"DepARTed" Show Departs World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

Press M for Madonna

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery's "Dial M for Madonna" is an event recommended by Metromix Los Angeles.

Dial M for Madonna

Louis Cannizzaro, a contributer to the "Dial M for Madonna" group show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, displays one of his works in the show, which happens to be similar to his painting that Madonna bought to hang in her Maverick office. The all-Madge show opens with a festive reception on Friday, May 23, at 8PM.

As The Worm Turns

The Worm, a continuing story by LA artist Austin Young and comedian/actress Nadya Ginsburg, and directed by Young, will premiere episode 9 at the "Dial M for Madonna" group art show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery on May 23. In the saga, Ginsburg inhabits Cher, Madonna, Britney, and the titular worm. Episode 9 also features Mario Diaz, Bruce Daniels, Stephen Heath, and Mathu Anderson. This teaser clip is a parody of Madonna's YouTube video.

Dial M for Madonna

E! Online's Marc Malkin enthuses over the upcoming "Dial M for Madonna" art show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery. (Click on Madge's nose to launch vid)

Dial M for Madonna

Toward the end of May the "depARTed" show will have departed from the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery and been replaced by Madonna (as most things are). "Dial M for Madonna," curated by James St James and Steven Corfe and opening with a gala reception on May 23, is a 40-artist-strong group show of all things Madge, from a conical bra made entirely of chocolate to a photograph of the Village Voice’s Michael Musto spoofing Madonna’s Sex book, “standing naked in a Jersey street with nothing but a wig and a cig to distract from my painfully tucked penis.” Opening night will also feature a video tribute to the late great 400lb Madonna impersonator, Queerdonna. You'll want to mark the date on your calendar or iCal and be there, because the Storefront receptions usually are the shizznit. It's already getting press.

The opening reception party takes place on Friday, May 23, from 8PM to midnight, with unveilings, performances, and an open champagne/vodka bar. The show continues through June 23 with daytime hours, during which co-curator St James will host events and gatherings in the gallery, many of which will be filmed and available for viewing on WOW TV, such as the ever popular online phone-in series Ring My Bell. The artworks are available for purchase during these daytime hours.

(Image: Albert Crudo's McDonna: Over a Billion Serviced)

Gallery Guys

The band Snake of Eden stopped into the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery with McDonald's in hand to pose with fellow hairband rockstar Randy Rhoads (deceased) in the painting by Eric Swartz, currently hanging in the "depARTed" show.

Zimmerman Puts the I in Pants

After the jump, see how painter and frequent World of Wonder Storefront Gallery contributor Chris Zimmerman interpreted this booth photo of Jim Wirt and Charlie Greer snapped during the gallery's "Merry Titmas" show in December. It's up for auction on eBay at the moment. As is his Sexy Jesus. NSFW, btw.

Take Another Little Pizza My Heart

Louis Cannizzaro, one of the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery's stable of artists, recently completed a giant mural at Purgatory Pizza on 1st Street in downtown LA and shot a video to prove document it.

Virtual World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

Here are some, but not all, of the "depARTed" works now hanging in the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery. Click the images to see them larger. For information on artists, prices, and gallery hours go to gallery@worldofwonder.net. More art after the jump.

Pictures at/from an Exhibition pt 2

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery redesigner James McGowan makes last-minute adjustments to the lights before the doors reopen for the "depARTed" reception last night. (Photographs by Derek Van Oss)

