"Magic Realism"
An exhibition of artworks from

Martina Hoffmann

June 26 – July 26, 2008

Opening Reception:
June 26, 2008, 6pm – 8pm
Followed by a dialogue with
Martina Hoffmann and Alex Grey at 8pm

MircroCoSM Gallery
542 W. 27th 4th fl
New York, NY 10001
Ph: +1 212.594.8841
www.microcosmgallery.com

Martina Hoffmann, is one of the foremost female painters of Visionary art. Her paintings offer the viewer a detailed glimpse into her inner landscapes – imagery that has been informed by the dream state, meditation and shamanic journeys. Much of her art shows a deep connection to the sacred feminine and reflects a reverence for universal interconnectedness and the interdependency of all life.

"The visionary artist makes visible the more subtle and intuitive states of our existence and creates maps and symbols reflecting consciousness. These visuals have largely come to represent a new visionary culture that embraces the concepts of unity, safe ecology as well as a peaceful global family. In using art as a tool for transformation, we have the opportunity to create a reality as beautiful, healthy and strong as our
imagination permits."

Martina Hoffmann has taught painting workshops at institutes such as Esalen and Omega, including speaking at conferences worldwide. Her work has been exhibited internationally and been published in books such as True Visions, Inner
Paths to Outer Space, Metamorphosis, Noospheres, Drinking lightning, Illuminatus, One Source-Sacred Journeys and The Return Of The Great Goddess. Her work has also been represented in numerous magazines and publications such as Magical Blend, Shaman's Drum, MAPS, Entheogene Blätter, Wellbeing Magazine, Expose and Nexus.

The artist lives and works in the US and Spain.

"Your images show an artistry in painting that suffices to produce amazement and admiration for which words fail me." – Dr. Albert Hofmann, Switzerland

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News from Kris Wlordarski:

"Modern Images of Saints" – paintings by Kris Wlodarski

Showing from the 2nd until the 16th of June, 2008

Chelsea Library Gallery, 1st Floor

Chelsea Old Town Hall

Kings Rd, London

"Kris Wlodarski's series "Modern Images of Saints" places the relationship between the individual and the body at its epicentre: by reflecting upon the dynamics connecting transgression and taboo, the artist attempts to describe the isolation of those people who have chosen a sort of modern approach to ascetism in a quest for coming to terms with their identity.

"Wlodarski's paintings indeed look at the tradition of the 'still life' and approach mutated and mutilated bodies to create a composition of flesh, metal and body marks.The saints – in the artist's understanding – are bruised, pierced and scarred. Ascetism becomes a journey pointing towards the viscera, a quest that sees isolation and suffering as two of its key elements: to know oneself means first and foremost to attempt at reinventing one's body." -Albert Hofer

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Press Release:

Chris Mars Publishing and Billy Shire Fine Arts Press are proud to announce the June release of 'Tolerance,' the debut monograph by artist and former musician Chris Mars. Tolerance (160 pages, apx. 12×10") is a green and fair-trade book featuring more than 150 paintings and numerous essays by the artist.

Rock star, recluse, brother, activist. Artist. Chris Mars, darling of the Low-Brow movement and Juxtapoz regular. His work graces the haloed halls of museums throughout America and is tattooed on calves and biceps throughout the world. Tolerance, the long-awaited collection of his work.   

In the beginning…

Chris Mars was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1961 to parents Constance and Leroy Mars. He is the youngest of seven children. Mars's eldest brother Joe suffered a so-called Nervous Breakdown in 1966 and was institutionalized at St. Cloud Mental Hospital. The impact of that event, along with Joe's life-long struggle with Schizophrenia, set the groundwork for a life's mission of championing society's downtrodden and outcast.

In the middle…

Chris Mars was a founding member of the seminal Indy/Punk band The Replacements. Mars left shortly before the band's early 90s demise, and went on to record four critically acclaimed solo albums. Though out his years as a musician, Mars was always drawing, painting. Pastels on paper.  Ink on napkins. A suitcase filled with pencils and sketchbooks. Always. Calling him.    

All leading up to…

Mars' technical control is breathtaking. His Social Expressionist paintings contain the meticulous detail of Salvador Dali, the political incisiveness of Otto Dix, and the emotional gut-punch of Francis Bacon. His work has been exhibited in numerous museums including The American Visionary Art Museum, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Weisman Art Museum, The Longview Museum of Art, The Erie Art Museum, The Tweed, The Steensland and the Minnesota History Center, among others. Several of these institutions and others hold work in their permanent collection. Exhibitions at The Laguna Art Museum, Mesa Contemporary Arts, The Phipps Center for the Arts, Erie and Longview are scheduled through 2010.   

