Justice for Janitors Mural Project

Andre has been asked to create a mural for the Los Angeles location of the Service Employees International Union. SEIU has been at the forefront in supporting civil rights issues and giving a voice to the voiceless for ninety years. This very exciting mural opportunity is being funded with a campaign through AIM/Hatch Fund. Your contribution can help! Please click here for more information. Thank you!

Miripolsky Featured in New Video about The Brewery

Andre enjoyed being a part of this fabulous new video by Eric Minh Swenson that features a number of Brewery artists! Enjoy "The Brewery: Where Art Lives."

The T.J. Martell Foundation to Auction Miripolsky's "Hollywood Sharks" Painting

Andre has donated an original painting of his "Hollywood Sharks" to the T.J. Martell Foundation for its "Artworks for the Cure" auction, taking place on Sunday, October 13th, from 12 to 5 p.m. in Santa Monica. It's a busy weekend in the Los Angeles area, but if you can, please stop by and support this worthwhile event. Details here.

Miripolsky Donates T-Shirt Design for Team "Being Alive" in the 2013 AIDS Walk L.A.

Andre has donated this terrific T-shirt design to the non-profit organization, Being Alive, in support of their team in the 2013 Aids Walk L.A. The walk is on Sunday, October 13th. You can read more about Being Alive, here and see a :50 video about them here. Register for the walk or donate here.

We hope you'll visit Andre at The Brewery Art Walk on Saturday, the 12th, and then walk some more to commit to the cure on Sunday, the 13th!

Thank you for your support.

Fall Brewery Art Walk October 12th & 13th

It's time once again for The Brewery Art Walk, a truly enjoyable semi-annual event at the world's largest art colony and the location of Andre's studio. The Brewery is just off the 5 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. Over 100 artists will open their doors to the public so visitors will get to see a huge variety of artistic styles and meet the artists in person.

Participating studios, including Andre's, will be open from 11 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and so is parking. Stop by and say hi!

Check out this great short video about the Art Walk by Brewery resident Keith Berson to get a taste of the Art Walk experience.



Art Walk at The Brewery Artist Lofts from Keith Berson on Vimeo.

Downtown LA Art Walk Video

This Thursday night is Downtown LA Art Walk night. Last month, Andre was the featured artist in the Lounge. Take a look at this cool video from the event that includes Andre's comments. And stop by the Downtown LA Art Walk website to get all the latest information each month!



Joe Moller
Executive Director, Downtown LA Art Walk

Andre Miripolsky
Artist

Petra Wright
Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts

Produced / Edited by Melvin C. Benson
Director of Photography: Mike Park
Music by Dan-O of danosongs.com

Miripolsky Has Accepted the Pussy Cat Challenge

“The Pussy Cat Challenge”
Group Art Exhibition

 

 Sept. 13 through Oct. 13, 2013

 

 Opening reception: Friday, Sept. 13, 7-11pm
 Closing reception: Sunday, Oct. 13, 3-7pm

Art Share L.A.
 801 East 4th Place (at Hewitt St.), Los Angeles, CA 90013
 213 867-4278

www.artsharela.org

 

"The PussyCat Challenge" is a satirical group exhibition at Art Share L.A. Curators Ted Meyer and Anna Stump invited more than 50 artists from Southern California to create artworks based on the theme of the pussycat, in a range of media from painting to photography to sculpture.

The exhibition playfully explores the concept of Art Show as Sporting Event. The artists have been divided into two teams, men vs. women. The curators chose the theme of “pussycat” to see how individual artists would respond conceptually, and how teams overall would tend (sexual or animal).

A panel of judges will score each artwork based on their own criteria. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team and individual artworks, including “Best in Show,” “Thickest Fur,” and “Fattest Cat.” Judges will include a veterinarian, a cat rescuer, a gynecologist, a sexologist, and various “Artworld Dignitaries.” All judging sheets will be made public. Viewers of the exhibition will also be invited to fill out their own scorecards.

The quality of visual art is generally considered based on personal preference—we “know good art when we see it.” However, successful Art depends on much more than the object. Making it as an artist depends on a complicated and seemingly arbitrary set of rules and hierarchies, including who you are, who you know, your education, your background, your usefulness, etc. Certain opinions in the Artworld matter much more than others. “The PussyCat Challenge” attempts to poke fun at this system by allowing non-Artworld judges to award prizes, making judging transparent, and acknowledging the absurdity of ranking works of art as if pigs at the county fair.

