Voice 1156 is proud to present LA Women
Featured artists:
Estevan Oriol, Mr. Cartoon, Tony Ward, Patrick Hoelck, and Gregory Bojorquez.
September 1 - 29
Opening reception Friday September 1, 2006
4:00pm - 11:00pm
Music provided by UNITE (Tribe of Kings)
Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday 11am - 6pm;
Saturday - Monday by appointment
(619)235-6922
Click on the thumbnails to view exhibition and opening night photos.
PRESS RELEASE
It is not hard to believe that the theme of women is one which many male artists enjoy portraying.
Throughout the centuries of art, women have been the subject of choice in every possible medium
from painting and sculpture to photography, film, and even the skin-art of tattooing.
LA Women is a celebratory depiction of the ladies of Los Angeles as perceived by established
photographers Estevan Oriol, Gregory Bojorquez, Patrick Hoelck, Tony Ward and tattoo artist Mr.
Cartoon. Though the artists share the same theme, each has his own personal style and intent in the
production of the artwork. Oriol and Bojorquez have their roots in photographing their native L.A.
environment—capturing their homies, lady friends and the streets of their communities from a raw
and realistic angle. Hoelck has cemented a career in photographing and directing women actresses
and models. Ward, one of the first male supermodels, gained inspiration and learned from world
renowned photographers and has since established himself behind the lens. Mr. Cartoon believes
women are classic and timeless subject matter – a view shared by his artistic comrades as well as
the many Hip-Hop moguls and celebrities whom he tattoos.
LA Women marks VOICE 1156's second year anniversary. VOICE 1156 is honored to be the
second gallery space to display this collaboration of photographic and print rendered representations
of the female form. LA Women was first exhibited at the Lab 101 Gallery in Culver City,
where it received enthusiastic reviews from both male and female attendees.
ARTIST BIOS
ESTEVAN ORIOL
Estevan Oriol was first introduced into the entertainment world of Los Angeles in the late 80's
by working as a bouncer at various Hip Hop clubs and Hollywood hotspots. Through the connections
he created at the clubs during these years, Oriol found himself introduced to rap groups
such as House of Pain and Cypress Hill. In 1995 Oriol was officially immersed in the Hip Hop
community serving his Soul Assassin brothers, Cypress Hill, as their tour manager, a job that
lasted 13 years. While he was on tour with the group in the late 90's, his father, who was also
a photographer, inspired Oriol to document the happenings of life on the road. When he was off
tour, Oriol captured life in his native L.A. neighborhoods. Oriol further proceeded to influence
the lowrider car show scene with his talent. His hard work, effort and natural skill allowed him
to become one of the most sought after photographers of the Hip Hop community and beyond.
Oriol has no doubt established himself as an artist with his photographic contributions to magazines
such as The Source, XXL, FHM, Details, Vibe, The Fader, and Rolling Stone. He is CEO of Joker Clothing
Company, and directs music videos for group such as Cypress Hill, Linkin Park, and Blink 182. Oriol
is currently collaborating with Mr. Cartoon on the documentary film INK, with the intent of telling
the story of the real lifestyle of tattoo culture. On the subject of women, in regards to the LA Women
show, Oriol says he was introduced to many ladies via his affiliations with the entertainment industry
and at the many car shows he frequented. He admits that they were “accessible” because of his connections,
so he took advantage of the situation along with the cars and the culture.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
estevanoriol.com
GREGORY BOJORQUEZ
As a native of East L.A., Gregory Bojorquez has always found inspiration and subject matter in
his community. He began photographing the neighborhoods of East L.A. in order to document
the reality of the life and death extremes of the streets. This lead Bojorquez to create The
Eastsiders, a photo essay on happenings, character portraits, and streets scenes all framed by
the backdrop of East Los Angeles. The L.A. Weekly newspaper caught mention of Bojorquez and
began publishing photos from his Eastsiders project, which consequently turned into a long
term job photographing cover shoots and features for the newspaper. His work has also been
published in L.A. Magazine and the automotive lifestyle magazine DUB, where he has
contributed for six years, shooting superstar athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Hip-Hop icons such
as Ice Cube and every imaginable Hollywood entertainer.
