Tuesday, November 23, 2010

YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL WHEN I LOST YOU


In Memoriam of the vanished and the lost. HCC Northline Gallery presents an exhibition dedicated to our cohabiting species. 20 of Houston's most innovative artists present visual and performance works that yield us to ponder on the way we value life, the briefness of beauty and the imminence of mortality.

Participating Artists:

Daniel Adame, Aisen Caro Chacin, Angel Quesada, Emily Sloan, Carrie Schneider, Camilo Gonzalez, Tina Kotrla, Ryan Hawk, Rebecca Novak, Boby Kalloor, Hilary Scullane, Heath Gresham, Kimi Bloop, James Ciosek, Naz Fall, Al Eckstue, Nancy Douthey, Stephanie Saint-Sanchez, Melanie Jamison, Jonatan Lopez and BOOGIE the Pit-bull.

In "Temporary Animals," Angel Quesada creates site-specific erasable drawings for the large glass walls of the gallery. His drawings combine animal and human forms that reflect transient and fragile entities which exist or have existed.

Rebecca Novak meditates on the life of a bee and our relationship to beekind while questioning the use of animal-derived materials in a shrine made of raw beeswax.

In the performance entitled “Blind: Poultry… Production," Ryan Hawk addresses factory farming in the US. He explores the nature of everyday slaughtering while capturing beauty and significance with Ritual Sacrifice. By drawing attention to an individual death, Hawk questions the morals of meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

Emily Sloan creates a small ice sculpture in homage to "Scrappy," a lovable rescue dog whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

Carrie Schneider presents a library of publicly generated videos exemplifying pet and pet owner behavior, highlighting acts of love, loss, obsession and abuse.

" Boogie," (A Kotrla-Lopez Collaboration) blends art with activism by introducing Tina Kotrla's beloved pit-bull as a socially concerned citizen with an extensive agenda. Within their installation, Boogie proposes the inauguration of "Dogtober Fest," an animal extravaganza celebration at Moody Park that raises awareness about the many homeless dogs in that specific area and collects funds for a Pit-bull rescue shelter. The festival would feature art for dogs and made by dogs. Boogie also proposes a law that prohibits the chaining of dogs in backyards and plans to bring the collected signatures to the door of our city mayor.

Stephanie Saint-Sanchez puts a twist on the issue at hand in her short film "The Talented Mr. Kitty." " Do we really know what lies in store for us when we open our homes and hopeful hearts to our feline friends? DO WE? Sure they are cute but so was Ted Bundy" says the artist. The Talented Mr. Kitty (Based on a true story) reveals who really runs the house.

Metal Smith and sculptor James Ciosek explores the concept of excessive attachment inherent to the curator's theme by executing a large scale piece that utilizes a tobacco leaf as its main motif. “We are not just pet owners, we are also owned by our pets, in this case a plant" says Ciosek. “My rejection of tobacco has been my singular most beautiful experience of loss; the sorrow of loss usually precludes me from thinking of its object, like a dead cat, as anything approaching beautiful.”

In the series of photographs "Gutting of a Deer," Heath Gresham exposes a family hunting tradition. Gresham takes an impartial approach to the subject by simply confronting us with these images, no hidden message or agenda.



The Talented Mr. Kitty (Teaser Trailer) By Stephanie Saint Sanchez


Reception: Thursday December 9th, 7-9pm
Location: HCC Northline Gallery, 8001 Fulton, 77022
Curator: Jonatan Lopez
Facilitator: Tina Kotrla
(Show runs through January 28th)
Top Image: Poultry (Self-portrait) by Ryan Hawk



Boogie Triptych by "Boogie"



Monday, November 22, 2010

You Were Beautiful When I Lost you ( Trailer 4 )



In Memoriam of the vanished and the lost. HCC Northline Gallery presents an exhibition dedicated to our cohabiting species. 20 of Houston's most innovative artists present visual and performance works that yield us to ponder on the way we value life, the briefness of beauty and the imminence of mortality.

Participating Artists:

Daniel Adame, Aisen Caro Chacin, Angel Quesada, Emily Sloan, Carrie Schneider, Camilo Gonzalez, Tina Kotrla, Ryan Hawk, Rebecca Novak, Boby Kalloor, Hilary Scullane, Heath Gresham, Kimi Bloop, James Ciosek, Naz Fall, Al Eckstue, Nancy Douthey, Stephanie Saint-Sanchez, Melanie Jamison, Jonatan Lopez and BOOGIE the Pit-bull.

