19TEN: Presenting the art of Jesse Reno

19TEN is Overlooks only gallery featuring Portland's brightest and youngest talents. Come join us for the reception featuring the work of portland artist, Jesse Reno.

Curated by Blaine Fontana

1910 N Killingsworth
Portland, OR 97217
503.954.3322
6pm - 9pm
Artists reception:
Saturday 6 - 9 pm January 2nd

Show runs:
January 2nd - January 28th
*available for appointment
only after opening

curated by Blaine Fontana

www.jessereno.com
www.thehopandvine.com

About Jesse Reno's latest work:

In the latest series of paintings by Portland-based artist Jesse Reno, shamanic beings struggle to find their place in a world simultaneously on the verge of expanding and collapsing. Totem animals and Native American figures reverberate memories of people who once lived as one with nature. Marked by symbols, these figures seek their dreams in the growth of trees and the passing of spirits. On their quest to find their true selves, they collect feathers and relics left by past encounters and past lives. They learn to transcend the boundaries of the rational world evolving into a collage of what they have become and encountered. In this body of work, Reno presents us with a journey leading inward to ultimately expand outward: "If you have moved wisely your dreams will still grow when you are gone."

PDX group show at UPPER PLAYGROUND "PIONEERS"

via pdx art zine

Upper Playground in Association with FIFTY 24PDX Gallery present:
“Pioneers” The Portland Group Show

FIFTY 24PDX Gallery presents to you a group show for the months of December and January featuring some of the best visual artists Portland has to offer. “Pioneers” will feature a diverse body of work from some of Portland's biggest names. While these talented artists vary in style, medium and message, the common thread that binds them together is the City of Roses.

“Pioneers” runs December 3rd-January 31st 2009.

Ian Anderson - Ian Michael Anderson has been a Portland resident for over three years, originally hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah. Much of his work is based on subconscious narratives in which a sort of personal mythology is manifested with few ties to the natural world, if only through metaphor.

Craig Brown - Craig Brown is a tattoo artist and painter. He works at Historic Tattoo. His paintings are bold, colorful and inspired by his craft in tattoo.

Guy Burwell – Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, he started his commercial art career providing illustration for local newspapers, murals in nightclubs, and posters for underground rock clubs. Moving to Portland provided a more dynamic, progressive and supportive artistic landscape and his work flourished. His client list is impressive and includes: Flight of the Conchords, My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, K2 Snowboards, Dark Horse Comics, Nemo Design and Guitar Hero, just to name a few.

Adam Crispin – Adam graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1997. Adam moved to Portland Oregon in 2005 and continues to develop in the Pearl District, where he focuses on the abstract while retaining an element of landscape.

Blaine Fontana – Blaine was born in Seattle, WA and raised on Bainbridge Island. In 2003 Blaine left hisArt Direction position for the title of self – employed artist and designer. He is represented in numerous galleries across the United States. His work can be described as “Urban-Organic Contemporary Surrealism” Paintings.

Mark McCormick – Mark has been riding bikes, drinking beer and listening to metal while creating posters and illustrations since 2003 or so. He is an illustrator, graphic designer and screen-printer now based in Brooklyn, NY although he grew up in Oregon and used to call Portland home.

Ashley Montague - Ashley Montague has worked in the medium of acrylics and mixed media techniques since his youth. His paintings are direct extensions of his ideas and feelings, sometimes trailing concepts for weeks. He currently works and resides in NE Portland, OR at his home studio.

Martin Ontiveros - Martin is a self described painter and a legend living in Portland, Oregon. He has produced posters for the Portland metal band Red Fang, shown work at Giant Robot, and provided cover art for Willamette Week and Portland Mercury.

Jesse Reno - Jesse Reno was born in 1974 in Teaneck, NJ and now lives and works in his home studio in Portland, Oregon. He is a prolific painter and muralist and also works as an illustrator and designer. His work explores his personal mythology and often references the connection between humans and nature.

Joe Shea - Shea was influenced at an early age by the art of the Catholic Church, classic sci-fi film, the pride of the Boston Celtics, and the music and posters of punk rock. His work is always handmade in mixed media with a recycled twist, combining influences of folk art, assemblage art, and all forms of street art.

Clae Welch – Clae Welch is a tattooist, painter and printmaker originally from the Bay Area. He now works out of his own studio, Historic Tattoo in South East Portland. His tattoo work has been featured with great praise in the following magazines: International tattoo, Northwest Tattoo and Tattoo Revue.

