Sculpture

"Found in Darkness" @ Book & Job Gallery : Friday Nov. 9 : 2012

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Christopher Burch and I descended on the new Book & Job Gallery on Wednesday, November 7th to begin our install of our Fall 2012 two man show "Found in Darkness".  Exploring our own personal mythologies that comprise the focus of our work we embarked on this show in August of this year. Examining respective narrative architectures and linear framework, we began creating installations that reflect real environments within our imaginary worlds, both dealing with different reflections of contemporary issues of social problems, race, the environment, and a proposed future of humanity in our own tales.

We were able to create a conversation through our mixed media forays that not only blended and melded together well in the space but also pushed one another's practice to a new level of intricacy.  Chris dealing with his modern day reinterpretation of the Br'er Rabbit Folk Mythos and myself dealing with all the legends and myths of the world of "Unstoppable Tomorrow" that I have created, we embraced the Book & Job Gallery with energy, drive, thought, and a sense of community and challenge.  Our drawings and paintings spoke well with one another as our installation works tied the environment together into a dialogue of two strong minded individuals exploring their own tangible realities in this world together through imagination and practice.

Guy Culver also helped organize a wonderful show of musical talent.  Chris Danko of Religious Girls performed an awesome piano solo.  Then Guy Culver and his drummer Ringo performed their punk influenced, electronic, synth heavy, hard hitting electro fuck fest of beats, noise, and beautiful screamo moments of chaos as Laughters.

Carson Lancaster, the man behind Book & Job Gallery, did a great job of orchestrating the evening and the install and was a pleasure to work with as well!!! I recommend working with him to any other artist that may be interested in contacting Book & Job.  All in all it has been a great experience.  Thanks again to Chris for inviting me to be a part of Book & Job and creating yet another killer show with me. -Felix

Friday, November 9 : "Found in Darkness" @ Book & Job Gallery : Christopher Burch & John Felix Anrold III

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So here it is.  My last show of the year.  And what a year it has been.  In brief, Christopher Burch and myself will be exploring our own narrative mythologies that run through out our respective bodies of work, coming together at the Book & Job Gallery in San Francisco to allow them to create a conversation within the space.  Paintings, drawings, sculpture, mixed media, and collaborative installation work will bring the viewer on a journey through the space that illustrates how past and present allow us to construct our own mythological tales that will continue to evolve well into the future.  I am very excited to work with Chris again, especially after he just did a major project in St Louis and is in zone, exploring his vision.  Myself coming back from a bit of downtime after "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" and then Japan, am really looking forward to finishing off the year on a strong, a bit smaller, and more refined tip. This is great way for me to put a solid and concise close on 2012, which has been a monumental year, and give a little bit of forecast for things to come!  The show opens Friday, November 9th from 7-11pm at the Book & Job Gallery which is located at 831 Geary St. in San Francisco.  See you there. - John Felix Arnold III

Stand Tall III @ Old Crow was Awesome. 09/22/2012

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So Saturday September 22nd, 2012 Terry Addison over at Old Crow opened the third installment of the "Stand Tall" series.  This group show has quickly become a very important happening each year for the Bay Area, specifically the East Bay Art Scene.  Last year it spanned two spaces and featured a live PA by Japanther.  This year it was much cleaner, simpler, with great attention to how the artists interacted, the overall layout and movement through the space, and wreaked of amazing, truly realized, well executed, beautiful visions from all 38 participants.  Barret Moore was there to document much of it, the Daily Californian ran a great little piece on it, and the turn out once again was phenomenal.  Japanther, even in their absence, was able to include a video of their shadow puppet play on the front of Old Crow during the opening.  David Polka, Ken Davis, Renos, Lauren Napalatino, Dana James, Christopher Burch, Kool Kid Kreyola, Spencer Keaton Cunningham, Dr. Sex, Apex, Chor Boogie, Tweens, and many many more made this an amazing happening!-John Felix Arnold III

