Thinkspace May News Update…

Kathleen Lolley‘s mural/installation as part of
‘…Away From The Things Of Man’

Currently on view at Thinkspace:

‘…Away From The Things Of Man’ featuring new works and an installation from Kathleen Lolley + ‘A Brief History’ from Allison Sommers & ‘Inner Myth Pt. 1’ from Joao Ruas in our project room. All current exhibits are on view through June 5th.

View works from our current exhibits via the links below:
Kathleen Lolley – http://thinkspacegallery.com/2009/05/works.php

Allison Sommers – http://thinkspacegallery.com/2009/05/project/works.php

Joao Ruas – http://thinkspacegallery.com/2009/05/project2/works.php

View opening night photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkspace/sets/72157618023944392

Great video tour of all three exhibitions courtesy of mrvader24

Some of the press received thus far for our May exhibits:

Juxtapoz: http://www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6127&Itemid=1

Fecal Face: http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1551&Itemid=90

Arrested Motion: http://arrestedmotion.com/2009/05/openings-allison-sommers-a-brief-history-joao-ruas-inner-myth-thinkspace-gallery/

Dailydujour: http://dailydujour.com/2009/05/09/seen-joo-ruas-inner-myth-part-1/
Dailydujour: http://dailydujour.com/2009/05/09/seen-allison-sommers-a-brief-history/
Dailydujour: http://dailydujour.com/2009/05/09/seen-kathleen-lolley-away-from-the-things-of-man/

Formag Mag: http://www.formatmag.com/news/kathleen-lolleys-away-from-the-things-of-man-exhibition/

Ekundayo tearing it up during last week’s Downtown Art Walk

Thank you to those that came down to the Downtown Art Walk last Thursday and said hey. We had a great time and Ekundayo and Mear One rocked some awesome pieces during their time at the Citizen Downtown Art Park.

Check out some coverage from Jack over at Dailydujour via the links below:

Mear One live painting at the Citizen Downtown Art Park: http://dailydujour.com/2009/05/16/seen-mear-one-for-thinkspace-downtown-art-park/

Ekundayo live painting at the Citizen Downtown Art Park: http://dailydujour.com/2009/05/16/seen-ekundayo-for-thinkspace-downtown-art-park/

Coming up at Thinkspace:
June 12th – July 3rd:
Sarah Joncas “Beneath The Seams” + Kelly Vivanco “The Conservatory” & Tran Nguyen “Portraits of the Unknown” as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series in our project room

July 10th – August 7th:
Stella Im Hultberg “Memento Mori” + Catherine Brooks “The Seeded Wind and Silent Motion; an Oeuvre of Beetled Beauty” & Hannah Stouffer “Twilight & Fate” as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series in our project room

August 8th & August 9th:
Dennis McNett “Year of the Wolf” (special weekend only event)

August 14th – Sept. 4th:
‘Point Of No Return’ group show curated by MODART Magazine with featured artist Mr. Jago

Sept. 11th – Oct. 2nd:
Camilla d’Errico & Caia Koopman + Lilly Piri, Fumi Nakamura + Yuka Yamaguchi in our project room and Nathan DeYoung as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series

Oct. 9th – Oct. 30th:
Esao Andrews solo + Tony Philippou in our project room and Joshua Mays as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series

Nov. 6th – Nov. 27th:
Timothy Karpinski solo + Turf One in our project room & Craig “Skibs” Barker as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series

Dec. 11th – Jan. 2nd:
Andy Kehoe solo + Jesse Hotchkiss in our project room & Rebecca Hahn as part of our ‘Fresh Faces’ series

Thank you all for the ongoing support!!!

Photos from this past Friday’s opening night reception now posted…

(l-r) Andrew Hosner (Thinkspace), Allison Sommers, Kathleen Lolley, Joao Ruas, Shawn Vezinaw Hosner & L. Croskey (Thinkspace)
Photos are now posted on our Flickr from this past Friday’s opening night reception. Thank you to all that came out and said hello to this month’s exhibiting artists and made them fell like they were at home. They all had a blast and had very succesful debut Los Angeles solo shows. We can’t thank you all enough for coming out and showing them support. There are some great pieces still on hand from each show, and their works are even better in person, so please be sure to come on through before their shows come down in early June.
Links to all the works in each show and interviews with each can be found on our homepage at www.thinkspacegallery.com
Some great coverage of the opening night festivities courtesy of Dailydujour can also be found here, here and here as well. Thanks Jack!
Thinkspace
4210 Santa Monica Blvd (near Sunset Junction)
Thur-Sun 1-6PM

Brand X (MetroMix) cover Kathleen Lolley’s debut LA solo show…

The new issue of Brand X (formerly MetroMix) hit stands yesterday all over the LA area and within, they gave a full page of editorial to covering Kathleen Lolley‘s debut Los Angeles solo show, opening tomorrow night from 7-11PM @ Thinkspace.
“Her new body of work is a collection of intricately embellished wooden sculptures that bring a little bit of the country to the urban east-side environs. The richness and whimsy of these dreamscapes have helped her ascent in the art world.” – Brand X

Kathleen Lolley starts work on her installation at Thinkspace…

Kathleen Lolley arrived into the gallery yesterday afternoon to start work on her mural/installation for her debut LA solo show, …Away From The Things Of Man, opening this Friday at Thinkspace. Please read on for some behind the scenes action…

