Yoskay Yamamoto at LeBasse Projects

Another great show at LeBasse Projects. Starting June 12th (that's tomorrow!), Yoskay Yamamoto opens his new solo show "Familiar Strangers" comes to our lucky town.

"The show represents a breakthrough in work from Yamamoto - featuring a diverse range of paintings, hand carved wood as well as cast metal and resin sculptures. The show will reflect a continuation of intimate statements of self-expression that began in his last series of exhibitions.

Yamamoto’s previous exhibition focused on the artists’ external struggles and experiences while Familiar Strangers is inspired by a detachment from one’s inner self and the rediscovery of ones true nature. Using some of his iconic characters, Yamamoto adds new depth including a thematic use of flowers in the work. Flowers have been chosen because according to Yamamoto. ‘…they carry the essence of growth, but also have such a fragile state.’ The cycle of growth, blossoming and decay echo the circular nature of his previous exhibitions."

The opening reception is June 12th from 7-10 PM, but you can get a sneak peak now here.





"Familiar Strangers" by Yoskay Yamamoto
Le Basse Projects

The Art of Gary Baseman Comes to Life!

I had a dream a few months ago. I was trapped in doorless, windowless room with Edvard Munch's The Scream. Not the painting. The screamer from the painting. It was not a pleasant dream.

In the pantheon of characters from famous art works, there are plenty you wouldn't want to spend time with. The hairy-knuckled incubus from Fuseli's The Nightmare, Bacon's Pope Innocent X, pretty much anything that shows up in a Bosch painting.

Then there are the characters you might want to hang with. The ladies of Ingres and Degas come to mind...

Add to that list the adorable creations of Gary Baseman. But in this case, this is not a dream, but a dream come true. This coming Saturday, June 12, 2010, LACMA Muse and Artwalk 2010: The Los Angeles Music and Arts Festival will be featuring a very special performance created by Gary. For "Giggle and Pop," 24 of his ChouChous and Tar Pit Girls will roam the museum and grounds of LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits and create playful havoc. (Choreographed by Sarah Elgart, and featuring a song by Carina Round).

"“Giggle and Pop!” references Baseman’s paintings from 'I Melt in Your Presence' (2007), 'Hide and Seek in the Forest of ChouChou' (2007), and 'La Noche de la Fusíon' (2009). The original tale takes place during a time when evil demons dominated the Forest of ChouChou where the Wild Girls lived. Chaos and misery, fires and ugliness were so abundant and powerful that the Girls could not easily love. The ChouChous, however, were mysterious heroic creatures who appeared then took away and absorbed the negative energy and hate from the Girls, oozing creamy gooey love from their belly buttons. For the LACMA event, the Wild Girls are Tar Pit Girls, positively altered with the love of ChouChou."

And watching isn't enough for you, join in the fun. Attendees who dance or play along with the characters will receive limited-edition sashes with original art by Gary Baseman!

For your visual pleasure, here is some inspirational art for the event, straight from Gary.







Performances 12pm, 1pm, and 3pm (with vignettes in between and until 4pm). See you there!!


Gary Baseman

Culver City Artwalk - Focus on LeBASSE Projects

Edwin Ushiro

This Saturday, June 5th, is the annual Culver CIty Artwalk, from Noon - 8 PM. It's sure to be an amazing event. And as usual, LeBASSE Projects has an excellent show lined up. The preview is online now, but here are a couple of images from some of our personal favorites, including Edwin Ushiro, Jean-Pierre Roy, and Kevin E. Taylor, who is new to PopDrawer. Other artists in the show include Nate Frizzell, Blaine Fontana, Thomas Doyle, and many more.


Jean-Pierre Roy


Kevin E. Taylor


Don't miss the walk!

Camille Rose Garcia in Wonderland

Ack! We don't know how we missed this... but better late than never, as a certain White Rabbit might say.

The unequaled Camille Rose Garcia has released her version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in book form, replete with her eye-popping illustrations. You can buy it here, read an interview with Camille here, and goggle at the wonder of it all, well, HERE!







Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Camille Rose Garcia