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Brin Levinson talks about his current show and the human race

Portland artist Brin Levinson interview and limited-edition print release

> ( What do you envision for the human race? )
That’s a huge question. I can go pretty far out with that because I really think we’re capable of anything we’ve ever dreamt up. From overpopulated dystopias to technological paradise island cities, I think it will all happen. We live in a world were new technology is introduced into our lives on a weekly basis. It used to take hundreds of years for advances to happen in ways that effected peoples lives. People lived the same way doing the same things for thousands of years without any major changes from generation to generation. Now, things change so fast we can barely keep up. What will life be like in fifty years? We don’t really know but we do know it’s not going to be the same as it is now. That’s a new thing. I can’t really help being pessimistic about the future because based on what we’re doing to the planet now, it looks pretty grim. But, we may develop ways to undo the catastrophe after all, you never know. The fascinating thing is that life will be so different in the future we don’t even know what it will be like.

> ( If you were to have a spirit animal, what do you think it would be and why? )
I would love my spirit animal to be a bird because they are so free and flying looks like insane fun. But, when I look in the mirror I see more of a weasel or hedge hog. I can empathize with most animals so it’s hard to pick just one that speaks to me but I really think it’s a four legged land mammal of some sort. Maybe a fox.
> ( Many of the scenes in your paintings seem to be from Portland, are you the photographer… how are you finding these images? )
I take my camera with me a lot and sometimes go out specifically to take pictures at spots that I’ve seen or am curious about. I love the bridges and old industrial areas that are like time capsules from 100 years ago. I have so many pictures it’s easily a lifetime supply of painting material but I’m constantly on the hunt for good photos. A lot of the time, I use a few different pictures as reference for a painting and visually collage them together.

> ( what comes to mind when I say… )
dog… - faithful.
cat… - sketchy but lovable.
rhino… - bizarre three toed knee-less unicorns currently going extinct thanks to us, -must protect!
> ( Can you talk about any upcoming art events or shows? )
I have a show of new paintings at the Graeter Gallery in old town all of May 2012. This show represents the work I’ve done over the last 10 months. It’s is called “Tridacna” and is with fellow Portland artists Brooke Weston and Miguel Gonzalez. Check it out at 131 NW 2nd ave, Portland.
Purchase Brin Levinson’s limited-edition framed prints through the Hungry Eyeball online gallery.

Red Bat Press celebrates 10 Years in Portland in 2012!

ART SHOW & FIRST THURSDAY ARTIST RECEPTION

Portland in Postcards: Portland’s Public Art & Architecture in 4×6
Woodcuts and original illustrations by Carye Bye of Red Bat Press

June 7 – 30, 2012

Lulu’s Vintage
916 W Burnside
Portland, Oregon
Hours: Wed – Sat 12-6 and Sun 1-5

First Thursday Artist Reception
June 7, 2012, 5-8pm

Lulu’s Vintage is proud to host an art show for the month of June featuring 4×6 inch postcard-size hand-printed woodcuts and original watercolor & ink illustrations by artist Carye Bye of Red Bat Press. Her love of Portland has been a theme in her printmaking over the last decade and in the illustrated guidebook Hidden Portland she self published in 2009 and Bedouin Books published in 2010. Janet Julian, a local musician and folksy artist refers to Carye as a “Tourist in her own town”. What is more touristy than the postcard!

Bye has collected postcards most of her life. Her grandparents in Florida sent her alligator, shell collections, and cute kitten and puppy postcards to Minnesota where she grew up. In high school she started her first reproduction printing by making a variety of zines which she’d sell to friends. One zine The Bizzare focused on different subject matters and the fourth issue was all about bathtubs. This launched a collection of postcards with bathtubs. Today Bye curates the informal Bathtub Art Museum with a collection of nearly 400 “bathtub” postcards. Her interest in postcards has continued in her professional arts life.

Through Red Bat Press, a small artist press Bye started in 2002 that specializing in woodcut illustration and hand printing on a letterpress, a tradition of making Portland Postcards has emerged. The popular Bridges of the Willamette, a collection of 10 woodcut reproductions of Portland’s unique bridges, is one of Bye’s signature contributions. Other Portland scenes in the collection so far include, Paul Bunyan, Vaux Swifts, Union Station, Chinatown, Stag Sign, City of Roses and many bicycle prints.

