Wayside Center Art Auction

Support the Wayside Center with me at their art auction.
Saturday, October 1st at 9PM
Hosted by The Celler Door and Team Totally Awesome
located at 1600 Monument Ave
Richmond, VA

Artists donating work include:
Walker Allen
Amy Black
Wil Blanton
Rober Cataldo
Scarlett P. Diaz
Thea Duskin
Lana Gentry
Dave Gustine
Mattie Hinkley
Adam Juresko
Bizhan Khodabandeh
Grieg Leach
Aaron Samsel
Virginia Samsel
Oura Sananikone
Diana Vincelli
Lauren Vencelli
Eric Wolfe-Hanson
x370724
and more!

No You Can't Go To The Bathroom...

"No You Can't Go To The Bathroom, Because You're Bored and Don't Really Have To"
-Taylor Mali

Appomattox Regional Governor's School Teachers Art Exhibition

I will have various illustration pieces in this exhibition. You will also be able to see a sneak peak at some original art of my comic adaptation of "The Little Black Fish"


Artists:
David Bartlett
Patricia Lyons
B. Khodabandeh
Susann Whittier

Opening 6-9PM Nov. 11th at
Petersburg Area Art League
7 E. Old Street
Petersburg, VA 23803

Up through December 3rd

Besties for Breasties: Art for the Cure

Local Artists come together to raise money and awareness for the Susan
G. Komen Race For The Cure.

10PM April, 29 2011
at Sprout
1 N. Morris St.
Richmond, VA

Local artists throughout the Richmond community are uniting for the fight against breast cancer. An evening auction will be held at Sprout (1 N. Morris St.) to benefit Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. The show will consist of single pieces donated by area artists in every medium. 100% of profits go directly to the Susan G. Komen foundation under the Besties for Breasties fundraising team, so please join us and support a great cause.

Artists are as follows:
Chris Anderson
Josh Autrey
Keith Michael Browne
Nick Bryant
Mary Chiaramonte
Liz Frias
Beth Gorley
Heather Kenman
Bizhan Khodabandeh
Matthew Leuttger
Mike Moses
Kevin Orlosky
Mo Sontos
Ross Trimmer
Lauren Vincelli
Jimbo Wilmer
Brad Douglas
Beth Stratton
Bexx

More Artists TBA.

For more info about Besties for Breasties click here.
To learn more about this team or joing click here

DEFACED

DEFACED: An exhibition of stenciled works by Bizhan Khodabandeh to benefit Gallery5.


Opening Reception
7PM Friday, Feb 4th
In the Lucent Phoenix Library
at Gallery5
200 W. Marshall St
Richmond, VA 23220


Howard Zinn


June Jordan


Street Art Vigilante

New Work: Listening Room and Lemuria

Poster by Bizhan Khodabandeh for the Listening Room




Illustration by Bizhan Khodabandeh for the listening room. Ran out of time for this one, but I thought I would post the finished version anyways.


Lemuria poster by Bizhan Khodabandeh

Daughter As Warrior Princess.

Spent some time on and off working on this illustration of my daughter in traditional Iranian female warrior garb. All of the references were photos of her. The faces of the two secondary figures were obviously changed. Not sure if it is done yet. Perhaps the image is very close to completion.

Enjoy.

Work: The 2010 Harnett Biennial

Bizhan Khodabandeh has a screen-printed piece in "The 2010 Harnett Biennial of American Prints"

This is the University of Richmond's ninth national celebratory exhibition of contemporary print making. The exhibition juror, Laura Kruger is the Curator of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum in New York. Forty six artists from twenty states were selected.

The exhibition opens Oct 21st and is up till Dec 5th. in the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art.

Harnett Museum hours:
Tuesday - Sunday between 1 and 5pm
Admission is FREE

Also opening during this time is "Eye of the Collector: Works on paper from the Sigmund R. Balka collection." This is a selection of works from the Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion Museum in New York and is also curated by Laura Kruger.

