Corey Helford Gallery: Ray Caesar

Opening Reception Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 7‑10pm
On View October 22 – November 12, 2011
Los Angeles, CA

Format: Digital

One of our favorite thoughts, Ray Caesar, has an exhibition opening this weekend at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. “A Dangerous Inclination” continues on Caesar’s cathartic theme of elegantly haunting works. Caesar’s latest works disclose a more personal side to his narratives. While maintaning the self disclosure theme “A Dangerous Inclination” has definite notes of difference.  Ray Caesar was born in 1958 in London. At an early age, his family moved to Toronto, Canada, where he currently resides. From 1977—80 he attended Ontario College of Art, followed by 17 years from 1980—96 working in the art & photography department of the Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto, documenting disturbing cases of child abuse, surgical reconstruction, psychology, and animal research. Coupled with inspiration from surrealists Kahlo and Dali, Caesar’s experiences at the hospital continue to influence his artwork. His haunting imagery is created digitally using 3D modeling software called Maya, mastered while working in digital animation for television and film industries from 1998—2001. In 1999, Caesar received a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Special Effects in a series.

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Sydney: SMASH! 2011 Hits Town, Anime Up PPL

In its fifth year SMASH! 2011, is about to hit the Sydney Convention Centre with 6000 fans expected to turn up.   WTF is SMASH! I hear you ask, SMASH! is a celebration of all things Manga and Anime. A one day event that brings together like minded boffins of the naively styled  Japanese animation genre. The day is jam packed with exhibitions, gaming, competitions, presentations and special guests.

Special guests include charismatic Shinichi Watanabe is an anime director and seiyuu, best known for his over-the-top adaptation of Rikdo Koshi’s Excel Saga, in which he appears as the character Nabeshin. He has been an anime director since 1995 starting with Bonobono and has gone on to direct popular anime series which include The Wallflower, Gravitation (OAV), Tenchi Muyo! GXP and Nerima Daikon Brothers. His Nabeshin character has made cameos in various series such as Puni Puni Poemy,Eyeshield 21, Hayate No Gotoku, Rune Soldier, Nyan Koi! and Tayutama.

Eminence will perform to close out the day.  Eminence is known for its live performances and recordings of pieces from world-renowned video games, animation and films. Eminence has also recorded new music for several well-known anime and video game series. SMASH! will debut Last Goodbye, Eminence’s newest project incorporating a new short animated feature, fully backed by Eminence’s live instrumental soundtrack and special vocals. The touching story and musical score has been especially animated, composed and arranged to be viewed and enjoyed for the very first time at the concert! 2011 will see a bit of a retro slant on gaming, with some classic tournaments and freeplay titles.

Those of you competitively minded can test your skills in Street Fighter II and Mario Kart 64, while those looking to enjoy a more languid game can enjoy our myriad of Freeplay titles, including Super Smash Bros 64, Tekken 3, Super Cosplay War Ultra, Motorstorm Apocalypse and Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Madman Entertainment - sponsors – will be releasing the first volume of K-ON!?  on both DVD & Blu-Ray! They’re also running a cool cosplay photo competition.

WHERE AND WHEN:  Saturday, July 16 at the Sydney Convention Centre. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door.

For the Full Schedule Checkout www.smash.org.au/schedule/

Sydney: Ben Frost, Giggle at Blank Space

Giggle On The Stretcher an exhibition by Ben Frost

A selection of paintings, drawings and editions on canvas, board and found objects.

Opening Saturday June 25th, 4pm – 6pm

The Exhibition preview from 3pm, this 2 week exhibition continues until July 7th

Blank Space, 374 Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia

Online catalogue will be available on Saturday June 25th
please send an email to giggle@benfrostisdead.com

M★C

Tim Vagg: Kick Gallery, The Boxer

TIM VAGG

The Boxer Paintings

Exhibition runs June 07 – June 25 2011

Tim Vagg’s latest showing at Melbourne’s best contemporary gallery – Kick - is outstandingly, unapologetically coloquial with a smirkish twist. Mr Vagg’s inspiration seems – in part – to be the cringe factor Australians feel for their own Aussiness. His works are brilliantly gregarious, as always masterly crafted and sit squarely on Kick’s walls.  The always dapper Mr Vagg, opened his show to a packed house, his opening comments a toast to his very oddly angled eye – we do love a touch of irony – commenting on a perspective that is seldom seen from within Australia, an introverted view of ourselves – our history – thought out from an outside point of view and painted by one of our own.  OK, that may have been a little carried away. Vagg’s works are quite outstanding pieces, his homage to – inspiration came from Les Darcy and Lionel Rose – our fighting spirit, our obscure almost freakish embrace of the different.

Those who have followed Tim Vagg’s work over recent years, will have watched this artist develop a style that is uniquely his own. Cohesive, considered and engaging, Vagg creates rich, high key, colourful artworks that appear to almost come alive on the canvas and immediately engage the viewer. Increasingly, Vagg has added a socio-political commentary to his work, through a combination of historical research and intuitive artistic invention. The artist allows us to reconsider and reassess the layers of narrative tied up in the pursuit of the ‘The Australian identity.’ As his raw material, the artist draws on various icons, events, and historical figures to form a visual ‘urban folk-art’ language.

This combination of Tim Vagg and Kick Gallery truly is hand in glove, Jacob Hoerner knows his stuff and brandishes this knowledge masterfully; Great Opening, Great Exhibition!

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