Nihon Gallery

Nihon Family member Christian Vargas solo show

2010-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Christian Vargas will be showing at the I ron Bird Cafe for the months of July and August. We extend our thanks to the cafe for having him and we look forward to hanging out with him for the months to come. Christian will be adding to his collage of drawings through out the two months for a "living installation" of sorts.

We want to also congratulate Christian on having the cover-art for the Undercurrent Magazine July issue.

Congrats Christian..... keep the Nihon spirit alive.

Here is the full uncut interview between Christian and Daniel Schultz at the artists studio that is partially up at the cafe.

Daniel Schultz: Tell me about the body of work you are currently engaged in.

Christian Vargas: I've been doing these portraits--family portraits, from time to time, trying to make my way through the entire family. For about a year now I've been pushing the boundaries of how dark I can get the backgrounds [of my work] without using any actual black; making dark portraits harsher with more dramatic light sources. And then in March, when I was approached to do the show at Iron Bird Cafe, I started doing not only portraits of my family, but also portraits of, say, a work mule, or ox, [as well as] these quilt patterns that carry over from the last show I had at Nihon [Gallery]. And then just random things, like family photos, a lot of pattern work, installation pieces, sculptures. A really important wall [of the Iron Bird show] will be all drawings. So it's kinda like a three part thing, with random things I found around my house that I was able to frame, that are significant to me, like the flyer from my first art show, or family photos.

DS: So we're looking at work that you've done, and then included with that some found objects that have influenced you in a sense? Or snapshots; pieces of your persona?

CV: Yeah, definitely. Some things are just found objects that I've discovered in the alleyway between here and Iron Bird. For instance, I guess someone was evicted from one of the hotels, and there were bags of clothes out there, and there was a quilt. [And I thought] someone made this, it is hand-sewn, someone spent some time on this, it by itself is art.

DS: Does this work connect with a lot of work you've done in the past? Would you say a major segment of your work has been in portraiture?

CV: I'd say the last two years I've been doing [primarily] portraits. Only now I'm starting to venture off. All the portraits are significant since it's all just family members; I hardly ever paint anyone that I don't know or isn't related to me. With this [Iron Bird] show I've ventured off into other things, but all of them still very personal.

DS: Do you see these portraits as testament to your relationships with these people in your family; does it reflect how you respond to these people?

CV: All the references for the portraits are from candid photographs, but I definitely respect those [whom] I paint. For sure I focus more on my dad and my grandpa, and I kinda feel that painting them is in a way just like painting a self-portrait. I always figured this body of work, more than anything else, is just the puzzle pieces of who I am.

DS: What has your family's response to... did you approach them and explain what it was that you were doing, and how did they respond to that?

CV: They definitely know I paint their portraits, and I show them the work when it's done, but I've never gone to them and just thrown it all on the table like this. They definitely think it's somewhat odd that I pick up these things from around the house, because a lot of it is just crap... just stuff we have laying around. [pointing to a handmade water jug] Like this thing, a water jug from Mexico. It's broken [and] worthless now, but I've kept it. It reminds me of living in Mexico.

DS: How long have you lived in Fresno?

CV: I was born here, and [then would move] back and forth [between Fresno and Mexico], we'd spend like half the year in Mexico, until I was about eight. Since then I've been here for pretty much the entire time, going back just every now and then.

DS: Would you say a fair amount of your family lives here, or in Mexico?

CV: Most of my family lives in Mexico, about ninety percent. My immediate family and some aunts and uncles live here.

DS: A lot of my work [as an artist], being a white male... I don't have a lot of cultural influence in my work, as a 3rd generation American. But for you, would you say [a cultural vein] influences your work, when you're painting these specific animals, or this iconography [that translates] even in these quilt pieces?

CV: Yeah, it has a huge influence. I'm 1st generation [American] but I also come from a family of farm laborers. So the mule, or the giant ox... it has everything to do with both my father and grandfather, aunts and uncles, who really had no choice growing up whether they could be anything... the necessity for them to work was so [great] just for them to survive. They never had a choice whether or not they could go to school, but they had to work. My dad is seventy, and still works in the fields. [pointing to a pile of bags] These bags will be a part of an installation piece; they are bags that farm laborers use to pick oranges. And were used last week. They're straight from the fields, my dad brought them home. Some of them are bags he's even used. Bags I've used, since growing up I'd get a little work [in the fields] so I could see how difficult it was for them to earn a living, to gain some respect instead of being an idiot and wasting my life away.

