FUTURE EYES / FUTURE CHOIR
Future Choir is a musical experiment started by Future Eyes which seeks to reinterpret the experience of looking through a crystal into sound. Each facet represents a voice or an instrument.
They are exploring time signatures and layering techniques to create sonic tapestries or landscapes that resemble the prismatic architecture of a crystal. Future Choir is working with a variety of different producers and artists from around the world to capture this concept. Future Choir will be performing at FUTRA presents OP ART at 10pm.
BE YOUR OPTICAL INSTALLATION
Nereida Villarreal, Futra’s Visual Art Curator and freelance Creative Director & Stylist, curated BE YOUR OPTICAL INSTALLATION for FUTRA presents OP ART, which includes some of her favorite Op Art fashion inspirations. Opt Art plays with the perception of our physical reality, delving into illusions that seep out of hypnotic geometries, immersive experiences, and confounding alterations of space and time. It disrupts the dialogue between the mind and body, while exposing the hyper-reality of our veiled digital age. OP ART FASHION is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.
astral_projektor
astral_projektor is a video artist whose cut his teeth among the underground conclaves. Employing a hybrid of computer animation, found footage, and analogue synthesis he extends an invitation to traverse a provisional ethereal plane.
At FUTRA presents OP ART astral_projektor will be showing his video work “feel)”, an observation of ministry toward the compulsions of the id. The embodiment of a stroboscopic feeding ritual is intended to provoke viscerally cathartic stimulation.
Elissa Cedarleaf Dahl
Elissa Cedarleaf Dahl is a professional artist from Minneapolis who is making her Op Art debut with Futra. Her expertise includes murals, large-scale oil paintings and examining how collaborative art can facilitate a dialogue and relationship with its participants, which she believes is worth more than the end product. Her color-rich paintings combine narratives of neighborhood disparities via messy abstractions intertwined with geometric references to land use and zoning maps. By employing a bird’s eye view of the urban landscape, she juxtaposes the orderly grids of our cities interrupted by the organic flow of rivers, lakes and oceans.
For Op Art Futra Elissa created 100 pairs of glasses with custom lenses cut from details of her paintings. She hopes that participants will use them to immerse their world in color; experiencing the night through her abstracted maps and brightly painted reality.
David Tamargo
“Align your vision with action”
No Longer Chasing Series 2016
20″ X 30″ Archival Inkjet Print
David Tamargo is a Cuban-American artist whose work serves as a visual journey into situational fantasy. Using landscapes to focus on the formation of identity, Tamargo works in various mediums such as photography, installation, sculpture, performance, jewelry and video – exhibiting internationally as well as curating exhibitions of emerging contemporary art.
David Tamargo will be exhibiting his “No Longer Chasing” series at FUTRA presents OP ART. “Chasing enlightenment is like unlearning object permanence.” Persons depicted within the photographs are merged with physical landscape to reflect a connection with time, space and emotional relationships between each other. Inspiration also came from Laszlo Moholy-Nagy of the Bauhaus school. He taught photographic op art with a subtractive method of removing aspects of composition to show what was behind the physical images to a viewer. Removing the figures and interpreting them with repetition of patterns found in their environment, clothing, and texture warps the figure into a void of information that is similar to more traditional op art designs. This removal of information is one concept he associates strongly with the movement and his interpretation of op art.
“You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed.”
No Longer Chasing Series
20″ X 30″ Archival Inkjet Print
“We all need someone to reach for us through the darkness”, 2016
No Longer Chasing Series
20″ X 30″ Archival Inkjet Print
Alex Pelly
Alex Pelly has been creating visuals for a cross-section of LA’s underground for over six years. Her video art blends digital animation with analogue video feedback and VHS processing.
She started working with the internet radio-station and arts non-profit Dublab. Her signature analogue aesthetic began during the years of Top Tape, Dublab’s monthly night at the Hyperion Tavern, where music was mixed live on cassette tapes while Pelly sampled video from VHS. In 2011, she began to develop visuals for synth-pop band ESP, and moved away from sampled imagery, processing her own video footage and experimenting with feedback synthesis. She continues to develop both these techniques, combining them with animations that she designs digitally and then converts to analog.
Alex Pelly continues to work with Dublab, is a resident visualist at the underground techno party Perpetual Dawn, and creates audio-visual experiences with the improvisational noise duo Telecaves.
BioGlitz
At FUTRA presents OP ART, BioGlitz invites you to step into their interactive Glitz world. Partake in body ornamentation using their biodegradable Glitz and collaborate on a large scale art performance piece. We are all the artist and creator of this world.
BioGlitz is a plant based biodegradable glitter arts company. With environmental consciousness, we urge exaggerated self-decor for all, influencing others to adorn themselves with less judgment, knocking down self appointed boundaries and preconceived notions of what is acceptable and normal. BioGlitz is for you, they, me, he, she, we.
BioGlitz WEBSITE
BioGlitz FACEBOOK
BioGlitz INSTAGRAM
JOYCE SU
Los Angeles based artist Joyce Su has cut her teeth on brand creation and artwork for electronic musicians and labels. She works as a visual designer for Apple Music and Beats 1 Radio. Currently her personal work focuses on video and digital op art. Joyce Su will be exhibiting one of her graphic op art works at FUTRA presents OP ART
“My work focuses on questioning perception and thinking about the way we navigate our visual environment. I offset familiar objects and landscapes by making them psychedelic. I utilize geometric patterns and moire as a method of symbolic communication. To some the juxtaposition of landscape to geometry is sacred, and to others it is mathematical and systematic. The variety of response and extrapolation gives the art meaning; it’s a flexible reflection of the viewer’s own subconscious psyche.”
JOYCE SU WEBSITE
JOYCE SU FACEBOOK
JOYCE SU INSTAGRAM
JOYCE SU TWITTER
Kate Parsons / FLOAT
Kate Parsons will be exhibiting “3VR” at FUTRA presents OP ART, with her collaborator Ben Vance, under their FLOAT moniker. 3VR is a new virtual reality project designed for the HTC Vive, allowing for room-scale exploration.
3VR is both Visual Music and Optical Illusion, but within the context of virtual reality. Like all AV experiences, 3VR owes its history to the pioneers of visual music, people such as Oskar Fischinger and Jordan Belson. This influence is found in contemporary music videos and other forms of audio visualizations. It also refers to older media such as Magic Lantern slides and performances.