Now:

Mars hopes his work causes the viewer to question the nature of evaluation and labels, be it by investigating the meaning of beauty, or by casting aside the exclusion of the meek, the forgotten, or the enemy. Like many artists, Mars seeks to know Truth.  In his canvases are villains and angels, though one's initial demarcation may, as in life, prove false.

Tolerance features over 150 paintings, printed in accordance with the artist's social conscience. Says Mars: "It's a 'green' book. Published using vegetable-based inks, on recycled, bleach-free paper. It was not made by slaves, the printing costs do not sponsor State tyranny, no child's hands will have sewn the binding. It's green and it's fair-trade.  It took a while to make that happen. I think I'm as proud of that as I am of the work inside it."

Tolerance will be released in June, and will be followed by an exhibit and signing at Billy Shire Fine Arts (Los Angeles) in September. 

 Above Right – 'Tolerence' Cover

Below Right – 'A Soother for Dwayne' by Chris Mars

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From the 20th of May until the 14th of September, 2008, the Belvedere is showing a retrospective of six great masters of Fantastic Realism -  Arik Brauer, Ernst Fuchs (right), Rudolf Hausner, Wolfgang Hutter, Helmut Leherb and Anton Lehmden.

Open daily, 10am – 6pm

Wednesday, 10am – 9pm

Lower Belvedere

Rennweg 6

1030 Vienna

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Windows to Infinity

An exhibition of works by Dennis Konstantin

Exhibition opening party 24th May, 5PM
Featuring live band "The Cute"

Duration 24 May – 7 June 2008, 3 – 6PM daily.

Kuenburg Kunststaette, Payerbach, Austria

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Cornelius Fraenkel 

Erweiterte Horizonte (Further Horizons)

4th – 31st May

Opening hours: Thu, Fri, Sat 5pm – 7pm

Galerie am Gierkeplatz
Schustehruss Str 17
10585 Berlin
Germany
Ph: +49 30 4701 3187
www.galerie-am-gierkeplatz.de

Cornelius Fraenkel is one of 50 Artists featured in our first publication entitled Metamorphosis.

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Tribe 13 and Starborne present the Interdimensional Art Show.

Featuring the art of Roman Villagrana, Xavi, Chris Dryer, Robert Venosa, Martina Hoffmann, Ras Terms, Jamie Burton, Dave Heskin, Eric Nez, Aloria Weaver, Lindy Kehoe, Ishka La, Amanda Sage and more.

May 1th & 18th

950 Elliott Ave, Seattle Washington, USA

Gallery Hours: Sat 3 – 7pm

Show: Sat 8pm – 4am

Trunk Shows: Sun 1pm – 9pm

Workshops Throughout Sunday

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Press release from Scott G. Brooks:

"Under The Skin" – New paintings by Scott G. Brooks

May 10, 2008 – June 7, 2008

Opening Reception: May 10, 5-8pm

A preview of the show is now online at Long View Gallery.

"Under the Skin" is the largest exhibit of work by Scott G. Brooks to date.

These new paintings and drawings of his wide-eyed progeny are meticulously detailed, heightening the allure of their quirky narratives. Highlighted against a backdrop of social, sexual, and psychological themes, the details only reveal themselves after several viewings and close study–with new meanings developing at every glance.

The premiere of a short film exploring Brooks' creative process as he prepared for Under the Skin will be shown during the opening reception. This is the most recent film in Brandon Bloch's series showcasing Washington DC artists.

Long View Gallery, 1302 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

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Madusalon presents:

"Extensions"

A Celebration of Beauty, Style and Absurdity

Featuring a new series of portraits by NoMe Edonna and Amanda Sage.

Opening reception: Saturday, May 17th – 7pm – Midnight

Show runs May 13th – July 6th, 2008

Madusalon, San Francisco, California

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Coming up at Paul Booth's Last Rites Gallery:

May/June 2008

Cyberdine: Fred Harper and Christopher Conte

Opening Reception: Saturday, 5/17/08, 7pm-10pm

Show runs May 17th through June 29th

Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd St, New York City 

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News from Chet Zar:

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"We Are The Shadows"

CoproNason Gallery

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 10th, 2008 (8pm – 11pm)

May 10th, 2008 – May 31st, 2008

2525 Michigan Avenue T5. Santa Monica, CA 90404

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"Ugly American"

Strychnin Gallery London

Opening Reception: Friday, June 13th, 2008

65 Hanbury Street, London E1 5JP

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