Monster Draw Rally Results

Perhaps this is long overdue... above is my personal work from 1708 Gallery's Monster Draw Rally. Of course, I am not completely happy with the final piece, but I still enjoy the drawing and the process to create it. In case you do not know what the project was, there some info one of my previous posts. Basically a bunch of artists came together in support of 1708 Gallery and drew in hour long increments. All of the work went 100% to 1708.

Strassen Kunst Opening This Month

STRASSENKUNST: an international exhibition of work inspired by graffiti.

I (Bizhan Khodabandeh) am one of 58 artists that have been selected by juror Martin McFadden, LRPS, Director and Curator, at 12 12 Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.

This international exhibition will feature works from across the US, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Israel, and Hungary.

Opens at artspace on Friday, August 27th.

artspace is located at Plant Zero
Zero East 4th St.
Richmond, VA 23224

Images of finalists.

Link to my piece.

See you then!

New Work: G5 Posters and Little Black Fish Inks

Hand drawn type and illustrations for the "forgetters" show. I was messing with using both pencils and felt tip pens to do line work on the severed fingers. The end result was unexpected, but still appreciated.


Poster for the current exhibition at Gallery5. Not completely happy with it, but it works well for the time constraint.


First stage of inking The Little Black Fish cover. I will be adding lighter "inks" digitally to break up the forms even more. The created shapes will function as a map to use multiple shades of the same color similar to a mosaic or stained glass.


First sketches for an eventual illustration of Nong Toom, the famous Thai Boxer. It still needs a whole lot of work - even for an initial sketch. I intend to: change the flowers to orchids, marigolds, & carnations (referencing the Pong Malai), add hand wraps, add ornamentation/border (also referencing the Pong Malai), and of course change the composition itself.

I also plan on exaggerating the flower explosion and figuring out a way to have the figures overlap more without messing up the perspective. My hope is that these two changes will emphasize the impact more.

The finished illustration will be used for a film showing at Gallery5, but I would also like to do a screen-print of the final version (sans the film showing info).

Free film showing of The Garden

Gallery5 & The Lucent Phoenix Presents The Garden


The Garden is more than the subject of the film, it's about the constant struggle and pitfalls activists run into while organizing in the interest of the people. No matter how righteous the cause, how much they follow procedure, how much press they can amass, how much community support and dialog they can stimulate, in the end, bureaucracy will serve the needs of the capitalist and force those without capital to compromise. As a result we'll lose more than a struggle for (insert cause here), it would likely be the last time a lot of those involved will ever attempt to organize against the rich and powerful. And born from this loss is a new justification for apathy, one which will not be easily shaken. If you take anything from this film I think it should be that nothing short of direct militant action on a national scale will result in a victory for the people.

FREE
Tuesday December 8, 2009
At Gallery5
200 W. Marshall St.
Potluck: 6:00pm
Film: 7:00pm

ABOUT THE FILM
From [ http://thegardenmovie.com ]
The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community.

But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.

The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers:

Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public?

And the powers-that-be have the same response: “The garden is wonderful, but there is nothing more we can do.”

If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?

The Garden has the pulse of verité with the narrative pull of fiction, telling the story of the country’s largest urban farm, backroom deals, land developers, green politics, money, poverty, power, and racial discord. The film explores and exposes the fault lines in American society and raises crucial and challenging questions about liberty, equality, and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

Sleight of Hand 2 call for entries!

Sleight of Hand II: National Juried Contemporary
Craft Competition.

The Sleight of Hand II exhibition at Gallery5 seeks craft-makers who push the boundaries and definitions of craft. Craft-making is too often pigeon-holed into traditional definitions of basic utilitarian objects in clay, glass, wood, or metal. In reality, most craft-makers are not unlike fine artists in many respects. They push new concepts, introduce new materials and techniques, expand old techniques and use traditional materials in new ways. Gallery5 invites craft-makers fitting this criteria to submit their works to Sleight of Hand II.

Artists must be a resident of the United States

Up to $1000 in prizes
Jurors: TBA

Submission Fee: $20 for up to three works, $5 each additional work.
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, January 6th.
Notification of Selected Artists: Saturday, January 9th

Accepted artwork must be delivered to Gallery5 no later than Friday, January 29th.
Artwork must be packed in reusable packaging with return shipping label included.

