Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, California will be hosting Animal Kingdom, a solo art exhibition featuring original paintings and rare prints by SHAG (aka Josh Agle). The opening reception is Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 7 PM to 10 PM and the exhibition will be open through February 29, 2012. Arrested Motion has posted several more preview images from the show.

via Arrested Motion

images via Arrested Motion

Pac-Van by Jonathan Bergeron

Castlevania by Jayson Weidel

Super Mario by Olly Moss

Life Wasted by Alan Hynes

Gallery1988 Melrose is hosting Multiplayer X2: Posters inspired by classic video games, a group show featuring the art of over 30 artists. The show opens Friday February 10, 2012 and runs through March 3, 2012. The opening reception begins at 7 PM on February 10, 2012. You may remember last year when Gallery1988 Venice hosted Multiplayer, the gallery’s first show of video game art posters.

images via 411posters, Alan Hynes, Gallery1988 and Oo-De-Lally

Mooninite by Scott Listfield

by Dave Perillo

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! by Miranda Dressler

Gallery1988 in Los Angeles will be hosting the Gallery 1988 x Adult Swim art show which will feature art inspired by shows on the adult-oriented cartoon network, Adult Swim. The Gallery 1988 x Adult Swim show will host artwork from a staggering line-up of artists including Scott Listfield, Miranda Dressler, Dave Perillo and many more. The show’s opening reception is Friday January 13, 2012 from 7 to 10 PM and the show runs to Saturday February 4, 2012.

Artist Mickey Duzyj and writer Jon Korn collaborated on the Patron Saints of Time Travel Candles, a set of devotional-style candles that honor three theoretical physicists “whose work was instrumental to the development of time travel later this century”: Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Ronald Mallett. The candles are available from Echo Park Time Travel Mart, the time travel-themed retail store that benefits the nonprofit children’s tutoring center in Los Angeles named 826LA.

Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Ronald Mallett are the first three Patron Saints to be featured, in a planned series of infinity. Make sure to collect them all, as the full set of Patron Saints candles can be used to construct a working Tipler Cylinder!

Modeled after saints candles, each Patron Saints candle features: a portrait of the respective scientist; a pertinent quote about time travel; some specific information about each man’s contribution to time travel, from wormholes to black holes, via ring lasers. (In a pinch, before 1809, or after 2473, the candles can also function as a source of light.)

See also:

– Echo Park Time Travel Mart photo gallery by Scott Beale

– Time Travel Posters by Echo Park Time Travel Mart and 826LA

The Cacophony Society is a randomly gathered network of individuals united in the pursuit of experiences beyond the pale of mainstream society through subversion, pranks, art, fringe explorations and meaningless madness. You may already be a member!

On February 4, 2012, two great events celebrating The Cacophony Society will take place in Santa Ana, California.

First, there will be a benefit preview screening of the long-awaited feature length documentary, Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society by filmmaker Jon Alloway, at The Yost Theater in Santa Ana, California. From 3 pm to 4 pm, a cocktail reception kicks off the day at the theater’s bar, followed by the film’s screening at 4 pm and after the show, there will be a Q&A session with Mark Fraunfelder interviewing filmmaker Jon Alloway, and several promiment Cacophony instigators like John Law, Danger Ranger, Chuckles Klown, and Reverend Al. Advance tickets are available from the theater. Laughing Squid is a co-presenter of the film along with Dreamland Pictures and Weird TV.

Secondly, from 7 pm to 10 pm on February 4, 2012 is The Cacophony Society Zone Show: You May Already be a Member exhibition which will house “photos, graphics, video, props, costumes, and original art from Society events” at Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, California. A block party is planned for the exhibition’s opening reception and will feature “carnivalesque music and performance from artists associated with the Society, art cars, competing protestors, dangerous stunts, an on-call ambulance, and other surprises”. The free exhibition is produced and curated by Rev. Al Ridenour, Albert Cueller, and Jon Alloway and runs through April 15, 2012.

A retrospective look at the Cacophony Society, a national collective of guerrilla artists, dada pranksters, and various eccentrics pursuing “experiences beyond the mainstream.” Dedicated to activities mocking societal expectations, sacred cows, and good taste, The Cacophony Society evolved from the San Francisco Suicide Club and its members were chief organizers of the Burning Man Festival in Northern Nevada. The Society’s pranking served as inspiration for the activities of Project Mayhem in Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club.

As a lifetime “card-carrying” member of The Cacophony Society myself, I am really looking forward to making the trek south to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime cacophonous extravaganza.

Trailer for Into the Zone: The Story of the Cacophony Society:

images by The Cacophony Society

Gallery1988 in Venice is hosting Pooh…and Other Sh*t: hijacked art from Robert Brandenburg, a solo show of altered art by Robert Brandenburg. The opening reception is Saturday January 7, 2012 from 7 PM to 10 PM and the show runs until January 28, 2012. Brandenburg says on his blog, “There will be laughs, booze, prints for sale, and possibly a midget or Naomi Campbell look-alike.”

