Opening Reception: Saturday, November 7th, 2009 from 6-10 pm
In celebration of Dia De Los Muertos, we bring further excitement through art with our newest exhibition “Top of the Dome IV” featuring ceramic skulls designed by Gregg Stone and transformed by the imagination of today’s hottest tattoo artists, painters, sculptors, graffiti artists, muralists, graphic designers and fine artists.
This year’s Top of the Dome promises to bring an extreme level of creativity meant to inspire and stir the curious nature of the roaming soul in search of interesting and intriguing artwork to call their own. Top of the Dome is not just an exhibition but rather an experience you do not want to miss.
In conjunction with the exhibition, featured artist and painter Gregg Stone makes an impact with his collection of eerily beautiful multi-media paintings that reveal his travels thru the avenues and byways of border region Hispanic communities. While the socio-economic underbelly of these locales clearly captivates him, Stone is also keenly aware of the cultural and architectural treasures that often incongruously share space alongside the hybrid flotsam of class inequity, urban anarchy and increasing globalization. Stone transposes this uniquely south-of-the-border visual, along with his sensitive portrayal of people inhabiting it, into the vivid tapestry of images that forms the sum total of his art.
Additional events: November 12th: Artwalk from 6 to 10pm with DJ Phyz Ed, live printing by Two Rabbits
Here's a slideshow from last Saturday night's event "ONE PLANET" with The Center for Biological Diversity. It featured great live painting by our very own Unification Theory.
Thanks to everyone who showed their support and came out despite the horrible LA traffic!
The Center for Biological Diversity and Crewest invites you to join us on Saturday, October 17 for a casual, fun evening celebrating our 20 years of protecting endangered species.
Please be our guest. . .
* 8-10 p.m. Doors will open to the public for an exciting evening presenting:
ONE PLANET: featuring the art band Unification Theory. Come enjoy live performance graffiti art, music, and dancing to celebrate the Center and its important work.
All art sold by Unification Theory will benefit the Center's work, as well as 10% of all Man One pieces purchased that nite!
"Graffiti Spirits" A Solo Exhibition and Retrospective by: Man One
Opening Reception: Saturday Oct.3rd, 2009 From 6-10pm (Exhibit runs from Oct. 3 - 31st, 2009)
*Featuring an amazing collection of original and available works from 1992 to the present.
His first solo exhibition in almost 5 years, it will be featuring some artwork that has never been seen in public, as well as other pieces created and not seen since the early 90's!
There will also be many prints available and a few surprises all month long!
Crewest Gallery 110 Winston St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 ph | 626-458-2444 fax | 213-559-0525
In solidarity with our own exhibit, "From the Streets of Iran", we're putting out this limited edition green tee, available in men's and women's sizes.
Thanks to one of our favorite LA artists, HASTE CBS, for the magnificent faux-Farsi handstylez!
They'll be up on the site soon...but for now you gotta be in LA at our opening and hope we have some left!
But we do accept Paypal if you really have to have it!
From the Streets of Iran "Works on Paper by Urban Artists from Iran"
Opening Reception: September 10th, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm (During the Downtown Artwalk) Show runs thru September 26th, 2009
Crewest presents From the Streets of Iran, Works on paper by urban artists in Iran, curated by Shervin Shahbazi. This exhibit is the first of its kind in the U.S. featuring graffiti-based works on paper by ICY, SOT, FRZ, MAD, and CK1. These artists have exhibited their work in Europe and Australia, and this is their United States debut.
The artists draw inspiration from Iran’s rich heritage of calligraphy, visual arts, revolution and the state in which they live, as well as their exposure to graffiti and urban art in the West. Their work encompasses a broad range of subject matter—from urbanism and political resistance to scenes of everyday people and the innocence of youth. Each of the artists practices their own aesthetic. In some works, detailed hand styles overlap with spray can imagery; in others, stencil work and careful attention to texture affect a stylized photorealism. However the individual styles may differ, the works as a group resonate with hope and a determination to realize the promise of a better future from the streets of Iran.
Here's a slideshow of some images in the show...
Iranian Artist Bios:
MAD My interest in urban art is rooted in the fact that not only it gives you the possibility of expressing anything you might have to say but also its instant access to the general public. My work is mainly about the social and political issues in my country as well as the world, and I chose stencil art for it is the best-suited medium for my purpose. My first exhibit was a group show in Tehran which was so well received that it inspired me and the rest of the participating artists to work harder and use the city walls to publicize the issues of our people even more than before.
