Tuesday, December 29, 2015

American-Noir Celebrates A Look Back...

Posted by Gina Higgins American-Noir at Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Happy to be returning to El Paseo for this year’s First Weekend exhibits!

2015 has been an exhilarating year of cross-country adventure and creative projects and obligations, but I always appreciate coming back to my sunny Southern California home base. Over the past 12 months, in addition to completing some private commissions and album covers, several American-Noir original paintings have found new homes. Thank you to my galleries and collectors for this year’s sales of “Spellbound,” and “Broken Shattered Love Lost,” now in their desert homes. “Fallen Sparrow” was recently shipped to Seattle, where my collectors intend to hang it adjacent this gorgeous view of the bay…

and “The Last Seduction” and “A Double Life” are now residing in Santa Rosa and Silverlake, CA.

With roots originally in fashion illustration, I am flattered by and grateful for the extraordinary response I’ve received to what began one dreary northwest November day in 2011, as a capricious idea to create a present day homage to my favourite Film Noir and French New Wave films - an undertaking much easier said than done.

Over the past few years, I have frequently been asked why I've chosen such a fluid and contemporary approach to film noir, rather than employed the use of stereotypical noir symbolism. I have never been one to circumscribe my approach to creativity, and admittedly stray from a narrow archetypal interpretation of film noir, choosing to limit my use of shady characters in dimly lit alleys, fedoras and Venetian blinds and you aren't going to find any guns. I've flirted with the 40's in a few paintings, but I don't believe that repetitive characters and themes or adherence to a homogeneous colour palette, when used for the purposes of recognition or commercialism, necessarily results in anything other than soulless art, which in the case of film noir, would be a gross injustice to the art form.

Influenced by the powerful imagery of German Expressionism, the aesthetic of noir calls into question such weighty topics as virtue and corruption, morality, redemption and paranoia, which is what I find so compelling about the genre. Visually, noir is urban, edgy-angled melodrama played out between tyrannical or effete men and defenseless or guileful femme fatales. To me, noir is a timeless abstract response to the emotional frailties of human nature, with mystery and ambiguity perhaps the only consistent elements I strive to incorporate into each of my canvases. Earlier this year, my surrealistic noir paintings reflected some pretty intense soul searching…

"The Curious Death of Poseidon - Higgins - Acrylic on Canvas

"Your Identity Has Changed - Acrylic on Canvas - Higgins

…but at the moment, my imagination is in the desert – Think early 70’s Joshua Tree meets Alain Resnais, so for now, I don't really mind where this new creative impulse leads me in the months ahead.

Director, Alain Resnais

January is Palm Springs International Film Festival time in the desert. Entering it's 27th year and featuring films from 68 countries, this annual event continues to enchant and educate viewers from all over the globe. Achievement awards will be presented to Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp and Bryan Cranston amongst others.

Additionally, the Film Society's educational outreach programmes run year round to provide a much-needed service that ensures the art of filmmaking is made accessible to children and young adults from all walks of life and economic backgrounds. To find out more and how you can help, click here: https://www.psfilmfest.org/yearround/donate/

A few exceptional nominees from this year include Toronto’s “Felix and Meira, from Iceland, “Rams,” and Swedish director Roy Andersson’s dark comedy, “A Pigeon sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence.” The festival runs 1st – 11th January.

I’m happy to have the opportunity to reconnect with my desert friends and collectors, as well as to announce new representation by one of the finest contemporary galleries in the area, El Paseo’s “A Gallery” who is currently exhibiting, among other pieces, the first of my new series of desert noir paintings, “I Reserve The Right To Disappear.”

"I Reserve The Right To Disappear" - Higgins

In January American-Noir Blog celebrates the start of its third year online!

Having a platform to connect with fellow creatives and promote the work of artists, musicians, filmmakers and friends means a lot to me, and I’m looking forward to sharing more thought-provoking interviews and intriguing artistic discoveries in 2016.

I’m starting the year off with my exclusive interview of stunning singer/songwriter, Sasha Vallely, whom many of you will recognise from her work in the western-influenced psych band, “Spindrift,” which features members of The Warlocks and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. As well, the band provided the musical score to director, Quentin Tarantino’s “Hell Ride.” Sasha’s talents also include acting, producing, and a bewitching new solo project.

Sasha Vallely

Spindrift

I couldn’t say good-bye to 2015 without posting an update on some of the many talented people whose work and accomplishments have graced the pages of my blog these past couple of years…

Notorious London graffiti artist, Glynn Judd, is still hitting it hard in Essex (albeit legally now)…and tells me there will be a sequel to ‘Addicted To Steel.’

Creating my interview with the elusive Will Carruthers ...

http://american-noir.blogspot.com/2015/08/Will-Carruthers-Spaceman3-Cursing-the-Darkness.html

...was like trying to catch sand between my fingers... Erudite without pretense and fascinatingly ironic - much to say and not nearly enough space to capture it in an obscure art blog. Currently, Will is at work on a new autobiographical project, so I guess you all will just have to be patient, but I have a feeling it will be worth the wait.

As an aside, and to my chagrin, two days after posting the interview, I realised I had somehow typed “Spaceman 3.” The post was read/tweeted 738 times before I discovered the error, which graciously neither Will nor Mark Refoy brought to my attention – So I’m thinking they either figured no one really reads my blog…felt sorry for me because I’m American, liked the new name better…or found it amusing. Hopefully it’s the last one!