Pictures at/from an Exhibition

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopened last night with a gala reception for the group show "depARTed," curated by actor Daniel Franzese (above), for which a diverse group of artists depicted pop-culture icons that died too soon, from Joe Hill to Arrested Development. The cool, bright and shiny new space showed off not only the art to its best advantage, but also the cool, bright and shiny crowd in its hipster avant-garb. Lots of brain-nourishing footwear and, you know, tats and things. The art-gawkers sipped on Abstract Standard Vodka and chic little bottles of KARMA champagne and Fiji water. In the photos that follow, if you think you recognize How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor, lots of the contributing artists, James St James, Kitten Natividad, songwriter Allee Willis, Selene Luna, Chris Crocker, actor Eric Jungman, Jim Howley, designer Patric Reeves and her director daughter Karina Miller, Lenora Claire, rapper Ju-laree, and tired but beautiful WOW staffers, you wouldn't be wrong. (Photos by Debbi Rotkowitz)

Reminders

• The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens tonight with the 8PM reception for the "depARTed" group show. 6650 Hollywood Boulevard at Cherokee.

• The When I Knew documentary screens at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on Sunday, April 27, at the Regal Cinemas 17 at 7:15PM. Randy and Fenton will answer questions afterward and screen videos from the When I Knew confessional booth.

• Episode 3 of ¡Viva Hollywood! airs Sunday, April 27, at 10PM on Vh1.

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The renovated World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens tonight at 8PM with a gala reception for the new group show, "depARTed," featuring works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Morgan Slade, one of the contributors:

Morgan Slade is just too cool. Not only was he born in San Francisco, he's also a rock star, writing songs and playing guitar in the increasingly popular band, Miss Derringer, rocking out all over town, from the Jared Gold fashion show to touring the East Coast with Blondie come June. Beautiful life. But wait, it gets better. He also has a beautiful wife, who just happens to be the lovely and RIDICULOUSLY talented artist Liz McGrath. And he's a really nice guy and a ridiculously talented artist in his own right. I kid you not. He photographs his subjects with whimsicality and innocence but there is still something inherently adult about them. Perhaps they had a drink or just stopped crying and felt better. Or maybe they're waiting for someone or watching someone leave. It all depends on how you feel when you look at them. But there is no mistake that they are beautiful and always start a conversation; in fact, two people had a conversation that turned into an argument over who would get his Ali's Bunny piece from my "Hollyween" show, and then just when the person who won the piece had paid for it the phone rang with another offer. Dang. You snooze you lose. Unless you're Morgan Slade. He'd probably snore out a concerto.

– Daniel Franzese

World of Wonder Times

World of Wonder's World of Wonder Times clues you in to this month's best WOW TV video, WOW Report post, Storefront Gallery show, and WOW television production.

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," featuring works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Ken Dougherty, one of the contributors:

I first met Los Angeles-based artist Ken Dougherty though my friend Justin Polisky. Justin is an artist who was supposed to do a window installation for my "Hollyween" show last October, but had to back out at the last minute and introduced me to a few really talented artists who might have existing material right for the show. I couldn't believe the beauty of Ken Dougherty's work. His combination of Old-Hollywood Glamour with just a hint of decay was all I needed to see to become an instant fan. For me, his images, although dark, don't come off as depressing. Instead, I view them as showing the resilience of glamour. It seems an uplifting message in a town where fame and beauty are the most coveted attributes.

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," with works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Corey Smith, one of the contributors:

One of my favorite, inspired, and inspiring artists out there is Marc Ecko. I love his Cut and Sew line of menswear. I have a subscription to his magazine Complex, a buyer's guide for men. I thought it was fate that the day I got the OK from Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey to bring my "depARTed" idea to life, I opened the latest issue of Complex and found an article on Corey Smith.

"I grew up poor, so I have always been interested in how the elite live. Paris is the poster child for the 'post-talent' generation, and I've been painting her for years, even before she was a media darling. She's famous for being herself; girls usually get pissed that I paint her."

Like his 2006 Paris Hilton series, Smith's paintings grab your attention quickly and make you say, "Oh, how funny... No. How fucked up! But, man, that's beautiful" – roller coasters of emotion and waves of giggles with the ability to look beautifully hung anywhere. Kinda like me. Who could ask more of art?

