Light

Print Release, Monday 03/19/2018, Noon, Light Power

I am releasing two prints with House of Roulx today at noon (eastern standard time). Two of my favorite works from my catalogue, Goddess and Grow Forward. There are 10 Hand Embellished Variants of Goddess, signed and numbered, 12 Standard Signed and Numbered prints of Grow Forward, and 3 more Hand Embellished Variants of Grow Forward also signed and numbered. These two pieces were both breakthrough works, and this print release is no different. I look forward to doing more and more of these as my work continues to grow. If you enjoy my work and are able, please do grab these prints as they are very limited and full of life and new energy.

The link to purchase at noon, 03/19/2018, est is ...

https://www.houseofroulx.com/collections/john-felix-arnold-iii

Superchief New York Giant Group Show X Juxtapoz Issue Release Party

I am at the airport right now headed to NYC. When I booked this ticket it was for my partner's birthday and also to peep some of the Armory show, BUT, BOOM, Superchief is also having a massive group show and a Juxtapoz issue release party one night after the other starting tomorrow, Friday 03/09/2018! The Saturday 03/10/2018 is the official show opening! Going to be nuts. I have been working with these guys since 2013 and I have to say, they are the future of so much that is art in the US and abroad. We are a movement, a community, a powerhouse of ideas and forward motion and insanity and I am so grateful to have been a part for over 5 years now. We are living in strange times and they continue to carry a torch through the darkness, with a huge squad to support that fire.

Please feel free to copy and paste this flyer and post.

Superchief NY is located at 1628 Jefferson Ave, Ridgewood, NY 11385, 

Their website is http://superchiefgallery.com

The pieces I will be showing are below. I can't wait to get to the clubhouse.

Hadouken, 9'x4', Painting on Found Wood Panel, 2017, $7000

I painted the piece above, Hadouken, on a trip to NYC last year during a period of immense travel. It was one of my favorite moments of the 2017 and I am really happy to unveil it officially!

Been Grimm, 16"x22", Painting on Paper, 2017, $800

And this piece from my older show in Chelsea in 2015, From Here is also going to be up and broadcasting live...

Moment of Realization, 22"x22", Painting on Wood Panel, 2015 $800

Winter

Winter Came,

Littered on the Concrete Floors as Light Peeked in from it's overcast hidey hole burnt by the suns wish to warm a frigid landscape,

Marking sticks marked territory and then marked new doorways to let rushing feeling overwhelm the barricades of the heart and let themselves Sprawl along the walls in a wrapped Beauty,

A soul made of the Universe's Particles of Time Space and Continuum and legend and intimate understanding guided My hands seeking strolls through the particulate of the East Coast air,

I washed up in a Warehouse of brilliance surrounded by powers of lightning and rhythms of purpose,

My bank Account looked like the carcass of a turtle left on the Road and not helped across, thunder struck by the wheels of a Nascar Sticker Bearing pick up, but it didn't phase me when the wind singed my ears with bitter frost and I knew I was alive,

I knew I was alive,

I knew I was alive,

I knew I was more than the sum of my parts and the sum of the parts of the possibilities that had surrounded me to drive to this moment of old meets new meets right now,

I knew it was a doorway, sculpting and carving a landscape from the flat high impact concrete floor with paint covered shoes and an invigorating series of morning breathes,

after prayer, and caffeine, and panic, and triumph,

I threw it all into that which was right in front of me, and I received it all as it was meant to be, 

Fulfilled until the next empty tank,

They Always See it, and They Always Guide me Through.

A Durham Home on a Winter Night, John Felix Arnold III, 2017

Enigma

A power that thrusts and receives,

A time breaking fervor of sight,

The transponder to the universe clear and yet indecipherable,

We move forward out of practicality yet knowing the reasons for our motion are beyond us, 

Convincing ourselves we understand it all, yet simply knowing deep within that once we stop existing deep within, once that channel is cut, what are we but nothingness,

A prayer for the power to receive and give in accordance, to give and thus receive without expectation,

Wrought in a world of expectation singing the siren song of know it allness,

The song of developed theories of how to manuals, 

Yet one thing remains true, we must keep moving, even then that means the cultivation of a stillness existing in pure light churning and vibrating with a bubbling glow of awakening.

Bright on Time, Installation by John Felix Arnold and Koutaro Ooyama, Ebisu, Tokyo, 2013

Time Bandit

So I am going to continue to make myself write a piece and pair it with images. I have been thinking a lot lately about the temporal nature of existence against the reality that change is constant but our energy is infinite, I believe at least.

