This Week: Art Walk & Copro Gallery

  •   Facebook page: Krampus at Art Walk (12/12)
  •   Facebook page: Krampus at Copro Gallery (12/14)

12/12: KRAMPUS AT DOWNTOWN ART WALK

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2013
Artwalk 7-10pm
Krampus appearance 8pm-9pm (approximately)
Location:
 Krampus departs Art Walk Lounge (634 S. Spring) at approximately 8pm, heads to The Hive Gallery (729 S Spring St)  and back.
Krampus info:  Email

On Thursday, December 12, LA’s monthly Downtown Art Walk will be overrun by a  pack of homegrown Krampuses, the horned and furry yuletide devil who accompanies St. Nicholas on his rounds in alpine countries.

This European-style Krampus walk will be the first of its  kind in the Western US and feature original suits created over the previous year by the Krampus Los Angeles Troupe.  The public Krampus run or walk — Krampuslauf — is part of a centuries-old tradition, and Krampus LA organizers respect and adhere to that working model. At  these events, Krampuses take to the streets or other public areas waving switches, rattling chains and bells  and otherwise  playfully menacing onlookers with the threat of “punishment” for the “sins” of the previous year.  (NOTE: Krampus focuses his attention almost exclusively on thrill-seeking adults rather than children. Children presented by their parents may be greeted, but never frightened.)

This year’s beastly  galumphing will be accompanied by a small marching musical ensemble — Free Range Orkestar substituting authentic Austrian folk music for their usual Balkan repertoire.

St. Nicholas will also be along to bestow some friendly blessings and goodies.

COMING IN COSTUME? PLEASE NOTE:

All costumed participants joining us for the first time, must be at  (The Art Walk Lounge) 634 S. Spring before 8pm.  There, they will check in with a volunteer, providing guidelines for successful participation

  • DO’s
  • OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS
  • REMAIN IN CHARACTER
  • BE PLAYFULLY FRIGHTENING
  • USE SWITCHES WITH LIGHT TOUCH
  • USE SWITCHES ONLY ON BACK AND REAR OF LEGS
  • HYDRATE & VENTILATE
  • STAY WITH THE GROUP AND MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT
  • ASK FOR HELP WHEN NECESSARY
  • KEEP VALUABLES AND PERSONAL ITEMS SECURE
  • POSE FOR PICS
  • WEAR SENSIBLE FOOTWEAR WHEN POSSIBLE
  • BE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE & PROPERTY
  • USE THE HELP OF WRANGLERS WHEN POSSIBLE
  • DONT’s

  • TALK (KRAMPUS ONLY GROWLS)
  • USE SWITCHES ON THE UPPER BODY
  • ENGAGE WITH CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTAL ENCOURAGEMENT
  • ENGAGE WITH LESS-THAN ENTHUSIASTIC SPECTATORS
  • BE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE WITH WOMEN
  • TAUNT OR BE CONFRONTATIONAL WITH PEOPLE, PETS, DRIVERS
  • VEER OFF FROM THE GROUP
  • LEAVE TRASH OR DEBRIS ON THE STREETS
  • IF SOMEONE IS VERY FEARFUL OF YOU, DON’T MAKE IT WORSE! GIVE THEM SPACE
  • 12/14: KRAMPUS AT COPRO GALLERY

  • “NAUGHTY OR NICE” GROUP EXHIBITION WITH KRAMPUS L.A.
    Art Opening with Performance

copro-webflyer 

COPRO GALLERY – Bergamot Station Arts Complex
Saturday December 14, 2013
Opening reception: 8:00 – 11:30 p.m
Krampus LA Performance 9:30-10:00 p.m. (time approximate)
Exhibit runs through January 4, 2014
2525 Michigan Ave , Unit T5, Santa Monica , CA 90404
Gallery phone: 310-829-2156
Krampus LA contact email.  Copro Gallery email.

FREE!

RSVP on Facebook and see which of your friends may be going.

