Hello psychedelic neon world! Those adjectives have certainly been used ad nauseam recently to describe art trends, but Maya Hayuk and Jen Stark have combined their hyper-colored, geometrically-driven pieces to create a multi-disciplinary show — one which explores subtle differences within a symmetrical framework. Despite following similar thematic structures, Stark’s paper and wood sculptures seem to burst outwards while Hayuk’s acrylic and tempera paintings seem to encourage reflection on their inner details.

Visit the Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto (1161 Dundas St. West) now through June 12th, 2011.

maya hayuk

jen stark

Just a quick note showing you what Matt W. Moore is going to be doing soon, cause I think it’s going to be so godamn cool… these shapes are just already so aesthetically pleasing.

In his words:

Super excited to begin work on this new series of 3D Geo-Chunks. The project is a collaboration with my great friend Erik Flanagan. I commissioned him to actualize a fleet of wooden blocks in the style of my Crystals & Lasers and Parallel Universe canvas paintings.

It’s that time of year, so why not get some affordable art prints for friends and family? I’m talking a potential cost of less than $20 for each of these prints. Visit Johan Thörnqvist’s website to buy, buy, buy, and to view more prints. They’re laminated, they look lovely, and they feature some fun illustration and photo hybrids!

With the proliferation of text-messaging and chat conversations and all sorts of data! being! transmitted! at! amazing!! speeds!!! throughout the world at any given SECOND, and in all sorts of RiDiCuLuZ FoRmZ, it seems only appropriate to base one show… or maybe even tons of shows… off of this theme. Which leads me to this post.

James Harris Gallery in Seattle currently has a group exhibition going on entitled TXT. Graphics and text converge to create two- and three- dimensional works that can be interpreted on multiple levels by viewers. This show runs through August 20th. Here are some of the pieces:

Lawrence Lemaoana‘s Things Fall Apart, 2009
Textile (49″ x 32″)

Walter Robinson‘s Forest, 2008
MDF, Epoxy, metalflake (84″ x 62″ x 1″)

Anthony Discenza‘s EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD, 2009
Vinyl on aluminum, Ed. of 5 (24″ x 18″)

Alejandro Cesarco‘s Footnote #7, 2008
Vinyl text on wall, Ed. of 5

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On a similar note, Portland’s Recess Gallery has an open call to artists who are working with text. Call is as follows:

Work that recontextualizes the text. Work that informs, invites, or inquires. Work that sends, receives, documents messages/ideas. Work that does work. Work you made. Work that you and someone else made. Work that you want to make with people. Work that is technically proficient? Sure. Work about ideas about ideas about ideas. Work in Helvetica. Work in Garamond. Work in video. Works on paper.

Do you have something that seems to fit? Does it coincide with at least three of the above statements? That’s okay, even if it doesn’t, you should send it to

recesspdx@gmail.com by the end of July for a show opening in the middle of August.

Please include your proposal/project description/artist statement along with some contact informtion, artist bio, or link to a relevant/personal website.
Suggested Additions:
Images of proposed work
Images of recent work
Your phone number

If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to recesspdx@gmail.com.

What happens when you mix two familiar faces together? The result can be scary, we’ve learned, from those image-generating programs that mash two adults together to create warped, inbred-looking potential children. But somehow illustrator Jesse Lenz has mixed Andy Warhol‘s iconic image of Marilyn Monroe with creatures like Frankenstein and dictators like Chairman Mao to create strangely visually-appealing hybrids. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but even Predator mixed with Marilyn Monroe is pretty freaking cute. It’s no coincidence that a lot of dictators seem to show up in the works alongside monsters, though. Lenz’s artist statement on the subject includes a C.S. Lewis quote and a George Orwell 1984 reference. And that’s just the beginning. Visit his Flickr to see the entire collection, which is screenshotted below, and to read his artist statement on the series.

In addition to the screenshot, of course, I must include Predator-meets-Marilyn. I was serious. I’m in love.

As if Portland didn’t already have a big enough reputation for being a beard-friendly city, The Tribute Gallery has a new show, titled Keep Portland Beard, opening tonight. But don’t worry: the opening itself isn’t until April 24th! If you’re not sure whether you want to turn out for the event, hopefully the images below will convince you.

The Renaissance Man by Rachel Caldwell.

Quickly by Chad Eaton.

Beard Hat by Kyle Durrie.

Your Great-Grandfather Would Be Proud by BT Livermore for his own company. Awesome!

Portland Hipster Bigfoot by Santiago Uceda (that’s kind of a beard, right?).

These are just a few of the artists showing. There’s more! A bunch more! (This is strangely a very blue post. I don’t think the show will be a very blue show.)

Guest-curated by Michael Buchino of BeardRevue. RSVP here.