Build – June 2009 – Press Release

Saturday, June 27, 2009

For Immediate Release                                                                                                         May 26, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA – Arts organization Create:Fixate will host another incredible production of art and music and this time an exploration of architecture and design. “Build” will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The event will be held at the Premiere Events Center where two large warehouses filled with vibrant artwork and music will present over 40 top local artists, DJs and musicians. The venue is located at 613 Imperial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021. The full-blown event runs from 7:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. Admission is $15.00 before 10:00 p.m., and $20.00 for the remainder of the night. All ages are welcome. For more information please call 310-590-7199 or visit www.createfixate.com.

The evening begins with a preview of the exhibit from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. There is a $5 suggested donation during this period and kids twelve-years old and younger are allowed free entry before seven o’clock. Parents are encouraged to bring the whole family during the preview hours and take advantage of the Kids Kreativity Zone (4 – 7 p.m. only). Overflowing with art supplies, the Zone provides a supervised space where youth can dive into their own expression while parents explore the evening’s exhibit.

“Build” is a theme exploring the visual architecture of life and how it moves you. On June 27th, emerging and established visual artists and musicians will create a collective definition for build (v.) – to develop or give form according to a plan or process; create: to make something by combining materials or parts. Create:Fixate’s artists have been engaged in the construction and design of this landscape, a space full of sound and structure that we trust will engage you in an exhilarating experience. In turn, as the audience, we welcome you to “build” on our shapes and definitions with your own perceptions. Each structure ventured upon has a certain push or pull that helps to define who we are in the world. So, join us in our visual and aural journey.

Some of the visual artists featured at the “Build” event include Sage Raval, whose art pieces are built environments, hand-crafted with layered paper carefully stitched and assembled by hand using repurposed and recycled materials resulting in gorgeous, delicate details that are fragile and whimsical in appearance yet strong in construction. Artist and furniture designer Ando Pndlian’s work reflects his continuing interest in the interchange between research and culture as well as his belief in the importance of a sustainable and human-centered design practice. The humans behind 11.1 - Arshia Mahmoodi and Axel Schmitzberger – will present an installation based on holistic design using biology, technology and current construction processes. Beloved LA-transplant Mike Russek, the hyper-creative gallery owner, festival director, and mobile art gallery curator, will present a new series of work based on topographic maps utilizing laser cutters and a variety of materials – his first new series in over 5 years. German-born Antje Menikheim’s work is both spatial and autobiographical, though her art is rendered in geometric abstracts. From afar, the collages look like blown-up computer chips or intricate plans of buildings but closer inspection reveals documents and collected papers meticulously superposed to shape a geometrical pattern. Sculptor and designer James Peterson’s current work is also rooted in geometric organic forms, with an emphasis on sustainable materials. His furniture and sculpture work are distinguished by elegant organic forms juxtaposed with complex material combinations.

In the center of it all you will find [re]BUILD, a contest hosted by LAA, an art collective that encourages creation and competition amongst artists and enables audiences to witness closely the process of artistic creation. For the first time Create:Fixate will partner with LAA, whose events are unique, positing artists head to head within a different thematic competition (painting, graffiti, ice sculpture, tattoo). The contest will involve the construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction of an urban landscape, turning pieces of concrete and rubble into magnificent, painted, mosaic canvases. The 3-hour event will take center stage amidst DJs, live musicians, an enormous dance floor, and a vast 3-room art gallery space. The audiences decide on the winners, prizes are awarded, and a cool and unique set of artwork is created.

Not to be outdone, the Audio Lab portion of the evening promises to impress with a collection of Los Angeles’ best talent. Some of the aural highlights for June 27th include Kenneth Graham, a Create:Fixate favorite known for combining equal elements of mind and machine, his sound is both clinical and funky. Tricia Halloran, DJ, radio host of “Brave New World,” and sublime musical curator will navigate new sounds for our dance floor pleasure. Argentinean-born multimedia artist Rodolfo Juarez will share his inspired musical side with us and singer/ songwriter Jessica Viola, making a name for herself in the funk and blues community, will bring her innovative melodies, warm-toned vocals, and a suitcase full of poetry to the party.