From Gallery1988′s blog about the artist and his work:

He finds old paintings, photos, advertisements and prints at garage sales, estate sales and auctions and adds pop culture elements into those paintings in the smartest and funniest ways. But the most impressive part of these hijacked pieces, is that he can EXACTLY match whatever painting (OR PHOTO!) he’s adding himself to.

Before he was a rap artist, Ice Cube studied architectural drafting at (the now defunct) Phoenix Institute of Technology and learned that, “…you always gotta have a plan.” Dave Meyers directed the short, Ice Cube Celebrates the Eames, where Ice Cube talks about “the good, the bad and the ugly” of Los Angeles, and in particular, his appreciation for Eames architecture. The film was created with Pacific Standard Time for their current exhibit that celebrates every major art scene in Los Angeles from 1945 to 1980.

Ice Cube drives Inglewood blvd. describing the Los Angeles that he knows. He talks of landmarks like The Forum, Five Torches, Cockatoo Inn, Brolly Hut, and Watts Towers. He refers to the 110 as “Gangsta Highway”. Cube says coming from South Central LA teaches you how to be resourceful. The video cuts to Cube walking the Eames House perimeter, through the Eames living room, and sitting in the Eames lounge chair…Cube describes the modern, green and resourceful building design of Charles and Ray Eames. Visionaries of connecting nature and structure. Cube ends by saying “Who are these people who got a problem with LA? Maybe they mad cuz they don’t live here.” Song during intro is “A Bird in the Hand” off of Death Certificate.

Take a tour of Ice Cube’s Los Angeles with this custom Google Map from Pacific Standard Time and Los Angeles, I’m Yours:

View Take Ice Cube’s Tour Of Los Angeles in a larger map

via PSFK

London-based artist Xue Wang posted several preview images for her mini-exhibition of creepy and cute paintings, The Unclouded Mind, at CoproGallery in Santa Monica, California. The new work for this show was “inspired by her visit to Hellingly Insane Asylum“. The show runs through December 31, 2011.

via Super Punch

Gallery1988 in Venice is hosting Groty, the first Los Angeles solo show for artist Casey Weldon. The opening reception is December 8, 2011 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM and the show runs through December 23, 2011.

images via Gallery1988 and Casey Weldon

Kentucky Fall by Leah Giberson

Mechanicsville by Jacob Van Loon

Devil Town is the latest group art exhibit hosted by Gallery1988 which features the artwork of Leah Giberson, Dan MacAdam, Dan Black, Ian Millard, Jacob Van Loon, JC Richard, Mike Doyle, Justin Myer Staller, Justin Santora, Jeff Gillette, Nate Duval, Dan Lydersen and more. The show was curated by Daniel Danger who “asked these painters and printmakers to create pieces all inspired by small town life”. The opening reception is Friday, December 2, 2011 from 7 to 10 PM at Gallery1988 in Melrose and the exhibit will be on display through December 24, 2011.

“I wanted to do something that was more about environment and atmosphere,” Daniel explains. “Rural and distant suburbs, dead farmlands, quiet and dark towns, lampposts, convenience stores, high school bleachers, teenage suburban escapism, abandoned industry, etc. Generally the opposite of more defined ‘urban art’ conventions.”

images via Gallery1988, Leah Giberson and Jacob Van Loon

On December 27 Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are kicking off a six city tour based on their hilarious IFC televison show Portlandia, including stops in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live) and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater kinney) from
IFC’s hit original comedy Portlandia are embarking on a unique six city tour bringing
the romanticized and dreamy rendering of Portland, OR to life for fans across the country.
“Portlandia: The Tour” will feature Armisen and Brownstein, the co-creators, writers and stars of Portlandia,
performing live music, presenting sneak-peek clips from the show’s second season and sharing personal
anecdotes about the creation and inspiration of Portlandia and its variety of eccentric characters.
“Portlandia: The Tour” begins in Portland, OR, on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

The second season of Portlandia begins on January 6.

Rice Gallery in Houston, Texas commissioned Los Angeles-based artist Ana Serrano to create Salon of Beauty, a beautiful nearly life-sized Los Angeles city block out of cardboard. Walley Films filmed Ana for the short documentary titled Ana Serrano: Salon of Beauty. The installation is currently open at Rice Gallery and runs through December 11, 2011.

From the Salon of Beauty exhibition page at Rice Gallery:

Serrano saw the title, Salon of Beauty, hand-painted on the side of a small beauty salon. She was struck by the phrase’s slightly awkward, yet poetic quality. Later she realized it was a literal translation of the Spanish phrase, Salón De Belleza, which normally would be translated into English as “Beauty Salon.” The circumstances of how she found the phrase and the word “beauty” resonated perfectly for Serrano in her hope to point out what she calls “untraditional beauty.”

