Pho-dobo-rrito at GR2



Pho-dobo-rrito at GR2, January 20 – February 14, 2007
Reception: Saturday, January 20, 2007

Giant Robot is proud to present Pho-dobo-rrito at GR2, a group show that will include drawings, sketches, prints, and other work by Martin Cendreda, John Pham, and Albert Reyes at the GR2 gallery.

Since Martin Cendreda self-published the cute-yet-melancholy Dang! and Zurik Robot mini-comics, his work has evolved into longer forms of storytelling. He made the jump from stapled-and-folded pieces to the indie comics elite when Top Shelf published a collection of his strips in 2004. In addition to his solo work, Cendreda has contributed to indie-comics anthologies including Project: Superior, Hi-Horse Omnibus, and MOME, as well as magazines such as Dazed and Confused and Giant Robot.

John Pham entered the indie comics scene when he won a Xeric Foundation grant to publish the first issue of his well-designed, manga-influenced Epoxy comic magazine. After being forced by a Canadian design company to change the publication's name, Pham has produced mini-comics, zines, a sketchbook, and 1-Up magazine under the Substitute Life banner, as well as provided illustrations for CDs, posters, and magazines.

Albert Reyes is a Los Angeles-based San Francisco Art Institute graduate who has developed a style equally influenced by graffiti, comics, and fine art. Among other media, he draws and prints on the inside covers of old books and mixes traditional Mexican imagery, popular culture icons, and political suggestion. His work has been collected in a book, Don't Give Up, and his name can be seen on public walls as GIVE.

The opening reception for the artists will take place from 6:30-10:00 on Saturday, January 20.

The Divine Gas by Chiho Aoshima


My desire to visit Boston grows daily:
The Divine Gas, Aoshima's work for the ICA, depicts a giant girl lying in a lush landscape. The setting seems idyllic and serene-butterflies flutter, a deer nestles near her foot, a couple frolics hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, a billowing cloudscape, lorded over by a genie creature, emerges from her bottom. A few figures sit nestled in the clouds, while others tumble toward the ground. Like an updated version of Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights (c. 1500), the mural is mysterious tale of good and evil. An elegant and energetic fusion of opposing forces—beauty and darkness, the natural and supernatural, humor and earnestness—The Divine Gas invites viewers into Aoshima's fantastical daydream.

Holiday Shows


Random updates of things goin' on:
GR2 is hosting UglyCon through January 2nd. Cinders Gallery, in Brooklyn, is showcasing "Dirty Hands", a group print show with pieces by Mark Todd, Esther Pearl Watson, Swoon, Saelee Oh, Souther Salazar, Caroline Hwang, Rachell Sumpter, and lots more. GRSF has "Printed Matter" up now, and I am so sad I am not in SF to go see it. Artists include; Alvin Buenaventura, Brendan Monroe, Bwana Spoons, Eric Nakamura, Evah Fan, Little Friends of Printmaking, PCP, Saejean Oh, Saelee Oh, and more.

(Blythe photo from Flickr: Splash & Sammy)

Bazaar Bizarre!

Don't mean to be M.I.A.- just swamped with work, the holi-daze, and this weekend's Bazaar Bizarre! Please stop by and say hello if you go- I will have special limited edition totes available!

Give Large


The Give Large art show opening is this Wednesday at Hollywood & Highland. It's for a great cause, and features artwork by - David Hinsey, Saiman Chow, HVW8, Kozyndan, Brandy Flower (Hit and Run), Sage Vaughn, Buff Monster, Jessica Miller, Text (Rory Wilson), Florencio Zavala, Abigail's Party, Kime Buzzelli, Imaginary Foundation, and other influential artists in the LA art scene.