Vakay

So you know....

I start my first vacation in 2 years today. So when you are reading this...I will be here:



Cabo San Lucas, my friends.

Hoping I can get a post or two in during vacation, especially since I have some 8-bit sneaks and peeks for ya'll, but Katie will be checking in on you too, so keep the house clean. None of this "The dishes are done, dude" / "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter Is Dead" crap.

Also, keep these numbers in mind:

88
89
87
89
89
88
89

That is the 7 day forecast for my vacation. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. That was just mean.

Jensen
G1988: LA

The 2nd Sign of Apocalypse

First tornados, then volcanos? WHAT is going on in this Jerry Bruckheimer film? If you don't know, yes the Hollywood Hills are burning down. I can see the scene from the corner of Melrose and La Brea and it makes you wonder about a lot of things. If the Hollywood sign burns down, would any douche bag William Morris agent take a second to ponder the symbollism? Also, it makes you question how anyone could have made a bad movie about a volcano in the La Brea Tar Pits (but they did!)

So, someone please call the gallery if you see locusts or if you wanna play the Public Enemy "Burn, Hollywood, Burn" song with me.

Jensen
G1988: LA

A Team to Bank On

Pressing refresh thousands of times got me kinda lucky. My wall will now have a signed Banksy "Morons" Sepia print (the irony cost me more). This gets me one step closer to be being Brad or Angelina.



And just when I thought news couldn't get any better, it did. With 8-bit coming, and the fact that I played Playstation 3 for 6 hours last night, I'm zoning in on video game news.

First, one thing I love about the show is that you see paintings of video game characters that would normally never be near each other, all in one cute scene. But one of these possibilites....Mario and Sonic....are teaming up for a video game!



If you go back in time and tell 12 year old Jensen that Mario and Sonic are going to team up in 2008, I'd react with a face kids usually reserve for when they're first told that Santa doesn't exist. That would never happen. Smooth move, Sega and Nintendo, smooth move.

AND THEN...for those still thinking video games can't be art...feast your eyes on the new Grand Theft Auto trailer.



I think that's enough dork for one day.

Jensen
G1988: LA

PRINTS, PRINTS, PRINTS!!!

Hello!

So, we've been working on some exciting new prints, scheduled to be released in April! We have two new Craola prints in the works, one new Luke Chueh print, and our very first Mark Bodnar print! I can't give away too many details, but I will show you one of the Craola prints...



This was my personal favorite from Greg's last solo show at Upper Playground in Feb, so I'm especially excited about this one! It's called "The Pollen Hunter".

I can't spill any more secrets, you'll just have to wait a few more weeks to see the others. Ok, ok! Fine, I'll give you one hint about the new Luke Chueh print. Does anyone remember Luke's piece from the first "I Am 8-Bit" show? Hmm... I think that was a pretty big clue.

We'll post all the new prints when they're ready, which will be very very soon! Until then...

Katie
G1988 San Francisco

Man vs. Machine

8-BIT is seriously getting more serious by the moment. Exhibit A: This video featuring toy customizers NVC (Dr. Bao and Spive) and their new Mega Man creation for I AM 8-BIT on April 17. Wait, it makes noises? Hands down, the GREATEST artist video ever (original music made for the clip, stop motion graphics, an 8-bit title screen, kid on the couch looking bored). I also LOVE that it looks like an Al-Queda tape, with him building a bomb out of blank Dunnys.



Jensen
G1988: LA

For The Ears

I survived the tornado here in Hollywood, which I guess is now getting some major network coverage, evidenced by my Mom calling and yelling, "Are you OK?," about 10 minutes ago. But look what the wind brought in...






This is a collaboration with our friends over at Gelaskins, a stellar company who produce hi-end stickers to decorate your IPod with. They were nice enough to produce these babies for our SF gallery opening on April 21st. With the artwork of newly G1988 represented child prodigy Matt Dangler, these IPod skins fit the Video Ipod and the Nano. "The Dangler" will deliver his 8-bit opus, which he has been spooning in bed with for weeks, in the next few days and I'm chomping at the bit. Also, he'll be the one wearing the birthday hat at the 8-bit opening reception, as it is his day of birth on April 17 and he's spending it in LA! Tell the kid happy 14th birthday (joke, although he is the age of Lil' Bow Wow) and then drool at his piece.