To view artworks, see the Facebook Event for the exhibition.

Please be advised that this exhibition contains sexually explicit artworks and may not be suitable for children. For more information write Ted Meyer: ted@artyourworld.com

Miripolsky "Punkaphant" Joins the Elephant Parade

Andre and his Punkaphant.



Detail of the Punkaphant's leg.



The "official" Punkaphant photo.

Andre's fabulous "Punkaphant" (above) was created for the Elephant Parade, an organization devoted to saving the endangered Asian elephant:

Elephant Parade® is the world’s largest open-air exhibition of life-sized, decorated elephant statues created by local and international artists to generate worldwide attention, public awareness and support for the endangered Asian elephant. To date, Elephant Parade has raised more than $5 million for Asian elephant conservation and approximately 8 million people worldwide have experienced the expositions.

The Elephant Parade has had art events all over the world, including London, Singapore, Milan and Amsterdam. When Dana Point in Southern California was selected to be the site of the first parade in America, Andre was invited to decorate one of the thirty elephants. The Elephant Parade will be on exhibit from August 23th through November 17th.

Learn more about the parade in Dana Point and see more photos of the elephants here. See a slide show and read an article in the LA Times here. Find the official Elephant Parade Fan Page on Facebook here. And take a look at the happy reaction of a few of Andre's fans at the opening event this past weekend:

Opening weekend at Dana Point brought out all ages in support of the elephants.
 

Downtown LA Art Walk Features Andre Miripolsky

. . . Andre Miripolsky! Andre will be the featured artist in the Downtown LA Art Walk Lounge on Thursday, August 8th. What will he be showing? Sharks, of course! It is Shark Week, isn't it?

Dozens of galleries are open for this event and thousands of people attend. Join Andre from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the Lounge and enjoy checking out all the art in the area. Click here for details.

"Over a Barrel" Group Show Reception: Saturday, 7/20

Join Andre at the reception for this group show that includes his work. Six Angel City Brewery oak barrel tops have been designed by six local artists. See them, plus more original work, on display through August 4th. The show benefits Free Arts for Abused Children.

Love Ur Roots - Venice

Latest news: Andre's cool new artwork for the great Canadian lifestyle brand, Roots! Andre collaborated on the concept for the design with longtime artist and friend Jim Budman, and Roots design director Diane Bald.

Last week was the grand opening of the new Roots store in a cottage at 1505 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, CA (the second store in the LA area).

 Check out the new store here and check out more about Roots on their website.

Completed Video of "Eat More Fruit & Veggies" Mural

Thanks to John Diamond for this video of the project! Learn more about the mural in previous blog posts. Just scroll down and click on the "Murals" category under "Labels" in the sidebar on the right of your screen.

The Vim Dicta: A Hot Band with Hot Artwork

What happens when a hot new band needs a promotional image to represent them and their music? They go to a hot, established artist to make sure they get the best. Andre’s pleased to be working with THE VIM DICTA! And his specially commissioned Miripolsky Sharks are a perfect fit for their music and style.

 

The Vim Dicta is a unique, young, three-piece band that showcases the talents of L.A.-based original members Matt Tunney (20/lead guitar & vocals) and Cori Elliott (21/lead vocals & rhythm guitar), and recent addition, NYC-based Chris "the Fuse" Infusino (28/drums & percussion). These charismatic musicians and songwriters have been influenced by a wide range of performers, from The Dead Weather to The Doors, The Mars Volta to Led Zeppelin, P-Funk and Santana, and they have taken hold with a multi-cultural audience, from Hipsters to Hip Hoppers to Latin music fans.

 

In L.A., they have played often at diverse clubs in the metro area: hipster joints like Harvard & Stone and Lot 1, venues like Leimert Park’s KAOS Network, and bars like East L.A.’s Lito’s Cork Room. They’re welcomed on the Sunset Strip at The Viper Room and, out of town, at SXSW. For all of May and June of 2013, the band is in Brooklyn, NY, for a sixty day tour of NYC, with shows at The Bowery Electric, Pianos, The Rock Shop and several other locations in the area.

 

“The Vim Dicta EP” is a four song collection which has been both critically acclaimed and fan embraced from L.A. to London. It's available for streaming and download from Bandcamp and CD Baby, while the single “Your Man,” which was featured in the Season 5 Premier of FX Network’s popular series, “Sons of Anarchy,” is available on iTunes and Amazon. With 17 additional tracks completed and soon to be trickled out, the band is ready for the next step in its journey.