Opening Reception and Award Ceremony: Friday, February 5th.
Exhibition Ends: Friday, February 26th.

Application can be downloaded here.

New Work: defacing the local tattoo shop

Here are some work in progress photos of a mural I was recently asked to help paint. It is currently unfinished. The other artists will continue working once it stops raining and they procure some scaffolding. I intend to post images of the finished mural on this blog.

If you would like to take a look at the mural in person; you may at 127 W Brookland Park Blvd. While you are there, you should get a tattoo or piercing. Brookland Park Tattoo hours are 12:00-8:00PM; 7 days a week. More info about the tattoo and piercing artists can be found here.

As always click on images to enlarge.



My contribution to the mural.

Gabriel Prosser strikes back! (revisited)

One of the activists, whom helped establish the Gabriel Prosser marker in Richmond, mentioned that the illustration might be a more powerful image if I replaced the soldiers with slave owners and militia men. Since these changes would not be difficult, I made them, but kept the gray and blue to function as a foreshadowing of events. Even though the slave owner/militia zombies and Gabriel's ghost could hypothetically exist anytime from their respective deaths to the present.

Reflection on the new version:
I enjoy the way the added whip breaks up the space, however, I am a little upset about the lack of iconic hats to effectively present the time period. I also decided to keep the bayonets because research revealed to me that they were commonly used to torture slaves.

Anyways, I would like to pose the questions: Stay with the original (left)? Or the new version (right)?

Inspiration, cool stuff, etc #18

Video of D*Face, Artist :: Off The Wall from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.

10 tactic for Information Activism from Tactical Technology Collective on Vimeo.

Photo essay on Iraqi war victims by Mehdi Monem

Video documenting stencil street artist, Nunca

88bikes - an article about an organization that distributes bikes around the developing world.

Hey Jude infographic

Cell Size and Scale- An inforgraphic about the relative sizes of cells, coffee beans and type point sizes. (make sure you pull the slider)

Gabriel Prosser strikes again!

Finally, finished this "tongue and cheek" illustration of Gabriel Prosser's ghost fighting Confederate and Union zombie soldiers with his blacksmith's hammer. Hopefully people find the image interesting in it's absurdity and are not offended by historical inaccuracies.

This finished image will hopefully be screen-printed in the next two weeks.

Carnival of 5 Fires this weekend!

Gallery5 and Magic Hat Brewing Company Presents:
The Carnival of 5 Fires
October 30th, 31st and November 1st

Friday, October 30th
Sugar Shack Burlesque Presents:
Dark's Queen's Boudoir: A Burlesque Variety Show
7PM $12
For hundreds of years, The Dark Queen has been collecting her favorite pets - living dolls of mystery and vice. For one night, you are invited into her den to see her collection of Southern Gothic Oddities. Be warned... her enchanted creatures are more intoxicating then the opium dens she often frequents. In honor of All Hallow's Eve, The Queen has granted permission to the citizens of Richmond to attend her yearly festival of lascivious beauty. Come sit at her table, feast on her bounty, and fall in love with the dark arts....

Burlesque performances by:
Eerie Twilight
Deanna Danger
Deepa Dejour
Bailey
Boo Boo Darlin
Miss RunAround Sue
and all things that go bump in the night.


Saturday, October 31st
Circus of Lost Souls: The Halloween Party
7PM $10 $8 w/costume
Featuring Performances by:
Lonesome Liz's Mojo Sideshow
Spiked Punch and Scona of Sweet Tease Burlesque
Horrorshow Hot Club
No BS
HotDamns
PunkSinatra
G5 Fire
PLF

With Card Reading by:
The Aquarian Bookstore

Costume contest, raffle, dance party and more.
Sponsored by Magic Hat Brewing Company


Sunday, November 1st
Gumbo and Ghosts: Dinner Theater and Séance
7PM $15

Séance, Theater and Musical Performances by:
Lonesome Liz’s Mojo Sideshow
Alison Self
Thea Duskin
Horrowshow Hot Club
Annotated Zombie Stringband
Spiked Punch and Scona of Sweet Tease Burlesque

