News

Date Farmers on CurrentTV!

Check out this fantastic video about the Date Farmers on Current TV (it can bee seen on their cable network, or on their website). The program presents a bit of the history about these artists, and preparations they took in working towards—as well as their opening reception for—their 2008 show here at Jonathan LeVine Gallery, entitled The Crying Playboy.

Enjoy!…

Here is a special bonus feature / out-take clip, as well:

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In The Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor — at Laguna Art Museum

This month Laguna Art Museum presents In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor an exhibition curated by Meg Linton, Director of the Ben Maltz Gallery and Public Programs at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.

The show, which runs from June 22—October 5, 2008, "presents the work of 150 artists, and posits that there has been a huge but unacknowledged art movement taking place in this country for the last 40 years. Since 1994, this ground swelling of lowbrow, surrealistic, pop, figurative, narrative work has coalesced and found a voice in the pages of Juxtapoz magazine published in San Francisco."

Among the large list of participating artists, several are currently represented and/or have previously exhibited at Jonathan LeVine Gallery, including: Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Ray Caesar, Dalek, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, The Date Farmers, AJ Fosik, Camille Rose Garcia, Doze Green, Alex Gross, Jim Houser, Chris Mars, Mark Ryden, SHAG, Jeff Soto, Mark Dean Veca, Adam Wallacavage, and Eric White, just to name a few.

Please visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org for further details.

Dirty Hands — The Movie!

We’re thrilled to announce the documentary Dirty Hands: The Art & Crimes of David Choe will be making it’s world premiere during the LA Film Festival this month. Directed by: Harry Kim, the documentary was filmed during the years of 2000—2007, and presents a close look into Dave’s art career and personal life.

"From the manic highs of commercial success and dinosaur hunting in the Congo to the self-destructive lows of Japanese jail sentences and bouts of self-doubt and depression, what begins as a gleeful portrait of a bad-boy artist slowly becomes a poignant celebration of one man’s journey, both artistically and spiritually, toward his own uncertain salvation."

Showing at the Majestic Crest Theatre, so if you’re in LA, here are film times:
Saturday, June 21st 9:45pm (world premiere!!!)
Sunday, June 22nd 4:00pm
Thursday, June 26th 4:30pm

For further information on the festival, visit: http://www.lafilmfest.com
For ticketing information please phone 1-866-345-6337
or email: boxoffice@filmindependent.org

Here’s the latest cut of their new trailer:

Afterparty for THE ARTIST IN YOU

After our opening on Saturday 5/17/2007 for VIDA APAIXONADA and THE ARTIST IN YOU, gallery staff, joined by collectors and friends, went down to Lit Lounge for an afterparty with a set by special guest DJ Alphabeast (aka: Tim Biskup). Check out these pics of the evening’s festivities…

Tim Biskup, man of the hour, arrives after the opening night of his show THE ARTIST IN YOU.

Jonathan LeVine played a game of "hot hands" with artist Eric White.

Jonathan LeVine comes over to talk to friend Jason Wald, sitting with collector Jeff Newman.

Jeff scoffs disapprovingly at Jason after he turns his hat backwards.

Hey, what’s that flyer for?…

Sometimes a beam of light shines down from heaven on lucky owners of the Apple iPhone.

Stephen Doitschinoff (aka: Calma) was in town and joined us for the openings and afterparty.

Tim steps into the booth to set up his digital DJ set.

DJ Alphabeast himself, playing tunes all night while the crowd gets busy on the dancefloor.

Artist Doze Green was in town too, and arrived just in time to get his dance on with Jonathan.

All that dancing made him thirsty, but after a bit of water, he was feelin alright.

And there you have it, a fun time was had by all!

Vida Apaixonada — Titi Freak installation

One of our two current exhibitions Vida Apaixonada — New works by the Brazilian artist Titi Freak, opened on Saturday 5/17/2007. The artist arrived one week preceeding the exhibition opening, to work on his site-specific installation. We thought we’d share some images of his process with you…

Brand new cans of spray paint, purchased upon arrival from the airport.

Smaller works were wrapped, packed in cases, and traveled on the same flight as the artist.

