This is my recommended art opening of the weekend. Amazing roster and perfect subject matter for the majority of them. From the press release: “”Femme Fatale”

A Group Exhibition Curated by Nicole Bruckman & Stephanie Chefas
Opening Reception Saturday, February 25th from 7-11pm

Exhibit runs through March 17th 2012
Cella Gallery
11135 Weddington St., suite 112
North Hollywood, CA 91601
cellagallery.com
On Saturday, February 25th, as Cella Gallery debuts “Femme Fatale”, a group exhibition featuring the works of over 35 innovative artists handpicked by curators: Nicole Bruckman and Stephanie Chefas.
“Femme Fatale” gathers some of the most powerful contemporary artists whose inherent aesthetic is heavily influenced by the beauty of the female figure. The exhibition explores how individual perceptions of feminine allure can be expressed through each artist’s specific genre. Expect to be seduced, ensnared and dangerously dazzled as though in the crosshairs of a femme fatale herself.
Artists include:
Aaron Nagel, Apricot Mantle, Anna Chung, Aunia Kahn, Casey Weldon, Cate Rangel, Charles Ketcham, Chris Peters, Christopher Umana, Cristina Paulos, Chrystal Chan, David Bray, Dave MacDowell, Delphia, Douglas Alvarez, Edith Lebeau, Gail Potocki, Jason Rudulph Pena, JAW Cooper, Jeff Ramirez, Jessica Ward, JoKa, Jose Carabes, Ken Garduno, Korin Faught, Kris Moore, L.Croskey, Lily Mae Martin, Linnea Strid, Morgan Slade, Nicole Bruckman, Nom Kinnear King, Paul Chatem, Sara Haase, Sarah Folkman, Stella Im Hultberg, Ted von Heiland and THH70.”

The Hundreds. Gucci Mane. RSVP to The Hundreds via email at rsvp (@) thehundreds.com

Scott Belcastro

Dynamic!!!!! Love the Francis Bacon feel…

From the press release: “Exploring the intimate psychological and emotional dimensions of nationalistic collective memory, Crow creates a series of works that take as a point of departure the exuberance and sobering aspects of past and recent gilded eras. Known for her theatrical and lush paintings that often feature decadent interiors, this new investigation marks a shift in the artist’s artistic process, tensely negotiating representational depictions and mnemonic interplay in painting. Rather than reproducing imagery associated with particular temporal and locational circumstances, the artist taps into mythologizing narratives, personal memories, and familial anecdotes to execute a psychoanalytic excavation of historical periods.

From bleak Dust Bowl towns to celebratory tickertape parades, Crow’s paintings are emblematic of American growth and decline. The exhibition’s title in part implies the pitfalls of such self-congratulatory excitement. In the tickertape canvases, the skewed perspectives and atmospheric maelstroms of staccato brushstrokes push to a near-abstraction. Emptied of figures, these works only obliquely refer to specific historical references, and often contain little narrative coherence in terms of space and structure. In representing the actual event so abstractly, the attention no longer focuses on what is depicted, but rather the feeling of a distinctly American bravado and celebratory energy that teeters on the verge of disorder and chaos. The show’s title also connotes the cyclical nature of American frenzy and loss with “haboob” (Arabic for huge sandstorm), which refers to both the Depression’s Dust Bowl and the recent massive dust-storms of the southwest. Working with a much darker palette, these paintings chart the quiet forlorn mood that accompanies economic obsolescence.

Dallas-born Rosson Crow lives and works in Los Angeles. She received her MFA from Yale University, and a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Solo museum exhibitions include FOCUS: Rosson Crow at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (2009) and Myth of the American Motorcycle at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati (2010). Crow has been included in exhibitions in museums internationally such as the Royal Academy of Arts, London, The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburg, PA, Musee d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, Luxembourg, and The Macro Future Museum, Rome. Other recent solo exhibitions include: Bowery Boys, Deitch Projects, New York (2010); Paris, Texas at Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris (2009); and Texas Crude, White Cube, London (2009).”

TICKETS HERE for Light Asylum with Tearist @ Check Yo Ponytail, also check out the other flyers, they have a few pretty great nights coming up with Hunx and His Punx with Nobunny and Hype Williams doing a live performance in April.

“DEBUT FULL LENGTH street date MAY (DAY) 1ST, 2012
Light Asylum have announced the follow-up to their 2011 EP In Tension. Their self-titled debut full-length is scheduled for release on Mexican Summer May 1, 2012.

