Slippage: New Opening @ IIII Studio Gallery, Dragon Street

Dallas artist Eric Trich opened IIII Studio Gallery on Dragon Street just over a year ago. Trich had the idea of incorporating the likes of painters, sculptors, conceptual artists and musicians in one nice collective. Now most local art collectives and groups sometimes do this with limited to marginal success but in Trich's case he's paved a way for others to follow with a super cool and successful gallery. How has he done it? It's really simple...Show nothing but the best artists and book nothing but the best bands. If Eric books a band for the space most likely the group played The House of Blues a year ago. In fact HOYOTOHO, one of the biggest local groups playing the Dallas scene hosted their CD release party at IIII Studio Gallery last April. I had recently heard through the grapevine about a great conceptual sculpture show called Slippage and thought I would check it out. Slippage features the work of artists Alfredo Salazar-Caro and Shane Mecklenburger.

The opening was absolutely brilliant. I was so glad I made the drive from Denton to see it. I felt like I was at an early Damien Hirst show in some random British warehouse. The artists were amazing. Technology plays a significant part in these works and is used in several pieces as a central medium. You cannot help but pick up on the sci-fi influence of the work which I also love. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to interview both artists but was able to snap a few photos for the blog. Check out the link to IIII Studio Gallery at the end of this post for more information on the show. The work in Slippage is museum quality and I strongly suggest you see it before the show closes.

BLOW-UP

 

Salazar-Caro

Salazar-Caro

Mecklenburger

Salazar-Caro

Salazar-Caro

1111 DRAGON ST.

DALLAS, TX 75207

WWW.1111STUDIOGALLERY.COM

Corey Godfrey's Macaroni Pornography:10 Minutes With the Dallas Artist

                 

photo: Dylan Hollingsworth

The 29 year old German born artist Corey Godfrey made a splash in the placid waters of the Dallas art scene last weekend. The UNT graduate (painting major) has several pieces of her craft on display at the most recent, Forces of Nature opening at Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum.  I had a chance to catch up with Corey after a very packed opening and she enlightened me on everything from art school to the sociological effects of gender stereotyping. Corey’s work is feminine, erotic, folk and beautiful.  Take a look.

Scott: “So I know this is sort of a cliché, high school newspaper kind of question but please tell me exactly what your work is about”.

Corey:  “It came to me as a dream, a dream about macaroni pornography. At the time I started doing it, I really considered it more arts and crafts than anything else”.

Scott: “It always seemed that the art program at UNT is rooted more in tradition than individual creativity. How were you able to make this kind of work in your medium and come out relatively unscathed? Did I just have a bad experience?”

Corey: “I hate that, I always hear about people having a bad art school experience and I feel so bad for them because honestly, the professors I had were a great support and inspiration to me.  I did take some heat though, especially in critiques. People considered me a folk painter, but at the time photorealism was such a popular genre and was the trend to follow. I’ve always found photrealism boring to a certain extent”.

Scott: “Why pornography?”

Corey: “I guess I feel like I’m taking sexual images really for men in these kind of masculine magazines and re-creating them for women again; taking them back to feminine sensibilities. I didn’t realize it until later on…or the further into the series I got”

Scott: “Your pieces at Kettle are desert landscapes. Is there a hidden sexuality in that?”

Corey: “Of course there is. The desert is a very erotic place. Cactus is the phallic that sometimes bloom the most beautiful little flowers thus turning the cactus feminine. I find it all so interesting. It’s also another idea that came to me in a dream. I always think about my dreams; they’re very powerful in my life. All my art is based on dreams”.

Scott: “From looking at your work I can definitely see how the use of yarn on pornographic images feminizes them. It gives the images almost a soft 3D cushion. I cannot help but think of how many hours it must take to actually complete one. Do you get tired just thinking about it?”

Corey: “You know honestly I’m kind of a workaholic. I have to work all the time; I can’t function without work to do. They do take a lot of time to create but I really enjoy the craft of what I do. I enjoy spending my time making art”.

