Holidaze!

Yep, it's already that time, I can't believe it but that's another story! Let's get our holiday shopping on!!! Art is the best gift to give!

PROJECT GALLERY HOSTS

HOLIDAY PARTY & ART MARKET

                                                 David Marc Grant

                               

WHAT: PROJECT Gallery hosts its first annual holiday art market featuring original art, books, prints, cards and other items from its roster of artists and friends including Janette Beckman, Timothy White, Brandon Boyd, Ian Ross, David Marc Grant, Jeremiah Kille, Ming Ong, Yevgeniya Mikhailik, White Faux Taxidermy, Poster Child Prints, Hennessey & Ingalls and many others.

WHERE: PROJECT Gallery: 1553 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028

WHEN:   December 14, 7 pm; Holiday party and opening night

               Market open through January 12, gallery closed December 23-28

             

CONTACT:  Gallery: Sarah Gough, sarah@projectgallery.net; 323-462-1100

                    Press: Jen DiSisto, Art Duet, jen@artduet.net; 323-825-5221

ROCK FIGHT CLOSING PARTY!!!

ROCK FIGHT

Closing Reception

Saturday, October 5 8 pm

PROJECT Gallery

1553 North Cahuenga Blvd.
Hollywood

Curated by Celebrity photographer Timothy White, ROCK FIGHT is a collaborative exhibit with PROJECT Gallery and The Morrison Hotel Gallery featuring Theo Ehret's collection of 60's & 70's fight photos paired with rock's most iconic moments captured by Bob Gruen, Henry Diltz, Mick Rock, Lynn Goldsmith, Danny Clinch, Janette Beckman, Ethan Russell  and many others.

As seen in Entertainment Weekly, LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, FOX TV, NYLON, Time Out LA and MANY other local, national and international media outlets.

RSVP to:

rsvp@projectla.net

Art Basel travels

Art Basel was truly incredible. A true sensory overload with so much too see and do - so many people to meet, so much art to observe and admire. The landscape was vast as it was very spread out and i can definitely see why people go for a whole week. I had a wonderful and amazing travel partner, Janette Beckman, who of course wanted to go on visual adventures!  We spent one of the best days ever wandering around the Wynwood arts district and I was overwhelmed by it. The huge murals that were everywhere, the tucked away galleries, seeing murals actually in progress at all phases, the ENERGY there was palpable. We also attended many of the art fairs and met many gallerists, artists and saw incredible pieces. When you think about how many people are out in the world pursuing and creating art, making their own personal statements and presenting their perspective and technique, you can't help but feel awed and inspired.  Personally I love taking it all in --  greeting new artists, observing new mediums and perhaps unique methods of hanging and displaying art, etc.  But at the end of the day I am just a fan of art like anyone else.  I'd encourage anyone and everyone to go - you don't need to be "in the art world" to admire, observe or be 'affected' by art.  So, see you next year! Below are some shapshots from the trip...

Janette bumped into her buddy Mr. Brainwash! they may do a future project together!

this mural in wynwood arts district was STUNNING

Janette left her keith richards t-shirt under my pillow!

mural painting in action, in a beginning phase...at wynwood of course

seen at one of the fairs, clever - entitled 'cops and robins'

yikes, i can't remember where i saw this, but i loved it!

john breed 'goodbye paradise'

seen at SCOPE art fair, by artist carlos aires, made of vinyl!

very profound words... i now love the art of citizen X

This was AMAZING at betsy hotel! The room had a vinyl ceiling and the photos were illuminated... they were lost photos of The Beatles and Rolling Stones by Bob Bonis

speedy graphito mural @ art miami, amazing to watch

the eye of a fish mural...the line work here was INCREDIBLE

more of the fish mural...wish i knew the artist, will find out!

random from wynwood arts district

peter tunney from 'enough is possible' exhibit

words in neon...interesting statement

more words we love, seen at CONTEXT art fair

Bansky mural on display @ Art Miami...this guy's become a pretty famous rat... behind a red rope and all!

ron english mural at underground location / wynwood arts district

BAD picture, but this was such a beautiful rare photo of Andy Warhol & Basquiat 

camille rose garcia @michael kohn booth

starbucks coo coo clock seen on exhibit at art basel miami opening night! funny.

UPDATES!

Updates! 

