Friday, March 29, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 03/29/13

Its been a long week, but I hope this Holiday Weekend brings you all fun times!  And *try* not to OD on Peeps... And get excited for April's Artist of the Month, Masha Kupets GD '04!  Coming next Friday!  Hoppy Arting (Get it? Its a pun! About rabbits!) and let us know what you did!

SATURDAY

Head Downtown for the 80th Annual Blessing of the Animals.  The event takes place from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at El Pueblo Historical Monument, with a procession on Olvera Street commencing at 2:00 p.m. and blessing to immediately follow.  There will be an exciting charro equestrian show, pony rides for children and a petting zoo complete with llamas, sheep, cows and other animals.
El Pueblo Historical Monument
125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles,  90012

For more information, visit http://www.downtownla.com/0_01_eventDetail.asp?EventID=1653

SUNDAY

For various LA Easter celebrations and services check out http://golosangeles.about.com/od/losangelescalendar/a/Easter_in_LA.htm

Image via downtownla.com

Friday, March 22, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 03/22/13

Whether you're spending this Holiday Weekend with your family or looking for something to do there's PLENTY to view on the RISD/LA BLOG this week Alums!  Check it out and let us know what you did!  Happy Arting!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Lebowski Fest is a two-day celebration of all things Lebowski!
3/22/13 - Lebowski Fest LA Movie Party - Music by The Kyle Gass Band of Tenacious D, a Lebowski Poster Art Show by Bill Green. Followed by a 35mm screening of "The Big Lebowski" @ Doors at 8, show at 9
The Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA
3/23/13 - Lebowski Fest LA Bowling Party Ticket includes general admission bowling and shoe rental. Bowling is general admission and not guaranteed.
7pm to 11pm
$25 ADV / $30 Day of
Fountain Bowl
17110 Brookhurst St
Fountain Valley, CA
For tickets and complete details visit http://www.lebowskifest.com/UpcomingFests/LebowskiFestLAMar2223/tabid/252/Default.aspx

SATURDAY

Pasadena Heritage will host an illustrated lecture followed by an afternoon drive-yourself tour of four significant homes of the period, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Illustrated Lecture
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Drive-yourself Tour
For complete information go to https://www.pasadenaheritage.org/events-springtour

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

HOT ROD Magazine is turning 65 years old this year and hosting a Hot Rod Homecoming. It’s a collection of 300 plus HOT ROD cover carsicon1 image and feature cars from across the country
Advance discount tickets are $18
Kids 6-12 are $5, and kids under 6 are free.
Tickets may also be purchased the day of the show at the Fairplex in Pomona
$20 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS. 
SATURDAY: 3.23.2013 – 10 AM TO 8 PM 
SUNDAY: 3.24.2013 – 10 AM TO 4 PM 
Fairplex
1101 W McKinley Ave
Pomona, CA (909) 623-3711
http://blogs.hotrod.com/near-and-far-theyre-coming-to-homecoming-48707.html#axzz2OJMLF3mK

 SUNDAY 

The Legendary Estates of Beverly Hills' author and real estate expert, Jeff Hyland will discuss 50 of the most famed estates in the golden triangleThe full story of each estate is told along with a listing of their architectural features. A light tea will be served.
Greystone Mansion
905 Loma Vista Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
For full details and to RSVP, click here https://www.facebook.com/events/383804875051853/

MONDAY

For information on various Passover Gatherings in LA visit http://jkidla.com/shabbat-and-holidays/calendar/passover









IMG_3689
Image via Hot Rod Magazine

Friday, March 15, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 03/15/13

Dia Dhuit Alums!  Are you ready to revel in your Irish Roots this weekend?  Or have you been training for the LA Marathon?  Or have you been training to avoid the street closures for the LA Marathon?  Either way, we've got you covered for things to check out this weekend.  Take it easy on the green beers and tell us what you did!  Happy Arting!

SUNDAY

St. Patrick's Day Celebrations are happening all over LA, but to check out the bars that are hosting the biggest bashes, check out this LA Times list
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/dailydish/la-dd-where-to-celebrate-st-patricks-day-in-los-angeles-20130315,0,4833526.story

If you're not one of the elite running the LA Marathon this Sunday, don't get caught trying to cross the course, which runs pretty much the whole city, from SaMo to Downtown.  For the complete list of street closures, click here http://laist.com/2013/03/15/street_closures_for_the_2013_asics.php

If you're planning to head to the Long Beach Flea Market check out http://www.longbeachantiquemarket.com/ for complete information.
Admission $6.00 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM 
Early Admission $12.00 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM
Children Under 12 Free
The Box Office closes at 2:00PM - Shop till 3:30 PM
Free Parking -  Rain or Shine - No Pets Allowed
Long Beach Veterans Stadium
4901 E Conant Street
Long Beach, CA 90808

2013-la-marathon-course-map.png


Image courtesy of LA Times

Friday, March 8, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 03/08/13

Hey RISD/LA, have you heard all about the proposed LACMA/MOCA merger yet?  What do you think about it?  Will it benefit the LA Art Scene or are we putting all our eggs in one big basket?

