Brian Despain • “Requiarium” • new paintings
and
John Brophy • “Saints and Angels” • new paintings

Opens Friday November 13th 6-9pm at Roq La Rue Gallery, 2312 2nd Ave

Roq La Rue is very pleased to present two solo exhibitions by two Northwest painters, Brian Despain and John Brophy.

Brian Despain works with imaginary yet recognizable modern landscapes, but populates his world with seemingly self aware and melancholy robots in a seemingly endless quest for the numinous. His work blends the natural world with technology and usually has a slightly morbid slant. Archetype-loaded imagery such as skulls, gears, fish, and birds provide the forefront for a seemingly arcane number system the artist employs in all his work. His rich and somber color palettes of post apocalyptic ochres, deep blues, and steel greys belie and hidden warmth and dark humor within his work. This show will feature 8 new paintings.

John Brophy creates paintings that blend artifacts from global cultures and belief systems and juxtaposes them with the overarching affects of western consumer culture. Taking cues from the religious imagery of 15th century Flemish Primitive art, he takes their use of intimate compositions and understated gestures and reworks them using contemporary imagery to create surreal yet immediate new icons for the modern age.

• Twist Pic of the Week Archives Page •

Business as Usual 30" X 40" C-print, photo by Peter Jameson 2009

Wow! Elizabeth Jameson, one of our favorite artists opening this Thursday, with our favorite band Lushy performing. We can’t miss this one.

Elizabeth’s show opens Thursday, November 12th, and runs thru December 19th, 09 at the Fetherston Gallery. Performing will be special guests Lushy!

www.fetherstongallery.com
www.lushy.com
Elizabeth’s blog

STG Presents DEVO at The Moore Theatre in Seattle on Sunday, November 8th and Monday, November 9, 2009. They will perform Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! on November 8th and Freedom of Choice on November 9th. More Info here.

UPDATE: Our pal Rob Morgan took this video last night. The legendary DEVO performing ‘Jocko Homo’ at The Moore Theatre in Seattle, Washington on Nov. 8th, 2009.

Al Columbia is widely regarded among his peers as one of the most accomplished and influential artists working in comics today. PIM & FRANCIE represents a breathtaking vision of contemporary American art. Collecting over a decade’s worth of artifacts, excavations, comic strips, storybook covers, and much more, this book tells the story of title characters Pim and Francie, a pair of childlike imps whose irresponsible antics get them into horrific, fantastic trouble…sort of. You just gotta see it for yourself.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street at the corner of Airport Way S. in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00. Phone 206.658.0110. Hope to see you all Saturday.

Start with the candlelight procession, which begins and ends at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N.  The procession will depart at 6:30 p.m. and return at 7:00pm.  Where you can participate in the community altar, enjoy poetry,  live music, hot chocolate, craft activities, and more.

The Phinney Center Dia de los Muertos art show will be on view through the month of November and features works by Dreama Blankenbeckler, Pedro De Valdivia, Amaranta Ibarra-Sandys, Reagan Jackson, Jena Marks, Debbie McGibbon, Elisha Miller, and Lincoln Skrypeck.

Costumed participants at the Phinney Center's Dia de los Muertos Celebration

In Mexico, El Día de los Muertos is a festive and family-centered event, traditionally held on Nov. 1st (Day of the Little Angels) and 2nd (Day of the Dead or all Soul’s Day in Christian tradition).  Día de los Muertos celebrations emphasize life and death as part of the same cycle and regard death on friendly and intimate terms.  According to beliefs rooted in pre-Columbian traditions, on Dia de los Muertos, the veil between life and death is at its thinnest and the dead can be lured back to us through the scent of marigolds and the temptation of offerings of favorite food and drink.

In certain parts of Mexico, an important facet of this celebration is the ofrenda, or personal altar, built both in family homes and/or over the graves of loved ones. Traditionally, photographs of the dead at are the altar center, around which are placed offerings of food, drink, candles, flowers, sugar skulls, and personal mementoes. All these items are presented in beautiful displays to honor the returning souls.

Call (206) 783-2244 for more information.

For a detail of the evenings events go to: http://www.phinneycenter.org/events/dayodead.shtm

EN ESPAÑOL:

Venga y acompañe la celebración tradicional mexicana de la vida y la muerte con el Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) en una procesión y festival el viernes 6 de noviembre 2009. Los festejos empezarán con una procesión a la luz de las velas, que partirá a las 6:30 pm, y terminará de regreso a las 7pm en el PNA, que se localiza en el 6532 Phinney Ave N. Todos son bienvenidos a participar en el altar comunitario y a disfrutar de música en vivo, chocolate caliente, actividades de arte y más.

En México el día de los muertos es un evento alegre y enfocado en la familia. Tradicionalmente, el 1 de Noviembre es el Día de los pequeños ángeles y el 2 de Noviembre es el Día de los muertos o Día de todas las almas en la tradición cristiana.

La celebración del día de los muertos enfatiza que la vida y la muerte son parte del mismo ciclo y contempla la muerte en condiciones amables e íntimas. Según creencias, con principios en tradiciones pre-Colombinas, en el día de los muertos, el velo entre la vida y la muerte es tan delgado que los muertos pueden ser atraídos de nuevo a los vivos por los aromas de incienso y la tentación de ofrendas de comidas y bebidas favoritas.

