Since 2007, the San Francisco-based husband and wife duo of Ernie and Cassandra Velasco have been publically showcasing their inspired sculpture work under the collective moniker of Doubleparlour.  Crafting their pieces from an epoxy clay by the name of Magic-Sculpt, the duo then finishes them off with sanding, acrylic paints, and varnish.  The sculptures themselves venture into territories that shift from whimsical to the macabre, with old-timey storybook-esque childlike figures and wild fictional creatures becoming reoccurring subjects.  Somehow there’s a nostalgic familiarity generated by much of their work, even when it’s beyond evident that they don’t entirely resemble anything else that I’ve ever seen before.  Their childlike figures, for instance, remind me of the strength and purposefulness of Henry Darger‘s infamous Vivian Girls, yet they are aesthetically very different.  Doubleparlour‘s vision is unique, yet remarkably concise and polished, so it’s a bit surprising to discover that 2 separate individuals are able to come together and work so effectively to complete their collective visions.  The Velascos close personal relationship must be the key to their ability to collaborate with such fluidity, but it’s easy to understand how working with such a connection could just as easily become a hurdle for many in their situation.  However they manage to pull it off, Doubleparlour has been an incredibly productive force in the new contemporary art world as of late.

Coming off of an impressive art exhibit at Spoke Art Gallery, as recently as July, where they showcased a large number of works alongside fellow artists, Jonas Löfgren  and Luke Cheuh, the Velascos have already managed to generate a completely new body of work.  The new exhibit, titled “Trinity,” will be on display at the Modern Eden gallery beginning tomorrow night. Read the rest of this entry →