Stencil Nation: Graffiti, Community & Art - NW Book Signing

Kim McCarthy (aka Soule) is one of the featured artists in the new book, "Stencil Nation: Graffiti, Community & Art" by Russel Howze.

Soule will be book signing at these three events:
Powells Books, Portland,OR June 16th, 7:30pm
Last Word Books, Olympia,WA,June 20th,6:00pm
Elliot Bay Books,Seattle,WA ,June 21st, 2:00pm


Synopsis
"More street artists are turning to stencil art's speed, efficiency, and neatness as a means of expression. All it takes is a piece of cardboard, an X-Acto knife, and a can of spray paint to pose an idea or tell a story with the potential to change the gait of pedestrians and make them stop and think."-San Francisco Weekly

Without a doubt, stencils are the fastest, easiest, and cheapest method for painting an image on a wall, a sidewalk, or practically anywhere. Stencil Nation focuses on the unexpected mix of this lively, accessible medium-from famous artists including Banksy to international street stencils and gallery shows-to reveal engaging aspects of an intentionally secretive creative community.

With dynamically illustrated perspectives from the niches of the art form, female artists, documentarians, and the growing online community of the international scene are featured in this fresh collection of photographs and essays curated by StencilArchive.org's founder, Russell Howze. New artists, often utilizing stencil art in unconventional ways, are also featured.

Stencil Nation also represents the art of lesser-known urban scenes, including Poland, Romania, and Israel. Additionally, Stencil Nation builds upon previous published works to give the most extensive and up-to-date history of stencil art, as well as how-to tips from the artists themselves.

Russell Howze is the curator of StencilArchive.org. He lives in San Francisco.

Biography
In 2002, Russell Howze founded StencilArchive.org, a comprehensive website documenting over 7,000 stencil graffiti images from around the world, as well as information about the stencil art process. He lives in San Francisco.

www.stencilnation.org

Asleep at the Wheel / Seeks Entries for Political Art Show

Asleep at the Wheel seeks politically charged submissions from artists in the Pacific NW. Submitted works should feel like campaign materials (posters, yard signs, buttons, bumper stickers, etc.) but all submissions will be reviewed. 2-D entries are preferred but 3-D entries will be considered. Selected artwork will be displayed along with the "Unembedded" exhibit: 4 independent photojournalists perspective on the war in Iraq. All entries must be received by Friday, August 22. For details on submitting artwork, please visit: asleepinseattle.com

Masks

This is a recent project that I have been working on with my frined Dean Hudgins. I originally met Dean through a mutual friend. We started throwing around some ideas and I asked him if he could help me make a mask. He said no problem and invited me into his studio. I hadn't worked with ceramics since I was in middle school, so it took a bit for me to get my sea legs about working with clay again. But once I was in the thick of things, I couldn't stop thinking about working with clay and putting together our next project. When Dean and I started this project together, so many ideas started popping up. Working with Dean at his studio created a new resurgence of inspiration for myself. Right now we are working on a series of masks and we are planning to have a show in October to display the new works.

(The picture above are pieces that Dean and I made. Dean made the top one and I made the bottom one.)

Newest Painted Door

This is the latest door painting that I have completed. It's a 78" x 24", oil, acrylic, and spray paint on wood, titled "Me? #3". The painting below is something that I just started on the other night. It's also a wood door which is the same size as the previous painting, (turned side ways though.) This is what I did for the Wallingford Wednesday Art Walk which happens on the first Wednesday (Hence the name of "Wallingford Wednesday Art Walk").


On another note, if you are looking for something to do tonight and you want it to involve looking at artwork in Belltown, I would suggest hitting up Suite 100 and BLVD. Suite 100 has their show 'This Place Is A Prison'. The show is curated by Monica HW Choy and one of the futured artists is a woman named Angela Dawn, who I think is a really good photographer. As for BLVD they are showing work by Bigfoot. Based out of SF, Bigfoot has his stuff all over the place. All over the world, to skateboards, shoes, and paintings. I can only imagine that he is a busy person.

"This Place Is a Prison" Suite 100 Gallery June Exhibit

This Place Is A Prison
June 13th thru July 4th
Opening reception June, 13th, 6:00PM - 10:00PM
Curated by Monica HW Choy
Featuring Angela Dawn, Emily Ibarra, Jack J. Raynard

Monica HW Choy's statement on "This Place Is A Prison":
I have been a gallery curator for two years now, showing mostly in Portland and Seattle. Though I tend to gravitate towards low-brow/pop surrealism painting, I am trying something different with this next show by curating a different medium, photography.

I have always been fascinated by a photographer’s ability to capture amazing images while considering so many different variables. Composition, lighting, subject, and mood are often so unpredictable – not to mention having to manage all the lenses, equipment, and settings involved. It amazes me then, when someone my age can capture fragments of life in a way that really makes me want to pause and wonder at it. Anyone can pick up a camera and take a snapshot, but few can capture a moment in a way that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also invites you to listen to the story behind it.

I selected these three photographers because of their similarity, not in style, but in subject matter. All three come from urban areas (San Francisco and Seattle) and much of their work portrays the lifestyle and environment surrounding young adults living in big cities. City life is often glamorized by movies, tv shows, and "small town" folk, but the concrete jungle can be a cold place. I have chosen to focus these photographers on the sometimes-stifling aspects of city life in "This Place is a Prison."


Angela Dawn's statement on "This Place Is A Prison":
"This Place is a Prison," step's into everyday places and everyday beauty. Texture's and environments from actual urban settings. Explore a day into one girl's life. Turning life into fantasy and dreams into reality. Leave's you wondering... is this place really a prison or a playground.

Odd Man Out Mini Posters

These one of a kind mini posters that promote the show "Odd Man Out" will be free for the taking for the first two two dozen people. If you like what you see come early to the show and be one of the 24 who will have this collectable item. (Or you could wait, come later, and be the odd man out.)

Newest John Osgood Painting...

Here is the latest and greatest. Its called "Faces no.9". It's a 89" x 41" Acrylic,oil, and spray on Canvas. Right now this painting is hanging in a home, built by Pb Elemental, down in the Mt.Baker area along with nine other paintings of mine. If you are in the market for a new and innovative home in the South Seattle area, fully furbished with artwork and furniture, look no further. Once you look at this house you will fall in love.