Section: Events, Galleries & Previews

Sometimes, you just have to go to 11.

This, of course, is Standard Operating Procedure at Studio Servitù. One knows there is no predicting what awaits inside. The only way to go into a Servitù event is ready to be dazzled and debauched and let the wicked scheming of Jane Jett and Miss Crash take over.

September’s Nick Kushner exhibit opened the door and gave us a peek into his creative world. With 11.11.11, Servitù took us further down the rabbit hole to explore the minds of three artists. Along with Kushner, the new show also encompassed works of two fellow Manson collaborators, photographer (and writer/filmmaker) Anthony Silva and “Coolest Magician on Earth” Rudy Coby. The unique friendship and mutual inspiration the artists share was the soul of  Servitù’s group exhibition, “The Stars Are Maligned”.

The pre-event titillation began mere moments after the last of the lingering crowds made their way out of the 9.10.11 Kushner show. Like the consummately expert teases Crash and Jane are, just a whiff of suggestion was all that was granted. For two months, the speculation raged on in blogs, discussion forums, and social media. But the ladies of Servitù were not going to give us our treat until they were good and ready. Every tiny iota of revelation was examined, dissected for any and all possible clues. Watching the anticipation grow and spread was delicious.

After a build-up like that, the natural question which springs to mind is: Was the pay-off worth the mystery? The resounding answer from virtually all corners of the LA creative underground? HELL YES!

Those who regularly read the Webzine’s monthly love notes to degeneracy (in Lip SerVICES) have witnessed the goings-on at Studio Servitù, even before the doors officially opened. It is, avoiding the more often-used superlative terms, home turf, a salon and clubhouse for many LA artists, performers and creators. But, with the latest gallery event, it’s clear we OG Servitù regulars will need to learn to share.

The club has, apparently, gained quite a lot of new members.

The instant the freight elevator door opened, one was immediately struck by the hum of the crowd filling the long, candle-lit hallway. Hum gave way to buzz on approaching the studio, backed up by (an excellent mix of) music. Once entering, the excitement was contagious.

As in the Kushner opening, the space was set up with an ideal mix of display and social area. Despite a constant flow of impressive crowds throughout the night, it was never difficult to view the artwork or hear conversation. So many venues lately use volume as a faux-buzz crutch, blasting music so one doesn’t have a chance to notice there’s nothing much to talk about. It’s nice to see Servitù buck that trend and give their guests plenty of interesting eye and brain candy and the right atmosphere to talk about it.

Immediately, one could note the parallel of the contrasting, yet complementary character of the works and their artists with the diversity of those who came out to enjoy them. There was some commonality but, for the most part, it was a rather dizzying array of LA nightcrawlers. People-watching was at its most intriguing.

Let’s put it this way: Attendees of 11.11.11 rubbed elbows with both Marilyn Manson and Janice Dickinson. That seemingly polar-opposite pairing sums up the unusual black to grey to white spectrum quite well, yet everyone seemed to feel at home. Some sort of alchemy was certainly at play.

Reviewing the artists’ works, the strange harmony made perfect sense.

One could attempt to read discord in comparing the maniacal whimsy of a Rudy Coby video to the brooding intensity of a Nick Kushner painting or sultry creepiness of an Anthony Silva photograph. Yet, they blended seamlessly, displayed to let the viewer experience little tastes of each as they took in different areas of the exhibit. One was reminded of fine dining restaurants, where a tasting menu is considered the penultimate experience of complete enjoyment. Like the best tasting menu, there was a subtle commonality tying the threads of ideas together to make for a more satisfying visual feast.

At their root, all three artists’ works challenge us to not just reconsider our perceptions, but overhaul how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. They tempt us to look deeper for the surreal lurking beneath the fragile shell of accepted reality. They embrace the constancy of the the dark and celebrate the nobility of the profane. One feels as if they’re witnessing something deeply personal and private in the collected works. It’s almost as if we’re seeing things we know we shouldn’t, yet can’t bring ourselves to look away. Coby, Kushner, and Silva, in their group effort, offered more than a glimpse into themselves; they invited us to take a leisurely stroll around their psyches. What we found was neither sanity nor madness, but a place where they mesh as comfortably as the art on display and its creators.