En algunas partes de México, una parte muy importante de esta celebración es la ofrenda o altar personal construido en casas familiares y/o sobre sepultura del muerto amado. Tradicionalmente, se colocan fotografías de los muertos en el centro del altar, rodeadas por ofrendas de comida, bebida, velas, flores, calaveras de azúcar y recuerdos personales. Todas estas cosas son presentadas de una forma muy vistosa y colorida para honrar las almas visitantes.

Damos la gracias al City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs y el Washington State Arts Commission por su apoyo, ya que han hecho posible la continuación de la celebración de este importante evento tradicional.

Llame al (206) 783-2244 para mayor información.

John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, A Fish Called Wanda, etc.) will be in Seattle on Tuesday, November 3rd at the Moore Theatre for his new comedy tour entitled, “A Final Wave at the World (or The Alimony Tour, Year One).”  Tickets here.

Cleese will be discussing his career in the zany and hilarious world of comedy, as well as his most pressing medical problems, his inability to find a suitable female companion, his mistrust of folk-dancing, and his latest plan for world peace.

Also, we’d like to mention that that there is a NEW DVD BOX SET of his brilliant series Fawlty Towers. All info about the special-edition DVD box set, Fawlty Towers Remastered, can be found here.  

LOOKALIKE CONTEST
Did you always think you looked like Basil Fawlty? And your dog had the air of the Major? Or perhaps your mom is a dead ringer for Sybil? Well now’s your opportunity to prove it to the world and John Cleese! Fans can submit a photo on the Facebook fan page for a chance to have their entry be one of 3 favorites chosen by Mr. Cleese himself! For extended details and official rules, please go here.

To date there are very few entries so your chances of winning are very good!  Did I mention that John Cleese will be selecting the three winners himself?  Bloody awesome!  The contest ends November 15^th, so enter today and guarantee a spot before there’s no vacancy (pardon the pun).  

October 31st is the Trolls 20th Birthday!

It is held on his Birthday October 31st at 7pm sharp.
The celebration  starts with the Troll under the Aurora Bridge (Troll Ave & N 36th St), as he loves a good laugh and a great story.   Then revelers will be off for the annual Haunt of Fremont (a procession of costumed dancers & performers (& you) taking over the streets of Fremont.)

This 20th anniversary of the birth of the Fremont Troll, you’ll be experiencing the tale of  Dante’s Inferno. Many seasoned artists and performers will present their twisted and whacky version of this dark tale, known to us as: ‘Just a little lover’s spat ~ honey’.

Rain or dry, revelers will sing, dance, marvel, and laugh their way through the dark underbelly of Dante and Fremont.   This is an unsweetened and piquant family event with plenty of fun to scare the laughs out of any stoic kid or stogy adult.

Vamola

Come dressed as your favorite dead celebrity and take part in our costume walk across the final stage, under the Fremont Bridge, for the appreciation of your community.

If you can lend a hand to help pull off this fabulous piece of street theater, meet by the Troll at 6:30pm & check in with the volunteer coordinator to get a job.

p.s. Find your place in hell by taking this quiz: http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-test.mv

Like General Sherman’s army, the behemoth stage production of Viva Oz Vegas has moved across the Pacific Northwest to finally make its way to the stage of the Triple Door.

Loosely based on the Wizard of Oz, the show glitters with local and international favorites. Starring ElVez the Mexican Elvis. For this show, ElVez reprises his roll as the “Cowardly Tiger”, looking sleek and sexy in his custom bell-bottomed tiger jumpsuit. Mee-ow!

The show also features Las Vegas Exotic World winners The Heavenly Spies and Nanda; Bing Wheeler of Big Wheel Bingo; Can Can’s Herr Doppelganger; award-winning breakdancer Yoshi Wright and many more.

Those who attend the last four performances at the Triple Door can follow along as the yellow brick road leads Dorothy into the temptations of Sin City, where her encounters find her replacing the long-time starring lady at Casino Oz — the Wicked Witch of the Breast. Marvel as other familiar characters get not-so-familiar makeovers.

This show at the Triple Door makes for an evening full of nostalgic music, Las Vegas-style showgirls, aerial and floor acrobatics, comedy, game show glitz, and a full deck of surprises.

One of the shows favorites is local award-winning break dancer Yoshi Wright as the Scarecrow and he does an old MJ number from the Wiz, Get On Down The Road to a cheering crowd. Yoshi is the son of my co-worker and City of Mountlake Terrace Council Member Kyoko Wright.

At the stage door, I had a chance to meet “Ultra” as the Wicked Witch of the Breast. Ultra has wowed audiences with his fashionista burlesque/ lip-synch exploits, beginning as a club kid in Washington DC. After moving to Seattle in 2001, he developed his current style of performing and has performed at Neighbors, On the Boards, Chop Suey, ReBar, The War Room, Velocity Dance Center, The Triple Door, Columbia City Cabaret, and dozens of times at both The Pink Door and The Can Can.

It’s not too late to get tickets for Viva Oz Vegas for Friday and Saturday nights performances at the Triple Door. It’s a hoot!