Pandas Unleashed!

The public at large is absolutely crazy for pandas. Panda cams are watched obsessively. Panda toys and clothing can be found everywhere. AT&T Park is often a sea of panda caps. Dreamworks has raked in well over 600 million bucks with Kung Fu Panda, and that's just the first movie. Panda themed restaurants are innumerable. Some folks are going to such extreme measures as dying their dogs to look like pandas. That's right, panda dogs! Yet, despite all this collective adoration, these cuddly critters remain on the endangered list. Best estimates place the world's panda population at less than 3,000. Is it possible that we're not celebrating them enough?

Tomorrow night, Pandamonium opens at Flower Pepper Gallery. Curated by Nicole Bruckman,  the show features panda inspired work from fifty different artists. Art world rock stars such as Walt Hall, Juan Muniz, Cuddly Rigor Mortis, Graham Curran, and KiSung Koh (just to name a few) have all trained their muse on the Ailuropoda Melanoleuca, hoping to raise awareness and spur conservation efforts. Nicole sent along some photos of the work so that I could give you all a sneak peek. You can look for my interview with Nicole here next week.

Go get your panda fix!

Pandamonium
June 7th -June 27th, 2014
opening reception Saturday June 7th, 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Flower Pepper Gallery
121 East Union Street
Pasadena, CA 91103

Walt Hall

Kisung Koh

Crowded Teeth

Ghost Ghost Teeth

Lilstickyrice

Joshua Roman

Paul Barnes