LETTERS FROM ARTISTS BEHIND BARS

The Crewest Man ·

Prison INC is an exhibit featuring a large collection of works created by incarcerated artists living behind bars is curated by Gregg Stone, a very talented artist. After spending years of collecting the art and corresponding with artist inmates Gregg Stone, an enthusiastic collector of Prison Art, wanted an exhibit which allowed these artists an oppurtunity to have their talent recognized. Crewest wanted the same as Gregg.

Prison INC. has been a success for the mere fact that those who have seen the artwork on display can all agree that the quality of the work is better than one would expect. Considering the obstacles an artist behind bars would encounter such as lack of supplies and even censorship by the prison who does not permit that which they think is inappropriate, these artists have really proven their skill.

We invite you to get up close and personal with each of the Prison INC. exhibiting artists. Take a moment to reflect on the obstacles an artist behind bars could face and open your eyes to how those artists make use of their time by mastering their skill and being who they areand rather be, an artist.

See below for letters from Oscar Campos, an artist currently living behind bars and a participating artist in Prison INC.:









Artwork by Oscar Campos "Slipping Into Darkness:




Prison INC. is on view through February 27th, 2010 at Crewest.

BIO: EDGAR "OSOK" HOILL

The Crewest Man ·

From behind the barrel of his trusty cameras, Edgar Hoill adopted the moniker of "OSOK" One Shot One Kill. His movement is swift, his precision darting and just like a marksman or sniper, he always gets his target. From Los Angeles to Japan and Cuba, Edgar Hoill has traveled the world bringing back galleries of photos that cultivate, capture and forever imprint a new look on life, culture and Photography. His work has appeared in print media globally and his style is one that is both fresh and inspiring. In his “Life Inside” installation he will be showcasing some of the work of people he works close too and will be showcasing artwork that has been given to him from prisoners of all walks of life. Edgar Hoill is also known for his role as Editor of Lowrider Arte Magazine.

Edgar "OSOK" Hoill is Crewest's first artist to show in their new "Featured Artist Room". His installation is called "Life Inside".

ABOUT THE CURATOR: GREGG STONE

The Crewest Man ·

Gregg Stone’s artistic career consists of Art Director at Orange Coast College Media Center, Airbrush Artist, illustrator for publishing company in Los Angeles and an exhibitor at The Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach since 1999. Graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 1978, Gregg has been trained in traditional design and composition. He has had numerous exhibitions in US and Mexico. He is also award-winning, signature member of the Western Federation Watercolor Society and experienced competition judge in both the US and Mexico. For more info: www.greggstonegallery.com .

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Gregg Stone is the curator for "Prison INC." showing from Feburary 6th 2010 through February 27th, 2010.

PRISON INC

The Crewest Man ·

Show opens Saturday Feb.6th from 6-9pm



Crewest is pleased to announce “Prison INC.”

A group show exhibition curated by Gregg Stone and featuring a large collection of highly skilled drawings created by incarcerated artists living behind bars whose life could have been different if born under different circumstances. Living behind bars has allowed these artists to discover their true talent and blessed them with the gift to illustrate that which fills their mind.

Also on display will be hand written letters with compelling stories from the artists themselves.

Here's a sneak peak:


Crewest
110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, CA
90013
213-627-8272
info@crewest.com


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"THE BOOK OF ELI" ART EVENT @ CREWEST JAN.14

The Crewest Man ·





See you there!

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8" BIC BUDDY CUSTOM SHOW @ CREWEST

The Crewest Man ·

We're happy to announce that we'll be hosting the exclusive release party for the new 8” BIC Buddy on the last weekend of March 2010.



Designed by our boy Marka27, we'll have his newly designed toy available, as well as 8" blanks, and the first big artist custom lineup of the year!