Once again, the blog is the last thing to be updated! Just a quick post about a  few updates, with many more to come!

Firstly, leave it to Janette Beckman to be working with maybe the coolest magazine we've ever seen, Jocks & Nerds based in the UK. 

Yes, that's Paul Weller on the cover of a really cool music-filled issue. Brandon sat for Janette in NY and made it into a sweet full page photo in great company...

                                                                        

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Brandon's talk at Chicago Ideas Week was fantastic! That was already nearly a month ago, yeesh. Anyway, he was on a panel about 'The Creative Process' with people from Disney and Pixar, as well as his good friend, the amazing photographer Brian Bowen Smith. The talk was high energy, humorous, and inspirational. It was a great end to a wonderful few days in Chicago. I highly recommend everyone attending Chicago Ideas Week next year!

                                                                         

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Our friends are working on a cool new project - CDSAVOIA -- they've been traveling around doing documentary style interviews...while the site will be ever-changing, and this was a soft launch, I urge you to watch a few of these for inspiration and insight into the artist process. We helped to bring Yevgeniya Mikhailik, Anthony Ausgang and Brian Batt into the project (Brian's will be in the second phase). But please do take a peek at these!  

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Lastly, our dear friend and iconic artist Alan Aldridge is slowly recuperating from a painful surgery. We saw him last night and he is definitely on the mend. Sending you lots of love, Alan!

Labor Day

To be perfectly honest, I didn't know the EXACT significance of Labor Day. Do you?  Clearly i knew it celebrated work in some way, and it does - here is the "wiki" definition:

Labor Day is an American federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 3 in 2012) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.

Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, parades and athletic events.^[1]

<sup>Work is hugely important - it's such a huge part of your life, your identity, focus, etc. I feel very proud of what I do and what i am creating, and I definitely recognize that I am fortunate to say that.  But it was a long road of risk, confusion, sacrifice, and extremely hard work to finally find MY path. I think I've been on more job interviews than most, and actually held more jobs than most. It was ridiculous.  A 'highlight' for my interviews was with Mariah Carey - breaking a heel on my shoe while walking up the stairs as she waited for me to shake her hand. Yikes. I could go on about tough interviews at CAA, ICM, working for Jennifer Lopez and Benny Medina, my stint at E! True Hollywood Story - on and on. From publishing to radio, record label to PR company, I've literally covered ALL grounds.

As the quest went on, for years, I had no clear idea that it would eventually lead to something incredible; I very often thought it wouldn't. But I did have faith in myself. And as it turns out, there was no "interview" to establish the exact start in my career. Extreme passion for all things artistic, a little creativity, and extensive work experience is precisely why it's happened. Oh, and b*lls (rhymes with smalls). Yep it's true, you gotta have those too.</sup>

^{So without carrying on for too long about me (boring), I'd just like to encourage people to follow their passion - it sounds so trite but it IS true. Doing so will surely account for the aforementioned risk and confusion  - riding it out is hard, but ultimately worth it, whenever that happens. Sooner than later would be ideal, but understand that definitely isn't always how it goes -  it's a Long and winding road.}

^{On that note, below is a picture of Brandon with a cat - but it's not just ANY cat - it's Janette Beckman's feline friend -- while in New York, Brandon went to her studio so she could shoot him for a mag she works with - the amazing UK publication Jocks&Nerds.  Janette, the most incredible photographer, doesn't love getting her own photo taken as is is often the case.Having Janette and Brandon collaborate was completely perfect.}

Brandon and feline friend by Janette Beckman

<sup>How does this tie into anything I previously mentioned? Simply the fact that while my business is ever-morphing with highs and lows, I work with amazing people I SO adore and truly admire, and that is definitely an incredible thing that fills me with pride and inspiration. Do i feel lucky and grateful? YES, I do. Who wouldn't? But it's loyalty, perseverance, and seriously hard work that can get you to a "lucky" place.

So - Is every day perfect? Nope. Let's remember it's the 'long and winding road'.  However, there's no daily drama that can alter my bigger picture...now that i have one.</sup>

^{Keep working. And make it rewarding.}

^{Happy Labor Day!}

Press is good!

Just a quick post...check out THIS interview Brandon did with LA Canvas - a popular art/event magazine all around LA! Take a close look, there is a sneak peak of brand new work from his sketchbook!

