Birthday Schmirthday!

Boom! Another one. How did that happen? Last year I wasn't so hot on the birthday and it took me 6 months to settle in. Now I'm ALL in, not taking myself too seriously and feelin' dyn-o-mite!

Like a Lisa Frank scrapbook, I slapped this dorkus thing together fast – comprised of pics since we've moved here: flowers from our yard, ocean sunsets (I did say dorky, laying the cheese on real thick, but hey we're getting those LA sunsets), stained glass, fire + metal (two elements I previously avoided b/c I thought it would never meld with my earth + wood leanings) and most importantly radiating positive thoughts of my family + friends.

Sending love, radical vibrations and goodness out there to everyone.

xo Sherise

Juxtapoz Psychedelic Book Release Party & Art Exhibit

Oh so good.

Tonight at The Well in LA, Juxtapoz will be celebrating the release of 'Juxtapoz Psychedelic.' To say I'm stoked this book is out is an understatement. Psychedelia is obviously fascinating as an art genre, but on a personal level, it is ever-present. The book features work running from mystic art rulers Alex Grey (!) and Keiichi Tanaami (!) to now artists Steve Harrington, Andy Gillmore (whose work graces the cover) and many radical others.

The exhibition is up through May 13th, 2014 and will present art by all the awesomely talented beings listed in the flyer above including some of my favorite hey ladies representin' the double x chromosone factor: Kylea Borges, Deanne Cheuk, Maya Hayuk and Elena Stonaker.

Juxtapoz Psychedelic Book Exhibit
Release Party Saturday, April 26th 7pm - 12am
**RSVP** here
Exhibit on display through May 13th
The Well | 1006 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Kohei Oda x Adam Silverman at Chariots on Fire

The exquisitely curated shop / creative studio in Venice, Chariots on Fire has commissioned renowned LA-based potter Adam Silverman to create a new set of work filled with the plant artistry of Kohei Oda, owner of Qusamura, an award-winning plant boutique in Hiroshima, Japan. The result is "A Tale of Plant & Pot" on view now through May 1st with the opening reception this Sunday, April 27th.

In keeping with Chariots on Fire philosophy of mixing old with new, local with international, both artists worked independently in the US and Japan respectively. Each sharing a common vision based on their love of the natural world and the age-old harmony between pot and plant. The union comes together as an exchange of ideas formed by an understanding of space & form, and the timeless relationship of art to nature.

This practice of 'grafted cactus' is the art and science of connecting two pieces of living plant tissue together to grow as one composite plant. Kohei Oda uses this technique to preserve the original nature of the plant and to allow it to thrive and grow in unexpected forms. RAD. All the cacti are grafted and most are very rare species. The cactus are composed of two elements: the tops (rootstock) and the base (scion). Usually, the tops will grow, multiply and flower, while the bases don't grow so much, they can sprout additional arms. His philosophy has always been to work with plants that have personality, to salvage what could be discarded as a damaged plant, to see the potential in each imperfection. In Japanese, the word for horticulture is EN-GEI: EN - meaning garden, GEI - meaning performance. For Oda, it is the GEI that he accentuates, allowing the plants perform as individuals. 

Kohei Oda has a blog which gives a peek into this fascinating process. His non-traditional approach to horticulture earned him a Wallpaper Design award in 2013 and has exhibited widely in Japan. This will be his first show in the US.

Adam Silverman is .... uh AWESOME: he has a BFA in Architecture from RISD, was a practicing architect in California, is co-founder of X-Large & X-Girl and earned an MBA from UCLA. Throughout his "career meanderings," Adam had made pots as a hobby, which he started doing in high school and went on to become a full-time professional potter in 2002. I first saw his work in this 2005 fantastic 6-page article in Brutus Magazine. Since '08 Adam has been partner and studio director of Heath Ceramics. He has exhibited extensively in the US and Japan including large-scale installation work that gives a connection to architecture.

Kohei Oda's living sculptures in play with Adam Silverman's other-worldly textural glazed experimental pottery showcase the beauty in the perfectly imperfect.

Graphics and packaging by Tamotsu Yagi Design who also designed the Rizzoli monograph on Adam Silverman released last fall.

A Tale of Plant & Pot : Kohei Oda & Adam Silverman

Opening Reception with artists Sunday, April 27th, 5 - 7pm

On view through May 1st now extended through May 7th 

Chariots on Fire | 1342 1/2 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

all images courtesy of Chariots on Fire

Eastside Handmade

I'm excited for tomorrow's edition of Eastside Handmade in Highland Park. Many designers have been creating special stuff just for the event. 

In case you are like me and plot out your food options before you go anywhere, there will be boxed lunches by Urban Palate and those oh-so-yummy frozen treats by Si Paletas.

Here's a little sneak peak of the goodness: 

Le Renard and Maricolous Textiles have a collaboration they will be revealing.

Amongst other goodies Chaparral Studio creates, Bianca will be bringing these "sweet little fluorite pyramids... said to clear the negative energy in the space."

Nora Flora Studio

The Slow Season  |  Mt. Washington Pottery

Tiny Armour

Barrington Blue

This is only just a sliver of everything there. See the flyer above for full list of folks.

Also, if you see me with the camera snapping and chatting away, please say "hi!"

Eastside Handmade

Saturday, April 19th, 11am - 4pm

hosted by ShopClass | 5215 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042

all photos via Eastside Handmade and participating designers 

Bailey Doesn't Bark x Helen Dealtry

Re Jin Lee of Bailey Doesn't Bark makes delicately gorgeous one of a kind ceramics. BDBxHD is a collaboration with the incredibly talented textile artist, Helen Dealtry. So breathtakingly beautiful and sweet. They put the collaboration online only a few hours ago and it's already all sold out.

