Wednesday, March 31, 2010

LOOK OUT LOVERS!

To be honest, I'm normally not a big fan of watercolor. However, one artist has managed to change my mind. Alina Chau's work originally caught my eye last month when she was featured as our small wall artist. I'm most familiar with her watercolor work but she is a very busy artist with a lot more than just that on her plate. Alina currently works at Technicolor as a senior animator and has also worked as a storyboard artist for more than 4 years. And as if that wasn't enough, this wonderful watercolor woman also teaches at Woodbury University in Burbank, CA as an adjunct professor. We were lucky enough for her to provide us with another extraordinary piece for The Hive's 5th Anniversary show. Her painting entitled, "Festival", features several characters in a detailed downtown masquerade. Words cannot describe how her colors and characters make you feel. The shadows being cast on the buildings and her trademark beak-masked wanderer on a unicycle make you feel the wind and warmth of a typical sundown on a sunny, Spring day in Downtown L.A. Our lovers on the left (a well-dressed count and his equally handsome lady) are curious and romantic while being serenaded by our clown-esque accordionist on the right hand corner. When looking deeper into the painting you notice an inconspicuous detail that really made this painting stick out..."HIVE" is labeled onto a light blue street sign! Ah, creative and thoughtful! Her meticulous knack for detail with watercolor is amazing. When observing her work in person you wouldn't believe it wasn't a print! The Hive Gallery is proud to have her shown in house for the second month in a row.

For more on Alina and her work please click away on the following links:
Alina's Site: POW!

Alina's Blog: BANG!

Brandon Sopinsky's piece, "Stump Jumper", caught my eye with its bright neons, skull mask and treacherous canines. The Beetlejuice-like stripes on this character's octopus ensemble made my heart melt. This piece leaves a lot of space for the imagination. Is this a octopus intruder fighting for the good or for the evil, jumping from one nuclear waste filled stump to the next? Is he simply a creation of an experiment gone haywire? Being a fan of art on the darker side of the moon, I took a look at his other pieces and knew I would be a faithful follower! Sopinsky's light hearted, ghoulish twists on creepy creatures take root in his other occupation, toy designing for MATTEL. You will be able to learn more about this artist and see more than just one of his pieces for our upcoming show in May! Brandon will be posted on our Featured Artist 1 wall!

For more on Brandon and his art, click on the nuclear, neon links below! BUahahha!
BLOoOOooG!
carbonmade creatures

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Hive is where the Love is.

Once upon a 2005 in a city not too far away, on a street called Spring between 7th and 8th was a lonely storefront. It was rather large and was calling out for someone to fill its walls with warmth and color. It was during this time that a young fellow by the name of Nathan decided he would like take on something new and exciting, i.e. finding a whitewashed, empty space and filling it with art and exotic decor! An artist hive of sorts... So while on a walk through Downtown L.A. he stumbled upon the lonely storefront between 7th and 8th and knew that it was the one.
So in early April of 2005 he rounded up the troops and started building.


They tore down walls with their bare hands!









They fixed metal piping with ease and even used fire to complete their tasks!








They built up high...









And they built down low...











They built until there was nowhere else to go.








And when they were done they started the fun! That was 2005 and we've only just begun...


Now in 2010, The Hive is celebrating its 5th anniversary! We're all grown up and ready for another year full of fun, adventure and new colors and styles from artists all over. Bring your friends and family in to be part of our LOVE AT THE HIVE show on April 3rd.


Thursday, March 18, 2010

April Spotlight: Erik Siador

Ch-ch-check it out...
First off, Erik Siador is a badass.
He has established so many connections through his artwork it's hard to know where to begin. Being an extremely talented jack of all trades, Erik's expertise branches outside of the every day art world and into the extraordinary. Being trained in traditional and digital illustration, fine art and painting, graphic design, web design, 3D modeling, traditional animation, sculpture and even fashion design (FORREAL?!), it's no wonder he's making such a big splash in the the art community. His work has been featured in several urban and art magazines such as; Complex, Maxim, XXL, Juxtapose and ISM (just to name a few). In addition to his work with several publications, he has collaborated with companies like Scion and Burton and artists including The Roots and Nine Inch Nails. (ECLECTIC McGEE) Anyways, this rave about Mister Siador IS going somewhere...I'm very excited to announce that he will be exhibited at The Hive as our Featured Artist #1 for our 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW! Yowza!
I know we can only wait in fierce anticipation to see what he has in store for us but ,being that he is a nice fellow, he sent a couple sneak peeks over our way. SO indulge yourselves as I present these pictures, bright in living color!




On a side note, any artist than can incorporate their pet kitties into their artwork wins me over automatically. Check these bad boys out!



