beinArt International Surreal Art Collective - The ever-expanding online gallery of surrealist, psychedelic, esoteric, outsider, fantastic, lowbrow, erotic & visionary artists

Art News

Archive for October, 2007

Tomek Baginski - The Cathedral - Animation

October 31st, 2007 by Jon Beinart

Polish Animator/artist
Tomek Baginski
(born January 10, 1976, Bialystok) is best known for his Oscar-nominated short film The Cathedral 2002 (right) and 'Fallen Art' or 'Sztuka Spadania' 2004.

See more Surreal Animation on YouTube.

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Svankmajer’s Dimensions of Dialogue 2

October 31st, 2007 by Jon Beinart

Although I have already posted 'Darkness, Light, Darkness' by Jan Švankmajer, I believe that one can never get enough of ol' Švankmajer's Surrealist Stop-animation (this fan considers his work to be that of a genius).

So here I am again plugging another of my personal favourites: 'Dimensions of Dialogue 2'. I don't want to delve too deeply into what this film means to me as Švankmajer's surreal symbolism leaves his work open to interpretation, which is half of the fun (and I wouldn't want to taint anyones experience with my own perspective). Enjoy! 

Dimensions of Dialogue 1

Dimensions of Dialogue 3

See more Surreal Animation on YouTube.

New Chet Zar T-Shirts

October 30th, 2007 by Meg Smith

“Black Magick” T-ShirtNews from Chet Zar:

"Black Magick" available as a T-shirt!

100% cotton
Colour - Black
$20
+ $6.50 postage and handling

(Outside of the U.S. - $8)

Click on the image to order

Chet Zar is one of fifty artists featured in 'Metamorphosis'

Alex Grey & TOOL Band Music Video

October 30th, 2007 by Meg Smith

News from Alex Grey:

TOOL websiteAdam Jones, the lead guitar and filmmaker of TOOL has been working with Alex Grey on Vicarious, the first music video from TOOL's 10,000 Days album. Scheduled for release shortly before Christmas 2007, the video features Jone's signature surreal and dark dream vision blended with Grey's glimpses into a brighter world. 

Alex Grey
'Net Of Being'
November 10th - December 31, 2007
MICROCOSM Gallery
542 W. 27 St.
4th Floor
NY, NY

Alex Grey is one of 50 artists published in our first book: Metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis 2 with HR Giger, Michael Hussar, Paul Booth etc.

October 22nd, 2007 by Jon Beinart

Giger’s GalleryIt's been a long time since my last Metamorphosis announcement, and I'd like to fill our readers in on beinArt Publishing developments. Metamorphosis Volume 2 is in the works and will feature another 50 Contemporary Surreal & Fantastic Artists (with no repeat artists from the first volume).

We have already confirmed the majority of artists for this publication,  at this early stage, I will release the names of 10 featured artists.: HR Giger, Paul Booth, Ron English, Michael Hussar, Amanda Sage, Heidi Taillefer, Joseph Seigenthaler, Nelly Chichlakova, Jeremy Geddes & Suzzan Blac. I will release the full list of 50 names in a few months.

We are not accepting submissions for Metamorphosis Volume 2.

I also have very exciting news about our first book 'Metamorphosis'. We recently signed up with Tower Books (a huge Australian distributor) and Metamorphosis will be available in all good book shops across Australia before Christmas. We are also looking into international distribution, and Metamorphosis is selling steadily from our online shop. It looks like we will have to reprint much sooner than I had expected.

Ernst Fuchs’s GalleryI have collected photos of 25 featured Artists holding their contributor's copies, which the artists have generously provided.  In the photo on the right Ernst Fuchs is holding Metamorphosis, sitting with his two sons Michael Fuchs & Daniel Friedemann, also featured in Metamorphosis. This photo is of particular importance as Ernst Fuch's drawing is on the front cover of the book. Visit the Metamorphosis Forum for more photos of Artists with their books.

The Metamorphosis Forum also has links to Online Reviews as well as reviews and feedback posted by SurrealArtForum members. Feel free to join our forum and post your own feedback on Metamorphosis.

Edit - 22nd Jan 2008: All 50 artists for Metamorphosis 2 have been confirmed.

Brave Destiny The Movie

October 21st, 2007 by Meg Smith

Brave Destiny The MovieBrave Destiny The Movie is now available on DVD

63 minutes showing many works by artist participants including HR Giger and a host of others! The film covers the opening reception, the ball,  showing behind the scenes on the work by the artists in putting together this colossal show.
The ball footage features original musical compositions by surrealist composer Peter Dizozza.

$19.98 plus $2 shipping in USA and Canada
$5 shipping worldwide
Payments by check or money order or by Paypal to W.A.H. Center

Send to: WILLIAMSBURG ART and HISTORICAL CENTER, 135 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211

WORLD PREMIER
BRAVE DESTINY THE MOVIE, NOVEMBER 2007

Cocktails, buffet dinner and film showing, where it all happened – the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, USA. The Brave Destiny show at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center (WAH Center) was the world’s largest show of living surrealist artists the world has ever seen. It also held the first international Grand Surrealist Ball in the United States, in the tradition of Surrealist balls put on by the Baroness de Rothschild in Europe up until the death of Dali. Many people, including European nobility, flew in from around the world for the one night event.