3VR places priority on affective and emotional response. Most of us understand there can be an added value, something magical, with just the right combination of music and image. The work often lives in this realm, and is found in galleries, performances… and in your eyes and ears. 3VR also pulls from the notion of synesthesia and the inspired words of Kandinsky. He believed in a new, spiritual art that consisted of three elements: “Musical movement, pictorial movement, physical movement, and these three, properly combined, make up the spiritual movement, which is the working of the inner harmony.”
Kate’s video piece “Orb & Sphere” is a result of her live cinema and VJ practice, which bring together the analog and digital processes to create inspired and abstract videos.
Kate Parsons is a video artist and educator living in Los Angeles. She obtained her M.F.A. in Media Arts from UCLA in June of 2015, and completed her M.A. in Digital Art and Video in May of 2013. She also holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art and Graphic Design. Much of Kate’s practice involves the marriage of the visual and the aural, working with musicians and dancers to create inventive audio-visual experiences.
Kate and Ben’s collaborative efforts are created under the moniker FLOAT. They work with musicians and other artists to create immersive environments and artwork, pulling from a range of influences from avant garde film, visual music, games, and music videos. They are currently working with Daedelus, Baths, RYAT, Slugabed, Mast, Kron, and Angela Seo, (aka Hyunhye) of Xiu Xiu.
KATE PARSONS WEBSITE
KATE PARSONS FACEBOOK
KATE PARSONS INSTAGRAM
FLOAT FACEBOOK
FLOAT INSTAGRAM
Biice
Biice is a visual artist and musician from Brownsville, TX. His artistic career has been about creating visceral experiences for the audience through club-driven music, performance, and mixed media installation. “It is important for me to balance the visceral with the conceptual in my work. I hope to not only strike the audience physically through my medium, but also show a study of the maximal-sensory environment we live in.”
Biice will be exhibiting a mixed media installation at FUTRA presents OP ART
Biice WEBSITE
Biice FACEBOOK
Biice INSTAGRAM
CALL FOR ARTISTS – OP ART
FUTRA IS A MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE BRAND THAT MAKES THE CONNECTION BETWEEN GENRES, ART, AND DESIGN. FUTRA INVITES ARTISTS OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE: VISUAL, EXPERIMENTAL, VIDEO, AND PERFORMANCE – IN ADDITION TO MUSICIANS – TO FIND HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
OP ART (OPTICAL ART) IS BASED ON ILLUSION AND EXPERIMENTATION PERCEIVED THROUGH OUR OWN SENSORY APPARATUS. ARTISTS CHALLENGE MINDS AND EYES WITH ABSTRACTION, MINIMALISM, GEOMETRY, LIGHT, PLAY, AND RADIATING LINES. BEING MULTI-FOCAL, NOT FIXED TO A SINGLE FOCUS, CONTINUES TO BE A VERY RELEVANT AND MODERN CONCEPT. CAPABLE OF SEEING BEYOND OUR PHYSICAL REALITY, OP ART GENERATES DAZZLING OPTICAL SENSATIONS AND IMMERSIVE OTHER WORLDLY EXPERIENCES.
ILLUSION, PERCEPTION, MIND-BENDING, REBELLION, WARPED REALITY,
RADIATING, PYCHEDELIC, EXPERIMENTAL, ECCENTRIC ABSTRACTION, INFINITE
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, FUTRA PRESENTS OP ART, A ONE-DAY MULTIMEDIA EVENT TAKING PLACE AT CIVIC CENTER STUDIOS. THIS BEAUTIFUL 8,000 SQ FT STUDIO LOCATED AT BROADWAY & 2ND HAS AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, 16’ WHITE WALLS, MULTIPLE COLUMNS, 12’ ARCHWAYS, AND WINDOWS THAT OVERLOOK DTLA. THE VENUE WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL STUDIO LIGHTING AND PLENTY OF DARKER ENVIRONMENTS FOR WORK WITH THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS. THIS IS YOUR INVITATION TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK AND IDEAS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
2D VISUAL ART AND SCULPTURE OF ALL MEDIUMS AND SIZES, INSTALLATION ART,
VIDEO, EXPERIMENTAL, MIXED MEDIA, APPAREL, PERFORMANCE, AND LIGHT ART
DEADLINES: THE ARTIST CONFIRMATION DEADLINE IS JULY 15 AND THE ARTWORK
DEADLINE IS AUGUST 5. INSTALLATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 13 FROM 10AM – 4PM. DEINSTALLATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 14 FROM 3PM – 5PM.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO SELL YOUR ARTWORK, THE ARTIST WILL TAKE 100% OF THE SALE. FUTRA WILL NOT TAKE ANY COMMISSION. ALTERNATIVELY, WE ARE CHARGING A COVER OF $5 – $10 FOR RENTALS AND EXPENSES. THERE WILL BE A CASH BAR.
– SEND YOUR INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSIONS TO: TARA@FUTRA.TV BY JULY 15TH –
HUMAN SHAPES x EXUVIATE
EXUVIATE, a film exploring the idea of an otherworldly creature shedding layers of divinity to become fragile and human. The wearable sculpture was designed with the ever growing passion of different species of fungi and the exchange in the environment that they all have. The film and performance will take place at FUTRA presents PANGEA 9:20PM – 9:30PM
PREVIEW >> HUMAN SHAPES x EXUVIATE
FILM:
Directed by Nathan Kim
Art Direction and Wearable Sculpture by Briana Gonzales
Choreography by Andrew Winghart
Featuring Dancer, Eric Schloesser
Makeup by Lisa McNeely
Music by Arca
PERFORMANCE:
Choreography by Andrew Winghart
Featuring Dancer, Eric Schloesser
Art Direction by Briana Gonzales
Akiko Yamashita
Akiko Yamashita will be exhibiting Owl Vision at FUTRA presents SURREALISM. This is her new virtual reality project that is experienced with the Oculus Rift. Akiko Yamashita is a highly skilled and globally recognized Animator and 3D Projection Mapping Artist from Japan. She works as a lead animator at VT Production Design, a full service creative design firm located in Los Angeles. She’s created artworks for Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment, United Nations, Pharrell Williams at Coachella Music Festival, NYE Countdown at Los Angeles City Hall, Greystone Mansion and more.