Far from a reproduction of a Los Angeles block, Salon of Beauty is Serrano’s imaginary version of a neighborhood where the smallest details have been plucked away from the maelstrom of the city and playfully mixed together. As she explains, “I wanted to pull out everything that I liked in the city and then condense it.”

via Los Angeles, I’m Yours, Fast Company‘s Co.Design, and Neatorama

photos by Nash Baker

The American Icons art exhibition will feature the photo-realistic paintings of Jason Brockert. His art covers pop culture icons like Star Wars action figures, Pac-Man, Optimus Prime, Atari 2600 and more. The show opens Friday, November 18, 2011 and runs through December 17 at the Iam8bit gallery in Los Angeles. The opening reception is November 18 from 7 to 10 pm.

As an artist, Brockert’s work stands unique in his ability to capture the still-life essence of these amazing creations, rendering images so realistic it’s hard to believe they’re NOT ACTUALLY PHOTOGRAPHS. But upon closer inspection, it’s easy to admire the awesome beauty of his textures and brushwork that prove that these are the creations of very able craftsman… and frankly, a mad genius concerned with incredibly meticulous detail.

30 full-color paintings and 10 drawings will debut at the show, as well as “limited edition” prints.

From 7 pm to 10 pm on Thursday November 10, 2011, Gallery 1988 in Venice will host the opening reception for the Ghosts art show featuring the work of Scott Campbell, Olly Moss, Rexbox and Jon Klassen. The show runs through December 3, 2011.

by Olly Moss

Clay on Wheels Series: Ghostbusters by Scott Campbell

Don’t Cross The Streams by Rexbox

Table Ghost by Jon Klassen

Grand Theft Auto V, the latest in the series by Rockstar Games, is set in Los Santos, which is based on Los Angeles.

via Boing Boing

An early stand up comedy routine by Zach Galifianakis at Luna Park in West Hollywood from January 1999.

This is where it all began. The following year he appeared on the Letterman show, followed by his own aborted VH1 talk show, working on the road, film and TV appearances… and then came Hangover.

via reddit & Blame It On The Voices

FrankenMurray by Jeff Boyes

Suntory Time by Doug LaRocca

Winger by Rich Pellegrino

Gallery1988 in Los Angeles will be hosting the Please Post Bills: a tribute art show to Bill Murray. 80 artists created art for the show who were “influenced by the movies, TV appearances and iconic jokes of a comedic legend”. The show opens Thursday November 3, 2011 and runs to November 26, 2011.

The Art of Bleeding will present their “magic ambulance theater” show titled Halloween Highway 2, at the Steve Allen Theater on October 28, 29 and 30, 2011 starting at 8 PM each evening. The Sunday performance will feature female blood wrestling. It promises to be “a ghoulish carnival of entertaining catastrophes” and hosts an impressive entertainment lineup. Tickets for the show are available now.

Against a smoldering backdrop of twisted cars, you’ll have the opportunity to hear TRUE STORIES OF MEDICAL HORRORS and ACCIDENTS from a rotating lineup of storytellers including MARGARET CHO, ANDY DICK, KIM FOWLEY w/ NOIZEE & BRIANNA GARCIA, NEIL HAMBURGER, RON LYNCH, EDDIE PEPITONE, JIM TURNER, TOBY HUSS, SELENE LUNA, DON BOLLES, STEPHEN HOLMAN, CLINT CATALYST, DUKEY FLYSWATTER, ABBY TRAVIS, DANNY SHORAGO, KIM STODEL, BIENO SVENGALI, CRIMEBO THE CRIME CLOWN, and more.

The show also features “a rare live appearance by the enigmatic band/art-collective known as Bouncehausen“.

According to The Art of Bleeding, Bouncehausen will:

…sonically recreate the exact moment of impact of a terrifying automobile crash, slow it down 300 million times and stretch it into one seven hour epic “song” that will take three days to play. If you are able to witness even a small part of this historic event you will have a much greater understanding of what it sounds like to exist on a molecular level as steel and glass twist and explode.

The Art of Bleeding recently performed at the book release party for Chicken John’s The Book of the IS in San Francisco.

images via Art of Bleeding

photos by Nick Winterhalter

Artists Alex Pardee and Skinner have been living together for the past two weeks creating artwork for their new Gallery1988 Melrose show titled The Butcher Kings. The show opens on October 6 and runs through October 29, 2011. The opening reception begins at 7 PM on October 6, 2011.

