David Daniels David Daniels

Stop-motion filmmaker David Daniels’ artwork is the subject of an exhibit at the Pauhaus Gallery (5239 Melrose Avenue) in Los Angeles. The exhibit will be open to the viewing public this weekend, on Saturday, August 27, from 12-6pm, and on Sunday from 3-6pm.

Early in his career, Daniels earned recognition for his work on animated segments of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and the music video for Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time.” Daniels later directed the original cg M&M’s commercials, and he is a co-founder, along with Ray Di Carlo and Chel White, of the Portland-based animation studio Bent Image Lab.

Among Daniel’s most enduring legacies is the invention of the mind-melting Strata-Cut animation technique. The artist creates “loaves” of clay which are cut into thin slices, revealing the movement of the pre-animated images inside.

Examples can be seen in the shorts Journey Through A Melting Brain and Freaked, linked below.

Daniels’ exhibit, titled “H@LLOW33N IN’D@ H3@T: An Exhibition of Art and Animation” is the artist’s first art show in 35 years and features both retrospective and recent work. Notes from the gallery:

His favorite new work that will be included in the show is titled “Golden Showers – Fill Your Lies,” a clay sculpture of former president Donald Trump on a crucifix of his own creation. The piece is something of a voodoo object, Daniels stated during a recent interview, noting that we need a will to focus our humanitarian efforts and scientific beliefs. “Golden Showers” represents the martyrdom of Donald Trump and coherence vs chaos. Daniels believes when we are divided, we are easier to prey on. “David’s work is refreshing, you don’t see this anymore, work that’s created by hand,” stated gallery founder Pauline Aguirre. “The younger generation needs to see this.”

All artwork on display at Pauhaus is for sale, and the exhibit runs through August 28. Images from the exhibit can be seen below.

David Daniels Pauhaus
Credit: Pauhaus
David Daniels Pauhaus
Credit: Pauhaus
David Daniels Pauhaus
Credit: Pauhaus
David Daniels Pauhaus
Credit: Pauhaus