Nathan Spoor

Nathan Spoor is an artist and writer living in Los Angeles. Spoor's paintings involve images of transition and growth; fluid narratives that chronicle a world rich with the mystery, joy, pain, and delicate balance of personal and spiritual evolution. Believing that continuous study of technique and process are critical to his own growth as an artist, no image or canvas is too precious to wipe, repaint, and even burn on his own journey to discovery and expression. In this way, Spoor makes a personal and transformative connection with each piece that for him lives on beyond the finished works. 

 Spoor is also an active participant in the art community, functioning as an insider on both sides of the curtain as a successful gallery artist as well as a curator. With his renowned standup paddleboarder and writing partner Greg Escalante, Spoor continues to bring challenging and informative text to Juxtapoz Magazine readers in an intelligent and educated fashion.
Tagged in: Street Art , Poster Art , Painting , New York City , Los Angeles , Graffiti
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Popaganda legend Ron English has made his way back to Austin, TX for a very special signing event during SXSW. This Saturday, March 20, the master himself will be signing limited run lithographs of his rock inspired works as well as limited edition clothing at the Billboard Bungalow in the Planet Illogica pop-up shop. 

 



-Nathan Spoor
Tagged in: Painting , New York City , Music , Los Angeles , Fashion
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So Ron, tell us a little about your connection to Rock 'n Roll and why this event at SXSW is important to you.

 

Well, this is a signing of high end prints with Planet Illogica in Austinduring the SXSW music festival that's happening in Austin next week. There are some really well known and popular images that we're going to show out there and I'll be signing things as well. There are images from my HISTORIC KISS series, as well as THE KURSED KIDS and my new SLASH album cover and other music related pieces.
 
 

 

I have been to SXSW a few times in the distant past. The first time I was living in Austin and it was all unsigned bands. I came back a couple times to promote my brother in law’s band THE SUTCLIFFES and my concept CD POPaganda. I seemed to run into everyone you can think of at SXSW. When I was there with THE SUTCLIFFES we hung out with Chris Douridas and a young man he was introducing to the world named Beck. We had just been talking to Linklater and for some reason I thought Beck was one of the characters in Slacker and told him how much I loved the movie. He seemed a bit confused by me.
 
 
 
Other years we hung out with Space Hog, Sara Hickman, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, John Doe, Jello Biafra, Mojo Nixon, Daniel Johnston, Sonic Youth, the list goes on and on. You saw everyone 5 minutes before they were famous. I don’t know if there has ever been anything like SXSW. As for my own relationship to music, I think that probably really took form in college. I threw a lot of parties and used a lot of bands as entertainment. In exchange for their services I would do their flyers and the occasional album cover. I also let them rehearse at my house. It was a big old southern house we painted psychedelic with over turned cars as lawn ornaments. There were jazz bands, classical, punk, you name it. We had bands rather than a stereo. Musicians that played my parties in the day included Michelle Shocked and REM. Later when I started releasing concept CDs I had a lot of talent I could tap. My band The Electric Illuminati just mastered our first CD so I should be able to premiere the tracks at the event.
 

 

Tagged in: Music , Los Angeles , Fashion
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The enjoyment of taking a drive, breaking the stream of creativity or madcap energy generated within the studio space, is a welcome change in the day's work pace. I received another invitation to drive through the Hills of Beverly and spend some time at what is quickly becoming a joyous respite for rejuvenating my personal power cells. 

I got wind that Chef Steve was in action at Tonny Sørensen's spacious abode earlier in the afternoon. This meant a few hours of eager anticipation wrapping up whatever I had going on, so that I could break out and see what delicacies were happening in the Sørensen kitchen. It wouldn't be fair to go further without really addressing why I was so excited about this aspect of the evening. Chef Steve had flexed his culinary skills before when I had visited this selective gathering. Last time around he had prepared an amazing 8 course meal, which I managed to arrive during course 3 and left around course 7. Every aspect was lovingly tended to, and added another dimension to the TS house experience.

This evening was to be even more of a joy, as I was going to spend time with folks that had brought my studio life and beyond into a more wonderful place of being. As Chef Steve prepared asparagus and a giant bowl of very fresh salad bits, I chatted with a gorgeous brunette and a chap that I found absolutely entrancing. As we talked, I found out that her family was involved in an incredible traveling animatronic dinosaur show. In fact, everything we spoke about was fascinating. I wanted to know more and more. Midway through our little moment, Kene Goldstein walked briskly into the room and said, "Oh good, Brent you and Nathan have met, perfect," and then walked away - a habit that is trademark Kene where he simply materializes at key points in conversations. 

"Oh wait...," my mind said. I stayed glued to the conversation, unable and even unwilling to break the spell that we'd found ourselves in. Giant dinosaur puppets? Shows in 4 countries simultaneously? Recording music from different parts of the world and just enjoying whatever process happened? Magic, I tell you, pure and simple. So after enjoying Brent (Fathead from The Dandy Warhols) and wife's company and extremely dapper attire, the fish came out of one of the ovens and stopped everything. It was picture perfect. So perfect in fact, that Tonny's mom, enjoying her stay from Denmark, had her picture taken with it. 