Keegan Grandbois
Casio Calculator
Photographer Keegan Grandbois was born in San Diego, CA and then moved around quite often all throughout his life. He now lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. His unusual still life and portraiture photography will be on display at FUTRA presents SURREALISM
Aura Reading with Little Trees Car Freshener
Mannequin Hand with Pentagram
Untitled
SURREALIST FASHION ENCOURAGED
EXTRAORDINARY PHOTOS FROM A 1972 ROTHSCHILD SURREALIST DINNER PARTY
The concept for FUTRA presents SURREALISM was partly inspired by encounters with Surrealist art and literature, and also by these 1972 photographs of Marie-Hélène de Rothschild’s famous dinner party, titled the “Surrealist Ball at Ferrières” . There have been few dinners parties quite like this.
The requirements for the evening were “Black tie, long dresses & Surrealists heads” nothing more, nothing less.
Now when money is no object, the only limit is one’s imagination. Firstly, the iconic Château where the party was to be housed was floodlighted with sweeping amber lights, designed to create the illusion that the building was on fire. Once inside, the entire staircase was filled with servants and footmen dressed as cats – all in various poses of sleep.
Once overcoming that initial shock, guests were then forced to enter a hellish labyrinthine maze – where should you get lost, one of the “cats” would rescue you and whisk you away where you’d be formally greeted by Marie-Hélène herself. On this particular night, she was wearing an enormous giant’s head that was crying tears of diamonds.
Even Salvador Dali was in attendance that evening, no doubt being bewitching and entertaining in equal amounts. This is just an account from one of her parties, but whatever the date, whomever attended, she was meticulous in planning every detail, making sure each gathering was an intriguing (and clearly intoxicating) blend of art, literature, haute couture and dance.
SURREALIST FASHION ENCOURAGED: This is your invitation to come dressed in your best Surrealist fashion, where the only limit is one’s imagination.
A Private Realm
“The Age of Reason and its industrial, post-modern antecedents are facades obscuring the seething dream world of primeval urges that surfaces only in sleep.”
A Private Realm, which is comprised of LA-based artists James Sinclair and Olivia Arthur, used a variety of old synths, new modulars, noise boxes, voices and drum machines to create their first LP Excommunications & Withdrawal released in early 2015. Musically the work moves from softer ethereal pieces inspired by the likes of This Mortal Coil through to blasts of electronics inspired by the likes of early SPK & the recently departed noise visionary Zbiegniew Karkowski. As lifelong warehouse rats the inevitable thrust of the LP is techno, inspired by the militant sounds of the obvious masters. This was the second release for A Private Realm on their label Tears Of Joy, an outlet for local techno and experimental producers. The first release titled An Omen From No Man’s Land was released in late 2012.
To understand the sound of Tears Of Joy enjoy this megamix including all artists on the label:
Throwing Shadows Like An Octopus
THROWING SHADOWS LIKE AN OCTOPUS
This project was inspired by the Mojave Desert and a fascination with camouflage. It consists of wallpaper and small sculptures; the custom-designed patterns on paper and fabric originate from images of desert plant life, such as mistletoe, moss, agave, cactus, cholla, juniper and Joshua tree. Through various iterations—installations that have taken place both indoors and outside—we consider visual pattern and techniques of cover as part of both a natural ecosystem and a psychologically complex human landscape.
Throughout history deserts have thwarted human presence. Extreme temperatures and low water content make life difficult, but many plants and creatures have met the challenge with unique techniques for survival, from camouflage to hiding tactics. The desert has long been used for military testing, and nature’s wealth of survival techniques have been appropriated for warfare. In the 20th-century, during the World Wars, the development of camouflage really took off, as artists and naturalists were enlisted to assist in the hiding of troops and equipment to confuse attackers. Inventive approaches were devised: dazzle, shadow and shape distortion, mimicry, disruptive coloration. Many of these employ bold, abstract and striking designs. It may be no coincidence that in the early 20th-century, Cubist and Surrealist artists also held a keen interest in such visual phenomena. Over the decades, war, art, theater, and fashion have played a part in camouflage’s role in pop culture. We are interested in this rich history, and the blurred lines and overlaps between the various cultural applications of camouflage.
In the California desert, camouflage takes on a symbolic resonance because of a strong military and aerospace presence there. With all this in mind, we examine pattern and natural design as part of both a natural ecosystem and a psychologically complex human landscape. Beginning this project in 2013, Anne Martens made a series of photographs at Joshua Tree National Park. She created repeat patterns that both artists then selected to be made into custom wallpaper and fabrics. Autumn Harrison designed a series of sculptures from ornate wooden structures to weighted “stones,” to compliment the fabrics and wallpaper.
— Autumn Harrison and Anne Martens
THROWING SHADOWS LIKE AN OCTOPUS will be on display at the FUTRA THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY on Saturday, March 7th from 6pm-12am at LOT 613 Gallery in Los Angeles. $5 ENTRY WITH RSVP > rsvp@futra.tv
Machine Inspired Art
This architectural project and sculpture is designed and fabricated by CJ Reed, Beatriz Coronado, Alejandra Ramirez and Eric Martinez, students at CSU Pomona (CalPoly) School of Architecture. It was created under the direction of Behn Samareh , CalPoly professor and founder of Machine Inspired Art , a gallery and design studio in downtown Los Angeles. The main objective of this project was to create a 2-D module which could be combined again with the same exact module to create a 3-D sculpture. Then being able to take this shape, mass produce it, and create an installation that has unlimited size and reconfiguration potential for many different environments and audiences to interact with and experience.
This large modular sculpture, extending out to 15 feet, will be on display at the FUTRA THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY on Saturday, March 7th from 6pm-12am at LOT 613 Gallery in Los Angeles. $5 ENTRY WITH RSVP > rsvp@futra.tv
Natology’s PSEUDO & MORPH
RSVP FOR $5 ENTRY BEFORE 11PM HERE
FUTRA teams up with NATOLOGY to present a mystical visual art experience for all to enjoy. This multi-media performance will commence at 11PM at Futra presents Doubt (live) on June 26th at Complex in Los Angeles. Pseudo & Morph is curated by Natology and features Jos McKain’s art performance ‘Oxidation’ with visuals by video artist Lindsay Scoggins. Pseudo & Morph is a meditative performance on the devolution of the human body and its ability to shift into an amorphous state. This meditation is intended to diffuse gender pairing, silhouetting a nude male (McKain) and juxtaposing him against Scoggins’ signature video work. The ideas center on replication as a form of evolution, both intellectually and socially.