Check out all of their videos on YouTube, too. Viva, Vim Dicta!
 

 

Monterey Historama & Urban Wave Wall

First, thanks to everyone who stopped by the studio during the Brewery Artwalk! It was a great weekend and all the participating Brewery artists appreciated your support of the arts.

Now, let's take a look back at a great project from 2011:

"The Present" - One of 4 parts of the Monterey Historama.

Painting the Urban Wave at the Museum of Monterey.

At the start of 2011, based on his enduring stained glass “L.A. Historama” mural proposal, Andre was commissioned by the Museum of Monterey to adapt this idea to create a “Monterey Historama” as a 10’x55’ mural printed on vinyl and installed in the main exhibition hall of the museum. The vision was to use relevant historical and iconic imagery from the Monterey County area, stringing the images together in a way that is both colorful and entertaining. Every image, for educational value, has a backstory going with it.

He was also asked by the museum to hand paint another mural on a 275’ long wood fence which wraps around the museum, located at Custom House Plaza. He came up with a vibrantly moving “wave” motif to celebrate the Big Sur area. CSU Monterey Bay art students and alums assisted with the painting. Andre was much honored to have this opportunity to create the largest public arts installation in Monterey County, located at one the most significant historical locations in all of California.

All of this work was done in conjunction with the reopening on June 4, 2011, of the former Monterey Maritime and History Museum as the newly-named Museum of Monterey (MoM) after it had been closed for fifteen months. The opening followed the 80th La Merienda party which celebrates Monterey's 241st birthday, sponsored by the Monterey History and Art Association.

The five-minute video below features an interview with Andre as well as a great look at these two important public art projects from 2011. See more pictures of the Urban Wave Wall on Andre's Facebook Page.

What to Do If You Can't Come to the Brewery Artwalk

Andre will open the doors to his studio this weekend for The Brewery Artwalk, a semi-annual event at the world's largest art colony. The Brewery is just off the 5 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. All participating artists' studios are open from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free and so is parking, so come by, see lots of art, and say hello to Andre!

But what if you can't get there?

Visit Andre's CafePress Shop and his Fine Art America Print Gallery! Many of Andre's famous images -- plus some brand new work -- are available as fine art prints and cards, and on cool merchandise like tees, mugs, totes, and a lot more. Check out all your choices!



Thanks, and Viva Art! ~ from Andre

 

2013 Spring Artwalk at The Brewery

It's that time of year again: Artwalk! Andre will open the doors to his studio for The Brewery Artwalk, a twice-a-year open studio weekend at the world's largest art colony. With over 100 resident artists participating, you'll have the opportunity to see new works, discover new favorites, speak with the artists and purchase artwork directly from their studios. The Brewery is just off the 5 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. Studios are open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, April 27th and 28th. Admission is free and so is parking. While you're there, enjoy tasty food provided by Barbara's, the on-site restaurant. Come and support L.A.’s finest artists, take home some great art -- and say hi to Andre!

Downtown L.A. Cityscape Updated

Andre and his updated artwork with Hal Bastian, Executive VP &
Director of Economic Development for DCBID
(Downtown Center Business Improvement District) 

In 2005, Andre created a large 3-D wall sculpture using brightly colored tapes with different textures for the Central City Association of L.A., depicting the exploding Downtown L.A. skyline. In 2010, he updated “Cityscape” digitally for the group’s "Treasures of L.A." fundraiser. But now, he’s updated it again, this time by physically adding the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Broad Museum (opening in 2014) to the original work! This impressive image, coupled with Andre's phrase, "Viva L.A.," continues to brand the new and improved Downtown Los Angeles.

Art.Life: A Special Event in L.A.

 

Andre Miripolsky invites you to join him (and his "Sharks in the City") on Saturday, March 30th, in a grand evening of art, music, and great design on the 11th floor of the LA MART, 1933 South Broadway, just south of Downtown LA. This red-carpet event is produced by Amy Demirchian, founder of EWI Collections.

The temporary gallery exhibition space of nearly 30,000 sq. ft. will feature close to 50 of LA’s best and most creative fine artists in all mediums. Included in the diverse and eclectic exhibit will be fine oil paintings in the classical style, edgy acrylic urban art, mixed-media marvels, and sculpture. An additional installation within the exhibit will feature special artwork created by youth who have been mentored through Los Angeles Arts Alliance. LAAA is an organization that raises money to promote art and culture among young people and artists in Los Angeles. A portion of sales proceeds from the event will go to this non-profit organization.

