From Kevin’s blog.

I recently finished the artwork for an upcoming Oldham Brothers (Ned, Paul, and Will) EP release due out sometime in the fall.The brothers wanted to give a nod to Francisco Goya’s etching series, “Los Caprichos“. I really liked the idea, since I’ve always observed some similarity (if I may be so bold) in theme, subject matter, and general darkness amongst our images. Presumably, it’s a Spanish release, so I’m not sure about availability as of yet, but if you’re a fan like me, you’ll track it down. I’m really honored and excited to have the opportunity to work with the Brothers, as I’m most certain that they embody some of the finest song writing happening today.

Gallery Three: Mike Maxwell – Human’s Nature.

Comment by AB: Mike Maxwell uses art as a vehicle not only to process and understand monster topics like history, science, religion, and war, but also to present them in ways that remind us all that there’s more to life than TV and beer. Notable in Maxwell’s work are his uniformly blue skinned “everyman” countencances– completely lacking in identifiable race or ethnicity. Who knows? Maybe someday we’ll all accept each other as “blue.”

Art by Mike Maxwell.

Art.

Art.

Painted bandana vandal rocks – $75 & $100 – nice.

Art.

Art.

Thanks Alan Bamberger

…

DA Arts Gallery: Bryan Schnelle – CHAOS A.D.

Comment by AB: Bryan Schnelle masks up all kinds of famous people and then enhances the essence with ominous macabre elements and Gothic text. In so doing, he contemplates the concept that even though we wear no masks in our daily lives, we hide plenty. Is anything the way it seems? Is anybody entirely safe? Perhaps not. But wait; there’s more. Those of you who prefer fun and games to fatalistic contemplation can try to guess the personalities behind Schnelle’s added masks.

Art by Bryan Schnelle.

Masked participants heighten the effect.

Bryan Schnelle – art.

Art.

Thanks Alan.

Opening Reception: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Gallery Three 66 Sixth Street

‘Human’s Nature’: A ‘personal re-eduction’

Reyhan Harmanci

Thursday, August 21, 2024

 

San Diego artist Mike Maxwell doesn’t equivocate on the man-versus-nature debate. Nature wins, hands down, all the time. It would be foolish to think otherwise.

“The title of the show is ‘Human’s Nature,’ and the work in the show is about human’s own naturalism, and the way we need to take ownership of it,” he says.

“For a long time, I think humans have separated themselves from nature, but everything we do, say, eat, build, is all natural. That’s the basic premise.”

But Maxwell’s paintings – 25 of which were made for this show – don’t depict lush forests. Many of his figures evoke images of Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”: migrant workers and lonely buildings devoid of people. His palette is rich with blues, greens and grays, and punctuated by red and yellow. There is a definite melancholy to these depictions of historical people and places.

Gallery Three curator and owner Justin Giarla says Maxwell first approached him two years ago. “At the time in 2024, I really started to get into artists whose work was raw and edgy and lacked perfection,” he says, “stuff that was more expressive and outsider underground than perfectly rendered or executed figurative work.” Maxwell’s homespun style fit right into that frame. Since they were first in touch, Maxwell has had two other group shows and one other solo show with Giarla, who also owns White Walls and the Shooting Gallery.

Before he paints, Maxwell says he researches a subject, usually by going to that old-fashioned repository of knowledge, the library. For this show, he was also drawing on his direct experience of paring down his lifestyle and trying to become more self-sustaining in an uncertain economy. “I like to tell people the work comes out of a personal re-education,” he says. “Agriculturally, I’m trying to learn how to feed myself and become less reliant on stores, less reliant on outside resources, major corporations, that sort of thing.”

Is it working? Seems to be.

“I learn from my stupid,” he says. “Instead of banging my head against the wall I try and change my personal reality.”

Opening reception 7-11 p.m. today. Through Sept. 6. Gallery Three, 66 Sixth St., S.F. (415) 626-6216. gallerythree.wordpress.com.