 When you have a chance, stop by Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum to see Corey Godfrey’s work. If you miss her this time be sure and follow THE BLOW-UP blog for updates on her openings as we will be following her closely. I love finding artists like this because Dallas is known for having such a corporate/design based art world and Corey Godfrey is a great example of someone breaking that stigma. Galleries like Kettle, IIII Studio Gallery and Rising Gallery do a great job of showing great art that defies this city’s norm. 
 BLOW-UP BLOG

for more information

Kettle Art | Deep Ellum | 2714 Elm Street | Dallas, TX 75226
http://www.kettleart.com/

Ray Elizarado: Artisan Behind the Bar

 Popping into one of our many swanky hotel bars for spot of gin is a great way to spend a hot Thursday afternoon in Dallas after a trip to an art museum.   The only hiccup usually occurs right as you happen to order your favorite cocktail, (outside of vodka/soda , whisky/coke) and the bartender looks at you like you shot a cat because they have no utter idea what you’re talking about.  Not so much is the case with Ray Elizaradio. Ray is the kind of bartender that makes his patron the perfect martini because he knows the perfect martini is usually subjective to the lifestyle of the patron. Instead of mixing expensive tequila with coke, he puts a cube of sugar in it. A classy dressed businessman will normally enjoy a vodka martini or a good gin tonic. Ray takes the time to ask questions of taste and lifestyle so important in giving him the edge when pouring you a drink. He also has a great knowledge of independent cinema, modern art, rock n’ roll culture and adores THE CLASH which is a major plus in my book. He’s very interesting to chat with.  Having worked at the Stark Club in the 1980’s its pretty safe to assume Ray’s been on his game for quite some time.  (If you don’t know what the Stark Club is… go ahead, give it a google!). So I asked Ray a few questions and this is what he said:

Scott: “So what the hell are people really drinking this summer?”

Ray: “Oh you know, the usual, we sell a lot of vodka/soda, vodka/tonic, mojitos , and actually gin seems to be making a big comeback ”.

Scott: “Probably from the whole Mad Men frenzy thing going on”

Scott: “What should people be ordering this summer?”

Ray: “ What from me?”

Scott: “Sure, what do you make that’s really killer?”

Ray: “Well of course I make a really good Manhattan or maybe a Gimlet.  It just depends on what you like, if you really care about the craft you’re going to ask them what they like. Most people don’t even know what a Gimlet is but really it’s just limejuice and vodka. I get them what they want through a process of elimination”.

Scott: “I think the Fitzgerald’s drank a lot of Gimlets in the 20’s.

Scott: “Well outside of here what do you drink?”

Ray: “ You know I really enjoy a good scotch. Right now my favorite is Glenfiddich 15. I also like some of the darker imported beers. It’s really all just a matter of preference with scotch too. Some people prefer a more smoky taste and others a little more of a fruity after. It’s all really just a matter preference”.

Before I left for my next destination I ordered a couple rounds of my favorite summer cocktail; One part gin, one part apple juice with a garnish of mint leaves.  Delicious! Unfortunately because this was not an official interview I cannot post the name or location of the hotel where this artisan behind the bar resides but if you email me I will divulge such information and you too can enjoy a summer delight. Bottoms up!

BLOW-UP BLOG

Scott Tucker Signs Print Deal with The Art Menu!

A very sincere thank you goes out to David Hobbs and Taylor Stensrud of The Art Menu! David and Taylor recently contacted me about a possible print deal and we all come to very agreable terms. Instead of printing just one or two of my originals The Art Menu has decided to print eight Scott Tucker originals as canvas giclee's. I feel honored as one of 25 artists they picked from the Dallas area. My canvas giclee's will be for sale in the coming months at http://www.theartmenu.com/. We will also be having a lauching party that I will be posting information about this coming fall featuring all 25 of The Art Menu's visual artists. I must say, having my original paintings scanned and printed was an interesting and complicated process. Mike Bowers, Katy Parker and Zack at Coupralux Giclee of the Design District in Dallas made the process a lot easier by paying careful attention to all details so crucial in the printmaking process. We are all very excited about the finished products and can't wait for The Art Menu lauch party! Here are a few photos I snapped at the printers. The overall size of the printing machines was overwhelming. The whole experience was nothing less than an awesome. Thanks guys!