As in any good bit of alchemy, each component was made stronger and more precious when combined as a whole.

Though there is no way to recreate the chemistry of the opening night, the online preview gallery is definitely worth taking in. The exhibit collection, including works by Nick Kushner and Anthony Silva can be found on the Servitù Gallery page. Those interested in purchasing any of the pieces on display can arrange a private showing  by contacting Studio Servitù.

Thank you to Jane and Crash of Studio Servitù for another great night of eye candy and brain food. Thanks, as well, to Rudy Coby, Nick Kushner, and Anthony Silva for an exceptional collection of art works. And, thanks to Joe Berhosky for being on hand to capture the glorious debauchery as it happened.

And, of course, special thanks to Lip Service for having the fabulously good taste to be a sponsor.

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Mich Masoch is a co-ringleader of the Circus Hooker Smut Regime, an independent production and design studio in Los Angeles, CA.

It’s time, once again for the Lip Service Kick-ass Warehouse and Sample Sale!

We’ll have the usual killer deals on one-of-a-kind samples, current styles, and drastic reductions on closeouts … maybe a few extra surprises up our sleeves …

Don’t forget to gear up in your Halloween costume, because we’ll have a contest Saturday night at 8PM and you know we love to reward the hottest looks. Even if you decide to go low-key, we’ll have lots of great Lippy swag for the taking, plus killer music to keep things lively.

Here are the details:

Where: Lippy HQ – 130 South Anderson Street – Los Angeles
View Google Map

When: Saturday, October 22nd 12PM – 10PM + Sunday, October 23rd 11AM – 5PM

Payment: Cash + Visa + Mastercard

See you there, Fashion Freaks!

Nick Kushner signs Maldoror in blood

Every event has its own special alchemy, the planned enhanced by the immediacy of the crowd. This past Saturday at Studio Servitù, the night was all about firsts, the intrigue and excitement of the new.

At his first solo exhibition, sponsored by Lip Service, New York artist Nick Kushner revealed a collection of new and as-yet-unseen works alongside some of his favorite older pieces. The degenerate and divine comingled in his creations, meticulously crafted images painted with the artist’s blood as medium. There was a distinct buzz throughout Studio Servitu as a diverse crowd of artists, performers, and art lovers alike took in the magic of Nick’s unique artistic vision.

Those familiar with the überjaded LA underground are, of course, quite familiar with the usual slow build of events, the persistent resistance to actually arriving at an event, any event, anywhere near the announced start time. Not this night. In a real and stunning first (as well as a big feather in the caps of all involved), the cynical denizens of LA’s darker corners actually showed up on time! This, certainly, should be one for the unwritten history.

Upon arrival, the experience began even before crossing the doorway to Servitù, with soft flickering candlelight illuminating the path through the hallway to the studio. Beautiful teasers of Kushner’s works greeted incomers at the door and, immediately on passing the bar, a large screen displayed video and stills of the artist’s works and fascinating imagery of his methods in creating such unusual and deeply personal art. The space filled with the hum of conversation under the throbbing strains of the music, provided by DJ Twiggy Ramirez.

Installation of blood vials

Kudos to Nick Kushner, along with the co-owners of Studio Servitu (Miss Crash and Jane Jett), for converting the studio brilliantly to an impressive gallery space. Working through the exhibition, there was never any sense of crowding, despite the massive attendance, and works were staged to give all a great view from virtually all angles.

The work itself was absolutely stunning to view in person. The depth and nuance of the displayed works, as well as Kushner’s ability to capture mood and emotion and clarify them to an almost magical degree, impressed. Particularly striking were the newer works, created exclusively for the exhibit, with the stand-outs being The Devil Has Four Legs, His Satanic Majesty’s Request (a portrait of Marilyn Manson), and a beautiful and sparsely colored self-portrait entitled I Would Sell My Soul Just To See Hell. There were also a couple works of exceptional beauty and detail, created entirely in pencil, which showed the artist’s dedication to Classical techniques and surrealist imagery, particularly the lush Tlazolteotl and darker Postcard From New York. A soaring installation graced the back of the studio, employing the vials Kushner uses in his works as an impressive display of the personal nature and physical commitment of his process.