12.09.10 7-9pm HCC Northline Gallery, 8001 Fulton

You Were Beautiful When I Lost you (Trailer 3)



In Memoriam of the vanished and the lost. HCC Northline Gallery presents an exhibition dedicated to our cohabiting species. 20 of Houston's most innovative artists present visual and performance works that yield us to ponder on the way we value life, the briefness of beauty and the imminence of mortality.

12.09.10 7-9pm HCC Northline Gallery 8001 Fulton

You Were Beautiful When I Lost you (Trailer 2b Chinese Version)



12.9.10 7-9pm HCC Northline Gallery 8001 Fulton 77022

Participating Artists:

Daniel Adame, Aisen Caro Chacin, Angel Quesada, Emily Sloan, Carrie Schneider, Camilo Gonzalez, Tina Ko...trla, Ryan Hawk, Rebecca Novak, Boby Kalloor, Hilary Scullane, Heath Gresham, Kimi Bloop, James Ciosek, Naz Fall, Al Eckstue, Nancy Douthey, Stephanie Saint-Sanchez, Melanie Jamison, Jonatan Lopez and BOOGIE the Pit-bull.

Curator: Jonatan Lopez

You Were Beautiful When I Lost you (Trailer 2A)



12.9.10 7-9pm HCC Northline Gallery 8001 Fulton 77022

Participating Artists:

Daniel Adame, Aisen Caro Chacin, Angel Quesada, Emily Sloan, Carrie Schneider, Camilo Gonzalez, Tina Ko...trla, Ryan Hawk, Rebecca Novak, Boby Kalloor, Hilary Scullane, Heath Gresham, Kimi Bloop, James Ciosek, Naz Fall, Al Eckstue, Nancy Douthey, Stephanie Saint-Sanchez, Melanie Jamison, Jonatan Lopez and BOOGIE the Pit-bull.

Curator: Jonatan Lopez

You Were Beautiful When I Lost You (Trailer 1) Featuring "Boo"



(Special Thanks to "Boo" the cat from The Foundry for appearing in this video)

12.9.10 7-9pm HCC Northline Gallery 8001 Fulton 77022

KANDY WRAP UP PARTY ( Images Courtesy of Craig Christie)


The event was a success, I was happy to share with close friends and new friends our experimental film Kandy. The feedback and opinions about the film were very positive. I am excited about finishing the final details and premiere Kandy early in 2011.

Special thanks to Elizabeth McCain, Greg Kusiak and Warehouse Live for housing the event, to DJ LESHEY for an amazing set and to Craig Christie for taking such wonderful images.

Photos from the Event


















www.gutterbrain-studios.com

Kandy Excerpt 4 (Mike James)



Actor/Director Mike James delivered an incredible and memorable performance in Kandy. This is one of my favorite creepy scenes in the film.

Thank you Mike you rock.

Kandy will be premiered in the spring of 2011

"Cousins" a new film by Mike James, will be premiered early in 2011

Thursday, November 11, 2010

KANDY WRAP UP PARTY & TEST SCREENING


Come celebrate my birthday and the talented crew of "Kandy" this Friday November the 12th in an intimate setting: The (VIP) Green Room at Warehouse Live. Featuring a women empowerment themed set by DJ LESHAY.




"Kandy" is an experimental film that was shot over one weekend in "The Montrose" in January of 2010. Kandy's first cut will be screened at this event. Your opinion is very valuable; it will help me categorize the film before it is sent out to numerous film festivals.



Teaser Trailer 2

Plot: A group of reckless male friends, with a not so gentle attitude towards women; decide to hire a female escort to have a wild night as they videotape their experience. But things get a little too wild.


With Elizabeth McCain (Backroad, Spiked)
Mike James ( Backroad, Director of "Spiked" and upcoming "Cousins" )
Jacob Socialite (Spiked, The Jacob Socialite Show)
Seth Ryan (Spiked, A Date With Death 2)
and Jonatan Lopez.

Stills From The Film









Director and writer:Jonatan Lopez
Producers: Jason Jeffrey Swarthout, J. Lopez
Editing: David Sharp, J.Lopez
Photography: Heath Gresham, Seth Ryan, J.Lopez
Props and Script Supervisor: Kristina Burgess
Stills: Craig Christie www.gutterbrain-studios.com
Music by "MAGGOT"
Approx, running time: 35min
This film contains mild violence and sexually explicit language, 18+

Doors open at 9:00pm, The entrance to "The Green R
oom" is on the left side of the box office of Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel Street
Houston, TX 77003. Admission is FREE.

Come support local & emerging filmmakers, AKA me.