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Paul Stanley of KISS Prouu His Artistic T)zlents Go Way Beyond rhe Stage Vtitten
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by Christina Burluid
pQarently, KISS frontman Paul Staniey paints more than just his gnarly makeup and does
\ so with a zing worth $2
mill
on in the sales of his acrylic paintings. San Diego residents
will get a chance to witness this moment in hard rock history, as a heavy metal poster child puts down the guitar and picks up the palette at the Wentworth Gallery in La Jolla this month. Stanley has combated both the world of Woodstock and watercolor and has come out as an iconic figure through both modes of expression, With contagious conviction, his self-proclaimed
secret to success
is
to "stay true to whatever art form and you'll always find people to connect
with," and damn, does he do it well. Staniey's journey from stage to studio is chocked with admirable innovation and downright honesty.
I hough his professional ca.ee.
in
fine art launched only last year, Stanley's
vjbrant works are anything but amateur
and have boldly found their way into reputable col ections. His themes run
the gamut from patrotic to personal, yet he highlights his use of vivid colors
that parallel the vivid inspiration of
hs
While he was aways a visionary in tne band, designing album covers - input, and giving concert now he's finally able to develop his passion for paint
everyday experiences. Utilizing texture
" alang with ,'of his exhibit, al ov to connect with a dil introspective side of
and scale along with bright color combos, Stanley has a rninimalist approach that brilliantly conveys emotional clarity to his fans. He is heralded as having an ability to tap rnto human
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sensations, ensuring his smooth rite of passage into the critical art world, What s arguably just as fasc nating as the artwork ttself
is his journey in creating the art. Each work is a byproduct of an experience, rather than a means of supplemental income, and his art fans can feel this verity 6 Ia canvas, Though Stanley's been a mainstay in rock stardom since the '70s, as a youth he attended the prestigious New york
High School of Music and Ar1. Later, his antr-establishment attitude naturally d rected him
more toward the life of a rebellious rockstar than the trained artist, and off he went.
Staniey's return to the drawing room was during a period of intense self refiection. While he was always a visionary in the band, designing album covers and giving concert input, now he's finaily able to develop his passion for paint. He explains that what's truly unique about his debut into the art wor d is that he's "literally growing as an artist while in the public eye." Each new work is a souvenir
of progression and every expectation goes out the window. l\,4any collectors have purchased Stanley's works without knowing he was behind it, justifying the integrlty of the work itself and knocking any suspicions of
just another Hollywood sellout resting on narne recognition. Yet in true visionary form, Stanley can see the benefits of his name on the art, bringing fans that haven't normally ventured into the art world, smack dab ln the mlddle of it. Even wrth 19 exhibit openings under his belt, Stanley will still appear in San Diego
December 5 and 6, when his traveling exhibit will be showcased at Wentworth Gallery's V.l.P, Reception. As for whether or not he will don the trademark KISS
spandex, don't count on it. One thing is certain though, and that's his surefjre success regardless of art medturn. "My approach is to travel without a map, to paint with no rdea of where I'm going," he says. 1025 Prospect Street, La Jolla | 858.551.7071 lwww.wentworthgallery.com
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DECEMBER2008
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After several nomadic years in Downtown San Diego, 29-yearold SUSHI is frnally homeward bound. January 13 marks its homecoming season back in its original locale, and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh contemporary piece by the
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SUSHI A CENTER FOR THE URBAN ARTS
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avant-garde Little Known Dance Theatre, a cross between dance
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troupe and art collective. This inaugural performance investigates
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the phenomenon of the American obsession with excess material
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objects. Examining our culture's daunting consumelism through
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intellectually stimulating movement, Little Known Dance Theatre
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is heavy on the mind and
Not-to-be-Missed Exhibits this Month
light on their feet with this mystical show. Director Leslie Seiters is known for her contagious spontaneity, and with a set of nine tables and various "stuffed shirts," the audience can only prepare itself for utter surprise. The show runs January r5-r8, but hit up this venue's exhibiting space anytime for some raw finds in contemporary art 3go Eleventh Avenue, East ViIIage | 619.235.8466 www.sushiart.org
SUBTEXT
Moving into its brand-spankin' new crib January l, the gallery owners figure it's high time for larger exhibits, more elaborate installations and a killer lineup for its 2o09 season. Come bear witness to its initiating exhibit, B66 oq which displays the works of photographer Frank Rogozienski. During the entire zooB leap year, he captured
anything from insect cadavers to snaggletoothed
children with the only consistent theme being imaginative composition. Originally existing as a blog project, the exhibit translates art from the blogosphere into
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MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARYART SAN DIEGO
Gandhi's timeless mantra fueled a group of artists to be the change they wanted to see in the planet, and in conjunction with
a
traditional gallerytype
exhibit, and is an intriguing look into the transformation of art
with technology. Showing January
16
thru February r5, drop by
andexperienceadav^!:,),u;":i^:::iTT,*iill'llnll*.,,, www'subtextstore.com
MCASD and UC Berkeley, they've created downright inspiring works. These eight artists were sent smack dab in the center of
various UNESCO World Heritage sites and commissioned to create pieces on the intersection of art and their surroundings. One artist coordinated a class of grade school students to create and sell art to fund a replanting of their destitute Kenyan forests.