Portrait of Julie Moon, shot by John Felix Arnold III, 2013

The Worm

A rhythmic writhing inside of the bellies of time,

The hunger growling's of a soul devoid of the acknowledgment of it's need to explore,

Gaining momentum as clarity becomes the gateway for an onslaught of beauty,

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the worm collects itself at intervals inside of my soul and the center of my chest,

The preparation for the compulsion become drive become open hearted connection,

The table of bounty strewn forth in shifting moments,

But still the pulsing energy of the worm,

Still the omnipresent power of creation finds its avenue from freneticism to calm fusion,

A see through shear cloth, pierced nipples and a smile of exhibitionist glee,

open to the fireworks of inspiration,

Smiles of clock blocking stop time and let the worm weave itself into itself,

I rip my stomach out and embrace the worm as my mind rises from my skull and fuses with the starry night sky,

Rising off the tarmac to greet the next challenge and find the next thread of raw power.

Winding Through Darkness, Nude Portrait, John Felix Arnold III, 2015

A Journey.

I have been keeping up with a changing world, a changing mind, changing emotions, and a changing landscape of relevance in a faster shifting universe. I haven't had a moment to sit down and focus on a year in review for 2017 and a look for 2018 but I will once I get the chance. Last year was powerful, it saw a shift in intent, practice, identity, purpose, internal demons come the fuel of work and the emergence of new energy for connection, and the scope of what I can accomplish and see in this world. Needless to say it was a year of lessons, it was a year of healing, a year of seeing, a year of discovery, a year of acceptance, and a year of moving forward as I aim to progress horizontally rather than vertically in the soup of humanity.  I want to revisit an art form I was once really into, the spoken and written word, and will try to post written material for you as regularly as possible from here on out. I have been thinking in terms of poetry and abstract thought assemblage to inform a narrative with images from my collection of experience so here. goes a first installment. This is about 2017...

Limited Edition.

Nature Grains Scraping the Rapture of Good Sense,

Unloaded Time Clock Inflight Navigation Fiddles,

The Temporal Space against the Clock, to find a portion of Endlessness that Suits me,

Divorced from Self Pity and asking to be removed of Self Seeking Motives,

Drowning in the Light of a Bathed Child,

Nurturing Thought amongst the Incompetence of Ego,

Fly Solo but Always Missing and Loving Partners in the Dramatic Screenplay of Times Embrace,

Kanye West and Hospital Floors Dripping in Fluids of Shakier Times,

The Sun Creeping in Through Windows while Fresh Thoughts of What Can I do rather than What Must I Do begin to swirl with a Reckoning of Spirit through my Blood,

Old Man Logan Ain't Coming Round Here No More, But He is Never Really Gone,

A Love Found in Freedom and Movement Parallel to none Before,

Solace Found in Smells and Sizzles of Mixed Chopped Salty Goodness,

Solace Found in the Flesh of I Just Met You and our Magnetism is Made for Right Now,

Solace Found in the Laughs and Smiles and Glimmers of those Perfect Moments Set Free from Time's U-Lock,

A Vehicle for Growth Finds it's Transitory Ticket Holder Whose Roots are Strong Enough to be torn up yet never forget the Soil They Come From,

I just Want to find the Best Plate of Stewed Pork Leg so I can Give it Another Wanderer Whose Purpose is so Clear.

Photos from Journey's

Once in a while I find myself going through some old folders in my computer looking for images of art work to send to collectors, press folks, curators, friends, countrymen and women, you know, all the peoples. When i find myself doing that I usually discover some old photos I had long since forgotten, or find myself immersed in an experience I had not thought of in some time as the lens opens up a whole world of time and place.  Here are some images I happened upon while searching for pictures for an upcoming Bloody Gums Portrait show.

Osaka, 2012

Brooklyn 2009

San Francisco, 2013

Pomona, 2016

San Francisco, 2016

Oakland, 2012

That Old New Shit.

I am working on my site a bit currently. I have been digging through some old images from my portfolio archives in search for a series of shots from a show I did in 2014 titled Pilgrimage.  I have really also needed them to set up a series for some applications for residencies and funding I am in the process of working to attain good favor into. Along my quest for this powerful goal, I ran into some high res images of some work that I thought I had unfortunately lost all of in a drive crash ages ago. Much to my happiness and surprise, after trying to reformat some god awful images that were extremely low res (from before websites like Squarespace resized your images in the programming and you had to save depending on screen size and at a viewable 72 dpi), I stumbled upon two images I had long forgotten that I myself had shot (not thinking I was a good enough shot at the time) and was able to color correct them and relive some of the energy and power that came with that time in my life. 

They are both from the Findings series from 2014. Relics of the World of Unstoppable Tomorrow, from that distant future past where the humans reconcile their survival after the reset of civilization due to our inability to control creations of war that we ourselves created under the guise of control. Classic storyline, but pertinent in my mind to my personal view of how our obsession as a race with speeding up our technological advances without thinking of the outcomes, or realizing we repeat the same mistakes of control over and over. Needless to say, these pieces are some of my favorites. One of them was shown at Fecal Face Dot Gallery for a show that Rachel Ralph curated right before an epic road trip I went on as part of my Superchief Gallery NYC solo show "The Scourge". Good times. 

