JON LANGFORD & MR. Rico Bell OPENING: Friday March 28th @ 10 pm 2008 EXHIBIT
RUNS: March 28th - March 30th, 3 days only
SPECIAL HOURS: Friday 12-5pm and 10pm - 1am, Saturday 12-5pm and Sunday 3-8pm
The Rogue Buddha Gallery welcomes back Jon Langford and Rico Bell for a special exhibition of their latest works. Both of these talented artists have carved out a nitch for themselves producing paintings glorifying the old west and modern country legends.
This exhibit is being presented in conjunction with the Mekons performance at the Fitzgerald Theater. They will perform music from their 30-year music career as part of 89.3 The Current’s Fakebook program. The opening opens at 10:00pm follow the performance.
ROGUE buddha GALLERY @ ART NOW FAIR December 6th - 9th, 2007
NICHOLAS HARPER: New Paintings OPENING: Friday November 16th @ 7-11 pm 2007 EXHIBIT
RUNS: Nov 16th - Jan. 6th, 2008
Nicholas Harper has gained national notoriety for his award winning paintings and gallery, being featured in numerous local, national and international publications including CNN where he was named as an artist to watch and most recently, GQ Magazine.
In this memorable and sophisticated body of work, Harper builds upon classical portraiture through his unique style in which he combines realism with fantasy and atmospheric or darkly rich backgrounds in an aim to celebrate the divine and worldly aspects of the individual while exploring the tension inherent in our daily lives.
While seemingly bizarre on the surface, Harper’s artwork never fails to elicit a reaction – be it visceral, intellectual, or something in between – from its viewers, who speak of its “emotional texture,” “warmth coming through the dark,” and “simultaneous alienation and accessibility.”
His works are arresting because they pull from celebrated artistic themes and techniques while forging a new style of discourse under the guise of haunting beauty.
Harper states, “Through my personal symbolism, I wish each painting to be as the Byzantine and Russian icons were, objects of meditation and inner reflection for the viewer as well as adding beauty to the environment and connecting us to something bigger than ourselves.”
NICHOLAS HARPER - ABOUT An icon is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it; an image or depiction that represents something else of greater significance thru literal or figurative meaning, usually associated with religious, cultural, political, and economic standing.
Harper’s current body of work represents his ambition to make the icon relevant for today’s contemporary audience. Through exploring individual psyche, he hopes to transcend merely capturing the portrait of the sitter, but rather, exposing the psychological and spiritual aspects of the subject through distortion, atmosphere and Harper’s personal symbolism. In an attempt to capture the tension Harper believes to exist in humans today, he strives to present the subject in both divine and worldly aspects focusing on everyday people and not the preordained “holy” people of history.
“When looked upon from an outside perspective, the tension in all of us takes on a strange beauty. This is what I hope to present in my work. In so doing, my wish for the viewer is that they may come in contact with their spiritual self and glimpse at their personal divinity.” Harper transcends dogmatic religious belief while reaching for a universal experience and realization. Just as icons of the Byzantine and Russian heritage provided a means of meditation and contemplation, so too, Harper hopes that his work finds a place in peoples homes, and more importantly, has a positive influence throughout their life. “Rather than simply beautifying a living environment, my intention is that the work reaches for a transformation of the body, mind and soul while acting as a focal point in ones life experience.”
THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY
As part of Vita.mn's 1-Year Anniversary week, we're presenting the Opening Reception for celebrated painter and gallery-owner, Nicholas Harper.
Nicholas has become NE Minneapolis’ rising star, garnishing international attention with his unique gallery programming and curating, which is featured in GQ Magazine this November. Nicholas was also named “one of the top 10 artists to watch” by CNN, and was the recipient of the the “Best Painting” Award at the MN State Fair.
Vita.mn will be giving a way a brand new, commissioned painting at 9pm. Register to win and remember, you must be present on November 16th to win.
KIRSTEN DIERKING'S NORTHERN ORACLE: Reading November 29th, 2007@ 6-10pm, free
We at Spout Press are honored to publish the latest work of Kirsten Dierking, one of the Twin Cities' most renowned and beloved poets.