In support of building a better world, Create:Fixate is working with Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) on this next event. The ECHS mission is to provide a hands-on rigorous college prep curriculum that extends learning into the local environment so all students graduate with the knowledge, values and skills to become lifelong learners and quality stewards of their community – a community where magic happens. Green Ambassadors, a project of Environmental Charter High School, is an environmental education program that empowers youth to be agents of change in their communities and world. Through service learning, community partnerships, and cross-cultural and global exchange, the program fosters personal growth and leadership skills to help youth tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet. For more information visit http://echsonline.org and http://greenambassadors.org.

Empowerment Works will also be in the house on June 27th. Established in 2001, Empowerment Works (EW) is comprised of a growing global community of citizens, businesses, and organizations who understand that by bringing the best of our resources and ideas to the table, we can help build a better world for humanity. EW is a Think-Tank. It is global sustainability in Action, empowering humanity to co-create a healthier, culturally rich, and environmentally secure future. Working from the grassroots up, EW fosters social and economic opportunities that value and protect indigenous heritage. In the USA, EW manifests positive social change through creative educational forums and events promoting cross-cultural appreciation and environmental responsibility. To learn more please visit http://www.empowermentworks.org.

Create:Fixate is a successful art organization in Los Angeles in its 8th year running art/music events that bring together emerging artists and musicians, along with 1500+ art lovers and party goers in a 15,000-square foot downtown warehouse on a quarterly basis. Founder Michelle Berc curates, produces and hosts these stunning group art shows that present creative people from around the globe with an emphasis on the local talent of Los Angeles. The production team also includes music coordinator Andrea Giardina, and a core team of volunteers and dedicated advisory board members. Awe-inspiring painters, photographers, sculptors, and multi-media artists exhibit alongside an equally impressive array of Los Angeles’ finest DJs and musicians. Each event’s aural artists are poised to create a soundtrack for the night that transforms this from a simple ‘art show’ into the city’s most anticipated Art Event.

VOX BOX Arts Collective is a nonprofit multi-cultural interdisciplinary arts group dedicated to presenting live performance, film, and visual arts to children and adults of diverse incomes, cultures, and abilities. VOX BOX believes in the necessity for exchange and collaboration between people, communities, and nations. We feel that the arts community needs to take an active role in creating a positive environment for social change. Create:Fixate and VOX BOX work together to produce the “8 Sundays Emerging Artist Program,” the Kids Kreativity Zone, and other programs presented to our community. To learn more please visit http://www.voxboxarts.com.

~ Optical Lounge ~

Alex André Thevenot
Alex André is a French & American artist interested in the relation between human consciousness and our modern times. After moving from Paris to Venice, Alex worked with a panel of artists in the Venice Community assisting them with silicone mold making for sculptural pieces and various metal works for corporate signage. His current work includes “Cold Fusion”, a line of dynamic pieces designed in the language of the universe (duality, symmetry, gravity, geometry) using novel techniques and raw materials such as brass, steel, wood, marble, onyx, combined with modern lighting systems such as neon, LED, CCFL, etc.

Amy Bernays
Amy Bernays graduated with a BA (honors) in Fine Art from Central St Martins, London, in 2001. Her work is a mix of paintings, prints, drawings, short stories and behind-the-scenes narratives from London and California. Her strip-club series provides a window into western culture. Bernays says, “Drawing in there is like playing a computer game. Only the expert gamer, having left the room after getting up to the hardest level, passes you the controls. It’s dark, they move really fast, and sometimes they are upside-down.” Using modern materials, such as spray paint, resins, collage and paint effects, she illuminates this seedy culture of ours with humor and humanity. Bernays’ work can be seen in galleries in Los Angeles, New York, London and Edinburgh.

Amy Shawley
Amy Shawley is an artist passionate about creating a visual language through painting, illustration, photography and sculpture. Inspired by color, intelligent song lyrics, memory, life’s little surprises and nature’s cycles of growth and decay, she presents her viewers with images of women interacting with environments that represent emotional stories of loss, heartbreak, love, family and history. Amy received a BA in Art History from Boston University and is primarily self-taught as an artist. She has exhibited in New York, Minneapolis, Berlin and Los Angeles and was published in Yale University’s SAGE Magazine. Her work is in private collections in New York, Boston, St. Paul, Perth, Kansas City, Seattle, and Paris. She currently resides in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles with her clumsy studio assistant/domestic shorthair cat, Erebus Leonardo.