- Reyhan Harmanci, rharmanci@sfchronicle.com

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/21/NSLV12B85K.DTL

This article appeared on page G – 19 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Sezio: Tell us about your upcoming show “Human’s Nature”

Mike Maxwell: The title of the show and the work involved are meant to express human’s own naturalism, and the ownership of it. We have for ages separated ourselves from nature, exploiting the whole man vs nature idea, we have turned ourselves into something greater than nature, as opposed to an equal part of the system. I believe that everything we do, say, eat, build, create, destroy, is all natural, because we are nature. The things we do are no different than the things any other animal will do to further its survival. I go as far as to say that even the things we build, that are so often vilified, such as our homes, cars, buildings, roads, etc… are also nature, as they are built by nature, so they too are natural. I see all these things as another step in our continual evolution and hopefully the show will capture some of that idea.

SZ: How long have you been preparing for this show? 

MW: My whole life, but the work has been made over the last 4 – 5 months.

SZ: You show your work regularly. Do you have a show or theme in mind when you start painting?

MW: I often say my work comes as a re-education to myself, so yes their is often a theme to my work, as the work is generally based on whatever research projects I am working on in my personal life. For instance, I have done specific shows on Secret Societies, The Civil War, Sex, Science, and Religion. I’m getting to a point now where all of these topics are beginning to apply themselves to all my work as I study human behavior.  

SZ: Where do the Americana images come from?

MW: They came from my sense of curiosity about who I am and where I come from. Its about the struggles my ancestors took upon themselves to make possible the things I have, and who I am, today. They also come from my anger about leadership, power, and politics in this country. It comes from misconceptions and propaganda.

SZ: Did you stumble upon your drip effect one day, or was that pre-meditated from the get go?

MW: Well the recent drip work actually comes from working with “The Resistance” in London and LA.  It was a natural accident.

SZ: When did you start painting on rocks?

MW: A couple years ago. I made a set of “Rock Bottom Risers” which were based on a song of the same title. I also made a set of “Riot Rocks” which are perfectly designed for throwing through your favorite local conglomerates plate glass window with style. Whenever an impromptu riot breaks out and you need to go run with the pack you’ll be ready.

SZ: What kind of music are you listening to?  What are you reading?

MW: All sorts of stuff, The Silent Comedy, Spoon, The Shins, Belle and Sebastian, Aesop Rock, Sage Francis, Bill Callahan, Modest Mouse, Blackout Party, Dylan. I recently read “On God an uncommon conversation” which was really good. I’m reading a couple recent H.S.T biographies from Jann Wenner and Thompson’s widow. I’m reading a ton of gardening books too.

SZ: How can San Diego’s art scene improve?

MW: More full time working artists and support for the arts from buyers.

Visit Sezio here.

    

Mike Maxwell

Juxtapose is keeping abreast of our updates!  Thanks for the coverage folks.  You can read about Mike’s upcoming show below and on Juxtapose.

Mike Maxwell will exhibit his latest collection of work,Human’s Nature, in an upcoming solo show at San Francisco’s Gallery Three. Human’s Naturewill open August 21st and remain on display thru September 6th, 2024. 
Maxwell has built a loyal following through his signature stone-blue faces, gloomy churches, and beautiful windmills. Self-taught and continuously improving his work, the poetic dreamy scenes examine humanity, conceptuality, genetics and consciousness. 
With subtle changes in both theme and process, Maxwell has sharpened his skill providing more depth in his current work. Maxwell’s choice of color is deliberate and with purpose, reflecting a lack of race and ambiguity in the stone-blue faced pieces. The work has a lot to do with his personal re-education, and a desire to learn and understand things prevalent in our society that are often forgotten by the masses. Focusing his work around the human experience, themes of religion, sex, and science captivate our attention in these acrylic beauties. 
Questions of science, faith, disassociation, hierarchy, environment, and adaptation are reflected upon in Maxwell’s solo show Human’s Nature.
See more blue faces and lonely windmills at mikemaxwellart.com