Oddly enough Jessicka and I went to the same high school in Florida but we only recently met in Los Angeles. It was fate that I'd be the first person to exhibit her work in my show. For the past 16 years she's been a full time successful musician fronting the bands Scarling. and Jack Off Jill touring the US and the UK several times over. It was not until she took a break last year to get married that she was able to devote time to her first passion painting. Influenced by the absurd, noise rock, culinary delights, John Waters and Goth and gay iconography, she paints in a number of mediums. Her anthropomorphic baked goods seem to posess a childlike innocence with a glimpse of fear in their eyes of inevitably being devoured by those who gaze upon them.
Los Angeles, April 10 2008 – Actor Daniel Franzese and World of Wonder Productions founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato today announced Franzese’s group art show depARTed, a continuation of their successful WOW Storefront Gallery joint ventures, which previously included the wildly popular HOLLYWEEN: Hollywood Vs. Halloween art show.
Inspired by the death of a co-star, Daniel Franzese curates depARTed, celebrating stars who have died before their time. The show opens Friday April 25 at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery, from 8PM – midnight. The show will kick off with a cocktail party hosted by Daniel Franzese, and will feature music, the artists and several surprise guests and performances.
The show serves as a remembrance for those who inspired before they expired, by bringing together 30 artists to contribute a work based on someone who inspired them but died before their time. Actor/curator Daniel Franzese (Bully, Mean Girls, Kill Theory) was moved by the death of his Bully co-star Brad Renfro when he came upon the idea.
“I really wanted to find a way to shine a light on this morbid subject” says Daniel about the process of coordinating the opening. “It’s my belief to try and celebrate the life of an inspiring person and not focus on their passing. I know that is the way I choose to remember Brad - as a great artist.”
Some of the artists involved in the exhibit have created pieces which incorporate the subjects’ life's work into the piece, such as a portrait of Pro Skateboarder and Kids actor Harold Hunter painted onto a skate deck. Franzese comments, "I knew Harold pretty well when I lived in New York City. When I saw the way he was honored in this piece it moved me… I knew at that moment this show was going to be something special. Some of the pieces in the show might be disturbing or cause controversy but I think that is what you get when you are dealing with the subject of death. Especially one that is untimely."
Works that will be included boast famous personalities like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean andAnna Nicole Smith, to notable figures like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., to artists like Keith Haring and Isabella Blow. Lesser-known inspirational figures like guitarist Randy Rhodes and Boys Don't Cry subject Brandon Teena are also featured. Confirmed artists include but are not limited to: Ron English, KRK Ryden, Ken Dougherty, Corey Smith, Bryden Lando, Nathan Meier, Jason Mercier, Morgan Slade, Craig Robinson, Matos and Jessicka.
The World of Wonder Storefront Gallery is located at
6650 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California 90028
depARTed opens Friday April 25 with a cocktail party from 8PM – midnight.
Hello Jessicka. Just sitting here going through uber. Was thinking about you the other day wondering if we'd ever hear from you again. hope all is well.
Wait... Hold the F* phone... Jack off Jill! I had no idea. My heart just skipped a beat, I knew nothing about the band but was addicted in high school. Oh gawd... I must find my old cd's now.
