The OC Art Blog was created in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene.

In our next artist interview I'm happy to introduce Mindy Cherri. Mindy is an alumni of The Office and since showing her she has become a really good friend. Her show at The Office also happens to be one of the best selling shows we did. I was also at her last show at J. Flynn where all her stuff sold out. Obviously her work creates a connection with the viewer. Here's Mindy: Tell us about your work. My work comes from a trip to a...

23 January, 2008 /

This Saturday another opening you should attend will be the Portfolio show at OMC Gallery in Huntington Beach. Portfolio will give the viewer an idea about the many roles photography plays in our culture and some of the artists in the show are Erwin Olaf, Peter Engblom, Kris Scholz and Alvin Booth. The Opening will run from 5-7pm. ...

22 January, 2008 /

This Saturday Night ISM: Gallery at The Koo's Art Center will have it's grand opening. The opening will run from 7-10pm. The ISM; Gallery's mission is to be a familial center exhibiting creative installations, artistic seminars and informative lectures that will both educate and entertain while presenting an opportunity for community involvement. ...

22 January, 2008 /

Quote from one of my favorite authors: The artist's dilemma and the meditator's are, in a deep sense, equivalent. Both are repeatedly willing to confront an unknown and to risk a response that they cannot predict or control. Both are disciplined in skills that allow them to remain focused on their task and to express their response in a way that will illuminate the dilemma they share with others. And both are liable to similar outcomes. The artist's work is prone to be derivative, a variation...

20 January, 2008 /

Friday night I went over to the HB Art Center to catch the opening of Centered On The Center, their annual salon style bring your art and we'll hang it show. This might hurt my street cred but I always enjoy going to the opening for this show because there's always a good energy at the opening. You have artists of all ages and abilities, most showing their work for the first time so there's always a strong sense of excitement in the room. It's...

19 January, 2008 /

I'm happy to introduce a new regular feature to the OC Art Blog, artist interviews. I'm also happy to introduce my friend from France, Amandine Nabarra Piomelli as our first subject. Amandine is now based in Irvine and consistently shows in our area and is now starting to show in LA and beyond. Enjoy: 1. Tell us about your work. When I moved from Paris, France to California I found myself immersed in the west coast art world and it transformed my dreams. As a young...

17 January, 2008 /

The Doug Harvey curated LA Weekly Biennial is up and unfortunately I missed the opening. I would like to congratulate the six Office Alumni included. Not a bad ratio. Will try and get out there and get some pics soon. image: Walpa D'Mark ...

14 January, 2008 /

I ran over to @Space On Friday night and caught the Max King Cap show. I really liked the wall to wall installation and thought it came together really well. As a former gallery director I feel for them though, painting the walls black and then getting them back to white is never easy. Here's some pics: ...

13 January, 2008 /

One of the many OC Art Blog correspondents made it out to Laurie Hassold's opening at Bert Green Fine Art and was kind enough to shoot some photos. Enjoy: Laurie & Bert Green Laurie & Jeff Gillette   ...

13 January, 2008 /

There's a new gallery in town and their grand opening is this Saturday night from 7-10pm. The Box Gallery's first show will feature long time OC art fixture Aaron Kraten and it looks like local curator Johnny Sampson will be handling the curatorial duties. The Box is located 765 Saint Clair in Costa Mesa. Get out there and support the new endeavor. ...

10 January, 2008 /

I wanted to let everybody know that one of OC's best and brightest Laurie Hassold has a solo show in LA tomorrow night at Bert Green Fine Art during Downtown LA's art walk. The opening will run from 6-9pm and there will be 6 new pieces included in the show. Get out there and support the home team. ...

09 January, 2008 /

This Friday night from 6-9pm Hairshirt Featuring paintings from Max King Cap's Empyreana series will open at @Space Gallery. Also on Saturday night @Space will debut their new annex space located at 751 Randolph Ave. in Costa Mesa. The debut show at the annex, organized by Joanna Grasso will include Michelle Wasson, Caroline Maxwell, Jon Morris and Jason Margos. The opening will run from 6-10pm. ...

09 January, 2008 /

Attached is an interview that Greg Escalante and Susan Anderson gave for the recent Rick Griffin exhibit at The Laguna Art Museum. (Updated website, FYI). It's worth watching just to see Greg in a tie. Enjoy: ...

07 January, 2008 /

Ran down to Santa Ana Saturday night and fortunately the rain held off to make it a nice evening, although the crowds were a bit light due to the weather I'm sure. Anyway, the first stop was the BIG show at OCCCA, then to Grand Central then to the Memphis gallery to catch Tom & Lisa Dowling's show. Here's some pics: War Bride by Barbara Thompson at OCCCA Christina Ponce Pamela Grau-Twena Big Pig (If I am What I Eat by Darlyn Susan Yee) GCAC...

06 January, 2008 /