Northern Oracle, the highly-anticipated follow-up to One Red Eye, is in stores now. Please stay tuned to SpoutPress.org for more information about the specific release date and debut reading of Northern Oracle.
Kirsten's previous book, One Red Eye, was published by Holy Cow Press in 2001. She has received grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, The Loft Literary Center and the SASE/Jerome Foundation
JON LANGFORD: New Paintings & Prints OPENING: Friday September 7th @ 6-9 pm 2007 EXHIBIT
RUNS: Sept. 7th - Oct. 14th, 2007
Jon Langford returns to the Rogue Buddha gallery for his second exhibition.
Langford’s career has spanned 30 years, beginning in1978 with his band
the Mekon’s. While touring the United States Langford became enamored
with the country music scene and jumped in headfirst. It was at this time
that he began painting again, influenced by the vintage posters he saw in
Nashville. Langford started painting country music stars, presenting them
warts and all. His work exemplifies how modern country music abandoned
its soul for the masses.
Jon will be in attendance at the opening.
Curated by Kevin Quandt
Gronk-Works on Paper from Tandem Press OPENING: Friday May 11th @ 6-10 pm 2007 EXHIBIT
RUNS: May 11th - June 16t
The Rogue Buddha Gallery continues its role in the Northeast arts community of bringing new and challenging work to its gallery. As part of this years Northeast Art-a-Whirl, The Rogue Buddha Gallery is proud to feature Chicano artist, Gronk. Considered to be the forefather of the Chicano art movement in Los Angeles. Gronk Brings graphic works done at the prestigious Tandem Press, a part of the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Influenced by surrealism and German expressionism, Gronk's paintings reflect Chicano traditions while wryly (or ruthlessly) commenting on themes of ethnic identity, high and pop culture, romantic love, and mortality.
A nationally renowned performance artist and painter, Gronk knew from an early age that he wanted to be an artist. "Drawing was as an escape for me - from poverty, from my environment. It was a way of creating new worlds for myself." Several of the prints include depictions of his signature image of "La Tormenta," a solitary figure with her back facing the viewer. A reoccurring theme, this metaphoric figure is ambiguous: sometimes comical, sometimes tragic.
This exhibit is curated by Kevin Quandt
John Largaespada - Romancing Tragedy
OPENING: Friday March 30th @ 7pm, 2007 EXHIBIT RUNS: March 30th
– April 29th, 2007
The
Rogue
Buddha gallery is pleased to announce Romancing Tragedy,
an exhibition of digital photographs by Minneapolis
artist John Largaespada. John LargaespadaÕs practice
is concerned with the human situation as depicted in
high western culture. He draws on opera and paintings
for the sources of his images. Largaespada photographs
objects and costumed people, he then pieces these individual
photographs together to create the final image. The
end result is a type of assemblage creating a grand
tableau. John Largaespada has exhibited locally and
nationally. He has received two Jerome Foundation grants
and a Minnesota State Arts Board grant, his work is
also in the permanent collection of the New Museum of
Contemporary Art, NYC. This exhibition is curated by
Lonni Ranallo.
360 Goes Rogue: GROUP EXHIBITION
OPENING: Friday, Feb 9th, 7pm til late EXHIBIT RUNS: Feb 9th, 2007
– March 18th, 2007 Gallery 360 announces a show dedicated to the untamed
heart and its unbridled passion entitled, 360 Goes Rogue.
Thirty-five of Gallery 360Õs top artists prepare to unleash
the rogue artist within, by creating an original artwork
that represents the dark and passionate side lurking within
us all. Think black strewn roses, wounded hearts, and
a penchant for the long lost love that got away. Join
us for the ValentineÕs Day party of the year!
Featuring:
Alexandra Rozenman, Matthew Rucker, Jennifer Davis, Dick
Brewer, Polly Norman, Yuri Arajs, Al Wadzinski, Denise
Abbott, Michael Wong, Barbara Evan, Ruben Nusz, Shannon
Bangs, Patrick Pryor, Mary Begherr, Michael Sweere, Kristen
Arden, Allen Brewer, Barbara Gilhooly, Max Maddox, Ellen
Thomson, Robyn Stoller, Orin Herfindal, Katy Kelly Noun,
Nicholas Harper, Danny Saathoff, Jennifer Bong, Matthew
Doubek, Jenny Jenkins, David Ekdahl, Kate Van Cleve, Tom
Cassidy, Shawn Holster, Peggy Ryan, Maureen Welter
Ben Olson: SOLO EXHIBITION
OPENING: Friday, December 15th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: Dec 15th, 2006
– Jan 31st, 2007 Ben
Olson is among the most riveting artists in Minneapolis.
