D Young V is in Gallery 3 next Saturday, October 9th. Augustine Kofie is downstairs with his solo show “Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism” at White Walls.

D Young V is a local around these parts, and we always love seeing his stuff up on our walls. We’re really stoked for this show next week and also excited for the future for D Young V and his solo show at White Walls in 2011.

Here is an close up and personal interview with D Young V. The dude is deep, dedicated, and down right daring. Check it out!

Your work appears to be very influenced from politics and war. What about soldiers and the experience of being physically involved in a war interests and inspires your artwork?

In many ways it’s not only the soldier that interests me but rather the uniform. The uniform is a symbol that people will either fear, love, honor, cherish, respect or hate. The uniform is associated with a variety of different meanings. If you see a soldier you assume patriotism, war, country, sacrifice, oppression, authority, violence, order, discipline, etc. If you see a punk, you assume rebellion, aggression, chaos, anarchy, left wing thinking, creativity, etc. Anything can serve as a uniform, the car you drive to the clothes you wear. Much of it is symbols to express who you are (or what you wish to be perceived as) to the rest of the world. One of the goals of my work is to alter the view of these symbols and place them into a new or contradictory context, allowing the viewer to rethink the meanings.

If the flag, uniform, politics and national identity are stripped away, you are left with only a person. I am very interested in knowing what leads a person to join the armed services (particularly in the US). I feel that some people are simply attracted to conflict, others discipline, some adventure, curiosity, escaping, direction, etc. I feel as though many people in this country have a misguided view of patriotism and nationality. Many people seem to invest much of their identity in this new form of patriotism, not so much out of love for country, but more to create some sort of security, strength, purpose or meaning in their lives. It’s a great feeling to be a part of something greater then yourself, but also foolish to blindly accept the decisions others make for you without question.

I’m not one to define what patriotism is or point the finger at anyone. I’m still attempting to develop my own views on this. I love the country I live in, but often feel that we’re going to have to seriously rethink our actions, philosophies and what our role is in the grand scheme of things if we’re going to evolve (or survive for that matter) as a nation. Read more »

ABOVE has recently done a video dealing with the controversy of stealing street art. Specifically, Banksy pieces that go for several hundred thousand dollars in the gallery space, are now being chiseled at by thieves on the streets. Considering the act of street art is illegal and stealing is illegal, ABOVE highlights the irony of the situation. He states that “one illegal activity inspires another. The artist paints illegally with spray cans on a wall, while the thieves jack hammer and chip off illegally painted walls, illegally. It’s kind of like the pot calling the kettle black to a degree.”

ABOVE plays with this irony by wheat pasting a criminal holding a Banksy piece with a rat saying “Now I’m Worth It” next to a golden frame. The allegory here is clear, considering one of Banksy’s first and most famous pieces is of the gangster rat holding up a sign saying “Because I’m Worthless”.

Check out this video to get the full picture! ABOVE, we think you’re rad!

D Young V recently did a photo shoot to use as inspiration for his next set of works that are scheduled to be released in July 2011 at White Walls. Shaun Roberts put together this rad flip book video of all the photos. Check it out!

Justin Giarla, owner and curator of White Walls, Shooting Gallery, and 941Geary has been voted one of the hottest in San Francisco under 40 by 7×7 Magazine! Congrats Justin, you are the bomb-diggity! A lot of hard work, sweat, tears, and beers have gone into the foundation and upbringing of the galleries here in SF. Justin has reinforced and emphasized the importance of community in the art world, making him an icon in the community, which has aggrandized himself based off these genuinely important qualities as an entrepreneur and curator. He has stuck to his gut feelings, even when they were contrary to other views. From the birth of Shooting Gallery in the seedy Tenderloin district of San Francisco, Justin has united his views on art and community, which has manifested in to an art kinship that is worthy of international recognition. He has been a catalyst in the art world here, and continues to produce and create meaningful work with a smile and ardor that is a staple in California and across the nation. Felicitations Justin, you deserve it!

On a side note, White Walls artist Casey Gray is responsible for the wonderfully spray painted back drop and tux. Obviously Justin has good taste, because Casey’s work is too rad to not recognize and is blowing up in SF and across the country. Check out his show in New Jersey at Parlor Gallery.

Justin Giarla, raised in Marin County, has hit the pages of the Marin Independent Journal. The article goes into the current whereabouts and happenings of the hottest art dealer and curator in the  business. Crowds are sure to be pleased with the inaugural 941Geary exhibition popping of this Saturday, September 18th at 7PM. Justin always has something up his sleeve, and Mike Shine’s “Flotsam’s Wonder World” is one of the biggest things yet.