In the menwhile, you can get these Ipod skins, THANKS TO GELASKINS, for free by attending the Gallery 1988 SF GRAND OPENING on April 21, 2007.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Where's the Cowardly Lion?

Can anyone vouch for the tornado that went just through the Hollywood area?



I'm not sure I can do this one justice, but for about 5 minutes everything went dark, rain started to pour and the winds really picked up. The power at the gallery went out for exactly 4 minutes. The wind was actually slamming our front door shut, although it was already closed.

Then the skies cleared and now it's blue and sunny out again (it's even a little hot). Al Gore is somewhere laughing.

My sources also tell me that a huge building sized IPod ad on Highland and Santa Monica came down, covering small building around it. SOMEONE SAVE ANAWALT NOW!

Either way, G-d is mad at Hollywood. Actually whatever Higher Power you believe is most likely mad at us. It could be G-d and Allah teaming up. For one storm. Like Gnarls Barkley. But if the storm sells, they'll tour together. Then it gets real scary.

Did anyone else see this weather oddity?

Jensen
G1988: LA

Good-bye to a Legend

A rather busy day at the gallery is capped with sadness, as my searching on the Net has given me the tragic news of Larry "Bud" Melman (known to the government as Calvert DeForest, so I guess the whole name shoulda been in quotations) dying a few days ago.

I'll always remember Melman as the incredibly odd contributer to Late Night with David Letterman, but I'm sure some will recognize him from the crazy car commercials he did in the 80's. Either way, pour a lil Squeeze-It out for Melman. We'll miss you, weird-looking guy.

Jensen
G1988: LA

Getting Strong Now...

I AM 8-bit is steadily approaching and just about everyday now we get a piece that seems to outdo the next. Today it was Erik Alos's turn. Erik is an artist who was reccomended to us by Greg "Craola" Simkins and has since become a 1988 represented artist.

I remeber my first meeting with Erik and him explaning how he wanted to utilize his graf roots, but become more character based in the next 10-15 pieces he created. We both instantly saw a vision as to where he could go with his work and insane imagination, specifically for G1988: LA, and since then he's painted some techincal beauties, inclduing his piece for our Cheshire Cat show, which we still get comments on.

This year's 8-bit piece is a monster. It's a Super Mario explosion of sorts with enough detail and work in it to make Isaac Pierro (who was visiting during Erik's drop off) to say "Damn, you did your thing!" And for those who don't know, that's a major compliment from Isaac (right behind him saying the F word, then your name in an elongated fashion).

Erik works hard and it shows. The paintings take him weeks. This 8-bit piece (subtly displayed in the above picture, but still not blowing it's eventual unveiling) should help the world know his name. This one is gonna be a Mario fan's dream.

Jensen
G1988: LA

He's Just A Man...

How can anyone be stressed at work with a visit from LA art darling Luke Chueh? Luke came by to meet minds on an upcoming print at 1988 and shoot the shit with me about the definition of a "solo show." If anyone ever wants to get bored quickly, feel free to ask me about it.

Anyway, Luke has a big show coming up at M Modern in Palm Springs, and a "solo show" with us later in the year - not to mention a really funny 8-bit piece next month - so he's a busy bee. He and I also chatted on our common love for Toygers (if you don't know, please google it).

Katie and I sometimes call our LA gallery, "The House Luke Chueh Built," mostly because he was our first sell out and helped us really understand our mission and focus here. His incredible work was able to get us a lot of attention and it was then that we learned how to work our asses off for an artist. He brought Joe Ledbetter and Thomas Han into the gallery, which is always a plus, and he's just an all around fun guy.

Katie and I have talked about it before, and we really do feel like Luke is a member of our actual families (albiet just a cousin). It just really feels that way. He's done a lot for us, we've been through a lot and we're sure we'll be friends for a long time. Until then, please study the above picture of him, as it is rare that he is not doing his signature "FOB Peace sign," as seen below. PEACE!



Jensen
G1988: LA