"A Cry For Help" Benefit Show @Thinkspace (1/8/10)

The show is animal-themed, although not exclusively about endangered animals. 20% of the proceeds (and all of the proceeds from prints) will go to Born Free and the Animal Protection institute, which advocate for the humane, ethical treatment of all animals, and also educate about the ways loss of habitat and other pressures are driving many species past the breaking point. In addition to its other activities, the API maintains a huge natural sanctuary in Texas for primates that have been rescued from abusive situations – mostly abandoned pets and the former inmates of petting zoos.

Many of the artists we invited did choose to represent endangered animals. Others painted animals that are symbolically meaningful to them personally... for instance, Edwin Ushiro drew his 18-year-old cat Rusty, who died last year, blurring into incorporeality.

Some of the artists approached the theme by depicting their feelings about how our endangerment of the world's animals simultaneously endangers ourselves, as we destroy our own habitat along with that of these seemingly more vulnerable species. For example, Moki painted a giant monkey cradling a little boy in its arms. Ben Strawn painted an old man, surrounded by images of the animals he has already driven to extinction (the passenger pigeon, the Xerxes blue butterfly, the golden toad) wheezing for breath in a gas mask – representing mankind, having endangered himself by his own heedless actions. Mike Brown painted animals acting out human activities, such as war, that will in lead to humanity's endangerment.

Several artists, including Tran Nguyen, Kris Lewis and Nimit Malavia, approached the subject from a more emotional angle. Tran's paintings are always very psychological, and she chose to represent humanity tearing itself apart. Nimit depicted a very natural, classical beauty – the sort of values that are often lost today – and subtly related that to the loss of so many species, and owls in particular. Kris Lewis painted one of his naturally beautiful women, looking somewhat vulnerable and sad, standing in the depths of the forest... the rapidly disappearing habitat for so many species on the brink of extinction.

Very impressive preview, all the artists delivered nice work. Congrats and best of luck.

So happy to be a part of this amazing show. Thanks commandax and Andrew!

Seriously, this is a phenomenal group show! I wish I could check it in person

Thanks for all the compliments, guys! Working on this show with Andrew has been a lot of fun.

I wanted to share some detail shots of one of my favorite pieces in the show, "Carousel" by Eric Nyquist. I discovered Eric at the most recent GR2 Post-It show. His drawing style is so tight and complex, yet simultaneously fluent and effortless-looking, that it almost seems like it must not be handmade, even though it's clearly graphite – and on top of that his ideas are really interesting.

This 18x24" piece has several levels that you can view it on, with the top paper-cut level being the attack of a pack of wolves on a bighorn sheep. Within the white pieces of cut paper are a myriad of little wonderlands to explore. All of this linework is executed in graphite or colored pencil. If you come to the show, make sure to give it a close look... if you do, you won't be disappointed.

and while i'm in this forum...if anyone would be willing to pick up one of amy sol's prints and ship it to me (in ohio) please drop me a PM. Thanks!

Here's a shot of Liz McGrath signing her prints:



Uploaded a half dozen or so shots to this show's 'sneak peek' set on Flickr from my visit to Liz' studio - check out the updated Flickr set here:
www.flickr.com/photos/thinkspace/sets/72157622577799739/

Here are a few more pieces I loved from the "Cry for Help" show that are from artists that don't have their own individual threads yet. Keep an eye out for these guys, they've got heaps of talent.

Josie Morway's "What We Carried," a huge 48x48" oil on heavy cherry panel, was blowing other painters' minds all night. It's so smooth and feathery that you think it must be airbrushed, but you can't airbrush in oils. She's a very meticulous oil painter who only works in very large sizes... what a rarity!



Everyone knows how much I adore the textures and composition of Dennis Hayes' bird paintings on reclaimed 2x4 assemblages in reclaimed paints and inks. This one, "Mourning Love," is very poignant. Inspired by the doves outside his window, “Mourning Love” refers to the mourning dove’s extinct cousin, the passenger pigeon.



Last but not least, a surprise last-minute entry, professional illustrator Fred Harper's "Out for Roll." There's so much energy and humor and character in this one... see the fire hydrant marking on dog's forehead? Fred really found the sweet spot on this one.

I believe there are a few left, get in touch with Andrew and he'll hook you up.

Prints are up

You guys really set the bar for how group shows should be run... GREAT JOB!