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White Walls

Aqua Art Miami Opens Today

Today marks the opening of Aqua Art Miami: a three day art fair showcasing the latest and the greatest in contemporary art. White Walls occupies Booth 50 with a group exhibition of our favorite artists. Some have shown with us for years while others are new to the family, including:

AJ Fosik, Aaron Nagel, Becca, Casey Gray, Ernesto Yerena, Greg Gossel, Jesse Hazelip, Jessica Hess, Kevin Cyr, Mark Warren Jacques, Mike Shine, Morgan Slade, Nas Chompas, Ron English, Shawn Barber, Isabel Samaras, Timothy Karpinski, Kill Pixie, Lucas Soi, and Erik Foss

Scroll down for a few highlights from the show and check out our official Aqua page for the full exhibition.

Casey Gray

Nas Chompas

Kill Pixie

Mark Warren Jacques

Aaron Nagel

Timothy Karpinski

Kevin Cyr

Kevin Cyr

Ron English

Lucas Soi

Aqua Art Miami

As of 5am yesterday morning, the White Walls crew has temporarily relocated to Miami, Florida. The Aqua Wynwood art fair opens this Thursday, December 3rd, where you can find White Walls at Booth 50. Check out the official lineup:

White Walls in Booth 50:

AJ Fosik, Aaron Nagel, Becca, Casey Gray, Ernesto Yerena, Greg Gossel, Jesse Hazelip, Jessica Hess, Kevin Cyr, Mark Warren Jacques, Mike Shine, Morgan Slade, Nas Chompas, Ron English, Shawn Barber, Isabel Samaras, Timothy Karpinski, Kill Pixie, Lucas Soi, and Erik Foss

View exhibition online

Scroll down to see the large scale installations that Mike Shine and AJ Fosik have been working on while we hang this three day exhibition.

Even in the tightest of quarters, Mike Shine has managed to construct his signature “Art Shack” with the help of his sons and friends. The structure is solidly in place, but we all know that’s only half the battle. We anticipate long hours of painting the walls, inside and out, from Mr. Shine before the fair opens tomorrow.

Mike Shine isn’t the only artist putting his best foot forward this December. Just outside of Booth 50 near the fair entrance, AJ Fosik has installed one of his most intricate works to date. The brightly colored, three snouted creature is one of his strongest pieces of the year, if you ask us.

We are also happy to have Morgan Slade, Casey Gray, Aaron Nagel, Ramblin Worker, and Jesse Hazelip in Miami with us. We appreciate their efforts to be here, showing devotion to their craft and support of the gallery. Stay tuned for updates and we hope to see you in Miami this week!

ESPO on Sign Making

Throughout the length of  Steve Powers’ current show at White Walls, several gallery visitors have asked if he is a professional sign painter. This excerpt from Steve’s A Love Letter for You blog breaks down his shift from graffiti to sign painting, with a tinge of his usual humor.

After I stopped writing my name on stuff, I made a lateral move into sign painting. The materials were essentially the same, (enamel on metal), the colors were similar, (bold and garish are best) but the effect was totally different. When you paint graffiti, you are an outsider that is broadcasting your signal to the center of the community. When you paint a sign, you are broadcasting from the center of the community to the periphery. Graffiti is a youth testing out a microphone, Signs speak into the mike eloquently and with authority. Even as a teenager I could see a huge difference in how my work was perceived versus the painted signs that commanded respect.

There is an amazing painted sign tradition that permeates the landscape of West Philadelphia. I’ll be adding many more pictures in time, but look at these and see the direction we’re going to take this project. We’ll be reviving the dead arts of  sign painting and wall-writing; The bricks were painted 40-80 years ago and they remind us that West Philly was a powerful place of mercantile style and industrial might, and could be again. The rents are certainly right, the community is certainly ready. -ESPO, A Love Letter for You

This Saturday, December 5th  is your last chance to catch ESPO’s current show hanging at White Walls Gallery. Trust us, the smell of Steve’s tire pyramid makes for a multi-sensory experience that can’t be missed.

Red Carpet: ESPO aka Steve Powers

After a long week of lifting, climbing, hauling, painting, and writing; ESPO aka Steve Powers presented his solo exhibition to San Francisco last Saturday. Here are a few flicks from the opening reception, which brought many shining new faces into the gallery. It was also good to see friends like Erik Otto, Akira, Mike Giant, C3, D Young V, Aaron Nagel, and Fanee here for support. Thanks to everyone who came out!

For those of you who missed it, come by before December 3rd to see new works by ESPO at White Walls.

Bigger, Brighter, Bolder by Kelsey Brookes

Kelsey Brookes’ studio is filled to the brim with new paintings for his solo show at Quint Gallery this month. This contemporary space is located in San Diego County’s beautiful city of La Jolla. The opening reception will include live music by The Dabbers and Lion Cut, so it should be a good time for all the lucky folks down south.

BIGGER, BRIGHTER, BOLDER

Opening Reception: November 20, 2009, 6-8pm

Runs through Saturday, December 19, 2009

Quint Gallery in La Jolla

In the words of Kelsey:

“Below are some studio shots. I love the feel of the studio right before a show. The space is cramped with paintings and half finished ideas…..good things happening everywhere. It definitely feels like things are starting to come together after 9 months of working. Its a good feeling.”

Check out more images at Kelsey’s blog.

New Work by Hugh Leeman

“I’m Not Sure What I Think, but I Know How I Feel”

by Hugh Leeman

“This is an evolution of my previous series Recognition from this past August. I’ve used alkyds with my paint and built up thin layers through numerous glazes. My upcoming work will continue to focus on portraiture, though my subjects will begin interacting with other people as well as their surroundings, much of the work will be inspired by old masters in technique as well as symbolism.” -Hugh Leeman