Laying down the base coat…

Working away on the foundation of trees for her mural…

Kathleen Lolley‘s sketch for the front entry area… complete with about a dozen hand carved wooden birds that will be hanging from the ceiling, flying amongst the clouds…

Kathleen’s massive owl sculpture keeps a close eye on things as we start to lay things out in the main gallery for this Friday’s opening…

Things are starting to come together in the main gallery for this Fri…

Two of Kathleen’s amazing lil’ creations… just awaiting their homes to be unpacked.
Shot of the main gallery coming together for this Fri…

Shot of the main gallery coming together for this Friday…
Allison Sommers‘ “Ligatures” about to be unwrapped and ‘hung’ on the wall… wait till you see these!!! So much attention to detail in all her work, it’s really astounding.
The bizarre and wonderful world of Allison Sommers is starting to come to life in our project room… don’t miss this one. She’s gone above and beyond – just a magical experience.

Joao Ruas – fresh back from Sherman framers…
Kathleen Lolley …Away From The Things Of Man
Allison Sommers A Brief History
Joao Ruas Inner Myth Pt. 1
Opening Reception: Fri, May 8th 7-11PM
All three artists are in town for the opening, so please be sure to swing on through and say hi.
Thinkspace
4210 Santa Monica Blvd (near Sunset Junction)
Los Angeles, CA 90029

An interview with Kathleen Lolley…

“Sea Owl”
An interview with Kathleen Lolley

Please talk a lil’ bit about the general idea/vibe behind your new series of works for “Away From The Things Of Man”. What can our gallery patrons expect this coming May?
I know this sounds silly, but “Away From the Things of Man…” is a line from the film ‘Joe vs. the Volcano’. It’s the last line in the movie, when the two characters are floating on some luggage out to sea. The paintings in the show aren’t about the film, but they are just as dreamy and fanatsy-like. I created these works mostly in seclusion and was inspired by letting my imagination run wild while doing the daily chores. Most of the characters in these works are alone and day dreaming.

Portrait of the artist

What’s your earliest memory involving art or creating art?
Making animal sculptures out of play dough, then eating them 🙂
When are you most productive / when do you normally work on art?
In the morning, right after my first cup o’ coffee
“Goodbye Dear Friend”
You excel at a variety of mediums – oils / drawings / sculpture / impressive installations – do you have a favorite amongst them all, or does each deliver a different feeling of satisfaction?
I love oil painting because when i mix mediums I feel like a mad scientist.

“Joyride”
You currently reside in Louisville, Kentucky – how do the rugged woodlands surrounding your home area help to influence your work?
When I was young I used to take long walks in the forest on my grandfather’s farm. I used to think up elaborate stories for all the little woodlin critters. Each animal had a home life and career path (the raccoon was the go-getting business man…), I still walk through that forest every now and then, doing the same thing. Except the stories are more dark and complex.

Progress shot of critter coming to life for this May

For those new to your work, can you give us a lil’ background on the meaning associated with some of the recurring imagery / symbolism used in your work?
I just wanted to see how far I could push my own imagination. I just wanted to create something from another realm.

Close up front view of Kathleen’s 5 foot tall owl sculpture

Tell us something about yourself that someone would never guess in their wildest dreams.
I used to be an avid skate boarder in high school. But I wasn’t that good. I could do three and a half tricks (ollie, nollie, shove-it and a shaky kick flip). Back then, I was intent on getting better. I was a serious tom-boy.

Close up of the mid-section of the five foot owl sculpture

Are you reading anything right now?
Yes, ‘Geek Love’ by Katherine Dunn.

“Birdcopter”

Do you listen to music while painting/drawing? If so, do you have a current favorite that inspires?
I listen to music while I create. It’s a combination of internet radio, NPR and Pandora. Whatever I’m in the mood for that day.

The studio desk of Kathleen Lolley

You are well known for creating some amazing lil’ pieces of ephemera and keepsakes. Any cool projects planned that you hope to debut soon?

Bob, my step-dad, helps me build my large wooden creatures. After this show, we are going to build a large wooden pony. I’m excited about that.

If you had to explain your work to a stranger, how would you do so?
I usually just say it’s somewhere in between folk art and surrealism.

“Gentle Warrior”
Favorite artist (living or dead) and what makes them special to you?
It’s a toss up between Leonora Carrington and Edward Gorey. Leonora’s art and life story is an inspiration to me. She rejected ideas of female stereotypes back in the day before feminism. And her imagination is boundless. Edward Gorey appeals to my love of macabre. Plus, growing up, my dad used to give me a book of his each birthday.
“Gypsy Countess”
What have you got coming up in terms of shows after “Away From The Things Of Man”?
First I will be taking a break and visiting my new to the world niece, then building a large wooden Pony.

“Midday”

Be sure to check out the recent ’20 Questions’ short feature that Juxtapoz did with Kathleen here.

“Moon Ritual”
Kathleen will be in town for the opening all the way from Kentucky, so please be sure to come on through to say hi.
Kathleen Lolley
…Away From The Things Of Man
Opening Reception: Fri, May 8th 7-11PM
4210 Santa Monica Blvd (near Sunset Junction)
Los Angeles, CA 90029