I really was coveting this dotty series above – and luckily made it in time to purchase one. I rarely spend my pennies these days, but feel that this is certainly a keepsake I will treasure forever.

Each piece is hand made by Re Jin and then hand painted by Helen. The series is made up of jewelry holding pods, ring cones, bowls and little domes with holes to display your studs.

Equally beautiful are the jewelry by Fay Andrada and Odette NY; and the perfectly complementary florals are by Nicolette.

This went so fast, perhaps we'll be lucky enough for them to do another collaboration soon. Since both Helen and Re Jin have goods available separately and collaborate with others, there is always more room for more of their hand made art to be found in case you missed this one.

all images via BDBxHD

K&R Ceramics : Paint + Clay Pop Up at Platform

Whew! I just came out from a doozy of a cold-flu-crazy-thing. And, now I'm back! Yipeeee! Apologies that I'm a little last minute on this due to a 4-day feverish haze:

   

K&R Ceramics are having their 3rd Paint + Clay pop-up at Platform in Highland Park – which also happens to be the first place that showed their work.

Kat Hutter and Roger Lee are the rad duo of K&R. Both are talented artists on their own, and together they create ceramics that are a combination of "classic shapes and graphic surface patterns with earthy natural clay textures." Yes, please!

New works will be on display today (or tomorrow, depending how late you're up with me) with an opening reception to kick it all off in the evening.

Roger and Kat in the studio working on their pieces for the pop up.

The set up looks magnificent! Congratulations guys!

You can also see their work previously on The Radder, at Deck the Halls here. And a fun group photo from the LA Fibershed x Space 15 Twenty opening here, with Kat & Roger alongside Nikki (Lookout & Wonderland) and Yusuke (Katsuo Design and POP Studio).

K&R Ceramics "Paint and Clay" Pop Up
Opening Reception Saturday, April 12, 6 - 9pm
on view through April
at Platform | 5027 York Blvd., Highland Park, CA 90042

all photos via Platform and K&R Ceramics

Hey Hey, it's a Q & A

photo by Angela Kohler from Blogshop in February

Many thanks to cutie Mariana Hodges of Spark Your Print for this fun Q & A!

Elena Stonaker Studio Sale

There is a fantastic studio sale going on from one of my favorite artists, ELENA STONAKER! And the lovely ladies there have extended a sweet deal for The Radder readers in particular!

Fun paper goods and small original treasures by

Elena Stonaker

on sale at

www.elenastonaker.bigcartel.com

Enter promo code: THE RADDER

before check out and receive 25% off orders over $25

Offer ends 4/17 at 4pm EST

Alley-Oop II : Eric Trine & Will Bryant at Poketo

Awesome art powers collide once again with Alley-Oop II featuring a return of the combined forces of Eric Trine and Will Bryant at Poketo.

Photo above via Cool Hunting who has a great article about it here.

This hip-hop-ya-don't-stop ditty of a Scion car will be part of an art experience happening tomorrow night.

The lovely ladies of Poketo filled me in about the upcoming show when I stopped by a couple months ago ogling this chair from last year's exhibition.

Jenny. Not only are Poketo's owners Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung way rad, so are the peeps that help run it.

Sonya Gallardo is the store manager and the genius behind High/Low Jewelry. I met her at Renegade last year and have been stoked to notice her jewelry every where I turn lately. The "materials and concepts combine ancient with modern, and tradition with the unexpected." So true. Along with hand painted brass, she also works with polymer clay which is pleasingly flexible to the touch. 

So, tomorrow night, head on down for the opening and partay which starts at Poketo's DTLA shop and migrates to the The Line Hotel in Koreatown.

Alley-Oop II at Poketo

Saturday April 5th 5 - 8pm

Opening Reception at the flagship store

820 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

After Party at The Line Hotel

9pm - 12am

3515 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010

A Current Affair : Pop Up Vintage Marketplace

Helloooo Spring! This season's illustrious vintage shopping heaven, A Current Affair is happening Saturday, April 5th. With a over 50 retailers and private dealers, this unique marketplace offers "inspiring vintage collections that are relevant within the realm of contemporary style."

Kittens, your eyes do not deceive, Dita von Teese graced last season's show. Along with people admiring and expertly edited clothing + accessories,  you can also go for the music by KCRW's DJ Marion Hodges and open bar sponsored by Peroni.  | Costume Designer Kristine Karnaky of Miss KK with Stylist Shirley Kurata. Shirley will be curating inspired styles on display that will be available for purchase.

Vendors will bring their rare and one-of-a-kind items, including local collectors and co-producers of A Current Affair, Richard Wainright's NEW/FOUND and Joey Grana's Scout, as well as those well-traveled: We Are Tribe (Kansas City), Maeven (Brooklyn), Desert Vintage (Tuscon) and MERCY vintage now (Oakland).

Joanna Williams of supremely rad global marketplace, Kneeland Co. Mercado curated last December's gift market; Hillary Justin of the line of limited run and unique goods, Bliss and Mischief; Linde Sayles of the sweet vintage studio, Just Say Native | lovely antique dresses at Adored Vintage

Shiva Rose of The Local Rose along with local fashion editors including Ali Hoffman (Refinery 29), Merle Ginsberg (The Hollywood Reporter), Natalie Alcala (Racked LA) are this show's host committee | Tracy Conti McCarty, vintage huntress and magical artist of Prism of Threads


And, here's an insightful peek into the event with Richard and Joey.

A Current Affair
Saturday, April 5
12:00 - 1:00 Preview | 1:00 - 7:00 Show
Cooper Design Space
860 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90014

$10 general show / $20 preview ($8 / $16 in advance until April 4th). A portion of the proceeds go towards non-profit animal shelter and welfare organization, No Kill Los Angeles.
all photos courtesy of A Current Affair