The lineup includes Angry Woebots, Asylm, Auks, Dez Einswell, DrilOne, Enamel Kingdom, Erick Scarecrow, Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca, Jasper Santos, Jesse Hernandez, Jester, Jnub of “Leroy Jenkins”, kaNO, Keith Poon, Kenji Nakayama, Lichiban, Lou Pimentel, MAD, Man One, Marka27, Munk One, NC Winters, Nemo, Pen ‘Tha/Black/Krayon”, Phu!, Pon, Problak, Reactor-88, Ritzy Periwinkle, Saner, Scribe, Sket-One, Southerndrawl, Spankystokes, Nakanari, Tristan Eaton, Vyal.

Also some other BIG surprises, you won't wanna miss it!

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VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PATIENTS

The Crewest Man ·

Crewest Gallery is bringing love to the Children’s Hospital in L.A. for a Valentines Day card exchange for their patients.

We can help make their day that much brighter with a special V-Card designed by local and international artists!

We are looking for artists who would like to design/create and sign a card (or cards) for patients of the Children's Hospital.

The hospital has a total of 320 in-patient beds, we need at least that many to make it as impactful as possible.


When creating your cards please use the following guidelines:

· Refrain from any mention to patients regarding their illness or for them to get better. Stay away from any phrases such as “get well soon” or “hope you are feeling better”.

· Use an uplifting approach when trying to find the right phrase such as “Keep on Smiling” or “Hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day”, etc.

· Please do not use anything that will fall off onto the patient (such as glitter,etc).

· Do not use anything that may harm the patient.

· Keep with the Valentines Day Theme

· Include a positive message

· Sign the card

· Just as a suggestion, you may want to include your website on the back of the card.

· Be Creative, Fun and loving!

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If you are interested in being part of this heart warming project, please contact us and let us know the # of cards you will be submitting.

Contact:
Luna George - Assistant Gallery Director
luna@crewest.com

**Latest date to submit your cards is February 1st.

You may hand deliver your cards or mail them to:

Crewest
Attn: Art Cupid
110 Winston Street
Los Angeles, CA
90013.


*Please note any shipping costs will be the responsibility of the artists.


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Please feel free to continue to pass along this invitation to other artists you may know.

Once we get the final confirmed group of artists to participate in this project an Official Press Release will be sent which will include a list of all participating artists.

Peace, Love, and Art in 2010!

Fatally Yours

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About the Children's Hospital:
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is a nonprofit, academic, pediatric medical center. They provide the the highest quality healthcare for children who are the sickest and most seriously injured in our region and beyond.

Each year, they treat over 93,000 children who need care that is so complex, it can only be provided by medical experts. They provide care in over 100 medical specialty and subspecialty areas.

More info on their site:
www.chla.org
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*Crewest Gallery and the Children's Hospital of LA reserve the right to withdraw any submissions which do not meet the guidelines set forth or for any other reason which we find unsuitable for delivery to the patients of the hospital, including but not limited to its construction or content.

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CREWEST X LA COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

The Crewest Man ·

We were asked to curate a live painting and stencil event for LA County's Holiday Celebration '09 event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in Downtown LA.

Artists, Asylm and Sherm, painted Holiday themed aerosol paintings while our other staff helped create stencil paintings for the kids and families who showed up on Christmas Eve for this annual free event.

Here's a festive time lapse video of the live painting:
(btw..the two paintings are available for purchase!)





We were happy to bring Holiday cheer to this community event!
Seems like the families who showed up enjoyed it as well, check out
the slideshow:




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PRINTED II: OPENS DEC.5TH!!

The Crewest Man ·



Crewest is pleased to announce “Printed II” an exhibition curated by Two Rabbits Studios and featuring the best selection of hand printed art posters by some of today’s most innovative street artists, activists, and designers.

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 5th, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm featuring live printing by Two Rabbits. Show runs thru December 31st, 2009.

As hand-printed art posters re-emerge in suburban and urban areas all over the world communicating political and social messages to everyday people, Crewest takes a moment to platform this growing genre and open its doors for the public to enjoy. Prints, prints and more prints are what you will see in December at Crewest!

