Sunday, September 28, 2008

Sundays are no Fun Days

Mets lose, season ends. I'm getting so used to that it hurts. Add in the fact that today is the first Sunday gallery hours I've worked at the gallery...ever, and shit ain't pretty. But you know what is pretty?



It's Mark Brown's most recent commission for gallery buyer Tina. I've held this photo off the blog until Tina picked it up, which she did with a smile today, and it's really incredible in person. Implementing icons, meaningful symbols and numbers into the painting, which Mark does with detail in all of his commissions, I see new things every time I glance at it. The crazy thing is...everyone of the elements means something to the person who commissioned it. I love this stuff. Small room for a couple people who might want a commission sometime in 2008, so let a brother know.

We have a great "No on Proposition 8" fundraiser here at the gallery tonight, cause you know....human rights mean something to us. I believe it's open to the public, and they can use your donations to fight against people who don't believe in equal human rights. So maybe we can see you tonight?

Jensen
G1988: LA

Friday, September 26, 2008

An Article of Debate

Nice lil blurb in the new Campus Circle calling us "cool." Which is always nice. Figured I'd share.



Jensen
G1988: LA

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Prints Releasing - Jeff McMillan & Scott Campbell

This Friday, September 26th is print release day at Gallery1988. We have new prints from Jeff McMillan and Scott Campbell!


Jeff McMillan "Punchouts" at Gallery1988 Los Angeles...



Jeff McMillan
"Punchouts"
giclee prints on Textured Fine Art Paper
6 x 6 inches each
limited edition of 100
$30.00 each or $300.00 for set of 11

From top left... Von Kaiser, Soda Popinski, Mike Tyson,
Piston Honda, Great Tiger, Don Flamenco,
Glass Joe, King Hippo, Mr. Sandman,
Super Macho Man, and Bald Bull.

These prints will be released this Friday, September 26th at 11:00AM PST at Gallery1988 Los Angeles. For purchasing please email gallery1988@aol.com or call (323) 937-7088.


and four of Scott Campbell's "Friends With ET" series at Gallery1988 San Francisco...


Scott Campbell
"Friends With ET: Hungrying"
giclee print on Textured Fine Art Paper
10 x 8 inches
limited edition of 100
signed and numbered
$50.00 each


Scott Campbell
"Friends With ET: Jumping"
giclee print on Textured Fine Art Paper
10 x 8 inches
limited edition of 100
signed and numbered
$50.00 each


Scott Campbell
"Friends With ET: Sliding"
giclee print on Textured Fine Art Paper
10 x 8 inches
limited edition of 100
signed and numbered
$50.00 each


Scott Campbell
"Friends With ET: Soundwaving"
giclee print on Textured Fine Art Paper
10 x 8 inches
limited edition of 100
signed and numbered
$50.00 each

These prints will be released this Friday, September 26th at 12PM PST at Gallery1988 San Francisco. For purchasing please email gallery1988sf@gmail.com or call (415) 409-1376.

All of these fine prints are releasing this Friday, September 26th!

Monsters are coming!

For our next SF show we're doing something a little different - it's all plush and custom vinyls! In the past, we've done a few plush shows (Plush Week 1 and Plush Week 2), but this time we're including customs and a limited number of sculptures, paintings and silkscreens - all with a MONSTER theme!

"Monster Art Rally" will open October 10th where you'll find scary monsters created by...

12Punt3, 2Cents, Adrian Pina, Anna Chambers, Beastlies, Brandt Peters, Buff Monster, Bytedust, Cameron Tiede, Chocolate Log Industries, Crump, Crystal Bedford, Dan Goodsell, DGPH, Doktor A, Dr. Bao-NVC Crew, El Maz & Lina Britton, Eyebone, Forestprints, Heidi Kenney, Jake Henzler, Jamous, Jayson Thiessen, Jeff McMillan, Jellibat, Jen Rarey, Jesse Hernandez, Jumble Bugs, Kano, Kathie Olivas, Koadzn, Lana Crooks, Laura Granlund, Leecifer, Little Dear, Lost Monster, Mad L, Maoma, Mister Funky, Monster Factory, Morninglori, Motor Bot, Mycryptonauts, Rebelwookiee, Serena Kuhl, Sewing Stars, Sok-O, Spasmodica, Steff Bomb, Suicide Kittens, Tapetentiere and Tim Tsui.

Dan Goodsell will be releasing "Monster Toast" at the show, limited edition of 100 and each numbered with a hand-signed and drawn tag!



Look out! The monsters are coming to get you on October 10th!

Katie
G1988 SF

Monday, September 22, 2008

Support



Always a supporter of the gallery, especially when we first opened back in 2004, DJ AM, and his speedy recovery, is in our prayers.

