With The Students

I jetted out to Chicago this weekend for work (more on that down the road), but before I took off, my girlfriend Chrissy and I were lucky enough to see the OTIS Illustration Senior Graduation show on Thursday night. For the past two years, I've been working with OTIS Illustration instructors Nathan Ota and Bob Dob, creating a project every year for their junior class that coincides with Crazy 4 Cult, and finds a few students every year participating in their first art show. This year's seniors include many of the artists you already find hanging on G1988's walls, as well as some new names - and I must say the atmosphere and experience that Bob and Nathan are creating at OTIS is both exciting and integral, focusing on both the world of illustration and the gallery scene for young artists. I remember when we first opened the gallery, everyone seemed to be talking about the Clayton Brothers' positive influence at Art Center and the artists graduating, but I can't help but think that torch has been passed since Bob and Nathan are helping create careers while the artists are STILL IN SCHOOL. Anyway, took some pictures of the show and wanted to share...

First up, Julian Callos. A super-familiar face to G1988, Julian is my favorite up-and-coming artist. I can say that easily. The pieces he created for his senior thesis were breath-taking. I absolutely loved them and was thrilled to find out that the pieces are all going to be featured in an upcoming show at G1988: SF. Didn't know that. Consider this a sneak peek - and even more proof that Julian is one to watch...

Julian also showed off some of his 3-D talents and created this sculpture to accompany the paintings...

Allison Reimold is probably the most improved artist in the class, when you compare the first time I

saw her work during her junior year Crazy 4 Cult project and what I saw at the Senior show

(as well as her recent Idiot Box piece). I can not wait to see more from her,

and she's got some shows at G1988, so I'll see it first-hand.

Jaw Cooper, who was in last year's Crazy 4 Cult, has also developed into a seriously incredible artist.

A new name to me, Chan Koak, had some adorable pieces on display.

An artist I will be emailing for sure.

I know we've posted about it on here before, but it's worth 2 postings.

Here's Mylan Nguyen's entire senior installation creating a pretty sweet little houseboat.

Although we missed them by about an hour, I hear Greg Simkins and his son Isaac

had a bit of sailing adventure in it.

And most of the pieces featured in the boat were actually all available on our website, 88point5.

You can see those by CLICKING HERE.

Thomas Lynch III has been featured at G1988 a few times already,

and excited to see more of his work now that he's graduated.

And on my way out I was totally impressed by Graphic Design grad

Kaoru Amy Shimsohige's posters about gender inequality.

This poster detailed her skills at Mario Kart (as Bowser) and how after winning

races on her DS Wi-Fi in high school, boys would find out she was a girl and

immediately have negative things to say. She on the other hand would

laugh and race again.

Good stuff.

Again, LOVED going to this show and it really was a fun experience.

And with a few juniors joining this year's Crazy 4 Cult show in July already,

next year's Seniors are gonna be just as impressive.

Jensen

G1988: LA

Bob Dob, Nathan Ota and Daniel Peacock

The show artwork is now available for sale...

RIGHT HERE!

Sneak Preview

Here's a sneak peak of a Nathan Ota painting from our upcoming show in SF...



The painting is titled "Buckethead."

"The Gentlemen's Gang"
Bob Dob, Nathan Ota, Daniel Peacock
Gallery1988 San Francisco
Jan. 4 - Jan. 26, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...

I like to pretend that when artists come in to sign prints, it's a HUGE party where I play early Ohio Players albums, we do the Electric Slide and we eat Pumpkin Cheescake. But in truth...the artists sign the print in the back.



There's Nathan Ota signing the "Candy Colored Clown" Crazy 4 Cult print today, getting ready to ship out! They do look awesome and Nathan is such a good dude. It's always funny to me, because the artists he gets compared to are usually artists that were his students at art school. You can still pick these up, check out www.crazy4cult.com for more info.

I know that most of you aren't able to come in and actually see the Craola installation, so I wanted to post these two pics. Greg's current "I'M SCAR3D" show will actually be featured in next month's Juxtapoz magazine as a Show Stopper, so I had to have some pictures taken real quick digitally (since the show was shot on film only, wait, this is way too much information at this point). Here's two of the photos in their full candle glory..





Greg Simkins was also interviewed over at Fecal Face today, which I would normally link, but their love for us is so minimal, I'll just mention it (I'm a bitter dude).



And back to the balcony for me, because I saw "Lars and the Real Girl" last week and it is by far my favorite movie of the year (not saying much, as I haven't really seen much in the past few weeks). I think it's a near perfect movie, which took a plot that could've been the worst 5 minute SNL sketch - and made it an emotional masterpiece. Gosling is a powerhouse, showing he's more than just the dude every girl you ever date will want to bang purely based on a movie he did about a notebook (p.s. haven't seen it). Don't tell me you hated Lars and the Real Girl, because I'm not sure I could be your friend anymore. And by "friend" I mean "person who reads the blog." I strongly suggest seeing this, as it opens nationwide tomorrow.

Jensen
G1988: LA

MY NEW FAV -NOFERIN

I wanted to plug Candy and Nicho of NOFERIN really quick.

I cannot tell you how much I love these two! Jensen makes fun of me because I chant their name on IM everyday. Seriously that's a true story. Yes, I'm a dork.

Look at this...





Those are pics from their last solo show in Australia. How cool is that? They decorated the gallery to look like a forest! And, not only do they create flawless paintings that are playful and fun and genuine, they also happen to be the two nicest people on the planet. Check em out here.

And yes, we are working with them, obviously. How could I not work with people I love that much? (Paper Pushers) The fact that plugging them in turn promotes the gallery shouldn't discredit my feelings about them. I truly do love them.

Ok, so now on to gallery news...

The beautiful "Candy Colored Clown" print by Nathan Ota was released today and there are still a few copies left. Hurry! These prints truly look amazing, as they're printed with archival ink on Somerset Velvet paper.



Nathan Ota
"Candy Colored Clown"
11 x 14 inches
edition of 50, each hand signed and numbered by the artist
giclee print on Somerset Velvet paper with archival ink
$100.00 each

Call (323) 937-7088 to pick one up!

Katie
G1988 San Francisco

Crazy 4 Doing This....

It's that time again....the new CRAZY4CULT.com print release is on Oct. 24, Wednesday, at Noon PST. And here that puppy is...



Nathan Ota
"Candy Colored Clown"
11 x 14 inches
edition of 50, each hand signed and numbered by the artist
giclee print on fine art archival paper
$100.00 each

Besides being inspired by one of my David Lynch favs, Nathan's piece was one of the most admired from the Crazy 4 Cult show back in July. The print is perfect. Katie, who does our printing up in SF, nailed this one! I definately reccomend picking this one up! All the info is on CRAZY4CULT.com, but you all know to call either the LA or SF gallery on the 24th at Noon PST. Right?

And don't forget...



Yes, that's me and that's what I used to. And I'm doing it one last time!



It's going to be a lot of fun...and yes, my Mom will be involved in the stage show. We practiced last night and let's just say...I don't think it was enough practice. OH, and remember....it's all in celebration of my new book (with bandmember Matty Boom) called "Just Can't Get Enough" from Abrams now available on Amazon.com. We'll also have some at the show. I really would love to see you there. We go on around 10ish.

Mazel Tov.

Jensen
G1988: LA