Press Release:
AR4T is planning a summer of artistic commotion/camaraderie/uproar that has been precedented only in the time-honored tradition of Laguna Beach’s most artistic rulebreakers who have come before us. Our main beach gallery will be transformed into three artistic visions for one month each.
ROBERT “STICKY” SHAW: LOVE KILLS
ARTIST RECEPTION: Saturday, June 2, 2012, 6pm-9pm
MUSICAL GUESTS: The Lovely Bad Things
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT from Arnette & Volcom
ON VIEW: June 2 – June 23, 2012
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – AR4T Gallery is pleased to present Love Kills, a solo exhibition by Orange County artist Robert “Sticky” Shaw. Sticky is known for his bold characters taking claim over a complex backdrop of manic lines and collected paper mementos – each small piece an individual memory swirled together to create a multiple-layered landscape through which we walk. A plethora of 1930s-60s newspaper clips saved by his father, love notes, lipstick and music bills become a waking dream of creative drama.
For Sticky’s first solo exhibit at AR4T Gallery, “Love Kills” is a window into the past, present and future. The story starts in a time when Sticky was an adolescent and he suffered from a disorder called “Cutting” The “Cutting” came about from the loss of a dear family friend who took his own life. Sticky also at this time was a heavy drinker and was experimenting with prescription drugs and marijuana.
He fell in love with Punk music and as tradition has it, he fell madly in love with a girl. They dated for a short period, and as a young adult it seemed like years. Then one day she moved to New York to follow her dreams and was gone. Suffering her loss, in his room – a comfort zone surrounded with images of punk rock heroes – Sticky cut himself to release his anger and frustration.
Years later, Sticky traveled to New York on various occasions. On one of his many trips he stayed at the Chelsea Hotel, where his room was on the same floor where Sid and Nancy spent Nancy’s fatal last night. He found it surreal to be so close to where one of his Punk idols had stayed, while at the same time all of the emotions for his first love returned and overtook his heart like a river. But Sticky could not act on his feelings, his ex had found someone else.
After the loss of Sticky’s elderly father in June 2011, and duo show “Girls vs Boys” in Laguna Beach, CA the following month, in which he sold all works created for that show, Sticky was inspired to pull out some of his saved inspirations.
Looking back to move forward, the artist presents cutout pieces from his father’s newspaper collection such as: “President John F. Kennedy is laid to rest among the dead of the nation’s wars” and a clip referring to tax woes, dated Feb. 11, 1939, Los Angeles Examiner. A Sid and Nancy poster from Sticky’s adolescent days is splattered with long dried blood stains still fresh in his heart… the cornerstone of his first solo show, Love Kills.
“LOVE KILLS” runs June 2-23, 2012 at AR4T GALLERY, 210 North Coast Hwy. (between Broadway and Cliff), Laguna Beach, CA. Opening reception on Saturday, June 2 from 6 to 9pm, is free and open to the public. Parking Meters free after 7pm. Works are for sale. Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 3 to 8pm. www.AR4T.com.
Please see page 2 for information on the July and August exhibits…
KARLEE MACKIE/ KALM: DEPTHS & BEYOND
ARTIST RECEPTION: Saturday, June 30, 2012, 6pm-9pm
With a very special musical performance by: Emma Deigman
ON VIEW: June 30-July 28, 2012
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – AR4T Gallery is pleased to present Depths & Beyond, a solo show and the return of Australian painter Karlee Mackie, KALM, to southern California. Karlee’s paintings have a way of magically communicating to the dreamer inside, whether inspired from travels around the world as a surfer or her natural-born intuition that seeks beauty and positivity in everything. Depths & Beyond will feature all new works.
Says the artist:
“This is exploring the creation from destruction to new beginnings. Searching one’s emotions and self to the depths and beyond. Swimming through dark waters, only to find something that transforms into something beautiful. A poetic journey into the unknown.
“My vision for this show is bright feminine images and written words of emotions that explore the creation that comes from destruction… using emotions to fuel life. The wave you ride when such things occur.”
About KALM
While on tour-competing on the surfing world qualifying series she began painting her friends’ surfboards, and now she is one of the wickedly lucky few females in the world that travels and explores surf culture for a career. Karlee is no stranger to the camera as she had her fair share of involvement in many surf movies such as AKA: Girl Surfer, Fashion, You Remind Me of Me, Save the Big Fat Whales, and Gone Mentawais.