DS: Is all this work in response to the respect that you have for these family members?

CV: Definitely. They've lived difficult lives, working every day, waking up really early every day, working whether or not they were [healthy or] sick.

DS: Does that idea to create dark backgrounds without black stem from that concept of a difficult life, but never... well, black is very bleak. Hopeless. I don't see that as being your intention at all, in these portraits.

CV: I've been told a few times that I'm painting death. And I focus on both my dad and my grandfather, because they're both towards the ends of their lives, both older men with [their share of] health problems. I don't do it with the intention of painting them as dying. I do choose them because they have so much character in their faces; character that's built up with their age and their experiences. That's why I first started painting them. They've had interesting lives, plenty of wrinkles, sunspots, scars. The [dark] backgrounds came about because [at first] they were difficult to work with, but over time I've just used it with everything. For a long time I wanted to build these worlds behind the subjects [of my paintings], but recently became very comfortable with this background; like a dark room.

DS: Do you have a vision of where you want to go after this? Do you feel like you're nearing a completion of this process--?

CV: No, definitely not. I'd like to get to a point where I have a couple hundred pieces; portraits of animals, portraits of family, and then random stuff, creating this big installation. But I could work on this my entire life, just painting all these things. I'd like to do more sculpture work; I'd like to do bigger pieces, like the ox. I'd like to do a family portrait, actual size.
I go to family gatherings we have every Sunday and I'll shoot random photos of my family just sitting around, doing absolutely nothing--just bee-essing, you know, but that's the great stuff that you remember. That's what I'd like to paint.

A special thanks to Daniel for his extensive interview.

Pack up the sunglasses, headin' out for Summer...

2010-06-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Gallery is going to take a well deserved vacation this summer for a couple of months. We are thankful to the last 6 months which brought us amazing artwork, music and good times. Thank you to all of our patrons, we couldn't do it with out you.

We will see you soon.

Trumpet Solo at the Gallery

2010-06-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

It was a warm evening on Friday the 18th where people started to gather at the gallery as the day turned into night. As patrons drifted in and out of the gallery viewing MyCow's works, the lights of the gallery were slowly being changed out to a red hue to mark the starting of Trumpet Solo's in gallery performance.

Nihon was now glowing red.

It was an awe inspiring thirty minutes of rock. You could hear it from down the street, and possibly over the tracks. Trumpet Solo's performance was the third installment of the Nihon Music Series and did not disappoint, including a outside guitar solo by Pierce.

Nihon wants to thank Reid, Pierce and Nick.

Support this Nihon family band @ Trumpet Solo

Trumpet Solo is back! June 18th Show

2010-06-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Trumpet Solo will be back for another show at Nihon. This time they will be with legendary Rademacher (if weather permits) for an in gallery show. We are proud to have Trumpet Solo back for another killer show... this will be a not to miss performance including amazing special effects. MyCow's show is still up and will be on view starting at 8pm followed by music at 9pm. Come rock out with the Nihon Family.

MyCow Opening June 3rd

2010-06-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

The opening night for MyCow was a hot summer night that brought a large amount of people into the gallery. The gallery was full of older works and jaw dropping new pieces that Mike finished earlier that week. Mike was on hand giving words of wisdom to ones who asked about his work. A few people were lucky enough to purchase MyCow works and will be able to take them home at the end of the show. We are looking forward to having a music event in the gallery this month and to close the show for this amazing artist.

Thanks to all who came out and check back for updates from MyCow our newest Nihon Family Member.

MyCow Solo Show at Nihon Gallery

2010-05-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Mike Howe a.k.a. MyCow will be showing for the month of June.

We kick things off with the opening reception on June 3rd from 5pm - 10pm.

We will announce more events for Mike and musical performances as well in the gallery.

Mike just finished a mural behind historical Tokyo Garden, see below.

Nihon Family member Jason Graham Show Closing

2010-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Jason Graham will be traveling all the way from Portland Oregon this weekend to appear at the closing party for his current show at Iron Bird Cafe.

New works by Graham are showcased and he will also be prevailing a new print as well as t-shirts at the closing party.

Mycow and Trumpet Solo will also be playing as the Cafe will be serving the always delicious coffee and food.