Stand Tall III @ Old Crow : Saturday : 09/22/2012 : Oakland, CA

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Another truly epic show is about to commence at the legendary Old Crow Tattoo & Gallery in Oakland, CA.  The Lineup is insane.  This is the third installment of the now renowned Stand Tall series from Old Crow curator Terry Addison.  Myself, Poesia, Renos, D Young V, Christopher Burch, Bunnie Reis, Chor Boogie, Apex, and many many more.  Stand Tall has become an important showcase of established and emerging talent in the Bay Area, and this time Japanther will also be coming back to do a Shadow Puppet Performance!!!  Be There, it is going to get crazy.  Here is the flyer and a detail of the piece I have in the show. -JFA III

Production and Opening Photo's of "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" @ Old Crow : Oakland : CA

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I ended up taking a great reel of great production and progress shots of "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" at Old Crow Tattoo & Gallery, and some good photos of the openings.  Him Downstairs performed Saturday night and then Sunday was Unstoppable Death Machines and the Laughters.  Count Z-Bop was even hanging out.  It was spectacular!  I hope you all enjoy seeing the install process and the final product. -Felix

Tools, Wood, things to make the magic with.

Motocycle piece "The Great Debate" just finished moments ago.

The organ was a good find, thank you urban ore.

Viking Ben lending a hand.

Arial view compliments of Terry Addison.

"In Memory of..." series.

Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet Relic Remix.

Belly drinking a 40 of that Ole English Eightball 800!

D Young V looking wild!

Nadia and I flossin!

D Young V and I representing.

We all love to see ZeeZee!

The most amazing couple alive.

Joel Tarman back from Palesien with Rhea St. Julien.

Jessica from Old Crow looking pretty other worldly in her Jedi Hood!

Fuckin New Yorkers!

Brendan Cox.

"The Great Debate"

Joel and Rhea St. Julien aka Him Downstairs.

Ara Christina Jo being awesome as usual.

How did everyone at Old Crow become so damn cool?  Dana James looking tough on the bike piece!

Dana James fully suited up for the world of Unstoppable Tomorrow.

The lovely Chloe Crossman with the coolest hair dew of all time.

The Laughters  Count Z Bop

Unstoppable Death Machines
Mike from Unstoppable Death Machines at Mama's Royal Cafe, bout to get some breakfast Monday morning.  I am about to go to Japan right after this meal!  See you all from my Japanese tour with Ken South Rock! -John Felix Arnold III

I am back in Japan right now...

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The past few months have been fucking crazy.  We opened ArtNowNY, it was awesome, I just opened my solo show at Old Crow in Oakland, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"  It was epic!!! Now I am in Japan, sitting in a rad little apartment in Tokyo about to go on tour with Ken South Rock!  This train just doesn't seem to stop.  I am too exhausted right now to really go into anything deep, or summarize anything as of late, or get into any long explanations of work process, art reviews, or even more personal shit.  Let me just suffice to say that tonight I am on the other side of the world, I am going to eat really well, be surrounded by awesome people, and start a live performance tour tomorrow that is going to change my life!!!

Here are some images of my opening at Old Crow and more.... I'll be back soon this time to update you guys!

“Eat Peter To Feed Paul” @ Littlefield : Brooklyn : NY

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Thursday, March 1st, 2012 New Works by John Felix Arnold III & Christopher Burch : Live Performances by Ninjasonik & Ken South Rock Art Opening Reception 6-9 with Food and DJs Reverend McFly and Chaz-O : Free Performances from Ninjasonik and Ken South Rock : 9-12 : $10 Pre-sale/$12 at the Door : 21+ Art Show runs from March1st-31st Littlefield is located @ 622 Degraw St. btw 3rd & 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY : 11217 : ph (718) 855-3388 For more info and for tickets please visit http://littlefieldnyc.com

 

Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Littlefield is proud to present “Eat Peter to Feed Paul”, a two man show by Bay Area based artists John Felix Arnold III & Christopher Burch that will feature musical performances and collaborations from New York based bands Ninjasonik and Ken South Rock. It is the two visual artist’s first show in New York together and promises not to be forgotten. For Arnold this is a bit of a homecoming, marking his second time showing in New York since he moved to the Bay from Brooklyn in 2006, and for Burch, being from St. Louis originally, this a new opportunity to branch out closer to his roots. The two will be exhibiting new drawings and mixed media works in their respective styles. The works deal with the changing role of human beings within a high paced technology saturated society where we are rapidly losing our grasp of anything reflecting a spiritual way of being and many are quickly becoming “self sacrificing parasites” within their own circles of living without even realizing it. They will also be composing an installation within the art space to guide the viewers through the show reflecting the push and pull and intensity of the present world we live in, using found objects to cut the space up into different frequencies of comfort and un-comfortability while viewing the 2-D work. After the show reception musical cohorts and collaborators Ken South Rock and Ninjasonik will be performing live in Littlefield’s amazing theatre/music hall space with a live painting collaboration from the two Bay Area artists as a full on art and music explosion. These two amazing forces of musical energy will bring the audience to climactic celebration of being alive through their powerful styles and relentless sound. The subject matter of their audio tour de force is extremely relevant to our present day existence and inspires a lust for life that that really brings a conscious ear to an energy that society needs to be impregnated by.

http://littlefieldnyc.com http://felixthethirdrock.com http://giantkillerz.tumblr.com http://ninjasonikmusic.com http://kensouthrock.com http://www.facebook.com/events/153773094740166/

For Press Inquiries regarding artwork please contact felixthethird@gmail.com &giantkillerz@gmail.com For Press Inquiries regarding music please contact radsalem@gmail.com & amramadam@gmail.com

Onwards to the East Coast : Fresh New Wheels on the Tar Mac

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Sometimes I haveta use this blog to just speak my damn mind, cause its like a bubblin pot of gumbo ready get eating and savored and shit, and analyzed and rethought.  This has been a pretty amazing ride in a short amount of time entering 2012.  I haveta say life has thrown more at me, good and bad, than almost any other time in my life, but the amazing part seems to be this new found ability to cope, handle, stay on task, and move forward positively instead of falling back into old habits.

Sometimes I agree with the phrase youth is wasted on the young, but right now I don't because I am not that old and because I am glad I did all (almost all lol still have those selective "what ifs" for sure that I know I will hold onto for a long time) the things I have done and walked through all of the fire as well as ice cream cake I have in my life.  This show coming up in New York (Eat Peter to Feed Paul @ Littlefield)  and the show I just had in SF (The Love of All Above @ Queens Nails) are really a grounds for me to give appreciation to both places for really nurturing me through some of the best and hardest times I have ever known.  SF was a good foundation for me to lose it, in everyway (shit got dark yo lol) then rebuild, and New York was a beautiful pot luck of inspiration, temptation, and trial and error that I get to thankfully go give back to now with a good head, and right fit mind on my shoulders.  In other words I am ready to fucking rock this show in New York, not in a overblown big headed way, in a thoughtful, right step, calm and collected, do it well and go hard sort of way.  I asked God (my god at least) to please help me get back there someday when I first moved to the Bay, and now after years of becoming a much more "fit to live" person, it is all happening.

I know a lot of people who are very close to me right now that are going through some tough times, very tough times, myself included to a certain degree, and I want to make this trip and this show an experience that demonstrates how appreciative I am for my life and those around me that make it amazing.  We are all in this together, and we have to do all of this together, there is no other way to truly make things amazing. Self will only gets one so far. Building with others and living in love, or at least appreciating the little things and the big ones and always trying to make others know they are appreciated is what makes movements and creates change on a massive scale.  I am coming home New York, get ready because it is a whole different approach to getting on that tar mac this time.  Much Love to Everyone, they know who they are! NGO!  John Felix Arnold III

"Christopher Burch 'Somethings ..are (In) the Way of Things'" @ The Luggage Store Annex/ Tenderloin National Forest : SF : CA

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Opening Reception Friday February 24th 7-10 pm and Saturday February 25th 4-6PM  The Luggage Store Annex/ Tenderloin National Forest : 509 Ellis St. SF : CA

Tonight is going to be pretty epic as I gather my spirits and do one last thing before leaving the Bay Area for two weeks.  A show that I have been waiting to see for years is happening here in San Francisco tonight.  Christopher Burch, long time friend, peer, and straight up amazing artist and personality, whom is coming to NYC to show with myself in a week, has a groundbreaking opening tonight here in San Francisco.  The culmination of two months in the Tenderloin National Forest Artist in Residence Program will be presented at the Luggage Store Annex with dance performances, and other festivities tonight and tomorrow night.  I am very fortunate to be heading back to the east coast later tonight and not have to miss this amazing happening.  Burch's art is a testament to the intellect, skill, creativity, craft, compassion, and inspiring nature of a historically explosive line of artists here in the Bay Area and I recommend to anyone that has not been following his work to begin doing so now.