Ando Pndlian
Ando Pndlian graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in architecture. Awarded with several design projects and 10+ years experience, he established an independent multi- disciplinary design studio search+resQ as a more clear and direct expression of his ideas. Pndlian’s approach is intuitive and sensory. His design sensibilities range from eco-friendly furniture to a socially conscious clothing line and product concept development. Committed to producing thoughtful, functionally appropriate and minimalist designs through collaborative effort with each of his clients, Pndlian’s work reflects the continuing interest in the interchange between research and culture as well as his belief in the importance of sustainable and human-centered design practice.

Antje Menikheim
Antje Menikheim was born in Stuttgart, Germany. She began studying art at the Art Academy in Rome and in 1992 continued her studies at the Art Academy in Duesseldorf. There, under the tutelage of Prof. Klaus Rinke – a well-known performance artist, as well as sculptor, painter and photographer – Antje Menikheim received her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1996.

Chris Hall
Christopher Hall was born in 1958 in Covina, CA and studied fine/commercial art at MTSAC. Composing his paintings from natural subject matter, Hall’s use of strong contrasts conveys a dynamic use of imagery and symbolism. Hall’s unique work crosses genres of surrealism, pop art, and realism.

Chris Rowland
Chris Rowland received his M.F.A. in 2000 and was awarded into the “Who’s Who among students in Universities and Colleges.” Since graduating, Rowland has traveled to several countries experiencing first hand the diversity of culture inspired by a childhood dream of travel and adventure.

In 2003 Chris had the honor of representing the United States in an artist residency in Macedonia where he now has 2 paintings in the permanent collection in the Contemporary Museum of Art in Skopje, Macedonia.Rowland exhibits his paintings regularly at the Paulina Miller Gallery in Phoenix, AZ., and most recently was part of a group show at APC Gallery in Torrance, CA. He has also been featured in Contact, a magazine for modern living.

David Phillips
David paints beatnik, colorful, unique abstractions that homage his favorite artists. The ramblers, poets, and barflies of America influence most of his work. Phillips lives in Venice, California, with his studio located near Hinano where he paints, reads Fante, Bukowski, and drinks craft beer.

Francesco D’Isa
Born in September 1980 in Firenze, Italy, Francesco D’ Isa loves synthesis and hates biography. He studied philosophy at the University of Firenze. Self-taught as an artist, D’Isa’s fascination with visual imagery has propelled him into mastering the required skills. He has published his digital and traditional artworks in many magazines around the world, won art prizes and exhibited his artworks in galleries worldwide (Italy, Germany, England, USA, Australia, Russia, South America etc).

Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer was born in Belfast in 1968, and has been making paintings and drawings since he was a small child. After completing his MA in Architecture at the University of Edinburgh, he spent the following years traveling the world as a street artist and his narrative chalk drawings were featured in festivals in Europe, Australia and the US, and a book recording his work was published in 1996. Travels in East Africa from the banks of lake Malawi to the exotic island of Zanzibar are the basis of a recent collection of paintings and writings entitled ‘The Road to Zanzibar”, which form a book and print collection. The new works are more conceptual distillations of traditions in painting. Palmer now works from his studio in Venice.

Greg Bourdreau
Greg Boudreau creates massively multi-layered and intricately cut paper stencils that are printed onto frames of salvaged wood and depicting scenes of an urban environment and contemporary life. The meticulous hand-cutting contrasts with the automation and computer technology also used in his process. His frames are constructed of de-constructed shipping pallets, and the recycled and reclaimed materials remind the viewer of the debris created by the industrial landscapes and life depicted. All of this combines into an over-saturated and hyper-real visual experience that is unmistakable and difficult to avoid. Originally from Seattle, he has recently relocated to Southern California to establish a presence in the region.

Jewely Koh
“Jewely” aka Eun-jung Koh was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and is also a native of Los Angeles, where she now resides. Balancing two dramatically different worlds comprise her sincere and intrepid sense of life. These elements are evident in her artwork. Koh emphasizes a strong technical skill, which she feels is, “important to define and master, as truth itself “. Realism in her works holds a strong foundation balancing her exploration of an emotional palette. In her paintings the relationship between structure and self-expression create a visual harmony.