Whirl of Wonder

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery renovation designer James McGowan was thinking of you, kind art patron, when he finessed the back passage: Hello gold walls and a clean facility! (Photos by McGowan)

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," with works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Trevor Chowning, one of the contributors:

Trevor Chowning spent his childhood scouring the pages of Interview magazine for articles about his two earliest passions, art and cinema. Despite the idyllic setting of his youth, rural Indiana didn't present many opportunities to explore either of those interests. Forging his plan early on to experience the allure of big city life, he began a career in entertainment by promoting music as an agent and talent manager for musicians, including Grammy-nominee Larry Tee and Johnny Cash's legendary band.

Trevor was one of the first friends I made when I moved to LA. I met him when I was seeking representation for speaking engagements. We quickly began inspiring each other to explore different places in LA. He always had a crazy story about every Hollywood landmark. It's fitting now that I can introduce him to you at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery – exactly the kind of fun, inspiring, and weird place that makes Hollywood what it is.

WOW's Wacky Storefront Gallery

"Elvis may have left the building," says E! Online's Marc Malkin, "but he’ll be in Hollywood Friday night. That's when the wacky World of Wonder Storefront Gallery opens DepARTed, a new art show featuring a collection of works inspired by late celebs who died way too young, like the King."

In Loving Memory

Visit our MySpace.

Whirl of Wonder

Says World of Wonder Storefront Gallery's renovation designer, James McGowan: "I am thinking of painting the window frames and the display bases a very dark warm brown. The ceiling of the entrance to be painted white and the aluminum door to be polished. There is still a lot of work to be done in the back passages. I am going to varnish the concrete floor back there. This will cut down on dust and will look GREAT!" The gallery reopens on April 25, come hell or high anxiety, with the "depARTed" group show. (Photos by McGowan)

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," with works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Bryden Lando, one of the contributors:

Bryden Lando grew up in Maui, Hawaii. After high school, he left for Santa Barbara to study film and art. In 2002 he moved to Los Angeles and continued painting, but this time the Hollywood world crept into his landscapes as well as working with the clothing line Volcom and other independent designers. Lando balanced these creative outlets over the next few years and began his first clothing label, The Secession, in 2005, which found great success after Lindsey Lohan wore his now-infamous I (Uzi) LA T-shirt while exiting rehab. After splitting off from his business partners last year, Bryden and his team have launched their new premium clothing line, Future Heretics.

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," featuring works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Nathan C Meier, one of the contributors:

Nathan Meier is both a painter and an award-winning filmmaker. A native of Salt Lake City, Meier moved to California in 2001 to study film and video at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia. Though his focus has been primarily documentary filmmaking, Meier has always maintained a passion for drawing and painting.

Whirl of Wonder: Striking Gold!

The gold is striking, that is.

(Photos by James McGowan)

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," with works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Chase Tafoya, one of the contributors:

When searching for artists for my shows I try to leave no stone unturned. I stumbled upon Chase Tafoya at about 3AM on MySpace and I became an instant fan. Chase Tafoya's most recent work focuses primarily on portraits with a heavy Renaissance feel. His images haunt you and some even stare you down like they're about to console you or ask you to dance.

Whirl of Wonder

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery's back passage: not in the plans, but still in our hearts. (Photos by James McGowan)

Whirl of Wonder

The painting commences inside the Storefront Gallery, a process more pristine than Sistine. Eight days and counting until the reopening with "depARTed." (Photos by James McGowan)

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25 with the group show "depARTed," with works themed to celebrities who "inspired before they expired." The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, introduces you to Jason Mecier, one of the contributors:

Mosaic portraitist Jason Mecier has been described as "a man of considerable humor and imagination" and I couldn't think of a better way to describe him. He makes one-of-a-kind hand crafted mosaics with no gimmicks, no trick shots, no studio touchups. Everytime you see one of Mecier's portraits you fall into his world like Alice through the looking glass. Often, I've found myself almost in a trance, itemizing every trinket and treasure used to create his representation of a subject. Whether he's using motel-room keys and bingo stampers to create Blanche for Lenora Claire and WOW's "Golden Gals Gone Wild" show or spider rings and Halloween candy to create Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, you can always see the personal touch and downright L.O.V.E. he has for each of his muses. He'll be showing his Anna Nicole Smith portrait in the "depARTed" show.