Servitù treated those fortunate enough to attend the opening of the one month viewing to another first. Those familiar with both Kushner and one of his gracious hostesses, Miss Crash, know their connections go further than art and blood. Nick runs Nachtkabarett, a site dedicated to well-researched writings on the occult and esoteric in the works of Marilyn Manson. Miss Crash, one of the world’s most renowned hook suspension artists,  recently had the opportunity to capture her final performance of one-knee hook suspension as the featured co-star of Marilyn Manson’s short film, Born Villain (directed by Shia Le Beouf).

Marilyn Manson, showing his most gracious and supportive side, came out with the intent to do more than appreciate the art. Shortly after arriving, Manson took over the DJ helm from Twiggy to give everyone present a delicious suprise. We all got to be part of the world premiere of the brand new and much awaited album by Marilyn Manson, Born Villain.

One might think this would be enough, that the event was as memorable as conceivably possible. Yet, there were more surprises in store for those of us who stayed into the magical midnight hour. With a brief introduction by Miss Crash, Kushner stripped down and cut himself on-stage to sign purchased works for their new owners in his blood.

All in all, the night was a smashing success. One wonders how Kushner and the ladies of Servitù will manage to top it with the upcoming (and rather mysterious) event they are only referring to as 11.11.11. But, after the impressive opening of Les Crimes de L’Amour, there is little doubt they will find a way. Los Angeles should start marking the calendars now because, if Saturday night was any indication, it will be a night not to be missed.

Nick Kushner and Marilyn Manson

For those interested in knowing more about Nick and his beautiful creations, an artist profile and interview, as well as view a gallery of his works, are featured in this week’s Lip SerVICES.

Those interested in purchasing Kushner’s works may schedule a viewing by appointment only. Please contact Studio Servitù and Nick Kushner for details.

Event photos were generously provided by Michael Vegas, The Soul Thief. There is a larger, much more extensive gallery available on his Facebook page.

Special thanks for an exceptional night of degenerate beauty to Nick Kushner, Studio Servitù, Miss Crash, Jane Jett, and Marilyn Manson. And, of course, very special thanks to Lip Service for having the exceptional taste to sponsor the exhibition.

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We love kitting up kickass bands in Lip Service gear. So, when Lizzy Borden wanted to rock Lippy onstage, we were happy to help.

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With Lizzy Borden, Joey Scott, Marten Andersson, Dario Lorina and AC Alexander, Lizzy Borden has been spitting venom, stage blood and dripping grease paint while breathing life into bizarre characters bred precisely for the stage in Hollywood since 1983. Their video “Tomorrow Never Comes” (from the latest Lizzy Borden full length album Appointment with Death) was nominated for video of the year as well as the top 25 metal video on MTV2’s Headbangers Ball.

Check out the Tomorrow Never Comes video:

Summer of Blood Tour teaser video:

Michael Vegas and an ex-TV

Do you sometimes really want to smash the living hell out of your computer with a badass 20 lb sledgehammer? Would love to stomp your printer until it’s nothing but chards on the floor? Feel like throwing plates and glass as hard as you can at the wall, just to hear them shatter to bits?

Crash and Jane at Studio Servitù figured as much and devised a delightfully angst-purging night of mass destruction, Je M’en Fous (which I will now assume means “breaking stuff rocks!”).

Being a huge fan of breaking stuff, I was ALL IN, baby! I mean *ahem* it’s always nice to go out and support Lip Service sponsored events, so The Boss and I thought we’d give this whole “breaking things” a try. *haha*

We arrived and were ushered into the huge freight elevator and through the hall toward the signature striped entry of Servitù. Immediately, our ears were greeted with the glorious din of a killer DJ set, accented with the buzz of conversation, punctuated by increasingly rapid smashing and shattering followed by whoops and shouts from the crowd. What a great way to kick off a night out!

It wasn’t long before we were right in the midst of the action. Crash pulled Jimi behind the layers of chicken wire into the smash zone, toward a PC tower all teed up and ready. Now, those of you who know my lovely partner in crime know what a chill, low-key sort of guy he is. Well, ha ha and ha! Not with a big ol’ sledgehammer in his hands, he’s not! With his long hair flying, my otherwise gentle husband laid waste to that damned thing, slamming away and dragging it back into place to beat on it some more.

When he was done, his ear-to-ear grin was all I needed to see. It was time to make some breakables pay!