Tenderloin National Forest Luggage Store Annex

Christopher Burch “Somethings ..are (In) the Way of Things”

Christopher Burch’s visual works  combine drawing, painting, flocked damask wallpaper, hand painted silver serving trays, and sculpture to create a haughntinlgy surreal full scale site specific installations. The results are conflating landscapes in which historical, socio-economic and political forces that have shaped and continue to shape American racial geographies, teeter on the edge of madness.Something in the Way of Things, written by Amiri Baraka in 2008, is a disturbingly subtle and dark social commentary probing an existential crisis within the African American experience due to the inability to fully synthesize historical and contemporary racial tensions and realties .  Memory and testimony (ultimately language itself) become metaphors for seeing or the inability to see. Baraka exposes, that the borders between visibility (to see, to articulate ones experiences) and invisibility (to not see, to not be able to articulate ones experiences) are at times schizophrenic.

Burch’s project  for the TNF A.I.R residency is entitled “Somethings ..are (In) the Way of Things”. During the months of January 2012 and February 2012 Burch will build a full scale, on site,  installatioon/environment re-interpreting Amiris Baraka’s poem “Something in the Way of Things.”

Accompanying the installation of work within the Luggage Store Annex,  the residency will also incorporate  literary performances and dance pieces held in the Tenderloin National Forest itself. These performances and recitals will address various personal interpretations of the poem “Something In the Way of Things.”

(Hours: Daily 12-5, closed Mondays)

 

"The Love of All Above" Photo ReCap!

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"The Love of All Above" @ Queens Nails Projects in San Francisco's Mission District on February 4th was awesome!!!  Everyone had a great time, we generated some amazing press, even Alfonso & Monique from Cosio-Delaunay and Ali Lain from the San Francisco Bay Area Guardian came through to check it out! Kimberly Chun from the Chronicle even gave us a shout out two days before the show in print.  It was amazing.  the performances were unforgettable and people kept popping up all night long to say hello and participate in the show.  So with that in mind here are the awesome photos of the night, with performers Kool Kid Kreyola, Him Downstairs, Daylight Curfew, and all of our friends and peers in the scene.  Can't wait to do it again with Christopher Burch, Ninjasonik, and Ken South Rock in New York in two weeks at Littlefield!!! Check out the slide show below.

[slideshow]

Thursday, March 1st : John Felix Arnold III, Christopher Burch, Ninjasonik, and Ken South Rock Present "Eat Peter to Feed Paul" @ Littlefield : Brooklyn : NY

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So I am officially flying to New York on February 23rd to get ready for my latest artistic endeavor, "Eat Peter to Feed Paul".  One of the sickest artists I know and have the privilege of working with and also being good friends with, namely Christopher Burch (who is currently doing a residency with the Luggage Store), is joining forces with me to storm my old stomping grounds of Brooklyn, NY.  We are coming to the amazing venue known as Littlefield in the Gowanus neighborhood ot the Kings County Burrough, and we will be joined by amazing musical talent from long times friends and musical collaborators Ninjasonik and Ken South Rock (whom I am going on tour with in Japan in the summer)  This is my first posting about this on my blog, so know that you will be seeing a lot more material and progress once I am on my way.  Keep in touch;)  Below is a link to the Official Press Release and a Brief Description of the show and concept behind it.  I'm ready for Pizza, Pastrami, and Yakitori Taisho! It's on.