First the art becomes you, and then you become the art.
Natology is the vessel in which curator and art dealer Nathaly Charria uses to exercise her creative practices. Inspired by creative movements and a talented network of artists, Natology merges new mediums and avenues to expand the scope and reach of creators. Through innovative and specialized branding, Natology curates and progressively defines the art experience. With ten-years experience in curatorial and event production, Nathaly has worked with galleries, museums, international art fairs, alongside world-renowned artists and brands to bring large-scale ideas and experiences to a worldwide audience.
Jos McKain is a classically trained and self-taught dance maker and performance artist. He approaches performances as a shamanic ritual where the heightened state of performance acts as a trance-like state. His work reflects formative years spent on an Indian Reservation and training the classical East Indian Kathak. Since then his practice includes Dunham Technique, West African forms, yoga, Tai Chi, and extensive training in modern. McKain has curated shows for Machine Project, Highways Performance Space, and EDC. His venue credits include Carnegie Hall, MOMA PS1, LACMA, and MOMA and he’s appeared in work by Ryan Heffington, WIFE, Mariana Abramovic, Scott Benzel, Daft Punk, and Mike Kelley.
Lindsay Scoggins is a LA multimedia artist, filmmaker, and pioneer in YouTube video art. Influenced by a classical musical education, her interests in new media developed through her infatuation with audio’s essential functions in cinema. Scoggins’ began working with video installation, using YouTube as an online gallery and soon began to attract millions of viewers. In 2010, she was chosen as a finalist for Guggenheim’s YouTube play: A Biennial of Creative Video. As a result, she’s exhibited at the Guggenheim in NYC, Venice, Bilbao, and Berlin.
Caroline Geys
CAROLINE GEYS, Belgian-born and native to Miami, is now a local artist based in downtown, Los Angeles. As a multimedia artist she alternates between painting, drawing, graphic design, installation, sculpture and apparel. Her work is consistently inspired by colorful urban landscapes and animal imagery. Several dimensions of her childhood and early adulthood are reoccurring themes that compose the infusion amongst the cityscapes and animal conformations.
Since her work stretches into various media’s she believes her thinking does too, fueling a velocity of ideas from one medium to another yielding one consistent factor, color. Caroline experiments with color palettes in all of her series; it is a part of her expression, throughout life’s paradigms, exploring the metamorphosis within the context of my life as a visual artist.
Caroline’s LA exhibitions have included The Standard, Hollywood – Ann 300 Gallery in 2012 and at the SSNS 001 / Cosmic Sessions – The Standard, Downtown LA in 2013.
Caroline will be exhibiting new work at BORN MODERN, physical vs digital. Through the point of view of 21 featured artists, the exhibition explores how technology affects our sense of self. The event takes place on Thursday, April 24th from 7pm – 11pm, event details can be found here: BORN MODERN.
FUTRA COLLECTIVE
An installation concerned with light and space using the pallet of a California sunset, this installation attempts to accomplish within a confined space, a representation of a daily event. This piece which will be displayed at the FUTRA TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY is inspired by the skyline of Los Angeles and artists such as James Turrell.
Futra Artist T-Shirt Series II: CS-NAVARRETE x FUTRA
Exclusive CS-NAVARRETE x FUTRA Limited Edition Artist T-Shirts
Custom print by WE ARE MASSIV.
ABOUT CS-NAVARRETE:
Calling his work “Rootsystm”, Los Angeles based CS-Navarrete captures the essence of tree roots hybridized with cultural and mathematical influences ranging from his Peruvian and Mexican ancestry to Golden Section properties. Typically these “Rootsystms” originate from triangular geometry or as he puts it, “la semilla – the seed”, the source of life from which the genetic instructions of plant growth is contained. Akin to seeds controlling the matrix of roots and programming language mandate functions in today’s devices, CS-Navarrete uses a rudimentary system of parameters in his paintings that ensure a consistency in subsequent works. The addition of new rules or aesthetically pleasing mutations incorporated into the language he chooses create variations in the pieces. The bands placement is based on plotted points through a variety of sub-divisions meanwhile the width, balance and secondary branches are a site specific emotional response to the environment. Rootsystms leave us with a cerebral yet visceral aesthetic that will evolve over time as species do while preserving a link to its origins.
About MASSIV.:
Massiv. is a lifestyle brand with a positive message. A strength in numbers philosophy with a foundation in music. Rooted in Downtown Los Angeles, home of many of the most influential people in the cities emerging music scene. We were born out of the idea that each individual pursuing their dreams and passions are not alone. Together, WE ARE MASSIV.!
CPU / CyberPatrolUnit
Bryant Place aka CPU grew up in the LA underground and first emerged as a visual artist working with many organizations and promoters including LAVA, Droid Behavior, and Friendly Integration with a focus on generative, real-time, audio-reactive visuals. Initially collaborating with FUTRA during the launch of the label, CPU will debut his LIVE PERFORMANCE after two years of development at the FUTRA TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY. CPU’s current project is developing a large-scale light sculpture with OBSCURA DIGITAL & STEREO-BOT for the 2014 Coachella Arts and Music Festival.
MIA / Machine Inspired Art
Machine Inspired Art (MIA) is one literal manifestation of technology within the creative process. MIA explores the influence and utilization of machines, computation and automation on creativity and self-expression regardless of scale, medium or specific discipline. The aim of this studio and gallery is to explore the role and application of technology, in specific computational technology, within the creative process. In this context art is not defined as a product, but rather an intention. Here the word art is not a noun but rather a verb. Here art is seen as a process rather than a product.
