“Anthropomorphic Crankcase”
--Recent Work & Historical Perspective
Cal Schenkel, groundbreaking album/CD cover artist for icons Frank Zappa, Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart to have rare show at IMPeRFeCT GALLERY Dec 6-27, 2014.
Opening to be held on Saturday, Dec 6, 6PM at IMPeRFeCT GALLERY, 5601 Greene St, Phila, PA 19144 in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Mr Schenkel will be on-hand to sign art, album and CD covers.
Mr Schenkel’s works include large canvas and panel paintings as well as affordable prints and small hand drawn pieces. His art has a playful spirit, mixing abstraction and figurative, often referring to iconic images from his well loved album cover artwork.
An alternate feature of the show will be “MIX MEDIA” IN THE RED ROOM BY THOMAS CASETTA.
In addition to the opening, several events are planned during the exhibit:
Cal Schenkel will present a nostalgic look at his work and life experiences on Wed, Dec 10 at 7 PM.
On December 13, at 7PM there will be a free concert by guitarist Jim Dragoni, presenting original music with guitar, vocals, keyboard and percussion. Website: Dragoni.com
Finally the traditional “Last Supper” will be held on Dec 27. The Last Supper is a benefit dinner for the non-profit gallery. It is open to the public. For info on donation and reservations call Gallery Director Renny Molenaar at 917-957-4504
Calvin Schenkel was born in 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, grew up in suburban Willow Grove, and attended the Philadelphia College of Art. After just one year in art school, he met and began working for Frank Zappa in 1967, immediately becoming his entire art department. He spent a number of years as a free-lance designer in Los Angeles producing iconic album cover images, including in addition to Zappa, covers for Tom Waits, Tim Buckley and Three Dog Night, among others. His design for Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica is listed as one of the 50 greatest album cover designs of the 20th Century.
Among the many album covers he produced for Zappa since his first design work on We're Only in It for the Money (a parody of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album), Schenkel also provided artwork and graphics for Cruising with Ruben & the Jets, Uncle Meat, Hot Rats, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Chunga's Revenge, Fillmore East - June 1971, Just Another Band from L.A., The Grand Wazoo, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury, Tinseltown Rebellion, Does Humor Belong in Music?, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Playground Psychotics, Ahead of Their Time, and Cheap Thrills.
His art has been noted for having an “idiosyncratic blend of absurdist humor ...for being highly articulate and often wildly narrative.” Underground cartoonist Gary Panter dubbed Schenkel the “king of the ragged edge,” and Matt Groening (The Simpsons) has cited him as an early influence. His credits also include Production Design and animation for two feature films.
He has exhibited his work internationally and has a world-wide following from his many years of highly visible music artwork.
Full List of Gallery Events for December:
SAT
Dec 6 | Opening Reception |
SUN
Dec 7 | Krmpuslauf Make Workshop
with Tucson, AZ artist Mykl Wells make lanterns & masks out of cardboard |
WED
Dec 10 | Artists Talk
--both artists will discuss their work |
SAT
Dec 13 | A Night with Jim Dragoni |
FRI
Dec 19 | “A Night Out On A String”
--an open guitar circle |
SAT
Dec 20 | “Rumba”
--Afro-Cuban drumming |
SAT
Dec 27 | “The Last Supper”
--our monthly fundraiser |
Gallery hours: Wed-Sat 1-6
(additional hours for special events)
Phone Renny Molenaar 917-957-4504
email: renny@rennymolenaar.com
Website: http://imperfectgallery.com
Contact Calvin for more information about his work, and for interviews:
email: calvin@ralf.com
phone: 407-212-7253