Known for portrait and figurative paintings of himself
and wife Emma, Olson opens a door into those moments
of human interaction that can be described as nothing
less than awkward. Through combining multiple layers
of semi-transparent acrylic paint on plywood, Olson
leaves us staring wide-eyed into the beautiful, the
dramatic and often the bizarre world of relationships.
Olson has been published in New American Painting and
his work featured in interior design shoots in multiple
magazines including Vogue, Paris. This is Olson's first
solo exhibit in Minneapolis. This
exhibit is brought to you with the kind support of VITA.MN
MARC HAUSER: SOLO EXHIBITION
OPENING: Friday October 6th, 7 -
11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: October
6th – November
18th, 2006 Marc
Hauser is an internationally celebrated photographer
for his dramatic portrait illustrations. Some of his
many clients have included Rolling Stone Magazine, Pepsi
Co., Ameritech, Arista Records, Microsoft and Playboy
just to name a few.
Original photos will include Jimi Hendricks, Jim Morrison,
Woody Allen, Michael Jordan and many more.
Marc will be in attendance at the opening!!!
ROXANA BRIZUELA: SOLO EXHIBITION
OPENING: Friday, August 4th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: Aug 4th –
Sept 17th, 2006 Roxana
Brizuela's vibrant colors evoke the energetic streets
and engaging people of her native Latin America. Her
stylized lines and expressive depictions celebrate human
interaction and identity with an unabashed joie de vivre.
Brizuela was born in Cuba and currently resides in Costa
Rica. The ROGUE buddha GALLERY is particularly proud
to present Brizuela's first solo exhibition in the United
States.
JON LANGFORD: SOLO EXHIBITION
OPENING: Wednesday February 8th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: February 8th
– March 18th, 2006
Jon Langford is a founding member of the legendary British
rock band the Mekons. A native of South Wales, Langford
now lives in Chicago. He continues to play with the
Mekons as well as the Chicago band the Waco Brothers.
His multi-layered paintings borrow imagery from old
country music publicity photos and sheet music. Langford
reinterprets these images with a haze of ironic nostalgia.
Jon Langford will be performing his piece "The Executioner's
Last Songs" February 10-11 at the Walker Art Center.
Langford has created a mordantly beautiful performance
work that is a compelling collection of tales and songs
on the themes of murder, mob law, and cruel, cruel punishment.
Langford takes us on a twisting and witty autobiographical
ride that looks unflinchingly at the promises of life
and the penalty of death. The performance combines live
music, spoken word, his own visual art, and recordings
of American roots music. Here he is joined by Sally
Timms (Mekons), bassist Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu), violinist
Jean Cook, and drummer Dan Massey.
Curated by Kevin Quandt
For more information about the Walker performances: CLICK
HERE
RANDOM STRANGERS
OPENING: Friday January 6th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: January 6th
– February 4th, 2006
FEATURING: Craig Bell, Tighe Clark, Jason Lemkuil, J.L.
Hendershot, Susan Heath & Tim O'Toole
Curated by James Hendershot
The Rogue Buddha Gallery presents six artists, who are
all virtual strangers. Ranging in backgrounds and artistic
mediums, each has created original works for this exhibit
in order to express individual interpretations of urbanism.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
TIN MEN & LANDSCAPES
Kevin Titzer & Mary Klein
OPENING: Friday December 2nd, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: December 2nd
– January 1st, 2005/06
FEATURING: Kevin Titzer & Mary Klein
Kevin
Titzer creates beautiful three-dimensional busts, statuettes
and figurines using wood, metal, and other debris found
near his home by the Ohio River. A native of Evansville,
Indiana, Kevin has been making art for most of his life
and has gained great recognition in galleries in Kentucky
and Tennessee.