First single from the album “Shallow Tears” re-recorded, mixed and master w/previously unreleased b side “Genesis” can be listened to here”:

http://soundcloud.com/mexicansummer/sets/light-asylum-shallow-tears/

Album Track Listing

Light Asylum:

01 Hour Fortress
02 Pope Will Roll
03 IPC
04 Heart of Dust
05 Sins of the Flesh
06 Angel Tongue
07 Shallow Tears
08 At Will
09 End of Days
10 A Certain Person

U.S. tour dates:

03-11 Denton, TX – 35 Denton Festival
05-03 New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
05-04 Philadelphia, PA – Voyeur
05-05 Washington DC – U Hall
05-11 Seattle, WA – Electric Tea Garden
05-12 Portland, OR – Branx
05-14 San Francisco, CA – Public Works
05-15 Los Angeles, CA – Check Yo Ponytail – The Echoplex

ANTHONY LISTER
OPENING RECEPTION
THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 23, 2012
6PM – 9PM

From the press release: “Opening Thursday, February 23, 2012, with a body of new work, New Image Art is pleased to present a new solo exhibition by returning artist Anthony Lister. Lister’s work takes influence from street art, expressionism, and pop art. Taking inspiration from his immediate surroundings he paints the parodies of modern life. His distinctive style is a visible tension between figuration and abstraction executed with bold confidence.

For his new exhibition Lister has created a montage of figurative renderings with special focus on the central theme of the beautiful and sometimes twisted form of the dancing ballerina. Along with a special print release and new series of sculptures, this new body of work promises to wow the viewer in its technical skill and refinement derived from sketching a live model. The opening reception will also feature a live dance performance as well as a hanging installation.

Born in Brisbane, Australia in 1979, Lister is a renowned painter and installation artist with an international profile. Lister graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2001, shortly after, he went to New York and worked under the mentorship of New Zealand painter Max Gimblett in 2002 and was the recipient of the 2004 Education Queensland Minister’s Art Awards, with a further mentoring workshop residency at Blender Studio, Melbourne. A selection of Lister’s work was the focus of the monograph, Twice on Sundays, published by Fox Galleries (Brisbane, AU) in 2005. Recently, he undertook a research residency in Berlin, and his travels have extended him to take part in an impressive list of sell-out solo and group exhibitions around the world. Lister’s work has been acquired by the National Gallery, featured in Juxtapoz magazine, and he was a finalist in the 2007 ABN Amro Award. In 2010 Lister was named one of the top 50 collectable artists in Australia by Australian Art Collector. He has held solo exhibitions throughout the US, Europe and Britain, straddling the boundaries of street art and the gallery world. His work has been featured in numerous publications including Forthcoming title, Wooster Collective, Taschen and Beyond the Street, 100 Leading Figures in Street Art, Gestalten.”

New Image Art
7920 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.654.2192
www.newimageartgallery.com

From the press release:
TERRY RICHARDSON
‘TERRYWOOD’- February 24 – March 31, 2012
OHWOW Gallery
937 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90069 PRESS RELEASE

Opening reception: Friday, February 24, 6 – 9 PM

Terry Richardson’s first solo exhibition in Los Angeles, titled TERRYWOOD, presents over 25 of his latest photographs. Inspired by the multiple facets of Hollywood life, TERRYWOOD unveils a series of images of the famous locale, as seen through Richardson’s eyes. Terryworld meets Hollywood, as local characters, familiar landscapes, and architectural details, now verge on having a new identity. With images such as Hooray for Hollywood and NUDE, both photographs of the proverbial chintzy signs that are ubiquitous throughout Hollywood, Richardson illustrates his proclivity for branding whatever subject matter he approaches. Through a medium not typically understood as effective in translating an artist’s personality, Richardson manages to make his hand evident within his photographs. His identity is unmistakably present here, as if he created the very objects and scenes his camera captures.

An artist often attributed with changing the field of photography, Richardson also defies the ideological limitations of the practice, while redefining an epitome. TERRYWOOD takes all that Hollywood represents – the celebrity, broken dreams, kitsch, and sorted history – but, just as with all of Richardson’s well-known work, he re-contextualizes familiar imagery, re-identifying it with characteristics reflective of his own persona, imparting them with a different narrative.

