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

It's first Saturday again so that means I'll be in Santa Ana on Saturday night. Hopefully the rain will stay away. Things to do: CSUF Entertainment Graphics Alumni open an exhibition at Grand Central A New Cosmopolitanism opens at the Cal State Fullerton Visual Arts Center Dirk Hagner opens at Spaceonspurgeon Metaphor opens at OCCCA Group Love opens @ the Memphis Back Room If I get wind of any others I'll update. See you this weekend! ...

31 January, 2008 /

On a night where I needed to see some art and talk to a few good friends icandy @ Cypress College delivered. The new Cypress College gallery is a great space and I'm sure with Paul Paiement  running things the shows will continue to be solid. Here's some pics of the nights festivities: Richard Fisher Brian Boyer Brian Boyer  Detail Tim Bavington Doug Meyer Patrick Wilson David Macdonald Sharon Ben-Tal Joan Kahn Bart Exposito Bob Aldarette Brian Boyer w/wife April OCCCA's Barbara Thompson Carl Berg Paul Paiement with  Tommy Freeman University of La Verne's Gallery Dir. & Artist Dion Johnson  ...

30 January, 2008 /

They need to do one of these for the comments section of a few art blogs I know: via art to go ...

30 January, 2008 /

  This Wednesday night from 6-9pm Cypress College will open iCandy: Current Abstraction in Southern California. Looks like a really strong roster of painters that will include Ali Smith, Brian Boyer, Tim Bavington & Michael Reafsynder. I will be there and I hope to see you too. ...

28 January, 2008 /

Well it's time to unveil the new project. Mrs. OC Art Blog and I have formed a private foundation to help support artists & arts organizations based in Orange County or Long Beach. The Hoff Foundation will distribute $3,000 a quarter in the form of grants. All the information about how to apply and various details can be found on the website. The first award date will be April 1st and we will be granting $6k (we missed the Jan 1st award date). Anyway,...

24 January, 2008 /

Wow. The Feds raid The Bowers and LACMA. A law enforcement source who had been briefed on the matter but spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation said authorities are looking for looted artifacts from Southeast Asia and whether appraisals of the items were inflated for improper tax deductions. More from Marshall Astor ...

24 January, 2008 /

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 /