Whirl of Wonder

More photos about buildings and art. Specifically, about the progress of the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery renovation. (Photos by James McGowan)

Whirl of Wonder

James McGowan, designer of the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery renovation, jumps in to help the crew, spackling holes and climbing to the pigeon roosts in the ceiling, as the April 25 deadline fast approaches. (Photos by Michael Booe)

Meet the Artists

When the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery reopens at the end of the month, the first show will be "depARTed," a group exhibition of works on the theme of celebrities who inspired before they expired. The show's curator, actor Daniel Franzese, will be introducing some of the artists to you in this space. First up: Ron English:

Contributor Ron English is "basically a badass." You might remember his work on the cover of the Dandy Warhols' Welcome to the Monkey House album, but my first sighting of his art happened when I was waiting on line to see Super Size Me at the Sundance Film Festival. I saw his image of an obese Ronald McDonald and have been obsessed with his work ever since. Not only was that image thought-provoking, hilarious, and playfully nostalgic, but I couldn't believe the guts it took for English to take on such an iconic subject. (He's also taken on Joe Camel and Mickey Mouse.) I am honored to have Ron in this show. His take on Elvis is fun and vibrant and sure to be a hit, and our Gallery is proud to be one of the few to show his masterful work. He's always entertaining and his pieces are beautiful. I think his work will come to be an integral part of pop-art history. (More Ron English after the jump)

- Daniel Franzese

Whirl of Wonder

Latest reveal in WOW's Storefront Gallery renovation: previously covered windows. After the jump, molding restoration.

Whirl of Wonder

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery renovation continues. More recent photos by James McGowan after the jump.

Whirl of Wonder

If you could see all these James McGowan photographs of the WOW Storefront Gallery excavation and renovation as huge as they are when we get them, you'd be thinking, as we are, that they deserve their own show in said gallery sometime between our reopening group exhibition, "depARTed," and the one after that, "Dial M for Madonna."

Whirl of Wonder

Remains of the heyday. Exposed molding and girders show the Hollywood history under the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, reopening April 25 with the "depARTed" group show after its movie-star makeover. (Photos by James McGowan)

Whirl of Wonder

The progress progresses. A whole new wall appears in the renovation of the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery. Last weekend, inspired by the Egyptian Theater's special Bully screening in tribute to Brad Renfro, we made our own DVD festival of recently dead-before-their-time stars. We started with the little-seen small masterpiece Bully, followed by The Talented Mr Ripley, directed by the recently deceased Anthony Minghella, then The Brothers Grimm, Terry Gilliam's fairy-tale film costarring Heath Ledger in a delicate, delightfully daffy performance, and, since there was still some weekend left, we threw the 1948 noir Kiss of Death, with the late Richard Widmark's genius performance as psycho killer Tommy Udo, into the DVD player. We mention all of this because when the Storefront Gallery reopens on April 25, the work in the group show "depARTed" will focus on celebrities who came to an early, unexpected end.

(Photos by James McGowan)

Whirl of Wonder

Our continuing series of updates on the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery space renovation continues with these updates. The gallery's due to open April 25 with our "depARTed" group show. (Photos by James McGowan)

Whirl of Wonder

The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery ranks No 5 on Frontiers magazine's list of the 25 Great Things About Gay LA – and it's the new kid in town. But when the gallery's total renovation is complete and we reopen soon with our "depARTed" group show, we're bound to shoot to the top of that list. We'll post regular progress photos until the project is finished. Here are the first two views with the ceiling ripped out, photographed by James McGowan, the project designer. Can you spot where you were standing at the "Warhol Dead at 21" show?

