Bewitching

October shows and releases

  • by


Now Showing:
Bewitching X, Johnpaul Gutierrez, Defective Pudding, & Lana Crooks.

Bewitching X, Stranger Factory’s 10th Annual Fall Group Exhibition
features works by Genevieve Greer, Anna Tillett, Ally Burke, Jeremy
Cross, Amy Earles, Fika Art, Vannesa Ramirez, Defective Pudding,
Kaitlin Zeismer, Stephanie Eichelberger, Caitlin McCarthy, Kathie
Olivas, & Brandt Peters.

Artists are invited to find inspiration in the season of Halloween.
To tricks, treats, ghouls, and of course, witches.
Brandt Peters Astrobats!
*Limited to one per household

Brandt, “Apparently I broke the internet by uploading my hand painted
vinyl sofubi for Bewitching X…it crashed our site. So this is what
we’re going to do…”

If you would like to be considered for random lottery drawing to
purchase a piece, please send your email and contact info to
strangerfactorysales@gmail.com from NOW until 12 noon PST Monday, the
4th.

A number will be assigned to your email and you will be emailed should
your number be drawn. We will contact you with further instructions
from there. Thank you all who were looking forward to your very own
Astrobat, we apologize for the difficulties earlier today. -Stranger
Factory Team

Dark Playgrounds by Johnpaul Gutierrez

Gutierrez developed the theme of Dark Playgrounds in response to the
growing uncertainty of our children’s future. Having two young
children himself has caused him to reflect on the upcoming
difficulties of navigating the rapidly, changing world. Witnessing the
constant chaos and unrest in the news as well as social media, has
created a nervous agitation about humanity’s immediate future and more
so for our littlest and most vulnerable humans. The need to express
this concern became prominent as playgrounds and schools were shut
down due to the pandemic.

Gutierrez creates a swirling mashup of slides, skulls, and symbolic
creatures emerging from the eyes and mouths of colorful faces. The
characters are the hidden voices that are constantly trying to dictate
a response; these monsters emerge yelling and suspicious while
inhabiting this dark playground.

Dark Playgrounds was created using acrylic paint, watercolor, and the
artist’s favorite medium, pen and pencil.

Bystander in My Tale of Luck by Defective Pudding

Self-taught illustrator and visual artist, Christa Dippel, works under
the artist name Defective Pudding. Her works are primarily created in
color pencil and graphite. Her pieces take on a nostalgic, sweet
appearance while also exploring melancholy subjects. She draws most of
her inspiration from vintage media, toys, and clothes, as well as
wildlife and nature.

Bystander in My Tale of Luck explores the daily experience of anxiety,
mental exhaustion, and a wide range of emotions that mute any attempt
at productivity. Defective Pudding puts emphasis on the emotions in
her creations by utilizing the artist’s feelings towards one’s daily
life. The feeling of an inexperienced gambler each morning, waking up
with no clue what to expect, and the feeling of losing more often than
not. Hope you enjoy this tale of luck.

Portland based artist, Lana Crooks will be having an ongoing solo
exhibition, Found Lost. Unlike other shows, this one is released as
small collections throughout the rest of the year. The next phase of
this series is coming soon.

See the entire show here
We will be rescheduling our upcoming exhibitions; check our website for updates!

Brandt Peters & Phil Noto coming this November! This will be a preview
show for a larger upcoming exhibit in February!

This October at Stranger Factory: TO DIE FOR with Creeptoons and Fika Art & BEWITCHING IX

  • by

This October at Stranger Factory gallery
TO DIE FOR – A two-person show with Creeptoons and Fika Art
BEWITCHING IX – Our Annual Halloween Group Show
will run from

October 4th – October 27th, 2019
Opening Reception with the artists: Friday, October 4th from 6-8 PM

To Die For features a new series of mixed media work from Fika Art and Creeptoons. Together, they explore the concepts of relationships, romance, and rejection…from love, loss and everything in between.
Creeptoons is the creature brand by Florida based artist Matt Duncan. His 2d illustrative works begin as automatic drawings which develop as big strokes of drippy landscape and ink blotches that transform into dark and mischievous characters hoping to add chaos and misfortune to his apocalyptic landscapes.
Fika Art is a the illustrated brand of artist Stefani Rabideaux. Her 2d works combine elements of darkness and isolation with vivid contrasting tones that are nostalgic of vintage illustration. Her delicate female characters evoke hope and optimism in dark times.
Bewitching is our annual Halloween group show featuring an eclectic group of artists creating their own personal versions of iconic Halloween-related imagery in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Halloween is an incredibly special holiday for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and October is our favorite time of year. We hope you’ll join us for this celebration of all things dark and spooky!