Jill Freeman
A singer/songwriter for over 20 years, Jill Freeman’s artistic career has been spent mostly on stages and in recording studios. Recently she returned to college to study painting and is now interested in discovering her unconscious’ voice through her new medium

Kate Daly
Kate Daly, born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA, graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design in May of 2008. Kate’s command of oil enables the illustration of her personal philosophies through the combination of different elements into a cohesive theme. With music as her greatest inspiration, she translates the energy and mood of sound into the movement, or lack thereof, displayed in each piece.

Kelly Thompson
Kelly’s art draws on the widely diverse techniques and styles she has learned over the years, along with her enthusiasm for artistic experimentation and exploration. Her creations consist of vibrantly colored abstract landscapes inspired by coastal California and urban Los Angeles and a series of commissions with an Asian landscape theme. Her most recent work has been a series of pop-style women portraits.

Michael Waterman
Born in Portland, Maine in 1947, Michael Waterman was drawn very early to his father’s studio behind their home, where Alfred Waterman worked as a professional painter in the old Portland landscape tradition. Waterman’s paintings are not for the faint-hearted or shallow-minded. Sometimes disturbing, always challenging, they will continue to suggest new interpretations and reveal subtle details, even after years of daily exposure. Like all important pictures, they are more than the sum of their parts, and reward the perceptive viewer with insights into what it means to be human.

Michele Castagnetti
Born in Italy in 1972, Michele Castagnetti has established himself as a successful contemporary artist producing many valuable art series that have appeared in numerous galleries – the latest being the Open Show at Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, curated by the Los Angeles Times art critic David Pagel (2008) and Fotosintesi in Italy (2009). His art is also regularly published in the art magazine Rojo (Ictus issue 2008).

Mike Russek
Mike Russek completed his master’s degree in sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2001 and quickly made Los Angeles his home. Over the last 8 years Russek has started galleries, thrown festivals, and provided multiple mobile art galleries for events all over the west coast. His new series features work based on topographic maps. Using laser cutters and a variety of materials Russek gives us his first series in over 5 years.

Patrick Haemmerlein
Patrick Haemmerlein’s recent collection of paintings is based on themes of nature’s path versus human progress and how they can co-exist or clash. They have been created from Haemmerlein’s observations of industrial encroachment, invasion of privacy, poor governmental management and the downward trajectory of the human race. That being said, they are also created with the desire for something new – something better. A peaceful coexistence that shows you the endearing details and imperfect beauty that makes living in these times so appealing. The images are all designed from photographs that Patrick has taken over the years. The buildings and cityscapes are from Los Angeles while the animal and farm photos were mostly taken around his hometown of Kinderhook, NY. So in a way they are not only a juxtaposition of nature and industry, but also a combination of imagery from his two homes – one rural and one urban. These pieces are all made on recycled materials. Crate tops, dresser drawers, table tops, shelving, wine boxes and whatever else Haemmerlein can drag home from his treks around Hollywood, where her lives.

Sage Raval
Sage Raval was born in Malibu, California and raised in several cities such as Taos, New Mexico, Negril, Jamaica, and Lake Tahoe, California. She received her MAAE from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2005. Not only is she an artist, she’s an educator and mother.

Raval’s art pieces are built environments, hand-crafted with layered paper carefully stitched and assembled by hand. She practices an eco-conscious process by repurposing and recycling materials that have been collected from mailing and packaging materials, vegetable and fruit plastic wrappings, out-of-print LetraSet and LetraTone and scraps from her private lessons. Her designs result in gorgeous, subtle tones with delicate details that are fragile and whimsical in appearance yet strong in construction. She enjoys using fabric from thrift stores and organic muslin and the thread, well, is just thread.

Stephanie Han Windham
Stephanie Han Windham obtained her BFA from the Laguna College of Art & Design (1995) and her MFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City (1999). Always interested in working with organic forms, her current series of images take a fanciful, whimsical turn by using recognizable plant shapes and morphing them into her own unique creations, until they look like an alien flower or not even a plant at all. Windham then puts them in bubble-filled environments that suggest the undersea, outer space, or other fantastic realms. The result is a snapshot of a world that’s both recognizable and unfamiliar to us, but delightful all the same.

