"IN LIMBO" by Danilo Parra opens this Saturday, September 7

FORWARD FROM EMPIRE SEVEN STUDIOS:

Danilo Parra was born and raised in San Jose and comes from a family of musical creatives. Danilo is best known for his award-winning filmmaking but has always painted as well. In 2020, he leaked a body of work on Instagram that certainly had us intrigued. If you’re reading the top art magazines, you will see that Danilo’s work would fit right in due to its originality and humorous nature. 

Danilo’s film credentials list a broad range of clients such as Weezer, A$AP Rocky, Spike Jonze, Robyn, Honne, David Byrne and several other celebrities like Adam Driver with whom he recently worked. 

"In Limbo" will feature a collection of oil paintings Danilo hauled in a suitcase from New York. We’re thrilled to be the Gallery to host Danilo’s first solo art exhibition. We are honored to work with this multifaceted artist who has roots in San Jose. 

We look forward to you joining us this Saturday, September 7, from 6:00-9:00 pm. The exhibit will be on view through October 5, 2024.

If you’re interested in purchasing artworks before we open the doors, please send us an email at info@empiresevenstudios.com.

SHORT WRITE UP FOR THE 'IN LIMBO' EXHIBITION:

Danilo Parra is a Chilean-American artist and filmmaker who creates oil paintings as single-frame stories. Beginning his artistic journey in San Jose, Danilo later moved to New York to pursue documentary storytelling, a career that allowed him to explore the world and deeply observe cultural and environmental issues—insights he now weaves into his paintings. His show, "In Limbo," captures characters in moments of transition, using dark, moody palettes contrasted with vivid colors to highlight the tension between hope and despair, intimacy and isolation. These ambiguous settings invite viewers to immerse themselves into the narrative. 

ARTIST STATEMENT:

"My brain works in story. I struggle to understand visual art that doesn't have a beginning, middle, or end. When I try to paint a pretty picture, I end up painting over it until I uncover a deeper narrative that has stronger meaning to me." - Danilo Parra

Pacolli's POP UP SHOP February 10th, 2-8pm one of a kind silk screen printed apparel

Empire Seven Studios is thrilled for an installation of unique, wearable art fashion. As far as we can remember we have not experienced a showcase like this in our hometown. Pacolli prints all of the apparel on her own with a small squeegee  freestyling and layering designs of characters she illustrates creating a story with each piece exploring possibilities without fear. “Wrap your troubles in dreams’”, “I wish I could talk in technicolor”, “stay true”, ”real life is magic (and tragic)”, “nothing special” (a nod to Andy Warhol) are just a few of the punchlines printed on the one of a kind clothing. Sleeves are equally covered in illustrations, the inside of hoodies are printed as well as the outside. All of the products are extremely limited, color combinations and the way each garment is printed is unique and tells a different story.

Pacolli’s Pop-Up collection is made up of bright, fluorescent colors: yellows, oranges, lime greens, pinks, and blues that intersect from the garments themselves and the fabric she chooses for each combo, and she's a master of her color choices.

When she chooses to print on black garments, the iridescent bright inks come to play and it's a whole different vibe. It’s the closest couture street wear that is not cut and sewn, and any designer would be lucky to have these artwork patterns mass produced in fabric. Hopefully Gucci will pick her up and we’ll get to talk about this in a few years. But here you're able tp get the 1/1 art pieces straight from her studio, people actually frame her garments and put them on their wall!

In the age of standing out, not fitting in and having something exclusive, this is the artworks you want to be wearing. Not a chance of bumping into anyone else wearing the same outfit and you'll most definitely stand out from the crowd.

Patricia Colli aka Pacolli is a Sao Paulo born and San Francisco based self-taught artist with a DIY go-getter mentality that’s motivated her to self publish zines, comics, slap up sticker bombs, shown in galleries from Brazil to Europe and all over the U.S., designed and produced apparel for fashion shows (Sao Paulo Fashion Week) and fashion art shows in galleries (like her first ever show at Gallery 85 in Antwerp, Belgium), she ran an art gallery in Brazil called Bendgy where she curated a vast array of original art, books, zines, prints from artists from all over the world, she runs her online store Pacolli Studio (ex-High in the Bay) for the past 14 years in SF

Pacolli worked as a producer and AD for MTV Brazil and made her own way through a male dominated arts industry back home. Residing in the Bay Area for nearly two decades pursuing and establishing herself as an artist, collaborating with bands to create album covers, fostered in venues like Needles and Pens worked, curated shows and met a lot of her peers in SF. Her work is inspired by the human condition, everyday life struggles and beauty. With a witty sense of humor, her zine and comics are equally autobiographical and part of an observation of the world that surrounds her.

When there’s nothing scheduled on the calendar, she seizes the opportunity to explore new concepts or collaboration with artists. We admire Pacolli for her resilience, hard work ethic and dedication to being true to herself, understanding the struggle, sacrifices, and maintaining consistency, never hijacking ideas respecting others' craft even if it takes longer to succeed in this competitive industry. It’s been lovely reconnecting since our gallery hiatus and pandemics. It’s a great honor to be able to present this event that is different, bold, and colorful. Originally we were only going to pick up a few pieces for the Gift Shop and after a full day of hanging at her home studio in the Tenderloin catching up on life and things we miss in the Bay, we sprouted the idea of a Pop-Up. Please join us and come out to meet Pacolli, she will have zines, and buttons available. Let's give her bright personality a warm welcome in San Jose.

If you are interested in any piece or need additional info, please contact info@empiresevenstudios.com 

Lunar New Year - entering the year of the wood dragon!

Celebrate Lunar New Year in San Jose Japantown, February 10 from 11:00am-2:00pm.

2024 is the year of the wood dragon. According to the Chinese elemental theory, each zodiac sign is linked to one of the five main elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. The Wood Dragon, like all other elemental Dragons, comes once in 60 years. People born in the Year of the Wood Dragon are considered to be extremely creative and inquisitive beings, who like to explore many different paths in life which results in them being very open and liberal.

Help us start a fresh New Year “Fukubukuro” "lucky bag," a Japanese New Year custom in which merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within.

Participating businesses will create mystery bags for patrons to cleanse and make room for new items in 2024. You can’t see what see what’s inside these bags because they’re sealed. But the fun part is, these bags are filled with surprises.

You might pay $25 for a bag, but the goods inside could be worth $50 or more! Have fun and support all the local retail businesses!

Visit us on Saturday and pick up some Empire Seven Studios products!

Important note: Fireworks are tradition during Lunar New Year and scheduled for 12pm. We regret any disturbance caused by the noise. It is advisable to keep dogs inside for their safety. Those sensitive to loud sounds should consider staying indoors.

SCHEDULE:

• Fire crackers will start at 12pm at 4th/Jackson Street and run through Japantown, then end at Empire Seven Studios on 7th/Empire Street.

• Participating stores on flyer will be having their own Fukubukuro (lucky bag) available for purchase.