GRworks Celebrates Spring with CANLOVE

GRworks is pleased to announce its next show, “Bloom,” showcasing a uniquely inspired collection of CANLOVE’s signature work: recycled spray paint cans. Opening Reception will be held on Friday, April 5th from 6 - 10 p.m. at GRspace (114 W. 4th St. Los Angeles, CA 90013). The show runs through April 20th.

 

Cycles are a central theme in the work of CANLOVE, founded by artists DJ Neff and Paul Ramirez. Their new series features 91 distinctive metalifora handcrafted to reflect every day of the spring cycle, the brightness of their colors influenced by the cycle of the moon. In addition, 12 colorful heart canscapes have been created, spreading love to every month of the year. 

 

“For this show, we are focusing on some of love’s most enduring symbols,” explain Neff and Ramirez. “We believe anything can be beautiful when you look at it with love - an underlying theme throughout our work - and this spring, we pay homage to a new season and a new year of love and growth.”  

 

CANLOVE’s process starts when empty spray cans are popped open. Expelling the gas and allowing the residual paint inside to dry creates complex patterns and textures revealed only when the cans are unfurled and sculpted. 

 

Neff and Ramirez have become internationally renowned for their meticulously hand-cut and hand-painted floral spray can sculptures. The two met during turns as Art Director/Designer and Cognitive Anthropologist at ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, respectively. They eventually left advertising and founded CANLOVE to collect and upcycle as many spray cans as possible (13,000 to date) into works of visual art. As one article put it, their mission is to “turn their culture's detritus into something beautiful.” 

 

“The spray can is the medium in which street artists founded their style,” concludes Gennie Rim, founder of GRworks. “CANLOVE’s flowers and sculptural pieces are unexpected, and an intriguing choice that I found innovative and beautiful at the same time."

 

A portion of proceeds will be used to support GRworks’ free monthly art workshop for kids -- Rim’s simultaneous effort to foster interest and support for youth arts in Los Angeles. The next workshop, taught by Neff and Ramirez, is scheduled for Saturday, April 13th from 1 – 3 p.m. at GRworks. For more information, please email info@GRworks.com.

 

To learn more about CANLOVE, please visit: http://www.canlove.org.

 

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/299365083526332/?ref=22