Cumming Attraction

Actor Alan Cumming gives a shout-out to World of Wonder's "Just Britney" group art show on his recent iTunes "Celebrity Playlist." The star singles out a track by Brit lad group The Feeling, and writes:

The Feeling are one of those rare bands that manage to satisfy in every way: they are fun yet they are thought-provoking and clever, they are guitary yet you can bop to them. They talk about really everyday things yet they are esoteric. Also they are cute and they are nice boys. I got photographed with Dan from The Feeling and Marc Almond for the OUT Magazine 100 list and then I hung out with Dan and some of the other boys in the band in LA and we ended up in an art gallery looking at pictures inspired by Britney Spears at 2AM. This is just a great, great song.

These are the pics from the 2AM private showing.

– Text and photos by Steven Corfe

Goodbye Andy Warhol

On Friday night, the "Warhol Dead at 21" art show in WOW's Storefront Gallery came to an end as regretfully and peacefully as the death of the artist the show paid homage to. There were cocktails was wine. See more pics after the jump.

Warhol: Dead At 21 Closing Party TONIGHT!

Why, it seems like it was just yesterday that the Andy Warhol: Dead At 21 show opened at the WOW Storefront Gallery. But all good things must come to an end, BLAH BLAH BLAH, so tonight - on the 21st anniversary of his ACTUAL DEATH, we are hosting one last party for Andy. Yes, from 7PM - 9PM come and celebrate his life, his art and the hella good times we've all had over the past- GROAN- 44 days. PS - THERE ARE STILL A FEW GOOD PAINTINGS FOR SALE, AT CUT PRICE! YAY!

– James St. James

For Whom The Bell Rung

Yesterday's 12 hour Warhol Ring My Bell marathon was a runaway success, with almost $3000 worth of art flying off the walls to phone-in buyers from Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, and everywhere in between (is West Hollywood considered "in between"?). James St James did a QVC-worthy job manning the phone lines, consistently bringing the topic back to the art, despite frequent interruptions involving teenage girls outing themselves as lesbians live on air (TWO of them!), boulevard bum invasions (THREE of them!), and caller Melissa's seduction technique of pretending to have the same birthday as the guest artists (FOUR of them!). Cutie patootie Bryden Lando answered calls for an hour and sold his banana skull-and-cross-bones piece, Paul Knotter did a stint and sold two of his velvet prints, and artists Eric Swartz and Mathu Andersen were equally lucky in flogging their Campbells Soup and Candy Darling pieces to the highest bidders. Musical interludes were provided by Ring My Bell favorites Ryan Workman and Marie Catastrophe, and highlights of the full 12 hours will be posted shortly on Warhol TV. Best of all, there's still some great pieces remaining, which can be purchased at SLASH-CUT-MEGA-REDUCED PRICES!!! at the Warhol: Dead at 21 Closing Party, next Friday the 22nd, from 7PM - 11PM at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery.

– Steven Corfe

Warhol Dead at 21

The fun of World of Wonder's "Warhol Dead at 21" opening night still echoes off the sparkly aluminum-foiled walls of the Storefront Gallery. The show ends on February 22, but will live on in our pop-clotted hearts forever. You were there. So you know. Were you one of these people who answered random, vaguely pop-cultural questions that night?

Happy Birthday

It's Farrah Fawcett's birthday today. She's 61. It just so happens that Jamie Boling, one of the artists contributing to World of Wonder's "Warhol Dead at 21" group show made a giant painting of the actress' hair for the show – and it's still hanging and you can see it for yourself at the WOW Storefront Gallery if you come by (or come buy) before the show's taken down on February 22.

Warhol Dead at 21

Andy Warhol shows the scars from when SCUM feminist Valerie Solanas shot him three times in the chest on June 3, 1968. (Photos: Richard Avedon)

Warhol Dead at 21