Greg 'CRAOLA' Simkins shows at Merry Karnowski

"Cloud Theory" is Craola's latest gallery show will feature new work from the LA-based abstract still life artist and graffiti writer.

I don't know much about Craola except of his affiliation with CBS crew in LA and collaborations with Rime and Dabs and Myla. I wondered why he had such a surreal focus on animals, but it all made sense when I read that he "grew up with a menagerie of animals including a number of rabbits..." and how is favorite childhood books are Richard Adams' scary "Watership Down" and C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia." You can get inside his head a little watching this video below.

To see some of Craola's unique, eery style check out these prints available from Craola's website.

Visit www.imscared.com for more information.

"Cloud Theory" April 21 - May 19, 2012

Opening Reception - Saturday, April 21st

Merry Karnowsky Gallery

170 S. La Brea Ave

Los Angeles CA 90036

www.mkgallery.com

2 in 1 Openings: LA Freewalls Inside and LALA Arts

This Saturday in Los Angeles, Daniel Lahoda kicks open the doors of LALA Arts with a special group show.

What's special is that Lahoda - in a continuation of his "LA Freewalls" mural activism and advocacy - brings LA's mural artists indoors to paint in his LALA Arts space. Read more about LA Freewalls here at KCET and watch the video below.


LA FREEWALLS from Jason Wawro on Vimeo.

This show brings 28 of some of the most recognizable mural artists under one roof. There are a few names I'm not familiar and then there are some of my favorites: INSA all the way from London Town, Dabs and Myla, Kofie, Risk, Craola, Retna and from the old skool, Daze.

Lady Aiko
Anthony Lister
Askew One
Augustine Kofie
Becca
Cern One
Christopher Brand
Craola
Cryptik
Cyrcle
Dabs and Myla
Dan Witz
Daze
Evan Skredestu
How and Nosm
Insa
Jaybo Monk
JR
Kid Zoom
Kim West
Ludo
Pepper
Poesia
Push
Retna
Ripo
Risk
Roa
Ron English
Saber
Swoon
Zeser

The show opens Saturday April 21st, 2012 7-10pm

LALA Arts
1335 Willow St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
www.lalaarts.com

LA street graffiti vs. The Buff Squad

Hey there websters! Since June, I've been consumed with traveling and managing a new work project, but I'm back...Expect more posts on my favorite stuff as I backfill some of the events I didn't write about!

Here we go....Archive #1.

Driving around town in the summer I spotted these fellas out on the streets. "The Los Angeles Beautification Team" buffing some parking lot walls and street utility boxes. I'm glad they are not whitewashing the legal pieces I snapped somewhere between Echo Park and West Hollywood.

As the title says, "Please Don't Buff".

Crewest gallery featured on Karmaloop TV

CREWEST GALLERY from KarmaloopTV on Vimeo.

Man One is interviewed by Karmaloop TV, the street clothing retailers. Hear about the Crewest Gallery's foundations and the work that gets exhibited in this great downtown Los Angeles space.

I've come here to see TC-5, Doze Green and others and discovered new artists like Dabs and Myla which Crewest brought over from Australia.

Mid-City Arts: Painting "On a Sunday afternoon"

A slew of West Coast (LA, SD) and East Coast (Miami) graffiti writers are congregating at Mid-City Arts this weekend for "On A Sunday Afternoon."

Some of the artists were due to paint as early as Friday with a live mural installation by Retna and a closing reception on Sunday March 7 from 2pm-8pm.

Not sure how those plans will work out since as I write it's raining cats and dogs in LA.

Axis (Los Angeles)
BooksIIII (Miami)
Dabs & Myla (Australia)
Jim Darling (Los Angeles)
Kofie (Los Angeles)
Kopye (Los Angeles)
Mear (Los Angeles)
Retna (Los Angeles)
Risk (Los Angeles)
Skem (Miami)

Slow (Miami)
Surge (San Diego)
Thelus (Los Angeles)
Typoe (Miami)

Location:
Mid-City Arts
5111 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles Ca. 90019
(310) 694-3460