As I write this we are hurtling faster and faster to the brink of nuclear war and I feel that this work, no coincidence, is more pertinent than ever in my life. Even more relevant that in the 1980s when I though Regan and Bush were going to take us to the Promise Land Eating Cheeseburgers and Dying As Our Skin Melted Off. Uplifting times. Here is to the New Year... My Big New Years Update is coming soon. Hold onto your hats already!

These works are both from the Findings series... Both around 26"x28 or 30". I love the cuts and shaping. They are Acrylic Lacquer, Spray Paint, and Graphite on Found Wood Assemblage Panels, 2014. Both sold immediately upon their releases. 

Findings-Jungle Sky, 2014

Findings- All In Together Now, 2014

Finding- The Harbinger, 2014

Store is Up in Time for New Years!

Hello everyone. My pursuit of making art and realizing projects has always been at the forefront of my practice. The pursuit of exploring the world, the journey inward and outward, the constant immersion of experience, the communication of the evolution of seeing the world around me, has always been my first love and focus. After a lot of thought and slow intentional work towards this, I finally decided it is imperative to create a platform in this age, where the ease of connection exists at our fingertips, to acquire works from me with the push of button.  I am happy to announce that my store through Big Cartel is officially stocked with paintings large and small, two prints, and two small drawings. Most of the works available include free shipping and handling inside the USA until New Years 2018. Work for serious collectors, art lovers of any budget, and gift givers. I will soon have a section for commission requests, upcoming zines and prints, and sections of drawings and smaller works available. I want as many people to be able to have pieces as possible from this mission I am on.  There is a lot of resonance and energy and history in each individual piece, and we are really just getting started.  Please let me know if there are any works from my past catalogue on my website that you may be interested in the event it is available and just hasn't made it to the store. There will be momentary specials as well so please check in often. It feels good to have this up and offering these works to connect with the right people, collections, and homes. Enjoy.

And hereeee we goooooo....

The Holidays Are Here...

The air is chilly the leaves have fallen, new studio on lock and winter is callin'.   I finally opened my online store this past month. Starting small, nothing major yet. There are a few pieces for sale, with free shipping and handling within the continental USA right now. I will be upgrading it next week in time for a last round of holiday gift availability. The store will be worked on steadily starting in the new year so look for more.  Please visit  johnfelixarnoldiii.bigcartel.com to check it out. 

Photos From the Vault

Newly Edited Thailand Photos.

I had the pleasure and opportunity of going to Thailand in September. It was my first foray into South East Asia (for those that read my blog consistently you saw my previous posts). I finally have been editing the images I shot with my DSLR there and am excited to post a continuation here now. Can't wait to go back and produce some art there.

Wat Pho

Royal Palace

Chinatown

Outside of Bangkok

Bad Ass Women making Donuts in blistering hot weather, on the way to Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya

Photo of Day 11/20/2017

W.I,P.

I am currently in LA...

...working in a temporary studio and enjoying getting to further know this powerful, vast, bizarre and beautiful city. No more words just pictures.

Albert Reyes Exhibition at Superchief

Thailand Continued.

A few more pictures of my recent trip to Thailand as I slowly edit the abundance of shots I took. This trip was seriously eye opening.

The Promise of a New Day.

I am fortunate enough to have people in my life that will inspire me until I rise to the next station in existence and then we all join power as we float through these cosmos. To be less abstract and poetic about it, I often draw and document subjects that inject a sense of light, intense awakening and freedom of the spirit into the world and they absolutely remind me that the world is to be experienced and built from as we grow closer to that next level of being. This drawing I started may end up in a group show in Brooklyn, no matter where it goes it will always speak with a force and subtle power beyond words for me. Shaman's are among us as they awaken to their power.

The Schizophrenia Of Displacement

I returned from Thailand to a bizarre situation with my place in Oakland. A landlord who is absolutely unable to be a stand up human being, and a timeline of work and movement that is demanding. I have been finding my self in a schizophrenia of choice, of not knowing which movement to make first, of not knowing how much or little to care, to put forth, to step forward or hold fast. It is a bizarre feeling, displacement, and one I have become almost numb to over time. Oakland and it's surrounding Bay Area has become a hot bed and example of mass displacement in America with camps lining up akin to LA's Skid Row as the numbers rise of situations where greed and unfair housing situations create contempt, and the opposite of compassion and pain. I am lucky that I have options and that I have been planning on exploring other possibilities for some time, but none the less the feeling of not knowing what a property owners next bizarre move or tactic in a shameful and uncommunicative chain of events will be is unsettling. 

I am very grateful to have worked hard as I have been in recovery and rebuilding life fort he last 6 years to have a strong foundation of support. Internally it does come in waves though. I know many artists will outwardly not speak about their personally lives on their social media, but my life's occurrences and experiences do inform my art and my thoughts and feelings. So It's time to set up more work in this cold weird dying house and start adding some language to the world's conversation. At least that way it will be documented in the spiritual world as well as the legal.

Stay strong, be flexible, and never break to all those being displaced.