Kevin first started surfacing his work with tin while
living in Terra Haute IN. working with a cousin who
was a blacksmith. The shop held a surplus of reclaimed
ceiling tin from old buildings in the shop. It was this
experience that helped Titzer to utilize the materials
that where around him. "I still use the ceiling tin
and also old candy tins (for more color) and sometimes
plastic. Usually the only materials I buy are nails,
and acrylic paint (for the heads and hands) - most everything
else is recycled."
Mary Klein's vibrant impressionistic paintings capture
the elegance and beauty of our immediate surroundings.
Working out of doors throughout the Metro area, Mary
captures and presents modestly scaled, contemplative
works using raw brushwork and great sensitivity. Her
landscapes, still lifeÕs and residential scenes burst
to life through her use of a rich palette and classical
approach to composition.
Mary studied at the Minnesota River School of Fine Arts.
She paints daily out of doors (even in the bitter cold
with the aid of heating packs) to create her landscapes.
TOM HUCK; The Bloody Bucket
OPENING: Friday September 30th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: September 30th
– November 12th, 2005
FEATURING: Tom Huck
The Rogue Buddha Gallery presents
the wildly bizarre world of Tom Huck. His large-scale
wood block prints have been compared to Durer, Bosch,
and R Crumb. Tom Huck has been working since 2000 on
The Bloody Bucket. The Bloody Bucket series is based
on a bar of that name, located just outside of his hometown
(Potosi), from 1948-51. While growing up, Huck was told
the tales of violence and good times had by all at this
bar. The series was completed in 2005. The series is
a unique tale of violent times gone by in rural southeast
Missouri. Each image, printed in Black and white, measures
38" x 52". Tom Huck will be in attendance at the opening
STILL SCAPES and VALKYRY; Michael Thomsen Solo Exhibit
OPENING: Friday August 26th, 7 - 11pm EXHIBIT RUNS: August 26th –
September 25th, 2005
FEATURING: Michael Thomsen
Michael Thomsen is a local Minneapolis painter who describes
his work as "treasure maps of the psyche." Thomsen's
latest series of paintings combines volatile color with
eerie landscapes to capture the darkly playful memories
of Thomsen's childhood. These latest works are primarily
still-lifes that manifest into dreamscapes, and flow in
and out of conscious and unconscious symbolism.
ALSO FEATURING: IN THE WINDOW: Photography by Darin
Back
ACCENT GALLERY: New and old paintings by Nicholas Harper
NICHOLAS HARPER @ Kellie Rae Theiss
Gallery
OPENING: Saturday July 30th, 5 - 8pm EXHIBIT RUNS: July 30th –
September 8th, 2005
FEATURING:
Nicholas Harper, painting
Kellie Rae, painting
Tony Berlant, assemblage
Steven Swanson, photography
Michael Bowman, prints
MARKED MEN: Fine art of the Tattooist
OPENING: Friday June 10th @ 7pm EXHIBIT RUNS: June 10th –
July 17th, 2005
FEATURING: Thom deVita, John Wyatt, Nick Bubash, Mike
Malone, Don Ed Hardy & Scott Harrison
Beginning in the late 60’s
a small group of tattooists began to meld tattooing
concepts from Japan, the pacific islands, and America
into a singular vision. These traditional designs were
reworked to present modern ideals and experiences. By
taking this important step they lit the fuse that would
ignite the renaissance of tattooing not only in America
but also around the world.
These artist were some of the first to bring a fine
art sensibility to their work; they saw beyond the stigma
of the culture and were able to visualize what it could
be. As outsiders they presented their ideas using alternative
mediums and placing them on non-traditional surfaces.
Thom de Vita creates montage pieces utilizing traditional
acetate stencils. Taking rubbings of these stencils
and modern tattooing, combines traditional Japanese
images with tattoo flash. He creates magnificent paintings
on Tyvak and mounted Japanese silk scrolls. Nick Bubash’s
work is deeply influenced bu world cultures and religions.
