Fangi that-

Darci Fangi-

Beyond words...
I used to imagine art this loose and vital. It seems to hold it's sway over your own pencil. Her lines are infused with calm energy and her way with color is subtle and classic. She went to some fancy school on the east coast I always forget the name of. I think I'll post her bio for you...

Jones'n

Tim Jones, Chicago artist and all around sweet heART shows off his guts. He's the Wicker Park candy man now! Honestly, it takes a lot of guts to get this kind of ink on your belly. Ask Tupac.

Lost art?

Even losers need art. Ouch!

who?

the Sears Tower will be changing it's name to the Willis Tower. The Diff'rent Strokes jokes have already run their gambit.
But the issue is frankly a non-issue for many title loyal Chicagoans. Like Comiskey, and several other Chicago icons and landmarks. A corporate name will never replace the original marker, even if that was a name of a corporation as well.

For me, the Sears is more than a landmark. The Sears reminds me to aspire to reach my full potential. It reminds me of the superlatives in life while humbling me. And I get lost sometimes if I can't see it. You can change the name, but it will continue to inspire artists as long as it stands. And even after...

Here is a random image I found of it. Sometimes in art the more a figure is abstracted and changed the more recognizable it becomes. Can you name a figure besides Oprah, Capone, or Jordan more related to Chicago than the Sears Tower? That's what I thought.
What you talk'n 'bout Willis? -
had to do it for the street...

The Grey Area

J.D. Grey, Chicago persona is different.
While many artists jumped on the custom kick band wagon, J.D. saw an open door. He took it to womens pumps and heels. Teaming up with his gifted sister, founder of Found Objects: She holds the sales events and he decks out your shoes. Ladies love it. I love it. It's creative, green and cool. Check these out.

Andres, prelude to an interview

I had the chance to hang this mans work at the Melt Down at Sub-T Lounge. He hung his Transportation series. It transported everyone to another realm.
1/2 of the Luck Wings Artist Collective, Andres Contreras gives art so much passion he married it and his wife who runs the group with him. His work has toured Mexico and more. The best part of his work is the conversations of people in it's presence. It gradually creeps in to your mind. The colour slowly crawls into your retina. He uses warmer hughes and mixes what many would call washes with technical forms so naturally it's as if you imagined his painting seconds before you saw it. This is one to look out for.

Statik

Chicago has legends. Statik is one of them. This piece is so vibrant, the wall looks as if it was illuminated.

Chicago Art

I apologize ahead of time. Often times I will be searching for something on the net completely unrelated to Lambert Says Art and come across an incredible piece of art work. Sometimes I remember to write the name of the artist down. This is not one of those instances. This is one of the many occasions I spaced out and assumed I'd find the name again if I put in a similar search.

I vow to change my inconsiderate ways, but I feel it would be a travesty not to share the art with you and/or expose the piece itself.
It's not as if you were going to buy it. No offense, Bush has turned many artists into policeman or soldiers.

This painting has a special significance to me. Not simply because I am a Chicagoan or live close to Chicago and Halsted, but because my father used to work across the street from this site and once in a while after my sister and I's piano and violin lessons he would drive through the site and explain the inner workings of a true industrial compound and then he would take us out to breakfast. That would make up for missing Saturday morning cartoons...

Marvelous!

Bio
Marcellous Lovelace is a African American Political Artist from the Dirtiest Area's of the South Side of Chicago his works shows the depth of Reality in Thought, Nationalism and Social Awareness through Right Knowledge. A Nubian Painter with over 24 years of experience, most of Marcellous's Art comes from reality and not fantasy world, "The greatest expression you can imagine is what really happens and what you will create".

After seeing a couple of his pieces on Facebook I decided Lambert Says Art had to know more about this man. Months after this interview he released a video he directed and edited. It was in perfect synch, full of content and original. Just like his art work.
The colors of his work are not too loud and blend in a rich unison. The texture and tones of his paints will melt your heart in tandem with the subject matter. Too much of his soul has been invested into the work and it hurts to look at it too long. Here some his words and images anyway.
Interview with Quishenta Joans.

Q.J.
How long do you spend blending your colors?

M.L.
Well for me to mix colors it only takes a few minutes. Most of the time I mix directly on the surface and other times I have to add tints etc .. It's not a hard process when I make Art its really easy going and not really time consuming. I create all the time its a random problem to solve.


Q.J.
If you had more money to spend on art, what would your next move be?

M.L.
With more money to spend on Art hmm well I'd open up an Art Foundation and Gallery to Support African Art Culture Worldwide, including all the lesser known groups of African peoples from Russia, Asia, South America etc.. And develop a better knowledge of who these people are. The Indigenous African World needs to be taught on a wider angle and more detailed scope.


Q.J.
Does your craft affect your attire?

M.L.
Not really I'm none materialistic and I don't care About how I dress anyway. What ever I where I paint in, be it a Suit, Jordans, under wear or what ever. I'm bound to paint any way shape form or fashion.



Q.J.
When do you have to pull yourself away from a piece?

M.L.
I do not really pull my self away I normally get done before I exit the studio I'm painting in. If I'm away from my home studio I will just pull out the wrap it up box and leave and return another day. But that world is mostly for those that don't get done, I need to finish my work its my life.

