Art Walk Little Italy... Featured Artwork by Gerard Basil Strupling, Nihura, Andy Anh Ha, and Steven M. O'Connor...

OK, so before I begin I must say that I have been continually blessed. There have been so many blessings I feel I cannot even count!
Not to mention I was blessed with the ability to go to the Little Italy Artwalk 2010. There was so much art I was never expected to show up there and feel completely overwhelmed by the variation and variety that I saw! It was a very pleasant surprise. I walked through every aisle and peeked under every tent to see what there was to see. From what was there I found about five different artists that I thought were considerably notable among the many artists who exhibiting.
Gerard Basil Stripling.
The artwork by this artist was very nice. I really liked his use of broken objects to signify the present state of western society (left). Gerard has a theatre fashion based background from studying under the great costume designer, Bill Whitten. While traveling with Whitten he experienced lots of art and even studied under several artists along the way. He left the apprenticeship of Whitten in 2000 taking on his art full time. He has been mostly recently noticed as an influential artist for his sculpture and public art. He now resides in Laguna Beach, CA.
Nihura.

On the other end of the spectrum is artist Nihura. A young artist based from our local San Diego, CA, she has recently been accepted into art university in California. Even though this young artist is barely getting her start she has some note worthy talent. I was especially drawn to her work by the opulent frames she painted with neon pinks and yellows. There is a very fashion influenced appeal to Nihura's work, that I anticipate will only bud and blossom as her talent increases. (unfortunately no images...)
Andy Ahn Ha.

Wow! Is not the only thing to say about this artist's work (right). A second generation Asian American, Andy has accomplished so much. His work has a vibrant and sexy appeal to it that is delicate yet sophisticated in nature. From natural influences to popular culture references Andy's work catches the eye of many a passer by. Using layer after layer of stains and paint then finished with a layer of resin, the pieces have such an appeal to the natural instincts of the viewer. I hope to see much more of Andy's work in the future.

Steven M. O'Connor.
Steven's work (below) immediately drew me in because of the obvious graffiti inspired color and composition. In the same manner as Andy Ahn Ha, layers of paint and other media have been enriched and stretched to their means, then coated over with a glossy layer of resin. O'Connor strives to ask questions through his artwork that are sociological in nature. The best thing about O'Connor and Andy's work is that it inspired me to ask:

What does the resin do for the painting? I am a big fan of things coated in resin. Yet, what does it say about the artist's intentions. Is the resin coating merely a means of making the art appear finished? Or rather is is the glossy high sheen of the resin that makes these types of paintings sexier and more inviting? Not that the content of the work is irrelevant but as an artist the materials are key. I am always trying to ask, what do the materials have to say for themselves? Could we all benefit from putting a layer of resin on every piece of art? Would it be sexier and more alluring or cut the viewer off from the real texture of the art?
I have been working diligently on all my art. Yesterday I started a woodcut print that might take me some time to finish. Nonetheless, it is an exciting time to be an artist. Taking the time to examine all parts of your life and then create from that reflects a very interesting mix of what is important and unimportant in one's life. Devoting yourself to this kind of introspection is something we all should do throughout our lives.