Two of the most demented minds we’ve ever displayed have concocted quite the experience, creating dozens of new works each, all affordable and funnier/sicker/more exciting than the next! This show will be kept hidden from the public until the doors open on Thursday night, so there will be no preview or sneak peeks prior to the reception…Disclaimer – This show will have graphic and sexual imagery on display. We do not suggest young viewers for this exhibit.

images via Alex Pardee

The 7th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute takes place on October 1st at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Here are my photos of the Johnny Ramone Memorial at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

via OBEY

photo by Scott Beale

The Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch (AWMoK) is an online community place where lovers of Kitsch, affectionately named aKitschionados, come together to share their “own prized Kitsch”. Curator of this online museum, Allee Willis, was a very early adopter of the internet and created one of the earliest social media outlets, willisville, partnered with award-winning creative visualist Prudence Fenton. Combining her own extensive real-life collections with a social media outlet, she created AWMoK to bring together other like-minded folks and to create the world’s largest documented collection of kitsch. Kitsch lovers can register to become part of the aKitschionado community at AWMoK and begin showing off treasured artifacts.

Today marks the anniversary that the Allee Willis Museum of Kitsch opened two years ago, not coincidentally on September 21, 2009. One of the many hit songs by Allee, September, for funk band Earth, Wind and Fire starts “Do you remember…the 21st night of September?”.

Amazingly accomplished, Allee is “a Grammy winning songwriter (September, Boogie Wonderland, Neutron Dance, What Have I Done To Deserve This, the Friends theme), a Grammy, Tony and Emmy nominated composer (The Color Purple musical), and award winning artist, graphic designer, set designer, interactive multimedia artist”. She has also addressed Congress on copyright laws, spoken at Harvard University, is known for hosting amazing theme parties, discovered the musical group The Del Rubio Triplets (plus so much more) and is connected to nearly every pop culture celebrity in existence.

A big fan of kitsch myself, I was introduced to AWMoK and Allee herself, earlier this year when I hosted a “For the Love of Kitsch” party at my home and I’ve since become active in the aKitschionado community. A month ago, I was invited to visit Allee’s home, Willis Wonderland, for a pre-Fluff Festival aKitschionado gathering. I not only got to see her absolutely incredible real-life kitschy collections but I also got to make a Fluffernutter cake in her kitchen (with some help from Cherpumple inventor, Charles Phoenix). I also got to see Allee’s own beautiful Celebrity JunkDrawers mosaic portrait by Jason Mecier up close.

On October 18, 2011, Allee will take the stage for the first time since 1974 in a live show, Allee Willis’ Soup to Nuts Party Mix, at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California starting at 7 PM. The evening promises songs, stories, party games, prizes and junk food.

photos by Jennie Warren and Dina

David Eichenberger paints a Pac-Man with robot legs, a malfunction and what seems to be a taunting ghost. Times are rough.

Been a while since our good friend Greg “Craola” Simkins has done a group show, but he’s back and mourning the death of 8-bit. So sad.

Tom Whalen inspired by Super Mario Bros.

The Old School Video Game Art Show at Gallery1988 in Venice, California had over 90 artists create original works inspired by classic video games like Super Mario Bros. and Pac-Man. Artists include David Eichenberger, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Tom Whalen, Abe Lincoln Jr. and many more.

The opening reception is Friday, September 16, 2011 from 7 PM to 10 PM. The show runs through October 18, 2011 at Gallery1988 in Venice.

images via Gallery1988

Enter the Creeper by Ryan Heshka

Haunted Closet by Ryan Heshka

The Man Ray by Ryan Heshka

Madam Blud by Ryan Heshka

Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, California is hosting the solo exhibit for Strange Powers by artist Ryan Heshka September 10 to October 1, 2011, featuring “16 paintings and sketches (of 32) from his forthcoming BLAB! trading card set”. The opening reception is on Saturday, September 10 from 8:00–11:30pm.

images via Copro Gallery

In yet another prank by TrustoCorp, specially modified editions of People, Us Weekly, and OK! were seeded at magazine sellers in New York and Los Angeles. Headlines include “DONALD TRUMP IS PREGNANT” and “SARAH PALIN SEX TAPE NIGHTMARE.”

We’ve written about a number of previous TrustoCorp pranks:

- TrustoCorp Pranks Los Angeles with Parody Signs
- Phone Booth Ads Replaced by TrustoCorp
- TrustoCorp Changes NYC Subway Station Signs To Cheer People Up
- TrustoCorp American Education Signs
- Street Sign Improvements by TrustoCorp

via Arrested Motion

images via TrustoCorp

The mysterious New York City-based prankster group TrustoCorp has struck Los Angeles, with parody outdoor ads for TV shows like “Somali Shore” and a decidedly unsentimental spoof of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

We previously wrote about Trustocorp’s augmentation of New York City subway signs.

via Arrested Motion

photos via Trustocorp