In this new exhibit, Bye will illustrate her favorite public art sculptures and architecture in woodblock and Ink & watercolor. This includes a new carving of the Steel Bridge in honor of Steel Bridge’s 100th Birthday this summer.

APAK Print Show at Black Wagon in Portland

For spring APAK will be celebrating the reemergence of life with a series of new limited edition prints! All prints are numbered and signed, giclee prints using archival ink on acid-free cotton rag paper.

Opening reception: Thurs May 10th, 2012, 5-7pm
Show Dates: May 10th – June 7th, 2012

Black Wagon
3964 N Mississippi Ave
Portland, OR 97227

J Shea hanging in San Diego and beyond… interview

Hungry Eyeball sits down with Portland artist J Shea and talk about his process, discovery and upcoming shows…

> ( Your art process seems to be on a path of discovery… there are no blueprints, sketches, or solidified ideas… many artists are uncomfortable with this process, how did this develop? )

i think it has developed over time………..after many years in the commercial arts industry…………you grow conditioned to art direction and filterization of your projects………so in many ways its my way of breaking out of that…………..experimenting with a more free-form process……….i still start with an idea……and very loose sketches………..but once i start the sculpture process………it stays very loose…….open to change……….and grow………….its also 3-dimensional……so as you build the piece up…………..its open to move in different directions……….that makes the process much more exciting to me then following a blueprint process…….

as for discovery with this latest collection of work………….its been a lot of experimentation with materials…..and mediums……like clays,resins,plaster and wood………………..also with different types of finishes…………like stains and lacquers………i’m always trying to use new materials in my work……..
> ( Your sculptures use a lot of found objects, what are some of your favorite objects to find? )

anything with some history……….i like certain kinds of materials………..certain metals and all kinds of wood…….anything with some craft that may have had a sentimental value to someone from the past but has no real value in today’s culture…..i’m not sure what draws me to certain objects…………that remains a mystery……………but i enjoy the process of finding little things at yard sales & flea markets…….and its old world market interaction……………….i could never see myself searching for objects on-line…………i prefer the process of searching outdoors and enjoying the experience of it…….
> ( Can you tell us about your upcoming show in San Diego with Hellion Gallery, it seems you are literally thinking out of the box? )

matt wagner of hellion gallery recently opened up a new space in san diego…………. and has given me the opportunity of a solo exhibit……..with this show i’m thinking more about designing space then just laying work out on a wall……….for the last few years i’ve been experimenting with mobile type sculpture…..work that hangs from the ceiling……….and has kinetic movements…………..this show “a feeling of transience” takes those concepts to a new level……….and a larger scale………i am attempting to create sculpture that you can not only look at………but experience, because its surrounding you and moving at the same time…………its a bit a departure from my shadow box work………….but its been extremely rewarding creatively………..the work is moving more in the direction of installation……..and i’m excited that i’ve organically moved in that direction slowly over time……….
> ( Can you tell us about any other art shows or projects coming up? )

i’m fortunate to have a few galleries that present opportunities for me to create personal work……………so it will be another busy year in the studio………i’ll be involved in some shows later this year in chicago…….columbus,ohio………los angeles………and vancouver,b.c…………i feel its really important to get my work out there…………and find new audiences…………whether its a large city or small town………..its a little bit different when the work is sculpture………it often requires a present audience ………………….to see the fine details and craftsmanship…………….

Mark Quemada interview and print release

Portland Oregon artist Mark Quemada is interviewed by Hungry Eyeball and releases some art prints online in the Eyeball gallery.

> (Your art is dealing a lot with food, do you have any aversions to any foods?)

There are a lot of tastes that I dislike. Fennel is probably the worst thing that I can think of. It actually looks like dessicated rat shit in seed form. This is clearly at odds with my love for a good Sazarac.

> (You lived in Japan, China, and now Portland, what are some of your favorite foods from each place?)

The second time I lived in Japan the local delicacy was called “Zeri Fry.” It was the pulped leftovers from making soy milk, deep-fried, and was covered with shredded pickled ginger and yakisoba sauce. It was truly a delicious bit of heaven.

