opening December 2nd: Text and Drugs and Rock & Roll

Maxwell Colette Gallery's next show, Text and Drugs and Rock & Roll, runs from December 2nd until January 7th, 2012.  The show is will feature work from an international group of over forty artists who work in a variety of different media.  "Don't expect a dry, academic exploration of text driven art that requires a lot of reading," cautions Gallery Director Oliver Hild.  "TDRR is going to be the opposite...  It's visceral, full of equal parts swagger and stagger."

The opening reception for Text and Drugs and Rock & Roll will take place on Friday, December 2nd from 6pm - 9pm.  Many of the artists will be present at the opening which Hild promises will feature "compelling art, cascading beverages and copious swag."

The list of participating artists includes: Abe Lincoln Jr, Antonio Martinez, Bask, Bill Connors, Brian Knowles, Brooks Golden, Chad Davis, Clown Soldier, Colt Bowden, Dain, Derek Erdman, Don't Fret, El Celso, Elik, Emily Cunningham, Faust, Fred Litch, Glenn Wexler, Goons, Greg Mike, Hebru Brantley, Infinity, Instigator, Joe Padilla, Klepto, Lloyd Patterson, Mark O'Brien, Mike Murdock, Mike Perry, Nice-One, Posterboy, Priest, Ron Copeland, RP Reeson, Ryan Duggan, Scott Albrecht, Sebastian Napoli, Stikman, Telepath UK, TEWZ, Thomas Billings, Tim Pigott, Victor Kaifas, Weed Wolf, Zero, and Zissou Tasseff-Elenkoff.

Billy Craven has been posting sneak peeks of the work on his Flickr and BLAH+BLAH+BLOG.  Check out the amazing life-sized Les Paul style guitar crafted entirely from corrugated cardboard and beer cases that Mark O'Brien is sending.  It's amazing!

Peep the TDR&R event page on Facebook.

SLAP HAPPY: a sticker invitational

Set to debut November 29th in Miami at the Wynwood Walls is Slap Happy, a charity sticker invitational curated by Paul Weston and DB Burkeman.  The project includes designs from 75 visual communicators from around the globe who have each created an intimate, same size, black and white sticker.  The stickers include original designs from well known artists and are printed in a small, limited edition.

As part of the project, a video, sticker packs, a book and 25 signed black books will be produced and sold through the Slap Happy store.  "Proceeds from the benefit will go to Acceptance House, a drug rehab facility in Miami.  This is our way of giving back to the locals who are ignored or exploited by the  decadence brought to Miami during Art Basel and the surrounding fairs."

The only way to see the artist lineup and all 75 designs before the exhibition in Miami is to check the Slap Happy Blog where sticker designs from three artists are posted each day.

left to right: Zevs, Kenny Scharf, Nice-One, The London Police, Shane Swank, Stickman

on Ebay Right Now: RETNA Boots + DNA

Always wanted to own a piece by Retna?  How about a piece of Retna instead?  Ebay seller Vintageworld17 from Inglewood (always up to no good...) is currently offering a pair of size 8.5 Redswing boots that they claim were worn by the legendary West Coast writer aka Marquis Lewis.  According to the description the boots are "Mid City Stoners", "True West Coast Legend Kicks".

And just in case you have any doubts about the authenticity the listing states: "WE CAN PULL DNA SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE IT'S A REAL ITEM!"  

Finally the worlds of forensics and vintage resale collide. We'll file this under ewwww...