Photo courtesy David Choong Lee

One of our favorite portraitists, David Choong Lee whom we featured in Theme in our Siblings issue (2005) has a solo show coming up at one of LA’s finest galleries. Here’s the info:

LeBasse Projects presents:

David Choong Lee :: Acquiring Signal
August 14th – Sept 10th 2010
Artist reception: Saturday, August 14th, 7-10p
Los Angeles, CA – LeBasse Projects is proud to announce David Choong Lee’s solo exhibition, ‘Acquiring Signal’.

‘Acquiring Signal’ will be David Choong Lee’s second major Installation based exhibition. Completely wrapping the gallery walls, Lee’s 400+ piece installation pays homage to street people and the cities they inhabit. A combination of paintings and sculptures, his large scale wall collage will be his most inventive architectural work to date.

Based out of San Francisco’s street art movement, Korean born artist Lee reflects on social conditions within youth culture, urban environments and generation “next,” tapping into both American and Korean visual aesthetics. Sociopolitical and economic issues surrounding homelessness and youth populations are at the heart of Lee’s paintings, which play with the subcultures’ politics of power, judgment and perception. Lee’s on-location assemblages embody concepts that float between his choice of subject matter, material and technique. The graffiti-like amalgamations fold in traditional figurative portraiture and promote public discourse, challenging the notion of what is considered fine art.

Photo courtesy David Choong Lee

Lee’s most recent exhibition in 2009, ‘Sunshine on Cast Shadows’ was showcased at The University of Arizona’s Joseph Gross Gallery. Lee has been widely exhibited internationally in San Francisco, New York, Montreal and Los Angeles.

For additional inquiries please contact:
or 310.558.0200
6023 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232

TAGS: Events

Scion Presents: Ed Emberley and Friends from Scion ART on Vimeo.

Go check out this amazing installation if you’re in LA.

Scion presents:
Ed Emberley and Friends
Curated by Caleb Neelon

July 17 - August 7, 2010

Ed Emberley’s legendary drawing books inspired a generation of kids to become artists. In this show, Ed Emberley displays his original 1970s mockups alongside five grown-up artists who were influenced by him.

Featuring:
Ed Emberely, Raul Gonzalez, Seonna Hong, Matt Leines, Christopher Kline, and Saelee Oh.

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 17th, 2010 | 7-10pm

Complimentary Valet & Open Bar

scion.com/space

Scion Installation L.A.
3521 Helms Ave (at National)
Culver City, CA. 90232

Gallery Phone: 310.815.8840
Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 11 AM - 6 PM & by appointment

TAGS: Events

Paul Frank Art Attack

This event is tonight! Should be a fun party. Email me at if you’d like to attend.

Private VIP soiree announcing the 20 Art Attack Competition Finalists & Paul Frank Artists showcase (on display until July 31st).

For more information on Art Attack, go to:
http://www.paulfrank.com/art_attack/

*Magazine = Theme
*Cocktails = Marani Vodka
*Beer = Grolsch
*DJ = Sean Patrick
*Party = Q.Zi
*THIS IS A 21 AND OVER EVENT

Please RSVP by July 7.

TAGS: Events

Our friend John sent this over for a show this Thursday night, June 24th at Rare Gallery.

547 West 27th Street
Suite 514
New York, NY 10001

Psychedelic Summer is an art show that will shine a light on the tight knit emerging lo-fi garage music scene spreading across the country. Long distance colleagues turned friends will be featuring new works as artists Cassie Ramone (of Vivian Girls), C.M. Ruiz, John Malta, and Matthew Volz exhibit their artwork together for the first time in multiple formats including a large newsprint zine with all of the artists’ work inside! A gallery exhibition and record store installation, Psychedelic Summer will stock releases featuring artwork designed by each of the artists as well as records from choice labels HoZac, Goner, Vice, Captured Tracks, Hardly Art, Bachelor, Boom! Chick, Family Time, Highfives and Handshakes, Florida’s Dying, Sweet Rot, No Pain In Pop, and more.

BRAND NEW records premiering by Psychic Lunch/CMRTYZ will also be available!
Check ‘em out: Prison – “Blackheart” 7″
Fungi Girls/Indian Wars split 7″
Cassie Ramone/The Beets split 7″
Dead Ghosts – “Live Tapes” 12″

& Special event tees printed in LA by OBEY Clothing company!

TAGS: Events, Things We Like

Photo by Spike Jones

This year’s Bicycle Film Festival is upon us and tonight we get to witness the opening of a pretty impressive collection of artists and their works. The exhibition will be open to the public at Damon Dash’s art gallery in Tribeca, the Dash Gallery, from tonight until the 20th.

JOYRIDE ART SHOW
Dash Gallery 172 Duane St.
Opening Reception 6:00 - 10:00 June 17
Performance by Kembra Pfahler from the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black
After Party at Lit Lounge 93 2nd Ave. 10:00 - 4:00
DJ Ted Shred

Make sure you come out to check it out and say hello!

Invite

TAGS: Events, Things We Like

By Chris Ambrose & Heather Seccia.

SCAD Style

Proving that southern hospitality and inspiration are very much alive and well, The Savannah College of Art and Design once again graciously hosted cutting-edge artists, designers, industry professionals and innovators for their annual SCAD Style event featuring lectures, exhibitions, panel discussions, book signings, workshops and more. With 59 speakers over 9 days (April 26 to May 6) and in 2 cities (events are held simultaneously at the College’s Atlanta campus), SCAD Style has made the South not only an incubator and supporter of student creativity but a destination for those wanting to participate in a global creative dialogue.

