In anticipation of Recognition opening this Saturday, August 8th

Interview by White Walls Gallery

© Arnie Svenson

The Confederate flag is most often used as a tool for oppression, yet one artist working in the Chelsea district of Manhattan is turning this around. Michael Holman uses the Confederate flag for a higher purpose, exploring the many facets of his family history and personal identity through this loaded symbol.

Whether through film, music, collage, or paint, Michael Holman is an artist of many capacities. In the 1980s, Michael first made a splash in New York creative circles by playing music with Jean-Michel Basquiat and hosting of the hip hop television show, Graffiti Rock. Twenty years later, he still takes a non traditional approach to exploring his identity. Read on to discover why Michael left Wall Street, how he befriended Basquiat, and why the Sons of the Confederacy are not on his A list.

Design by Phase II

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In anticipation of Suicide Machine opening this Saturday, August 8th

Interview by Gallery Three

Bryan Schnelle is concerned about the world. He depicts the flawless beauties of our time as we might find them in magazine spreads or on the big screen, but don’t take this as an affirming gesture. By masking the faces of America’s stars, Bryan highlights the lies being fed through our televisions and computer screens. His work advertises the imperfect nature of our aesthetic heroes, but if you blink, you might miss it.

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Bryan is a lighthearted and amiable guy. He wears the demeanor of a California carefree spirit, yet he is sensitive to Hollywood’s contaminating hold on society. Bryan isn’t afraid to tell it as it is, and we are ready to hear it.

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Today, The Examiner dove deep into the many layers of Michael Holman to better understand his provocative artwork. Read on to discover Michael’s diverse family history and how it informs his current creative process.

Holman’s shocking icons illuminate subtler Civil War

By: Virginia Pelley
July 30, 2009

SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER —

Michael Holman, who will exhibit his provocative Confederate flag paintings at White Walls in The City on Saturday, is used to pushing buttons on the subject of race. When his family moved back to San Francisco in the ’60s and Holman started the sixth grade, he thought his world travels as an Army brat would make him interesting and popular among his classmates. He was wrong.

A black boy followed Holman into the cloakroom and drawled, “Hey, man — are you a soul brother, or are you a surfer?”

Holman, who is black and white (his parents are of mixed race) wasn’t sure how to respond, so he invited the boy over to try out his longboard skateboard. That evidently tipped the scale toward “white” for the boy, so he punched Holman, and the two started fighting.

“In the suburbs, the white kids wanted to kick my a– for being black, and in the city the black kids wanted to kick my a– for not being black enough,” Holman says. Read more »

The weathered faces of Hugh Leeman‘s portrait subjects are multiplying over the walls of San Francisco. Passerby of all ages have taken notice, and they are keeping our inbox full with images like this one. Keep your eyes peeled for Hugh’s artwork integrated among San Francisco’s public space and come indoors on August 8th for Recognition at White Walls Gallery.

Want more? Click here.

Over the past year, San Francisco’s Receiver Gallery has been spreading love beyond the walls that hold its exhibitions. Orange Alley, the street behind Receiver, is undergoing a beautification project in which artists are invited to paint large scale murals outdoors. These works have come to adorn the fences, garages, and buildings of Orange Alley.

On July 13th, 2009, the Orange Alley BBQ event brought together artists like Mike Shine, Brion Nuda Rosch, Charlie Callahan, Steven Weinberg, Kyle Ranson, and Chris Duncan to paint, grub, and play music. Such affairs are bound for success, as we already know from David Choong Lee’s recent art picnic. This is why we love summer in San Francisco.

Check out more pictures at My Love for You.

We’ve already shared several installments of Hugh Leeman’s outdoor portraits on billboards and walls, but we can barely keep up with the man. In between painting in his studio and pasting up characters throughout SF, Hugh has also been gathering footage for a special video feature to compliment his upcoming exhibition. Let’s just say he is spending quality time with the subjects of his portraits, and they’ve got stories to tell.

Look for these pieces around town and don’t miss Recognition, Hugh’s two man show opening at White Walls on August 8th, 2009.

More street art from Hugh:

Free Poster from Hugh Leeman

Hugh Leeman in the Hood

Letters from Leeman

Few people would say that The Great Recession has positively impacted their livelihood, but good news is finally here for San Francisco artists. In light of increasing storefront vacancies plaguing the city this year, the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development have put their heads together. They couldn’t have come up with a better solution: why not call on local artists to beautify these dark, empty spaces?

For the “Arts in Storefronts” program, a small stipend will be allotted to local artists to install their work in vacant storefronts of Taylor Street, Third Street, Central Market, and Lower 24th Street Corridors.

In the words of Luis R. Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs for San Francisco: “This initiative is important for two reasons: it transforms vacant storefronts into attractive exhibition spaces and provides greater visibility to the creative community that calls San Francisco their home. Art in Storefronts recognizes the role that artists can play in promoting economic and community vibrancy.”

This is the kind of program that has potential to launch local artists’ careers and bring a bit of hope to the neighborhoods that need it most. We are especially excited to pass by the coming storefront installations in our beloved Tenderloin. With so many talented artists living in this district, the displays are bound to be impressive.

If you are an artist interested in this program, apply here: http://www.sfartscommission.org/

Unurth Street Art has assembled a nice little tour of Becca’s recent activity in Los Angeles. We like how they give the exact location of each piece along with some background history. We wish we could drop by LA to see these ladies for ourselves, but we know they won’t be coming down anytime soon.

Melrose & Orange, Los Angeles

4th & Pico, Santa Monica

Main St, Santa Monica

Alley behind Melrose Ave, Los Angeles

Photo Source: Unurth Street Art

Our publicist, Jillian Mackintosh, visited Adam 5100‘s studio this week to snap some pictures and chat about his upcoming appearance in the October’s Stencil Show at White Walls. Check out what she posted on her Juxtapoz blog yesterday:

Decided to get an early start on the postcard design for White Walls Stencil Art Show in September. I knew the best dude to go see would be Adam 5100 for some advice and inspiration. I brought my friendChris Blackstock to take pictures and document the mini adventure. (Thanks buddy)

Adam 5100 is an epic stencil artist and is definitely one of the locals favorites. He’s preparing for a show and let us take some pictures of his new stuff. I’m not sure if he’s been working on the group show for White Walls in October or not, but the premise of his work is really evolving and taking on new depth. Most of the pieces were at least 12 layers of paint. Take a look.

Adam 5100 wasn’t really expecting us but he’s such a good sport and hilarious dude, that when I asked him to pour out his jars of xacto blades he glared at me, raised his brow and informed me it was his life’s collection. I told him I’d put every single one back, and not to worry.

Dude got a little too excited trying to get them out of the jar at one point.

Not to spoil the surprise or anything but here are a few cool shots Chris took for the stencil show’s marketing and such.

No matter what your usual style, this is your chance to get down with classic car culture. This means pinups, tattoos, tikis, pin striping, hot rods, and most importantly: vintage. Anything and everything retro will fly, so take a stroll back to the 40s, 50s and 60s for inspiration.

Donated artwork will be auctioned off to benefit the Bay Area Women’s & Children’s Center. On the evening of the event, September 26, all art will be hung in White Walls Gallery. Read more »