Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Jesse Higman: Illuvium

  Spiral - Jesse Higman


Despite having seen Jesse Higman's show, Illuvium, at Vermillion three times I have been reluctant to write about the work.  Perhaps because some folks have already covered his work and process so well (Evening Magazine, Joey Veltkamp) and the fact that I've been worn out after hanging my own December exhibition. 

But it's also intimidating to write about an artist of Higman's talents who has had to develop an entire new way of creating work after the accident that resulted in a loss of limb function.

-let me stop myself here -

Oh so easy is to fill up a review of Higman's work with stories of overcoming tragedy, fighting obstacles, and the like While Higman pushes his talents to the limits and works hard - this work really isn't about any of that cliched crap.  He was an artist before the accident and continues to be one after.  And he has created some interesting pieces.

The works are strange things - there certainly is a graphic quality that reminds me of some of the rock album cover type imagery he's famous for (see: every Grunge band).  There's a primal organic look about them.  Abstract shapes have the look of nebulas or electron microscope images.  At times it seems like Higman purposefully took pictures towards specific forms, like in Spiral (pictured above) or Pheonix, which looks like the the flaming mouth of a Pheonix, but these have have just been accidents.  It really doesn't seem to matter what you see in the work, it's the composition, colors, and movement that tell the stories.  And the fascinating texture - the metallic flakey paint that Higman uses has a kind of sparkly look to it on some works, and a matte almost chalky look on others. I like the chalky pieces the best, the paint has a look of gouache. 

The show at Vermillion features one of Higman's specially designed tables he works on in his studio with complicated levers and such he can essentially move the painting, angle it any which way he needs to get the water based paint flowing the way he wants.  One can not help but be reminded of another northwest painter, who also had a significant accident that changed how he painted - Chuck Close.  Close cut holes in his studio floor and had a massive crank system so he could easily move his large paintings up and down, as he worked on them. A great artist will find a way.

Illuvium will be on display through January 30th at Vermillion.  Check it out.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Top 5 drawings from The Portrait Challenge at SAM (so far)

The Portrait Challenge has been installed and active at the Seattle Art Museum, in the Think Tank space at the top of the old stairs (where the camel is)  since late September, have you seen it?  Here are my top 5 favorite completed drawings thus far:






Monday, December 6, 2010

Molo's Top 10 songs of 2010

These are the top 10 new songs that got stuck in my head in 2010.  I figure that makes 'em the best.  


#10   Fuck You - Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer I suspect everyone's heard this brazen song by now, but if now, check it out.

#9  Home  - Villagers - Becoming A Jackal  I was very charmed by hearing this young singer-songwriter perform "Home" live.

#8   Ambling Alp - Yeasayer - Odd Blood This track is the archetype of infectious young indie rock.  Its great but after a while it will drive you mad.  

#7  Best Friend - The Drums - The Drums  This one is for Jared.  Hard not to love this band if you like English pop beach rock that sounds like it was made in 1983. 
  
#6   I Don't Know What To Say - The Magnetic Fields - Realism  Only the Magnetic Fields can make lines like "I could say I want you, that would be a bore, maybe in a font you haven't seen before" and  "I could try and shove you off the nearest cliff..." "I could say   sound so sincerely beautiful.

#5  Alley Cats - Hot Chip - One Life Stand  Great song from a great album. 

#4   Runaway - Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy "Let's give a toast to the douche-bags"

#3   I Can Change - LCD Sound System - This Is Happening  "Drunk Girls" may have been a hella good single, but I prefer LCD's more beautiful sensitive songs like this lovely one. 

 #2  Cave-O-Sapien - Wolf Parade - Expo 86 This song may be pure nonsense but my god, it is so damn fun!  ("I had a vision, of a Gorilla, he was a killer, a killer...")


#1:  Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell -  Das Racist's -  Shut Up Dude!  Mixtape


 I don't see you here dog?!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Why I haven't been Blogging

Exclusive new early pics from the installation of my show Flood at Gallery4Culture - enjoy and come to the reception this Thursday, Dec 2nd 6-8pm.  (keep in mind these are quick snap shots and come see the show in person!!!)











Saturday, November 13, 2010

MOLORAZZI IS BACK! November BLITZ art walk ATTACK


That's right, the Molorazzi went out for Blitz last Thursday and some some great art and had quite a night!  Thanks to all my friends for making it a fun night!

Here are some Molorazzi pics - I did a very bad job of documenting all the interesting stops and hardly shot any pics of art work, so basically it was a typical Molorazzi outing.



Artist Jess Rees by her feather drawings at Veloria
Curator/artist Amanda Manitach and artist Kimberely Trowbridge at Kimberely's show at The Living Room (you were right about the devil eyes Kimberely, sorry!!!)
 
 Jim Demetre at The Living Room






Artist Zoe Williams at her solo show at Ghost Gallery!  Congrats Zoe on a handsome and successful show!  

