As the lines between fine art and commercial design blur, progressive companies like Scion support some of our favorite artists through Installation 5: Self Portraits. Scion has done their homework, assembling a capable lineup: Blek le Rat, AJ Fosik, Andrew Shoultz, Ron English, Will Barras, Usugrow, Kelsey Brookes and many more. Being the first year that video is recognized in the Installation Art Tour, we are eager to see how these artists take advantage of the medium. Among nine stops total, the show is currently en route to New York (opening May 7th). For more information, consult Juxtapoz.

Slap Skateboard Magazine is hot on the trail of skateboard trendsetter and fine artist, Ian Johnson. He was featured this April in Thrasher‘s sister mag, which recently transitioned from a print magazine to online-only. We give Slap props for their beautifully designed online magazine, and of course for their excellent choices in content. Below are words from Isaac McKay-Randozzi:

See the full feature and a well done video-visit at Slap.

San Francisco loves Ian Johnson. When he last showed at Park Life in 2007, SFGate’s Culture Blog was sure to attend the opening with cameras ready. They caught a few words with the man of the hour, along with several great shots of the show.

“On Friday I stopped by Park Life to see a solo show by one of my favorite Bay Area artists Ian Johnson. Ian paints and draws jazz musicians mostly, focusing on the innovators and originators of the music. Musicians like John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday and many others from that time. He mixes his obsession with jazz with his role as art director for Western Edition skateboards, bringing his images to the bottoms of skateboard decks.” -Matt Petty, SFGate

We were ecstatic to be chosen in the SF Gate’s article, “Native Son in Torrid Affair with S.F.,” as one of the most appreciated parts of town. In the ranks with Palace of the Legion of Honor and Aquarius Records, we were flattered by these words of David Katznelson:

“Their art openings are the biggest blasts, attracting an amazing cross-section of enthusiasts, and for a new collector there are always reasonably priced pieces that would look great on any wall.” (Read David’s full excerpt at The Shooting Gallery blog.)

At this exact moment, we imagine that little hands are eagerly shooting up in hopes of winning a Shepard Fairey or Barry McGee piece at the Phillips de Pury auction. If Audrey is this stirred up about it, surely it’s worth a look.

Okay, so it’s not exactly “archival.” But February of 2008 seems like a long time ago: a new president has taken office, Gallery Three has moved into the White Walls annex space, and hundreds of artists have since shown in this building. To refresh your memories of the last time Ian Johnson jazzified the white walls of 835 Larkin, peep this video from SF Gate’s 96 Hours.

Shepard Fairey piece at YBCA

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts put on a lively opening reception yesterday in honor of the newest exhibit, “Through Future Eyes: The Endurance of Humanity.” Curated by YBCA’s Young Artists at Work program, the show featured a broad range of artists including Shepard Fairey, Chukes, Melissa Day, and Diego Rivera. The teenage curators drew a diverse crowd of artgoers, performing arts students, and a vivacious drum circle.

In between the festivities, we also caught a glimpse of “Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth.” We thought we had stepped into Monsters Inc: the elaborate costumes and quirky dance video inspired Martha Stewart-meets-Thriller type ideas in our heads. If you find yourself in The City, we recommend a stroll through YBCA.

FTC and Ian Johnson have a long history of collaboration, so it’s no wonder FTC is getting hyped for his upcoming show at White Walls. We loved this post on the FTC blog, cataloging Ian’s career from the skate shop’s perspective.

“Known for his love of skateboarding and distinctive illustrations of iconic jazz musicians, Ian Johnson is regarded as San Francisco’s ‘City Treasure’ if you will. He elevated the aesthetics of the urban art game by staying true to his 2 passions – Skateboarding & Jazz. While most wouldn’t consider this fusion possible or even marketable, the demand for his art proves otherwise. His decks are consistently sold out even before they hit the shelves. We’re lucky if we can hold on to a t-shirt or even a postcard from his Western Edition line.”-FTC

Get more of the love at the FTC blog.

Covering an entire side of Hollywood’s Montalban Theatre with a polished mural is quite a feat; of course Shepard Fairey is up for the job. In celebration of Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling, Nike commissioned the piece in March to adorn their “Sportswear” store inside the Montalban. This timelapse shows the mural coming to life, giving us an idea of how such a massive piece is created.

Read more about the project at Arrested Motion.