After a couple hours of talking with everyone there, which was a very small group of unique souls, a music jam was beginning in the far part of the large open spaced living room-cum-studio. Brent stopped almost mid thought, telling Bob Johnson, myself and Kene about what they were doing at the Odditorium up in Oregon (which included housing the Strokes as they worked on their latest record and all the amazing musicians jamming on different tracks for a huge collab concept album) and grabbed his guitar out of its nearby case.

On the drums was Siren, a Danish prodigy in the acting and music world, Tonny Sørensen on percussion, Fathead Brent on guitar, Kene on guitar, Ted the Hed on bass and.... get this, appearing almost out of the ether itself was Esai Morales on vocals. Now, I'd met Esai a couple of times before around Tonny. In fact, before I knew his resume (which includes hit series Caprica among other greats), we'd had an amazing conversation about the workings of the mind, the universe and how we as people are all interconnected. I also realized I'd heard him several times on favorite Bill Maher's program. So seeing Esai just appear out of nowhere and take us to another place with his vocals was yet another personal treat. 

Did I actually drive home after this? Or did I float or fly? If I told you that I teleported home I'm sure it would almost make sense. And as more events transpire and magical moments unfold, I'll be sure to share in whatever reminiscent fashion that my presence dictates. These are the times that make me feel more alive than I thought, reminders that we have so much more than we even thought possible to experience and enjoy in this life. Gratitude. 

And since a picture or two might help enhance the imagination at this point, let's attempt to remedy that to some small extent right now...


L to R: Tonny Sørensen on percussion, Fathead on guitar, Kene and Esai harmonizing


Tagged in: New York City , Graffiti
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MIKE BACA / 2ESAE

Meeting an individual like New York’s own Mike Baca (aka 2ESAE) will do one of two things: it will change your day for the better, and it will inspire you in some capacity. Mike is one of those rare individuals that is current and fresh, yet exudes an old soul energy that calms and focuses those around him. That’s my impression at least, and how I was affected by hanging out with him on a couple of rare occasions. I learned that Mike was arrested and imprisoned for his work, and that his neighborhood was in such an uproar that he was eventually released, thankfully sooner than later. He’s grown into the realization that art is many things, and has expanded his sensibilities into dealing primarily with legal art and his fashion label and design talents. Join us as we get to know a little about an artist in the truest sense of the word.

Check out: urnewyork.com

 

Tagged in: Los Angeles , Graffiti
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RELAX (LOS ANGELES)

After seeing Relax in action the day before, I had to do some due diligence and find out more about this figure in Los Angeles graffiti. Relax told me stories of the early days, of his vast current project of doing The History of Los Angeles Graffiti justice (which stretches my mind out still) and how it’s still important to keep relevant in today’s populated writing and art scene in this fair city. What follows is a brief glimpse into Relax’s fascinating world.

 

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Art galleries, shops/galleries, and museums that we like, organized thus:

New York (Brooklyn, New York City, etc.)

Northern California (Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, etc.)

Southern California (Los Angeles, etc.)

Elsewhere in the U.S. (Listed by state, alphabetically)

International (Listed by country, alphabetically)


 To submit your gallery for our guide, please send the following information to katie@juxtapoz.com
Gallery name, URL, street address including city, state, country, postal code, and phone number.

March 19, 2010 : Sight and Sound @ Norm Maxwell Gallery, LA, Norm Maxwell Studio Gallery 430 N. Faifax AVe. Los Angeles, CA 90036

March 19, 2010 : Odon, Weaver of Dreams @ FIAF Gallery, NY, FIAF Gallery, 22 E 60 St. New York, NY 10022

March 19, 2010 : My Other Half @ Gallery 146, SF, Gallery 146 - 146 Leavenworth Street (between Turk & Golden Gate)

March 19, 2010 : Undomesticated @ Wall Eye Gallery, Cleveland, Wall Eye Gallery, 5304 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102

March 19, 2010 : We Kill You: Rubbish @ Million Fishes Gallery, SF, Million Fishes Gallery 2501 Bryant St. San Francisco CA 94110

March 19, 2010 : The London Police Ride Again (Kentucky) @ BLDG Gallery, Kentucky, 30 W. Pike St. Covington, KY 41011

March 19, 2010 : Kelly Allen: Everything is Everything @ Medicine Agency, SF, Medicine Agnecy 1262 Mason St San Francisco CA 94108 (at Jackson)

March 20, 2010 : New works by Patricia Gillespie @ Zza's Wine Bar Gallery, Oakland, Zza's Wine Bar Gallery

March 20, 2010 : LIVE @ Norm Maxwell Gallery, LA, Norm Maxwell Studio Gallery 430 N. Faifax AVe. Los Angeles, CA 90036

March 20, 2010 : Hunt and Gather London Book Launch @ 47 Mowlem Street, London, 47 Mowlem Street. East London. (Off Vyner street), United Kingdom E2 9DR

March 20, 2010 : Academy of Art University Open House @ Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 North Olive Street, Dallas, Texas 75201

March 20, 2010 : the ART of Graffiti "Sketching Letters" Class by Nate1 @ 1AM, SF, 1000 Howard st, San Francisco, CA, 94103