Waved into the zone, I donned some safety goggles and was given some plates. Fastball pitch, straight at the wall! SMASH! Oh yes! More smash and crash! Glorious! I can tell you, the sound of porcelain hitting brick at high speeds … seriously satisfying! Practically the moment I was done, I wanted MORE!

Everyone, please meet my Inner Berserker.

Chopper Dave and his Thor Hammer

One by one, everyone in the crowd got to take a turn getting their rage on. New faces were steered by friends toward the table of breakables, shown the impressive array of bigger, badder targets. They, in turn, brought more friends to the wire.  It became the standard greeting of the night. “Have you broken anything yet? … Oh, it’s soooo goooood!” You could tell, even if you were in the lounge area or bar, who had just made the most recent smashing noises by the relaxed, blissed-out expression on their face. Some people came in a bit dubious, thinking, “I don’t know. It seems a bit violent.” but, before long, they reappeared with the same post-smashy grin.

My hero of the night had to be Chopper Dave, a fellow photographer and all-around great cat. It was his birthday and he wanted an epic weapon to swing. So, he crafted The Thor Hammer, a solid steel, twenty pound sledgehammer which packed quite a wallop. I know this because I got to wield this badass tool of berserkerdom, hefting it over my head again and again to utterly demolish a temperamental printer.

Take that, paper jam!

Miss Crash + CRASH!

Apparently, I seemed to be having too good of a time to quit yet, so Crash handed me a PC laptop, informing me and the crowd that the provider had (and I paraphrase) “a shitload of porn in there and wants the whole machine utterly destroyed.” Starting with the beast called Thor, I made short work of the bulk of it. But, there was detailed demolition called for here. I was doing a solid, right? Had to be thorough. *heh heh* So I was provided with a claw hammer to go batshit on every last bit of the thing.

I guess I really got into the breaking, because I managed to slam the laptop so hard, I also broke the bloody hammer. Umm, oops sorry? *heh heh* That’s right, suckahs, don’t mess with this degenerate camera jockey!

As I mentioned, there were quite a lot of big items one could select, stacked up high against the wall. These were easily the most fun smashing sessions to watch and, by far, the most impressive-sounding. Every time a computer monitor or TV received its first strike, the boom was resounding, almost shaking your insides, the shattering screens bursting like a miniature preview of the fireworks to come later in the weekend. Superb!

Beside the obvious, the ladies of Servitù added some rather ingenious touches of wit in the targets and arsenal.

My favorite weapon? Easy. It would have to be the guitar Jane used to massacre a TV that needed killin’. Hell yes! If Elvis didn’t have that gun, that’s how he’d have done it. “Uh, Red? Man, gimme that guitar. Thank you very much!” Check out some video of the lovely Ms Jane getting down with her bad self!

Favorite beat-down of the night? Eat this, Easy-Bake Oven! That’s what you get for making shitty cakes that taste like paste!

Miss Crash with soon-to-be-ex plates

All in all, it was a crazy, fun night beating the hell out of pesky bits of technology, along with some of our favorite freaks of the LA underground. I hope they have another one really soon because our TV decided to stop working and, damnit, I’m pretty pissed off to have missed True Blood. I think it needs a dose of Thor Hammer, don’t you?

Thank you to Jane and Crash of Studio Servitù for being such remarkable hosts (as always). Thanks, too, to Michael Vegas for providing great photos (to see all Michael’s photos from Je M’en Fous, check out his FB albums here and here).

And, of course, thank you Lip Service for sponsoring such a fun and unique event.

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We love it when you rock Lippy at special events. So, with prom season coming up, we thought we’d help you grab the Lippy gear you want at an even better price!

Get 10% off all Lip Service styles listed below until 11:59 PM (Pacific) on May 15 when you use the code PROM2011 at checkout!

