Grass Hut = Glass Hat

You can check out the show, and learn how to purchase pieces from this show, by visiting GrassHutGlassHat.blogspot.com.

Putting the final touches on tonight's opening reception for "Glass Hat," which features artwork (in the form of paintings, custom toys, sculptures and prints) from the Portland, Oregon art collective, Grass Hut. Not only have they delivered almost 150 pieces of art from collective members and affiliates, they've transformed the gallery into their own little habitat, grass hut and all (you won't even come close to remembering that He-Man lived here just last week). Here are some pictures of the installation (in progress yesterday) and artists Scrappers and Le Merde doing their thang.











Can't wait for you to see the rest of the gallery! Stop by tonight, 7-10 PM and have a beer with our friends from Portland.

Jensen
G1988:LA

The Hut Locker

Feels like Portland, Oregon has pulled right onto Melrose and La Brea as your favorite Grass Hut Art Collective members have started work on their artwork installation (and more!) for their show, "Glass Hat." And not only do we have the Grass Hut core members, we have their friends and affiliates helping make their take over of Los Angeles even more memorable.

The show will open tomorrow night (Thursday), with a reception from 7-10 PM and I'm telling you: don't miss this one. Every painting they pull out of every box, and every customized toy they unveil before they place it onto a shelf, makes me say "AWESOME" in an incredibly loud tone. So, get your "AWESOMES" ready, because it's time for sneak peeks.





APAK is Aaron Piland and Ayumi Kajikawa Piland and over the past few years have quickly become one of my favorite art duos. We are so happy to finally have their work in the LA gallery and the previewed piece above, "Earth Reflectors," is beautiful.





I had never heard of Arbito before Bwana and the guys brought up his name for this show, and I realized quickly I have been obviously SLEEPING on something very cool. Especially since the gallery has gotten so many emails inquiring about his work for this show. Check out the above painting and custom toy (HOLY MOLY). I am so stoked to have been introduced to Arbito's work and look forward to working with him in the future.





One of my Comic Con highlights every year is visiting the Grass Hut booth, which also seems to be your favorite highlight too, considering how fast they sell their custom toys released that weekend. And a few years back, that's where I learned of Le Merde. Easily, my favorite toy customizer, I learned quickly that I also love his paintings. You can see both above, but you won't see them long considering how high the demand has been for the work in "Glass Hat" already.





One of the original 20 artists we contacted when we opened in 2004, Bwana Spoons is just wholeheartedly awesome. Check out the custom and the painting above and it's easy to see why he's one of the most talked about artists in our genre, and has been for quite some time. An all-around good dude, and all-around good artist and I always look forward to see what he's gonna do next. And his work for "Glass Hat" is no different.

So there's a quick peak. Tomorrow, I'll give you some sneaks of the amazing gallery installation their creating, which involves and actual Grass Hut!

Jensen
G1988:LA

Soon Soon Soon

"Under The Influence: An Official Art Tribute to Beastie Boys" is literally just around the corner, opening at G1988: LA on Jan. 8, 2009. Boasting a line-up of just about 100 artists, this show is shaping up to be quite a historic event. The band has been extremely gracious and receptive, involving themselves in early previews and promotion, so we're really gearing up for this one. Consider it a boyhood dream. Every piece that is delivered for this show brings a serious smile to my face, as I employ each Beastie Boys record to represent a time in my life, while each song brings back memories of specific instances. I mean, I had a lizard when I was 10 named "Beastie." I learned to skateboard to "Check Your Head" and I tend to believe my personality was shaped from "Paul's Boutique" (maybe not a compliment?). So to maybe get you into the same mind state, let's give you a nice little peek into what I've been seeing delivered in cardboard boxes this week...



Chris Roth did another light up stained glass piece, in the vein as last year's Stan Lee tribute, this time getting in touch with his religious side. SO INSANE. The detail in this piece is mind blowing, as each piece of glass is painted individually.



Up and coming art star Jullian Callos brought the boom box and vinyl directly to life. Jullian is an artist who has blown me away, and improved, with each piece he has delivered. And he's sold every piece in a 1988 show so far, so there's really nothing better!



One of my personal favorite artists Le Merde takes aim at one of my favorite songs of all time. The Portland native channels his inner Egg Man.



Ken Garduno goes undercover referencing the classic Spike Jonze helmed music video for "Sabotage."



Michael Alvarez shows the world who made the fish eyed lens cool.



Jason D'Aquino has a steady hand in only comparable to Mix Master Mike I think, able to create this seriously detailed boom box all on a small book. And not just any book. A title referenced in "B-Boy Bouillabaisse."

Enough for now....more later. The LA gallery will be open tomorrow 11-6, Sunday 12-4, Tuesday 11-6 and Weds 11-3. Get your last minute Holiday shopping in. I won't tell.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Saturday Night Fever

I think it's because I've been in the Melrose gallery watching this new exhibit come together in an incredible awesome way for the past few days - but I couldn't feel better about 1988 right now. The Stella show opened last night in SF to a great crowd and response, plowing through original art, and forcing Katie to spend 3 straight hours on just returning print inquiry emails today. While in LA, we're in the go-home weekend for our Mattel-sponsored shin-dig, "TOYS!" - and just finished a gallery installation (from that team that brought you the Cheshire Cat pink fur madness last year) that is going to make you freak out and have flashbacks to when you read books only because Levar Burton suggested them to you on Reading Rainbow. You know what? I don't want to spoil most of the art, but here are some very detailed, and out of context, pictures of parts of the gallery installation. It's like FAO Schwartz up in this bitch.







Yes, that's a Hit Stix. Yes, that's orange Hot Wheels tracks looped around the space. And yes, that's a Teddy Ruxpin (and for those with super eyes, yes, that's a My Buddy and Popple). That's just little parts keep in mind. And yes, it opens this Tuesday night, April 1st, 7-10 PM at our Los Angeles gallery. Come early, I'll be the one sweating. You'll be the one having fun.

Remember, this show will feature dozens of customized Hot Wheels VW Vans, which you've previewed on this blog quite a few times, but it also has almost 100 paintings, all influenced by ANY childhood toy. One of them by Mark Brown, was previewed on our recent email blast, then posted on Juxtapoz.com (not too shabby, considering that is Mark's FIRST GALLERY EXHIBITED PAINTING EVER). So here's some more peeks at paintings (including the Mark Brown I used capital letters about), and two vans that went that extra mile...

Brandon Sopinsky



Scott Scheidly



Mark Brown



Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters (p.s. INSANE)



Noferin



Le Merde



What do I have to do make sure you know how dope this show is going to be? Let's put it this way. If CNN (the channel, not the dismantled 1990's NY rap duo) is covering it, so should you.

And in unrelated news, we're very excited to announce that 1988 is adding a new talent to its list of represented artists (the first new addition in over a year).



The machine we call Angry Woebots (and the government called Aaron Martin) has joined the 1988 family. You've already seen the Hawaii native in numerous group shows at both locations (and will see him this Tuesday in "TOYS!" and in the same capacity throughout 2008), and now we'll be growing into more focused shows and promotion, both in LA and SF in 2009, and then solos to quickly follow! We literally couldn't be more excited, especially with some plans in the works to create some great product as well. We're honored that he will be calling us home in California next year, and we're stoked to say, "We're in the panda business." Mahalo, Aaron.

Jensen
G1988: LA