Terry Richardson is one of the most prolific and compelling photographers of his generation. Known for his uncanny ability to cut to the raw essence of whomever appears before his lens, Richardson’s vision is at once humorous, tragic, often beautiful, and always provocative. Born in New York City and raised in Hollywood, he began photographing his environment while attending Hollywood High School and playing in a punk rock band. Richardson’s work has been the subject of numerous group and solo shows throughout the world, and he has published a selection of books beginning with Hysteric Glamour in 1998, followed by a print retrospective titled Terryworld, and most recently released LADY GAGA x TERRY RICHARDSON. Whatever the medium, Terry Richardson continues to prove that he is a true American Original.

THIS los angeles is proud to present:

THESE FRIENDS 3.

February 24th – March 23rd

Opening reception this Friday February 24th, 7-10 p.m.

After two years at THIS los angeles, we are glad to announce our 3rd annual “These Friends” show.

Artists include:

Aaron Ruell

Alana Goldstein

Alex Prager

Andrew paynter

Andy Mueller

Andy Suriano

Annie Thorton

Anthony Anzalone

Arlie Carstens

Ben Venom

Bill Mcright

Blake Marquis

Brad Elterman

Brent Owens

Brian Montouri

Brian Steinhoff

Bruce Gilbert

Bryan Sheffield

Carlos Don Juan

Cassiel Getz

Chris Bettig

Chris Moore

Chris Pastras

Chris Wessman

Christian Moreno

Claire Weiss

Cleon Peterson

Clint Peterson

Cody Hoyt

Cole Barash

Corey Arnold

Curtis Mead

Dallas Clayton

Dan Monick

Daniel Gibson

Don Pendleton

Drew Heffron

Emiliano Granado

Emily Shur

Erin Althea

Erin Garcia

Geoff McFetridge

Gil Shuler

Graham Walzer

Greg Beyer

Greg Bojorquez

Hannah Hooper

Hassan Rahim

Herstel Baltrotsky

Jared Eberhardt

Jeaneen Lund

Jeremy Shockley

Jeremy Weiss

Jessica Wassil

Jessie Cowan

Joe McKay

Jon Huck

jon rajkovich

Jordan Rae

JRF

JT Helms

Juan Puente

Justin Donais

Justin Krietemeyer

Justin Waugh

KC Ortiz

Kelly Jones

Kevin E. Taylor

Kimberly Scola

Lee Corbin

Lisa Solberg

Louise Ingalls Sturges

Luis Farfan

Malia James

Mark Penxa

Megan Whitmarsh

Mel Kadel

Michael Coleman

Michael Hsiung

Mike Bertino

Mike Perry

Natas Kaupas

Nicholas Haggard

Noe Montes

Pose

Raymond Molinar

Rich Colman

Robin Laananen

Ronnie Günter

Rory Wilson

Ruben Fleischer

Ryan Allan

Ryan Lopez

Ryan Wallace

Sage Vaughn

Scott Toepfer

Sean Mcgaughey

Seonna Hong

Shawn Records

Sonny Kay

Steven Harrington

Steven Nereo

Suzannah Sinclair

Suzy Yun

Ted Gahl

Travis Millard

Victor Saldana

Will Bryant

Will Copeland

Zach Mccaffree

Zara Bucci

The exhibition is FREE, all ages and open to the public! See you here!!

THIS, los angeles.

About THIS los angeles:

This is a group of four creatives (Aaron Farley, Claire & Jeremy Weiss and Justin Van Hoy) who pool their resources under one roof to provide an

outlet for themselves and other creative people. The intention of THIS is to provide a

gallery space which brings friends and family together in the Highland Park

neighborhood of Los Angeles. The space not only showcases traditional gallery shows,

but it is a venue for artists to speak about their work, to interact with their audience and

facilitate a creative atmosphere in the community.

Over the past 2 years, we hosted a number of varied exhibitions. By showcasing a wide range of artists (from the very established gallery proven creative to the unknown emerging artist), our goal has been to take down some of the stigmas surrounding the term “art gallery” and present work that speaks to the chosen theme with the appropriate involvement. The space is meant to be comfortable and warm (sometimes literally) so that our longtime friends and the unknown casual passerby are both welcome.

THIS los angeles is located on Figueroa St and 59th in the historical Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

THIS los angeles

5906 North Figueroa Street

Los Angeles, CA 90042.

I posted Big Deal’s cover of Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Sometimes Always’ from the Mulberry Mix Tape Tour a couple weeks back, and the other five entries from the live series for Mulberry have been posted. Go here to find out more about the series. “Six up and coming duos or bands performed exclusive covers of their favourite British love songs for the Mix Tape Tour. Make sure you stop for a listen!

RSVP here, somewhat obviously he’s absolutely amazing live.

Also of note, Robert Francis is playing with the Peach Kings on March 5th, RSVP here.