TIGHT SPACE presents “We Still Got A Long Way To Go” by Megan Thomas-Melly

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper was playing when Megan Thomas-Melly (b. 1985) came kicking and screaming into this world. She grew up in and around Hartford, Connecticut, but Megan contends that the veteran halls, warehouses and basement shows of Greater New England were more responsible for raising her. Megan attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, graduating with honors and a BFA in Sculpture and a minor in Art History. Her artwork deals with how we communicate, our modern communication’s intricacies, its necessity and its failures, all the while maintaining a feminist perspective on culture. She has utilized drawing, bookmaking, video, installation, performance and sculpture to this end. Megan has exhibited her work consistently throughout the United States, as well as Weimar, Germany. She is currently living, working and caring for two weird cats in Brooklyn, New York.

Her work is available for viewing online: http://meganthomas-mellyfineart.blogspot.com

WE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO will be artist Megan Thomas-Melly’s first solo exhibition. It will be a one night only event (and then by appointment) taking place in a new project space located in the heart of Orange County, California as part of the monthly Santa Ana Art Walks. The show will feature a recontextualized sculptural installation and many works on paper, in cloth and on canvas presenting a hotchpotch of themes related to the artist’s perception of modern (popular and sub-) culture.

Liberty Fine Arts will be exhibiting Claudia Rubio and Armando Hernandez; two artists with very contrasting techniques.
www.liberty-finearts.com

J. Lewis Gallery feature works from Ronald Reekers

Artist Statement:

I wanted to explore the idea of bread.  We have attached many ideas to the value of bread within our culture; we identify money as “Bread”, bread on a table signifies abundance, in our spiritual rituals bread is a center symbol.  These ideas pushed me to a metaphorical look at bread.  Most ideas are faith driven, but others are whimsical and exploratory.  I used a variety of media, such as wood, plaster, mirrors, rope and branches to bring together a cohesive show, but nothing that brings this idea to closure.  I think of this as a work open ended and in progress.  It is important for the viewer to see this as unfinished and open to their experience.

Beamish Photography will be showing the works of Danny Schutt.

Danny Schutt is an artist, graphic designer, and cancer survivor. He works in a variety of mediums, and is continually coming out with something different. Danny is always open to new ideas and draws inspiration from every part of life. Over the last year and a half his life has changed pretty dramatically. Danny battled cancer and was paralyzed by a tumor on his back. He is currently in remission and is working every day on the recovery of his legs. Even though his energy is still pretty low, he does as much as he can to continually create and inspire. Some of his art is featured in the IncredibleArtist gallery in Palm Springs.

TIGHT SPACE presents “I Get So Worked Up” by Tiff IzsaTiff Izsa(b.1979) is an emerging artist from Ontario, Canada based in Dusseldorf, Germany. Her work is a composition of brusque design using the materials of construction and creation as both media and subject matter. She has exhibited in Europe and Canada, and has received awards such as her Toronto Art Award for Best Emerging Artist. Her work has been featured in magazines and newspapers in Toronto and internationally. Izsa is not represented by any gallery and her work is available through Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects(Toronto) and Galerie Andreas Bruening(Dusseldorf).

The exhibition I Get So Worked Up will be Izsa’s first in the USA. It will be a one night only event (and then by appointment) taking place in a new project space located in the heart of Orange County, California as part of the monthly Santa Ana Art Walks. The show will feature a new large-scale, free-standing, sculptural construction in the artist’s trademark ephemeral and shanty-chic style. Izsa’s work has been described in turns by critics as ‘dramatic conglomerations’, ‘crappy’, abstract-expressionist’, ‘fun and playful’, ‘magically mundane’, and ‘a nihilistic morass’… The artist herself often describes her creations as ‘Walk-in Paintings’. Related drawings and photography will also be displayed.

Curbside Gallery presents “No Offense God, But You Made Me Wrong” by Ben Brough.A nomadic, roaming upbringing aided in the development of California born, Big Island raised artist Ben Brough who is showing his work titled; “No Offense God, But You Made Me Wrong” on Saturday, June 20th at the Curbside Gallery in Santa Ana, CA. Brough’s style was molded over the course of a life spent bouncing between Southern California, Hawaii’s Big Island and Santa Cruz where his early influences including punk rock, corporate branding, and consumerism run amok. As an early contributor to the creative direction of the Orange County based Volcom Inc.

Brough’s influence can be seen widely today throughout much of the action sports world, however the artist remains completely independent in thought and execution of his work. His new collages will be on display at Curbside Gallery promises to inspire the acceptance of changing the way we look and feel, both mentally and physically, through food, sex surgery and consumerism.

Liberty Fine Arts will have a group photography show featuring Russ Inglish, Michelle Sanchez, and Jose Wantland.

For more information, go to www.liberty-finearts.com

ART from the HIVE is showing graphic art on various mediums from Justin Boatright and paintings by Rene Cardona and Daniel Coleman. New AftH tees and 20 one-of-a-kind painted hats by artist Rene Cardona available 6/20/09.

More details visit www.ARTfromtheHIVE.com
Open 7-10pm June 20th and by appointment anytime just email brian@artfromthehive.com

The Rebel Unit will be showing “Gothic Glow Lamps” handcrafted by Barry Berman. Also, original artwork from Rick Klu will be on display.

Dan Pyle @ the J. Lewis Gallery

Working exclusively in charcoal, Dan uses a photorealistic style. He only exhibits original, hand drawn; one-of-a-kind works of art. His drawings display mastery of shadows, contrast, and use of negative space. While Dan has been in the arts since a young age, he feels that he has truly found his niche in photorealistic style charcoal drawing.
www.danpyleartist.com

Kavika Works will host art by traditional and digital artist Tony Cabrera.

JOJEWKAH is a family owned and operated California based company offering  environmentally conscious apparel, accessories, and fair trade items. JOJEWKAH donates 10% of yearly sales to food banks. At JOJEWKAH we carefully select only the best products for our customers. We hope you enjoy our Eco-friendly product line.
www.jojewkah.com

Beamish Photography will be hosting NightLight.
NightLight is a non-profit based in Bangkok, Thailand that works to help women trafficked into prostitution. They offer women the choice to make jewelry as an alternative to prostitution. They currently have over 80 women on staff making jewelry and learning English and the stories of healing and restoration that come out of their work are incredible.

Other galleries open this month:
910 Civic Center Drive

Plus…don’t forget the amazingly delicious Kogi Taco Truck is coming back to Orange County and setting up shop at the Santiago Art District from 8-10PM!