Tickets for the opening night event are $20, payable at the door. Public access is $10 April 1-5, Monday through Friday, from 10-4 pm.

Miripolsky "Sharks in the City" Prints

The Miripolsky "Sharks in the City" are now available in Andre's online Print Gallery! Everyone knows there are sharks in L.A., and Miripolsky has captured their dangerous yet amusing charm. Dive in -- if you dare -- and get yours!

Sharks Shine on the Sunset Strip

 

 

The Miripolsky Sharks have hit the Sunset Strip in spectacularly flashy style! See them through the end of March on two CBS outdoor billboards right above the entrance to the famous Key Club. Works from a select group of artists, including Shepard Fairey, Lilli Muller, Richard Owen Robinson, Billy Reynolds, and several others, join the Miripolsky Sharks in a continuously looping display of artistic bravado. Thanks to Andy Goodman for this very cool project! (And thanks to Lilli for the picture!)

 

 

Miripolsky Sharks Hit the Streets!

 

At last: the Miripolsky sharks hit the city streets!

Andre's cool sharks from his "Sharks in the City" solo show at KGB Gallery are now available on t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more. Head for Andre's CaféPress shop where you'll find the entire selection of city sharks visiting landmarks throughout the L.A. area. And check back next week when the sharks go to print in Andre's Fine Art America online gallery.

Even if you don't live in L.A., we bet you've run into a shark or two in your town!



Sunday Dancing with Miripolsky's Sharks and DJ Bart Thimbles

DJ Bart Thimbles

The fun continues with a Sunday afternoon family-friendly dance party at KGB Gallery! KGB Studios, Juan Rodriguez, Michelle Pinedo, Bonnie Tseng and Dutch musical ambassador, Amsterdam DJ/Producer extraordinaire, Bart Thimbles ("Turn Up the Bass"), will be celebrating Andre's "Sharks in the City" art show. Bart joins us on his way to perform at the Dutch Pavillion at SXSW in Austin, TX. He brings his own signature seamless style of Disco, House, & World Grooves, both new & classic.

Andre painted a Shark Bar at KGB Gallery!

 



  ***Dancing shoes mandatory, fins optional!***

4:00 - 7:00 PM
KGB Gallery, 1640-1646 N Spring St., L.A.
(323) 224-1900

Sneak Peek at "Sharks in the City!"

How perfectly do these sharks represent life in the City of Angels? Perfectly! This piece is already in a private collection. Stop by KGB Gallery to see many more of Andre's "Sharks in the City." Opening reception is this Friday night, March 1st, at 6:00 PM. KGB Gallery is at 1640 North Spring Street in sunny downtown L.A. Check out the Notes section on Andre's Facebook Page for information about how to get a free drink and be entered in a raffle to win Andre swag!

Cooley Law Firm Artwork Installation

Andre's specially commissioned work, "Protecting Ideas," was installed on Saturday, February 16th, at the brand new Santa Monica offices of the Cooley law firm. The mixed media piece is made primarily of colored tape, a signature style for Andre, and is prominently featured directly across from the elevator that opens onto the Cooley offices. Quite an exciting welcome for staff and visitors!

 

Cooley LLP has 700 attorneys in offices located in eleven major commercial markets. They most often represent clients who have created breakthrough products and technologies.

 

Thanks to KGB Studios for the photos!

"Sharks in the City" at KGB Gallery March 1 - 21

Mark your calendar for Andre's "Sharks in the City" art show reception: March 1st! Check the Notes section of Andre's Facebook Page to find out how you can enter a raffle to win prizes like a “show edition” original by Andre, get a swag bag filled with Andre swag, and receive a free drink ticket to kick off your night! E-mail events@kgbla.com to be added to the guest list.













 

KGB Gallery is in KGB Studios, an ever-evolving creative space located east of Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles.



 

 

 



"Eat More Fruit and Veggies" Mural Celebration

We posted back in November about Andre's new mural on the Superior Grocers store located at 7316 S. Compton Avenue in South L.A., which is represented by mayoral candidate, Councilwoman Jan Perry. This Saturday, February 9th, at 9:30 AM, will mark the grand re-opening of the newly renovated store. In conjunction, there will be a special celebration to recognize "Eat More Fruit and Veggies," the first community mural project completed in collaboration with Councilwoman Perry’s office, The Accelerated School/Wallis Annenberg High School, and Andre. Superior Grocers has been a part of the community for over thirty years. They're pleased to offer free health services and information to customers throughout the day of the 9th. Viva South L.A.!
 