Tracy Sagalow
Tracy Sagalow practices the art of pyrography, or, wood burning. Her background in film encourages her to tell stories and create themes in her visual art. Each piece is hand drawn. The drawing is then burned onto pine panels and enhanced with acrylic paints. Tracy enjoys sharing her vision of the world and its beauty by painting with fire.

Will Koffman
Will Koffman is a 20-year-old artist from Orange County, California. He is known from subculture to high-culture as a leading illustrator in the music scene and as a Laguna Festival of Arts Exhibitor. His trademark technique of creating images with bleach on black fabric goes alongside refined oil paintings and ink drawings. Will has professional experience in medical illustration, animation design and concept art, album art, comics, children’s books, portrait painting, and has illustrated for magazines such as Weird Tales, ISM, Gamut, and various underground publications.

~ Installations ~

11.1
11.1 is a multidimensional practice consisting of members Arshia Mahmoodi and Axel Schmitzberger of former null-lab, void and hostcell. The practice acts as a platform of investigation and physical manifestation attempting to unify the multitude of influences on the built and designed object. The projects are layered and evolve out of a holistic design process using biology, technology and current construction processes.

The work of 11.1 consists of architectural proposals of all scales and graphic design work. The members are committed to direct interaction with clients and professionals while providing excellence in contemporary design.

Arshia Mahmoodi
Arshia Mahmoodi received his Masters degree in Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Shahid Behesti in Teheran. He further expanded his studies in film television and new media at UCLA extension in Los Angeles. In Iran he worked with Bahram Shirdel as project architect for the Imam Khomeini International Airport among other experiences and was principal architect at the studio of Michele Saee in the United States. In 2001 he formed blu_under with partner Kevin Mulcahey with a dedication to open up possibilities for development and progressive architecture in an integral relationship. In 2003 he launched null.lab with his partners Reza Bagherzadeh and Afshin Rohani with the mission to translate the far reaches of human imagination and emotion into realized space. After realizing several projects with international recognition he established Void Inc. in 2006 to continue work in architecture in Los Angeles.

Axel Schmitzberger
Axel Schmitzberger currently teaches as Assistant Professor at California State Polytechnic University after having taught at various academic institutions both in Los Angeles and Austria in the areas of Architecture, Multimedia and Graphic Design. He received his architectural master degree from the Technical University Vienna, Austria, and practiced in various architectural design offices on internationally recognized projects such as Donaucity Vienna, a social housing project of 300 units. He collaborated with Nofrontiere Design in Vienna and established hostcell with Robert Mago and Lisa Prichard in 2000 through recognized projects for the Austrian National Broadcasting Agency Online Department (ORF ON), and Nofrontiere Design and collaborated on the international graphic art periodical +rosebud magazine with award-winning contributions. In 2001 he relocated to Los Angeles and worked for the renowned international design firm Morphosis Architects on several internationally recognized projects.

James Peterson
James Peterson is a Los Angeles based sculptor and designer. He graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design with an emphasis on sculpture, design, illustration, and art history. Throughout his artistic evolution his work has been fluid and dynamic, with both organic and mechanical motifs with a focus on kinetic and interaction evident in his designs. His furniture and sculpture are distinguished by elegant organic forms juxtaposed with complex material combinations. Peterson has an extensive materials knowledge which arrives from his pursuit of everything, including: visual effects, set design, automotive prototyping, product development, sculpture, furniture and interior design are just some his experiences. This knowledge has broadened his fabrication talents and increased his ability to produce exquisite pieces of art. His current work is rooted in geometric organic forms, with an emphasis on sustainable materials. His pursuits are primarily on his own sculpture, design and fabrication business also he is employed by SCI-ARC school of architecture in the fabrication facility assisting with materials and applications .Currently Peterson resides in Los Angeles with his wife developing new extravagant sculpture, furniture and designs for those desiring nothing short of spectacular.

