JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

“We’re not going to settle for what the world is, we’re going to strive for what it might be.” — Barack Obama.  And on thing that definitely will be - is one helluva frikin’ awesome art exhibition at Andenken Gallery (2990 Larimer Street) running Monday August 25 though Thursday August 28th.

The Manifest Hope Gallery exhibition celebrates arts pivotal role in creating cultural momentum and shines a spotlight on artists across the nation who use their voices to amplify and motivate the Obama campaign.  The gallery exhibition highlights 5 central themes of the progressive grass-roots movement: Hope, Change, Progress, Unity, and Patriotism.

While we’re super-stoked that this event is coming to Denver’s very own Andenken, we’re even more stoked to be participating in it and representing Colorado’s progressive art front alongside Scot Lefavor, Evan Hecox,  Josh Holland and Shannon Bonatakis, Mike Moore of tres birds, and Rick Griffith of Matter Studio.  The list of participating artists for the show is unbelievable, we’re truly honored and humbled to be involved.  Mark your calendars.  You don’t wanna miss this one!!!

The latest list of contributing artists includes:
Aaron Martin // Adrian Sanchez // Alexis McKenzie // Amy Martin // Amy Rice // Andy Howell // Alex Pardee // Cathie Bleck // Casey Ryder // Chanel Kennebrew // Chris Pastras // Chris Yates // Cydney Payton // Dan Monick // Date Farmers // David Choe // David Lanham // Deroy Peraza // Diederick Kraaijeveld // Eddie // Elizabeth Rosen // Emek // Evan Hecox // Frank Chimero // Franke // Gary Baseman // HVW8 // Irene Hardwicke Olivieri // Jason Alberto // Justin Alberto Garcia // Jason Giglio // Jeff Zimmerman // Jesselisa Moretti // Jude Buffum // Julie Adler // Justin Bua // Kate Luscher //Kay Tuttle // Keith Negley // Kofie // Leontine Greenberg // Lisa Anne Auerbach // Lisa Congdon // Lukas Ketner // MAC //Max Ginsburg // Maya Hayuk // Mear One // Mel Kadel // Melanie Reim // Morning Breath // Munk One // Nick Dewar // Pete Yahnke // Philip John Lumbang // Ray Noland aka CRO // Rebecca Berdel // Retna // Rick Griffith // Ron English // Ron Keas // Sam Flores // Sarah Hoskins // Scot Lefavor // Shannon Bonatakis and Josh Holland // Shepard Fairey // Cypher13 // Todd Lockwood // Tom Slaughter // Mike Moore (Tres Birds) // Van Taylor Monroe // Zara Gonzalez // Zina Saunders // Zoltron // Aaron Axelrod // Thomas Brodhal // Ginger Che // Catia Chien // Christopher Cox // Grotesk // Damon Locks // Zach McDonald // Tres Birds // Adrian Tucker // Arellano Harvath // Antar Dayal // Vincent Comparetto

If you don’t already know, Ben Eine is a super duper rad artist from London.  His Denver CO, show at Andenken opens tonight.  To get the whole scoop on Ben and his work head over to Beauty & The Street.  You don’t want to miss Ben’s show.  Get out to Andenken tonight and show some Colorado love!!!

Andenken Gallery is pleased to announce their upcoming show “The Group Show” featuring an all-star cast of characters from home and abroad.There are some serious heavy hitters in this show! Just to name a few… Ian Millard has really got some fresh work coming up, Kill Pixie has some super detailed amazing work, Alexone’s paintings always impress and the Magnet Mafia has been gettin up after it. Also, Tom just informed me of a 20×40 Fafi piece that’s on it’s way from France today. So, duh, Come on down to the Block Building at 2990 Larimer Street this Thursday night for another awesome evening of art, drinks, good folks and ping pong! Be sure to check out Beauty And The Street for a preview of the show. See you there!

Andenken Gallery presents MERGE - A group show of Colorado based artists featuring new work by Amanda Marie (Mandy Ploegsma), Scot Lefavor and Vincent Comparetto. The opening will be held on Friday June 6th 7PM. According to inside sources Mandy and Lefavor have some seriously fresh collabs in the works. This is gonna be a hot show. Mark your calendars.

Note: We’ve seen what Lefavor is workin’ on and it’s pretty amazing. The below image of Scot’s has been heavily distorted intentionally. You’ll have to make it out to the show the see the real deal.

While takin’ care of business this morn we were reminded just how AWESOME the paste-up mural Lefavor handled in the JE/cypher13 John is. And, since we’re starting a major remodel of our studio and shop this Friday we figured we should start documenting some shit. Anyway, an oldie, but a goody. Look for new work from Scot to be dropping at Andenken Gallery in June alongside fellow wicked talent artist & JE contributor, Amanda Marie.

Hung out with Bigfoot on Wednesday. The photos and info is for the show tonight.

When you see Bigfoot tonight, tell him happy birthday and give him friendly pounds. He is one of the nicest guys and a really giving person.

DID YOU KNOW FACTS
- Bigfoot has been drawing Bigfoots for 15 years!
- Bigfoot is an only child.
- Bigfoot is a vegan that likes Watercourse Restaurant food and likes to tango dance to Notorious BIG.

This one he did without any references straight from the dome. The houses are fresh.

Bigfoot working on this for a while. He said he gets anal wanting the lines being extra crispy.

