The auction will be held ONLINE from Sunday, January 18 through Sunday, January 25. Please email or call us for details.

( photos)
31 December 1969

Albumul poate fi vazut doar online.

Robert Pokorny is a secret Long Beach legend: Though some may not know his name, most are familiar with his work. …

As the primary illustrator of the instore show posters for beloved Long Beach music store Fingerprints, Robert Pokorny’s conceptualized visions of independent music icons—running the gamut from Sonic Youth to Jack Johnson—have been collected by music lovers for more than a decade.

Pokorny’s work in the music industry has included everything from gig posters and cd covers to big name clients like Capitol Records and EMI, but his portfolio extends far beyond the realm of rock and roll. Pokorny’s paintings and illustrations have been featured in contemporary galleries from LA to Las Vegas and earned him recognition from groups like the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, who recently included two of his pieces in their limited edition Illustration West 45 book showcasing the best of contemporary illustration from throughout the U.S.

Pokorny’s latest series, Transitions, reflects on the constant state of movement that links individual moments in time, each piece capturing its subject in the midst of that transitional state. Drawing inspiration from a variety of unexpected sources, including the covers of old jazz albums, Pokorny blends the figure abstractions of modern and post-modern art with his keen eye for contemporary culture.

Pokorny also has a keen eye for color, which is readily apparent throughout Transitions, emphasized by his choice to paint with Cel-Vinyl, a vinyl-acrylic copolymer normally used for animation. The result is a strikingly bold palette with a clean, crisp line that is the perfect complement to the compelling characters Pokorny has created.

Transitions is Pokorny’s first exhibition at {open}, though his work is a favorite of {open} co-owners Sé Reed and Shea Gauer. Reed met Pokorny in 2006 when interviewing him for a local publication, but she had already been introduced to his work by Gauer, who papered the bookstore’s backroom with a collection of Fingerprint’s posters, most of which were Pokorny’s.

“We’re delighted to feature Robert’s work,” said Reed. “Both Shea and I have long admired his style, but it was worth the wait. We’re both still stunned by the beauty of this latest series.”

*TONS of books from 50 cents to $1 … plus 15% off our instore used books!*

Then stay for the opening reception of “Bewilder Me” from artist Justin Lovato with light refreshments and tunes courtesy DJ Salty.

From his bio …

The characters and subject matter in his paintings often tell some arcane and dark story, which is expressed through steady-handed intricate line work. Through layering of vivid color, he narrates the intriguing and amusing tales of seemingly pain-stricken, weathered, and worn individuals.

“Musical sounds can evoke certain emotions, but I have always been in awe of how it can create color and form in my mind’s eye,” Carey said.

Carey’s works depict the tonal quality of the singing voice, but the work itself is absent of any lyrical influence. Apparently, each piece was created with a certain question in mind: What does the artist visualize for each sound?

The works are fun, colorful and lyrical in the sense that they force the eye to move about the “canvas” with ease. If you need a visual, imagine “Lite Brite” where colored pegs are used to create varying shapes and moods.

The show ends July 20.

opening reception // saturday, mar 29 // 6-9pm // free

Marleah Tobin’s work is unplanned, unchoregraphed and unscripted, what she calls “a left-hand path to digitization.”

Her goal is to capture an image as it happens, “the way your youth was captured. Tangible, visceral, but simultaneously dreamlike.Things immortalized not as they necessarily looked, but how you felt and how you’ll remember them. Instant film is dying, obsolete. but warmer and more expressive than pixels, it’s the stuff that grabs your heart.

“Camera Eye” will open with a reception, including DJs and light refreshments, from 6 to 9 pm. The reception is being held in conjunction with Last Saturdays, 4th Street’s new bi-monthly art night, which will feature art receptions in numerous shops along the street.

Saturday, April 28th 6-8pm
light refreshments :: live dj