Re-Animated: Mickey Mouse, Miss Piggy, "Gravity Falls" and More Get Zombie-fied

The creative minds at Disney TV Animation -- now celebrating its 30th anniversary -- do great work. "Phineas and Ferb," "Gravity Falls," "Fish Hooks" and so many more, have been favorites of the Blogger Kids for years. But in their down time, the animators are just as creative, and every once in a while they showcase their talents via a gallery inside their Glendale headquarters.

On Tuesday night, the Disney Television Animation crew unveiled their latest display: "Re-Animated: The Zombie Show." A mix of beloved Disney characters zombified, and some original creations (and mashups) as well. Disney TV Animation opened the event -- doubling as a celebration of their 30th anniversary -- with a cocktail reception. Here are some highlights from the show:


(It's hard to tell in this photo, but Zombie Mickey is devouring another Mickey.)


(Oh, Miss Piggy, what happened?)


(The "Gravity Falls" kids do the "Thriller" with a new friend!)


("Gravity Falls" has tackled zombies on the show, so it only makes sense it would be a popular subject at this display.)


(You always knew this was how Scrooge McDuck would end up.)


(Zombie-fied "Phineas & Ferb" characters, as drawn on sandwich napkins!)


(This may be my favorite of all, and I hope they turn it into a real book. A twisted take on "Winnie the Pooh.")

"Some Kind of Monster": Spooky Art by Disney TV Animation Artists

(DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)

Not too far from the Blogger Kid's school, the newly Disney Television Animation building in Glendale houses some extremely creative folks -- so creative, in fact, that when they're not creating the shows seen on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, these artists and producers are busy creating more art.

That's the basis for "Some Kind of Monster," a fall art gallery at the Disney TV Animation building, spotlighting art from artists, execs and staff on shows like "Phineas and Ferb," "Gravity Falls," "Fish Hooks" and "TRON: Uprising."

The Blogger Kid and I had an opportunity last week to visit the Disney TV Animation offices and take a look at the spooky-inspired art during a reception for "Some Kind of Monster." Among the items were works by the creators of our two favorite animated shows: "Phineas and Ferb's" Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, as well as "Gravity Falls'" Alex Hirsh. Some pics:


Alex Hirsh of "Gravity Falls" shows off a piece inspired by his show, "The Most Terrifying Monster of All." (DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)


Povenmire and Marsh of "Phineas and Ferb." (DISNEY CHANNEL/RICK ROWELL)


Mitt Romney as Roger Doofenshmirtz, by Dan Povenmire.


"Little Monster," a tribute to Lady Gaga.



"Shut Up. Everything Is Fine," by Matt Chapman. (That's a variation of Zeus, Dipper and Mabel from 'Gravity Falls.')



"B. Flores," by Josh Parpan


"2 Ghouls for 1 Buoy."


"Sick in the Head," by Lauren Rondou.

Celebrating Design at Chinatown's Chung King Alley

Chinatown's Chung King Alley has transformed in recent years as a new generation of galleries moved in alongside the old-school antique shops and restaurants. We took the Gold Line to Chinatown on Saturday to check out the 2nd Annual Chinatown Design Night, part of the Los Angeles Design Festival.

Among the highlights that we saw, as noted by the LA Design Festival website:

Coagula Curatorial - Cartoonist Jim Caron will be hosting a book signing for his latest work “I AM NOT A TYPO.”

Fifth Floor - C-town’s resident purveyor of accoutrements for the modern life will be showcasing a new collection of letterpress and screen prints by LA artists Charlie Carroll, David Lomeli, and Leslie Ross-Robertson.

Flock Shop – Featuring the appropriately-named new collection The End is Only the Beginning, with the work of 13 participating artists from around the world.

Strangeways Academy – This collaborative graphic design studio will be opening its doors to show Sound Codes, a new collection of work by Amy Fortunato and Lee Noble.

Preen – If you missed this creative brood on the de LaB design-n-dim-sum ride, this is open house and another opportunity to check out their outstanding interior design and architecture studio.

Osceola Refetoff - Pop into this photography studio to check out a new interactive light sculpture by Leif Maginnis called ArtStrobe.

Some highlights from our night in Chinatown:


The new Exhale Unlimited gallery opens with a mission: Everything at this Saturday's exhibition came from artists who are either homeless or disabled.


At the Exhale gallery: Reps from the Waterbar LA brand of flavored waters -- among them, Apple Pie water and PB&J water -- showed off their product.


Dancers from "Versa Style" perform outside the Exhale Unlimited gallery.


The scene at Fifth Floor Gallery


Two letterpressed works by Leslie Ross-Robertson: "Pan Pacific" and "Casestudy View"


Two screenprints by David Lomeli: "Hip" and "I Love L.A."


