William Lemon III
Parcival Versus The Sun
July 24 – August 24
Opening reception July 24, 7-9pm
* Opening performance begins promptly at 9pm

In his series Parcival Versus The Sun, Lemon continues to explore his use of traditional mediums in non-traditional applications. Informed by the antithetical forces of religious history and present day pop culture, Lemon’s work directly expands upon the original Parcival’s famed quest for the Holy Grail. Lemon creates an elaborate setting in which the re-contextualized Parcival journeys with his audience through both physical and visceral spheres of sight, sound, and smell. Lemon creates for us a modern-day gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art.  First used to describe Wagner’s nineteenth century operas, the concept of gesamtkunstwerk was quickly appropriated by designers and artists to describe comprehensive, aestheticized environments. By keying into the musical and visual origins of gesamtkunstwerk, Lemon’s exhibition will center on an elaborate sound installation and performance surrounded by his hand-painted, silk-screened and sewn canvas tapestries.

A limited-edition book published by Eighth Veil will accompany the exhibition.

Will Lemon III works in a variety of artistic expressions including printmaking, tapestry, collage, sculpture, skin printing, 3-D installation, fashion design, and music. In 2008 he composed, “Moon & Moon: VII Acts of an Iron King,” a multi-media seven act musical about leaving religion and looking for clarity which was performed by Lemon, Devendra Banhart, Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers, and Natasha Khan of Bat for Lashes. Lemon’s signature skin printing and makeup techniques have been featured in music videos for Basement Jaxx, Beck, Ebony Bones, Imaad Wasif, N.E.R.D. and Yeasayer and in fashion films for Elise Overland and Odilon. He has done makeup for Marc Jacobs, Animal Collective, Terry Richardson, Devendra Banhart, Bat for Lashes, Lady Gaga, and on projects with Jonas Akerlund, Kai Regan, M·A·C cosmetics, Matthias Vriens, Radical Friend, Richard Burbridge, Simon Henwood, and Supreme Management. Lemon recently collaborated with United Bamboo as well as Citizens of Humanity on artist series apparel.  Lemon is in the process of launching an art-based unisex apparel collection.

Lemon has exhibited across the United States in group exhibitions at Priska C. Juschka Fine Art in New York and New Image Art in Los Angeles as well as a solo show at New York’s Fuse Gallery. Will Lemon lives and works in Los Angeles.

Our dear friend Philip Andelman is having a show at Milk Gallery in NYC on May 21st- 29th- details below.  If you’re in New York, come check it out!

This Friday, April 30th, marks the end of MOPLA (Month of Photography Los Angeles) and what better way to say goodbye to an amazing month of programs and exhibitions than an opening at THIS?  THIS is hosting the Transplants show- photographers who are not from, but currently reside in Los Angeles- which includes Giant’s own Jeremy & Claire Weiss and Emily Shur.

Please join us for good art and free booze Friday from 7-10pm!

Details below:

Lauren’s work will be on display tomorrow night along with the other 2010 PDN 30 photographers, details below.  Hope to see you there!

The New York Times Media & Advertising section did a Campaign Spotlight on Mistress Creative’s latest Vita Coco ads, check it out!

This Saturday night we are having a closing party for our inaugural show here at THIS.  Please come out and see the art, have a drink, talk to friends and meet some new ones.  If you buy some art you can take it home with you! Artwork from over 100 artists including Giant Artists Lauren Dukoff, Emily Shur, RJ Shaughnessy, Aaron Ruell, Jeremy and Claire, and Blake E. Marquis.  See you there!

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!

The fine folks at Sixpack France have curated an art exhibition opening this weekend in Culver City.  “It Was on Earth That I Knew Joy,” features an installation of new works by National Forest founders Steven Harrington and Justin Krietemeyer with Brigitte Sire.  Also featuring domestic and overseas artists Akroe, Honet, ILL-Studio, Pmkfa, Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, Jonathan Zawada, Neil Krug, Daniel Sparkes, Cody Hudson, Russell Maurice and Mark Owens.

“Go Down Swingin” will be hosting a pre-party at Verdugo Bar Friday night.

Art Exhibition

Saturday, February 20
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Scion Installation L.A.
3521 Helms Ave (at National)
Culver City, CA 90232
www.scion.com/space

Pre-Party
Friday, February 19
9:00 pm – 2:00 am
with DJ sets by
The French Feeder, Para one, DJ Akroe
The L.A. Feeder, Fake, DJ A.M. 180 + French Krew
Verdugo Bar
3408 Verdugo Road
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Friend of Giant Artists, Binki Shaprio is doing all she can to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  PLEASE check out the Crafts For A Cause site.

Binki has organized an AMAZING all star auction that will begin in March and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti.  A few of the killer items up for auction below.

NATALIE PORTMAN signed the ballet slippers she wore during her upcoming film Black Swan for the Crafts For A Cause auction.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND with the gym bag they decorated for the Crafts for a Cause auction.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy of RODARTE (who have made dresses worn on the red carpet by by Kirsten Dunst, Cate Blanchett, Kiera Knightley, Reese Witherspoon, and Michelle Obama, to name a few) working on the shirts they decorated for the Crafts For A Cause auction… yeeeeaahh!! Details to come!

Stay tuned for more items from Devendra Banhart, Spike Jonze, Conor Oberst, Sia, Le Tigre, The Strokes, No Doubt, The Mars Volta, The Black Keys and Little Joy!

Here’s the skinny:

February 5th- 26th, 2010 (opening reception Feb. 5th from 7-10pm)

Space 1026

1026 Arch St, 2nd Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Hope to see you there!

Read the full PDN article HERE