Jensen
G1988: LA

props to Nico, our first ever flyer designer back in 04, for the graphic.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Big Announcement



Yep, we are starting an online division of Gallery1988, and it's called 88POINT5. In addition to our gallery shows in LA and SF we will also have monthly online shows at WWW.88POINT5.COM.

In starting this project, we really wanted to focus a lot of attention on the artist. On the site you will see 15-20 new artworks for sale, the artist's bio and direct link to their website, and most important, we're adding a discussion forum. You will be able to communicate directly with the artist, ask them questions, give comments and have discussions.

We're launching 88POINT5 with an incredible artist named Jeannie Lynn Paske! You can check out her website here: http://www.obsoleteworld.com.

Jeannie's show opens on October 4th (very soon!) and future shows (just to name a few) will include Juri Ueda (Nov. 1) and Dan Goodsell (Nov. 29).

We feel that 88POINT5 is a great opportunity for us to really feature and give a lot of attention to emerging artists, while giving collectors a chance to purchase work at reasonable prices.

You can read more info on this new project in the press release that is posted below.

Gallery1988


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Cromwell
Gallery1988 San Francisco
1173 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 409-1376
gallery1988sf@gmail.com
www.gallery1988.com

Gallery1988 Opens New Online Gallery
Emerging Artists and Affordable Artwork
October 4, 2008

At one point in 2008, Gallery1988 owners Jensen Karp and Katie Cromwell sat down to finish their 2009 exhibition schedule with the sense of confidence and ease they usually displayed during the 5 year history of owning and running their Los Angeles and San Francisco locations. It only took a few minutes of research to realize things just weren’t what they used to be. Artists who they had steadily exhibited since their inception in 2004 were now approached by galleries throughout the world, and most frequently in Los Angeles, booking their work, in some cases, 3 years in advance. The artists that one time were readily available to deliver a painting on Tuesday if you told them early enough on Monday morning, were now prepping for shows in a future decade. And yes, we are extremely happy for these artists. But we did realize this new way of booking so far in advance has created a large dilemma and obvious problem for our industry. With everyone booking so insanely far into the future, we fear that new artists, the new cycle of soon to be household names, will now find themselves without a home or outlet to show their work, as every space they strive to exhibit in will be filled until the next Olympics. Think of it this way – in 2005, if we would’ve booked 3 years in advance, imagine all the artists that were introduced during that time – and imagine that now, no one can be discovered.

With this in mind, Karp and Cromwell threw around ideas, hoping to keep the “catch a rising star” reputation they’ve created over the past 5 years, but still stay competitive amongst the newly created galleries and not be left in the cold. And this is where 88point5 Online Gallery was created.

88point5 Online will be a virtual art gallery, viewable only online at www.88point5.com, giving emerging artists an opportunity that seems less and less possible with the state of our industry – a solo show to build a young career. Every month, a new artist will debut a complete solo exhibition of 15-20 pieces at 88point5 Online, offering buyers an opportunity to be introduced to a new name and purchase affordable pieces before the whirlwind of popularity and inevitable price jumps. 88point5 Online will become the outlet to discover incredible new artists, finding themselves shut out of the gallery system because of paranoid competitive scheduling, and still able to offer affordable prices to create new fans.

And in addition to just showing their work on www.88point5.com, each artist will be partaking in an interactive message board, where this site can offer even more to the buyer than the gallery experience. Each month the featured artist is committed to answering questions and becoming involved in conversations on the site’s message board, allowing the perspective buyer to directly communicate with the artist through a click of a button. This feature will add a sense of personalized communication to your purchase, as well as create a brand new buying experience within the art world.

Although learning that artists are booked into 2011 came as a shock to Karp and Cromwell, it also doubled as a blessing for Gallery1988. It allowed the curating team to visualize the future void of introducing new artists without just including them in a yearly group show, offering three artists “solo shows” in one gallery all at the same time, or giving a tiny wall in the back of our space a hip name and pretending it’s in a different exhibition room. 88point5 Online will give these artists the opportunity to create a solid body of work and allow the buyer to become involved in their story and growth, eventually leading to more visibility at Gallery1988 LA and SF…because the truth is, our schedule is pretty open.

88point5 Online will launch October 4, 2008 with an online show featuring the work of Jeannie Lynn Paske. The online shows will rotate monthly.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Lumberish

Thanks to everyone for coming out last night to "Lumber Smack" - Travis Lampe's solo show. Especially a big thanks goes to Travis and his family, who came out for the exhibit's opening reception. Still lots of great paintings available, which you can see by clicking HERE.

And we've sold through half of the 50 piece run of "Accidental Mishap," the limited resin toy from Travis. So if you're thinking about it, we got about 20-25 left. Come by and see it, the thing sells itself. Literally. It talks. Says, "Buy me, the economy is fine."