His sketchbook is filled with awesome massive amounts. They feel like dope graf tossups.

In The Realm Of The Forest Phantoms
Bigfoot
March 7th - March 28th 2008
Opening reception, March 7th @ 7pm
2990 larimer st denver, co 80205

http://www.andenken.com/

* There will also be limited edition hand made Bigfoot Plant Pots!

Illustrator Cherri Wood showing at Andenken Gallery on January 18th. More info here.

Hyland Mather, the contemporary artworld genius behind Andenken Gallery recently obtained a new space called the Block building. Due to circumstances somewhat unknown to us Andenken will be moving (along with Hyland) and Andenken’s new home will be inside the wall of the Block Building. Hyland solicited a number of our homies to paint relatively ginormous murals inside the communal portion (there’s all sorts of shit going on in here) of the building. We had a chance to visit prior to Shoe Shine and snap some pics. Have a look.

Well, not really, but in my opinion he sure did “kill it.” I caught word that the Evan Hecox mural on the side of Andenken Gallery was getting painted over and I freaked out. When I found out that it was another artist doing the painting over, I became cautiously curious. So, I took a trip down and took a looksy for myself. No disrespect to Evan, but I think Jesse out did him by a mile… Again, I really liked the Hecox piece, but I think that Jesse LeDoux added something a lot more fun to the facade. It’s really enough to catch the eye of any passerbyer, and your chance to catch a glimpse, is right here, right now. If you have a chance swing by and check it out for yourself. I don’t think that the flicks do it any justcie.

Jesse LeDoux | Evan Hecox | Andenken Gallery

Last Friday Andenken Gallery was host to Brain Bashers. A show featuring twelve artist’s work from all over the country. Artists include AJ Fosik, Alex Lukas, William Buzzell, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Matt Leines, Damian Weinkrantz, Elizabeth Huey, Keith Jones, Joe Buzzell and Jordin Isip. The whole shindig was pretty chill. It wasn’t as packed as it usually is, so you could get a chance to take your time and get a close look at the work. I had heard stories and read articles about the shows all of these guys have had at Space 1026 in Philly but I had no idea what I was gonna see. I was pretty excited to get a close up look at a lot of the artists’ new work, but Andrew Jeffery Wright’s in particular. I liked a lot of the work I saw and had the opportunity to get one of his pieces, so, I “put my dollars where my teeth are” and bought one. It was all very affordable and super rad. The show should be up for a bit so make sure to cruise over and check it out for yourself. For the time being take a gander at the pics below and don’t forget to show your support for all of us artists or what ever they call it.

AJ Fosik | Andenken Gallery | Alex Lukas | William Buzzell | Andrew Jeffrey Wright | Matt Leines | Damian Weinkrantz | Elizabeth Huey | Keith Jones | Joe Buzzell | Jordin Isip | Space 1026

Thursday night at Den Gallery in Denver, four super terrific artists showed their latest and greatest work. Not only did I get the chance to see the newest work from some of my favorite artists but I had the opportunity to check out a new gallery space. Den Gallery is kind of tucked back behind Space Gallery. I have to say I feel a little behind on the whole scene thing. I was told its been around for about three months but haven’t heard anything about shows that have come and gone… Either way, it was a perfect introduction to the new space. To see The Yummies, Amanda Marie, Jeremy Charles Burns and Ethan Smith all in one space was more than enough of a treat. The Yummies have some super rad new work. They seem to be introducing a lot of fresh content in the pieces and developing their color pallete. Im always amazed by their craftsmanship and am waiting patiently to attain another piece of their production. Jeremy Burns brought to my attention an oustanding array of odd portrait style paintings. Super cool to say the least. Ethan Smith’s work was quite a bit different than I would have expected and had so much detail my camera couldn’t even capture it. I feel like the photos I have, don’t give his work any ounce of justice. Amanda Marie did what she does best and completely dominated all things art. I couldn’t believe how cool some of her work was. It was some odd 1950’s dreamlike interpretation of a “Howdy Doody” show. Very nifty! Hi-Five and a firm compliment goes out to you Amanda, for your work and the ability to get me to want something so bad. I can’t wait for the day I get to hang one of your pieces on my wall!

Aside from all of this excitement, I had the opportunity to meet AJ Fosik and rap about his recent show at Jonathan Levine Gallery. He did tell me that he has a lot coming up and is staying super busy with upcoming shows. Unfortunately he mentioned he isn’t going to be in the next show at Andenken Gallery because of how busy he has been. But rest assure, the next show at Andenken will be rad. He has a hellacious line up of artists that will be showing in his place. Check out the Andenken website for more info.

Jeremy Charles Burns | The Yummies | Jonathan Levine Gallery | Space Gallery | Andenken Gallery | AJ Fosik
Ray Young Chu | Scot Lefavor | Celeste

Cruisin’ allies and catchin’ up on new graf work, I came across a small Scribe piece. He must have done when he was here for his show at Andenken last month. The spot where I snapped these pics is one of my favorite places to catch new work every month or so. Capital Hill doesn’t have many of these spots so the ones I find are very “special.” Because of how important these little details are to myself and many others, I think Im going to make a habit out getting new flicks every month of new work I find in Denver and post them on the site.

So with out further ado, here are the first pics in what I hope to be many in a series.