Andre and Councilwoman Jan Perry at her election headquarters.

A section of the colorful mural and a young fan!

Miripolsky, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and . . . Clogs

The story of Andre and the clogs:

The MOC-Floyd Valley High School Marching Band of Orange City, Iowa, (pop. 6,004) was thrilled to be one of only twenty-one talented marching bands selected to be in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. The school takes its band seriously: of the 420 enrolled students, 170 are band members!

Naturally, they were excited when they found themselves in Hollywood on the 31st of December, on one of the special bus tours set up by Red Line Tours exclusively for the visiting high school bands marching in the parade and their chaperones. Their tour also had a special guide: artist Andre Miripolsky. (Andre enjoyed leading three of these exclusive tours on Red Line Tours’ busiest weekend of the year.)

Andre quickly learned that the “Pride of the Dutchmen Band’s” signature is Dutch costumes and wooden shoes, and the group was delighted when he volunteered to decorate some clogs for them.

After the band’s successful performance in the parade, they returned home and immediately sent Andre three pair of wooden shoes: one standard pair and one pair with the roses logo from the Tournament of Roses Parade for him to decorate, and one pair for him to keep.

Here’s the result! They’ll be sent off next week. Andre looks forward to hearing from the band when they receive their unique, Miripolsky-style clogs.

Launched! Chaplin, Hitchcock, Eastwood, and Coppola Star on Miripolsky's 2013 Red Line Tours Tickets

What a great event yesterday at the historic landmark Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood! Red Line Tours gathered press representatives, fans, and friends at a private party to showcase the new 2013 tour tickets designed by Andre. The “Directors Series” tickets celebrate four iconic film directors selected by the Directors Guild of America -- Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood and Sophia Coppola, representing the Silent, Golden, Modern, and Contemporary eras of film -- and are a memento for tour patrons of their visit to Hollywood. We'll post more pictures on Andre's Facebook Page as they become available!

Andre was in fine form as he spoke to the crowd. His jacket
was embroidered, the same technique used on the costume he
designed for Elton John's famous "Concert in Central Park."

 

Andre paid special respect to Sid Grauman, the American theatrical impresario
who co-developed the Egyptian Theare in 1922, then in 1927 created one of Southern
California's most recognizable and visited landmarks, Grauman's Chinese Theater.

 

Andre chats with Tippi Hedren, star of "The Birds." A special
50th anniversary screening of the 1963 film directed by Alfred
Hitchcock took place at Grauman's Chinese Theatre Thursday evening.

 

Andre with Academy Award winning actor George Chakiris.
 

Andre with John Semper Jr., writer/story-editor/producer
of "Spider-Man: The Animated Series."
 

 

Celebrities surround Andre for group shots.



Oh, and did you want to see the tickets? Here they are! All that's missing is the terrific effect when you see the silver foil detail in person. They capture the essence of Hollywood, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Greg Firlotte [top photo], John Semper Jr., Cynthia Friedlob, and Red Line Tours.

Red Line Tickets Will Launch on the 17th

 

The invitations have gone out for the press ceremony that will launch the new Red Line Tours tickets designed by Andre! Here's what selected members of the press received via e-mail -- in an animated envelope that opened to reveal it:

 

 

That's Sophia Coppola featured on one of the tickets specially designed for the popular Hollywood Behind-the-Scenes tour. We'll post photos of the event here and on Facebook, so be sure to check back to see them.

Coming Soon: New 2013 Tickets Designed by Andre for Red Line Tours

On January 17th, Red Line Tour’s 2013 collector’s edition tickets designed by Andre will be unveiled. The tickets highlight the work of Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood and Sofia Coppola. Click here to read a previous blog post about the festivities that are scheduled, including the 50th anniversary celebration of Alfred Hitchcock's classic feature, "The Birds."

And here are just a few photos of Andre and several of the guests from last year's ticket launch party. Some of Andre's 2012 ticket art featuring the Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, and Capitol Records building is in the background:

With Rip Taylor and Ruta Lee

With Judy Norton, Dee Wallace, Kate Linder, Erin Murphy, Romy Dames



With Tony Hoover (Red Line Tours), Hugh O'Brian, George Chakiris

With Don Most, Tony Hoover, Rose Marie

With Barry Livingston, Stan Livingston