Black Maria Gallery Presents Sadly Beautiful December 8, 2007

Sadly Beautiful: A Vinyl Show

8 December – 22 December 2007

Opening Reception: Saturday 8th December, 7:00 – 10:30pm

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm until 6pm (or by appointment)

Artists: brent nolasco, motorbot, adrian pina, ryan crippen, bwana spoons, jon measures, phuek!, jovanne santos, lynette may, david wagner, squidnik, jennyfur, edzepln, jason jacenko, doktor a, peenloon, drilone, lou pimentel, randy kono, mr. atom, dawn lauckner, rhinomilk, jennybird, david epochalypse, marion hawkes, blinky, julie b, nathan lumm, benedict sisters, jet wrench, jenna colby, mark meyers, paul candler, renee lawter, shiro fujioka, coreroc, kid lew, lionel uhry, leecifer, nick the ring, henry lichtmann, jester, podgy panda, katherine wilson, deeann morales, agg, anna, manimal, scott cummins, bucky lastard, monica campbell, david wagner, jane gotts, terk, glory tsui, nicoz balboa and more....

Sadly Beautiful is an exploration of Contemporary Art through the medium of urban vinyl toys. These ‘toys’ are stylized versions of what we played with as children. They have associations with fun and a stress-free time in our lives. Vinyl toys allow us to daydream of yesteryear. And when artists customize (hand paint, alter the shapes, etc), these portals of nostalgia become works of art.

“While Modern Art is the rejection of all that came before it, Contemporary art is the embrace of previous movements in art. It not only looks to the past, it references contemporary pop culture. Contemporary artists draw reference to everything around them. The work is remarkably narrative and reminiscent of fairytales, cartoons, animated films and toys,” according to Black Maria Gallery manager, Melanie Ross.

Sadly Beautiful is the gallery’s first exhibition exploring the medium of vinyl. The theme of the exhibition is about the journey of life, the interpretation of love unrequited, hope gained and hope lost. Happiness, longing, soul-searching…

This exciting group show features artists manifesting into visuals what words sometimes fail to convey. Glimpses of each artist’s own life stories are told through the magic of paper, canvas, paint, vinyl, and more....

Sadly Beautiful is Ally Takeuchi’s curatorial debut at Black Maria Gallery. Earlier this year, she organized the Wishing Well exhibition at Monkey House and will be putting a benefit exhibition together early 2008.