Jessica Viola
In addition to playing music to an ever-expanding audience, Jessica Viola designs gardens, employing the principles of permaculture to grow food, design sustainable garden oases, and educate youth/adults on permaculture and native plant ecology and design. Currently, she is exploring the relationship between plants and music in community garden settings as she launches a new initiative, which promotes environmental awareness and education.

~ Video Artists ~

Leif Maginnis
Leif Maginnis started sculpting in sand at the beach ten years ago. Recently, he started recording time-lapse and stop-motion movies of the process. There are no tools used to sculpt the sand and water structures. The structures are abstract, the forms are always unplanned. Since the sculptures are made close to the water line, knowledge of the tides is important.

Mr. Cocoon
In an emerging world of live video artists, few have a background and skills as impressive as David Cabrera AKA Mr. Cocoon. With the improvisational approach of a live musician, his adaptable style has been described as psychedelic narrative, often referencing Nam June Paik and late 60′s light shows. Using a combination of self-produced footage, found video and live-synthesized video sources, David has created a technique of his own. His particular collection of self-produced footage and rare visual images provides him with a one of a kind pallet in which he creates captivating narratives that host a multitude of conceptual outcomes.

Cabrera’s visual presentations have been featured with DJs and bands and at clubs, underground parties, galleries, and corporate events since 1995. As one of the most in-demand video artists, Cabrera performs in excess of 100 shows a year, spanning the globe. He is the live video artist for one of LA’s hottest emerging bands, The Polyamorous Affair.

~ Fashion / Jewelry ~

Brooke Benson Designs
Brooke Benson is an emerging designer working and living in Venice, CA. After graduating from UCLA with a degree in Theater, her creativity began to extend to other art forms. Her jewelry designs are inspired by her extensive travels throughout Southeast Asia, Nepal and the Middle East. There is a distinct style that is captured in the designs, revealing a uniquely raw, but refined, style. Using spiritual symbols, gold, wood and semi-precious stones, her pieces are created to ignite the divine creative energy within each of us and enhance our awareness to the beauty that lies within. Each one of these energetic adornments carries a special essence that is felt by all who wear it. Recently written up in Daily Candy, her creations “blend the earthy with the ethereal.”

Delevo Designs/Deborah Vogt
After graduating from Columbia College, Deborah Vogt became a founding member of The Conjugate Projekt, Transamoeba Studios and The Chicago Art Department, participating in the creation of many collectives, multitudes of events and performance art installations throughout Chicago. She began creating her line of jewelry, Delevo Designs, in the year 2000, traveling to Bali to teach her innovative designs to the master artisans there. Upon landing in Los Angeles she has worked with several high-end designers while continuing to produce and coordinate art galleries and events. Her jewelry is handcrafted, elegant and simple, using fine woods, sterling silver and gold, precious and semi-precious stones, and recycled materials to create universal and distinctive designs.

Rhys Michael Burmann
Rhys Michael Burmann is a Santa Fe, New Mexico based General Contractor by day and wood artist by night. He has been crafting boxes for 10 years but is excited as Create:Fixate will be his first gallery showing. Each series of boxes starts with a geometric shape and an inspiration, and is entirely different than the previous. This series was inspired by Burmann’s travels in Bahia, Brazil and is entitled, Embarcação, which means “Vessel” in Portuguese.

Dandy/Andrea Lithgow
Imagining herself as an artist since her childhood, Andrea Lithgow has learned to trust her hands, going further on the path of creativity through her work. It’s an ongoing process, and what she calls the “crafty” gene: a genuine need to create, construct, design, and build.

From her experience sewing, along with seamstress and decorating jobs, Lithgow has developed an appreciation for the colors and texture of fabrics and materials. Combined with mixed-media art and painting classes, Andrea has enhanced her artistic awareness, adding dimension and perspective within her projects and designs.

Working with ceramics and glazes gives Andrea a new canvas to develop and display her artistic creativity, involving every element that has been a part of her since childhood. With Dandy Jewelry, Andrea has discovered a true palette for her handcrafted art.

