Raphael Delgado Studio Visit

Light / Weight

New Works By Raphael Delgado

Raphael Delgado’s recent series of paintings depart from his more restrained, psychological work into something more free-flowing and geologically-inspired. Beatnik’s August show “Light / Weight” is a meditation on the feeling of being immersed and obscured by the power of nature.

Delgado’s work up until now has been controlled, with a heavy figural emphasis, but in his new pieces he utilizes space as a window into something else. Layers of dynamic, swishy brushstrokes recede infinitely and have movement outside the space of the canvas.

The new direction in Delgado’s work is inspired by his experiences traveling through beautiful and diverse landscapes across America. The experience of places like Kansas, Utah and Denver are transcribed in generous swaths of color. A deep purple mountain range yielding to a soft orange sunset, clouds shaped by wind, and the awesome devastation of a wild fire are all images conjured by Delgado’s work.

“Light / Weight” opens at Beatnik August 3rd with a reception from 6pm – 9pm Leftovers or paint colors?  Double the brush double the fun 

Photos by Wes Davis

Writing by Helena Zittel

Akira Beard Studio Visit

Heidi Zimmerman and Akira Beard are working hard on the next show at Beatnik. When I heard Heidi was heading up the hill to do some collaborations with Akira, I had to get up there and see the magic unfold!
Click here for all of the info about this exciting show:
“Revelations from the Inner Landscape”

I brought my daughter Bijou along with me on this studio visit. She took many of the photos in this blog post and she even got to do some painting! Thanks for being so accommodating Akira!

Studio Visit Stefan Janoski

We are thrilled to be working on a show with the one and only Stefan Janoski this Fall. Stefan is one of those gracefully creative beings who seems to float effortlessly between a tough concrete world of hard realities, and a light and airy world of magic and wonder. Stefan loves stop motion films and is obsessively intrigued by the puppets and artfully crafted monsters found in films such as Coraline, Kubo and The Box Trolls. This love of hand crafted characters charges his work with a lifelike glow. His artwork is steeped with thoughtful reflections of the silliness of the world. His paintings and sculptures are often subtly hilarious in their simple sarcasms. Beatnik is thrilled to show a new collection of paintings and sculpture by Stefan Janoski this fall. Take a look at the images from our trip to his home studio and come see the show this November!

“Nightmares of Normality” opens November 3rd with a reception from 6pm – 9pm
The show will be on display at Beatnik from Nov.3 – Nov.22

Check out the event page for details

Studio Visit in Chicago with Morgan Sims

Chicago, through the eyes of Wes Davis.

I have been trying to get Morgan Sims to do a show at Beatnik for many years. Finally, the stars aligned, and I convinced him to fill his van with artwork and make the trek from Chicago to Sacramento. Morgan will be showing work with Oakland artist Seren Moran this fall at Beatnik. “Shapeshifters” opens on First Friday, September 1st and shows until September 21st.

Earlier this summer, I made my way to Chicago to visit Morgan’s studio, and see what the life of an artist in the windy city is all about.

Human Voices: The Female Voice

In Solitude, 2017 (Franceska Gamez) 10 x 11.5 x 4 mixed media

Beatnik Studios Celebrates the Female Voice

 

UC Davis 1st year MFA show returns to Beatnik

Art is a universal language that has the ability to communicate with people in all different walks of life. Working with academic artists is always a good reminder that creative expression has this unique and powerful transcendent quality. There is an immeasurable value to experiencing artwork which can bring deep meaning and new ideas to the human psyche. This is a value worthy of deep thought and community support. After all, our community is only as beautiful as our ideas allow it to be.

The graduate students from the UC Davis Masters of Fine Arts program are getting ready to open “Field Notes” this Friday, May 5th at Beatnik. Come by the opening reception and join dive into the creative exploration of these fantastic explorers.

Shaun Burner Solo Show

12 Years ago I moved to Sacramento to finish my Bachelor’s degree at Sac State. At the time I was trying to wrap my head around how to make a living with a camera in my hand. I had no idea that my path would lead me so close the heart of Sacramento’s creative community. But as I look back to my first impressions of our city, there were certainly clues.

About 10 years ago, shortly after I moved to mid-town, I purchased my first piece of original artwork. My aimless wanderings on a random 2nd Saturday brought me into a little record boutique on K street. The shop was featuring a pop-up show of Shaun Burner’s work. I was stunned and inspired by this man, his work and his attitude; the whole experience made me so thrilled to be in Sacramento. I walked away with a t-shirt and a screen print, and thus began my original art collection.

The world has a funny way of bringing things full circle, and all I can say is that you certainly get back the energy you put in. Today, I own a piece of Sacramento’s most amazing art space, Beatnik Studios, and I am overjoyed to be hosting a solo show of Shaun Burner’s work in April. I can’t say enough about Shaun’s importance to Sacramento’s art community. Shaun is not only one talented mofo, he is also the big chief shaman over at the M5arts group, the group who brought you ArtHotel and ArtStreet; which, by the way, have certainly been the largest and most inspiring art events to happen in Sacramento during my time here. Mr. Burner is also one of the owners and soothsayer for the amazing 1810 gallery over in the R street district.

“Forms in Flux” by Shaun Burner opens April 7th at Beatnik Studios, and hangs until April 27th. This is a short show so make sure and get out for this one! And, yes, I will be wearing the Burner shirt I purchased from the man 10 years ago.
– Wes Davis

The opening reception is 6pm – 9pm.

Bryan Valenzuela

Bryan Valenzuela is the man of the hour; and not just because of his amazing show “Form Lore” at Beatnik Studios.

Bryan was also one of the artist awarded the job of creating public artwork at the new Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento. If that wasn’t enough, he is also the front man of the band “Exquisite Corps”

I had a few chances to visit Bryan’s studios leading up to the opening of his show. Enjoy the photos, and make sure to visit Beatnik Studios to see his new body of work.

Beatnik is open
Tuesday 10am – 5pm
Wed & Thurs 11:30am – 5pm
and by appointment

“Form Lore” has a public reception on 1st Friday, November 4th from 6pm – 9pm

Vittu Saatana

VITTU SAATANA
new artwork by:
Jose Di Gregorio & Kerry Cottle
Aug. 2 – Sept. 22, 2016
Opening reception: Friday, Aug. 5, 2016 from 6-9 pm
Closing reception: Friday, September 2, 2016 from 6-9 pm

Read more about the show on the City Scout Magazine website here.

Jose

Studio Visit, Cherie Hacker and Jeffery DeVore

A couple weeks ago we dropped in on Jeffery DeVore and Cherie Hacker’s studio spaces to take a look at the new work and talk about the show. The work is absolutely stunning and we can’t wait to share it with Sacramento! Come to the opening reception for “Bridges” on Friday, June 3rd from 6-9pm.
Stop by the event page HERE for more info.