Thank you to those who joined us at Cactus Gallery on Saturday, November 12th from 7-10pm for the opening reception of "Too Cool for School."
If you see a piece you would like to purchase or have a question regarding any commissions, please contact Sandra Mastroianni at semastroianni70@yahoo.com or 323.256.6117.
PRESS: Cactus Gallery is proud to present Too Cool For School, a new body of painted and sculptural works by the artist Douglas Alvarez. Too Cool For School explores Alvarez’ experience in the Public School System and growing up in Los Angeles through the humor of popular iconography.
Addressing the beauty of urban sprawl with its strip malls, nature, and the role humans play visibly or invisibly in this environment, Douglas is able to garner a feeling of timeless nostalgia and complexity of emotion in the simplest of elements and spaces.
Douglas Alvarez employs a number of techniques to achieve his desired result. Viscous paint applications through palate knife are reminiscent of textural walls, while his brush application delineates the fine detail of a glazed donut or the abstract scrawls on a piece of line graph paper. The color palette Alvarez uses is inspired by fugitive hues of early photos, best represented in his historical figures, or the muted tints of institutional environments.
Douglas’ use of typographic buzzwords such as: answers, special, smile and today, in their simplicity, describe his elements with a humor and dichotomy, allowing the viewer to come to their own conclusions about their association. The newest media for Mr. Alvarez is the inclusion of assemblage. He utilizes these three-dimensional aspects to build another layer to his array of textures and colors, a comprehensive exhibit that’s definitely Too Cool For School!
Douglas Alvarez was born in Los Angeles to a Father who was a Minister and Mother who is a Rancher’s Daughter. He Graduated from Continuation High School, and attended California State University, Northridge where he acquired a dual degree in Art and Political Science. Douglas has shown throughout the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, and most recently a Solo Show at California State University, Channel Islands. He has curated a number of Exhibitions in the Los Angeles area. Notably his work has been selected for Latino Heritage Month Calendar and the Cultural Guide presented by the City of Los Angeles for the past three years.
Show runs November 12 - December 4, 2011
"First Period" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"C-Minus" - Acrylic - SOLD
"Make 'em Sharp" - Acrylic, wood, pencils, pencil sharpener - SOLD
"Damaged" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Wait" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Courage" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Hard and Fast" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Missing" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"More" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Ammunition" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"The Spill" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"The Spill 2" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"Beauty" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"The Spill 3" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"Sugar" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Recess" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Invisible" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"Special" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"Fraction"- Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase"
"People Liberate Themselves" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"An Idealist Without Illusions" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Our Objective is Complete Freedom" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Never Surrender" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Be The Change" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Revolution of Mind and Heart" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Trickle" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Revolution is not a Dinner Party" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Fidel" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Unarmed Truth and Unconditional Love" - 8"x10" - Acrylic on wood - Available for purchase
"Butts Up" - 24"x26" - Acrylic on Canvas - Available for purchase
"Blank" - 16"x24" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"After School" - 11"x30" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Today" - 9"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Share" - 12"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Love" - 9"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
(This painting was in the 2011 Latino Heritage Calendar)
(This painting was in the 2011 Latino Heritage Calendar)
"Lazy" - 9"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Smile" - 9"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - Available for purchase
"Hot" - 9"x9" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Score" - 9"x9" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Waiting" (diptych) - 48"x48" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Pretty (Pink Pearl)" - 6"x9"- Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Mashed Potatoes" - 24"x24"- Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Homeroom" - 48"x24" - Acrylic on wood - SOLD
"Answers" - 30"x12" - Acrylic on canvas - SOLD
"Winner" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Try Again" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Public Trees" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Something to Do" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Blank 2" - Acrylic - SOLD
"The Fault" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Gift" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
"Four Square" - Acrylic - Available for purchase