Upcoming exhibitions at Gallery5

Word Play:
Exploring the Human Fascination of Language on the Printed Page
November 6th - 27th, 2009

(This exhibition will be held in conjunction with The Richmond Zine Festival)

Opening Reception: First Friday, November 6th 7:00PM

WordPlay explores the human fascination of language on the printed page. This diverse collection of artists, craftspeople and designers spans the globe—from India to the UK and throughout the US—including internationally recognized artists Ken Campbell and Ed Fella. More locally, work of David Freed and VCU's Bowe House Press illustrates and illuminates the written word. From the experimental and unconventional to traditional methods of letterpress and bookmaking, the artists in this exhibition playfully and poetically mark the page with words that both provoke and evoke.

HEATHER BOONE / OPHELIA CHONG / THE BOWE HOUSE PRESS / KEN CAMPBELL /JON CREIGHTON / ED FELLA / DAVID FREED / BEN GAYDOS / GOODGOOD / MEENA KHALILI / MATT KLIMAS / JOE KUSZAI / KURNAL RAWAT / PAUL RUSTAND / GRANT SHULER / KAREN STEIN & JULIA YEZBICK

For more information, please visit: http://goodgoodland.com/






Goulash
Opening reception: First Friday, November 6th 7:00PM

Recent prints and illustrations from Team 8 featuring the process behind the pieces. Live, interactive screen printing at the opening. Get the chance to pull your own print!

For those of you that don't know, GallowLily's is the small gallery located upstairs in Gallery5 next to their main gallery. They are planning to set up our screen printing equipment and help passersby pull prints all night, so don't miss the opening.

For more info: www.team8press.com




The Richmond Zine Fest:
richmondzinefest.org

Sneak Peak: Friday, November 6th 7PM
Festival: Saturday, November 7th 11AM-5PM


The Richmond Zine Festival will have a sneak peak event at the opening reception, their annual Festival will be held the following day on Saturday, November 7th from 11AM-5PM

The Richmond Zine fest includes workshops, readings, food, and over 40 independent publishing companies, artists and more!!

The Lucent Phoenix Resource Center will showcase art by zine artists.

The third annual Richmond Zine Fest will be held on November 6th and 7th, 2009 at Gallery 5. The goals of the Richmond Zine Fest are to create a network amongst current zine writers and distro owners in Richmond and Virginia (plus the Southern/Mid-Atlantic regions) as well as raising awareness and encouraging the creation of zines, independent press, and other D.I.Y. endeavors in Richmond. The 2008 Richmond Zine Fest had over 250 attendees, approximately 45 vendors, and was located at Gay Community Center of Richmond. As with the past two years, the majority of the zine writers vending are from Richmond and Virginia, although there are several vendors who are from the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as New York, and the West Coast.

For the 2009 Richmond Zine Fest we have partnered with Gallery5 to open the Zine Fest to two days, and kick it off along side the November First Fridays Art Walk. In order to keep the events congruent, Gallery5 will be hosting the traveling letterpress exhibit Word Play and will also feature zines on display for a hands-on experience.
There will be workshops this year held on Saturday November 7th, as well as a few people reading from their zines at the Gallery5 First Fridays Art Walk on November 6th.

Dr. D has a "thorn in his foot"

Dr. D has a "thorn in his foot" that fuels is subversive street art.

"It's not street art. Its art on the street." Dr D

The Antaganist Art Movement

The Antagonist Art Movement - For Dummies from Anthony Ferraro on Vimeo.

This is an arts movement with a mission statement that seems similar to the origins of Gallery5 (I can't be one hundred percent sure. I wasn't there.) - before loans, bills, non-profit status, building repairs, etc. forced the gallery to adapt into a different kind of entity. Unlike this particular movement, Gallery5 is bound by expenses as a physical space. I am not sure if the changes made to Gallery5's operations have been positive or negative. However, after having been more involved, I do appreciate both the energy of the past and the present.