Tag: arts and culture

Lifestyle

My Macabre Adventures in 2021: A Year in Review

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on My Macabre Adventures in 2021: A Year in Review
Blogger Jennifer Vasquez of Vamp Jenn's Corner
Vamp Jenn’s Corner

For the first time on Vamp Jenn’s Corner, I’m doing a “Year in Review,” sharing highlights and thoughts on my most memorable experiences. I decided to write a reflection piece on what went on with my blog during 2021 because I’m a very nostalgic individual who frequently revisits the past (for better or worse), and I thought this retrospective could show me how I’ve grown. It’s also a wonderful way to connect with my audience and reminisce with readers. So, let’s proceed down this odd and macabre memory lane.

Continue reading “My Macabre Adventures in 2021: A Year in Review” →
Art, Travel

9 Dark Art Galleries in Los Angeles You Need to Visit

by Jennifer Vasquez12 Comments on 9 Dark Art Galleries in Los Angeles You Need to Visit
Dark art on display at Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach, California

Before the pandemic hit, I could often be found taking in the latest dark art exhibits happening local to me. It’s no surprise that in-person art events largely ceased over the past year and a half, so it’s been a while since I’ve set foot in a gallery. Now with many Covid-19 restrictions lifting in the City of Angels, spaces are reopening their doors, welcoming patrons to admire the macabre works of gifted artists up close. For those whose artistic tastes lean towards the grotesque, bizarre and otherworldly, then the following dark art galleries in Los Angeles, California, will tickle your fancy. I’ve paid a visit to most of these establishments and look forward to returning soon to cover future art shows. Here is a selection of L.A. dark art galleries you need to visit if you find yourself in the area!

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Art

Spotlight On Chet Zar & the Dark Art Society

by Jennifer Vasquez10 Comments on Spotlight On Chet Zar & the Dark Art Society
Dark artist Chet Zar

They’re the creatures that plague your nightmares; the monsters hiding under the bed; the shadows looming in dim corners; other-worldly entities that transcend time and space; demons that beg to come out and play. For more than two decades, artist Chet Zar has been rendering these beings that are bred in the imagination and subconscious. His creations populate the realm of Dark Art, a movement that exudes no fear when it comes to embracing the macabre, grotesque and uncanny.

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Art, Literature, music, occult

Spotlight On Joseph Vargo: Gothic Fantasy Artist, Composer & Writer

by Jennifer Vasquez15 Comments on Spotlight On Joseph Vargo: Gothic Fantasy Artist, Composer & Writer
Artwork by Joseph Vargo
Artwork by Joseph Vargo

Mournful spirits, brooding gargoyles, blood-thirsty vampires, nightmarish beasts and seductive sirens are a few of the creatures that prowl the creations of Joseph Vargo. The artist has been honing his dark craft for decades and is renowned for the gothic fantasy imagery he portrays. Be prepared to step into a world where pariahs thrive, and the dead pulsate with life.  

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Art, Events, occult, Spiritual

Steven Johnson Leyba’s “FIRE” Exhibit & Ritual at The Dark Art Emporium

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on Steven Johnson Leyba’s “FIRE” Exhibit & Ritual at The Dark Art Emporium

Steven Johnson Leyba's FIRE art exhibit
Steven Johnson Leyba’s FIRE art exhibit

He was ordained as a reverend into the Church of Satan by Anton Szandor LaVey in 1992, has placed curses on politicians and corporations, and caused media mayhem when, during his Apache Whiskey Rite as a political protest, he allowed himself to be anally penetrated by a woman wearing a harness with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s strapped to it. Continue reading “Steven Johnson Leyba’s “FIRE” Exhibit & Ritual at The Dark Art Emporium” →

Art, Events

Blake Armstrong’s “Morpheus” Solo Exhibit at Lethal Amounts

by Jennifer Vasquez7 Comments on Blake Armstrong’s “Morpheus” Solo Exhibit at Lethal Amounts

Blake Armstrong's "Morpheus" exhibit at Lethal Amounts
Blake Armstrong’s “Morpheus” exhibit at Lethal Amounts

For his first West Coast solo exhibit, artist Blake Armstrong debuted “Morpheus,” a collection that delves into a dark, ethereal world that exists beyond consciousness. It’s only fitting that the opening reception coincided with the rise of the full moon on January 10th—a peak time to manifest dreams into waking reality. The series, which is named after the Greek god of sleep, invites onlookers to experience otherworldly visions and confront beings hidden in the deepest parts of our psyches. Continue reading “Blake Armstrong’s “Morpheus” Solo Exhibit at Lethal Amounts” →

Art

The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Angel Dust”

by Jennifer Vasquez8 Comments on The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Angel Dust”

From left to right: "Fields" and "Fed The Lions II " by Iva Troj
From left to right: “Fields” and “Fed The Lions II ” by Iva Troj

This past weekend, The Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach, California, introduced its latest exhibit, “Angel Dust,” featuring Rachael Bridge, Iva Troj and Meagan “Magpie” Rodgers. Each artist created a series of new pieces that collectively evoke a realm of morbid enchantment. Continue reading “The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Angel Dust”” →

Art, Events

Vincent Castiglia’s Blood Sacrifice

by Jennifer Vasquez4 Comments on Vincent Castiglia’s Blood Sacrifice

Vincent Castiglia Autopsy of the Soul
Vincent Castiglia’s “Autopsy of the Soul” at The Dark Art Emporium

When we think of putting one’s ‘blood, sweat and tears’ into something, it’s usually intended figuratively. Vincent Castiglia, though, takes the phrase to an entirely literal and ethereal level. Creating pieces that draw from his own blood, he gives life to the subjects he imagines. They are no longer renderings on paper, but beings that possess and manifest a human lifeforce.

The Dark Art Emporium in Long Beach, California, is offering the public a rare opportunity to see Castiglia’s art up close. Recently, the gallery held an opening reception for the exhibit titled “Autopsy of the Soul” & Retrospective, which features more than 20 works. To lay eyes on the pieces was, like the art, surreal. Continue reading “Vincent Castiglia’s Blood Sacrifice” →

Art, Events

Honoring the Most Notorious Gothic Families of TV

by Jennifer Vasquez10 Comments on Honoring the Most Notorious Gothic Families of TV

Mystic Museum's Family Goals Art Show
Mystic Museum’s Family Goals Art Show

The Mystic Museum has launched its second art show of the year and it’s absolutely delightful — “Family Goals: Tribute to Gothic Families of TV!” The exhibit celebrated the films and 1960s TV sitcom of “The Addams Family” and “The Munsters.” Opening night was tons of fun and there was an incredible turnout. Continue reading “Honoring the Most Notorious Gothic Families of TV” →

Art

The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Prone to Exaggeration”

by Jennifer Vasquez5 Comments on The Dark Art Emporium Presents “Prone to Exaggeration”

"Prone to Exaggeration" at The Dark Art Emporium
“Prone to Exaggeration” at The Dark Art Emporium

In the gallery’s latest exhibit, The Dark Art Emporium presents the works of three artists – Rick “Dienzo” Blanco, Bob Doucette and Richard J. Frost. “Prone to Exaggeration” is an impressive collection of paintings that gives insight into the dark imaginings of each of its creators.
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