An opening reception for “Pioneers” will be held
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 from 6pm-9pm
Featuring beverages from Red Hook and music from DJ Mr. Mumu

An encore reception will held be held
Thursday, January 7th, 2010 from 6pm-9pm
Featuring beverages from Red Hook and music from Skinny Miracles


--
Fifty24 PDX Gallery
Brad Delay- Gallery Director
23 NW 5th Ave.
Portland OR, 97209
ph. 503.548.4835
fifty24pdxgallery.com

Inaugural Opening Curating @ 19TEN Portland, OR

I'm thrilled to announce another creative endeavor to Fontana Studios. I was recently asked to be the curator of 19TEN. A private events space in North Portland, OR. Adjoind to The Hop & Vine, we will be hosting monthly art shows showcasing some of the Northwest's brightest and avant garde visual artists.

Zach Johsen's newest body of work deals with the human form and how it interacts with outside influences.. most notably the pull of nature and the world of ghosts and unseen energies. Much of his work implies an act of violence or revulsion amongst something cute and cuddly. It is a sea of stuffed animals filled with cacti. It is a lollipop that tastes like tar and oil. It is a moment of pure revelation while drinking your morning coffee or tea. It is a sudden realization that everything we deal with on a day to day isn't all that there is. That there is in fact, so much more around us if we open our senses to it.

INAUGURAL OPENING:

19TEN
1910 N Killingsworth
Portland, OR 97217
503.954.3322
5pm - 9pm
Sunday, December 6th
*show runs till december 30th
*available for appointment only after opening

www.zachjohnsen.com

www.thehopandvine.com

Print Release "The Avant Garden of Midnight Marauders"

"This has been considered by many to be one of Blaine's most loved pieces. A favorite of his also, he has decided to release 2 limited edition sizes. 18" x 24" ltd edition of 100 @$150 and 24" x 40" ltd edition of 50 @$300 each."

http://www.blainefontana.com/storefront_holiday.html

print release...

"One of Blaine's most recent works, and indicative of Blaine's current direction in his new art. This giclee is 17" x 24"(1 inch bleed), ltd. edition of 150, signed and numbered, printed on archival fine art textured paper 100% cotton rag, and offered at $125. "

http://www.blainefontana.com/storefront_holiday.html

MY NAME IS article from europe

this is a little late, but better i post this than not. MY NAME IS did a very flattering interview/feature on my art, and i was lucky enough to also get the cover. this publication is more book than magazine. european publishing and culture is a decade ahead of us here in the states. a quarterly "mag" thats an 1" thick featuring contemporary artists from "the movement" i was honored by their 20 page feature and being in company of several other visionaries.

JShea & Blaine Fontana Collaborative Live Painting

My man joe and I will be at Rotture this friday night doing our callabro thing on a 4' x 8' panel. come by and say hi if you are in Portland, OR!!

http://www.jshea9.com

November 13, 2009 9:00 pm (Friday)
Live & Direct @ ROTTURE
315 SE 3rd AVE
Portland, Oregon 97214, United States
http://www.rotture.com

Many new projects and products to be revealed soon.

The last 2 months have been a roller coaster. Its been hard to publish on the blog due to some exciting developments that needed special attention.

Over the past months, I have been keeping busy with companies like Band Merch, Arbor Snowboards, Armada Skis, Nike Basketball Projects, and the merger of a motion graphics/film/editing studio with my own graphic studio LV8. SUBMERGE is now a division of LV8 that will offer cutting edge solutions to broadcast media/film. I'll be posting demo reels of numerous SUBMERGE projects on LV8 in the near future. We are in the middle of a large project that should debut next year on television.

Lastly, there will be 2 product launches before the end of the year that I am especially proud of and excited for. I can't name the companies because that would give it away, so, stay tuned for official updates through my newsletter.

Thanks!
blaine

New Painting in Honor of my stepfather

Just wrapped up this painting in honor of my recently departed stepfather. A Lakota Indian, crows were a significant and spiritual part of his life. I had started this painting while he was still alive but during its process, my stepfather left and the painting began to take on a whole new life and meaning. The crow feathers were a last addition, originally they were to be butterflies.

"The Fragrance of Mortality"
24" x 24"
acrylic on board

Nestkeeper press

Just had to say thanks for all the folks everywhere plugging my little darlings!!! See all the write ups here:

http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2009/08/artist-blaine-fontana-completes-his-30.html

http://www.justanotherartblog.com/?p=903


http://www.capturedaesthetic.com/2009/08/blaine-fontana-nestkeepers.html

http://tapedek.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/artist-blaine-fontana-completes-his-30-limited-edition-nestkeepers/

http://arrestedmotion.com/2009/08/releases-blaine-fontana-nestkeepers/

http://picocool.com/art/30-limited-edition-nestkeepers-by-blaine-fontana/

http://cakeheadlovesevil.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/blaine-fontanas-keep-sakes/

http://blog.cluttermagazine.com/2009/09/blaine-fontana-nestkeepers.html

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2009/09/22/japanese-figurines/

Nestkeepers Completed

Its exactly 2 years to the day when I completed the first 8 of these, I have finally completed the remainder 22. These were done with an Otis Alumni brother, Daniel Garcia from the Toy department. I sculpted the prototype, and then he applied his talents with the wax pen on the second cast, then the 2 of us casted the finals together. I then hand painted each one and added sculptural elements like manzanita branches, birds, nests etc., to make each one totally unique. Its a solid silicon cast, each one is about 5" tall - 10" tall.

