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Upperplayground News

Opening Reception: Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery

Mark McCloud’s exhibition “Take It Acid Is” opened Friday, June 26th at Fifty24SF Gallery in San Francisco. The large crowd viewed a collection of blotter art, with many in town take in take in “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead” in Santa Clara just a day later. The perfectly timed show, featured actual blotter paper from “The Institute of Illegal Images”, the largest private collection of blotter art in the world.

Recognized worldwide as the preeminent collector of LSD art, McCould stated, “This show focuses on the blotter art that I obtained or created through my 50 years of love for The Grateful Dead .”

In addition to a large selection of forensic photographic prints provided by BlotterBarn.com, the Golden Road Gallery was in attendance with an extensive collection of Vanity Blotter for collectors to purchase.

Check out select shots from the opening below. “Take It Acid Is” is currently on view at Fifty24SF Gallery.

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MARS-1 To Release Limited Edition Print at Upper Playground

Renowned artist MARS-1 will release a limited edition print of his painting “Stratus Nimbus Cumulus” at Upper Playground. Featuring Mars-1′s signature style of surreal distortions and extraterrestrial looking landscapes, the prints will be signed and numbered by the artist. Available this Wednesday at Noon PST along side Mars-1 Sculptures and Silver Pendant at upperplayground.com.

“Stratus Nimbus Cumulus” print. (Based on the 2014 painting from the “Momentum” exhibition, Space Gallery in Denver, CO)
- Limited Edition of 100
- Signed and Numbered by the Artist
- Paper size: 35 inches wide x 35 inches high
- Image size: 32 inches wide x 32 inches high

 MARS 1 To Release Limited Edition Print at Upper Playground  upper playground stratus nimbus cumulus momentum exhibition Mars 1 mars one limited edition print FIFTY24SF Gallery

 MARS 1 To Release Limited Edition Print at Upper Playground  upper playground stratus nimbus cumulus momentum exhibition Mars 1 mars one limited edition print FIFTY24SF Gallery

 MARS 1 To Release Limited Edition Print at Upper Playground  upper playground stratus nimbus cumulus momentum exhibition Mars 1 mars one limited edition print FIFTY24SF Gallery

About The Artist
Mario Martinez (aka MARS-1) paints from a penetrating perspective of great depth. Viewers are drawn into his imaginative compositions, overflowing with colorful geometric and organic shapes, layered to form unique patterns and textures.

The artist signature style of vast, abstracted, quasi-extraterrestrial looking landscapes feature imagery of surreal distortions, contained within spherically convex transparent bubbles. Skillfully combining optical color blending with perspective line work, his painting techniques result in very three-dimensional forms, which echo the anatomy of architecture, and microcosmic structures of biology.

These 3-D qualities transcend into his sculptural work, as well. Mars-1’s distinctly individual aesthetic is not easily compared to the vision of his contemporaries or artists from past movements. His constantly evolving process continues to expand with each new series of work, seemingly beyond the reaches of even his own awareness.

Themes explored range from very scientific to more esoteric phenomena. From theoretical physics, metamorphosis and collective consciousness, to ufology and examining possibilities of otherworldly principles, the relative link between physical and life sciences are applied throughout. Transitional energies, natural multiplicity, helixes and spontaneous biological occurrences all come together, forming imagery with hypotheses beyond the scope of modern technology.

Mini Sculptures by MARS-1 at Upper Playground

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

Upper Playground in association with Fifty24SF Gallery will release this Wednesday a special collection of Metal Cold Casting Mini Sculptures by artist MARS-1.  The limited edition sculptures are based on works shown at MARS-1′s 2014 solo show “Toward A Distant Dawn” and is signed & numbered by the artist.

These are only available as a set with two color options (Black Series or Bronze Series), complete with four Metal Cold Casting Mini Sculptures, each with a certificate of authenticity. A limited number of these sculpture sets will be available at upperplayground.com starting NOON (12PM PST) this Wednesday, June 24th, 2015.

Metal Cold Casting Mini Sculptures
- Metal cold casting technique
- Limited edition of 24 sets
- Each piece comes with certificate of authenticity
- Signed & numbered by the artist
- Measurement: 3-inches diameter

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

 Mini Sculptures by MARS 1 at Upper Playground  upper playground toward a distant dawn mini sculpture metal cold casting Mars 1 mars one FIFTY24SF Gallery Collectible Sculptures

About The Artist:
Mario Martinez (aka MARS-1) paints from a penetrating perspective of great depth. Viewers are drawn into his imaginative compositions, overflowing with colorful geometric and organic shapes, layered to form unique patterns and textures.