FRZ I learned about graffiti by watching video clips and skate boarding movies, not to mention CK1’s influence. I started working with ICY and SOT around the summer of 2003 when we collaborated on our first project, which led to forming the group, ICEPUNKZ. We learned by experimentation and although in the beginning we were just doing it for fun, but as days passed we got more and more serious. Later I realized that because of the situation in Iran, stencils are the best forms of communicating our ideas. My subjects are not limited to any particular issues. I make work about things that challenge my thoughts. I work on walls because people are so preoccupied with everyday life, that they don’t have time to go to galleries so we bring the art to them.
ICY I used to stencil logos of punk bands I liked on the walls of my room. I got exposed to street art through movies and photographs. I liked the idea of putting art on street walls where you can see it every day, so I started painting on walls in my neighborhood. I started small and as I got better I made bigger works. Life, people, and the city are my inspiration and all the struggles that impact our lives influence my work. I like to see the streets act as galleries that people go to on a daily basis.
CK1 In Iran graffiti is considered a political offense. I was once detained for three days by the security forces for painting on the walls. My first serious piece was on the side of a highway. It was like a traffic sign that had the word LAW crossed out in red. I liked working on walls because on the streets you don’t have to obey formal academic rules that I had to deal with when I was at the university. One of the things I really liked was the illustrations that accompanied the manuscripts of two very popular Iranian poets-Hafez and Rumi- so I started working on canvas and experimented with combining the traditional Persian art with contemporary street art. I had become interested in print making in high school and chosen stencils for my work. What draws me to the wall is the suffering I witness every day. Poverty, hunger and misery deprive people from living a life of love and friendship. You see it in peoples’ eyes; sadness leaves no room to think about peace. I see these things and I want to communicate what I feel is life to our people, that’s why I love painting on the walls.
SOT When it comes to graffiti my story is very similar to others who paint the walls in Iran. I started tagging and putting stickers around our skateboarding hangout. Then as I got exposed to works of street artists in other countries through the Internet, I became more interested and basically taught myself to stencil and paint the walls. I do a lot of photography and sometimes I use my photos to work from. As my technique evolved I started working on social issues and problems that we all face in my country. I like painting on the walls because I like how walls can speak for me.
Crewest 110 Winston St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 627-8272 ph (213) 559-0525 fx Contact: info@crewest.com www.Crewest.com
Here are pics from the frenzy caused on August 15th, 2009 at Crewest during the release of this fun new toy.
Bic Plastics brings to you their first Platform Series BUDDY designed by our very own Marka27.
ARTIST SERIES 1 Features some of todays most talented artists: Cope2, Jesse Hernandez,Mad,Kano,Ritzy Periwinkle, Indie84, David Flores,Marka27,Sket,Angry Woebots,Andrew Bell,Scribe, and Brandt Peters
ADDRESS: 835 Mission Street South Pasadena, CA 91030
ENTRY FEE: $5
Refreshments: compliments of Jarritos and Roaring Lion Energy Drink.
RSVP(not required): ambush@crewest.com
PARKING: There is plenty of free street parking on Mission Street and cross streets. Or you can take the Metro Gold Line to the Mission Street station, walk 1.5 blocks west.
************** Artist Info: Gusmano Cesaretti, born in Lucca, Italy, and a resident of Los Angeles since 1970, has been capturing the sound, light, and even emotional tenor of his adopted city through the lens of his camera.
Gusmano has published two books: Street Writers- A Guided Tour of Chicano Graffiti, and Physical Graffiti-4x4=24. He is a contributing photographer to the book, 24 Hours in the Life of Los Angeles. His photographs have been exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In 2008, Gusmano participated in a major collaborative exhibition entitled, This Side of Paradise: Body and Landscape in Los Angeles Photographs at the Huntington Library.
Fourteen of Gusmano's photographs are part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute (Smithsonian photo link) in Washington, D. C. and the Museum of Contemporay Art, Los Angeles. The many countries that Gusmano has made photographic studies of include: Mexico, Central and South America, Haiti, and South East Asia. Event Co-Produced by: Gusmano Cesaretti and Crewest
Crewest 110 Winston St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 627-8272 ph info@crewest.com
Live in-store signing by featured artists: David Flores, Jesse Hernandez, Marka27, Angry Woebots, and Ritzy Periwinkle
Grooves by Dj Phyz Ed Refreshments provided by: Jarritos and Roaring Lion Energy Drink
ARTIST SERIES 1 Features some of todays most talented artists: Cope2 Jesse Hernandez Mad Kano Ritzy Periwinkle Indie84 David Flores Marka27 Sket Angry Woebots Andrew Bell Scribe Brandt Peters
**Launching August 15, Bic Plastics will have 3 exclusive releases in 3 major cities.
If your in L.A, N.Y or Chicago come out and meet the artists! Who says you cant buy friends when you can buy Buddies!
