Isaac Bidwell & Cayetano Valenzuela: When Night Falls, Szozda Gallery Syracuse NY, July 13 2012

Fantastic show of paintings, drawings and prints by artists Isaac Bidwell & Cayetano Valenzuela at the Szozda Gallery 501 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse NY this month. The show runs through August 5th so go take a look!

This was a very exciting show to go see because Isaac and Cayetano are both part of the group of younger artists I've had the pleasure to show with here in Syracuse & Utica over the past few month. Both also have regional + national followings for their work, Isaac now showing in both Chicago and Los Angeles. Get used to hearing their names! and here is first some video taken during the opening reception on July 13:

And some pictures. I was delighted to see Cayetano painting utility poles -- a staple of my own choice of subjects -- and encountering Isaac's work has encouraged me to allow some naughtiness into a painting currently underway (which in turn has inspired me to begin painting from a live model once again). And like Amber Snow Pasiak's work at the Hamilton show there's a preoccupation with death or macabre imagery which is right on target. Take a look!

Event announcement card.

Entrance to Szozda Gallery at 501 W. Fayette, home of the Delevan Center.

One of Cayetano's exquisitely crafted canvases.

My favorite piece from the show! Small canvas maybe 8 x 10 inches and by golly he even tossed in a utility pole. YES!!

Some of Isaac's red hot sexy-morbid drawings. I first became aware of Isaac's work helping to sell his prints out at the Shoppingtown gallery and have been plundering the work for ideas ever since.

My favorite of Isaac's pieces from the show.

Jay & Sofia from the Sparky Town gang! YES.

Artists Steve Nyland and Cayetano Valenzuela. Love those green shoes too ;D

Artists Cayetano Valenzuela and Sofia Perez.

Artists Isaac Bidwell and Steve Nyland -- looking forward to a beer with Isaac sometime this summer to talk drawing.

YES! Frog art always welcome.

Gallery owner & curator Caroline Szozda-McGowan at right, looking forward to meeting with her soon  ;] 

The Pastel Artworks of Érica Kamisaki, Peruíbe Brazil

Here's some video of my friend Erica Kamisaki down in Brazil churning out three of her magnificent pastel portraits of the kitty cats in her life. Art as video!

Here's one of Erica's drawings shown at the website of UK based artist & materials designer 

Tim Fisher:

http://www.timfisherartist.co.uk/profserica.html

And take a minute to visit & bookmark her blog using the link below. One of the hardest working artists I know and there's always something new!  ;]

http://www.pastelpet.blogspot.com.br/

Downtown Utica "Art In Window" Project - Your Art In Utica Storefronts, Deadline July 31st

Two of the players from the Utica arts scene I've been working with turned me onto this marvelous idea calling for artists to submit work to be shown in disused storefronts in downtown Utica. I definitely want in & sent my email, you should too. Here's news coverage of the announcement by WKTV Utica along with the email link to express your interest:

http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Calling-all-artists-Deadline-July-31st-for-Art-in-Windows-project-161234745.html

Artists Steve Nyland and Ty Marshal at CNY Artists Gallery Shoppingtown, July 11 2012.

Tech Garden artist in residence & curator Ty Marshal stopped out to see my exhibition at the Shoppingtown gallery and I insisted on a picture.

Steve Nyland at CNY Artists Gallery, Shoppingtown Mall, July 6 2012

With "A Nation Of Haircuts" in the front window.

This Was An Ocean - Brendon Flynn at Sparky Town Gallery, Syracuse NY, July 8 2012.

Another reception by another young artist using scrappy low-tech materials to make engaging work, this time illustrator/painter Brendon Flynn at the venerable Sparky Town Gallery at 324 Burnet Ave in Syracuse's historic Hawley Green neighborhood. Brendon's show runs through August 5th with Sparky Town's legendary menu an added draw for a lunchtime stopover.

 Let's take a look at some pictures from the opening reception on July 8th:

Brendon's notification card design,

My favorite piece from the show!

The finished ballpoint pen version ... I like the pencil sketch better.

Artists Steve Nyland and Brendon Flynn.

Sparky Town's owner and artiste extraordinaire Lauren Bristol with artist/photographer Harry Freeman-Jones.

Artists Isaac Bidwell and Brendon Flynn.

Isaac Bidwell hard at work. This IS work by the way, you have to go to other people's receptions you are a loser.

Artists Sofia Perez and Brendon Flynn.

YES!!! haha, I love it.

Sparky Town's Lauren Bristol also graced the front page of this weekend's Post-Standard Stars section with one of her fiber creations shown at the Cazenovia Arts & Crafts Festival.

Home.

http://sparkytown.net/