Today we've launched a new music video I've created. The video is made in stop motion using an analog camera (Olympus Mju I) and around 80 films. It's for Kreatones a young wave band from the Netherlands.
I hope you like it and like to show this to the Fecal Faces out there. -Jorrit Spoelstra
If you've never seen it or haven't in awhile, add the film Grave of the Fireflies to your rental queue. This heartfelt Japanese animated classic tells a stark tale of two young children who lose their parents towards the end of World War 2... We love it, and for more info listen to this guy... and again, we recommend you watch any Japanese animated film in Japanese with English subtitles.
What are some of your favorite Japanese animated films? Let's post some up in the comments:
Last night we watched Hayao Miyazaki's animated classic Spirited Away. We watched the English dubbed version for the first time. Don't do that. Animated Japanese films are so much better when you watch them in Japanese with English subtitles. Reading enhances the film by bringing your own your imagination into it... Plus, Disney has a way of Americanizing the film. There's a clumsy touch to such a delicate masterpiece.
Got an email from Tim Bierbaum who wanted to let us know about his fantastic new multimedia web series Real Artists he created. It's great, and he wrote and directed this pilot episode. He also photographed, illustrated, animated, and recorded a voice. We love it. Think you will too.
"Real Artists" (a Thrash Lab special created by Tim Bierbaum)
This first episode of Real Artists finds a number of characters engaged in their daily routine in New York City. Presented as a collection of vignettes, the episode connects the characters and discussions in a digressive unpredictable way.
The best part of the cinema program at SF State was taking the history/ theory classes. They would screen iconic classic films in SF State's wonderful Coppola Theater. Always took these classes early in the morning. That's the best time to see any film. As opposed to viewing a film at night and then going to bed soon afterwards, viewing a film early in the morning allows you the entire day to reflect. Highly recommend your next viewing with a cup of coffee.
Visionary Design: The Cinema of Charles and Ray Eames - Fri. Feb. 24 - 8PM @Oddball Films in San Francisco --> Oddball Films presents Visionary Design: The Cinema of Charles and Ray Eames. Among the finest designers of the 20th Century, the husband and wife team are best known for their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing, but the Eames’ were also brilliant and inventive filmmakers, able to illustrate the most abstract concepts with readily understood images. There is so much to say about the legacy of the Eames’s that an entire period has been named after them. ~complete details
As cool as it is to be nostalgic about an artist's past, you don't have to hold onto it. Especially since there are people like C.R. Stecyk creating works in the now with even more punch than they had 30 years ago - a trait that can only be attributed to the character of a true artist. In fact, he's just made a new experimental film named "FIN", that's packed full of the elements of culture and spirit which have always fascinated Stecyk and his fans.
The film will be premiering at H Space Gallery on February 8th and if you think it's going to be a regular old screening, think again - since Stecyk and the creative team at Hurley will be fully transforming the space into an old movie theater. I'm talking a floor to ceiling installation that will be 110% unforgettable. Not to mention that "Fin" will continue to evolve even after its screening - taking on a life as a limited edition clothing run and web series.
If you don't know who C.R. Stecyk is, all you have to do is open up practically any skateboarding magazine and point to any page knowing that what you're seeing wouldn't exist without his vision of how to the capture the radical images and lifestyles that forever inspired our imaginations. From his Dogtown Articles in the 1970's, to his recent exhibit of posters at the Art In The Streets exhibit at MOCA - the man is just unstoppable. And so the film based on the lives of the z-boys he made part of history might have been called Lords Of Dogtown, but Stecyk was and is still most definitely the king.
Twixt @Fifty24SF Wednesday, 18 January 2012 /// Written by Trippe
Last Friday, we swung through Fifty24SF to check out their current show coinciding with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's newest feature/ horror film, Twixt (art directed by Jimmy DiMarcellis aka Porous Walker).
The show references many scenes from the film, which Coppola wrote himself, and which struggles to win over critics (ouch).
Incredible set design complete with a heavy duty fog machine, it certainly was photo worthy. The bird houses were priced very inexpensively with many sold by the time we arrived... Didn't even recognize the gallery is was so reworked.
Pledgers receive all sorts of goodies from a Creative Lives sketch kit, tshirt by Henry Gunderson, prints from Ferris Plock & Andrew Schoultz, tickets to the LA & SF screenings, etc. Donate as little as $5 now.