*New York August 21st @ ToyTokyo 6PM-9PM http://www.toytokyo.com Toy Tokyo Retail Store 121 2nd Ave 2F. NYC, NY 10003 Phone: 212.673.5424 FAX: 212.673.5450
Signing Artists in N.Y: Sket, Kano, Cope2, Indie84, Marka27 *Chicago August 22nd @ Rotofugi 5PM-8PM 1953 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60622 866.953.9229 or 312.491.9501 or emailrotofugi@rotofugi.com
Signing Artists in Chicago: Jesse Hernandez, Marka27
Crewest: How has Sacrifice Skateboards helped and supported your artistic efforts?
Saric: Sacrifice is like a brotherhood of skateboarders. Real grass roots. So we look out for each other in that sense. They plug and support me as an artist and skateboarder, with the respect of a family. We've gone on tour, we've been part of art shows, we've made skateboard videos for 'Sacrifice Skateboards' together, we go out and eat sushi together, etc.
What would you like to tell an aspiring artist or skater that looks up to you?
First of all, I would say thank you for the love. Second, I would advise them to enjoy their lives and never give up on achieving their dreams. Be true to yourself and the craft and magic things will come out of that. Don't let politics get in the way of your goals. Bottom line, enjoy what you are doing...I always say, "the person with the biggest grin wins!"
Who are your influences in Art? In Skateboarding?
Wow, my answer would be long enough to fill a few pages on this topic... Life is truly the biggest gift and inspiration. To name a few people that I feel reflect this greatness and influence, I would say art wise: Rembrandt, Michael Angelo, Dali, Stanley Kubrick, Van Gogh, H.R. Giger, Bernie Wrightson, Syd Mead, H.P Lovecraft, Michael Whelan, Francisco Grippa, Ralph Steadman, Rick Griffin, Robert Williams, Bode, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee, and so on.. Sk8brd wise, I would say a few key guys that come to mind are : John Cardiel, Mark Gonzales, Neil Blender, Eric Dressen, Christian Hosoi, Lance Mountain, Wade Speyer, Wes Humpston, Geoff Rowley, Jason Jessee, Aaron Murray, Scott Oster, Pat Ngoho, Kevin Anderson, Chris Miller, Danny Way, Tony Trujillo, Peter Hewitt, Bob, and this list goes on too...
How has Venice, CA and the Dogtown subculture influenced your approach to your artwork?
It's influenced me with its raw style. Truly influencial people that mirror such a diverse and culturally rich environment. The good styles caught my attention right away. I believe, it taught me more about respecting my surroundings and what I was doing as an individual.
Out of film, animation and painting how has your personal style transcended throughout all three?
I think it grows through all three. The diversification trains my mind and my abilities to react to many different situations, in various styles. It allows me think more about what the real message is, in my pieces. I believe it’s taught me the valuable preparation that you need to put in to achieve what you set out to create. In return, this allows me the freedom to make the right decisions and creatively control the over-all look that I pursue, through such mediums.
You are an artist in the “Love and Guts” exhibit, what does the title of the exhibit mean to you?
To me it means, you say something that you really mean, in an artistic voice. You live it, as you create it. You love it, as you leave it. It truly takes a lot of both to stay on your art, or your skateboard game, for any significant period of time. "Say it like you mean it."
Tell us about the piece(s) you have in the Love and Guts Exhibit?
"Backyard Barrel # 5", is an original 2-sided art piece. The painting is on a hand sanded board consisting of, 7-ply's of Hard Rock Maple wood from Wisconsin. I used pen, paint pen, spray paint & acrylic paint to create this raw and authentic rider portrayal. The imagery represents the radical lifestyle of skateboarding (that spawned from surfing decades ago) depicted in a timeless western art sense. It's decaying post-nuclear subject is a character of similar power, that contrasts the landscape with his wielding brush stroke. The actions and subject are companions of intensity. As the level broadens the colors intensify. As the elements change, the dynamic reactions flow into a war cry that screams freedom. This a mere reflection of the blood, love, guts & life it takes to create such a vision.