Larger canvases were rolled up into a tube, and made the same journey. Some were stretched, and others had custom frames built by Titi himself, using salvaged plywood.

Tape was used as a quick, custom solution for Titi’s geometric design.

Easily filled in with spray paint, the artist peeled away strips of tape to reveal the sharp edge quality he desired.

Black paint was applied with small rollers to achieve Titi’s cloud design along the gallery wall.

Once his background design was painted and dry, he began to hang his etchings on the wall.

The artist created a layered effect of line and form, surrounding his work and shattered wood.

Titi worked daily to hang his installation almost entirely on his own, without any assistance.

The artist used an old exhibition flyer to create a heart-shaped stencil.

The heart shape was applied throughout the installation, along with other shapes and drips.

Continuing to build a wrap-around the gallery column and all facing walls, Titi took a saw to the remaining scraps of recycled wood.

Sawing clean breaks, and cracking through others for a more splintered look.

Head on over to his exhibition page to see the completed installation and works in the show!

NEW animated video by Blu

After creating The Letter A at our gallery for his installation in The Streets of Europe group show in December of 2007, we’re very excited to see the latest  animated film project by Blu.

MUTO is an ambiguous animation, painted on public walls on the streets of Buenos Aires and Baden. It took months for the artist to paint, edit, and animate, before it was finally complete. Check out the amazing film:

The CANS Festival

This month The CANS Festival was held in a tunnel underneath the Waterloo train station in London. Street artists from all over the world participated in this incredible event, including legendary stencil artists Blek le Rat, Banksy, Faile, Logan Hicks, just to name a few, among many more. For those of us who couldn’t be there in person, here are two great videos capturing tons of wonderful work, courtesy of SilkyTV, check them out:

Street Art at the TATE Modern

From 5/23/2008—8/25/2008, the TATE Modern will open London’s first major public museum display of Street Art, showcasing six international street artists including Blu, Faile, JR, Nunca, Os Gemeos, and Sixeart. Together, their work will cover the building’s exterior wall, facing the iconic Thames River. Various events will take place during the exhibition, including an interactive evening with experimental New York artists Graffiti Research Lab, refacing the TATE with their famous light projections.

Head over to our video section to see the latest animated film, created by Blu…

Afterparty for THE CRYING PLAYBOY

After the opening reception last Saturday night for our three current exhibitions (Mysteries and Manners, The Crying Playboy, and The Equilibrium of Glamour) LeVine staff, artists, and friends, celebrated at Lit Lounge with some drinks, and danced the night away to a live set by DJ Alf Alpha close friend of the Date Farmers, while another close friend and photographer, Luis Ochoa, shot some amazing party photos…


Cheers to you, the lovely Miss Ashley Strout


Luis shows Jonathan some of the images he’s captured on camera


Erik Foss, with Armando Lerma of the Date Farmers, and Jonathan LeVine


A congratulatory hug between the two Date Farmers—Carlos Ramirez and Armando Lerma


Ashley raises a glass to Erik Mark Sandberg, another exhibiting artist who’s out to celebrate


No, you’re not seeing double, it’s the one-and-only Miss Christine Young


Luis used his camera to do some painting with light


Armando, looking trippy


Jonathan and Carlos


Carlos grabs the mike to make an announcement: time for the next DJ to enter the booth


DJ Alf Alpha, spinning live on the one’s and two’s


A crowd starts to form on the dance floor


And they danced into the night!

Bomb-It Announces Theatrical Release Dates!

We’re very excited to announce that Bomb-It an excellent documentary by: Jon Reiss about the International Street Art movement, is now being released in theatres nationwide!

The film, which interviews many artists around the world that have shown or been represented by Jonathan LeVine Gallery, has now announced upcoming calendar dates for it’s theatrical release, with screenings listed in cities nationwide.

If you’re local, the New York City theatrical premiere will take place at Cinema Village from April 25—May 8, 2008. We encourage anyone interested in the global urban art movement to check it out!

For further information, please visit: www.bombit-themovie.com and to see trailers, head over to our video section!…