This years participating artists include: Ally Burke, Andy Sciazko, Anna Tillett, Brandt Peters, Calan Ree, Cassia Harries, Christin Apodaca, Chris Haas, Genevieve Geer, Gretchen Lewis, Ivonne Carley, Jen Musatto, Karl Deuble, Kathie Olivas, Kelly Denato, Mary Syring, Michelle Lynch, Mizna Wada, Nana Williams, Nora Thompson, Pantovola, Pretty.Weird, Sandi Ray Pierce, Stephanie Inagaki, Tanya Marriott, Uncanny Creatures, Weston Brownlee, Yetis and Friends and more!

*ALL STRANGER FACTORY EXHIBITIONS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

October 2018: Bewitching VIII and “Witch” from Mizna Wada at Stranger Factory

  • by

October 2018

Annual Group Halloween Exhibition BEWITCHING VIII / Mizna Wada, WITCH will run from
October 5th – 28th, 2018

Stranger Factory is pleased to announce our Halloween group exhibition, Bewitching VIII in our main gallery!

Bewitching is the annual Halloween group show featuring an eclectic group of artists creating their own personal versions of iconic Halloween-related imagery in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Halloween is an incredibly special holiday for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and October is our favorite time of year. We hope you’ll join us for this celebration of all things dark and spooky!

This years participating artists include: Bob Doucette, Brandt Peters, Bruce Parker, Danita Art, Defectivepudding, droolwool, El Dodo Albino, Eric Althin, Genevieve Geer, Jen Musatto, Joe Scarano, Karl Deuble, Katherine Walsh, Kathie Olivas, Katyushka Art Dolls, The Rots (Nora Thompson), Pantovola, Pretty.Weird, Sandi Ray Pierce, Shing Yin Khor, Tim Lee, Weston Brownlee, and more!
Inspired by Classical Horror, Mizna Wada’s Witch takes a play at traditional Halloween motifs. Simple and elegant, Witch explores the world of vampires, Frankenstein monsters, ghosts, creepy old castles, and of course, witches!

Mizna is a Japan-based illustrator. She was born in 1974 in Kumamoto, Japan. She always adored the horror comics and horror movies from her childhood. Her work features a variety of styles including drawing, painting, paper cut, print gocco, and cloth dolls… Through these processes, endearingly creepy yet cute girls are materialized!

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

Bewitching VII + Dark Town Sally + Angela Oster this October at Stranger Factory

  • by

Stranger Factory Gallery
presents

main room

Bewitching VII
Annual Group Halloween Exhibition

project room
Of Longing and Otherness
Dark Town Sally

The Lady is a Vamp
Angela Oster

All three exhibitions runs October 6th – 29th, 2017
Opening Reception: October 66-9 PM

Bewitching-7-Slide
Bewitching VII
Group Exhibition of new works inspired by vintage Halloween.
October 6 – 29, 2017
Opening reception, October 6, 6-9 pm

Stranger Factory is pleased to announce our Halloween group exhibition, “Bewitching VII” in our main gallery. Bewitching is the annual Halloween group show featuring an eclectic group of artists creating their own personal versions of iconic Halloween-related imagery in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Halloween is an incredibly special holiday for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and our favorite time of year. We hold many shows and events each year, but Bewitching is always one of our favorites, and we hope you’ll join us for this celebration of all things dark and spooky.

This years participating artists include Kathie Olivas, Karl Deuble, Yosiell Lorenzo, Brandt Peters, Jen Musato, the Beast Brothers, Nightmerriment, Mizna Wada, Ally Burke, Johnpaul Gutierrez, Jen Musatto, Jeremy Cross, Sandi Ray Pierce, Jay Hallopeter, Mandy Palumbo, Mumbot, Patt Kelley, Max Lehman, Ken Keirns, Vanessa Ramirez, and more!
download2
yuk
Of Longing and Otherness
Solo exhibition of new work by Dark Town Sally
October 6-29, 2017
Opening reception, October 6, 6-9 pm

Dark Town Sally Emerging artist Dark Town Sally resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico and works primarily in moody watercolor that depicts the dark and mysterious. Her vision of Victorian spookery focuses on the melancholy of young witches and gentle Halloween haunts.
download3The Lady is a Vamp
Solo exhibition of new work by Angela Oster
October 6-29, 2017
Opening reception, October 6, 6-9 pm

Angela Joy Oster haunts the shores of Lake Erie in beautiful Cleveland, Ohio and creates a spooky world of assorted wide eyed weirdies. “The Lady is a Vamp” is a parade of delicate monsters and scrawny vampire floozies.

