Many thanks to Sean Rosenthal for coming down to photograph the opening!

Check out the photos here: http://www.orangecounty.com/sections/article/gallery/?pic=2&id=2396

FUTUREPROOF from David Tosti on Vimeo.

Laguna College Alumni Return to Tosti Studios for Encore Exhibition
“Futureproof: Orion Fisher & James Miller”     November 5-21, 2009
Tosti Studios, 210 N. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach

Laguna College of Art & Design alumni Orion Fisher and James Miller present a two-man show at Tosti Studios’ alternative space in Laguna Beach.  The exhibit will feature original works juxtaposed in a unique venue that doubles as a photography studio and platform for emerging artists.  Guests are invited to attend the opening reception to be held in conjunction with First Thursday’s Art Walk on November 5, from 6-9pm.  The closing reception will be held Saturday, November 21 from 7-10pm.   Both events will afford guests the opportunity to meet the artists and interact with them in this distinctively intimate setting.

Orion Fisher and James Miller are two young painters who, by virtue of a kindred spirit for experimentation, developed an artistic dialogue as students at Laguna College of Art & Design.  Last February Fisher and Miller made their debut to rave reviews and garnered the attention of collectors and critics alike.  By great demand, these two unique artists who share a central aim - to challenge viewers with a rare brand of expertly crafted, observationally derivative representational paintings that disorient as much as they ground - are back together at Tosti Studios contemporary art space in Laguna Beach.

“The continued conversation between James and Orion as friends and artists, working together and investing in each other, represents exactly what I want to see more of in Laguna Beach - a revival of emerging artist in the community,” said owner David Tosti.  “Their work is deeply connected yet brilliantly different.  Futureproof will undoubtedly rival their previous show here, which was our best this year.  I’m honored to join with them in bringing their work to the community.”

While both artists share a common concern for craft and method, the paintings in their second show with Tosti owe more to experimentation and chance than previous work.  Orion and James share a central aim: to arrive at imagery that is ambiguous enough to support consideration as purely formal exercise - pure painting devoid of literal content - while precisely representing naturalistic forms.  They continue producing work that challenges and supports one another’s ideas.

Sarah Miska