The OC Art Blog was created in 2004 as a way to build community and promote the marginalized but dynamic Orange County art scene.

This past Sunday the art collective Fallen Fruit presented their project, Public Fruit Jam, at Machine Project. The public was invited to bring in any kind of fruits to be turned into homemade jams. It was such a tasty event that the entire Finishing School crew headed out there to join in on the fun. I was able to capture a short interview with Matias Viegener, one of the members of Fallen Fruit. Here he talks about the collective itself and Public Fruit Jam in...

05 August, 2008 /

This was probably the best thing going during the Santa Ana Artwalk last night. I was definitely bored with the artwalk this month. My friend and I was about to leave the area when I noticed a poster that said simply "art show" along with a red arrow pointing the way. Following it led me to a bar called Proof.Sam is the co-curator of a small show inside the bar. But when he said to me that there would be live musical performances I knew...

03 August, 2008 /

I think it is safe for me to say that Lamson is Finishing School's newest favorite artist. Head over to his website for more.--James ...

03 August, 2008 /

The OC Art Blog and The Hoff Foundation are in this months Arts Spotlight in Orange Coast Magazine. Check it. ...

02 August, 2008 /

I saw a similar t-shirt on sale at the Buffalo Exchange in Long Beach today. Man, if this does not explain what I do from day to day as an artist, I don't know what does.--James ...

01 August, 2008 /

Franz Keller is a VJ/ artist living in Claremont. The piece above, HAMMERHEAD, is currently up in the Bunny Gunner's 1st Birthday show in Pomona. Incidentally, there are quite a number of O.C. artists in that show. Try to go check it out while it's still up.--James ...

01 August, 2008 /

All profoundly original art looks ugly at first. - Clement Greenberg ...

26 July, 2008 /

"What have I learned from my ordeal? I’ve learned that with tens of thousands of supporters, with hundreds of thousands of dollars, with one of the best legal teams in the US, with a crack media team, with a group of experienced fundraisers, with four years of one’s life, and with total innocence, sometimes one can slice off a piece of American justice. Which in the end means: The overwhelming majority of people ain’t gettin’ justice, and we have to keep fighting until they do." ...

26 July, 2008 /

The thing I hate the most about advertising is that it attracts all the bright, creative and ambitious young people, leaving us mainly with the slow and self-obsessed to become our artists.. Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little. — Banksy ...

26 July, 2008 /

Enid Baxter Blader, Local 909er (2008) I haven't visited Orange Lounge in awhile, so today I decided to head down to South Coast Plaza to see their show, Signals: A Video Showcase. Signals is a series of three thematic exhibitions that highlight OCMA's video art collection. Currently up is Wordplay, dealing with artists engaged with the written and spoken words.Part three of the exhibition will begin on July 26. Titled California Scenarios, it features videos by Jeremy Blake, Mungo Thomson, Nicole Antebi, Enid Baxter Blader, and...

20 July, 2008 /

It's that time again. This Saturday night the Santiago Art District will be hosting another art walk. There will be live bands and DJ's. Get out there and support your scene. ...

18 July, 2008 /

Mrs. OC Art Blog and I are currently in Seattle. Today we had a chance to walk through the Olympic Sculpture Park. I think we're in Seattle the one week a year it's sunny and 80 degrees, it's beautiful. The next few days will be spent at the SAM and the Henry and of course some gallery visits. Enjoy: ...

16 July, 2008 /