The enormous windows of the gallery exude great amounts of light into Midtown's Barker Street, allowing passerby's a bit of warmth in this bitter weather. Even from a car window, one could understand the vast amount of dedication needed to fill such a large space works of art. The interior screams, 'come on in and we will nourish your mind, develop your talent and teach you how to thrive on your passion'.
Technically, the gallery is 2400 square foot with 16 foot ceilings, ceramic tile floors and movable walls. Aesthetically, the space is an artist's wet dream. Natural light pours in during the day, then at night, soft ambient lighting clouds the room and makes for great shadows and highlights. There are dozens of nooks and crannies that could be used to create unexpected appearances of work and shelving for smaller items. A staircase in the rear of the gallery allows an alternative perspective of the layout and could work to the advantage of the artist who appreciates the "larger picture" of his installation. Peter Fowler and Kathi Roussel, owners, are ready and willing to allow artists of all kinds to display their work in Kepa3, and they are not in it for the money.
But Kepa3 Gallery somehow fell off the radar of local art connoisseurs two years ago. It has become one of those galleries often over looked because of its distance from the cluster-funk of galleries lining Elmwood Avenue. It is fair to say that because of the pair's unique style and vision, critics should loiter its street corner and those other galleries should feel intimidated by the space. It has all the makings of a New York loft, the flair of Spanish culture, the hospitality of an old world, Italian grandparent and the kicked back attitude of college hippies.
If there are muffins laying around, be sure to snatch the one with cinnamon on top, it's pumpkin and it's good.
Chylde is one of those bands that seem to grow on you. The band sports long hair, flannel, and torn, patched and torn again jeans. These boys might not appear fresh, but when they take the stage, they do a swell job of putting a shiny spin on classic rock and roll.
They have taken cues from the past and refined the chords, smoothed out the edges and lengthened the tunes. Each song is developed by beginning with a smooth intro solo that works into a full on harmonic balance between three guitars. Gruff lyrics are placed irreverently over sincere drumming and heavy bass. Chylde is obviously influenced by heavy metal and reefer. So respectively, they stick to a guitar, drums, and occasional harmonica instrumental set. The band could be mistaken to be the bastard son of Sabbath and Zeppelin, claiming to be born from some dark and lonely cavern. This is tried and true Buffalo basement music - brooding, passionate and sway-worthy.
This coming weeks featured artist - we'll keep you in the dark - was recently commissioned for Chylde's band poster, a portrait of a mystical Viking woman who summons the deepest sounds of Buffalo through her magic skull. Chylde will be performing this Saturday night at Soundlab with Mother Red, The Found and Siren Street Shutdown.
Seems like all the latest fashion trends include some sort of grunge graphics or dirty script lettering. This actually came from many of the earlier hardcore bands. You could trace it through their posters, CD artwork and especially their t-shirts. Many hardcore and punk stylings have had a great influence on the design world. Even much of the old hip-hop graphics and music are seen prevalently in today's TV ads and fashion. Just watch the next phone or car commercial and you'll quickly match a music style with the graphics used.
Music is a great way to showcase your artwork as well. Get in contact with your favorite local band and offer to make their posters, flyers or t-shirts. Once they become famous, teenage girls everywhere will don your artwork, eeeeh! Many new musicians are depending on unique artists to create that next great album cover. Remember the ones you grew up on? I still covet the Iron Maiden cover art. Small, unsigned bands offering a contest to design their t-shirt, is becoming a popular trend. You'll also see a lot of web designers collaborating with the electronic musicians. Both are looking for exposure and seem to work seamlessly. Next time you go dance party or show, be sure to check out the flyers and posters. Someone had to make those, why couldn't it be you?
Challenge yourself with something out of your element. I was recently commissioned to develop artwork for a hip-hop artist. I know very little about modern hip-hop and so it was a great challenge. Develop some artwork for a variety of music genres. Who knows, you might find that you work well with Country music.
To each is own I suppose, but doing research might offer new ideas. Try www.albumcovers.net to view a huge library of cover art. Something from a death metal group may influence your next abstract painting. It may sound cliche, but it would be a good idea to see live music, namely jazz, and practice location drawing. The beat will get your hands moving and keep you engaged; the musicians' energy drives the gestures. When you go to a show, take some pictures.
The West Side's underexposed Gallery, Big Orbit, is harvesting work from its current members for a Members only exhibition to be held this Saturday night.
Big Orbit serves as a laboratory for installations that cannot be manifested in other spaces. They stick to their philosophy of, if the artist can imagine it and work it out, we will show it. The adventurous gallery once housed a horse that an Alfred State College student propped as a piece in her "where I am from" show. Big Orbit's staff maintains a sense of humor regarding the more unusual and unexpected pieces because they care to stay on the same page as the artist's vision.