Local Boy Makes Faces

Charles Hart better known to his friends as Charlie/Fix-a-Flat to musicians is one of those art musician types. In Chicago; it's an exclusive bunch. There is something in the water. He is from Vermont, but he's here now. Besides making incredible music, he mentors kids for Columbia College's Resounding Stories. He has several side projects we get into another day. When I first walked into his apartment, I was there to listen to beats, but the art on the wall inspired and haunted me. It reminded me of friends and family. The colour was so vibrant and the images were just popping. When I found out it was his work, his food tasted even better. That's what art is supposed to do people: help you enhance all the senses! Nice work Fix-a-Flat. I should have asked him where he got that name...any hoot, here's a Q and A with Q.J.


QJ- Where did you get this idea from?


Fix- The idea of drawing these portraits evolved from a basic interest in
drawing people. When I was younger I would draw figures, stick and
otherwise, with a curiosity and energy which I believe has remained
with me since then. The more I would draw, the more conscious I became
of certain opportunities in form, color, expression and so forth. I
would like to think that with each piece I am capturing a little bit
of humanity.

QJ- Do you name these paintings?

Fix- Naming these is very difficult for me. Because each piece has no theme
other than human (sort of), I see the decision akin to picking a name
for a child or something to that effect. I just decided to name them
Mr. --------, as they are not my children, and I like the respectful
tone of using such a title.

QJ- What medium are these?

Fix- Acrylic

QJ- What do these vibrant colours represent?

Fix- My decision to use these colors was to make the image bounce. Using
vibrant colors helps relay the expression of the person, as if thier
face is a well-lit open book.

QJ- How do people react to the faces looking at them?

Fix- I think people are generally interested in looking if they walk by
them. People say they look like aliens.

Local Boy Makes Good

Mike Genovese used to go to High School with me. I think we even sat next to each other a couple times. The art teacher loved him and he was really popular with all the graph guys. He was a real asshole back then. I was going to beat the mess outta him, but my friends told me I would lose cool points, so I left him alone. Lucky for him he grew out of it and became succesful and even more talented. I even did a live charity show (Rock the Kids) with him at the Arts Club in Chicago. His work is getting better every show. It really took a lot out of me to say that. I feel like my soul died. He was on my list of people to beat up after I graduated. Really-
Anyway, this poster/flier he had is ingenius. I actually went to go move my sister's car one day. It got my neighbor Dave, too. He wasn't too happy about it though. I hate to say it, but I wish I thought of it. Bastard...

Local

Alex Ross went to school with some of my buddies and mentors in Chicago...They used to talk about his ability to render and his modest persona and relentless work ethic. Soon he became a overnight sensation with Marvel and D.C. comics. They soon gave him his own series. He set a new standard in comic book illustration with his water colours bringing characters to life. Some of his work has even inspired story boards and scenes in Dark Knight and his work graced the intro to Spider-Man 3. Although I used to love comic book art the subject matter and pubecent nature took a toll on me. I'm excited to see Alex tackle more political subject matter with some symbolism that transcends to a younger (sci-fi, horror, comic) audience. Hopefully this will set a new trend in pop art.

and Conquer!

Josue used to bar-back at this spot called the Clybar, where my band and I used to gig. Little did I know he was a brilliant artist. I even dragged my baby sister to one of his earlier shows. Funny thing is he paints the deepest subject matter smack dab in the middle of the hood. He may not get the most sales, but he is indeed trying to change perception with amoungst his own people instead of telling stories miles from where they would be able to view it. His work is so contriversial I get tingles in my wool. It's about time for a close shave. The funny thing about this work is thousands of people are walking past it everyday and not noticing because of the medium. The neon seems to disguise the work as ordinary sales tools in a run of the mill grocer in Humboldt Park, but when you stop to look: AH HA! Substance!

Here's more:
For Immediate Release – Conquistadors at It Again, this Time in Neon!!!

For the second time in 500 years, a conquering European Armada has landed
on the shores of this continent to disrupt the activities of the
unassuming natives. Only this time, they are 48 inches tall and filled
with neon gas.

Chicago-based artist Josue Pellot has crafted three whimsical yet
invective sculptural neon pieces to be displayed in the windows of La
Municipal Supermarket (2559 West Division st., Chi. Il. ) in Humboldt
Park, just in time for the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival.
To the passing pedestrian or float-rider offering only a cursory glance,
these pieces may be mistaken for signs advertising liquor or a sale. But
upon closer examination these works actually depict storied events at the
onset of the culture clash that began when Columbus landed, sticking his
sword both in the sand and in the ribs of a native.

“While the people of Humboldt Park celebrate their culture and symbols,
there is an ironic embracement of a dubious colonial history,” Pellot says
as a Taino Indian drowns a Conqistador in bright colors behind him. It’s
quite a sight!

Josue Pellot received his MA in Art Theory and Practice from Northwestern
University in 2006 . He was featured artist with the Chicago Cultural
Center for Chicago artists month (06’) and recently completed an
installation project titled ‘Temporary Allegiance’ on the Expresso de Las
Americas (Dec. 2007) in San Juan, PR. Upcoming solo exhibitions at
Elmhurst college, Northeastern university, Vane gallery (U.K) and the
Chicago Cultural Center.

For more information contact:

Jorge Felix
felixjorge@msn.com
PH: 773.486.8345

FX: 773.782.1499

Local Boy Does Wood

Mike Rhea used to live in Chicago. I found him on a pretty cool art blog and decided he should be praised some more. He tried to do some shows with me, but all our sponsors got sheepish outta no where. Anyway, this guy used to teach 3rd grade art and live with this really cute blonde girl I had a thing for. Artists seem to have cute roomies and stuff. His work is beyond cute though. Wood you be so kind as to take a gander.