Wander on over to the Laguna Art Museum for “In the Land of Retinal Delights: The Juxtapoz Factor” (through October 5, 2008)
Including the work of 150 artists, the show revolves around the idea that there’s been a huge (but unacknowledged) art movement taking place in the US for the last 40 years. Since 1994, this arsenal of “lowbrow, surrealistic, pop, figurative, narrative” art has found a home in the pages of San Francisco’s Juxtapoz magazine — the most widely read US art magazine and an influencing force on the younger generations, who are now heading to art schools in unprecedented numbers.

Orange County’s DJ Poppa free styled this Sunday morning mix with nothing planned other than the first track. It starts out mellow then moves into some heavier disco rock vibes — old and new — from the Motels and Stranglers to Free Blood and Todd Terje, etc. Complete with Yogi Hindi chants and sea shore sound effects, Poppa proclaims it “cheesy and sleazy”.

The wheel inspiration continues…
Tibetan prayer wheels are devices for invoking powerful spiritual blessings and well being. Rolls of paper imprinted with prayers, printed in an ancient Indian or Tibetan script, are wound around an axle. Tibetan people carry small hand held wheels around for hours, spinning them constantly.
It’s been said that traditionally, wheels — such as in carts or for transportation — were intentionally avoided in Tibet except for spiritual purposes. Much of Tibetan culture has now had to take refuge outside its homeland. In Tibet under Chinese rule, mechanical wheels are everywhere, but now spiritual practice is severely restricted.
The Dalai Lama has apparently said that having the mantra on your computer works the same as a traditional prayer wheel. Since either a computer created image or the hard disk spins often and repeatedly and can contain many copies of the mantra, the computer can function as a prayer wheel, thereby spreading waves of compassion in all directions. Soak it in!

Subtext and Cardboard Spaceship present Beasts of Burden, a custom vinyl show featuring over 30 artists.
680 West Beech Street, San Diego

July 25th & 26th with opening Reception: Friday, July 25th, 6-10pm (plus preview on Thursday, July 24 6-8 pm with Steven Bucher book signing of “100 Days of Monsters”!)

NOTE: In preparation for the September Reinvent Part II show, the S143 collective presents the Wheel-Lore series, modern facts and folklore about the wheel and the ways it’s been used by earthly beings. Be inspired, and share your own wheel sightings and tales.

Wheel-Lore #1:
The ancient Maya civilization of Mexico and Central America is known for its spectacular art and sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems. They built architectural masterpieces and created vast networks of roads…all without the wheel. What’s that you say? How could such an advanced civilization not know about an invention as essential as the wheel? Oh, but they did. The kids played with wheeled toys, and they used the wheel for astrology, sculpture, and keeping time. But without appropriate draft animals to pull carts (having only the delicate llama) and with the rough, marshy jungle, constant wheel traffic wasn’t especially useful. While this put tremendous stress on human labor for moving heavy construction materials, it appears the lack of the wheel did not deter the progress of this amazing and mysterious civilization.

S143 eagerly awaits the Adapta Project’s opening of “A Room Of One’s Own” at Terra Sur in Tijuana Saturday 5-11 pm. In their words, you’ll find installation, audio and video art, paintings and photography, presented in the context of a home to make you question your relationship with art, ownership and intimacy. (PS Check out info on easy shuttle transportation for your nomadic adventure.)

Been out wheel hunting, and we are happy to report our findings:
Bikes del Pueblo: A Bike Kitchen is a “volunteer run cooperative learning space and a do-it-yourself bike repair shop.” Basically, the coop provides tools and skills to help build and maintain bikes, empowering the people to enjoy a safe and smooth ride.

Find them at City Heights Farmer’s Market (@ Wightman+Fairmount) every Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Bring your bike and learn OR donate your time, skills, gently used bike parts, tools, helmets, lube, grease, tires, etc…

(Get that bike ready for active duty — Those who arrive to the September Reinvent show on human powered vehicles will be rewarded!)

PCH, Malibu, California 5.25.08
Directly across the street from Dean Martin’s beach house

photo: Jeff Faeth

Sanctuarian to Sanctuarian — We have established contact.
The new site is up. Stop by often.

Fantastically supernatural collages by local San Diego evolutionary Dr. Yobb… “strange ceribellum”