And then read THIS interview the amazing Janette Beckman did with The Telegraph newspaper in the UK...

Lastly, follow Art Duet on Pinterest. We are getting really into it!

How has it been a month since the last post?

Wow, this time of year seems to get so insanely busy - this month has truly FLOWN by!

If we had to sum up what the fall has been like thus far, it would be 'going with the winds of change'.  Things keep shifting, opportunities have been popping up unexpectedly, new connections are being made ...it's been overwhelming in the best of ways.  What it comes down to is remaining open to any and all changes and seeing them as a positive...and being ready for the challenge(s)!

Muhammad Ali: 1977

We are very excited to be working with our new friends at Artworks Gallery in Pasadena on an exhibit of rare Muhammad Ali photos (signed by the man himself) by British photographer Michael Brennan. 

Ali by Michael Brennan

The image above is the main image for the exhibit -- interestingly enough this is a very often  licensed photo (i.e. Shepard Fairey and many other artists have used it)  but had yet to be printed.

The exhibition entitled Muhammad Ali: 1977  will open Thursday, Nov. 10 at Design Within Reach and it will be one of VERY few Ali exhibits to ever take place in LA. Take a sneak peek HERE...the photos carry such a strength and inspiration - and are,  of course,  so iconic.  ('Iconic' is likely the most overused word by Art Duet, yet we can't break away from it - what can we say? we are drawn to iconic imagery, OBVIOUSLY!)

Anyway, we are quite happy to announce that a portion of proceeds will go to the Muhammad Ali Parkinsons Center in Phoenix - it seemed only fitting to include them.

The exhibit is not to be missed and we will post the invite soon! 

Brandon, Artspace.com & The Hollywood Reporter

Brandon at home by Julian Castaldi

Brandon, who's been quite busy touring for If Not Now, When? found time to fit in some guest curating on a great art site - Artspace.com - his commentary is always simultaneously well thought out, yet spontaneous -  and a great read.   And then, The Hollywood Reporter ran a story on it! Click HERE. The photo we used on the site (above) was taken by our fab photographer friend Julian Castaldi so we were glad to be able to share it!

 Janette Beckman Punk Exhibit in LA!                                                          

dee dee ramone by janette beckman

Another new development is that we have a display of over THIRTY-FIVE Janette Beckman photos on display for a few months! At the showroom for the amazing Stand And Deliver high end leather line.  Upon meeting the seriously rocking designer, Corey Parks, and learning about alllll of her punk rock inspirations, it was a NO brainer to introduce her to the work of JB. We are excited to have the photos there, can't think of a better place.... and bring the images to a new audience - some photos have never been shown in LA before which is a thrill. It's by appointment - contact info@artduet.net  - come take a look!
And thank you to our friend/expert and all around great guy, Jarrad Hirschman, for the help with the install!

A little story about Janette Beckman and Jen DiSisto

Boy George

By Jen...

When I trepidatiously decided to leave the corporate record label world behind  and start Art Duet, one of the first people to reach out to work with me was Janette Beckman. Her support was a part of the "I can do this" mantra that I told myself.  Janette had shot a few bands during my time in the Art department and  we developed a natural friendship...let's call it 'love at first phone call'.  Being SUCH a big Janette fan, I was BEYOND flattered by the opportunity to work with her in another capacity. Her work strikes such a major chord with me...

The Breaks;  \'Stylin and Profilin'

My first event was  a book signing for Janette's book 'The Breaks' at Taschen in March of 2008. It was a wonderful evening, and I felt so proud that I could deliver a night that she deserved. For all of the above reasons and because of her endless faith and support,  Janette is quite special to me & to Art Duet as it evolves. She's high on my list of seriously cool people one could ever meet...

Debbie Harry

She was recently ranked fifth on Flavorwire's '10 Rock Photographers You Should Know' list. Might we add, she was the first female on the list!

sex pistols

Given her long career shooting truly fascinating people, places, and events, Janette has THE best stories. From Slick Rick to the Sex Pistols, Paul Weller to Ice Cube, you never know what Janette will talk about next.  It's never a boring conversation, that's for damn sure...As such, she just started a blog which everyone will definitely enjoy. If you love music, trends, and iconic stories, follow her blog here: http://janettebeckman.com/blog/

Beastie Boys