Copro Gallery celebrates the holidays with with “Naughty Or Nice,” a group exhibition exploring the darker meanings of St Nick’s nocturnal spying, his secret list, and its voyeuristic delight in hidden pleasures, pains, and — the punishments they bring. Saint Nick’s darker, punitive side,  the KRAMPUS, will not only grace gallery walls, but manifest in hot-blooded, bestial form, brandishing switches and and herding gallery patrons outdoors into his infernal habitat. There, amid a smoldering jumble of cages, bones, and screaming children, the Krampus shambles through the inscrutable tasks of eternal perdition, rattling chains, snarling, and otherwise presenting himself  at his most hellishly photogenic.

Indoors the perils and delights of the season will be represented in a stellar exhibition of artwork curated by Albert Cuellar and Copro Gallery.

Exhibiting artists include:

Anthony Ausgang
Al Guerrero
Al Ridenour
Big Toe
Bill Rude
Bob Dob
Bob Lizarraga
Brian Smith
Casey Weldon
Chantal Menard
Chet Zar
Christy Kane
Church of Type
Ckirk
CONE
Gris Grimly
Erik Alos
Eric Richardson
James Naccarato
James P. Scott
Jason Hadley
Jason Snyder
Jeff McMillan
Jennifer Korsen
Jim Balsam
Karen Hsiao
Lorena California
Louie Metz
Luke Cheuh
Mackie Osborne
Marcel Dejure
Marcus Schaeffer
Matt Gordon
Misery
Miso
Nathan Spoor
Nora Keyes
Redd Walitzki
Rich Polysorbate
Rick Zar
Robin Red
Rudy Fig
Ryan Heshka
Sarabeth Schedeen
Spy Emerson
Tim Burton
Travis Louie
Xiau Fong Wee

AND MORE…!

Staging the outdoor Krampus tableau in elaborate hand-crafted suits and masks are members of  KRAMPUS L.A., the first and only Krampus troupe in the Western United States.

Many of the troupe’s members were involved in the costumed buffoonery and public spectacles perpetrated  by the CACOPHONY SOCIETY.

Among the Society’s more transgressive and theatrical productions were the scenes of horror depicted in their occasional Halloween house of horrors, “The Museum of Mental Decay.

Photos and artifacts from the “Museum” are featured below:

Museum of Mental Decay (Museum display)
Photo: Jon Alloway

 

Saturday: THE KRAMPUS BALL

ACHTUNG!

EARLY SHOW!  8PM-12AM. DOORS 7:30. EARLY ARRIVAL ENCOURAGED. THIS EVENT IS EXPECTED TO SELL OUT.

 NOTE: VENUE CHANGE AS OF 12/5.

ball-webflyerWith the creation of LA’s first Krampus troupe, our city’s notoriously naughty residents are no longer safe from the seasonal menace presented by St. Nick’s punishing henchman. Tonight you are invited to seek safety in the cozy old-country charm of an old-worldly Craftsman ballroom.  To add a little authenticity to our celebrations, we have invited the Bavarian music and dance group,G.T.E.V. D’OBERLANDLER to present genuine Schuhplattler dances. Along with this shoe-slapping folk dance, they’ll pick out tunes on a musical array of cowbells, accordion, and the awesome 10’ alpenhorn.

For those who prefer their music a bit more modern, we offer a diabolical synthesis  of the grandaddy of all synth bands, KRAMPWERK a Krampus-friendly version of  Kraftwerk brought to the stage by composer, performer, and impresario EGO PLUM.  A film composer, and collaborator with artists including David J, Frank Black, Gidget Gein, and Genesis P. Orridge, Ego Plum is perhaps best known as the mastermind behind the Ebola Music Orchestra: a 10-piece audio/visual ensemble known for its herky-jerky cartoon-inspired sound.

Another musical treat is SANTA KLAUS NOMI, really just a pet name for a specially commissioned Krampus-themed set by the Nomi-esuqe post-punk glam band TIMUR AND THE DIME MUSEUM. This highly theatrical ensemble is fronted by Timur, “the extravagantly transgressive tenor” (LA Times) from Kazakhstan. The band has appeared on America’s Got Talent, Redcat Theater, Prototype Festival, Joe’s Pub, Miami Light Project, and LAX 2013 Festival, among many others.  They will be joined by the Klaus Nomi key collaborator KRISTIAN HOFFMAN, who has also contributed some of the original songs, which the band will premiere tonight.

