http://www.jasonjagel.com/records

Jason Jagel has always been one of our favorite artists, even before we knew who he was. We saw the MF Doom covers, and became fans of the images, the style, the whole package. It wasn’t until later, when we received his beautiful mongraph, 73 Funshine, that we pieced it all together and realized the man making these paintings was also the man behind the album covers. It all made sense.

With Jason’s new show, I’ll Fly (Into Your Heart), opening at FIFTY24SF Gallery on April 1st, we get a few words in to Jason about more broader subjects of his art and career. The specifics of the show come in Part 2. —The Citrus Report

http://www.thecitrusreport.com/2010/features/jason-jagel-part-1/

Check out some shots from the set up for “Character Assassination”…

The week before an opening reception is an interesting time, we all start to feel the pressure of the countdown, the artist gets final details harnessed, and we get an intimate look at how he/she functions in a studio environment. Late nights painting the gallery walls, hanging work, and shootin’ the shit, we are regaled with stories of travel and adventures and we learn more clearly why we love these guys. In a nut shell, it’s the time when we re-affirm our obsession with art. Choe is no exception.

Not to be missed, Choe returns to the bay area after almost ten years with a collection of new paintings and a plethora of sold out prints.

We cordially invite you to join us this Friday for the opening reception of

David Choe’s

“Character Assassination”

7-9:30 pm

Filed under: art Tagged: art, character assassination, david choe, fifty24sf gallery, original paintings, sold out prints, Upper playground ]]> http://fifty24sf.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/character-assassination-a-sneak-peak-you-know-you-want-it/feed/ 0 fifty24sfgallery IMG_0670 IMG_0675 IMG_0692 IMG_0686 IMG_0673 http://fifty24sf.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/david-choe-returns-to-the-415-friday-feb-5th/ http://fifty24sf.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/david-choe-returns-to-the-415-friday-feb-5th/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:23:16 +0000 fifty24sfgallery http://fifty24sf.wordpress.com/?p=2143 ]]>

Fifty24SF is proud to host “Character Assassination” – a solo exhibition by David Choe.

One of the most diverse and prolific living artists, David Choe combines his interest in American and Asian pop culture, graphic novels, and cityscapes to produce some of the most dynamic work seen today.

His often lewd expressions of the female form, considered offensive to some, is, in all actuality, the most raw and honest appreciation of the male/female sexual interaction. Erratic brushwork and wild compositions convey a superficial sense of anarchy and abandon while the delicate and exotic portraits betray the implied chaos, revealing a passionate love of women.

In Dave’s work, discordance and serenity exist in impossible harmony as proof to the truest constitution of life. His paintings are testament to the fact that the gritty and the perceived offensive are necessary constituents of raw beauty.

David’s disinterest in social conformity and lack of need for social approval allows him to exist in a realm of indulgence, allowing his creativity to abound unfettered. Whether he be painting murals, paintings, or quick street commentary, that raw honesty is the element that drives his work deep into the psyche of the viewer.  Truths that we as an audience are not always brave enough to admit, even to ourselves, fuels the mastery behind the work.  A subliminal stirring of still waters, his paintings are thought provoking and engaging in a way that cannot always be justified as simply, aesthetically pleasing.

A seasoned globetrotter, David Choe’s murals cover walls from his native Los Angeles to Vietnam. His intricate brush strokes and characters translate well to consumer products and he has worked with Marvel Comics, Levis and Nike. His art, photos, and writing have been featured in Giant Robot, Hustler and Vice Magazine. David Choe has also self-published comic/journals: Bruised Fruit, Cursiv and Slow Jams. Most recently, he was featured in the documentary about his work “Dirty Hands.”

We cordially invite you to join us for the Opening Reception of

David Choe’s

“Character Assassination”

Friday, February 5th, 2010

7-10pm

248 Fillmore St, SF, Ca, 94117

******************************************************************************************
Upcoming Shows at FIFTY24SF Gallery:
April: Jason Jagel

FIFTY24SF Gallery Contact Information:
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Saturday from 12–6 P.M. and by appointment
Address:          248 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Contact:           Lynzy Blair / Phone: (415) 252-9144 / Email: Lynzy@UpperPlayground.com

M.I.S.S. and FIFTY24LA Gallery Present “Paper Dolls”

A Group Show Displaying New Works by Artists & Their

Interpretation of the Paper Doll

Curated by M.I.S.S. editors Lexx Valdez and Kimberly Jefferson, an impressive array of artists offer their artistic interpretation of the woman’s fashion figure using the iconic paper doll as inspiration.  Photographs, illustrations and paintings, all varied expressions of the paper doll – all with a personal twist.