Big Orbit could be called the stepchild of UB, in that it was envisioned, founded and run by its graduates. But the space on Essex already had a rich history in sheltering alternative mediums. Hallwalls originally inhabited the same space and was also born from the idea of a few Buffalo State College students. When Hallwalls determined that they were in need of a larger, more public space, they relocated to Delaware (1991). Heartstrings were tugged, sale of property papers were set in motion and before anyone was the wiser, a smooth transition had been made.
Most college graduates 'round here are lucky to make minimum wage, let alone in the Fine Arts field, never mind own their own gallery. Because of their foresight into funding the gallery, the new owners set out to gather grants; thanks to WNY colleges, students are well versed in acquiring financial aide. The Andy Warhol Foundation caught wind of these efforts and invited Big Orbit to be a part of the Foundation. This meant for Big Orbit, that it would be granted the money necessary to exist, as long as it never lost site of its philosophy.
They do stick to the rulebook. The artwork mounted must be new or emerging and the artist must have lived or currently live in Western New York. This Saturday, we're gonna go down and have a glass of wine, on their tab.
Buffalo's Southside oozes blue collar nostalgia: remnants of run down bars, factories and the most loyal of families till remain there. Pittsburgh has a similar demographic and again like Buffalo, a small area where artists, musicians and ethnic food thrive. Last week, we took you on a cultural excursion, filled with feel good things to do, but we aren't Artvoice for Pete's sake, we like it dirty, rough and finger lickin' good.
But to ease you into it, take a drive through the North Shore to the Andy Warhol Museum. "The Andy Warhol Museum is a vital forum in which diverse audiences of artists, scholars and the general public are galvanized through creative interaction with the art and life of Andy Warhol. The Warhol is ever-changing and constantly re-defining itself in relation to contemporary life, using its unique collections and dynamic, interactive programming as tools."
Thats great, but visitors should be more excited about the current exhibition featuring Ron Mueck. Ron creates either smaller than life size or enormous to the point of grotesque, renderings of human subjects out of silicone, which is flexible and allows great ease in shaping body parts and implanting hair. He spends a great deal of time exploring the ambiguous relationship between reality and artifice. The exhibit currently features seven of the artist's realistic human sculptures including: In Bed (2005) a giant sculpture of a woman lying in bed; A Girl (2006), a vast sculpture of a newborn baby; Wild Man (2005), a nine-foot sculpture of a naked, bearded man; Spooning Couple (2005), a miniature sculpture of a couple lying together on a bed; Man in a Boat (2002) a naked man sitting in a life-size wooden rowing boat; Ron Mueck's self-portrait, Mask II (2001-2002); and Mask III (2005), a large portrait of a black woman.
Where? 117 Sandusky Street
You can visit until 5 PM
How much? $15
Now that you have been bombarded with an exhibit as realistically shocking as Bodies, the Southside of Pittsburgh awaits your arrival. The Primanti Brothers, a chain of sandwich shops found throughout Pittsburgh will serve you up some grilled meat, a vinegar-based cole slaw, tomato slices, and French fries between two pieces of Italian bread for less than $7. Wikipedia has a good take on the history of the pit stop, "The sandwich is said to have its origins in the city's steel days when blue collar workers needed a hot meal mid-shift that would keep them full all day long. However, the workers had neither the time nor the utensils for such a meal. By combining the sides with the sandwich, a Pittsburgh staple was born. Of course, the restaurant offers a slightly humorous take on it, offering the explanation that the Primanti brothers simply forgot the plates and forks one day."
Where? 1832 E Carson St
You can visit anytime! No really, they are open later than the bars!
How much? Like we said, under $7, no joke.
Not far from Primanti, and crouching among Pittsburgh's Bruce Adams and Dan Shanahans is the Rex Theater in all its underground glory. The Rex is known as a unique and flexible performance space that accommodates local and national acts, events, and films. It is a renovated theater that now entertains the alternative masses. This weekend, belly dancing guru Sharon Kihara, known for her avante garde and slightly eccentric artistry, will spend the night entertaining guests with a live, sexually explicit show - audience involvement encouraged. Meow!
Where? 1602 East Carson Street
You can visit until 2 AM, but doors are at 8 PM.
How much? $15
You might need a cold drink to cool off after that one! Jacks bar is a staple on Pittsburgh's Southside. Jack's serves decent and more importantly, cheap beers and bar food, but the bigger draw is the mix of regular bar fights between giggly frat boys who got something to prove and the after-work regulars, like iron workers, who are more than happy to put a stop to the laughter. Only hustlers hit up the pool tables, amateurs not allowed, but the staff is surly and the beer is cold, so why not?
Where? 1121 E Carson St
You can visit until 2 AM
How much? You cheap bastard, buy the lady a beer!