Last night was the first time we handed out our new postcards advertising our October show, "Cover Band." Here's the evite...which is one of my favorite postcard designs yet (this one done by Katie!)



I've been dying for this show for over a year, since over 50 artists will take classic album LP covers and use them as their canvas, as seen with the postcard image from Krista Huot co-opting the Ozzy cover. A great line-up for this one, and I've seen a few album covers and it really comes across as a fresh show idea. We're partnering with our friends at Klipsch Audio, so we're working on some installation ideas for interactivity with music. We will see what we end up with. Anyway, figured I'd announce this show, and look for previews soon.

Oh, go see "Burn After Reading," and don't listen to what idiots tell you about it. Vintage Coens and stellar performances all around, giving this the closest to Lebowski comedy feel the Bros have done since the Dude rolled. Trust.

OH, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT tomorrow. Get ready for a whole new side to G1988.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

For Display Purposes

Julie B., of Pretty in Plastic fame, dropped off the display she made to help show off the "Accidental Mishap" resin art toy, and she's gonna need Charlton Heston's cold, dead hands to get this back from me. It's the coolest thing I have ever seen. It basically exactly replicates the painting where the character was first seen.





I mean, that is so cool.

But other than that, we're all lined up and ready go. If you can, swing by tonight, 7-10 PM.



Jensen
G1988: LA

Prees Please

Preview just went live one minute ago on the Travis Lampe solo show, "Lumber Smack."

CLICK HERE FOR IT.

And I can't wait until people see the art toy in person tonight...

We've already sold through like 20 of the 50 run, and we haven't opened the show yet, so get at me soon if you want one.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Sun Comes Out Tomorrow

No time to talk, I'm too nervous about WAMU closing its doors. What country do we live in?

Anyway, our Travis Lampe solo show opens tomorrow night, Tuesday the 16th, from 7-10 PM. You gotta come check it out, incredible stuff - not to mention the release of "Accidental Mishapy" - the limited resin art toy.

Quick previews of the paintings...





Jensen
G1988: LA

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Fall Out Boy x G1988 x Luke Chueh

New Album Cover.

Art Direction by Gallery 1988.

Believe It.

In Stores Nov. 4.



I hope you have a lot of prints, cause it's only gonna get crazier now.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Modern Amusement Opening

We had a great opening last night! Reuben Rude and Ahren Hertel both came through and it was great to see them, as always. A few local SF artists stopped by to check out the show as well. We got to see David Choong Lee, Kim Cogan, Brett Amory, Dave Crosland, Jenn Porreca, and Lawrence Yang. Thanks so much for stopping by! It's always nice to see familiar faces.

I also saw someone wearing one of our Jason Sho Green shirts from the LA gallery! That was awesome. These shirts (and other awesome things) that were only sold at G1988 LA can now be purchased online at WWW.STUFF88.COM, check it out! Everyone's wearing them.



I'm so excited for the weekend.

Katie
G1988 SF

Friday, September 12, 2008

Where Its Due

As we take pre-orders on the Travis Lampe Resin Art Toys (email me @ gallery1988@aol.com if that surprised you and you want one), I can't help but absolutely applaud and think the new Rotofugi online video ad is one of the most genius things to come out of our world ever. Man, do I wish I had the idea, resources, large brain, computer, etc., to have done this. You made me jealous, fellas.



Jensen
G1988: LA

Thursday, September 11, 2008

TA-DAAA!

The first of the G1988 x Pretty in Plastic (Julie B.) Art Toys...



Photobucket Image Hosting

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There it is, dude. I mean, I couldn't be happier. Literally. It's beautiful. Shoot me an email at gallery1988@aol.com to get one of the only 50 made. Oh, each tear drop hand painted by Travis will be different too. Man, I LOVE THESE THINGS.

Jensen
G1988: LA

ARTWORK PREVIEW IS UP!

The "Modern Amusement" preview is now online.

http://modernamusement88.blogspot.com/

Check it out, there's definitely some AMAZING work in the show!

Katie
G1988 SF

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

As the show installs...

Here are some images of Reuben Rude's and Jason Limon's new work in the SF show that opens on Friday. Watch out for the official preview going out tomorrow morning.

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I think this might be my favorite show ever. Seriously, I wish you could all see this in person. The detail in Reuben and Jason's work is totally incredible.

Katie
G1988 SF

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Our First Toy!!!!

Travis Lampe's "Accidental Mishap"





I know....they are just teases, but more to come in a few days. And you can learn a little more by clicking here and visiting VinylPulse.com.