Eat Peter to Feed Paul PRESS RELEASE

PRESS EVENT INFO

“Eat Peter to Feed Paul” @ Littlefield : Brooklyn : NY

Thursday, March 1st, 2012
New Works by John Felix Arnold III & Christopher Burch : Live Performances by Ninjasonik & Ken South Rock
Art Opening Reception 6-9 with Food and DJs Reverend McFly and Chaz-O : Free
Performances from Ninjasonik and Ken South Rock : 9-12 : $10 Pre-sale/$12 at the Door : 21+
Art Show runs from March1st-31st
Littlefield is located @ 622 Degraw St. btw 3rd & 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY : 11217 : ph (718) 855-3388
For more info and for tickets please visit http://littlefieldnyc.com
Thursday, March 1st, 2012 Littlefield is proud to present “Eat Peter to Feed Paul”, a two man show by Bay Area based artists John Felix Arnold III & Christopher Burch that will feature musical performances and collaborations from New York based bands Ninjasonik and Ken South Rock.  It is the two visual artist’s first show in New York together and promises not to be forgotten.  For Arnold this is a bit of a homecoming, marking his second time showing in New York since he moved to the Bay from Brooklyn in 2006, and for Burch, being from St. Louis originally, this a new opportunity to branch out closer to his roots.  The two will be exhibiting new drawings and mixed media works in their respective styles.  The works deal with the changing role of human beings within a high paced technology saturated society where we are rapidly losing our grasp of anything reflecting a spiritual way of being and many are quickly becoming “self sacrificing parasites” within their own circles of living without even realizing it.  They will also be composing an installation within the art space to guide the viewers through the show reflecting the push and pull and intensity of the present world we live in, using found objects to cut the space up into different frequencies of comfort and un-comfortability while viewing the 2-D work. After the show reception musical cohorts and collaborators Ken South Rock and Ninjasonik will be performing live in Littlefield’s amazing theatre/ music hall space with a live painting collaboration from the two Bay Area artists as a full on art and music explosion.  These two amazing forces of musical energy will bring the audience to climactic celebration of being alive through their powerful styles and relentless sound.  The subject matter of their audio tour de force is extremely relevant to our present day existence and inspires a lust for life that that really brings a conscious ear to an energy that society needs to be impregnated by.

The Love of All Above is in Two Days! A&O Article Fresh Out!

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That's right two days until the show at Queens Nails.  Tonight, Thursday February 2nd I will be checking out David Ball's new work at 111 Minna, and then Ken Harman's Gallery, Spoke Art featuring Tim Doyle.  Then it is back to the Ggrind and doing what I do best, getting everything finished and ready for Saturday.  See you there.  In the meantime click on the link (photo) below to see the Sjimon Gompers piece on my new work and the upcoming show for Argot & Ochre...

 

"The Love of All Above" @ Queens Nails feat. Daylight Curfew made it to Impose Magazine's Week in Pop Piece!!!!

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Sjimon Gompers at Impose Magazine is the man.  He is apparently super into what I am doing with my series of installation art shows as a vehicle for performance from music and artists together under the UNstoppable Tomorrow umbrella, and gave us a heads up in Impose Magazine's "Week in Pop" write up of awesome shit going on!  I am very proud of this, check it out. Click on the image to go to the Impose Magazine link.

Small Corrections, Info, and Time Changes to "The Love of All Above" @ Queens Nails : Sat.Feb 4th : SF : CA

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Due to a miscommunication within the Queens Nails curatorial scheduling pool, some slight changes have been made to the event.  The Event posting beneath has all of the correct changes and also the correct flyer has been included.

PRESS EVENT LISTING BRIEF

Queens Nails Projects "The Love of All Above" Saturday, February 4th 2012 4pm-10:30pm 3191 Mission St., San Francisco, CA, 94110

“The Love of All Above” is one part solo art show, one part performance showcase, and one part audience participatory ritual ceremony to show gratitude for the lives we live and the struggles we have endured.

