FIFTY24SF Gallery has 2 great shows opening TONIGHT featuring new drawings and paintings by Ron English and Alex Pardee. Ron English is a master at taking pop cultural icons and adding his social commentary.  His twisted personality comes through in all of his pieces and I can’t wait to see his work up close and personal.  He had a show a few months back at another SF gallery, but alas, it was raining that night and I was too lazy to go (boo!), but I’ll definitely be there tonight!  I’m also excited to see Alex Pardee’s work:  Inspired by horror movies, his work is always eerie, yet humourous.  This show is no different.  He’s portraying and showcasing “Letters From Digested Children” - kids kidnapped by monsters and their SOS letters.  He’s even got the missing person’s posters to go with it.  Stay tuned for pics from the show if you can’t make it.  Details about the shows, and artists, after the jump.

FIFTY24SF Gallery
248 & 252 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Opening Reception: Tonight, 7 to 9 PM

(more…)

Detail of work by Alex Pardee

Alex Pardee is an artist heavily influenced by the gore and goop of horror flicks from the 1970s and 80s. He’s done album artwork and worked with Upper Playground on a series of products including art, t-shirts, hoodies, prints, bandanas, skate decks and a book, Awful Homesick. Last week we attended the release party and art show of Alex Pardee’s Night of the Treeple collection that he designed for Hurley. The party/exhibition was held at On Six Gallery at Club 6 and featured the art of Alex Pardee, as well as a host of other artists interpreting Pardee’s “Treeple,”  including Skinner, Jon Dragonette, Robert Bowen and Sam Kieth.  Pardees’ work was frightful and eerie in a beautiful way, and the timing of the launch of the collection, with Halloween around the corner, was perfect.  Another standout from the show was the photographs of Jon Dragonette.  Two of the three photos were self-portraits and he actually handcrafted the masks and props used in all the shots.  The photos were large scale and he really brought Pardee’s “Treeple” to life.  Check out more pictures from the event and the “trailer” after the jump.

(more…)

Everyday this week, Upper Playground and Fifty24SF are hosting a different contest each day to win Obama Prints that are valued at $200 each. For today’s contest, 5 copies of the Alex Pardee Obama print are up for grabs. The print is signed and numbered out of 200. To win, go to Upper Playground’s Facebook page and retrieve a clue, then go to Fifty24SF’s Myspace page and retrieve another clue. Then, find the video on the Upper Playground video channel that matches the two clues and post the name of it on UP’s Facebook page discussion board. Sound complicated? It’s not. Go do it! Good Luck!!

Also, along with this contest, Upper Playground and Fifty24SF are hosting a weeklong art competition where you have the opportunity to submit your own Obama print to Fifty24SF. To do so post your print entry’s to the Fifty24SF Gallery Facebook “Fan Photos” section. The winner they choose will receive five different prints from UP’s Obama series of prints, and the winning art will be featured as UP’s and Fifty24SF’s profile pic on Myspace and Facebook for all of next week leading up to the election. Your 15 minutes may be almost here!

Cover Band is an art show that’s being hosted at LA’s Gallery1988. The show is the result of 50 artists reinterpreting 50 classic LP covers.  Some of the artists involved include Ghost Patrol, Netherland, Josh Calloway, Phoneticontrol, and Alex Pardee—who did an amazing job reworking the Cindi Lauper album above—and many more.

Albums reinterpreted include everything from Hall & Oates to Metallica, Led Zeppelin. The show is up until October 31st and although some of the framed in glass pieces have sold, many are still available for purchase.

Visit Gallery1988 at 7020 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles or view the work online on the Gallery 1988 blog.