Sasha Bell
Sasha Bell is a well-versed Canadian silversmith and jewelry designer who has recently returned to this passion full-time since moving to Los Angeles this past year. Her desire to create jewelry and work with precious metals was first piqued at the Kootenay School of the Arts in B.C. Canada, where she completed a 2-year program of small object and jewelry design. She is a popular designer on the well-known Etsy website and sells her jewelry at many stores throughout the US. Her style is both modern and edgy, with an organic feel presented in soft brushed finishes and deep patinas. Through her jewelry design process, she intends to create completely handmade miniature wearable works of art to be treasured by women of all ages.

~ Live Painters ~

Max Neutra
Max Neutra has been gaining recognition as one of the premier live painters in the Los Angeles area and is known for his “delightfully twisted” aesthetic and wild live painting shows. With a frenetic painting style, he quickly creates images that are bold, honest, and at times shocking. Using mostly portraits, he often paints the beauty in nature and the grotesque in mankind. His work has been described as “A treat for the eye and mind”, “A cross between comics and fine art”, and “Definitely an amazing experience to watch.”

Michael Pukac
Michael Pukac (poo-khash) is currently a Los Angeles-based artist who has painted for over 17 years, focusing in acrylic and mastering a new technique involving reflective layering with metallic and reflective paints. Pukac was born on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and grew up in the swamps. He graduated from the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL, with a BFA focusing on painting. Thereafter, he has made painting a full time gig, traveling the country, making a living off of his fine art, murals and illustrations. In the last 5 years, Pukac has co-founded three small nonprofit art organizations, has hosted and curated art events, art walks, and produced other live performances around the country. He has participated in over three-dozen art shows, starting from the age of 19, with close to a dozen solo exhibitions. These recent endeavors have brought him to Long Beach, CA, where he now resides and continues to show his work and participate in live painting performances throughout Southern California.

~ Audio Lounge ~

Arthur Autumn
“Arthur Autumn is a Los Angeles songwriter with a mid-western heart…Once in a while, an album like StyrofoamPillsHeartbreakShaker comes along that seems like it was composed and performed to be the soundtrack of your life-complex, emotional, yet hopeful…The music of Arthur Autumn captures the great songwriting that understands the pains and gains of everyday…The arrangements lead the spirit to find the silver lining…It takes one listen to the album or one of Arthur’s performances to know what the buzz is about, and the songs will always be on your mind…” Zack Pearce
www.myspace.com/arthurautumn; www.arthurautumn.com

AquaVee (MissDreamedia, Hale, C:F)
Andrea Giardina aka DJ AquaVee has been DJing since 1992. After inspirations by such LA clubs at Flammable Liquid and Sunday Love, her passion for house music grew. Many know her from her BeatNonStop records days, where she was a music buyer from Oct. 1999 – 2002. Giardina has been the Music Coordinator for Create:Fixate since day one. Nowadays you can hear her spinning what some might call “Deep Tech,” a combination of house and techno. A dash of electro and a splash of good vibrations, AquaVee always surprises.
www.myspace.com/missdreamedia; www.djaquavee.com

Bass Cadets
Deepak Krasner & Stephan Jacobs, Started collaborating in Feb. of 2008. Their fusion of Pop/Folk & Nu-School Beats and Bass, Makes their sound very unique. They will be debuting their Live show at the next Create:Fixate event.

http://www.myspace.com/thebasscadets

Christos Kedras (Kapa Music)
Christos Kedras was born and grew up in Greece next to the majestic waters of the Aegean Sea before moving to Los Angeles. As a DJ he has earned acclaim for his eclectic DJ sets of house, afro-latin, bossa nova, nu jazz and soul. Christos has established a number of DJ/music nights, DJing alongside John Beltran, Jay-J, Q-burns, Graham Sahara, Raul Campos, and for the likes of Sting, the Coalition of LA Designers, the Kabbalah, and numerous events. His production work has earned him kudos from heavyweights like Pete Tong, Claude Monnet, Ian Pooley, Nick Warren, Tony Humphries, Kaskade, and has aired on numerous radios including BBC Radio 1, Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, KCRW, Radio FG, and Ibiza Global Radio. www.christoskedras.com

DJ Jamesen Re (Deep Downunder Productions)
After forging a name for himself as the creator of the legendary “Sunny Side Up” Australia’s most influential and respected underground dance party events, the transition from event producer to DJ become a natural progression. Now residing in Santa Monica, California, Jamesen Re is making waves in the L.A. dance scene with his trademark blend of Deep, Tech House to sublime progressive. Re’s focus has always been to deliver cutting edge, quality underground dance music for the musically conscious. His no nonsense approach to programming and mixing has earned him both respect from his peers and House music enthusiasts across the globe.
www.myspace.com/jamesenre

