March 2017

Three shows this April at Stranger Factory!

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This April at Stranger Factory

APOTHECARY
an introduction to ritual and tradition in the outer colonies of space

GUIDE TO MINOR GODS AND HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS

SPECKLE
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Shing Yin Khor

Apothecary: an introduction to ritual and tradition in the outer colonies of space

“Apothecary” is an art installation and narrative about the legacy of an outer colony space apothecary obsessed with Old-Earth, and also about the persistence of ritual, the space immigrant diaspora, and the obsessive nature of archiving and collecting. Visitors are invited to explore the cabinet installation, discovering and unraveling the story of Theodore Lee, a recently deceased space apothecary.

“As a sculptor, cartoonist, and installation artist, I build stories that explore diasporas, the compulsion to create and collect ritual in a disordered universe, and awkward, yearning, human emotions. Rooted in my personal history as a woman and immigrant from a postcolonial country, my themes are often inspired by old museums, cabinets of curiosities, pre-Linnaean taxonomy, and the quiet horror of colonial era collecting.”

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Leslie Levings

Guide to Minor Gods and Household Spirits

Ever since the first humans painted on cave walls, creatures have featured heavily in our history of art, storytelling, and beliefs. The urge to envision something larger (or smaller) than ourselves as a vessel for our subconscious has often manifested in ways both profound and childlike, reminding us that the distance between the two might not be so great.
Leslie uses creatures to poke at the deep, old places of the psyche. Inspired by the human urge to personify emotions and explain the irrational, her sculptures explore the relationship between beliefs and the believer through beasts that invade familiar settings with the persistence of an uncomfortable thought.

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David Santiago

Speckle
Local artist David Santiago’s first solo exhibition at Stranger Factory “Speckle” emphasizes one of the predominant features of his work: freckles.
“I’ve always been curious with how many people hated having them. They possess so much personality; the random, yet organized chaos they emit is hypnotizing to me, like that of stars in the night sky. In fact, if you look close enough at the faces in my work, you will begin to notice that each cluster of freckles is actually a constellation in disguise.”

His artwork explores a fascination with body language.
He focuses on creating people with very subtle expressions, as though they are hiding a secret. Looking into a straight face creates an uncertainty inside of you, a feeling you want to resolve.

APOTHECARY: An introduction to ritual and tradition in the outer colonies of space / GUIDE TO MINOR GODS AND HOUSEHOLD SPIRITS / SPECKLE
Runs from April 7th – April 30th – 2017

Opening Reception for these three solo exhibitions: Friday, April 7th from 6-9pm
(The opening is free and open to the public.)

All three artists will be in attendance for reception.
The Gallery and its gift store are open 5 days a week (closed Mondays or Tuesdays). Please check strangerfactory.com for updated hours
during Albuquerque Rapid Transit Construction.

Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049

 

Paul Kaiju one night only at Stranger Factory!

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Paul K slide 2017

Stranger factory is proud to present our March mid-month event with sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl) toy artist, Paul Kaiju. Paul is a designer, sculptor, and painter working away at his sofubi/kaiju creations in sunny San Diego, California. Known as much for his custom paint work as for his original toys such as Boss Carrion, Paul’s work is recognized as some of the best in the American Toy scene.
 Paul Kaiju will have a limited amount of hand-painted custom figures at this one-night opening reception. It is a very limited engagement and any available figures after the weekend, will be put up for online sale on Monday, March 20th by 12 PM noon (PST) in our online store on CircusPosterus.com.

In person sales on Saturday will require a raffle wrist band that will be distributed on a first come first serve basis, starting Saturday, March 18th 12 noon through 7:00 PM (UPDATE 3/17/17). Numbers will be randomly picked and called at 7PM. Must be present to participate in the lottery.

One item per person. No additional in person sales over weekend once a piece is purchased Saturday night.

No phone calls or emails will be accepted until the following Monday, if any pieces are still available.