Photo at Coupralux

"In the Eyes of the Beholder We Try" 2011 Scott Tucker

"Wear a Helmet when Godzilla Attacks!" 2011 Scott Tucker

David and Taylor look over the new works

Larger printer at Coupralux

Rows of printers at Coupralux

Setting the lights for the scan

It takes about an hour or so to get the light scan just right

David and Tayor of The Art Menu

My paintings locked up in the Vault

The Art Menu

1717 Arts Plaza

Dallas, Tx, 75201

(214) 621-2250

FASHION RULES PARTY@ Neiman Marcus Willowbend, March 3rd 2011

Special thanks to Chuck Steelman and Marcus Weiss at Neiman Marcus Willowbend again for inviting me to be part of the "Fashion Rules" party. And of course Mark Alanzo and my good friend Michelle Parsons of 944 for requesting my presence too. Michelle's boyfreind Jimmy and I actually sat in for a song or two at the last Heart Eyes Open show at City Tavern last Friday night for a send off to our friend Eric Martin. Eric is moving to New York in a few weeks. For a fashion rules party looking back I think I should have maybe dressed a bit more...fashionable?
Scott

These paintings take a long long time....a long time

THE ORANGE snapped on the scene!

944 Fashion Angel

Chuck Steelman and Miss Texas

Jason Terry Signs an Autograph

FOR THE LOVE OF KETTLE ART SHOW February 12th, 2011

I showed two paintings in the, "For The Love of Kettle Art Show" this past Weekend and sold both of them the first night of the opening. Thanks to Kettle for having me once more at their gallery and thanks to Alex for snapping photos of my work that night. The work will be on display at the gallery until March 5th so if you have a chance, check it out. Other artists in this show include Cabe Booth, Frank Campagna, Amber Campagna and Rob Conover. http://www.kettleart.com/ for more info.
Scott

                               "You Can Have Me Once More" 2011 By Scott Tucker

                            "Taking Contol Of The Idols #1" 2010 By Scott Tucker

New Works and things of interest

Here are a few pictures of both newer and a few older works that haven't been added to the blog yet. I've been very busy my band THE ORANGE  these past few months leaving me little time to show art. However I have been visiting museums, sketching, painting and planning another solo show this coming spring so stay tuned for the details. May looks ideal for the show and I will have details about it by March. Also read further down to see some of the incredible pieces I have seen these past few months: British Contemporary

                       I sent it back where the wolves reside, 2010 by Scott Tucker

I stole this, painted it and returned it to where I originally found it. It looked so interesting among all the other brown wood crates/pallates in such a brilliant shade of red it was beautiful. Two people walked casually by talking as I was replacing it and taking pictures. They both stopped, looked at me like I was crazy and then kept walking. Although most of my works are paintings and sculptures I fully subscribe to Marcel Duchamp's idea of ready made art. There is something asthetically pleasing about the everyday things around us that we see but don't ever think about. In this piece I aimed to display just that. The norms of the wolves; a showcase of the everyday duty and quality in an industrial capitalist socieity highlighted in a brilliant shade of red. I took it, changed it and sent it back to where the wolves reside.

                           Sometimes I have a meltdown, 2009 By Scott Tucker

                                        Jihad Couture,2009 By Scott Tucker

This last week I visited the new Goss Michael Foundation and did some sketching, The Goss Michael Foundation is a really cool gallery owned by singer George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss that displays British contemporary works here in Dallas. Highlights of the collection include Saint Sebastian, Exquisite Pain, by the great Damien Hirst (the most important British artist of the 90's) and a really cool sculpture/collage called, Black Narcissus/Ellwood, L Word- Culture Station by the artist Richard Patterson. I strongly reccomend a trip to this place as it really is worth the hard time I had finding it amongst the design district.

                                            Saint Sebastian By Damien Hirst

Black Narcissus By Richard Patterson