SCAD Style, Robert Klanten

The 2 weeks in savannah kicked off with the annual The Sidewalk Arts Fest competition that offered students, graduates, alumni and prospective students an open canvas, or sidewalk square, to show their skills. The ongoing drizzle and threat of more rain dampened the day somewhat, but many used this to their advantage creating a kaleidoscope of colored creations framed in the lush green of the park.

The first discussion of the week featured designers Jonathan Olivares and Jason Miller in a thoughtful conversation moderated by Kip Kotzen. The animated talk revolved around relevant questions of the nature of design and if there are problems still left for designers to solve; while the Q&A session allowed them an opportunity to converse with interested students eager for professional advice. Olivares complemented his trip with a visit to an industrial [design] class where he offered direct feedback on student projects and challenges.

Another highlight from early in the week was Robert Klanten the founder and publisher of Gestalten – the company best known for the more than three hundred and fifty design related titles – and his presentation entitled Undercurrents In Design. It was an intelligent and thoughtful lecture establishing design in a historical context and bringing it into the present and providing context for what may be possible in future.

SCAD Style

Unfortunately New York city was calling and we had to head home after the first week and so had to miss the discussion on sustainability with architect Caleb Mulvena of Mapos, Chris Parachine (from Bushwick’s own Roberta’s pizza) and DIY’er Britta Riley (of Submersible Design). We also missed the discussion on the Lessons Learned From ‘80s New York with Designer Victoria Bartlett, iconic ‘80s cover girl Sally Brunger, along with costume designer Michael Schmidt, who for the Coachella party crowd, might know his work on the lobby of the ACE Palm Springs. So much to see and hear!

SCAD Style

SCAD Style, Style Panel Discussion

SCAD Style

TAGS: Events

We’re really looking forward to checking out the opening of our friend, and master stencil artist, Logan Hicks tonight at the Opera Gallery in Soho. His new works should speak to anyone who has ever felt that nagging sense of alone-ness in a city like New York. We checked out some of the work the other day and it is simply stunning! The show should sell out, so if you’re looking to invest in some art, head to the opening early.

www.loganhicks.com

www.loganhicks.com

TAGS: Events

We’ve been busy setting up the Small Is Beautiful dioramas exhibition at the Murphy & DIne gallery on 27th Street in Manhattan the last day or so. Jeremy Mora got into town yesterday and Tracey Snelling missed her flight yesterday due to high winds, but caught another flight in this morning. Our custom tables were made by Joe at Brooklyn Machine Works, and they look superb.

Ji Lee spent all day installing his piece in the window of the gallery and when it finished, it basically stopped all the people walking past. Suffice it to say you’ll want to spend a few minutes just staring at it.

THAT IS NOT A REAL PERSON IN THE WINDOW.

Around mid-day Dan Funderburgh rolled through and got his multi-tiered piece moving. Overall a good prep day with lots accomplished. We’re very excited to have you roll through and come check it out. If you haven’t already done so, do RSVP so you can reserve a copy of the new “Pocket Book” with the premiere volume done with guest curators for issue #23, the Wooster Collective.

Small Is Beautiful

An exhibition of dioramas curated by Theme magazine and Scion, featuring work by

Jeremy Mora
Lori Nix
Tracey Snelling
Dan Funderburgh
Ji Lee

& wall vignettes by
Josh Cochran

Wednesday, May 12
6 – 9PM
Murphy and Dine Gallery
520 West 27th Street, Ground Floor (10th/11th)

RSVP to receive the premiere volume of Theme’s “Pocket” Book series featuring Wooster Collective’s ephemera collection. Theme Pocket Books are produced in limited runs and are all individually numbered.

RSVP to

Music by DJ Monchan
Beer by PBR and Whiskey by Old Grand Dad
Wine and Snacks Served

TAGS: Events

Shred For Your Life is this Saturday at 7pm, at Webster Hall. The nice folks at Shred have allowed us a generous guestlist - so the first 50 (yes, fifty!!!) people to email us and let us know they want in, will get free entry into the event! (Tickets are $10 a piece.) Send emails to to add your name with the subject line Shred!

Shred For Your Life

TAGS: Events

In New York there were two simultaneous screenings of the film - one by Morgan Spurlock for about the same number of people - and one by the woostercollective. We were invited by Marc and Sara and Marc was so secretive about the film prior to it that he couldn’t even divulge where the screening was to held until we actually got the invites! So we figured something cool was going to happen. Only 99 guests were invited to our screening. The guests included celebrities, artists, weirdo’s and some really cool people. In the words of Marc - “it was like a very interesting dinner party.”

So, some of you might know of an artist that people have accused of “ripping off Banksy,” who recently had a series of shows in LA and NYC. I can’t tell you any more than this: the film might have something to do with something or someone that those shows involve. We really cannot say any more than that. You guys will have to check it out for yourselves.

Be warned, in true Banksy style, the first 10 or so minutes are a bit disorienting, and I think it was done deliberately. You’ll see what I mean when you see the film. I highly, highly recommend that you see it on the big screen.

Here is the synopsis from Banksy’s spokespeople:

OPENS IN CINEMAS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BEGINNING APRIL 16TH
For Exact Theaters And Showtimes Check The Official Website: http://www.banksyfilm.com

Exit Through the Gift Shop, the first film by renowned graffiti artist Banksy, became the hottest ticket at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it made its world debut. Banksy is a graffiti artist with a global reputation whose work can be seen on walls from post—hurricane New Orleans to the separation barrier on the Palestinian West Bank. Fiercely guarding his anonymity to avoid prosecution, Banksy has so far resisted all attempts to be captured on film. Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the incredible true story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner with spectacular results. The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the worlds most infamous graffiti artists at work, on walls and in interview. As Banksy describes it, Its basically the story of how one man set out to film the un—filmable. And failed

TAGS: Events, Reviews, Film Reviews