In other news, its Daylight Savings Time again!  Time to Spring Forward (ugh) or as some put it, "lose" an hour, so set all your clocks forward on Saturday night so you're not late to any of rest of the fun things happening this weekend.  Let us know what you did and Happy Arting!

SUNDAY

Get your charcoals, oils and turp out and head to the Gallery Girls Art Brunch, a salon-style open drawing and painting studio, with 2 professional live art models in (4 hr) long poses.  
10:30am to 2:30pm
COST: $25 Paid in Advance
$30 at the door, photography is $10 extra per model
INCLUDES FOOD & DRINKS
Click here to PAY IN ADVANCE
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=M25AVEKXGB6U8
RSVP: (818)535-5761
or jenfabpat2@yahoo.com
The Kline Academy
3264 Motor Ave,
Los Angeles (Culver City), CA 90034
www.klineacademy.com
(310) 927-2436
For complete details and more weekend events from the Gallery Girls, check out http://gallerygirls.org/sunday-art-brunch-kline-academy-3313/

Its the second Sunday of the month so that means the Rose Bowl Flea Market, of course!
Regular admission starts at 9am for $8.00 per person, children under 12 are admitted free
Express admission from 8:00am - 9:00am at $10.00 per person
Early admission from 7:00am - 8:00am at $15.00 per person, 
Special Preview VIP admission from 5:00am - 7:00am at $20.00 per person
Rose Bowl Stadium

After a day of figure painting, and flea marketing, see some professionals get in the (other kind of) paint at the Clippers / Pistons game.  The Brown SoCal Alumni Organization has scored a group deal $36 / ticket.  But hurry!  These tickets sell fast
Contact: Lenny Kirschen, lkirschen@gmail.com
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
1111 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA
To get tickets and for full information check out http://www.brownsocal.org/events/2013/clippers-vs-pistons

MOCA permanent collection
Image via LA Times, Three of eight Mark Rothko paintings and Jackson Pollock's 1949 "Number 1" are in MOCA's permanent collection

Friday, March 1, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 03/01/13

Its a good weekend to stay off the 405 Alums, but if you happen to be heading to Henderson, NV do be sure to check out last month's featured Alumni Nicolas Shake's show 10th Circle.  And make sure you check out this month's featured Alumni of the Month Bridget Konopka (neé McKahan).  Have a great weekend and as always, Happy Arting! -->

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

V for Vampira Art Show is a street event hosted by Monster A Gogo, with participating retailers Shrine and Manic Panic.  The show will feature artwork from artists influenced by Vampira, never seen before artwork by Maila “Vampira” Nurmi and the unique opportunity to purchase original Vampira jewellery hand made by Maila Nurmi when she operated Vampira's Attic on Melrose Ave. 
Friday March 1st - The show will be open for general entry between 8-10pm
Saturday 2nd March - The show will be open all day from 12-9p

Los Angeles, CA 90046
More info can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/415169301905121/

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Alum Nicolas Shake IL 08 is part of a Dante Inspired show called 10th Circle, curated by David Pagel opening this weekend in Henderson, NV.
Opening: March 2, 6-8p, with artists and Pagel participating on a panel at 5 p.m. 
Runs through April 15
Vast Space Projects
730 W. Sunset Road
Henderson, NV
(323) 240-2888

More info can be found at https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7I51QgVVXiq4fdVHMqo6roKQzJ0chYK6PZlyk7JZtJWGrZCR2RzceIjRe0C1v1dtnKDBvmviidDbq6KO96a0g9wvswB5M5B3F-oztujJKBszswIjfT9D-oKYiC3GFgar0Zmo2t-UNyk/s1600/VAST-2.jpg

The Bauer Pottery Showroom Sale is running Saturday and Sunday
Saturday, March 2
10am - 5pm
Sunday, March 3
10am - 4pm
3051 Rosslyn Street
Los Angeles, CA 90065

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljakbh4YNx1qc9creo1_500.jpg

 

ARTIST of the MONTH of MARCH: Bridget Konopka (neé McKahan)



Q: What is your name, major and year at RISD?
 
