Grandpa Captain Biorhythm took his granddaughter Hannah to the San Diego Comic Con in 2007 to interview potential Heroes and Heroines. She was his third cub reporter who did a phenomenal job interviewing artists, actors and costumed characters at the Comic Convention.
Hannah asked 3 questions:
Who are the Heroes in your life?
How do people become Heroes?
Who are the unsung Heroes in our society that do not get the recognition they deserve?
Candace (CJ) Metzger & Co: creates paintings and mixed media pieces acrylics and oils that blend surreal and whimsical imagery. Her exhibition history began 8 years ago, with her artist sister (Miss Mindy) and a band of diverse artisans that were determined to bring their, now termed – pop-surrealism – genre of art to the art to the public eye. In doing so she found that people really adored the more character based and folk art inspired pieces she created and found them unique and refreshing. Her work transcends basic illustration through their narration coupled by compelling intent.
Currently there is an increased appreciation for this genre and CJ is becoming a notarized participant in the scene, with a careful and well thought-out approach to her work and an unparalleled dedication to her craft.
In addition to her fine art, CJ is also a gifted graphic designer, character designer/developer. She has created works for companies the likes of Nieman Marcus, Hot Topic, Hard Rock Café, D.L. Rhein, Catfish Bite, The Red Dress Shoppe, Bistro de la Gare, Bored Inc., Decorama, and the Los Angeles Times.
Her career as a artist/designer includeds designing a line of limited edition vinyl toys (Mindstyle), releasing her children’s book (Baby Tattoo Books), designing Decorama wall vinyls with designer/friends at
Bored Inc., , creating stationary designs with Rosebud Design, and collaborating with her writer/husband Pete Metzger and The Chiodo Bros. on a children’s entertainment project (Mischievous Maeve & the Monster Brigade).
As far as education and arts training goes, CJ Metzger has studied at CSULA, Art Center – Pasadena, then got a Masters’ at USC, all whilst continuing to exhibit in strange locations (in a bank vault, on a roof top)…
CJ’s work is being sought after by galleries and arts-collecting types all around the globe (she even has a painting in Antarctica!). For CJ, her diverse creative life and career journey sure hasn’t been by any textbook, but she feels that when you follow your passions – there really isn’t one — and that’s just the way she likes it.
Past Exhibitions
· The Wind-up Gallery. Phoenix, AZ – Unfourgettable Show – Upcoming
· The Hive Gallery – Downtown Los Angeles, CA – Group Show 2007
· Gallery Revisited – Silverlake, CA — Secret Lives of Dolls – Joint Show 2007
· Gallery Nucleus – Alhambra, CA –Power in Numbers Show – Group Show 2007
· Gallery Revisited — part of various salon style shows. 2006 – current
· Center for the Arts – Eagle Rock, Route 66 Art Auction 2004-1006
· Center for the Arts – Eagle Rock Women’s Work II Exhibit – August 2003
· Gallery Ophelia – Girlhood Revisited — Show with Miss Mindy 2003
· Gallery Figeroa — Plaisirs de l’imagination — show with Miss Mindy & Katrina Alexy 2002
· Lankershim Arts Center – Group Show October 2001
· Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock – Women’s Work Exhibit August 2001
· Affair of Art — Ryman Foundation Auction at Disney Imagineering Campus 2001
· Art from the Heart -Chase Place Foundation Children’s Hospital — 6th Annual Art Auction 2001
· Cannibal Flower — Art and Performance Space — ongoing exhibitions
· Group Holiday show at Sirens Coffee House — La Canada December 2000 – January 2001
· Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock – Futura Carnival – joint-exhibition November 2000
· Northeast Invitational II– Group exhibition, City of Los Angeles Century Gallery 2000
· Paintings and Assemblages – Solo show at Sirens Coffee House — La Canada December 1999
· No Ho Nights- North Hollywood Night Street Art Show June and August 1999
· Collage, Mixed Media and Sculpture Show — Long Beach Arts — Juror Kim Abeles 1998
· COMA Gallery- “Daily Exposures”Student Gallery at Cal. State Los Angeles 1998