Another artist addressed overwhelming globalization through a replica of a Tibetan world in the museum itself. The exhibit runs through February t, so first go green, then go to MCASD for a frx of eco-friendly art. Ttoo Kettner Blvd, Downtown
San Diego | 858.454.3541
www.mcasd.org
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How to Swt"uiue the f{ali&4ts Withsut Winding {& Vritten. hy
i* the Fetal Posiri*n
tlltririna Buquirl
'{';l3lJ'l* llust don't do domestic. l'm sure fellow young whlp up a bitchin' lobster bisque in between mult ple jobs and a social life is noth ng short of miraculous. So the prospect
| 'm no Martha Stewart. Aside from a few instances of rampant redecoration and a strange affinity to Tupperware, I
I professionals would agree that trying to
of the holidays, with its plethora of potlucks and ovedy ornate beef stews, is certainly enough to have me break lnto a cold kitchen-phobic sweat, begging boss lady for overtime. Whicn got me thinking: How do we, as a prominent demographic
-
the style-savvy, pilates-practicing, iPod-grooving populace
-
tackle this holiday season?
I mean, aslde from the culinary crackdown, we've got overly inquisitive aunts and one-cup-too-many eggnog-drinktng uncles to watch out for. lt seems like each
year the sweaters gets tackier and L swear l'll pop a nerve if Aunt Bernie gets me one more curiously discolored fruitcake. I Love my family and all, but not necessar
Ly
all of my family at one table (think of an extended version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
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What fructose-filled cousins and menopausal aunts don't realize is that famiy fiascos are at an alllime awkward high for the twentysomething generatlon. To
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ease this transition, here are a few firsthand dos and don'ts to help you dodge utter holiday dysfunction.
When it comes to holiday food, DON'T be ambitious; reverting to full
they won't be confrontational, but
your family is as shamelessly obnoxious as
,:
reliance on the parental unit in this department often works best.
mine, be prepared to bribe big. Gifts in general are a bad idea, because they
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One year, n an attempt to diversify my family's edible options,
L
dropped by the
if
eiiher show the person how much you don't know them, or ike it
grandma was bowing down to the linoleurn gods for a good haLf-hour, and my
parcels and opt for cash.
Leave
-
them only expecting more for next year. Steer clear of packaged
local sushi deli and picked up a tray of mixed sashimi, Needless to say, my poor
-
if they actually
.4t
cousins had an epic raw food fight that will forever be remembered, including sta!ns on the stucco. Apparently, not everyone does sushi
for unch.
Boyfriends are OK, but DO warn the family of boyfriends with mohawks and multiple visible piercings well in advance.
When it comes to gift-giving, DO remember that the fail-safe gift card
As cool as he ls with your ma and pa, when the general familial consensus
is your best friend.
is involved, jewe ry on the face and ha r that defies gravity are apparently red
It's easily transportabLe, can fit in pretty much any stylish stationery and is very well
flags for unendrng critique. The year I brought my high school boyfriend with a
received. Most importantly, using one avoids the embarrassment of accidentalLy
s ngle ear piercing, my grandpa temporarily believed he was a priest who tried
re giving a gift you got last year, lt happens a lot more than one wou d think and can be quite traumatic for all said parties. Generally, if the person has tact
to exorcise my demonic sins. These days,
if
the guy so much as has a thing for
black cloth ng I don't allow him within a IO-mile radius of my family's house.
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