A: Bridget Konopka (maiden name McKahan)

Illustration 1999


Q: What was your favorite class or teacher at RISD?

A: Judy Sue’s children’s book illustration’s class. I wrote and illustrated a book that I still would like to finish one day. It was really fun and informative about how to make a children’s book.

Q: Who or what inspires your work now? 

A: I enjoy going to the museums and gallery openings here in LA. The City is full of art, new and old that is very inspiring. I also travel a lot and like to take pictures of textures I find in nature, and in cities. These are always helpful when doing texture painting. 
 
Q: What are you currently "doing" these days?



A: For the past 10 years I have been working as a 3-D artist and then an Art Director for kids video games.With my background first being in illustration and sculpting I then went back to school to learn you do use those skill in the digital realm. I have worked on Toontown Online, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, and a few others. I really enjoy working in 3-D and creating great looking assets for games, and the problem solving that comes with it. There is always a balance of art and technical limitations in games. You can make a game look amazing but if it is too heavy to heavy to run, you don’t have much of a game. I enjoy working with the tech team to see how far we can push the art, and come up with new ideas and techniques to get the best of both worlds when possible. Another area I specialize in is avatar design and customization. It is really important to create a good avatar system for a game. The more the player identifies with their avatar, the more they will enjoy playing.


Q: And what are you currently working on? 


A: Currently I’m working on my portfolio and trying to brush up on programs like Z-Brush. (A digital sculpting program that is pretty amazing) 

I’m also may do a video tutorial for Gnomon School of Visual Effects in the near future.

Q: What has changed the most for you, as an artist, in the last 10 years?
 
A: I think the thing that has changed the most for me as an artist is that my career has taken me from being very hands-on artist to more of a director and manager. I don’t do as much art as I used to, but I’m now making an effort to do more of that on my own.


Also the technology is always changing and evolving especially in the digital field. There is so much out there it sometimes feels like it’s hard to keep up. I think it’s good to focus on what you enjoy and what will help you in your career. You can’t be a master at every program out there.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years? 

A: Who knows, I will probably be doing more consulting and freelance work, or maybe just making art on my own for my own enjoyment. Only time will tell.

Q: What do you love/hate about the "Art Scene" in LA?

A: I love the abundance of the LA art scene. There is every type of art here to see and experience. I’m a member of the LACMA  Avant-Garde group, and they have great art events that I attend regularly throughout the city.
Q: What do you want to see out of the RISD LA Alumni organization in the future?
 
A: I think the activities you have planned so far have been great. I can’t think of anything else I would want at the moment.


Friday, February 22, 2013

HAPPENINGS for the weekend of 02/22/13

Wow, what's going on this weekend?!  Well, in honor of the FIRST and (hopefully not, but maybe) only time a RISD Alumni is hosting the Oscars, we are hosting an OSCAR PARTY!

(you might have heard a little about it by now)

And stay tuned next week for the Artist of the Month of March, Bridget (née McKahan) Konopka, IL 99 and hear about her path from Illustration Major to online video game and avatar designer.  Now here is what ELSE is HAPPENING this weekend!  Hope to see you at Lola's on Sunday and Happy Arting!

SATURDAY

Come to LACMA this Saturday for LA PRINT: Edition 3.  Ryan McIntosh, MFA Printmaking 2011, will be speaking on a panel discussion in the museum auditorium.
To register for the event, link to Facebook below.
https://www.facebook.com/events/385550301543887/
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6000

For those celebrating and looking for others to celebrate with, info on various Purim Events on Saturday and Sunday can be found at 
http://events.la.com/los-angeles-ca/events/purim

SUNDAY

RISD/LA and Brown/SoCal Hosted Oscar Party

Sunday, February 24, 2013
4pm-8pm
945 N. Fairfax Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90046
$15 preregistration closes Saturday at 5 pm
$20 at the door
RISD Alum will receive $20 off UBER rides all evening with the code and instructions below.
To claim your ride, sign up at Uber.com/GO/LARISDOSCAR, or download the mobile application, and enter the promo code: LARISDOSCAR
And while we're talking Oscars, check out RI based Alum, Anthony Petrie ID 04's work in the Online Oscar Gallery with his poster inspired by the Best Picture Nominated film, Argo. 
Comic Book and Sci Fi Convention
Shrine Auditorium Expo Center

10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M
700 West 32nd St. 
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.comicbookscifi.com/


Image via Online Oscar Gallery and copywright of Anthony Petrie