Exhibiting Artists:
Adam Hathorn, Ashira Siegel, Billy Bishop, Bill Green, Branded, Hit + Run, Cat Cult, Clint Wilson, Contra One, Dash 2000 Fidel, Delicious Design League, Deadmundo, Dethkills, DKNG, Enik, Euth One, Firehouse, Geraldine Lozano, Hero Design Studio, James Bentely, Ken Garduno, Lucky Bunny, Mas, Max Nuetra, Mad One, Man One, Michael Alvarez, Michael Hsiung, Miles Grobman, Neko Sluts Crew, Ron Donovan from Firehouse & The Nor-Cal Posse, Septerhed, Shark Toof, SPRFKR, The Bungaloo, Tom Haubrick, WERC, Will Manville, Vyal, Yo What Happened To Peace and more…

Purchase prints at: www.Crewest.com
Contact us at:213-627-8272 or info@crewest.com

TOTD VI: ALTAR INSTALLATION BY OSCAR MAGALLANES

The Crewest Man ·

Oscar Magallanes and his altar installation 2

The cross created by the ancient Mesoamerican glyphs for fire and water is actually an axis mundi representing the four cardinal points. In Mesoamerica there was also an understanding of the importance of including a center point represented here by the symbol of Ometeotl. All of the indigenous cultures of what is now the Americas would situate there cities to these points. The axis mundi was used to represent life weather external or internal, physical and spiritual thus becoming a representation of the Universe. To the Mexica there were nine levels in the underworld the furthest being Mictlan. It is in Mictlan that Quetzalcoatl descended to recover the bones of ancestors and reestablish human kind in the fifth sun. The lower portion of the axis mundi represents its reach into these levels with the skull at the bottom to represent our ancestors. 


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The poem surrounding the three tiered alter is by Nezahualcoyotl.

I am intoxicated,
I weep, I grieve
I think, I speak
Within myself I discover this
Indeed I shall never die
I shall never disappear
There is no death
There where death is overcome
Let me go there
Indeed I shall never disappear.

The seven candles represent my immediate family. 

To tie the piece into current issues I wrapped the two symbols of Quetzalcoatl forming a sort of caduceus often used to represent medicine and physicians. I wanted to create a symbol that represented indigenous philosophies and was almost a mirror of western iconic symbols that was in every sense a mirror image. That is to say the opposite of what it's counter parts are. In this era of "healthcare reform" I think it is important to present alternatives to corporate healthcare and rediscover what has been taken from us, the fact that we can heal ourselves and have done so since the beginning of time. At the point of the first encounter with Europeans the vast cultures of Mesoamerica had already documented over three thousand plants for medicinal uses.

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The photo is of my grandfather who is on the left. We were told he passed away from cancer but after an independent autopsy was performed it turned out that he had passed away from complications of a bad blood transfusion. The four vases holding calla lilies represent my grandparents. My maternal grandparents who lived in the United States passed away at a relatively early age while my paternal grandparents in Mexico both passed away in there 90's.

Oscar Magallanes

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*Oscar's beautiful installation can be viewed at Crewest throughout the month during our Top of the Dome VI exhibition.

**Also available from Oscar is a limited edition 8 color serigraph print:
"and the Boss Laughs" - on archival paper, created at Self Help Graphics, 2009.

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Exhibition ends Nov.29th, 2009


110 Winston St.
Los Angeles, Ca
90013
213-627-8272
www.Crewest.com
info@crewest.com

RENT THE GALLERY FOR YOUR EVENT!

The Crewest Man ·




Celebrate the season with friends and family by hosting your party at Crewest Gallery for a WOW moment!

Located in the Old Bank District of Downtown's Gallery Row and conveniently situated within walking distance to hot clubs and bars, Crewest Gallery is the perfect spot for your private parties and special events.

• Over 2000 sq.ft. main gallery space with 20-foot high ceilings

• Open floor plan with private gated outdoor hangout

• Wide walls for image and film projection

• Loading area and street access with convenient parking


Book your event in November through December and receive our Happy Holiday Special Rental Rate (a limited time offer for mentioning this email).