80+ year old NYC based street fashion photographer and icon Bill Cunningham is an interesting character who still buzzes about New York City by bicycle making fashion shows and society soirees for the NYTimes. The film, "Bill Cunningham New York", documents the thoughtful/ matter-a-fact nature of the man who believes fashion isn't about celebrity and glamour but about finding beauty in a harsh world.
We highly recommend this honest portrayal of a man whose life's work isn't about money but about following your heart's desire and truely being yourself, working hard continuing to do what you love. The film is a wonderful portrait of an honorable man and well worth checking out (Netflix streams it, if you go that route).
Influential figure in experimental and underground filmmaking, George Kuchar passed away from cancer yesterday. Kuchar had been a professor @SFAI since 1971 while working on his lo-fi films and videos.
Kuchar's 1966 "Hold Me While I'm Naked"
If you've never seen a movie by the Kuchar Brothers, you really should. When George and Mike Kuchar were in their heyday, their work was the epitome of 1960s underground cinema: 8mm, no budget, wild ideas, wilder content. Unless you went to film school or lived near a cool theater or museum? They were almost impossible to see. Now? They're a click away on YouTube. ~read on
Saturday update via U.P.:Officially billed (according to Harry Kim and Dave Choe) as the "Dirty Hands Release: Jerk Off Cum in Your Eye Party. Everybody Cum". We're keeping it in the hood and doing a DVD release party at Nickies (466 Haight St) Sunday night at 10pm. If you're around come by and get a dirty dirty from Dave. That is all.
Guess it's the way things are these days. Remember The Alhambra Theater? How about The Regency Theater? So many of San Francisco's best indi one screen theaters are going the way of the 8 track, and it sucks. It sucks that more people didn't support and enjoy them, but what's the way it is. Streaming video, Netflix, etc and with people's limited time they have... Well...
The best popcorn with yeast in San Francisco, the Red Vic celebrates their 31st anniversary this July 25th, and it also happens to be the day the classic Upper Haight theater closes their doors. "Our closure is 100 percent certain at this point," co-owner Claudia Lehan said. "On July 25, our birthday screening of 'Harold and Maude' will be our last, I'm sad to say." ~Chronicle story.
Wanna check out some of the now closed classic SF theaters? A man on Flickr has tons of photos.
Underskatement is back and they want your films for this US touring skate-centric film festival. Fecal Face is proud to be a media sponsor of this great program that's now in its 10 year.
UnderSkatement is a traveling film festival featuring short films made exclusively by skateboarders. Underskatement originated in 2001 to showcase the talents of both well-known and unknown skateboarder filmmakers. Entering this film festival doesn’t require a big name in the skateboarding world, but rather-just like skateboarding- requires creativity and imagination.
This is an open call for participants to appear in a film commissioned by the Oakland Standard, a series of contemporary art projects produced by the Oakland Museum of California. Once selected, participants will visit the museum on Monday, June 27, 2011, for a single forty-five-minute on-camera interview.
The film, titled Nothing Happens for Long, is an investigation (by the filmmakers, Jonn Herschend and Andrew Leland) into the normal, even boring moments that happen every day at a museum. It’s our belief that these quiet, mundane experiences are what lead to real discovery and wonder, and that museums are especially good at creating the right atmosphere to make them happen—in other words, to make nothing happen. (A more detailed explanation of these ideas appears on the film’s project page.)
We are looking for stories by individuals who have been to the Oakland Museum—recently or years ago—and experienced a moment where nothing happened.
Saw the documentary on Bill Hicks last night, AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story, and was so pleased to see a feature length film dedicated to telling the story of his genius and of his career starting out at age 16 to his early tragic death from pancreatic cancer at age 32 in 1994.
Bill Hicks, self described "Chomsky with dick jokes", was one of the best stand-up comedians, social critics, and satirists of all time, decades ahead of everyone else and culture at large. The film is currently playing here at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas and runs through... Well, tonight, Thursday, is the last showing, and you should get there and see it on the big screen before it's gone.
Yes, Bill Hicks was on stage many years ago, but the humor is completley timeless- everything is just as funny as it was 2 decades ago when it was written. If you miss the film in theaters, download some of his stand-up or watch it online.
Considered the comedian's comedian, whose act generally flew over the heads of most Americans at the time (his 12th appearance on David Letterman in '93 was pulled for being "over the top"), Hicks never garnered much US mainstream success, although, a huge hit in the UK selling out massive theaters filled with thousands of fans... Any comedian you love today was hugely influenced by Hicks who stayed true to his words and art, never selling out his act and completely just being himself throughout.