The artist signature style of vast, abstracted, quasi-extraterrestrial looking landscapes feature imagery of surreal distortions, contained within spherically convex transparent bubbles. Skillfully combining optical color blending with perspective line work, his painting techniques result in very three-dimensional forms, which echo the anatomy of architecture, and microcosmic structures of biology.

These 3-D qualities transcend into his sculptural work, as well. Mars-1’s distinctly individual aesthetic is not easily compared to the vision of his contemporaries or artists from past movements. His constantly evolving process continues to expand with each new series of work, seemingly beyond the reaches of even his own awareness.

Themes explored range from very scientific to more esoteric phenomena. From theoretical physics, metamorphosis and collective consciousness, to ufology and examining possibilities of otherworldly principles, the relative link between physical and life sciences are applied throughout. Transitional energies, natural multiplicity, helixes and spontaneous biological occurrences all come together, forming imagery with hypotheses beyond the scope of modern technology.

Upper Playground's 40 Days of Summer Collection

With Summer officially in full swing, Upper Playground will unveil a special collection of premium t-shirts made with 100% Pima Cotton. The ‘40 Days of Summer‘ collection will feature unique optical illusion camos to strange, experimental designs that will get you noticed at BBQs by day and pool parties by night.   With one new design revealed each day for the next 40 days, there will be plenty of options to keep you looking good for the whole summer.  Follow our official instagram @upperplayground and like us on Facebook to keep up with our latest releases.

Here’s a sneak peek of this week’s designs…

NIGHT VISION:

night vision t shirt grande Upper Playgrounds 40 Days of Summer upper playground sprinkles Salt Flats Premium Pima Cotton night vision camo 40 Days of Summer

PARTING THE SALT FLATS:

Parting the Salt Flats Premium T Shirt grande Upper Playgrounds 40 Days of Summer upper playground sprinkles Salt Flats Premium Pima Cotton night vision camo 40 Days of Summer

SPRINKLE CAMO:

Sprinkle Camo food tshirt grande Upper Playgrounds 40 Days of Summer upper playground sprinkles Salt Flats Premium Pima Cotton night vision camo 40 Days of Summer

TIME CAMO:

Time Camo Premium T Shirt grande Upper Playgrounds 40 Days of Summer upper playground sprinkles Salt Flats Premium Pima Cotton night vision camo 40 Days of Summer

 

 

 

Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery

Marc McCloud take it acid is fifty24sf upper playground jpg Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery  upper playground take it acid is santa clara San Francisco mark mccloud lsd art grateful dead FIFTY24SF Gallery acid

FIFTY24SF GALLERY in association with Upper Playground presents Mark McCloud’s “Take It Acid Is” exhibition opening Friday, June 26th at 7pm. The show features key examples of actual blotter paper from “The Institute of Illegal Images”, the largest private collection of blotter art in the world and a selection of forensic photographic prints from BlotterBarn.com.

“Take It Acid Is” coincides with Grateful Dead’s “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead” concerts June 27th and 28th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

“This show focuses on the blotter art that I obtained or created through my 50 years of love for The Grateful Dead .” – Mark McCloud

Recognized worldwide as the preeminent collector of LSD art and holding a Masters of Fine Art from UC Davis and two-time National Endowment for the Arts recipient, McCloud has been celebrated, vilified, indicted, acquitted and ultimately conscripted to the annals of psychedelic art history. Mark and his collection have been featured in Vice, National Geographic, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Cabinet, Salon, SF Weekly, SFAQ and The Bold Italic among others. He continues to acquire and preserve pristine examples of this, both global and Bay Area-centric cultural history to this day from his home in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco. The Golden Road Gallery will also be on hand the night of the opening with an extensive collection of Vanity Blotter for collectors to purchase.

“Take It Acid Is”
Opening Friday, June 26th at 7pm
Fifty24SF Gallery
218 Fillmore St. San Francisco, CA

mark mcCloud take it acid is fifty24sf gallery upper playground 007 Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery  upper playground take it acid is santa clara San Francisco mark mccloud lsd art grateful dead FIFTY24SF Gallery acid

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mark mcCloud take it acid is fifty24sf gallery upper playground 012 Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery  upper playground take it acid is santa clara San Francisco mark mccloud lsd art grateful dead FIFTY24SF Gallery acid

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mark mcCloud take it acid is fifty24sf gallery upper playground 015 Take It Acid Is by Mark McCloud at Fifty24SF Gallery  upper playground take it acid is santa clara San Francisco mark mccloud lsd art grateful dead FIFTY24SF Gallery acid