This piece titled “Torso” is created with electroluminescent wires inlaid into plexiglass. The pattern for the groove was computer generated from a 3d model utilizing a variety of different software and translated into 2D, while still maintaining its original three dimensional appearance. This piece was produced in collaboration with Sho Ikuta and Gerardo Morena and will be on display at the FUTRA TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
MATTHEW BOWERS / MANUFACTUR
Matthew Bowers is an artist and designer currently based in Los Angeles. His artwork is inspired by powerful symbolism and iconography throughout history, and attempts to reconcile the enduring nature of classical imagery with an increasingly technological and adiamorphic world. Matthew will be exhibiting a large-scale and innovative wood and light sculpture at the FUTRA TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY titled “Deep Field”.
Matthew Bowers is the founder and creative director of the design agency Manufactur.
JOHN BRYARS & JOSEPH SCOTT BRYARS
Los Angeles multimedia artists, painters, and brothers John Bryars & Joseph Scott Bryars join the FUTRA TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY on Saturday, February 1st at Seven Points in downtown Los Angeles.
John Bryars will exhibit a three piece collection. This piece reminds the audience of iconic legend Grace Jones and captures the futuristic ambience that reminiscent of Nagel. Joseph Scott Bryars collaborates with John creating a painting that joins their unique styles.
JIL STEIN: LOST sandWITCHES
“LOST sandWITCHES”
Choreographer: JIL STEIN
Dancers: SAM GOODMAN || JIL STEIN
Music: JIL STEIN || NAHUM MANTRA
Dress: KEYLA MARQUEZ
This duet explores ideas of magic in the fluid qualities of movement arising from imagined spaces. LOST sandWITCHES creates a landscape of mysticism and intrigue. This performance will be featured at the Futra Two Year Anniversary event at 10:00pm.
JIL STEIN is currently based in Los Angeles. LOST sandWITCHES was created as part of her ongoing PRACTICE and RESEARCH. JIL is currently exploring IMAGINED SPACES and the corporealities of a moved experience. She appreciates your participation as witness.
Futra Two Year Anniversary
Joana Perez: Art Director // Nereida Villarreal: Visual Arts Curator // Tara LaPlante: Founder
We are pleased to announce Futra’s Two Year Anniversary will be held on Saturday, February 1st at the newly launched hotspot Seven Points in downtown Los Angeles. Seven Points is a progressive retail space catering to the modern man, a multimedia venue, and home to industry established The Park showroom.
Joining the Futra team as the Visual Arts Curator is Nereida Villarreal. Her background in art and fashion brings an additional creative force into Futra’s enhanced vision for the New Year. Futra will begin to represent visual artists along side our resident DJ’s and producers to strengthen our mission of fusing genres, art, and design.
Futra invites artists of all walks of life; visual, graphic, installation, performance in addition to musicians to find harmony with one another. With a record label as the foundation, Futra is a brand of creativity and inspiration.
ARTIST CALL // DEADLINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 10TH 2014
Futra seeks submissions from multimedia artists working in visual art, installation, performance, dance, video, and design to be featured at our two year event. Submissions and questions should be directed to nereida@futra.tv. Please note we are not accepting music submissions for this event.
MORE EVENT DETAILS TBA IN THE COMING WEEKS ….
SOMAVOX
SOMAVOX, the Body’s Voice, is a dance performance group that incorporates the butoh aesthetic into the performance of modern, contemporary dance. SOMAVOX was born of the collaboration between a group of artists, dancers, musicians, and the underground party scenes of 2000 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Hawaii. It has been a revolving door of performers interested in playing the edges between dance and performance art including collaborations with performing artists such as Dream Circus Theater and the “I AM” parties, and San Francisco’s Mystic family Circus.
One of the founding members and choreographers of SOMAVOX, who performs under the name Malia Ma, was also a longtime member of Hawaii’s Iona Contemporary Dance since 1990. She studied choreography and performance at the Five College Dance Program in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she received a BA in Dance. Subsequently, she received her certificate in Laban Movement Analysis from University of Washington, and later ruined all semblance of dance technique when she became mesmerized with the art form of butoh, born out of the artistic and cultural revolt of post-world war II Japan.
The performers Desiree Castro, Monilade Walker, and Yuki Hayashi Hammel are all seasoned dancers with exquisite performance skills culled from various techniques in modern, ballet, jazz, contemporary. They come together out of a shared interest in dance, butoh, performance art and electronic dance music scenes. As a group, SOMAVOX creates dance for living, underground communities, and brings their aesthetic and cultural orientation to light at out of the ordinary performance spaces, venues and events.
In tonight’s performance, the dancers work with more structured improvisation than choreography. The improv is intentional to allow the dancers to dig deeply into their psyches developing characters and a story out of the effects of isolation on women. Butoh allows psychological perversion with spatial awareness and interaction with other dancers, live and in the moment….
Catch SOMAVOX perform tonight at 10:45pm here >>> FUTRA PRESENTS COSMIN TRG
COMPLEX
806 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
21+ // $10 PRE-SALES
DOOR W/ COSTUME: $10 B4 11PM // $15 AFTER OR NO COSTUME
Michael Allen : Eyeonasphere
Expect a unique visual experience at tonight’s EVENT! FUTRA features MICHAEL ALLEN‘s Eyeonasphere. In the Eyeonasphere, an individual sphere is lowered over the head of the viewer with video projections over their face. The person in the globe has images that completely fill their field of vision and sounds that fill their range of hearing, with a basspad in the seat that vibrates with the music. A MIDI controller gives the spectator full control of the content that surround their audio/visual field. The Eyeonasphere removes them from their surroundings and puts them in a remote controlled reality where they can choose what they see and hear. It represents a technological advance which could give mankind more control over what we experience.
DOOR: $8 BEFORE 10:00PM // $13 AFTER
$8 TICKETS AVAILABLE ON RESIDENT ADVISOR
LOS GLOBOS
3040 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
9:00PM – 2AM // 18+
DARK SKY (50 WEAPONS) UK BEGINS THEIR FIRST US TOUR WITH FUTRA
DARK SKY (50 Weapons, Black Acre) UK
DARK SKY FACEBOOK
Futra brings London-based Dark Sky to Los Angeles for the first time ever for their March 7th show at Los Globos. Dark Sky made huge waves with their 2010 debut release on the Bristol imprint “Black Acre” with their “Something to Lose” EP. This release showcased their razor sharp attention to detail in beat making and foreshadowed their rise in popularity and production. The debut was met with rave reviews and lead to many more collaborations and mixes with popular artists (The XX, Delooze, Stateless and more recently Kelis, Alpines and Ben Westbeech).