The Nihon Family will be there on hand to party as well.

Looking back at the I Want to Believe Show

2010-05-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Dominique Ovalle and Frank B. Tabarez's joint show "I Want To Believe" at Nihon Gallery showcased two artists whose works express intensely visceral yet intelligent--and at times, specific--perspectives of the boundless environment inherent within the human condition. The show opened on May 6 and closed Saturday, May 22.

Dominique Ovalle's oeuvre is typified by exploded colour pallets and mixed media choices, often converging into works that become three-dimensional, with found objects and fabric scraps destroying the typically defined boundaries of the two-dimensional canvas.

For a majority of her work in "I Want To Believe," Ms. Ovalle's strength was found in constraint of this methodology, as specific works that were framed and behind glass forced rigid borders for her work to flourish within. Those constrained works saw Ms. Ovalle reflecting on life through different sets of eyes: her own, as in "Happiness" and "XXX" (2010); the eyes of other cultures, beautifully captured in "Life" (2010), and the eyes of nature, as in "Sing, oh Barren One" (2010).

When Ms. Ovalle's work is outside of framed confines, she explores environments that exists in our natural world outside of human interference, and does not allow the constructs of canvas dimensions to interfere with her portrayal.

Frank B. Tabarez's work, according to his artist's statement, is a reflection on the people and environment of his hometown of Fresno, and a majority of his work is mired in intense contrasts. Stark color pallets and a reserved use of mixed media materials create bleak, encompassing canvas spaces that evoke engrossing psychological landscapes.

When Mr. Tabarez turns to the human form, his portraits are of barren figures, where details and expressions become obscured or even seemingly defaced. The figures float about in the space of the canvases, demanding the viewer's attention while offering few distinct answers as to their being. When Mr. Tabarez states that his work is about the "human condition and human psyche," the art itself crafts those questions and offers the mysteries to the viewer, evoking a nearly spiritual conversation about the self within the canvas.

That intensity of questioning is inherent in the works of both artists; as the desire to believe is never one to be taken lightly, here both Ms. Ovalle and Mr. Tabarez have produced works extremely dense, never taking on the issues of belief lightly, or in a flippant nature. The density of their individual crafts displays a dedication to this question of belief, and their works together showcase two sides to this universal, timeless query.

Writing by Daniel Schultz and images by Terrance Reimer

I Want To Believe - Dominique Ovalle & Frank Tabarez

2010-05-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

Join Dominique Ovalle and Frank Tabarez as there art exhibition comes to an amazing close.

Come celebrate with the featured artists of Nihon Gallery for the month of May in the historic Chinatown as they invite you to come drink, eat and party on this sunny Saturday.

I Want To Believe includes paintings and mixed media work from Frank and Dominique as well as an installation piece. All work is for sale and the cash goes to the artists and back to the gallery to keep the doors open.

Come down and support the Nihon Gallery and the creative future of Chinatown.

Featured Nihon artist in I Want You Magazine

2010-05-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Brandon Drake is featured in I Want You Magazine. An online version as well as a print version are available now. Below are a few images featured for the article, hit the link for the full magazine spread.

iwantyoumagazine.com/brandon-drake/

Congrats to Brandon for this publication.

Looking Back at the 8 1/2 by eleven Show

2010-05-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

Thoreau may have been right, saying: "This world is but a canvas to our imagination." However, the entire world is an unnecessarily large canvas for most local artists, as Nihon Gallery proved in late April.

On Saturday, April 24, over forty artists came together and submitted more than seventy works for Nihon Gallery's very first open-submission 8 1/2" by 11" show. Curated by Robert Amador, all works submitted to the gallery were shown, and the world--seen through the eyes of Fresno's most innovative and progressive artists--was condensed into individual pieces of art none larger than a typical sheet of office letterhead.

Submissions to the show included photographs, paintings, pen and ink drawings, mixed media works, and showcases of street and graffiti art. "We have semi-established artists mixed with those who only make art sometimes," explained Robert Amador, the curator of Nihon. Amador came up with the concept of the 8 1/2" by 11" show to provide a venue for local artists who may not have as many opportunities to publicly display their crafts.