I've also posted the painting my little darlings were inspired by.

The final photos are at this link below and are now available.
http://www.blainefontana.com/nestkeepers.html

AVATAR

unless you've been sailing around on the pacific on a raft with wilson for the last year, james cameron's film AVATAR is about to revolutionize film making all over again. the teaser trailer has been published online:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar

Society 6 + SXSW

With the profound respect and pleasure I have for and using Society 6, its important that all you artists and designers are informed about a possible panel representation at SXSW the Society 6 crew is striving for. They need your vote, and maybe even a comment if you truly support the arts. Here's more from Justin Cooper, one of Society 6's co-founders:

Hey everyone, we need your help to secure a spot for Society6 at SXSW in March! We're going to be inviting a few of you to join us, along with as many people as possible that will increase our chances of charming the big wigs over at SXSW into giving Society6 and our friends the stage to share what we're up to.

Our plan is to head on over to Austin and spread the word as far and wide as possible in hopes of bringing home more opportunities for the members of Society6.

So we're counting on each of you to please help us ensure that Society6 gets the visibility that we all need!

If you can only do the minimum to support us here, please simply go to the SXSW panel picker page and please give us both the thumbs up AND drop a comment for the SXSW committee to see that we really are doing something unique to help the world's artists:

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/4899?return=%2Fideas%2Findex%2F4%2Fq%3Afrom+artist+exploitation

Dan Hopkins Collection Show

I stumbled upon this over the weekend and really wish I could be there. Several years back I had the pleasure of making Dans acquaintance and having him over at the studio in Long Beach, CA. He and I kept in frequent contact over 2005 & 2006, He has an overwhelming appetite for art and his true passion for it is a contagious trait. If you are near Rhode Island or can make the trip, I HIGHLY SUGGEST you visit this private collection that will be at the Montanaro Gallery for a short while. Opportunities like this rarely come along, so take advantage.

via northeast surfing
visit below for more info
http://northeastsurfing.com/news/?p=684

some of my work in dans collection:

Big Up Magazine Feature

I might be a little delayed on this news, but a great magazine that features the counter culture world did a little article on my work a 2 months ago. I was really surprised to see the quality of the paper stock in this zine and generous image sizing. Big Up is a bi-monthly magazine, so this issue still might be on shelves. Or if the economy has your balls in a vise, you can read the article with the large images I posted. Don't ever say I didn't give you anything.

BIG UPS to BIG UP

A spontaneous trip to the river

Our neighbors dragged us out of the house on Sunday just when I was going to work in the studio. I'm glad they did. 30 minutes away from portland we arrived on the Washougal river at this gorgeous lagoon. The dogs had a blast, Athena, our chihuahua learned to swim for the first time. This place was a little slice of paradise on a perfect Sunday.

Permanent wood installation @ Together Gallery, Portland, OR

Yesterday was too damn swampy to get anything done in the studio(105 degrees in portland)so at the last minute I decided to create a wood installation @ together gallery while enjoying some AC. The install reflects the theme of the show and the vibe of the gallery. Looks like a wood quilt, and will now be permanently displayed @ together gallery. The wood bonsai is a sculpture done by my brother the architect guru.

"WOOD" show @ Together Gallery, Portland, OR

WOOD @ Together Gallery
2916 NE Alberta, Suite A
Portland, OR. 97211
Opening reception: Last Thursday July 30th 6-10 pm
www.togethergallery.com

Here's a little taste of my work for the show this thursday. Its about 22" x 30", the wood is all malaysian kuring wood, with model trees on top. "Polypropylene Detritus"

Other artists showing:
APAK, Amy Ruppel, J. Shea, Seth Neefus, Mark Warren Jacques, David Wien, Theo Ellsworth, Timothy Karpinski, Justin "Scrappers" Morrison, Ryan Bubnis, Nas Chompas, Tom Keating, Nick Harris, Amanda Wallgraf, Gabe Bacon,
Nick Musso, Jason Rens, Molly Purnell, Erik Otto, Jonathen Edelhuber, Les Ramsey, and Brandon Hogg.