When I moved to China there was a dish called “Disanqian” which translates into something like “the three earth fairies.” It humbly consists of potatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, and is accompanied by a delicious sauce. I became quite the connoisseur of this dish during my stay in Beijing, as it was one of the few things I knew how to order.

Here in Portland I like to cook for myself. I make a really good curry that is basically unstoppable. The secret to how to make this is that one simply must remember to *whisper, whisper…*

> (How did your Love Triangles come on to paper?)

In both instances the Triangle shape comes from a sandwich image. Here’s some food for thought for you left brainers out there:

Half a sandwich is triangular + I love sandwiches = a Love Triangle.

But really, The Love Triangles are largely informed by the drawings I did before them. Love Triangle 2 comes from an illustration called “Hormel Hell” which is a study of the chunks found in low grade lunch meat. Love Triangle 1 comes from a drawing called “Lean on Me” which is a sandwich edge resting against a bookend.

> (What’s your dream job?)

I’ve been making “Glamour Shots” of people’s least/favorite food recently, and think that it would be a nice niche market to be known for – especially here in Portland where people are serious about their love for food. The trick is to draw out a compelling story from the client about why they love or loathe these foods, and turn it into something interesting rather than just a static still life drawing.

> (What do you love about life?)

“To crush your enemies — See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.” Just kidding, that’s a quote from Conan the Barbarian. For the past decade I’ve been reading and collecting all of the Conan pulp novels, which there are many of. When I’m done hunting for the last two that I need I plan on reading them in chronological order according to Conan’s lifespan. I love doing research on a subject I’m passionate about and being able to examine the different facets it has to offer.

> (Can you tell us about any future art plans?)

I’m working on a series of new illustrations called “The Godmother Method” which highlights the way in which my Godmother tried to lose weight, stop smoking, and cut down drinking. Hopefully you’ll be able to see them in a few months!

Check out Mark Quemada’s art prints in the Hungry Eyeball gallery.

Wesley Younie interview with paintings

Portland artist Wesley Younie interviews with Hungry Eyeball
and releases some of his paintings online in our Eyeball gallery.

> (A painter of many outdoor scenes, do you have any favorite places you like to go outside?)

I love going to the OR Zoo, Chinese garden, and hikes in the Gorge.

> (What are some of your dream places you’d like to go?)

Japan, Versailles, Serengeti

> (What is your response to Portlandia’s “put a bird on it” ?)

It is funny since I have always painted birds, but it is kind of annoying.
I hope my birds have more to say then those birds. My birds are endangered
and sometimes menacing. My favorite birds are penguins, Dodos (RIP) and
California Condors (there where only 22 remaining wild condors in 1987).
> (If you were to pick a soundtrack to go with your paintings, what would it include?)

Music is very important to my work; I can’t paint without music playing.
Currently listening to Washed out, Lana Del Rey, Dolly Parton, David Bowie.

> (What do you love about life right now?)

Spring Flowers
> (Can you tell us about any future art plans, shows or events?)

I want to show in other states, looking into new galleries. I am in the Simply
Red (2) show at Pioneer Place, Atrium Bldg, Third Floor 700 SW 5th AVE.,
Sat April 21, 2012. One of my paintings was just included in the new Randall
children’s hospital. I hope it makes all of the kids happy.

Wesley Younie, April 2012

See more Wesley Younie paintings in the Hungry Eyeball Gallery.

“That’s My Ride, Bro” Custom Van Art Show

“That’s my Ride Bro” is a collection of paintings and sculptures inspired by the custom van culture. Whether it’s a diamond shaped bubble window, a painting of a majestic bear nursing a human baby on the side, or even the Bookmobile, a custom van is a beautiful thing. Come see “That’s my Ride Bro” and renew your love of the van.

“That’s my Ride Bro”
Grass Hut Art Market
400 NW Couch street
Portland, OR 97209
Opening First Thursday April 5th, 2012 | 6-9 pm
Show runs from April 5th to May 1st, 2012

Artists included:
Hilary Pfeifer,
Bwana Spoons,
Scrappers,
Martin Ontiveros,
Meredith Dittmar,
Brett Superstar,
Eatcho,
Adrienne Vita,
Aaron Barker,
Shawn Wolfe,
Chelsea Fletcher,
Caleb Highley,
& Tripper Dungan
AND
Steve “ManVan” Mathews