Is there something you’re working on that you’d like to promote?
Crewest: First, the basics: Where are you from? How long have you been a professional skateboarder for? What got you started?
Caballero: I am from San Jose, but now reside in Campbell, CA. I've been skating professionally since 1980, over 29 years. What got me started in Skating was my drive to find something that was challenging, I was good at and could excel at a fun pace and skateboarding became just that for me.
Q. How did you come up with the name "skate and destroy?" can you tell us the story?
A. The name Skate and Destroy came from and article that Craig CR. Stecyk wrote for Thrasher magazine in the early 80's and it became the staple of how people approach the sport.
Q. When Vans introduced The Half Cab (your signature shoe) what input did you contribute to the design? How would you redesign the shoe today? A. The Half-CAB shoe came out in 1992 and the input that i gave to them was for them to take my existing high-top CABALLERO signature skate shoe, which was first released in 1989, and just cut it down to make a midtop, release the show in various colors, make a label with a silhouette of me doing the trick and call it the Half-CAB. They agreed and the show just blew up and it was a huge success. As for re-designing the shoe, i wouldn't. It's awesome the way it is and it's still currently their number one selling core shoe in their line today. There's been a huge excitement and demand for this style once again and has become very trendy again. Must have been because all the other shoe brands have been knocking it off for the past few years and now it's a popular shoe again, I thank them and I’m flattered for them doing so.
Q. You have tackled more challenges in your life so far then most ever do, what motivates you?
A. The passion to succeed, learn and grow. We all have this inner sensibility to progress, create and be challenged and it's those who get past the fear of failure that most can live life to discover our fullest potentials. You must first fail to succeed, i learn this from skateboarding and I adapt this to all aspects of my life. I truly believe that God designed/created us to be productive and creative human beings.
Q. How has the relationship between the urban and punk subcultures inspired you in your artistic expression? A. What i like about urban and punk subcultures is the fact that the attitude is all about doing it yourself and not waiting on anyone to doing it for ya. This way you don't lose the creative freedom in all that you do and want to try and express. Sometimes it takes stepping away from the mainstream and being a follower, to becoming a leader by doing things DIY style, then for the public to catch on later on what's trendy and cool at the time.
Q. How has skateboarding allowed you to see the world through an artists eyes? A. On a skateboard you have all the creative freedom you want, when ever you want and how you want. As a professional skateboarder we can decide our own choices and destiny on how we want our career to go because it's not a team sport, but an individual team sport. We can choose what we want to skate and how we want to skate it, just like an artist. Our tool is our skateboard and the canvas is the world and everything in it.
Q. You've been showing your art for awhile now, with "ugly winners" and "writers vs. ryders" under your belt, what kind of reactions have you gotten so far? A. The reactions have been awesome and I’m stoked that people even recognize me as an artist now. It's something I have wanted to achieve for a long time and it's now coming to flourish with hard work and patience on my part. It's really nice to know that if i just focus, concentrate, set some goals and put in the time, that i can be successful at this as well. For me it's the fact that I have inspired people for many years through my skateboarding and now I want to continue to do so with art, Lord willing.
Q. What medium do you prefer to work in? Or which do you gravitate to most naturally? paint, photography, mixed media...
A. I treat Art like I do my skating, i want to do it and dabble in it all, and it’s just finding the time that makes it hard for me at times being a family man and all with two kids and one on the way. But it goes in trends for me. It started out with just pencil and pen sketches, then i got really excited about acrylic paint and how colorful it can be, then Jason Adams turned me onto stenciling and now I’m really into inking and pin striping with a brush. Photography is fun to and learning to have an eye for it. My strong passion for old cars and traditional hot rods has helped me develop that artistically as well.
Q. You are an artist in the “Love and Guts” exhibit, what does the title of the exhibit mean to you?
A. Well "Love" to me means the Life of Christ Jesus and how he lived it and "Guts", meaning courage, is what we need to express that love honestly, creatively, passionately and freely.
Q. Tell us about the pieces you have on display for the “Love and Guts” Exhibit .
A. What I’ll be showing and displaying will be my passion for things that go fast, make loud noises and look really cool riding and driving them :) Come to the show and you'll see what I mean!
FYI...Cab's artwork in this show is great and so reasonably priced..sure to sell, so get to the gallery early! One of his photos already has a red dot and it hasn't even been hung!
Next month during X-Games we're teaming up with some legends in skate culture to bring a one of a kind art exhibition and chance to meet the dudes who paved the way. Check out this sick line up...
