Barbi Ski Queen and Ken Ski Champion’ 15.5 x 8.5 inches each, 2 pieces, acrylic and oil on masonite
 ’

Sofa” 18 x 28 inches, acrylic and oil on masonite

The Fort Point Arts Community Holiday sale is a unique
opportunity for artful holiday shopping, or to just treat yourself!

All in one convenient location, at Made in Fort Point/Art at 12:
***20 talented local artists will be set up, displaying their wares over the three-day event.
***The newly expanded FPAC Store will be open featuring works of art, craft and design by over seventy-five fort point artists.
***Art at 12 presents SMALL WORKS: artworks by Fort Point Arts Community members from December 4th through the holidays.

Find jewelry, paintings, prints, pottery artists’ books, photography, handcrafted clothing and accessories, furniture, lighting, prints, holiday ornaments, cards, and much, much more! Something for every budget.

11th Annual Fort Point Arts Community
HOLIDAY SALE

December 4, 5 and 6, 2009
Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Special Opening Reception Friday 5-7pm
Festive holiday snacks and refreshments:
toast the holiday season with us!

12 Farnsworth Street
Fort Point, Boston
617-423-1100

12 Farnsworth is just off of Congress Street, one block east of the Children’s Museum and right next door to Flour Bakery and Cafe
Wheelchair accessible

Above painting by Andrew Woodward “The Docks” 2009 acrylic on panel 10 x 22′

Daniel Ellis Dec-Jan 2009
Opening: December 4, 6-8 pm

How do we define the chaos of our age? Is it estrangement? Our lack of control? Being recognized not as people but as social security numbers in this age of computers, digital bureaucracy, and high science and technology? How many degrees of apathy, madness, feigned calmness, and endless pleas for salvation have arisen from this, and what kind of atmosphere does it create?

Messages from all corners of the planet, even from the sea and skies, in many different languages and forms, are universal. Let’s take one - SOS. Help. Because of the volume and velocity of this repeated urgent call, which ultimately looks and sounds the same, the caller is essentially helpless. As self-preserving individuals, this state of being is a horror to us. But as participants in a chain of events, like links in very large chains, the impact on us is different. If we distance ourselves from this noise, there is a beauty and order to this seeming danger and chaos. It is life, and not just the human condition but the universal condition. Our pleas bind us and define life. They are energy, be it desire, motion, yearning, the pattern of which envelops, interconnects, and interweaves us as life beings to which we yield.

There are both psychologically unsettling and ecstatically freeing aspects of our current Golden Age of advancement of knowledge of astrophysics. The speed at which scientists are finding other planets and galaxies, the incredible expansion of the scope of this knowledge which could soon lead to the discovery of other worlds and life similar to ours, the realization that creation and destruction are mere inevitable phases of the process of the universe, the recent discovery that we ourselves are merely composed of DNA, being recombinant chains of billions of sequences of four proteins labeled C,G, A and T - all of this has and will continue to effect how we view ourselves. Currently, scientists claim to know approximately 24% of all matter in the universe; the remaining “unknown” 76% is dark matter, or dark energy. This scientific mega-advancement is machinelike, other-worldly, estranging, and yet oddly freeing. These paradigms are the backdrop of Ellis’s enlightened work.

Ellis has absorbed the advancements of Modern Art and his work philosophically reflects upon the complex levels of helplessness and triumph in today’s digitally saturated and scientifically strange techno-sphere. We see minimalist traces of the Muse paintings of Brice Marden and the repeated grid of Agnes Martin. He combines Op Art with the large scale color saturation of Rothko and Barnett Newman. The mesmerizing character of each work, similar to a musical orchestration by Philip Glass, transmits a universal message. One work pacifies, perhaps hypnotizes, us to ponder the significance of a plea for help, while another jars our senses, entrancing the viewer into a calm yet disturbing vein of another unique atmosphere.

This interplay of color and pattern creates a compelling visual experience which, in these large canvases, enshrouds in a sort of starry night, or fog. The images are a reflection, a repetition, a scream among many, repeated mechanically, and the copies produced by this scream machine elicit apathy, white noise, static, and a sort of freedom as well.

460 harrison avenue
boston 02118
617.482.0055
wednesday to saturday

12 to 6 pm and by appointment
info@anthonygreaney.com

Pieces above, SOS - Black 54 x 97 inches, ink on canvas.
SOS - Blue 54 x 97 inches, ink on canvas.