_   Thumbprint Gallery is a joint venture between co-curators Paul Ecdao and Johnny Tran. Founded in 2007, they began showing urban contemporary art in different venues around San Diego. In 2009 Ecdao and Tran opened a gallery space in North Park and held numerous shows featuring local artists. The gallery is relocating to a new space in La Jolla in an effort to further the urban art movement.

   Thumbprint gallery is famous for cutting edge street art and alternatively themed shows. It almost seems out of place for them to move from "Bohemian" North Park to an upscale area like La Jolla. I think it's more a sign of the times that Low brow / Outsider art is becoming a more collected genre, and finally getting some recognition in the "art world".

    Their first show at the new location is appropriately called,"Hood Etiquette". It includes work by Neko, Bekm, Walker, and Baby Boy. The reception is Saturday, September 10th from 5-10 pm at their new location 920 Kline St. #104, La Jolla 92037. It is a free, all ages event.

__  Talbott has exhibited across the United States and Europe and has been published in JUXTAPOZ Magazine. His work has been displayed in the Copro Gallery, DISTINCTION,and La Luz de Jesus Gallery.

  "The Fairplay Art Show" is a one night only, summer art party being held at The Tractor Room located at 3687 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103.It's a low key event held in a relaxed atmosphere. The reception will be held on Thursday, September 1st, from 6pm to 9pm, on the restaurant's patio. One night only. Refreshments will be provided by the Tractor Room.

     The artist will be selling original work, along with signed prints and his mini book. Don't miss the opportunity to purchase some of this artist work before it becomes unaffordable.

     It's a difficult task to get artists to work together. Egos clash and jealousy among each other often get in the way. Space 4 Art has seemed to overcome this by creating a utopian society for artists. Space 4 Art is a volunteer based art community. Three converted warehouses make up the 23,000 square foot gallery workspace housing over 30 artists giving them a place to work, live and show their art. They offer classes, have an outdoor performance stage and two indoor galleries.

     In conjunction with the San Diego Contemporary Art Fair, Space 4 Art will showcase over 40 different artists involved in three separate events.

     8'x8' is a group show where artists and curators were given an 8 foot square frame in which they can use to display art or come up with some type of art installation or performance. It's a great idea because it gives each artist the chance to create their own mini gallery, space or stage.  Lael Corbin is using the space to build a giant pinhole camera while Jason Sherry is creating a multimedia sculpture that will include video and sound.  In the main gallery, Los Angeles based artist Marie Thiebault will be showing a series of large scale abstract art depicting urban decay and destroyed landscapes. 
     Later on in the evening, when the sun goes down, a large scale performance piece called "Adjacent Possible" will be conducted by many different artists on a large multilevel stage that is also part of Space 4 Art. Dancing, music, light displays and video are all part of the event.

     If that isn't enough art for you, the resident artists will have there 35 art studios open to the public.

     All this takes place on Saturday, September 3rd. The opening is from 5-10pm at Space 4 Art 325 15th St.in the East Village.

  "Zeph Alt" is a brand new gallery space run by school psychologist and artist Andrew Estrada. Estrada creates his own gallery, gathering some of San Diego's finest artists in a truly unique basement gallery space.

   The first show entitled ,"One". Showcasing alternative artists doing what they enjoy. Drawing, painting, mixed media, abstraction, collaborative work, and kinetic "moving" art. There is a variety of styles and artistic mediums used.
 
    Fine art by Bret Barrett and Brian Dombrowsky including a collaborative kinetic painting. Urban abstractions by Jason Gould, retro mixed media by Janelle Carter. Abstract art by Sean Brannan and Andrew Estrada. Spiritual fine art by Dan Allen and religion "biased" work by Ryan Campbell.

   The grand opening is Saturday, September 3rd, from 6-10 pm at 1150 7th ave downtown. The gallery space is located in the basement under the artist studios.

 

     I started working in the family business as a custom picture framer when I was 18 years old. I always had an interest in art and was an artist myself. It led me to seeking out art in my own community.

     I remember seeing Shepard Fairey's website in the mid 90s and was really interested in what he was doing. I started some of my own work as an artist and contacted Bill Pierce and Michael Pratt of Radioactive Future, a website that featured local artists in San Diego. I attended some of his shows and even had a show or two with some of San Diego's well known artists like Tim McCormick and Douglas Thompson the shows were small and in obscure locations like bookstores and even an old ice warehouse.

     Years later I started my own picture framing business, Art of Framing, in 2005. located in Normal Heights, I decided it was a good area to host some of Bill's events. The first series of shows was called "Fast Forward" and then "Girrrrl Power" which was a group of all female artists who we did several shows with.

   


    I tried all sorts of art events from aliens to art printed on loafers. Most of the art shows I did were "Lowbrow". Art that was strange and unusual. The community of "Abnormal Heights" liked my shows, but the art was confusing to my picture framing customers. Art sales were far and few. I wasn't discouraged, but it eventually led to the split of my business partner and myself.

 


  Wonka Gallery is one of my newest ventures. A website / gallery dedicated to artists and their talents. My mission statement for Wonka Gallery reads, "To provide representation for artists and promote an interest in local arts in the community."