The film is smartly assembled, keeping even those obliviously unaware of Bill Hicks entertained with jazzy after effects/ animated motion of the old photographs of Bill's early life and career, such that you feel as though you're watching classic footage. Very well done, and for those of you who are huge Bill Hicks fans, the film is a way to relive classic performances and to appreciate and be inspired by an artist who stood his ground and kept focused on what more of us should.
R.I.P., Bill. You are greatly missed, and we would to see how you'd respond to our nutty ass world today. -Trippe
Like wearing a watch but don't want to bother with all that pesky technology, Barcelona based artist Axel Brechensbauer has you covered... We also dig this great truck sculpture.
This day may have been inevitable, but now it's finally here. In its attempt to take over the world - or at least everything that can be bought and sold in the world, Amazon is launching an art gallery.
This summer Amazon is planning to launch a Fine Art Gallery where customers will be able to purchase original artwork offered by a select group of invited galleries via Amazon.com. ~continue reading
A new HBO documentary looks at the work of street artist JR, whose giant portraits force people in troubled areas to confront the humanity that's all around them... On the day JR found out he'd won the $100,000 TED Prize, the French pasteup artist found himself in China being questioned by police for doing his thing on the streets of Shanghai. ~continue reading
Street artist JR HBO documentary premiered yesterday, May 20th
Art lovers, collectors and gallerists will gather on Thursday for Hong Kong's inaugural edition of Art Basel, sealing the city's status as an international art hub and Asia's leading art destination... Hong Kong has surged to third place in the global art auction market behind New York and London and Western galleries are falling over each other to open franchises in the former British colony. ~continue reading
Our buddy Ferris Plock opens a small show of drawings at Benny Gold on 3169 16th St this Friday, May 24th (7-10pm) featuring 31 drawings priced at 75-140 bucks.
Ferris also released the video Fingered! he produced with animator Jim Dirschberger. View it
Wowzas, there's a lot of art happenings this weekend, and while you're making the rounds, be sure to stop at SFAI's MFA show Currency opening Friday, May 17th at the beautiful old SF Mint Building (88 5th Street).
SFAI's 2013 MFA graduates—working in painting, photography, printmaking, film, sculpture, installation, digital media, performance, and across media—will present work that embraces the Institute's signature spirit of experimentation and conceptual risk-taking.
Opening reception: Friday, May 17, 7–9 pm & running through Sunday 11-6pm daily. -- complete details
London based Pedro Matos opens the solo show Building Castles Made of Sand this Friday in Los Angeles at the Martha Otero Gallery featuring a new series of oil paintings on canvas and azulejo panels - a traditional Portuguese medium of hand-painted, tin-glazed, ceramic tile work.
TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.
I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.
Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.
Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.
The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future
FFDG opened up the group show featuring original works by the artists of the world famous Skull & Sword tattoo last Friday here in San Francisco. Thanks to the huge crowd who turned out to support these four incredibly talented artists. Here is a taste of the show, and be sure to swing in to view in person. The show runs through June 8th.
Gary Baseman's retrospective "The Door is Always Open" at the Skirball in LA opened recently to massive crowds in a huge celebratory opening party. The exhibition is so complex and personal, delving into Baseman's background, family history, and all the layers of prolific work that he has done over the years. After the opening festivities winded down, I caught up with Baseman for an interview. We discussed the underlying meaning to some of the components of the show and how it felt for him, coming from such an honest personal perspective in putting this massive show together.
Fertile Menace, a new show of Mark Mulroney's (NY) work opened at Ever Gold on May 4th and it's not one to be missed. It is intelligently hilarious, with jokes riffing off sex, Foucault, and the body, and while it makes you laugh it's also going to make you think.
Our buddies Jay Howell, Andreas Trolf, and Jim Dirschberger are hyped as their show, which they've been working on for like 2 years, premieres on Nickelodeon Saturday. From the trailers we've seen so far and from what Jay has told us about, the show is going to be pretty epic. Congrats to those radical fellas.
Here's a little taste of work by the artists of the world famous The Skull and Sword tattoo shop who open their show at San Francisco's FFDG on Friday, May 17th (7-10pm).