The images he creates possess heavy lines and explosions
of color, which are expressed in his richly detailed
assemblages. Each piece is a kind, fast, click, dark
beauty, salted with references to India, Serbo-Croatia,
and perhaps Hasidic Judaica! Michael Malone (AKA Rollobanks),
the man behind contemporary Flash and the explosion
of traditional Tribal images, presents hightly detailed
watercolor paintings of originial flash images. John
Wyatt has been visiting tattoo shops since the late
1950’s when he got his first tattoo.
For the last 30 years he has been photographing those
who get and give tatoos. Scott Harrison is an internationally
known tattoo artist, infamous for his bizarre and appalling
tattoo design sheets. He presents his beautifully rendered
watercolors of traditional images in a bizarre sexually
charged world.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
OPENING: Friday May 6th @ 7pm EXHIBIT RUNS: May 6th –
June 4th, 2005
FEATURING: Ray Caesar, Digital Prints
Jason D’Aquino, Graphite drawings on found paper
James Cleary, Photo montage on paper
Richly haunting, Upon Further
Review presents the narrative work of nationally known
artists Caesar and D’Aquino. Their technically brilliant
figurative and portrait based works challenge, provke
and inspire. Throuhg digital media and graphite they create
worlds deserving of contemplation and admiration.
Curated by Queeve/Q Productions
TWO WHEELS GOOD
OPENING: Friday March 25th, 2005
$1 Nominal Donation EXHIBIT RUNS: March 25th –
April 30th, 2005
FEATURING: 4-6 foreign vintage motorcycles
Makes and models TBA
Vinatage motorcycle poster prints
WORK OF ART: ARTISTS WHO OWN GALLERIES
OPENING: Friday February 11th, 2005 EXHIBIT RUNS: February 11th
– March 19th, 2005
FEATURING: Yuri Arajs, Outsiders and Others
Howard Christopherson, Icebox Gallery
Aldo Moroni, California Street Gallery
Kellie Rae Theiss, Red House Gallery
Alejandro Trujillo, Artrujillo Gallery
Suzy Greenberg, Soo Visual Art Center
Nicholas Harper, Rogue Buddha Gallery
Work of Art is a first of its kind showcase of Minneapolis
gallery owners who are also actively participating in
making fine art in the mediums of painting, photography,
conceptual mixed media and sculpture. This exhibit is
meant to be a celebration of their dedication to the Minneapolis
arts scene as well as a demonstration of their personal
artistic talents. Ranging from the black and white photo
portraiture of Howard Christopherson, recently returning
from a Japanese photo shoot, to the always thought provoking
conceptual works of Suzy Greenberg, the RBG will be presenting
one of the most dynamic exhibits of the winter.
Each artist displays great mindfulness in approach and
technique, one highly distinctive only to those artists
who so frequently are immersed in the business of working
with and promoting a wide variety of artworks. This intimacy
has both inspired and sometimes frustrated each artist.
It is this intimacy with so much artwork and such a varying
spectrum of artist, however, that has ultimately elevated
their individual work and helped to broaden the Minneapolis
arts perspective.
INNER VISIONS
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday January 7th, 7pm EXHIBITION RUNS: Jan 7th
- Feb 5th, 2005
FEATURING: Bonnie Brabson, Peter Brabson & Micheal
Wong
IN THE ACCENT GALLERY: Mary Nagel Klein Solo Exhibit
Across today's varied
artistic landscape, it is often difficult to identify
trends or movements banding artists together. Indeed,
no major movements, philosophies or cooperative efforts
by artists have branded the last few years with one
or two major themes, at least none that have been widely
recognized. One reason for the great variety of artwork
being presented, however, may be that today's artists
seem to have unlimited possibilities at their disposal
in terms of media and ideas. The three artists presented
in Mixed Media may epitomize the contemporary art world
for this very reason. Each artist draws from a wide
range of influences and cultural perspectives, all the
while appropriating whatever materials he or she deems
necessary to present individual experiences to a broader
audience. While personal tastes may differ, a scattering
of unique expressions can ironically unify the art world,
while keeping viewers on their toes as well.
Mary Klein's subtle impressionistic paintings capture
the elegance and beauty of our immediate surroundings.
Working out of doors throughout the Metro area, Mary
captures and presents modestly scaled, contemplative
works using raw brushwork and great sensitivity.