Karl Stevens + Raul Gonzalez
Two Artists and Their Books: The Lodger and Lowriders in Space

December 4, 2014 – January 25, 2015

Thursday, December 4, 2014
Gallery Talk 4:00p.m.
Reception and Book signing 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Image: Karl Stevens, Cover detail, The Lodger, 2010.

Image: Cover detail, Lowriders in Space, by Cathy Camper, illustrations by Raul the Third, 2014.

Karl Stevens + Raul Gonzalez
Two Artists and Their Books: The Lodger and Lowriders in Space

December 4, 2014 – January 25, 2015

Thursday, December 4, 2014
Gallery Talk 4:00p.m.
Reception and Book signing 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

This exhibition focuses on each of the artist’s published books. They both straddle a range of influences – illustration, graffiti, comic books, as well as nods to the history of painting.  Stevens and Gonzalez will present original drawings and paintings from their respective books.  This is an exciting opportunity to peer behind the text, and experience the work of these two extraordinary Boston artists.

Karl Stevens

Karl Stevens’ book The Lodger is so carefully and convincingly drawn from life that it’s tempting to assume the whole thing is real. It is built around a year’s worth of the weekly comic strip “Failure” which he drew for the Boston Phoenix, having spent several years there as the official cartoonist. The strip’s title is both a characteristic bit of self-deprecation and a sequel to Stevens’ earlier work “Succe$$.” His award winning series consisted of realistic renditions of people and the creation of small, slice-of-life profiles filled with wit and profundity.

Raul Gonzalez

Raul Gonzalez’s first graphic novel is co-created with writer Cathy Camper; Lowriders in Space, is published by Chronicle Books and debuts in the fall of 2014. The three main characters, Lupe Impala, El Chavo Flapjack, and Elirio Malaria love working with cars. Their favorite cars of all are lowriders—cars that dip and drop, go low and slow, bajito y suavecito. Striking art from debut illustrator Raul the Third recalls ballpoint-pen-and-Sharpie desk-drawn doodles. With a glossary at the back to provide definitions for Spanish and science terms, this delightful book educates and entertains in equal measure.