If you would like to know/see more of Erik and his artwork, visit his myspace or website! The links are provided below. If that's not enough, and it won't be, you will get the chance to see him and his new art in person on April 3, 2010 at The Hive Gallery!

Get to steppin'! (Or er--clicking?)

Erik Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/eriksiador
Erik Website:
http://www.eriksiador.com/

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Hive Gallery's 5 Year Anniversary Show


April 3rd 8-1AM
$8 at door/ $5 for those dressed in Black and Yellow
Show runs Apl.3rd to 24th

Featured Artist 1: Erik Siador
Featured Artist 2: Chase Osborne
Tall Wall Artist: Jeff Christenson
Small Wall Artist: Lauren Gardiner
Installation Artist: Thomas Lynch III

"Denizens of Hiveland" themed show

Aglaia Mortcheva / Chet Zar / Mia / Brian Robertson / Chelsea Bayouth / Monica Martinez / Alina Chau / Yumiko Awae / Randy Horton / Leyla Akdogan / Crystal Sylver / Jimmy Bell / Eric Hamm / Edward Frausto /
Apricot Mantle / Jessica Ward / Amy Kollar Anderson / Brandon Sopinsky / Joan Charles / John Michael Gill / Anna Todaro / Tim Gore / Charles Swenson / Raya Golden / Frank Hansen / Shay / Jophen Stein /
/ Mike Bilz / Delphia / Billy Dyson / Henry Cram / Danielle Duer / Nathan Cartwright / Pamela Mower Conner / Mary Spring / Nick Wildermuth / Carmen Luceno / Ken Dougherty / Shinya Luo / Macsorro /
McEvoy and Rodriguez / Alina Chau / Nicolette Spear / Liane Shih / Joseph Larkin / Snow Mack / Cynthia Rogers / Brandon Dishman / Nate Seubert / Andy Haynes / Jimmy Bell / Randy Horton /
Rick Strieck / Jose Carabes / Yuki Miyazaki and many more!!!

Global Inheritance "Think Big" Themed show Artists paint mini recycling bins to travel the USA):

Daisuke Okamoto / Jodii Tseng / Henry F. Cram / Matthew Hibbens / Aorta VI / Jimmy Bell / Frank Hansen and 8 more artists

Performances by: TBA

Resident Artists:

Sensei / Nathan Cartwright / Mary Spring / Greg Gould / Walt Hall / Sarah Winkle / John Dang / Douglas Alvarez / Jinx / DC / Michelle Bellasis
/ Feminine Oddities / Shrine / Sonik / Ichae Ackso / Leyla Akdogan / Stephan Canthal / Paul Torres / Laura Diamond / Mike Street
/ The Little Red Writer / Randy Kono / Sara Hedstrom / Alex Schaefer / Macsorro / Patrick Haemmerlein / Alan DeForest / Bethany Pratt
/ Wasmi / Radhika Hersey / Amanda Sage / Federico Hudson / Yuki Miyazaki / Sophia Gasparian / Ink Pen Mutations Press / Doug Meyer /
Liane Shih /



PERFORMANCES HOSTED BY: Marlena Dali - facebook.com/marlenadali

FABRIC ENVIRONMENTS/ INSTALLATION by: Sonik - http://www.transmorphic.net

NEON INSTALLATION BY: Teeem- teemster@gmail.com

BURLESQUE PERFORMANCES BY: Feminine Oddities www.feminineoddities.com

HIVE TAROT DECK READING BY:
Seraphime Rhyianir
Medium, Astrologer, Card Reader, Poet
sidereally.occultated@gmail.com
http://thesometimesbrand.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 4, 2010

ALICE IN WONDERhiveLAND!

What a splendid place for Alice to arrive! The rabbit hole was getting a bit too small, so the whole curious committee migrated over to Hiveland for another mischievous, magical night of adventure! There is so much in store for you this Saturday, you'll wish you had eyes on the back of your head!In order for this to happen, we've been busy buzzin' around the gallery! (Oh, they work so hard for you Alice!)

Prince of Cake dropped in today and started working on his Featured Artist Wall. I went into creeper mode and put on my invisibility cloak to take these top secret pics!


He escaped early so I was unable to give you a preview of his treats for Saturday. Besides, I shouldn't ruin such a great surprise. (Tee Hee)

After Prince of Cake grew tired of me, I wandered into the center room and found Nathan working on his grandeur caterpillar piece. Don't mess with him this weekend (the caterpillar that is)--he smokes bees not trees!



We've got a lot hiding down our sleeves kids! Don't forget your striped tights, bunny ears and pocket watches! Only 2 more days...don't be late!