Edwin Ushiro, a Hawaii native currently based in California, constructs lively, vibrant scenes that often depict youths in adventure (and misadventure), offering escape during the winter months for those yearning for summer sights of yesterday. The artist, who works in the film industry as a storyboard artist, production designer, visual consultant, and concept designer, carries a cinematic, dreamlike vibe through many of these scenes. With one parent from Maui and the other a native of Japan, the artist has said they he sees both cultures as an influence. Ushiro was last featured on HiFructose.com here.
In a solo show earlier this year at Giant Robot 2, a statement described the process that leads to this work: “Working in a unique mixed media technique which involves laboring in ink and acrylic over sheets of Lucite printed with assemblages of his more traditional drawings and paintings, he creates reflections on the past that are luminous and nostalgic, like cherished memories burnished by the passage of time.”
And from his own mouth, Ushiro hints at the nostalgic and wistful elements of these pieces: “…every painting focuses on the point in our lives when you make a decision that cannot be undone and/or a decision that was made for you.”
Gilles Cenazandotti is a French artist known for his arresting sculptures of animals constructed entirely of litter he collects from the ocean. Petroleum products, bottle caps, tubes of sunscreen, and other plastic refuse are gathered from the sea and transformed into a variety of species, many endangered. Through his art, Cenazandotti hopes to bring greater awareness to the condition of our planet and the number of species threatened by human activity and pollution.
Orion Martin applies a startling ability to play with textures, shifting planes, and focus to an unexpected assortment of objects and characters. His shifting between mediums adds to the guessing game of looking at a particular piece and attempting to dissect each element’s nature. He's often been linked to the representational artists under the Chicago Imagists moniker.
Paul McCarthy's work traverses sculpture, painting, installation art, and film, and all are showcased in his new show, aptly titled "Mixed Bag." The show at 
Exploring the reality of "distorted or inaccessible memories,"