From Dominique Ovalle's intricately detailed pen and ink portrait of a goddess, to Mike Howe's paintings as intensely structured as full-size wall murals; from Terrance Reimer's intimate photographs of Fresno terrain, to Bob Perro's hyper-kinetic snapshots of frozen moments at dance parties; from Brandon Drake's black and white screenprints evoking Xerox copies of scrambled cable signals, to Zach Welch's donated abstract paintings like sectioned sheets of rusted metal--these along with works from dozens of other artists in distinct mediums coincided within the gallery's walls, depicting an enormous array of Fresno art styles and local visual languages.

The show also found Nihon Gallery playing the position of catalyst, wherein the call for open submissions created an easy opportunity for more timid or perhaps less motivated local artists. "There's an advantage for people who would never otherwise show," claimed Steve Ruppel, the preparatory at Nihon. With an open, un-juried playing field, no one who was interested in being a part of the show had to worry about finding their work denied or passed over.

Writing by Daniel Schultz and images by Terrance Reimer

8 1/2 by eleven Show Opening NIght

2010-04-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

On the evening of April 24th, something truly great happened in our small gallery. We were blown away by the amount of entries into our 8 1/2 by eleven group show. It was our plan to open up the Fresno art world to the masses and we were more then stoked on the outcome. The gallery was packed, the vibe was good and it lasted till 11pm. Thank you to all of the artists, all who came out, all who support us and all who purchased works that night. It shows us that we are moving in the right direction. We were given an energy that night which will keep us going....

Thank you to Boogie for the photos.

8 1/2 by eleven Show

2010-04-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the night to welcome and celebrate the great turnout of over 70 submitted works.

Iron Bird Cafe will be represented and coffee served.

Come party with great people who support the arts in our Chinatown.

8 1/2 by eleven Group Show

2010-04-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

Nihon Gallery Presents

the 8 ½ by eleven show

Saturday, APRIL 24

This show is OPEN for submissions from ANYONE and EVERYONE.

The rules are simple; the piece you choose to submit, has to measure 8 ½” by 11”, which is the standard size for printer paper, or most notebooks. What you choose to submit is up to you, the artist; drawings, paintings, photography, collage, anything! And the way you choose to frame it, is also up to you; only the actual piece of art has to measure 8 ½”x 11”, size of the frame is up to the artist.

Up to 2 submissions from each artist.

Work has to be framed and ready to hang, or we WILL put a fat nail through the middle of your work.

Print out the image slip above and attach on back for ease of mind.
All pieces must have a submission slip glued/taped/stapled to the back of the piece.(submission slip=name, number, price)
We’d hate for you to lose your piece and we’d hate to have to throw it away at the end of the show

All work has to be dropped off at Nihon Gallery on;

Friday April 16, 5-8pm
&/or
Saturday, April 17, 12-4pm

8 1/2 by Eleven Show

2010-03-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

When we started this gallery we always had in mind that it be accessable to the masses of our local artists. So in turn we will have a group show on April the 24th. All works will be 8 1/2 by 11 in size and should be sell-able at a decent cost.....we want to move art and make china town come alive.
Please stay tuned for for details.

Alfonso, gone but not forgotten...

2010-03-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

Alfonso recently left on a jet plane and we hope he'll be back soon again.

The show in March was incredible, over 100 works including 67 small individual paintings and a hand made illustrated book. We were happy to show our friend off to the city we love and sad that he is gone.

He will have some of the Nihon works at Iron Bird Cafe for the month of April.

Thanks to all who were able to meet this amazing workhorse of an artist and incredible person.

Closing reception for Alfonso

2010-03-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

It was a great night @ the gallery. We closed Alfonso's show with an unique acoustic solo performance by Niilo Smeds. It was a great time and a precursor for more music in the gallery.

Thanks to Niilo and all who came out.

Opening night for Alfonso Barrera

2010-03-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Alfonso's opening reception was last night.

Thanks to all who came out, all those who bought and all those who just were in the scene.

There will be more images of the show to come.

We are going to announce one more night of debauchery, music and the art of Alfonso.

He is still working....

Something brewing I think.....

2010-03-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Sighting of Ronald Dzerigian @ Nihon.

There's a rumor going around that there might be a solo show in the works.

Ice T will be in the Gallery

2010-03-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Nihon Gallery welcomes Ice T.

Alfonso is in full effect and ready to throw down

on March 4th.....