Check out MissOmniMedia.com for more information on the contributing artists.

We invite you to join  M.I.S.S. and FIFTY24LA for the opening reception of

”Paper Dolls”

Thursday, January 14, 2010

7- 10pm

on display at FIFTY24LA Gallery from January 14, 2010 through March 3, 2010.

Upper Playground in Association with FIFTY 24SEA Gallery present the Opening Reception of:
“ANACHRONISMS” by Jonathan Wakuda Fischer

Jonathan is fascinated with the role technology plays in the creation of art, as well as its obsolescence in the wake of human progress. This relationship between art and its process is well illustrated by the history of traditional Japanese woodblock; the printing technology integral to the popular rise of Ukiyo-e also contributed to its downfall. Coming from the cultures of both East and West, his life has revolved around the possibilities of creating something new from different origins. As such, he found the woodblock art form thematically appropriate to pair with the aesthetic of similarly outdated 20th century culture.  By combining antiquity with technology and past with (near) present, he creates a new context for the art that is seemingly transcendent of history.
“Anachronisms”
Japanese woodblock printing was concerned with the nature of image duplication, and his choice of a modern technique is based on similar strengths and limitations. Using a stencil means working within a defined space, but different applications of spray painting within the template allow for wildly different interpretations of the same image, and ‘play’ in the grey area between uniformity and singularity. Exploring a painting through its variations helps me address the nature of individuality within a system and the concept of originality amid repetition.
To be  included on the preview list please contact upperplaygroundjen@gmail.com.

Opening Reception will be held for “Anachronisms” on January 9th from 6:00 – 9:30pm. Beverages will be provided as well as music from The Ken.

Evan Pricco, managing editor for Juxtapoz magazine, has offered up a preview of his January Show Stopper which covers the momentous occasion and the opening night sentiments more eloquently than I.
I’ll leave you with the words of Mr. Pricco.
Happy Holidays from FIFTY24SF!

Jeremy Fish didn’t know what to expect the evening before his Laguna Art Museum opening. He had spent the prior week hanging the work in the gallery, nearly a full year creating the pieces, and was just now taking his first walk through the exhibit with an outside audience. A typical Jeremy gathering, stereotypes in full-effect, tending to be of the creative young adult set: skateboarders, surfers, sneakerheads, and SPBs. Among the best artists of our time to combine the lifestyles, over the years Jeremy has become one of fine art’s most renowned storytellers.

On the night of November 6, 2009, Jeremy Fish had to tell the story to the members of the Laguna Art Museum. Truth be told, one of the great advantages of aging is that (1) you can become a museum member and attend quiet previews, and (2) you can live in Laguna Beach. So Jeremy Fish walked what may have been his oldest audience yet through the nuances of his craft, explaining his intentions, inspirations, and the story of Weather the Storm. “I was a little nervous that maybe the members wouldn’t be into it,” Fish admitted. “But it turned out they were really into it. In fact, I think one man asked a question about every piece, sometimes asking more than one. I think it was a successful night.”

As the years have rolled on, Jeremy has been a confident builder of tales, concepts, and environments. His Barbary Coast show last year became a unique picture book experience on the history of San Francisco. Weathering the Storm explores the “transformation and rebirth through struggle,” a timely concept given that most people you know are out of a job or out a savings account. Through his bunnies, beaver, birds, and skulls, his world evolves despite adversity, creates new beginnings and says hello/goodbye to the past.

The exhibit features wonderful literature provided by both Fish and Laguna curator Grace Kook-Anderson, bringing an essential academic outline of the work to an audience unfamiliar with the artist. One thing for certain, as Jeremy is coroneted into the museum world, he is becoming a subject worthy to write about in historical context. If a Cat with a Hat can change the world, why can’t a Silly Pink Bunny?

-Evan Pricco

Please conatct the gallery if you have any questions regarding this exhibition.

Lynzy@upperplayground.com