In regards to the subject of LA Women, Bojorquez finds the ladies of his native town interesting,
sexy, or both – equally loved and respected by the artist. Women are a reoccurring theme
in his photographs; evident in some of his spontaneous projects such as Car Show Girls and
Office Girls. All of Bojorquez's subject matter is captured from a realistic and natural
viewpoint. Bojorquez has long been inspired by his hometown, the men and women who
surround him, and the world of art that he has been appreciating since childhood fieldtrips to
LACMA and MOCA. “I never thought I would become a photographer, although I always knew I
wanted to do something creative,” the artist says. He appreciates and implements the inspiration
and influence from the creative friends that surround him – photographers, fashion designers,
painters, tattoo artists and car customizing gurus.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
mugshotphotography.com
MR. CARTOON
Los Angeles native Mister Cartoon entered into the prevalent world of graffiti in the 80's. In just
over two decades since his adventures as a street artist, Cartoon has accomplished a great deal
— most markedly for establishing himself as one of the most well known tattoo artists. The style
of art Cartoon utilizes was invented in the prison system and popularized on the streets. He
spent years studying the technical rhythm of tattooing, designing patterns, and understanding
skin and machines of the trade. As a member of the Soul Assassins family of artists, Cartoon is
also a significant artistic contributor to the Hip Hop community, designing everything from
skin-art and album covers to the trunks of low rider cars. Thanks to the artistic recognition and
respect he has received, Cartoon has exhibited art in Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo and London.
Currently Cartoon is in collaboration with Estevan Oriol working on the documentary film INK,
which reveals the reality of tattoo lifestyle and culture. When referring to his medium of choice,
Cartoon says, “skin is the only canvas that bleeds, moves, talks shit, and art directs the art
director.” With an appreciation for classic icons, Cartoon's style combines his personal twist with
timeless subjects such as street life, religious icons, and of course, women. For the LA Women
show, Cartoon has created four new canvases in addition to some of his classic prints.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
mistercartoon.com
jokerbrand.com
sastudiosglobal.com
TONY WARD
As a very accomplished male model, Tony Ward understands the dual roles of both photographer
and subject. Teaching himself the basics, Ward began his journey by photographing his
friends and experimenting with self-portraiture. Throughout his successful occupation as a
model, Ward has had the privilege to work with and gain insight from some of the masters of
fashion photography. He focuses his photographic imagery on personal passions: erotic art,
fashion, and design. Ward has worked as a photographer for magazines such as FLAUNT,
contributing his vast knowledge of the fashion world and capturing his own creative perspective.
Ward is constantly inspired by his worldwide travels and is always seeking to find hidden perfection
in imperfection.
The photographs exhibited by Ward in the LA Women show evolved through an experimental
method. He used a 4x5 camera for the first time, with much appreciated assistance from Greg
Bojorquez, and photographed his model utilizing a technique called ?light painting.' This
process requires the photographer to work in a blacked out room with the shutter locked and
using a pop flash. Though Ward stumbled a bit in the dark and found the procedure to be quite
a guessing game, he said, “It seemed to work.” (Yes, we agree, it definitely seems to work.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
tony-ward.com
PATRICK HOELCK
Patrick Hoelck is known for photographs that resonate with a signature “darkness” – a
darkness of reality that does not lie for or distort it's subjects. He intends for his work to show
his subjects as themselves, while leaving his mark at the same time. Hoelck aspires to show the
strength of his models for who they are as an individual. He disregards celebrity status or
notoriety, as he believes an individual's ability to generate sexuality, glamour, and attitude
depends on his or her own pride and self-respect. Though Hoelck's work may be described as
dark, his intention is to enlighten his viewers by showing them reality in a way that may be
uncomfortable to some, but consequently uncovers a certain hidden truth.
Hoelck is most notably recognized for his portraits of actors, actresses, and models as well as
for his direction of music videos, advertisements, and commercials. The work Hoelck has
included in the LA Women show straddles a thin line between fashion and fetish. He asserts
that the produced blend of fashion and fetish-styled photographs are not pre-meditated, rather
they came about naturally. The models seem to pose spontaneously in environments such as
hotel rooms and glow beautifully under natural light. Hoelck feels his positive reputation
among models and those he photographs is because he “is not a scumbag photographer or
weirdo.” He assures all that, “I had a sex life way before I had a camera!”
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:
patrickhoelck.com
LA Women is made possible through the patronage of the following sponsors:
Full-time sponsor FLORABELLA
Full-service florist: weddings and events
1732 Madison Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
Phone 619.574.7673 Fax 619.574.1130
Full-time sponsor UNSCENE
Sound system provided by:
Voice 1156 is a collective of individuals who are passionate about innovative fine art and its potential for expanding the San Diego arts community.
The Voice 1156 Gallery exhibits painting, sculpture, installations, and photography with featured artists changing monthly.
The Voice 1156 Studio provides a space for artists to congregate and collaborate.