The West Coast has it’s share of quality art museums. As for underground contemporary works, we have often found ourselves posting about 3 venues in particular: the pop-surrealism focused, ROQ LA RUE in Seattle, San Francisco-based Spoke Art, and Gallery 1988, with it’s dual locations in the Los Angeles area (Melrose and Venice). All 3 regularly venture into hosting group shows, but both Spoke Art and Gallery 1988 have a heavy lean towards pop-culture-themed exhibits. Another space that has long been on my peripheral is Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, Ca. Like the other 3, they consistently host amazing works with high-quality artists and it’s due time that we posted something about them. Since Nucleus will be hosting the opening for their new Jim Henson tribute show, “The Lovers, The Dreamers, & Me” tonight (Dec. 10th), this seems like the perfect opportunity to do so.
Sesame Street and the Muppet Show are impressive enough, but sometimes it’s easy to let the only slightly less iconic Henson projects like Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, and Dark Crystal temporarily slip the mind. It’s even easier to forget about later-in-life programs like The Storyteller, the Jim Henson Hour, and Dinosaurs or his immeasurable contributions to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Wars franchises. From Broadway to working on the debut season of Saturday Night Live, the puppeteer’s reach and contributions to American culture are vast.

For this upcoming exhibit, NUCLEUS has assembled a selection of artists who seem to be equally as varied as the figure that they are paying homage to. Names like Threadless powerhouse / Team Coco poster artist, Mike Mitchell and Disney/Don Bluth artist and Little Mermaid art-director, Mike Peraza have pieces in the exhibit. The typical mediums like paintings and sculptures will be on display, but there’s also a surprising number of paper-cut contributions (perhaps, with techniques and/or inspiration taken from the Muppet Big Book of Crafts). What is really eye-opening, however, is that, among the approx. 30 different contributors featured in the show, the works are literally coming in from around the globe. Henson‘s influence here in the states is huge, but it’s great to see that the rest of the world has been so equally touched by his genius.

If at all possible, make sure to show up to for the opening festivities tonight.
Remember… ADMISSION IS FREE!

The Details:

THE LOVERS, THE DREAMERS, AND ME
December 10, 2011 – January 2, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday December 10, 2011 (7 pm – 11 pm)

“Gallery Nucleus in Los Angeles is excited to present “The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me”, a tribute art exhibition to the late visionary, Jim Henson. Timed with the release of Disney’s The Muppets motion picture and news on a forthcoming Henson biopic, Nucleus has invited more than 30 artists to pay homage to this universally beloved visionary whose inspiring concepts and characters have impacted our culture in a monumental way. The collection will showcase a multitude of pieces complete in a wide range of mediums from a roster of professionals who are also genuine fans. Expect to see a variety of artist interpretations of the Muppets, Sesame Street, Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, and other Henson favorites.”

LOCATION/CONTACT:

GALLERY NUCLEUS

Address: 210 E Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801 · Get Directions
Phone: 626 458-7477
Website: http://www.gallerynucleus.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gallerynucleus

Opening Night Highlights:

• Hourly Raffle Prizes
• Meet exhibiting artists
• Live Holiday & Henson Tunes by Kwortet
• Complimentary cupcakes by Chwa Cupcakery
• Complimentary refreshments