Coliseum at Twin Infinities, Dehara at GR2

Coliseum at Twin Infinities art show

On Friday night, I went with my old friend/ass-kicker/artist/zine maker/GR crew for life Kiyoshi Nakazawa to the NOMAD gallery in Frogtown to catch a fine display of the art of rocking and art about rock. Above: The mighty Coliseum made a stop on their California Obliteration tour. Yes!

Rich Jacobs

Co-curated by Rich Jacobs (above) and Sam James Velde (Night Horse), the show had too many contributors to list, but I happen to be a friend or fan of many.

Ben Clark

I never get sick of seeing my pal/GR crew Ben Clark’s work, especially when it’s printed. Up on top you can see THE picture of Justin fronting Unwound at Jabberjaw. What a rad show. Damn. I’m pretty sure I was at that Rocket From The Crypt gig pictured in front, as well, not to mention the Fugazi show at the Palace on the bottom left. Ben actually made me print of the latter, and it’s one of my prized possessions.

Rick Froberg

Art by some of my musical heroes: Rick Froberg from Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, and Obits (above). David Pajo from Slint, Tortoise, Papa M, and a ton of others (below). Our mutual friend Sooyoung Park introduced me to Pajo at a BBQ in Chicago, but I doubt if he remembers me.

David Pajo

Below, more pics, this time by ace photographer Atiba Jefferson. Atiba only shoots the best of everything, from skateboarding to hoops to bands. In this case, Ian Mackaye from Minor Threat, Egg Hunt, Fugazi, Evens, and Dischord Records with the one and only Bad Brains. Talk about PMA.

Atiba Jefferson

More photography, this time by Martin Sorrondeguy from Los Crudos and Limp Wrist. Chicago flavor!

Martin Sorrondeguy

And back to fine art, by my friend Sandy Yang who plays noisy and arty bands like Lady Noise and Red Krayola. She and Kiyoshi actually helped the Twin Infinities show find a home, and she has  contributed to GR as well!

Below, Sandy flanked by other friends/patrons of the arts that rock, Jens and Gabie.

Jens, Sandy, Gabie

More Coliseum!   \m/_  _\m/

Coliseum

The next night, I went to GR2. It’s been a while since I’d been on Sawtelle, and it was sad to see Safe and Save boarded up and the fishing pole shop gone as well. But Dehara’s work is timeless and always awesome. In the past, he has sculpted only the coolest of subject matter: gangsters, yokai, vegetable creatures, and jizo. My type of art. His newest show is a tribute to the Japanese art of upskirt peeking.

Dehara art show at GR2

Not sure how my wife Wendy explained the pieces to Eloise, but they were sculpted, painted, and imagined by the man who made our wedding cake topper.

Dehara at GR2

Eloise and Dehara have actually met before, and she is very familiar with the Mentakun–which the artist drew on a balloon that she brought over from her cousin’s red egg party/banquet.

Mentakun balloon by Dehara

So many rad shows and memories at GR2 and Sawtelle, and this was one more. Below: Wendy, me, Dehara, and Eric!

Dehara at GR2

See you at the next show…