Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Jeff Soto- Cold Ice Age

Hi everyone, my first L.A. show in over two years is coming up next Saturday. I wanted to invite everyone to BLK/MRKT Gallery in Culver City for the opening. Information is below, hope to see you there. For those out of town who still want to view the work, please email Jana DesForges at contact@blkmrktgallery.com
Thanks,
Jeff


Here is the official gallery invite.....

JEFF SOTO "COLD ICE AGE"

November 18th - December 16th
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, November 18th, 6-10pm





We are proud to welcome esteemed artist Jeff Soto back to L.A. for his second solo at BLK/MRKT, marking our fifth year anniversary exhibition.

Featuring a new series of paintings on canvas, panel and paper, Cold Ice Age continues Soto's intrepid exploration of his private imaginary world but with a twist - the amplified conscience of a new parent; the show's title refers to his intensifying apprehension about the future of the world on behalf of the next generation.

In addition to receiving both national and international acclaim and exhibiting in galleries across the country, Soto has been featured in fine art and popular culture publications including Artweek, Juxtapoz, American Illustrator, Communication Arts, Beautiful Decay and BLK/MRKT ONE. Soto's first book, Potato Stamp Dreams was released earlier this year, published by Mark Murphy. Soto lives and works in Riverside, California, with his wife Jennifer and daughter Shannon Daisy.

For more information and images, please contact Jana DesForges at contact@blkmrktgallery.com

BLK/MRKT Gallery was established in Los Angeles in 2001 with an emphasis on new contemporary art and has become a premier west coast destination for artists and enthusiants alike. Artists include Ben Tour, Robert Hardgrave, Tiffany Bozic, Jeff Soto, Jose Parla and Dave Kinsey

BLK/MRKT 6009 WASHINGTON BLVD. CULVER CITY, CA 90232 310 837 1989

Monday, November 13, 2006

Massachusetts!



Haven't had time to post in here for a while, I guess that's nothing new. Last week I was in Beverly, MA just about 30 minutes drive north of Boston. I was there for an art exhibition called "Electric Wasteland" at Montseratt College of Art. It was a group show with Dave Kinsey, Date Farmers, Aaron White and myself, curated by Leonie Bradbury. Only Kinsey and I could make it to the opening, Date Farmers had an opening in SF. Damn, what beautiful countryside up there! Got to pal around with Kinsey and Jana (of BLK/MRKT gallery) and we explored a couple old graveyards, ate clam chowder, and just took in all the scenery on some nice drives.

Here's some photos...

Left early morning right after Halloween, Shannon was a pumpkin, but she hated her hat and couldn't bear to have it on even for a picture.



Landing in Boston after a long travel day.

Got straight to work Wednesday night setting up my installation in the gallery. Thanks to all the students who helped out!

Kinsey killing the wall...

Next morning I went for a walk through Beverly. The opening was in the evening but I ended up forgeting my camera. Lots of people came up from Boston, it was a nice opening. But back to my walk...

Awesome Halloweeny house. Lots of houses were painted black. You don't see this in California.

A typical Beverly street. I would want to live here except the bitter winter cold would destroy my Southern California born-and-raised body. A few days ago it was almost 100 degrees in Riverside. Crazy for November.

The school from across the street where I stayed with a nice guy named Mark. He honestly had the biggest DVD collection I've ever seen. All sorts of Sci Fi, horror, anime, etc. I ended up watching Steamboy and some sci-fi ghost anime that creeped me out.

I gave a talk to the illustration dept. on Friday. Afterwards I finally had a chance to see some of the surrounding areas. Jana and Kinsey had a rental car so we headed up the coast to Gloucester and Rockport for some sight seeing and some good eats.


Clam chowder in the breadbowl, very tasty and just right for the cold winds outside.

After some food we drove around the cape and saw some postcard worthy scenes...



Afterwards we tried to go to the graveyard at night (I know, very high school, but I thought maybe we might photograph some ghosts- New England seems to be crawling with them). Unfortunately the gates were locked.

Came back and explored the next day. You never see old graveyards like these in the west.

Last pictures from Beverly- Kinsey, Leonie and Jana. And with me below...

C is for cookie and that's good enough for me...

-Jeff