Monday, November 8, 2010

SNEAK PREVIEW

You have probably been wonder, crying - why hasn't Molo been bloggin?!!  Well, I've been busy holed up in the studio working on my show Flood at Gallery4Culture.  That's right, I'm blaming my lack of blogging on creating art!  You can't argue with that!

I am very excited for this exhibition - this show results from several ideas and directions I have been exploring over the last couple years.  It is the cumulation of a lot of thinking and work. But enough on that for now...

Flood opens Dec 2nd, with a reception from 6-8pm.  Show runs Dec 2nd-31st.  Head over to their website for hours/address.  I will be sending out an official press release via my email list, and also, stay tuned for some proper writing on the creation of this show, via the City Arts Blog.  Until then, here are a few preview pics of some of the major works in the show -



 Flood 2, 30" x 34" oil and graphite on panel, 2010
  Flood, 34" x 90", oil and graphite on panel, 2010
  Cut Bank, 34" x 30", oil on panel, 2010

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Blue Scholars, Brother Ali and the City Arts Fest

Hey y'all.  In case you haven't heard, I'm going to see like 7 events at the City Arts Fest and I will be bringing you and the world live coverage on my brand spankin' new Twitter here.  You should like totally folly me, yah dig? I know you can't resist witty language like that.  (see:  sarcasm)  Seriously, though, check it out.   I'm a tweet newbie, so please bear with me.

Meanwhile, here are 2 pics from the excellent Blue Scholars and Brother Ali show.  I won't go into too many details about the show at this time, other than to say that it was great to see such an energetic hip hop show at the Paramount and a huge, enthusiastic crowd!  Brother Ali was the shit.  Oh, and check out the City Arts Fest Pool for far better pictures than these.


Monday, October 18, 2010

A comprehensive guide to this year's art donations (by me)

83 Place for Artist Trust

And you have already seen these two works on my blog but here they are again:

94 Place for Kirkland Art Center (Redux Studio Challenge)


and 95 Place for SOIL!


I love all of these arts organizations and I hope that the donated works have helped to support them for the coming year!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Portrait Challenge at Seattle Art Museum

Hello everyone!

I'm pleased to announce, that for the duration of the Picasso show (through February 13th) The Portrait Challenge will be in the Seattle Art Museum's Think Tank space! 
The installation features hundreds of new model pics for the public to draw; including celebrities like Lebron James, Clint Eastwood, Tracy Morgan, and of course, Lady Gaga. 
There will be tables, chairs, pencils, pens and clip boards for your drawing pleasure!  The Portrait Challenge will continue to be updated on the flickr page  and you can check it out on Facebook.

So take a break from Picasso and swing by The Portrait Challenge.  The show is located at the top of the Grand Staircase, in the Think Tank space. 

Also, I will be on hand on a few select days to take new model pictures!  Stop by and Become the Model!  Have you ever wanted to be a model?  Now's your chance!  Stop by and become the Model this Saturday for SAM's Community Day or come in November for SAM Remix (Nov 13th).

Even if you don't everyone to be drawing your visage, swing by and say hello! 


Keep creating!



Here are some installation photos (more to come of the events):









Thursday, October 7, 2010

Matthew Witschonke and Jenny Jenkins showing at the Baby Seal Club

Last night Matthew Witschonke and Jenny Jenkins installed their exhibition in the gallery right outside of the Baby Seal Club.  While Matthew is primarily a video artists (I did not get any images of his video work) he also is hanging delightful drawings, which he said were a family portrait!  Jenny installed several large canvases which photos do not do justice (far too lush and too much texture to be picked up with my camera) and a series of b/w prints about a happy plastic couple.

Here are some images I snapped last night-

drawing by Matthew Witschonke

Photo Installation by Jenny Jenkins

I really enjoy Matthew's text in his pictures; it reminds me of the website unhappy hipsters 

More work by Jenkins


Stop by tonight and see the work in person -  6-10pm. tonight, at the Baby Seal Club,  619 Western Building.  3rd floor south.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Friday, September 24, 2010

Pigs and pics

Molorazzi was out, briefly, for the opening of Photo Alchemy at Vermillion and Amanda Manitach's This Little Pig Went to Market.  I very much enjoyed those gold flecked pig heads, and the photo show in Vermillion, featuring strong works by Erin Shafkind, Dan Hawkins, Ted Grudowski, Daniel Carrillo, Larry Larson, and Bailey Russell.  I didn't get too many pics, but here's a few Molorazzi shots -

 We have a bar!  And great art. 
 one of Erin Shafkind's lazer-cut photos.  Very lovely. 
 Photography Dan Hawkins and Artist Troy Gua next to Dan's shot of an abandoned uranium mine in WA. 
 Detail of Amanda Manitach's piece This Little Pig Went To Market


Gallery 40 is always full of surprises!   I would have loved to see this piece in the snow, to really tie in to the photo...