A little blog exclusive? It's uber limited, made of resin and each is hand painted and a little different! And they come with a print. It's really a piece of art! And they were produced by Julie B. over at Pretty in Plastic, with the Gallery and the artist. OK, that's enough. I really am so excited for everyone to see this. We'll fill in all the blanks this next week, and remember they get released at Travis's solo show, "Lumber Smack," which opens Sept. 15, from 7-10 PM.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Friday, September 5, 2008

Artwork Arriving!

Brandi's work arrived yesterday, the first of the four artists in "Modern Amusement." The show opens in SF one week from today!

She sent 11 pieces, here's a pic of a few of them after we opened all the boxes...



And here are some better detail shots...







The works looks great in person and I think the preview might be ready a little earlier for this show. Working on it right now! I'll post pics of the Reuben, Ahren and Jason's work as it arrives.

Have a great weekend, survive the heat!

Katie
G1988 SF

My Backyard

Brian Bonus over at Vimby did a great little piece on Crazy4Cult, which basically gives you the vibe of the day before, day of and day after Crazy 4 Cult 2. I also am starting to do interviews in the same tone as Ken Burns, which is a weird thing.



SEE! Pete admits he can't get every piece he wants if he shows up late!!! We're equal opportunity folks. Got some great moments with Jeff McMillan, Anthony Clarkson, Danielle Rizollo and a cameo from Jonah Hill if you look close. Enjoy!

Jensen
G1988: LA

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

New SF Show Too!!

Jensen beat me to it and posted about our long awaited new LA solo show with Travis Lampe, but we also have an amazing show opening in SF next week that cannot be overlooked!



Ahren Hertel, Brandi Milne, Reuben Rude, and Jason Limon will all have new works available starting September 12th. I heard that a few of these artists may have already posted the new work on their websites... pre-preview?

We'll also be releasing a beautiful new Brandi Milne print at the show!



"Baby Mine"
giclee print on Somerset Velvet Fine Art Paper
8 x 10 inches
limited edition of 50
pricing info to come

"Modern Amusement" opens September 12th in SF! It's a GREAT show!

Katie
G1988 SF

5 with Lampe

With all the excitement of Crazy 4 Cult 2, and the heaps of print orders, I usually find myself ready to calm down quickly after the close of the show, but with our upcoming show "Lumber Smack" - a solo exhibit from one of my absolute favorite artists, Travis Lampe, I don't think the amp is gonna fade away.



And yes, at the opening reception we will be debut an art toy (that means hand created and painted, Jerky), produced by G1988, Travis and Julie B.'s Pretty in Plastic, called "Accidental Mishap" that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen (right after that video of Kim Stewart falling off that motorcycle with Paris Hilton. Youtube it.) You'll see those previews soon here on the blog, but they're gonna be a super limited run, so keep an eye to the blog if you want in. The opening will be on Tuesday night, September 16, from 7-10 PM.

In the meanwhile, we wanted to bring back our favorite blog feature and ask Travis Lampe to cite 5 of his current influences and inspirations by sending over 5 paintings, throughout history without any sort of restriction, that he's really feeling right now. These are the 5 he picked, and his reasons.



1. "The Sermon on the Mount" - Duccio

Duccio was basically a badass mofo. Though I love all his work, this painting is probably my favorite as it best represents all aspects of his particular je ne sais quoi - the screwy perspective in the city walls, the total disregard for accurate size relationship, the colors, and most of all the rendering of
the mountains. I love it.



2. "Venus Standing in a Landscape" - Cranach Lucas the Elder

I couldn't find a good image of the Cranach painting that I wanted to show (actually three paintings of women saints that I came across in the British Museum several years ago and stood in front of for an hour), but this one is close enough. Cranach Lucas the Elder achieved what I like to call "epic ridiculousness." The deep colors and details in the background give the painting a fantastic depth. Then , in the foreground he puts a cartoonish, yet utterly beautiful full frontal nude , and, oh yeah, she's wearing a ridiculous hat.



3. "The Reconciliation of Titania and Oberon" - Joseph Noel Paton

I love Victorian fairy paintings. This one is my favorite. The detail is astounding - there's so much going on in there, so much interaction between the minor characters, that you could look at this painting forever and not get all the subtle detail. And again, it's ridiculous and epic and beautiful at the same time - something I am drawn to.



4. "The Forest", an illustration from Dante's Divine Comedy - Gustave Doré

Sad and lost in the forest? Yes, please! I've been fascinated by Doré's engravings since I first glimpsed them in a copy of Paradise Lost at my aunt's house as a kid.



5. "Experiment 769" - Ryan Heshka

Ryan is so good it kind of makes me angry. The next time I see him, I'm going to punch him in the head.

This painting was more or less picked at random, because I like all his stuff. He combines creepiness and humor in a way that is just sick. Sick, I tell you! Ryan inspired me to get my act together and start painting in the first place. He's a great guy and very encouraging.

Jensen
G1988: LA