She has also been one of the gorgeous faces to have hosted MTV sports. Her life growing up has always been heavily influenced by the beach and carefree lifestyle. Born in Townsville, Queensland but spending most of her childhood in Culburra Beach before relocating to Lennox Head, where she is now based. karleemackie.wordpress.com
“DEPTHS & BEYOND” runs June 30-July 28, 2012 at AR4T GALLERY, 210 North Coast Hwy. (between Broadway and Cliff), Laguna Beach, CA. Opening reception on Saturday, June 30 from 6 to 9pm, is free and open to the public. Parking Meters free after 7pm. Works are for sale. Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 3 to 8pm. www.AR4T.com.
BRENNAN COYLE + ELECTRIC COFFIN SUPPLY CO.
ARTISTS RECEPTION: Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 // 6pm-9pm
MUSICAL GUEST: TBA
ON VIEW: Aug. 2-25, 2012
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – AR4T Gallery is pleased to present a collaborative effort from Seattle artists Brennan Coyle and the “Built From Death” duo, Patrick “Duffy” De Armas and Justin Kane Elder of Electric Coffin.
Brennan Coyle began working with AR4T Gallery in November 2010 and has contributed his intricately carved and painted skate decks to multiple group shows. His labor intensive process, from detailed line drawing to perilously precise cuts in the decks, with multiple layers of paint and finishing, create an end result of fine art works that are often sold even before doors open to the public.
For 2012, Brennan invited Electric Coffin to join him in bringing the NW art scene down to the beach. Electric Coffin is an art based creative firm known well for reusing salvaged material and ideas to create handmade and one of a kind items, as well as their annual “Boxes of Death” art tours. Each of the three artists brings their own unique style this August as they pay homage to a location that many Americans have found a place of intense creative energy – the garage workshop.
From the artists:
We are creative rebels…
The garage has been the starting point of numerous outcasts, serving as a catalyst for their invention. It began in an era inspired by rock ‘n roll, fast cars and tattoos. It was an age when humanity’s shell cracked open and seeped out a culture so pure that it altered everything in its path. Rebellious artistry was forged within those four walls.
They housed a breed of creatives that customized and fabricated everything by hand. These individuals forged the ideals adopted by the blossoming skate and surf cultures. Strip down each of these cultures and their fundamentals are identical. Each one is innovative, rebellious, and hard working. Both strive to search for the limits, ignore the risks, and ask questions later.
Please see page 3 for more on the August show…
We are part of this brotherhood…
Today the beautiful imperfections of hand made objects are over looked and cast aside. People instead expect computer aided perfection. “Built to last” had meaning once, now it’s just a catchy slogan. This is wrong and that is why we have chosen to celebrate and embrace our heritage. We aim to pay homage to the working class creatives that paved the way, and also push those very ideals in unforeseen ways.
This show is a tribute to the cultures forged with steel and filled with gasoline. It highlights every drop of paint and each line of ink. It is meant to showcase a collection of art in its natural environment, the place in which it was both conceived and slaved over.
We are a brotherhood of creative rebels.
The exhibition will include paintings, restructured skate decks, and a mixed media 15 foot installation using reclaimed, recycled, repurposed wood/media, keeping with Electric Coffin’s practice of using sustainable materials.
About Brennan Coyle
Brennan is an artist who lives and works in Seattle. With an upbringing in Alaska, a partiality for skateboarding and education at the Art Institute of Seattle, Brennan translates woodworking and painting skateboard decks into meaningful, detailed scenes of nature, trees, animals and cityscapes. His work is a nod to skateboard artists who came before him with the skill set of a master painter.
About Electric Coffin Supply Co.
An art based creative firm with the slogan “Built from Death,” embracing the notion of using salvaged materials and reworking old imagery to create something new. Everything they create is handmade and one of a kind. They thrive on finding and exploring new ways to repurpose yesterday’s news. Their approach is to find dynamic creative solutions that not only exceed clients’ expectations, but also leave a lasting impression on the community. Each new project unfolds with its’ own unique set of circumstances. Giving each piece its own distinct voice within the environment it exists.
BRENNAN COYLE + ELECTRIC COFFIN runs Aug. 2-25, 2012 at AR4T GALLERY, 210 North Coast Hwy. (between Broadway and Cliff), Laguna Beach, CA. Opening reception on Thursday, Aug. 2 from 6 to 9pm, is free and open to the public. Parking Meters free after 7pm. Works are for sale. Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 3 to 8pm. www.AR4T.com.