Following his solo exhibition "The Collected" at Gallery Wendi Norris, painter Amir H. Fallah is in the throes of developing more new works for upcoming international exhibits. We spent some time in his studio in Highland Park, Los Angeles recently, discussing his process and inspiration.
We were first introduced to the photography of Spanish born NYC based Bubi Canal when he emailed us his great video Trust in Me a couple years ago. His solo show Special Moment recently ran at NYC's Munch Gallery in February, and he recently released his newest video Chrystelle below.
Although I missed the opening of Northern-California photographer Michael Garlington's newest show, Constructed Realities, I was fortunate enough to see the work still up during the Metaphysical fundraiser a couple weeks back at 111 Minna. Metaphysical fundraiser, an auction to benefit Wayne Ernzer. --- The ghoulish photographs in their heavy, hand-made frames are reminiscent of photos from the old west, and the glass crucifixes, complete with fetuses and guns, emphasize the accumulated time within the works themselves. Whether you're looking at the frames, the photos, or both, this show deserves a visit, and a walk through the golden archway Garlington constructed around the front door.
Fecal Face contributor Rachel Ralph (rachel(at)fecalface.com) has been profiling this Oakland based painter as he travels about Japan. In this segment, we feature some photos as he prepared for this show and residency at Spes-LaB in Tokyo which opened last weekend. Arnold will be featured in SFMoMA's Minna Street windows on June 8th.
Last Saturday, here in SF's Mission district, Guerrero Gallery opened two new shows with Philly based Alex Lukas and SF based Richard Colman respectively. Colman's work occupied the project space while Lukas' work and foliage was presented in the main space. Worth getting to if you haven't already.
Just got back to SF after a little trip south to Sayulita, Mexico. After 10 years without a vacation, me and the Mrs. headed south for some mental time off sitting in the sun, swimming and enjoying the watery Mexican beer. Here are some photos as we get back into the swing of things again.
Athens, Greece based designer, architect and artist Dimitris Polychroniadis emailed over more of his work which consists of mixed media, pop-humorous diorama sculptures that make a comment on the harsh realities my country and much of the world is facing at the moment.
FFDG will open a group show with the artists from the famed Skull & Sword Tattoo on Friday, May 17th (6-9pm). Artists: Grime, Henry Lewis, Yutaro, and Lango. Below are a series of videos on Grime for Vice's Tattoo Age produced in 2011. Fascinating look at one of the greatest tattoo artists alive today.
ARYZ (Spain) opened his newest gallery show at Fifty24SF last Friday and, if you live in the Bay Area, you need to go. This dude can obviously paint, and he doesn't need an entire building to show his impecable skill. The show has lots of small works on paper which contrast his highly-defined line work to his hard-edged painted objects. The contrast between the hard and soft was the most striking thing to me about his work, since I had never seen it in person before, and the washes blend with the thick paint seamlessly. The show also contains a larger work on canvas, a huge head suspended in the back of the room, and a big wood sculpture of a wolf figure. This diversity in such a small space was impressive, and those of us that went to the opening even got to meet the man in person. If you didn't make it out this weekend, check it out before May 31st when it closes and these works will be off to some very happy new homes.
Water McBeer is please to announce its latest exhibition "Precious" a solo exhibition by David Bayus (April 6 - May 4, 2013) -- David Bayus born 1982 holds his BFA from the Savannah College of Art and his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. David lives and works in San Francisco and is a founding member of the basement collective. This will be his first exhibition with the world renown Water McBeer Gallery highlighting his most recent achievements with paint and digital media. David Bayus will be exhibiting 5 relatively large-scale mixed media works along with a collaborative object featuring Hungarian sculptor H.R KOONS.
The Shooting Gallery handed over the reins to the Red Truck Gallery (a New Orleans based gallery) which curated their new show, Hard Time Mini Mall and opened the it on Saturday night. This is my favorite show (so far) in the Shooting Gallery's new space and was packed full of art, a mini bar, and cowhide rugs. The Red Truck Gallery chose works with clear craftsmanship and it was easy to see in Ian Berry's denim assemblages and Chris Roberts-Antieau's awesome quilts. The space was completely packed, making it hard to see each piece individually, but this show deserves a second trip anyway. I look forward to spending more time with the chandeliers, automatons, and paintings before the show comes down on May 4th.
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xhamsterwarez
As cool as it is to be nostalgic about an artist's past, you don't have to hold onto it. Especially since there are people like 
