February 2011

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To Breathe the Pale and Shining Moon

(sold)

February 28, 2011 in Art - Recent Work, Exhibitions & Events, Featured, Japan | 7 comments

To Breathe the Pale and Shining Moon cut paper art by Patrick Gannonsize: 8 x 10 inches
medium: cut paper on wood

I was tasked, almost a year ago, with the daunting task of making the rabbit sexy. You see, my incomparable wife is a rabbit; or at least of the year of the Rabbit. Among a handful of other adjectives, “sexy” struck me as the least bunny-like. This, despite the rabbit being a long-time symbol of fertility, birth, and rebirth. I think there might even be a contemporary phrase which references the rabbits’ reproductive proclivities. But… sexy? Without resorting to prying open a copy of Playboy?

Here in Japan, there is no man in the moon. There is, rather, a rabbit. Making mochi. All of which got me thinking about the waxing and the waning of the lunar orb, the traditional feminine symbolism of the moon, the fertility of those bunnies, and breath as life. Toss all those into my mental blender and here you go.

The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese (and Japanese) zodiac.

This particular rabbit got snapped up pretty quick at the New Moon show at myplasticheart, but I believe there may still be a Tigger is need of a den.

Woe be me to not plug my other show, Outside, Looking In, at CAVE gallery as well.

Finally, a quick shout out to Mayuko Fujino, who has recently been schooling me on how to build a sexy bunny (some of these may be a tad NSFW)

Outside, Moon Art Links and Other Things of Note

February 13, 2011 in Exhibitions & Events, Japan, News | 4 comments

Outside, Looking In and New Moon 2011 have opened in Venice, CA and New York, respectively. I’m told that both galleries were packed to the gills with impressive artworks and guests stopping by to drink them in. For those of you who, like me, have a couple of miles or an ocean separating you from taking part, both galleries have uploaded their online previews. Check them out!

Outside, Looking In @ CAVE Gallery online preview.

New Moon 2011 @ myplasticheart, nyc online preview.

◊ You may have noticed a couple of changes around these here parts. The website (and, to a lesser extent, PaperCuts) have been in need of an update for awhile. So, I’ve used the relative quiet of the past few weeks to do some major restructuring. For example:

  • The disappearance of the off-white background. Looked good on my monitor, but like mud on others.
  • An entirely new portfolio. This is the big one. The old one was too tough to update regularly, and the images were too small. Over the past few years, my artistic goals have changed, and the old gallery wasn’t working for my new direction. The galleries for 2010, 2009, and 2008 are up right now. I’ll get the previous years and specialty galleries up as soon as I have some time.
  • A new About page.
  • The first step in a new Links page. I’d like to collect a bunch more links; particularly cut-paper artists. So, if you are one, or you know one, comment below and I’ll try to fit it into the list.
  • A new Contact Form. Test it out for me, if you’ve got the notion.
  • The Blog got that nifty slideshow up top so you can see the important things right away. Plus, these very nice fonts, thanks to Typekit. The columns are wider so I can show you bigger pictures. And a nice new rabbit banner.
  • Finally, there are the plans for the future. Expand the links and portfolios, of course. Split the shop into a Japanese version and an international version. Localize the wordy pages for Japan. Make nifty new icons for the twitter and portfolio links in the sidebar. And probably a couple things I can’t remember right now.

    • Let me know what you think in the comments below.

    I’ll start posting about some of the artwork I’ve been holding back until the current gallery shows could get going. Until then, here’s a picture of my wall from last year’s show at the Ann Street Gallery. Enjoy!

    CUT IT UP! Contemporary Papercutters Exhibition @ Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY opens Saturday November 13 - December 18, 2010

Gallery Show: Outside, Looking In @ C.A.V.E. Gallery

February 7, 2011 in Exhibitions & Events, News | Add your comment

Outside, Looking In @ C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CA opens Friday February 11 - March 5, 2011Announcing the West Coast festivities for International PaperCut’s Day: Outside, Looking In at C.A.V.E. Gallery in Venice, CA. And just like New Moon, the opening reception kicks down the door on February 11th.

Outside, Looking In is a three-man show featuring a mix of highly stylized paintings and Cut-Paper artwork crafted with mind-consuming attention to detail and technical skill. Each artist challenges the viewer to create their own reality and understanding of wondrous, precarious and familiarly alien realms. A fascination with each composition is matched by a fascination with the technique used to create the works.

In addition to myself, the exhibit showcases the incomparable Messieurs Macsorro of Los Angeles and Shay Davis, hailing from San Diego. Admitting that I can’t make it to the show makes me want to sob just a little bit, but I hope that you can. CAVE throws some great receptions (or so I’ve heard), and the art looks to be spectacular.

Oh yeah, and I sent along a little bit of a installation piece.

Details:

Dates: Feb. 11 (Fri) to Mar 5 (Sat) 2011
Time: Wed ~ Sun 12-6 pm | or by appointment
Reception: Friday, February 11, 7-10 pm
Place: C.A.V.E. Gallery | gallery website
Address: 1108 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA
Phone: 310.450.6960

Here’s a little art preview

Outside, Looking In @ C.A.V.E. Gallery, Venice, CA opens Friday February 11 - March 5, 2011

Gallery Show: New Moon 2011 @ myplasticheart, nyc

February 2, 2011 in Exhibitions & Events, News | 6 comments

New Moon 2011 @ myplasticheart, nyc opens Friday February 11 - March 13, 2011I am unilaterally declaring February 11th to be an international holiday. PaperCut’s day.

Now, doesn’t that sound like the kind of holiday you want to jump right into? PaperCuts for everyone! Give ‘em to your sweetheart, your family, your kids!

First up, it’s PaperCuts for New Yorkers. myplasticheartnyc | gallery is presenting the 3rd annual New Moon: Interpretations of the Chinese Zodiac group exhibit. This year 24 artists will try their hand at re-imagining the 12 zodiac animals of the Chinese lunar calendar. There will be a wide range of art available including paintings, digital, as well as sculptural pieces.

And PaperCuts. Let’s not forget the PaperCuts. New Moon is curated by the inestimable John Wong, who it is always a pleasure to work with. And just take a look at this list of artists! It’s always a thrill to have my work showing alongside such unique and diverse talent. I’ve had a look at some of the preview images, and they are beautiful. Heck, just look at Leontine Greenberg‘s rabbit on the postcard. Exquisite. Sadly, I can’t make the trip to NY for the opening, but I will be there in spirit.

I hope that tons of you can come out to support the art and our new holiday. I’ve sent two pieces to be in the show, both of which I’m very proud of. For a preview, cast your eyes upwards to the title banner.

That takes care of the East Coast. West Coasters, your PaperCuts are coming real soon!

Details:

Dates: Feb. 11 (Fri) to Mar 13 (Sun) 2011
Time: Tues ~ Sat 12-7 pm | Sun 12 am-5 pm
Reception: Friday, February 11, 6-9 pm
Place: myplasticheartnyc | gallery website
Address: 210 Forsyth St., Lower East Side, New York
Phone: 646.290.6866
Map: right here
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