Alfonso Barrera @ Nihon

2010-02-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

Alfonso Barrera will be showing his drawings and paintings next month.

A Walk Through Nihon Gallery's February Show

2010-02-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

February First Thursday

2010-02-07T06:44:00.000-08:00

photos courtesy Joe Osejo

Nihon Gallery February Show

2010-02-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

It seems we're always pushing our luck, here, at Nihon; Walfreds luggage was lost when he arrived in Fresno from Oaxaca, luggage that contained his work for the show in the form of unstretched canvas.
We were finally able to breathe, as it arrived late, the next night.
Walfred wasted no time and got to work, constructing canvas after canvas, while simultaneously battling a temperature and illness. Now thats dedication.
Meanwhile, back at home base, we shifted through about 150 of Vicentes drawings and tried to pick the ones we liked best. It was tough, they were all either really good, really weird, or gut bustingly funny, and didnt want to leave any out.
We finally picked out the ones we thought fit together well, and ended up with about 70 on display.
Theres so much good art to soak in, or sink into, right now at Nihon, we're all very proud of this show.

we also got a nice little mention here.

and here.

and here.

Thank you to Trumpet Solo for providing the soundtrack to the night, our ears have yet to recover.
And thank you to La Elegante for donating their deliciousness.

put this on your grocery list

2010-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

JANUARY First Thursday

2010-01-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

Our January show comes down this weekend. Thanks to all who made it out for the closing reception, and a big patronizing, "sooooorrrrrrry" to those who were offended by the night we decided to have it on......awwwwww.

Heres some more pics from the show.

Univision at Nihon Gallery

2010-01-28T05:16:00.000-08:00

Univision came by the gallery today for an interview with our curator, Robert Amador, and 1/2 of next months art show, Vicente Aello. Heres a sneak peak. Video up soon!

studio visit with Vicente Aello

2010-01-26T18:27:00.000-08:00

Last week I did a studio visit with my neighbor across the hall Vicente Aello. Vicente was working on some pieces for his upcoming show with Walfred Rodriguez at Nihon . This is going to be a great show that you cant miss!! Show opens February 4th 5pm - 11pm.
posted by Christian Vargas

Nihon Gallery Proudly Presents ...

2010-01-26T15:24:00.001-08:00

January's 5 man show

2010-01-21T13:03:00.001-08:00

For our January show, we had 5 strapping young lads flex their art muscle; Christian Vargas and Erik Beltran held it down in the paint department, while Bob Pero and Loren Hall handled the photography, and last, but not least, Gary Magill came through with a nice video install.

Nihon Gallery Proudly Presents ...

2010-01-03T23:29:00.000-08:00

JANUARY First Thursday

2010-01-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

heres a short video that was filmed during Decembers show, advertising January's show. Not sure who to credit for it, kind of a nice teaser.

Nothing Too Loose pt. II

2010-01-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

some images of the gallery and of some of the work that was shown in our December show, "nothing too loose", Enjoy!

"Nothing Too Loose"-an art show by Jason Graham & Robert Amador/ Nihon Gallery's Grand Opening

2010-01-03T04:35:00.001-08:00

The week building up to the opening night was truly a hectic one. We sanded, painted, built, destroyed, and rebuilt again. We swallowed dangerous looking dust that fell from the light fixtures. Dust, which Im sure had to be as old as Chinatown itself, and which, Im also sure, took a few years off our lives. We ate terribly, and slept just as well.
We also stressed heavily; Jason's car broke down an hour outside of Sacramento, where he waited for 4 days as the mechanics unsuccessfully attempted to get his '68 Volkswagon to come back from the dead.
He finally made it into town the night before the opening, having borrowed the mechanics personal vehicle and packing it to the brim with art. It was a true show of Art Heroics.
We got all the art up and looking good, just hours before the opening. People showed up early, and there were hardly any moments when the place wasn't packed to capacity.
Racelegs, Rademacher, and Wheels Of Fortune, also threw their hats into the mix, providing a soundtrack to the show, playing next door, inside of Debts to Society, to an extremly crammed, but very happy to be there, crowd.
It was all worth it.

All images above, courtesy of the always wonderful, Terrance Reimer.

for more opening night goodness, check here. and Jasons coverage of the show, here.

more Jason Graham, jasongraham.wearelowercase.com

and more Robert Amador, robertamador.blogspot.com