my love for you is a stampede of horses.

Book: Other - The Artwork of Troy Lovegates.

Other has just released a super limited edition book through Anteism. Only a hundred of these little gems exist. Hard covered and handbound, it's chock full of what Other is known for: colorful hand pulled lino prints, train pieces, paste-ups and on and on. Definitely one to add to the library, whether you are a long time fan or new to Other's work...it's a beautiful and super inspiring book.

A Little Chat with Kevin E. Taylor.

Kevin Earl Taylor talks with me about his newest piece, Cenotaph. It's a beautiful 96in by 64in two panel piece painted in oil. He's been working on it over the past month and I was interested to hear what his inspiration was behind the piece.

Cenotaph will show at Guerrero Gallery tomorrow night in Weight Perception a group show curated by Andrew Schoultz. Opening reception on July 17th from 6-11, food and live music will be happening! Show goes through August 7th.

Tell me about your latest piece, Cenotaph for Weight Perception at Guerrero Gallery.

Basically, it has to do with this exploration into the chasm of things worshiping other things. I grew up in the bible belt and i know all that bible shit. I know it, sure, but it was always like reading the funny papers. I tried to believe that stuff, but it was just so...unbelievable. Through painting, I can have fun with it and play with the essence of things.  It's pretty neat to turn a shark into God. Now it will be even neater to see what people think about that.

Would you say your paintings often have a spiritual under theme, or is Cenotaph a new exploration of that?

Not really, it's just something that's been coming up here and there lately. Actually, I've been working in a couple very different directions lately and when Andrew [Schoultz] invited me to be in Weight Perception, he mentioned "those religious paintings you've been doing". I was happy to consciously explore that realm, since it had been more of a phantom theme to me. I do like the idea of very diverse elements connecting within a visual plane through some sort of hierarchy of worship. It's a food chain of those who eat souls.

What is a Cenotaph?

It's basically a tomb or monument built for something whose remains can't be found or physically categorized. Like a tomb for all the people who died on a sinking ship or a tomb for someone lost at sea.

I know that at times it's hard to 'explain' ones work, as in terms of imagery or what drives a subject in a piece, however...could you try and explain a little bit about the structures/architectures that appear in many of your paintings? What are they & where have they originated from?

I came up with that subconsciously. It just felt right. Later, after sitting with it, I realized that I see things like that: things are  built and not created. These images take place at a time when the scales are tipped. A point when technology and ecology come to a head. They are a vision into the not so distant future when humans attempts to build nature without realizing that they actually are nature. These abandoned, unfinished structures serve as monuments to our idiocy and neglect, while simultaneously signifying our extinction.

Michelle Blade.

A painter I've admired for a long time here in the Bay Area is Michelle Blade. I drooled over the images at Triple Base of her solo show Blow As Deep As You Want To Blow back in February. The painting of John Muir (above) is so incredible and mesmerizing. I could stare at it all day. I've got plans to swing by Michelle's new gallery Sight School in the coming weeks, but until then let's just stare at her work.

ABOVE Hits Hollywood.

Check out this video from ABOVE where he hits Hollywood with a little payback to Tinsletown. Over 100 arrows of celebrities were hung all over hollywood, 50 men and 50 women. Keeping it equal. Leo, Gwynnie and even James Dean make an appearence in ABOVE's signature sky high hanging. It seems as though ABOVE is on a bit of a summer street art tour, stay tuned for more...

ABOVE HOLLYWOOD from ABOVE on Vimeo.

Kyle Ranson: Portraits.

I met up with Kyle Ranson today at Adobe Books where his solo show, Portraits opens on Saturday. Many of the portraits in the show were commissioned by Andrew McKinley, owner of Adobe Books and the remaining, friends of Kyle's. When Kyle first told me he was working on a portrait show I was really excited to see what he would do. Kyles work is often overflowing and intense with color and vision. So to hear he would be taking on portraiture was really intriguing. The show is beautifully subtle and soft from as you enter the small gallery. It's not til you get up close that you can see and feel the electricity that Kyle's work is known for. It's a super intimate show and one I was really excited to have the opportunity to hang with Kyle and snap some pics of...

Kyle Ranson: Portraits, July 16th - August 14, 2010. Opening reception is on July 16th, 2010 7-10pm. Performances by Little Wings and WR/DS. Kyle will be available for portrait sittings on Mondays afternoons 1-4pm and Thursday evenings 7-9 pm, from July 19 to August 5.

Portrait of Monica Canilao.

The portrait of John Dwyer of The Oh Sees face was painted with a pigment from Morocco. In the bottle it shone like that of a green beetle's wing but when Kyle wet it, it became the beautiful lilac/pink you see here.

Below is the pigment used above. I took this pic back in April...I wish you could see how beautiful this powder was. But I wanted to share it with you anyway.