Imagine five floors of art of the finest international surrealist/visionaries in a French empire mansion in the world’s trendiest artists neighborhood – filled with magnificent art from catacombs to attic by nearly 500 artists! Add on a month of incredible living installations, dance, theater, a fashion show, ballet, and film. An extravaganza never likely to be equaled. This is the documentary.

The man behind Brave Destiny, Terrance Lindall published a long article about Brave Destiny on beinArt.org

Photo credit Joel Simpson

Chris Mars at Jonathan Levine Gallery

October 18th, 2007 by Meg Smith

Chris Mars’s GalleryThe opening for Chris Mars's solo exhibition will be held at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery on Saturday the 20th of October from 7 to 9pm.

The exhibition runs from October the 20th until November the 17th.

Jonathan Levine Gallery 

529 West 20th Street, 9E New York, NY 10011

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm

I purchased a painting by Suzzan Blac

October 17th, 2007 by Jon Beinart

Suzzan Blac’s Gallery I am proud to announce that I recently purchased one of Suzzan Blac's original oil paintings (top right) for the beinArt Collection. I randomly came upon Suzzan's Myspace profile a while ago and was very impressed by the quality of her work. As I got to know Suzzan via email, I have watched her amazing technique advance and subject matter become more gruesome.

Months ago, when I interviewed Suzzan she generously gave me (and our readers) much insight into her world. Since then our continued correspondence has built a strong friendship.

I am very happy to have a piece of Suzzan's mind on my wall, and yes, the eyes do follow my guests and I around the lounge room Suzzan ;)

I'd also like to show our viewers Suzzan's latest painting (also spotted on myspace), which I think is her best painting yet (bottom right). I'm sure Suzzan will continue to grow as an artist and I know I will enjoy watching from the other side of the world.

Some of you may have noted my long absence on this blog after an explosion of articles over a period of months. My Personal Assistant and best friend Meg Smith will be publishing a majority of the Artist News blogs from now on as I work on Metamorphosis 2, but don't fret, I'll be back ;)

Jon Beinart

View some works from the 'beinArt Collection'. (Many recently purchased paintings & drawings haven't been added to the linked page).

Suzzan Blac’s GallerySuzzan's artist statement:

I am an artist who paints the emotions. I am facinated with psychology, physiognomy and body language. My paintings are motivated by my anger, pain and frustration. My art concentrates mainly on the eyes and the mouths, because they are the most expressive features of human emotion. I prefer to use oil, because it is the only medium mobile enough to blend and create the smooth technique I require to produce such realism. Work begins with a simple, subconcious doodle and then I attack the canvas! "I scream at the world - and the world screams back at me"

Chet Zar presents: The Talking Board Show

October 16th, 2007 by Meg Smith


Chet Zar’s GalleryChet Zar will be curating and participating in “The Talking Board Show”, opening on October 20th at CoproNason Gallery in Santa Monica, CA.
Over 30 artists have created their own custom, functioning talking boards (ie: ouija boards) for this event. There will also be a live musical performance by The Ghastly Ones.

Chet Zar will be debuting new giclee prints of two of his most popular paintings, “Black Magick” and “I Want You” - 30×40” wrapped canvas on wooden stretcher bars, signed and limited to 20 each - price is only $450 each.  Available only at CoproNason gallery.

“The Talking Board Show”
Group exhibition and Halloween party at CoproNason Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave. T5, Santa Monica, CA. 90404, 310.829.2156

Opening reception:
Oct. 20th, 2007 (show runs through Oct. 31st)
8pm- Midnight (come in costume!)
Free admission

Artists: Brandi Milne, Bruce Mitchell, Carrie Ann Baade , C. Blake Williams, Chantal Menard, Chet Zar , Christopher Owen, Chris Peters, Colin Burns, David Hochbaum, David Stoupakis , Ed Benedetto, Eric Pigors, Germs, Joe Vaux, John Haley III, Jose Lopes, Junkhauler, Kathie Olivas, Kevin Willis, Lola, Matthew Bone, Meats Meier , Michelle Waterman, Nathan Spoor , Orion, Travis Lindquist, Travis Louie , Ver Mar, Wilson Hsu, Zombienose

Viktor Safonkin at H.R.Giger Museum

October 16th, 2007 by Meg Smith


Viktor Safonkin’s GalleryViktor Safonkin’s exhibition entitled “The Inside Pressure” will be held in the H.R.Giger Museum, Gruyeres, Switzerland.

The exhibition opening takes place on the 3rd of November at 17:00 in the H.R.Giger Museum. The exhibition will proceed 6 months from the opening day.

All the paintings are borrowed from the collection of the Museum of Fantastic Art in Zeist, Holland.

Gallerie Museum H.R.Giger,
Chateau St. Germain,
CH – 1663 Gruyeres,
Tel. +41 (0)26 921 22 00