John Felix Arnold III, from the days of Babylon Falling and who who brought you Past From the Blast with Japanther last March at Kitsch will be teaming up with a new team of amazing performers and collaborators consisting of Daylight Curfew ( Cassettes Won't Listen, Bisc 1, Grimace, and Turnbull Green), Kool Kid Kreyola, and Him Downstairs, to bring you the newest installment in his long running series ofexhibitions and experiences know as "Unstoppable Tomorrow : The World of Future Antiquity". According to Arnold the series aims to bring you the feeling of "walking inside of a giant graphic novel where Arnold is the documentarian and scribe, and the performers are his musical cohorts, collaborators, and ritual leaders in this post apocalyptic future world."

Arnold will be presenting new mixed media painting works, relics, and a new installation piece that will act as an altar and stage for the performers to use as a vehicle to showcase their talents and bring the audience together in one huge ceremonial experience inside of Arnold's realized environment. The performer list is indeed epic and the performers will have CD's and more available. Arnold will also have a limited edition zine for the "Love of All Above" as well.

Show Opens Saturday February 4th 2012. 4-6pm Artist reception with complimentary refreshments and h'ordeuvres 6pm-10:30pm Live Performances The Art Work will be moved on February 6th to Art Now SF (3075 17th St, San Francisco, CA, 94110) and will be on view by appointment only until February 21st.

For viewing appointments please contact John Felix Arnold III at 917 543 5261 or email at felixthethird@gmail.com

Press Release and Media Contact Information please contact felixthethird@gmail.com

Press for "The Love of All Above" : Feb 4th @ Queens Nails Projects : SF : CA

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So latest show, "The Love of All ABove" is coming up in a week at Queens Nails Projects, and I am psyched.  I have actually been getting quite a bit of press behind it and am very proud of what has been transpiring.  First of all, Daylight Curfew interviewed me and did a podcast for their site, it was really cool here is a promo video of the show, link to the article,  and the podcast. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmYnDEl1f9I]

Here is the link to the podcast...

Check out the links and let me know what you thinks;)  Big Thanks to Daylight Curfew!

Daylight Curfew Interview Spotlight

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Also Daylight Curfew did a really in depth interview with me for their artist spotlight article on their website.  I really enjoyed the questions and it really gave me the opportunity to go into my mind very deeply in regards to work, process, and where I am going.  Check it out.  Click on the screen shot to link directly to the article.  http://www.daylightcurfew.com/2012/01/13/artist-spotlight-john-felix-arnold-iii/

 

Daylight Curfew Video Promo for the "Love of All Above". Saturday Feb. 4th @ Queens Nails Projects : SF : CA

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p11NuKU6tHc&w=560&h=315] My collaborators, friends, and fellow creative cats over at Daylight Curfew who are coming up to San Francisco from LA on Feb 4th to rock "The Love of All" above at Queens Nails Projects in the Mission, put together this amazing video trailer promo for the show!  Check it out, it is going to be amazing and the video piece is incredibly well put done.  They continue to amaze me with everything they put make and the speed with which they do so.  Looking forward to killing this show.  Almost all of the painting is done,now its time to put the installation together with Kool Kid Kreyola and its on.

“The Love of All Above” : Feb 4th @ Queens Nails Projects : SF : CA

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Queens Nails Projects : 3191 Mission St. SF, CA, 94110

Saturday Feb. 4th Artist Reception 6-8pm/ Performances 8pm-12am

"It is coming up quickly and steadily, much like the dawn of a new day.  Bay Area artist and personality John Felix Arnold III has his first official show of 2012 opening on Saturday February 4th and runs until February 21st.  He will be exhibiting a solo array of mixed media paintings and a new installation piece (the namesake of the show) that will act as an altar piece as well as a stage and vehicle for a night of live performances fromDaylight Curfew ( a crew all residing in California but all originally from New York City consisting of Cassettes Won’t Listen, Bisco Smith, Grizzly Grimace, and Turnbull Green),Kool Kid Kreyola, and a new husband and wife vocal duo named Him Downstairs.  The Love of All Above is a continuation of Arnold’s “Unstoppable Tomorrow : The World of Future Antiquity” series and promises to be an unforgettable experience to kick off 2012.  More info will be posted as it draws near.  Here is the official show flyer as well as a link to the press release.  Please contact felixthethird@gmail.com for media contact."

Please Click on the Link Below for  downloadable Press Release.

