Sarah Applebaum's Neon Knit Fantasies
Local women's leagues across the nation wish they had someone like Sarah Applebaum to head their weekly stitch n' bitch. Of course while the ladies are busy constructing a nice square quilt for the Ms. Delacroix's poor disfigured nephew Melvin, Applebaum's crochetted him a hypercolor onezie and balaclava to cover all the boils plus a cozy bedroom cave to hide out in when the insensitive neighborhood bully inevitably rips off the disguise and publicly humiliates little Melvin. That's ok though because instead of a condolence card like all the other gossiping harpies, Ms. Appelbaum sent Melvin a troupe of conjoined yeti's and a giant felt gun to teach that calous heckler the meaning of the wor...Read more
Ricky Swallow
Good woodworking is defined by craft but also in part by the object or design that is being made and how it functions or what it says. Ricky Swallow executes his work with the skill and attention to detail of a true craftsmen while also possessing the unique vision of an artist. Swallow recreates and contrasts the natural and the man-made in a way that comments on what tools and materials are necessities and how they will interact with the planet once abandoned. His sculptures, though still, become one connected object with accurate depictions of both inanimate and living things. When so carefully working with this kind of subject matter, of course...Read more
Juicy Hyperreal: Victor Rodriguez
Victor Rodriguez is a hyperrealist from Mexico who uses primarily acrylics to portray his photorealistic snapshot subjects. His paintings of people, iPhones, collage, and magazine pages remind us of our contemporary landscape while emphasizing our transitory nature. His painstakingly reproduced paintings of images -- often involving vulgar and impulsive subjects-- re-contextualize and giving new profundity to these of simple modern moments. ...Read more
Nature’s Revenge: The Street Art of Ludo
Parisian street artist Ludo puts out some seriously wicked stuff—even on an international level. He has toured to several places including Italy and the UK to put up his work in a new theme he calls “Nature’s Revenge”. His works are very bold and high in contrast, “boxed” almost like a 3D Playstation graphic. I love the simplicity of the monochromatic schemes combined with clever themes. Nature meets the darker side of human nature. Incongruity seems to rain supreme when it comes to showing others a clever, and beautiful, paradigm. his website has even more: http://www.thisisludo.com/...Read more
Daily Serving Chats With Mario Zoots
Considering Mario Zoots' prolific digital presence, it's no wonder this Denver artist keeps getting international attention. In addidition to his recent contribution to the international design publication, Rojo's Chaos Continuum book, he was also interviewed last week by the San Francisco based contemporary art blog, Daily Serving. Check out this intriguing dialog between Zoots and Daily Serving's co-founder, Seth Curcio. ...Read more
Keiren at I Miss Mystery
& As late as this is, who isn't late these days. Plus, Denver gets influenced from the west coast, and they're always late too, that's why they speed and cut you off in traffic. but anyway, better late then never, or so i've heard. first off, Thank You to all who have given me a platform to comment and share ideas, those who also have given one certain Mario Zoots a platform to comment and share ideas. being that this is the first of my series of blog associated with illiterate magazine, i feel it necessary to clarify my objectives while also giving praise where praise is due. thank you to the members of the illiterate community, as well as all who were in attendence at the exhibit open...Read more
Art Opening: Love Lines Tonight at RedLine
With an opening tonight from 6PM-9PM at Redline, the Valentine's appropriate Love Lines exhibit plays matchmaker between Denver and the art world at large. The group show does what many in Colorado attempt and rarely achieve: pairing local, national and international artists together cohesively. Curated by one of Denver's preeminent contemporary art heavyweights, Robischon Gallery, three distinct interests become apparent in this assembled lineup. A selected group of artists (Halim Alkarim, Jack Balas, Xiong Lijun, Xing Danwen, Yu Fan, Ann Hamilton, Wes Hemperel, Jerry Kunkel, He Jian) represents the gallery's stable of talent. Another clique (Jeff Page, Jonathan Saiz, Ian Fisher, Terry Camp...Read more
Andre Azevedo: Brazilian art. (no waxing required)
Brazilian designer Andre Azevedo creates images that look almost as if he takes snippets of popular culture fashion photography, sketches them, and combines them with vibrant underground design. Simple patterns and a splash of multimedia generate pieces that speak in a modern pop/expressionistic manner. He also loves a dash of the surreal—which is always a plus in my eyes. I love his homespun brand of artwork; he seems to be endlessly creating. Although his work is similar to a few others that I know of, my heart goes out to all who work in this manner. Rock it, Andre. Here is a link to his website, an almost endless scroll of design material: http://www.a...Read more
Art Opening: Looking For the Face I Had Before The World Was Made
Like six strangers locked in a room together, the work of six artists currently showing in the MCA Denver's exhibit: Looking For the Face I Had Before The World Was Made, attempt to find something in common to talk about. Approaching the conversation with disparate styles, and from differing locals and era's, the group is left to discuss their mutual choice of universalized subject matter - the unidentified human form. In their archetypal and often nondescript depictions of people and personalities, the six artists, William Stockman, Eric and Heather ChanSchatz, A.G. Rizzoli, Sam Beckett, and Michaël Borremans, enter into a conversation hinged on generality in order to keep everyone eng...Read more
Ashkan Honarvar..you gotta see this..
This artist from the Netherlands has created some wonderfully creepy images. His use of digital editing is superb in such a way that it allows a juxtaposition of sometimes completely unrelated objects, moments in time, or faces-- allowing them to spring forth into new contexts. The messages are somewhat encoded within the pieces, leaving a lot of interpretation up to the audience. The work of Ashkan Honarvar takes you to that bizarrely fascinating corner of your mind, leading you out safely. There is much beauty to be seen in even the ugly. here is his Behance profile: http://www.behance.net/AshkanHonarvar here is his website: http://www.ashkanhonarvar.com/...Read more