A brief, but surely memorable appearance will also also be made by postmodern pop/porn star ACTUALLY HUIZENGA, who ever since 2007 has been inextricably linked to Krampus thanks to her earwormy viral video Krampus Christmas.

And our final bit of musical fury will be unleashed by members of the perpetually cartoonish and surreal RADIOACTIVE CHICKEN HEADS (along with guest vocalists fromHAUNTED GARAGE and ROSEMARY’S BILLYGOAT) transforming themselves into Lux and Ivy’s shaggier and hornier alpine cousins, THE KRAMPS performing “bad music for bad children.” THE KRAMPS performing “bad music for bad children.”

Presiding over night of Teutonic tomfoolery will be “FESTMEISTER HANS” a.k.a. John Baumgaertner, comedian, singer, actor and emcee for the oldest and largest Oktoberfest in California at Alpine Village.

In amongst all this festivity, visitors must also be prepared for a switch-wielding visit by the elaborately costumed beasties of KRAMPUS LA whose punishments, sweet as they may be, may also be offset by some treats from St. Nicholas.

Doors: 7:30pm
Show: 8pm-12am

Highland Park Ebell Club
131 S Ave 57
Los Angeles, CA 90042

Admission: $18

More info:  email

RSVP or see which of your friends are going on Facebook.

stiegl-web

Krampus Ball Changes Venue

Due to overwhelming response to this event, we’ve been obliged to move the event to a larger venue and have ended advance ticket sales. We apologize for any inconvenience, but think you will enjoy the ballroom charm of our new locale in Highland Park.

Highland Park Ebell Club
131 S Avenue 57, Los Angeles, California 90042
(It’s near a Metro stop)

WE EXPECT THIS EVENT TO SELL OUT AND ADVISE EARLY ARRIVAL!!!

PLEASE help spread the word!!

Below is the new venue:

Krampus Ballroom

A Krampus Ballroom

More Art for Copro Krampus Show

The artist Ckirk recently blogged about his piece completed for our upcoming Krampus art exhibition (“Naughty or Nice”) at Copro Gallery.

krampus_apokolips

He writes:

I am very happy to announce that I finished my contribution to “Naughty or Nice” that will be held at Copro Gallery during “Krampus LA”. There are a ton of artists exhibiting including Chet Zar, Bob Dobb, Luke Cheu, Travis Louie, and even Tim Burton! Anyway, I had a very short deadline to get this piece painted. I pretty much went non stop until it was complete. Now I just have to let the oil dry for a few days and then get it shipped to the gallery.

I think I will title the piece “Ckirk As Krampus The Christmas Demon” or something like that. I haven’t decided yet. The piece measures 24 x 30″ and was painted with oil on gallery profile canvas. I didn’t want to paint a normal representation of Krampus. I figured I’d try to think outside the box instead. Since I have been painting futuristic space gods of destruction in my recent “Apoko – Lips” oils, I thought it may be cool to try to translate the Christmas demon’s appearance into my recent theme. I’m very proud of the result of my labors. I’m looking forward to learning how people receive my re-imagined Krampus.

 

St. Martin’s Day and Nußmärtel

Last night was the eve of St. Martin’s. In certain regions of Germany there is a cousin of Krampus who greets children with enticing handfuls of nuts and sweets AND SWITCHES on that night.  He is called the “Nut Martin or Marty” or “Nußmärtel” There’s also a “Pelzmärtel” (“Furs-” or “Beatings-Martin” depending on which etymology you trust). Other less frightful customs involving decorative lantern parades and roast geese.

All of this posted on our Krampus Los Angeles Facebook “Interest” page just now.  We also have an interactive discussion group on FB too.

1459084_258278354326144_1533097873_n