For personal reasons, I said I probably couldn't see "Heaven Adores You."

http://american-noir.blogspot.com/2014/11/elliott-smith-short-but-authentic-life.html.

To-date, I haven't.

I'm sure it was a fine film.

There are two people who can do justice to Elliott.

One is Autumn de Wilde.

The other is the incomparable Steve Gullick.

Enough said.

Elliott Smith - Photo by Steve Gullick

Ramses Granados’ LA gallery, Substrate, had a phenomenal year of exhibits featuring the work of photographers Martin Hausler, Jon Evan Glaser, the Photographic Works of John Denver, and the recent screening of John Balest’s Factory of Light.

RIP Lemmy Kilmister 1945-2015 - Photo by Martin Hausler

It was just a year ago last January that London-based Steve McQueen decided to interview me for his and Andrew Cribb’s fledgling online zine that promised to deliver an uncensored, created by people for people, cutting edge news publication. Well they have, and NeonNettle now boasts millions of readers from all parts of the world. Congrats guys!

LA’s Magda Bacera at ArtNois Magazine is continuing to bring readers the best of everything art and music in the City of the Angels. Her publication will be celebrating its fourth year.

You can read my contributing piece for LA's Crime Rock here:
http://artnois.com/razors-edge-crime-rocks-brandon-jordan-frustration/

Currently, Crime Rock's Brandon Jordan has returned to his punk roots and is shaking up LA venues with his newest project, "Heart Condition."

Two years ago I received an email from an ambitious undergrad filmmaker from The University of South Carolina. It said, simply:

“As someone who loves film noir, I appreciate what you’re doing; I made a film noir myself, and maybe you’d appreciate what I’m doing.” Chris Tevebaugh …

Honest, concise and confident- It got my attention...so I interviewed him…because I’m originally from the south too…and I went to USC too (University of Southern California)…and I like film noir too, and because…well why not? Great to see your film credits this past year, Chris!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154074/combined

Creation Records, Alan McGee said of London's IC1's:

"If you go and see a new band, go see IC1's, they're brilliant and post everything."

Huffington Post UK wrote:

'IC1s: The Band With 'More Confidence than Liam Gallagher Snorting John Lennon'

I've been trying to top that one all afternoon...I can't, actually.

But you can read my interview with them here.. IC1's

To: Powell, Barat, Mcgee, Sweeney, Beaumont, Hammond, Barnicott, McCormack, Johns, the press & the bloggers, the venues, bands & promoters, Fred Perry, Merc & Lambretta. Last but FAR from least - the fans. Cardiff to Glasgow, America to Japan - there's too many of you to thank and too few words to thank you with.

iC1s was just the prototype...Goodnight our friends x

What does the future hold for IC1's? Stay posted for more...

'Tamborine Man' Joel Gion is fresh off his European tour and back recently up in the northwest with the Dandy Warhols. "Apple Bonkers" was an amazing solo debut and "Change My Mind" ranks among my favourites when I want to zone out to something melodically beautiful.

Joel Gion looking very stylish in San Francisco

Danatalia and my Aussie friends, The Dandelion have been gigging nonstop and are receiving praise for their 2015 album “Seeds, Flowers and Magical Power of the Dandelion” Here is my cover painting for "In the Shadow of Light"

Great reviews for “Seeds,Flowers and Magical Powers of the Dandelion”

The Dandelion at Oxford Art Factory, NSW

Bristol-based hyperrealist Philip Munoz is still creating great art for London’s Albemarle Gallery, so undoubtedly still getting asked ‘Is that a painting or a photo?’ I can assure you it’s 100% painting and many months of intensively concentrated work with a 00000 brush and a steady hand!

Philip Munoz - Oil on Canvas

Scottish favourite, Stuart Luke Gatherer had a very successful year of exhibits and the debut of edgy new work at Albemarle Gallery this past September.

Stuart Luke Gatherer - Oil on Canvas

Modern-day Vanitas painter and friend, Hickory Mertsching spent the year exhibiting in several galleries and venues throughout Oregon and Seattle. Every few months or so we'll exchange 'northwest vs LA art scene' emails asking when and if 'lowbrow' will ever parish. The conversation usually goes, “LA galleries still exhibiting that lowbrow *!**?” “Yeah, it just won't go away. What about Portland - Seattle?” …”Oh, darn.” (or words to that effect).

http://www.vanguardseattle.com/2015/02/03/first-thursday-art-walk-preview-february-2015/

Cover Painting - Hickory Mertsching

Represented by London gallery Coates & Scarry, Midlands artist Dean Melbourne's work was selected for exhibit at CONTEXT Art Miami this past month. Congrats on the sale Dean!

Dean Melbourne "Consider Her Ways" - Oil on Canvas

Especially pertinent in these turbulent times, ‘This Is Congo’ documentary filmmaker Daniel McCabe joined fellow conflict photographers and journalists at this year’s SXSW for the thought-provoking presentation ‘Film-making in a War Zone.'

Filmmaker Photographer Daniel McCabe

So how will I be spending the last few days of 2015?

Hard at work...

Finishing a new piece...

Study for "Alibi Inn"

New Work in Progress - Alibi Inn

“The value of things is not the time they last, but the intensity with which they occur. That is why there are unforgettable moments and unique people!"

- Fernando Pessoa

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!