While most of the storefronts on Chung King Road are now art galleries, Fong's (which imports Chinese artwork) remains.


The Happy Lion gallery


L.A. graffiti crew West Coasts Artists, which began back in 1985, has never had a full-fledged art exhibit -- until now. We checked out the show on Saturday during the design show; read more about it here.


"Good Times" at the West Coasts Artists show.


More art!


"Forgive me for being a hypocrite."


"America, the Greatest Nation on Earth"


"Father, Mother, Sister, Brother."


"How to Destroy LA."


Blogger Toddler 2.0 enjoys "Private Property."


"If Only You Were Better."


Performance art!


The three-prong claw!

Los Angeles, I'm Yours: An Eclectic Art Show

It's not just the title of a tune by The Decemberists. "Los Angeles, I'm Yours" -- the creation of Poketo's Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, as well as Bobby Solomon of Kitsune Noir -- is an art exhibit that showcases more than 30 artists, all demonstrating their love for our city.

"'Los Angeles, I'm Yours' tranforms the Space15Twenty Gallery into a "living art market. Filled with an eclectic mix of found objects, these vintage pieces are given new life as artists reinterpret abd reincarnate them into art," the organizers write.

The show opens on Saturday, April 24, at the Space15Twenty Gallery in Hollywood (1520 N. Cahuenga). Opening reception takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

"Los Angeles, I'm Yours," which runs through May 15, also includes a special May 1 show with music by Portugal, the Man.

LAist talks to Poketo's Ted Vadakan here.

Sunday in Downtown L.A.: Central Library, Neutra Exhibit and Philippe's

I've hit the 13 year-mark in Los Angeles (yep, the Angelino inside me is now a teenager), and coincidentally, we spent the day in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. I couldn't think of a better way of celebrating another L.A. milestone.

Maria had been wanting to check out the Central Library's current Getty Gallery exhibit, "Richard Neutra, Architect: Sketches and Drawings," so Evan and I were happy to tag along.

As with all Getty Gallery exhibits at the Library, this one is free. The show puts together a mix of travel sketches, figure drawings, building renderings and more from Neutra, who died in 1970. Renderings seen here include his designs for the Case Study Houses, as well as the drawings for projects such as Neutra's Berlin houses.




(Flickr pic by K Victoria.)

Speaking of the Central Library, there's nothing better than marveling at the second floor rotunda, and then spending some time in the Children's section. (It helps that I've got a 4-year-old with me, of course.) Not only does the children's section boast some pretty cool, Depression-era murals, but its collection of picture books is incredible (above),

Since we were downtown, we also squeezed in a trip to Philippe's for a few French dips. Here's to a lucky 13 in Los Angeles!

Celebrating TV Through Art

For its fifth anniversary, Gallery 1988: LA is showcasing "Idiot Box," the twisted takes from 100 artists on their favorite TV shows.

Above, Alex Pardee's work "S.Urkel Jerk" -- yes, a quite scary take on Urkel from "Family Matters" -- as done via ink on clayboard.

Other works include "7th Heaven and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" and takes on everything from "Jem" and "Fraggle Rock" to "Freaks and Geeks," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Small Wonder." Yes, "Small Wonder."

Opening night guests included "Saved by the Bell" star Dennis "Mr. Belding" Haskins. Yes, Mr. Belding.



"Idiot Box" continues through April 23 at Gallery 1988.

7020 Melrose Avenue Los Angeles, CA (corner of Melrose and La Brea)

"The Strategy of Penetration" and Other Religious Album Covers

After I put out a plea (via Facebook, natch) for something to do on Friday night, Chris Nichols suggested that Maria and I stop by the opening night party for "Within Heaven's Earshot: Religious Album Covers" at the Synchronicity Space gallery in East Hollywood.

Vinyl? Kitsch? Live music? Close proximity to Scoops? Sold.

And we weren't disappointed. Culled from a variety of collectors -- including Nichols himself -- I haven't seen so much kitschy vinyl since my college radio station, WNUR. At WNUR, we had an amazing collection of bizarre vinyl, all of which ended up unclassified in the "Freeform" section. I'm guessing we had some of the albums on display (actually, I know we did!)

Here is a sampling of some covers on display:


Ira North -- "If I Were a Woman"


The Good Twins -- "Have Gospel, Must Travel"


Connie Fry -- "Jesus, Use Me"


"The Battle of the Sexes: Can It Be Avoided?"


"Jack Tells It Like It Is"


Buckner Fanning, "The Strategy of Penetration" (I'll remind you, these are all real.)


"Bill & Dick"



"Within Heaven's Earshot" continues through Easter Sunday, April 12. Between now and then, the gallery plans film screenings, live music, ventriloquists and a religious collectibles auction.

Synchronicity Space
4306 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles 90029