Two brand new exhibitions opening in October at Stranger Factory!

  • by

sq

Stranger Factory is pleased to announce our Halloween group exhibition Bewitching VI in our main gallery. Bewitching is the annual Halloween group show featuring an eclectic and diverse group of artists creating their own personal versions of iconic Halloween-related imagery in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Halloween is an incredibly special holiday for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and our favorite time of year. We hold many shows and events each year, but Bewitching is always one of our favorites, and we hope you’ll join us for this celebration of all things dark and spooky.

unnamedjThis years participating artists include Amy Earles, Shirrstone, Creeptoons, Michele Lynch, Jen Musatto, Dark Town Sally, Kathie Olivas, Anna Tillett, Danita Art, Horrible Adorables, Brandt Peters, Spluurt, Fika Art, Karl Deuble and more!

kBewitching VI runs October 7th – 31st, with an opening reception on Friday, October 7th from 6 – 9 PM.
Bewitching VI runs October 7th – 31st, with an opening reception on Friday, October 7th from 6 – 9 PM.

all-that-remains-instagram
What remains when all is said and done? 21 Artists translate the phrase “All That Remains” in this bone, fantastical anatomical, “remains” themed exhibition. From ink to thread, from stone to bone, a variety of specimens will be unearthed inside Stranger Factory on October 7th.

With guest curation by Lana Crooks
Featuring new works by:
Adipocere
Jeremy Bastian
Lana Crooks
Jessica Dalva
Kristina Drake
Matt Hall
Stephanie Inagaki
Darla Jackson
Jessica Joslin
Jennifer Joslin
Mahlimae
Lauren Marx
Caitlin McCormick
Stephanie Metz
Christina Mrozik
Forest Rogers
Virginie Ropars
Sinan Soykut
Tyler Thrasher
Jake Waldron
Katherine Walsh of FearsomeBeast
ll

Both Exhibitions will run October 7th – 31st, 2016.
Opening Reception on October 7th (6-9 PM)

*Several artists will be in attendance as well as Curator, Lana Crooks

 

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

 

Bewitching IV: Stranger Factory’s yearly Halloween exhibit is back!

  • by

October 2014 brings our annual Halloween group exhibit back to Stranger Factory!

Bewitching is the annual Halloween group show at Stranger Factory, featuring an eclectic and diverse group of artists creating their own personal versions of iconic Halloween-related imagery in a wide variety of styles and mediums. Halloween is an incredibly special holiday for Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory, and our favorite time of year. We hold many shows and events each year, but Bewitching is always one of our favorites, and we hope you’ll join us for this celebration of all things dark and spooky.

This years participating artists include Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Tim Lee, Joe Scarano, Robert Hoggard, Stephan Webb, Katie Carillo, Josh Stebbins, Shing Khor, Michele Lynch, Valency Genis, Karl Deuble, DrilOne, Leecifer, Carisa Swenson, Karen Peters, Stan Manoukian, Mark James Porter, Jay Hollopeter, Lana Crooks, Brandan Styles, Scribe Ross, Alisa Ross, Cory Benhatzel, Darren Goldman, Desiree Fessler, Ellie Rusinova, Michael Serwich, Blanca Apodaca, Emma Sancartier “Oddfauna”, Julie Bossinger, Matthew Duncan, Beast Brothers, Kristina Drake, Jessica Chao, Valeri Blossom, Loesa Bezzeg, Erich Moffitt and a few surprises!
Spectacled Specter by Darren Goldman


Hot Key (detail) by Tim Lee

Bewitching IV runs October 10th – November 9th, with an opening reception on Friday, October 10th from 6 – 9 PM.

Stranger Factory
109 Carlisle Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106

SHOP TALK: The Hamterview

  • by

After closing out his very successful show, Dead Wood, at Stranger Factory last month, Gary Ham is barreling full speed ahead with lots of new work and a new child on the way! He’s had a busy year, with the release of the adorable Wooper Looper and the stackable Monster Toytem, which was first seen in handmade wood form at last year’s Bewitching show.


(Ham, hamming.)