Last December Dark Sky released “Myriam EP” on Modeselektor’s Berlin imprint 50 Weapons, and was reviewed on the labels website saying the release was “certainly living up to the high expectations. Garage rhythms, Clonkstep, Post-UK Funky, techy House references and even nods to Electro…a blazing example for the ongoing Bass evolution.”
Dark Sky’s LA appearance will celebrate the trio’s March release with popular UK label Tectonic, Futra has prepared by securing a sound stage with Funktion-1 sound. Dark Sky is made up of Tom Edwards, Matt Benyayer and Carlo Anderson whose new styles in production are influenced by everything from original UK garage to house. Dark Sky is hugely popular in the UK and just gaining traction in the US. According to SF-based site xlr8r.com, Dark Sky “is just damn good”.
DOOR: $8 BEFORE 10:00PM // $13 AFTER
$8 TICKETS AVAILABLE ON RESIDENT ADVISOR
LOS GLOBOS
3040 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
9:00PM – 2AM // 18+
MOR ELIAN
MOR ELIAN WEBSITE
MOR ELIAN SOUNDCLOUD
If you are in SF you can catch Mor Elian tomorrow night along side Ghostly guru Matthew Dear here >>> 1015 FOLSOM
MATTHEW DEAR WEBSITE
GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL
SOUND BENDING LIGHT
Sasha Raphael vom Dorp is a native of Taos, New Mexico and now lives and works in Los Angeles. Sasha’s “Sound Illuminator” (pictured above) uses sound vibrations, light, and water allowing the creation of unique, never to be repeated images captured on film.
“I’ve built a machine in an attempt to observe elemental transactions. I’ve created a mechanical solution to what is a metaphysical problem, forcing basic elements of perception – sound, light, and matter – into a single frame. As the sound unfolds, it ripples through the water in distinct geometric patterns, bending, twisting and playing with the light. Sound and light are reflective of one another. The Sound Illuminator allows the observer to enter that dynamic relationship with its infinite possibilities.” – Sasha Raphael vom Dorp
Sasha is exhibiting with 825 Gallery at photo l.a. through January 21
The 22nd International Los Angeles Photographic Art Exposition
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
SASHA RAPHAEL VOM DORP FACEBOOK
SASHA RAPHAEL VOM DORP WEBSITE
FUTRA TURNS ONE
ARTICLE BY: HANNI CHEHAK
PHOTO BY: GIL KONSPIRACY
Tara LaPlante and Joana Perez are disrupting the Los Angeles music and art scene with their record label and collective group Futra. On Saturday, December 8th Futra will celebrate their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, where their passion for showcasing artists, fusing EDM genres and bringing people together to explore the dance floor will be at an all time high.
To mark the special occasion, Futra is planning to mix things up by moving to a new type of venue. The overall mood and location will be a much different feel as they make a departure from the typical club scene and move into a more creative location. Music and art-wise the sound and feel will be familiar to event goers. As a special thanks to the Futra community for their support there will be an open bar from 8-10PM. The RSVP with $10 entry and location details closes at 5PM on Saturday. RSVP HERE
Futra differentiated themselves early on by focusing on dance music styles that fuse genres together. It sounds like a relatively simple concept, but at the time the style was not being fully explored in the LA area. If a sound wasn’t exactly techno, house, dubstep, garage – or anything definitive for that matter, Futra was interested. With this philosophy as a guide, LaPlante and Perez exploded onto the scene, creating a label and a space where all artists could showcase their work and collaborate to co-create a bigger artistic experience. According to LaPlante “I think having a music label as a foundation for events is important in giving the label national and international attention and to keep it moving forward. There are a ton of dance labels continuing to pop up and I find this very inspiring.” In their first year alone, Futra released two EP’s and have three more releases scheduled for 2013.
The Futra crew itself is truly a collective. Resident DJs, installation artists, fine artists, jewelry makers, designers and art advocates make up the groups core members of Futra. The resident DJ crew includes EEZIR, Knyphy, Dazz Moov, Ricky Def, Tim Parker, and DLX. Local guest artists are also a main feature, to name a few recent acts – Samo Sound Boy, Raiz, Kuru, Modesty, WMX, Derek Michael, and Don Froth. Futra also launched a podcast series with all of the resident artists listed above plus Soviet Panda, Leslie Dugger, Mike Gervais and Aaron Shinn and brought headliners such as DVS1, 2562, Addison Groove, Doc Daneeka, Distal, Grenier, Salva, ASC, Jimmy Edgar, and XI.
At a techno camp out a few years ago in the midwest, LaPlante was introduced to some of the artists from the LA-based Droid Behavior label. This meeting inspired a visit out to LA to reconnect with her newly found friends. Then, just one year after visiting she moved to LA – so inspired by the city and the music community. That same year, the seeds of Futra were planted as many more dance music genres came to her attention. The concept for Futra came together with LaPlante and her partner Drew Best who runs the dubstep label, SMOG out of LA. With LaPlante’s background in techno and Best’s in dubstep – establishing a new label for the unexplored space was a natural transition. The name Futra is from two words Future and Retro, combined and tweaked by Best and LaPlante until they found and settled on Futra.
Tara LaPlante, founder of the label, says Futra’s vision is “a fusion of dance music, we try to keep things as varied and as fresh as possible, while providing a great dance vibe people can count on. The visual artists, performers and designers are also a very big part of our shows.”
For Creative Director Joana Perez, the main goal [of Futra] is to bring awareness of art to music lovers, and music to art lovers. “It all goes hand in hand. Futra is really about creating a platform for artists to be exposed. I want to give them an open canvas to create. When I work with a specific artist I want them to have complete freedom to present their vision without conforming to someone else’s. I never want to regulate or filter someone else’s creativity… to me, it completely defeats the purpose of being an artist.” Perez is definitely on to something – in the last year Futra has ballooned in size, attracting all sorts of talent to support the label. Perez is responsible for creating the visual experience for the label and events. Driving a multimedia brand experience isn’t easy, but Perez keeps crowds engaged in the music and visual environment – whether it be performance art, film, installation, fashion, or all of the above. This blend of media is what makes Futra events unique. Both LaPlante and Perez devote their time to curating an environment that perfectly connects the sound with the sensory to provide an all encompassing experience for those who attend.