WOMEN’S STYLES

45-6-01 – Brocade Piracy – Off The Shoulder Halter Dress
45-6-02 – Looks That Kill – China Doll Mini Dress

49-6-10 – Step In Time – Long Dress

53-172 – Gangsta Pranksta – Knee Length Dress
56-359 – Millennium Moon – Cap Sleeve Dress

63-3-06- Step In Time – Skirt With Removable Bottom Layer

63-451- Step In Time – Floor Length Skirt
63-452- Step In Time – Crop Jacket

63-6-02- Das Bunker – Sleeveless Mini Dress

63-7-05- Step In Time – Hook And Eye Front Top

83-205 – Broken Promises – Asymmetrical Dress
83-206 – Broken Promises – Empire Waist Long Gown

83-6-08- Pin Me Up – Halter Dress

84-6-00- The Blacklist – Midnight Seduction Dinner Dress

92-206 – Step In Time – Bell Sleeved Dress

92-6-01 – The Blacklist – Cap Sleeve Babydoll Dress

MEN’S STYLES

M49-049 – The Blacklist -

M49-7-06- Step In Time – Ruffled Shirt

M63-4-01- Step In Time – Dress Coat
M63-5-00- Step In Time – Button Front Vest

M63-8-00- Step In Time – Military Pant

M63-9-00- Step In Time – Necktie

M84-022- The Blacklist – Mens Dress Pants
M49-050- The Blacklist – Mens Military Shirt
M83-4-00- The Blacklist – Mens Waistcoat

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Remember … you MUST use the code at the time of checkout to get the discount. Sale order must be completed before 11:50PM (Pacific) May 15. Discount is applicable only to styles listed above.

We are so happy to have been a part of the Studio Servitù opening! Congratulations to co-owners Jane Jett and Miss Crash and thank you for a remarkable and memorable night in your gorgeous new creative playground!

The party started off with a viewing of documentary “The New Erotic”, giving way to VJ sets by Ginger Fish as the crowds kept coming and performances by The Lizardman and Rudy Coby. Then, of course, there was the sort of NC17 fun you’ll just have to imagine for yourselves (Thank you, in particular, to Sex & Metal for some stunning demonstrations of your deviously wicked handiworks!)  Here is a little taste of what you would have seen if you were lucky enough to be there, with much thanks to photographer Andy Hartmark for sharing his shots with us!

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Hey all you fashion freaks!

Darlene, first Fashion Freak at the sale, with Drew

This month has been crazy, as we are getting ready for our new spring groups and all the new costumes for 2012. This season we have a few new categories we are going to try and, as always, are open to any suggestions…

What do  you want? More daywear?
Any jean ideas or suggestions?

Send us your wish list and we’ll try to include them in our upcoming lines.

Last week was our massive warehouse sale

Check out these photos from the shopping frenzy…

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The sale was great but, to be honest, we missed you fashion freaks. Where was everyone in their gear? We had giveaway bags for the best looks and so few of you dressed up. We did have a lot of people show up in their undies, though, and they got a free pair of jeans on us. –The first 25 people were also rewarded with a 25th Anniversary silver dagger necklace (thanks again for lining up so early!!)!– But, we really missed all of you goths, punks, cybers, deathheads , metalheads, lolitas, steampunkers and … ya … everyone!  Keep in mind, there are still a lot of clothes down here at Lip Service HQ to buy (Our bargain basement is  open mon- Friday 9-5) and, if you come all dressed up, your chances of getting a gift or even a better deal are better. We love seeing you rock your Lippy!

Warehouse Sale shopping frenzy!

What’s coming up?

The first week of May we are heading out to the desert to do our photo shoot for Fall groups Step in Time and Burning Circus. We’re renting a Winni and hitting the road to get some awesome shots. We’ll have some great accessories from independent artists, as well as cool props our helpful interns made. One thing you might not know about our design room is we always have interns helping us out. They are a huge part of our team and we love helping them learn and develop their own creative ideas! If anyone is interested in being an intern, just shoot us an email and we will contact you with details!

As always, we are making kick ass clothes for cool people and would love to hear from you…

Sewing or pattern questions? Fabric thoughts? Anything at all you’re curious to ask, we are here to answer!
Until next time,
The Design Team

On the ground at the Lip Service Warehouse and Sample Sale. Sister label Kill City had a promotion to give a free pair of jeans to the first 25 people to arrive in their undies, so enjoy!

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Saturday morning, 25 Fashion Freaks not only got to be the first to get in on the killer deals on hot Lippy gear, they also were greeted by owner Drew Bernstein with a free Lip Service 25th Anniversary sterling dagger necklace. Here are the lucky 25!

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