Ham graciously allowed me to hog a bit of his time for a short interview on some of his processes, tools, and artistic choices. Process images usually make me squeal with delight, and the trough of images Gary sent in are no exception. Anyway, I won’t boar you to death with my bad puns, sow let’s just move on to the interview, shall we?

Read More »SHOP TALK: The Hamterview

The Incredible Customs of Yohei Kaneko & Shigeta Tanaka for Bewitching II, 10.5

  • by

I’m at a loss for words over these next pieces for Bewitching II, this batch from powerhouse Japanese artists Yohei Kaneko (Mirock Toy) and Shigeta Tanaka (Goccodo Design). If you’ve been following along with our Stingy Jack and Calliope Jackalope Anatomy Series, the names likely ring a bell: Yohei being the sculptor on both projects and Shigeta the liaison between Obitsu and T+CP. Much credit goes to them for getting the Tomenosuke + Circus Posterus sofubi initiative off the ground and now we have the exciting opportunity to see some of their original work on Western soil.

On the left stands Yohei’s Fūjin Skelve with Shigeta’s Oinari Skelve flanking him on the right. Both are masterpieces of resin, wood and spray paint and you can’t help but marvel at the cleanliness and precision. “(Fūjin is a) God coming from Japanese ancient times,” Shigeta writes, on behalf of Yohei. The god of wind, Fūjin resembles a terrifying demon and is often pictured carrying large bags of winds on his shoulders. “The face of the terrible ogre was most suitable for the disguise of the Halloween show,” Shigeta continues. “The sculpture of Fūjin was very congenial for Mirock Toy (Yohei), who always engraved a Buddha statue.”

Shigeta’s Oinari Skelve is equally as stunning. Inspired by the traditional Japanese god of the same name, Oinari (or “Inari”) is symbolic of enterprise and worldly success. He is often depicted with white foxes known as kitsune, which he uses as messengers. The fox mask, Shigeta explains, is also a common children’s disguise in Japan.

The third piece, titled Canon Ballo, is a collaboration between Yohei and Shigeta. A custom of one of Kathie Olivas’s iconic birds, this particular piece was made entirely for fun and it shows, with both artists taking the cart and suping it into an F1 racer, decals and all. This is such a playful piece that shows off the breadth of their talent and imagination when juxtaposed with the Skelves. That said, I’d die if it was a pullback; how hilarious would the be?!

(So much for that loss for words…)

Bewitching II opens this Friday with a reception from 6pm to 9pm. We have plenty more stashed away in our bag of tricks, so keep checking back!

Gary Ham’s SF Exclusive Wooper Looper for ‘Dead Wood’ 10.5

As part of Gary Ham’s Dead Wood exhibition opening next month, Stranger Factory is offering an exclusive colorway of his popular sofubi figure, Wooper Looper! Sporting the gallery’s signature black and orange, this adorable axolotl is here just in time for Halloween. Designed by Gary Ham and sculpted by the great Chauskoskis, this edition is a run of just 33 pieces and can only be purchased through Stranger Factory. Be sure to sign up for the preview via the email form on the Stranger Factory homepage for the full scoop (if you haven’t done so already — you need only sign up once!).

 Dead Wood opens Oct. 5th in conjunction with Bewitching II. A reception will be held for both exhibitions on Oct. 5th from 6pm to 9pm. Shows are on until Nov. 4th!

Stranger Factory Presents: “Bewitching II” Group Exhibition, 10.5

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Stranger Factory‘s annual Halloween group hoedown, Bewitching II, is back for another season of chills and thrills!

The traditions, folklore, costumes and nostalgia associated with All Hallow’s Eve are all strands that unite the Circus Posterus collective and Brandt and Kathie have called upon nearly 40 of their friends and peers — established and emerging, local and as far off as Japan — to interpret Halloween in their style. Andrew Bell, Lana CrooksDoktor A, FERGGris Grimly, Charlie Immer, Yohei KanekoJason Limon, Rhode MontijoRagnar, Chris Ryniak, Amanda Louise SpaydShigeta Tanaka and Chet Zar are just a tasty sampling of the talent, and the prices are suited to fit any collector’s budget.

To further the excitement, coinciding with Bewitching is the opening of Dead Wood, a mini-exhibition of new works from Arizona-based illustrator and toy designer Gary Ham. The show also marks the release of an exclusive colorway of Gary’s popular “Wooper Looper” vinyl toy; more on that soon!

Bewitching II and Dead Wood open Oct. 5th with a reception from 6pm to 9pm. Both exhibitions will be on view through Nov. 5th.