Check out the article, and come this Saturday to 941Geary for Mike Shine’s “Flotsam’s Wonder World”. It is sure to be one of the biggest and most impressive shows you have seen this year!  Please make sure to arrive promptly, there will be a performance you do not want to miss!

Thank you to the creatives at Werehaus who crafted this brilliant clip for “Flotsam’s Wonder World” opening @ 941Geary  Saturday September 18th at 7PM

Check it out!

Just released! A video made beautifully by Colin M. Day, about the inspiration and insights of Erik Otto’s show “Tomorrow Is Never Promised” here at White Walls, opening Saturday night!

Thank you so much to Colin and everyone who contributed in the making of the video.

Enjoy the video and please come to the show to see Erik’s new works in person. They are visionary. Show opens September 11th and runs until October 2nd. Doors open at 7pm on Saturday night. See you there!

Get them while you still can! There are only 25! Chances are these puppies are gonna be sold out within 5 minutes of the show. Erik makes some rad, unique prints; definitely a collectors item.

Info: Four color with a hand drawn fifth layer on 110lb toned recycled paper, signed and numbered by Erik. $60.00 each.

Opening reception begins at 7pm and goes until 11pm. “Tomorrow Is Never Promised” the new works by Erik Otto will be shown at White Walls until October 2nd.

Cheers!

This month Justin Giarla, owner and curator of White Walls and sister galleries, will be curating a show titled “Western Expansion” in St. Louis at the Philip Slein Gallery on September 16, 2010.  Over two years ago, at the Miami Aqua Art Fair, mutual respect and tastes brought the like minds of White Walls and Philip Slein Gallery together. This magic brought Justin’s curating styles to St. Louis this month.

White Walls is showing St. Louie what the west coast is made of. Justin has curated a show with a bill of artists that represent the west coast style, culture, and aesthetic very well. Shepard Fairey, Greg Gossel, Aaron Nagel, Casey Gray, Akira, David Soukup, Shawn Barber, Kevin Cyr, Van Arno, Above, Blek Le Rat, Ian Johnson, Jessica Hess, Jesse Hazelip, and Cheryl Molnar make up the lists of artists that are holding it down in St. Louie. This compilation of artists are some of the most well respected and talented artists in urban/contemporary art. Should be a show worth seeing!If you are in the area, you should check out this show. Show starts Thursday September 16th at 8PM.

If you’re in the SF/bay area, check out the White Walls opening of Erik Otto’s “Tomorrow Is Never Promised” and Joshua Petker’s “We’re Not As Colorful As We Think We Are” in the Shooting Gallery. Tomorrow, Saturday September 11th 2010 starting at 7pm!

Cheers!

To view progress shots for Augustine Kofie’s upcoming solo show at White Walls click here.

TQOL “Augustine Kofie” from The Qualities of Light on Vimeo.

White Walls is pleased to present Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism, a solo exhibition by Los Angeles based artist, Augustine Kofie.

The artist examines the dynamics that emerge when new elements or techniques are built upon existing material. The exhibition will include a series of wood triangle collages, medium-sized assemblages on wood, acrylic paintings and an installation. The opening reception for Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism, will be held at White Walls on Saturday, October 09, 2010 from 7-11 pm. The exhibit will be on display through November 06, 2010 and is free and open to the public.

With a deep interest in process and structure, Augustine Kofie creates works of intense detail centered around the order of balance. The precision of Kofie’s “drafted” art is strongly inspired by modern architecture as well as the form and shape of typography.  In his quest for balance, Kofie harmonizes opposing and contradictory dynamics in his work by setting futuristic compositions against vintage earth-toned palettes, and creating organically complex formations through meticulously structured line-work and layering.  Active in the Los Angeles graffiti scene since the mid-nineties, the artist’s work reflects his ever growing influence of street culture, the craft of deconstructing lettering, contemporary music as well as 1960’s-70’s iconography.

Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism, Kofie’s debut solo exhibition with White Walls, continues his exploration of the process of organization, deconstruction and form while adhering to a controlled and tuned uniformity.  In this collection the artist poses a broader range of color set against his signature earth-toned palette.  The works conveys a ”push and pull” movement through the composition of the shapes and through the enhancement of classic or found material treated with newer counterparts.  The works for the exhibition are comprised of acrylic and spray paint on canvas, found paper and mixed media on wood, and found-wood sculptures and installations.

Kofie is a self-taught artist living and working in Los Angeles.  He has shown extensively  worldwide with highlighted shows in California, New York, Basel Miami, Japan, The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The artist has been featured in Juxtapoz, The Huffington Post, LA Weekly, Project Room and Studio Voice.