Jessica Viola
Jessica Viola is a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles who performs throughout the West Coast and her hometown of New York City. India Arie, Digable Planets and Om Records are a few of the artists she has had the privilege of working and playing music with. Since arriving in Los Angeles three years ago with her piano and a suitcase of poetry, Viola has become an emerging voice in the funk and blues community, touring and collaborating with the likes of Hunkamama, The Gumbo Brothers, and Alex Painter. In addition to performing with her band, Sugarlick, Jessica’s warm-toned vocals and innovative melodies have been heard at the House of Blues, The Viper Room, The Derby, The Mint, The Whiskey, Temple Bar, Joshua Tree Music Festival, Earth Dance and Elysium Music Festival.

Kenneth Graham (Ovum, Plastic City, AV8, Immigrant, Controlteam)
Always infinitely combining equal elements of mind and machine, Kenneth Graham’s sound is both clinical and funky. It’s no surprise that since his introduction to electronic music in 1984, Graham has gone on to become one of the most influential dance music producers, and was named “Next 100″ for 2000 in URB Magazine. But Graham’s music exceeds the limitations of restrictive titles; it is simply good music. He has produced and remixed for such labels as Ovum, Stickman, and Eukahouse just to name a few. His music has also been licensed to various mixed CDs including Peace Division & G-Pal. Booked from Chile to Switzerland, his live performances are always a treat. His new remix for Minilogue on Claude VonStroke’s label, Mothership, is shaking dancefloors around the world. In addition to his music, he has invented the UMC32, a DIY USB Midi Controller, which has inspired multi-media artists to think big.
www.halemicro.com

Miraz Ensemble
An eclectic blend of world, electronic and cinematic music topped with haunting vocals. The Miraz Ensemble features Sara Universe (vocals, native flute, keys) and Miraz (synthesizers, vocoder, percussion). Their aural visions will send you to a time lost and the space in between.
www.mirazmusik.com

Rodolfo Juarez
A multimedia artist born in Argentina, living in California for the last 10 years, Rodolfo Juarez does everything that connects him to his artistic side, from writing to composing music, to cooking. Juarez enjoys inspiring others. He has done remixes for ‘In Broken English,’ Dirty Sanchez, DJ Sol, MC Chris, Jamie Lidded and Pic Vicious. Juarez’s album Champagne and Boombox comes out on DFA this summer.

Tricia Halloran (Brave New World)
Tricia Halloran ran a weekly radio show at KCRW for years. She currently hosts “Brave New World” at bravenewworld.net as well as serving as content manager at the Ultimate Band List, one of the top five music sites on the web. She currently enjoys a position straddling the worlds of advertising and music as Director of A&R for HUM since 2002. HUM creates soundtracks for world-class brands.
www.bravenewworld.net

DJ VIKA (H E A T)
DJ Vika was raised in Los Angeles and is originally from the Ukraine. Mesmerized by music from an early age, she was naturally drawn to the art of DJing. With a music collection that spans decades, she is known for her smooth blends of classic hip hop, disco, deep house, funk, soul, 80′s pop, reggae and jazz. She has played her signature sound at hot spots all over Los Angeles including The Abbey in West Hollywood, The Standard Hotel Rooftop Lounge in Downtown LA, and Air Conditioned Lounge in Santa Monica. DJ Vika is a natural crowd pleaser and utilizes her versatility to create the perfect vibe in any setting.
www.myspace.com/dj_vika

Wes The Mes
Wes ‘The Mes’ Osborne (aka Wes Coats with Scotty Coats / Ubiquity Records) is a consummate DJ, Producer & MC. He has performed throughout The United States and Europe and is now focused on writing, producing & remixing. Some of his credits include : The Mars Volta (Universal Records), Free Blood (Rong/DFA), Kelpe (DC Recordings/London) and West Indian Girl (Astralwerks).
www.preciousmental.com

For more information, images, and interviews please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Hasty at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.