Rental Contact: erika@crewest.com
626.737.9503 x7

See the happening for yourself.
Here's a link to our latest event with the Center for Biological Diversity:
CLICK HERE


Crewest, 110 Winston St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 627-8272 ph
www.Crewest.com

TOP OF THE DOME - FEATURED ARTIST: ALONY'S ART

The Crewest Man ·

Crewest steps inside the colorful world of Alony’s Art and learns what inspires and motivates her to create, as well as discusses her current piece “The Mad Scientist” which will be on display at this years Top of the Dome at Crewest.





First off the basics, tell us a little about you.

Hello, I am Alonys. I don’t know what would be considered basic about me, so I’ll try, I am an artist, wife, no kids, but we have an amazing cat named Meow. I’m obsessed with music, love life and feel blessed to be an artist...basically.

Tell us, what inspires you to create art?

Having a voice through colour is what inspires me.

The things that inspire me daily are as random as each day in life. I could be watching television, be on the net, hear a song, have a conversation... it really could be anything. Knowing that my perception could be understood or connect with another person, simply by translating what I feel through colour is inspiring to me. It’s an art form that can, without a word spoken, speak volumes to so many across many lines.

Who are your influences and why?

My list continues to grow regarding artists as I grow not only older but artistically. There is no denying Jackson Pollack inspired many of my early pieces and continues too. There is a sense of contained freedom in his work to me. Some of his work has a musical undertone, like a rhythm beats beneath the layers of paint. Pollack is comparable to a composer of a song that you play over and over again, each time taking you on another journey. His work leaves you wondering...how did he create this, making you love it even more.

I also have a great love for Frida Kahlo because her fiery spirit burns infinitely. I think of her often when I am creating artwork in my studio, a.k.a. Lab77. The emotion within her work translates in so many ways that all can feel, no matter what path they’ve walked in life. I want people to feel that when they see or collect my art.

What motivates you to be an artist?

Besides knowing that I am blessed to have this gift, and also knowing if I did not grow as an artist I would be going against a destiny chosen for me....

It’s also turning something old into something new and valuable, and ultimately helping tell stories about our generation. You always need to think, what will be left behind. What will they learn about us in the future from what we’ve created?

Art has always aided in telling the story of history. Vinyl and compact discs have nearly become relics, if not deemed by most as “garbage”. That idea alone motivated me to make art that incorporates ‘everyday’ items in our current life, and transform them.

You appear to be an artist who chooses interesting objects as your canvas, what would you consider to be the perfect canvas and why?

I honestly don’t think I can pick a “perfect” canvas. I started on paper bags, then moved onto tables, mirrors, cymbals, canvas, you name it. Basically anything I could get my hands on. My most recent has been bamboo, for my accessories line. The texture is amazing. I love painting vinyl. That’s def. a favorite. No surface is safe around me. They are all perfect!!!

In your bio, you mention an “insane world”, why do you consider the world as being insane and how is that reflected in your art?

The world is insane to me, because within all this beauty we still manage to voluntarily destroy ourselves everyday in some way shape or form. I feel we all genuinely want the same thing, meaning harmony, but somewhere we crave that destruction and pain, and to me that is “insane”. In my work I try to reflect these notions through the use of colour, mixed with what I call “beautiful crazy”. The idea I may convey within a particular piece may be dark, but the vibrant use of colour distracts your senses to see something positive and inviting..

Tell us abut the piece you have on display for this Year’s Top of the Dome VI?

The piece I created for this years celebration is “The Mad Scientist”. This sums up my idea of the state of the world today as we transform within the digital age, not knowing if and when to push “the button” or if in fact its already been pushed. In my piece, the skull becomes the nucleus for all the negative and positive possibilities. It’s a question of life or death, and its up to the collector to balance the equation.

Any last words?

Thank you Crewest for the invitation to be a part of this amazing show. Also thank you to my husband, family, friends, and my amazing collectors for inspiring me to live Life in Colour and create art.

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