The Love of All Above PRESS RELEASE 2012

[contact-form] [contact-field label="Name" type="name" required="true" /] [contact-field label="Email" type="email" required="true" /] [contact-field label="Website" type="url" /] [contact-field label="Comment" type="textarea" required="true" /] [/contact-form]

Happy Holladays!!! Thank You to Everyone for Your Support!

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I just sent this out as a mass thank you email, but it really doesn't need any altering, it rings true here just as well. : During this holiday season I want to send everyone a huge thank you and a huge hug and much love for all of your amazing support and input.  This has been the best year artistically and otherwise yet and I couldn't have made it all happen without you.  From last December's Unstoppable Tomorrow Vol.1 show, to Past From the Blast with Japanther, to In the Moment at the Luggage Store, it has been a wild ride.  There is a huge and epic "to do" list coming up in 2012 with Queens Nails in February, Littlefield NYC in March, a Solo Show at Old Crow in July, and then a tour in Japan immediately after Old Crow.

So today my prayers and thoughts and love goes out to all of you far and near who help the arts and continue to support.  I'm in the kitchen cooking up a huge and delicious feast and I wish I could send you all a plate. Much Thanks again, and Happy Holidays Always!!!!
-John Felix Arnold III

" A Conversation With Charles Mingus About the Inevitable End of the World as we Know it From the Standpoint of a Historian Way Later"

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So I am about to put the finishing touches on what I feel to be the most fulfilling piece of mine to date.  It is a culmination of specifically the past five or six years of foresight into what I want to make art about and how I want to make it tuned with the vivid memories or rust and decay I experienced throughout my child hood and my overall view on the progression of humanity in the world we live in presently.  The piece is an 8'x3' panel made of all found pieces of debris creating an assemblage canvas which I then attacked with a multitude of media.  In short I put a lot of heart and soul and love and inspiration, a lot of life experience and happiness and anguish all rolled into it, and long hours at night into this baby.

Not only is it a painting but it is also an integral component to the Altar Piece Installation I am making in Queens Nails for the awesome show I have coming up entitled "The Love of All Above".  A new installment in the Unstoppable Tomorrow : The World of Future Antiquity Series, "The Love of All Above" aims to integrate the paintings and detail work into the actual installation more so there is really no distinction between the Installation Piece and the indiviual paintings that can exist outside of it while it is presented as an environment.  This will in turn create a truly more realized piece of my imaginary future world for the viewer to experience.  Also the performances will be conceptually and aesthetically streamlined with the art piece in a true collaborative effort creating a page out of the graphic novel future/past world of Unstoppable Tomorrow, that I set out to have the audience revel in.  There will be performances by Joel and Rhea St. Julien, the Daylight Curfew Crew, and Kool Kid Kreyola who will also be helping in the production of the installation piece.

This new panel has been an enormous breakthrough in that I have realized the culmination of concepts,ideas and techniques I have been trying to bring together and they are all finally working to create this world in the eye of the viewer on many levels.  It can exist on its own as an art piece, but will truly be understood when it is seen built into one of the flanks of the installation, as a narrative, historical and mythological story telling device to aid in the full experience of praise and performance for "The Love of All Above".  If you think back to ancient Japanese wall tapestries or screens depicting battles, and daily life, or back to Durer with his prints of biblical monstrosities or the four horsemen, or even back as far as the cave paintings, then you look at comic books, and and super hero related material, or even sports memorabilia with its larger than life, almost Greek God qualities, you will see the common threads things being depicted that one day have an importance and a legend or mythology behind them that is highly influential and sometimes God like.  Taking this into consideration one will begin to understand that by creating this piece in the way it was realized, I am making my own epic, narrative stamp to be translated into myth hopefully a thousand years from now, but in the present it acts as a cohesive story telling platform through a multi media art practice that can exist on many levels for a wide range of audiences and demands thought and interaction in some form wherever and however it is encountered in its lifetime.  It was derived from all of the eight million stories in my mind while listening to a documentary about Charles Mingus and how his music is all about the conversation he is having with his fellow players and the audience.  Nuff Said.  "The Love of All Above" , February 4th, 2012, Queens Nails Projects, more to come...Felix