The growing Futra network has created a great resource for the art community in LA. Perez has been encouraged by the number of individuals hearing of Futra and reaching out to collaborate. “Lately I have a lot of artists contacting me wanting to get involved and be a part of what we are creating. It’s been very rewarding to see what we have built so far. What I love the most is when I find artists who are also connected to the electronic music scene or even if they don’t listen to the music have at least an appreciation for it. To be able to combine these two worlds is what Futra all about so these finds are specifically on point for me. The other side of this is fun too when I get to expose an artist to electronic music…something they wouldn’t usually find themselves surrounded by. Art comes in many forms. I have an appreciation for it all.”
The anniversary this weekend is going to be a huge celebration and an event not to be missed. Meet friends and family of the Futra crew and enjoy an evening of art, music and late night dancing. Futra is providing a platform that defines mixed media in the 21st century, always fresh, innovative and interactive for the crowd. Encapsulating the Futra experience Perez says “We dig things that are a little off the wall and out there…something to open people’s eyes up to things they might not experience anywhere else.”
Julz The Huntress x DLX
Photo by ULTRAVIOLET
Long Beach native Julz the Huntress is nothing short of a triple threat! Vocalist/songwriter, emcee, and dancer Julz found her passion for music in the LA nightclub and underground scene and has emerged as one of LA’s top performers. She’s performed in various parts of the world and and has worked with many of the top DJ’s and producers in the electronic club circuit. In 2011 Julz founded Electric Vaudeville- a collective of artists, musicians, dancers and DJ’s that work together to create an experience that goes beyond specific genre lines.
Futra artist DLX approached Julz three years ago after hearing her at DNB events around LA. He had made some Motown influenced R&B tunes that were in need of soulful lyrics and knew Julz was the one to do it. She gladly jumped on the project and wrote the song “One More Dance” which became part of DLX’s Alchemy EP. Julz will perform that song live at tonight’s EVENT alongside dancers from the Electric Vaudeville Collective.
Alchemy EP is available here >>> DLXBEATS.BANDCAMP.COM
“I’m really excited to share what we have been working on. Performances like this are the reason why I make music- to create a memorable and unique experience that pushes boundaries of sound, sight and raw emotion.” -Julz
JULZ THE HUNTRESS FACEBOOK
JULZ THE HUNTRESS TWITTER
ELECTRIC VAUDEVILLE FACEBOOK
ELECTRIC VAUDEVILLE TWITTER
FUTURE EYES : Eyewear for the Soul
“Kaleidoscope comes from the Ancient Greek words kalos, eidos, and skopeo – beauty, shape, and to look. In other words it means to see the beauty of life”- Brent Pearson / Future Eyes
Future Eyes glasses were invented by LA based artist and visionary BRENT PEARSON with the desire to open the mind and stimulate the senses. Those who view the world through the multifaceted kaleidoscope lenses will increase their optical abilities, enhance color, light, focus, power and awareness. Future Eyes reminds us that the world responds to our imagination, which is the essence of change. Go beyond what is considered normal to your mind and expand your visual perception! Unlock the doors to the future!
Future Eyes in collaboration with Astral Eyes (AKA Oweleyes) brings us a truly unique visual experience @ tonight’s EVENT.
LAURA ESCUDE AKA ALLUXE
LAURA ESCUDÉ is a visionary for the future of music. She is an acclaimed violinist, composer and sound designer, a music technologist, and one of the key players in the contemporary electronic beat scene working with a diverse list of artists and productions including Herbie Hancock, We Are the World, Kanye West, and Cirque du Soleil.
Tomorrow’s EVENT will showcase a special preview of Laura’s newest project and moniker ALLUXE in which she takes her numerous experiences and inspirations and pushes them to their limit. Alluxe was created as an alternate character that plays modern experimental dance music, drawing inspiration from bass music, hip hop, dubstep, trap, juke + experimental sounds.
Fresh from her European tour (debuting at Soundcrash in London, Tékéze’n in Paris and FEED in Berlin), Alluxe shows us her new crafted style complete with beats on the fly, violin loops and thrashes effects using the most hi tech gear—a one-of-a-kind LED controller that is it’s own light show. Expect to interface with her music directly as she enlists the crowd to help create her live sound, passing out Wii controllers that are synced with moving LEDs and trigger stutter effects and sub bass kick drums. Alluxe brings “live” to a whole new level!
CREATE DIGITAL MUSIC / ALLUXE INTERVIEW
ALLUXE FUTURE FORWARD MIXTAPE 2012 VOL. 2
ALLUXE FACEBOOK
ALLUXE TWITTER
*Photo by SARAH SITKIN
DM x FUTRA
Derek Michael (aka DM) has been a very influential part of the Los Angeles underground electronic music and art scene ever since he transplanted from his hometown of Windsor, Canada and the legendary Midwest EDM hub Detroit, Michigan. With a long list of prestigious gigs and projects under his belt DM is a force to be reckoned with! From DJ residencies in Berlin & Tokyo, releases, event production & installations for labels DETROIT UNDERGROUND, Friendly Integration & DROID BEHAVIOR, graphic & web design clients including Volkswagon & NATIVE INSTRUMENTS, to product development IBALLZ & HAPPIER CAMPER this list goes on…
Tomorrow’s FUTRA event will showcase one of Derek’s custom LED & Plexiglass installations originally created in 2008 for Pasadena Arboretum’s Terrabyte Festival in collaboration with Futra’s own Eric Hanson (aka EEZIR) . This will be the debut of LOS GLOBOS’ first rotating FUTRA installation and will be on display at the venue for the next month.
FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
LIMITED $5 PRE-SALE TICKETS @ RESIDENT ADVISOR
PLASTICGOD’S “Make out Teepee”
Working under the pseudonym PLASTICGOD, internationally known Los Angeles pop artist Doug Murphy has established himself as a relentless pop culture manipulator and multiples revivalist. The clean, minimalist forms of LEGO-like heads and figures become a mold in which Plasticgod forces the faces and bodies of an ever expanding pantheon of pop icons. Making works that drip with saccharine colours and simple shapes that reduce the famous and infamous to their most basic visual identifiers, his fixation surges forth with a relentless mercantile fury, reflective of his chosen subjects
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Plasticgod was originally commissioned to design the teepee for a charity event for MALIBU NATIVE. Inspired by the native Indian theme and the band name NEON INDIAN, he combined these visual ideas with what was currently trending in art and design to create his distinct eye popping graphics. Because of it’s size, only 2-3 people can fit inside of the teepee at a time so it was appropriately dubbed “Make Out Teepee”.
PLASTICGOD WEBSITE
PLASTICGOD PINTEREST
PLASTICGOD TWITTER
Check out PLASTICGOD’S installation here! >>>>> FUTRA PRESENTS DISTAL
Futra Artist T-Shirt Series I: Joyce Su x Futra
Exclusive Joyce Su x FUTRA Limited Edition Artist T-Shirts
Available May 10 @ SUREFIRE SOUND SPRING TOUR // DIM MAK STUDIOS
Custom print by WE ARE MASSIV.
Massiv is a multi-cultural, worldwide lifestyle brand. Massiv makes clothing with a message and document the music, lifestyle, fashion, culture, art, sport and media that consumes them, their friends, and their audience.
WE ARE MASSIV. WEBSITE
WE ARE MASSIV. FACEBOOK
WE ARE MASSIV. TWITTER
About the artist:
Joyce Su is a vibrant artist, photographer and graphic designer currently residing in San Francisco. Her eye-popping visuals blend a unique balance of fine art and cutting edge digital design. She has designed EP covers, posters, flyers, and promotional merch for an impressive resume of artists including Glitch Mob, Cryptex, Kraddy, Bassnectar, The Do Lab, and Kastle. Joyce recently designed Futra’s first release Eezer’s Lone Lifter EP and we could not think of a better artist to launch our collaborative t-shirt series.
TWO RABBITS STUDIOS : “Buy Product” Series
Two Rabbits Studios is a design firm, commercial screen print shop, and fine art studio ran by Los Angeles-based artists Mike Thacker and Bob Motown. Since 2007, the pair have designed and printed hundreds of rock posters and promotional pieces for movies and video games. Two Rabbits started small in a North Hollywood backyard—less than five years later, and they’ve been featured in galleries, Flatstock poster shows, and craft fairs in the United States and UK. They’ve worked with Warner Music Group and concert promoters Goldenvoice for artists ranging from Skrillex to Wu Tang to Portishead. Recently, Thacker and Motown’s focus has been on fine art pieces that reflect upon their hand-printed process and design.
“Buy Product” Series:
“Our work lately has been drastically focused on the repurposing of our by-product. Running a commercial print shop, making printed products all day, yields a lot of excess and leftover material, and we don’t like to see anything go to waste. From our test prints to our mixing sticks, we see the chaos and beauty of our artistic endeavors in everything that’s left over. We have taken what many consider to be useless and turned it into beautiful works of color and shape”
TWO RABBITS STUDIOS WEBSITE
TWO RABBITS STUDIOS TWITTER
TWO RABBITS STUDIOS FACEBOOK
CALL FOR ARTISTS // DEADLINE MARCH 29th
FUTRA is a multimedia experience brand that makes the connection between genres, art, and design. Based in the burgeoning music scene that is Los Angeles, FUTRA dares to form an identity of its own rather than follow the lead of others. It invites artists of all walks of life; visual, graphic, installation, performers, in addition to musicians to find harmony with one another.
FUTRA presents: 2562 along w/ RAIZ & RICKY DEF + ARTIST SHOWCASE
Thursday, April 12th // Dim Mak Studios // Los Angeles, CA // 9PM – 2AM // 21+
CALL FOR ARTISTS: Accepting submissions for short film, performance art, designers, installation, and visual artists. Send artwork, bios and inquires to joana@futra.tv
DEADLINE ~ MONDAY MARCH 29TH
Chad Hagen : Art + Design
Chad Hagen is an artist, designer, and art director living and working in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. His colorful, inspiring, and pop-infused designs have been featured in many
impressive publications. These images and many more, can be found on his website.
CHAD HAGEN WEBSITE
CHAD HAGEN TWITTER
CHAD HAGEN FLICKR
“21st Century Warhol” : PLASTICGOD
“Working under the pseudonym Plasticgod, internationally known Los Angeles artist Doug Murphy has established himself as a relentless pop culture manipulator and multiples revivalist. The clean, minimalist forms of LEGO-like heads and figures become a mold in which Plasticgod forces the faces and bodies of an ever expanding pantheon of pop icons. Making works that drip with saccharine colors and simple shapes that reduce the famous and infamous to their most basic visual identifiers, his fixation surges forth with a relentless mercantile fury, reflective of his chosen subjects” – Marshall Astor Walled City Gallery
PLASTICGOD TWITTER
PLASTICGOD FACEBOOK
Early Morning Glitchery: KeroLogistics
Kero makes discourses gather for news for manna of the day. His limited edition coffee
mugs breathing aroma, gaining sustenance, early morning glitchery, and happy alchemy
of mind friendly integration. This is cutting edge design from Detroit Underground.
http://detroitunderground.net/
With over 20 releases on some of electronic music’s most celebrated and innovative labels such as Bpitch, Ghostly, Shitkatapult, Touchin’ Bass and his own critically acclaimed Detroit Underground Records, Kero has established himself as a leader within the growing pack of producers successfully infiltrating contemporary art circles worldwide.
COURAGEINVIOLET
Dominika Zagozda is a LA based jewelry designer whose label, CourageinViolet, seeks to mix bold, unique designs, with soft, elegant elements. Dominika grew up in Toronto, Canada, where she always had an affinity for fashion and creativity. Her personal style is defined as unique, fun and confident. On her latest jewelry collection, she notes: “I love playing with asymmetry, whether that means wearing a hoop in one ear and a long feather earring in the other, or pairing 2 or 3 chain earrings all on one side – It’s all about mixing and matching to find one’s own style. I want to encourage people to have the confidence to wear something bold, something different.”
You can find and purchase CourageinViolet jewelry at: www.etsy.com/shop/courageinviolet
