‘Stranger Things’ fan art comes to life at Xpanded Universe

October 28, 2016

The “Stranger Things” fandom shows no signs of stopping, as a new art show will display art dedicated to the popular Netflix series.

Art gallery Xpanded Universe will host “The Upside Down Art Show” starting this Saturday, Oct. 29, an exhibition completely devoted to the extremely popular Netflix show “Stranger Things” displaying artwork from local and national artists.

Xpanded Universe is an art gallery and designer toy retail space that creates and manufactures specialty art and toys. The warehouse also has a collaboration studio space for local artists and creators to work together.

The art show will be held at the Xpanded Universe toy gallery in the Warehouse Arts District downtown.

“I am a fan of the show,” said Mike Olivares, the owner of Xpanded Universe.

Olivares is the curator for Xpanded Universe art shows, including this weekend’s opening of “The Upside Down Art Show.”

The love and popularity for the Netflix show motivated Olivares to come up with the idea for an art exhibition that recreates the common themes found in art from the ’70s and ’80s.

“People have been doing nostalgic art shows for some time,” said Olivares. “’Stranger Things’ just gave us more of a focal point and a cast of great characters to work with.”

The smash hit “Stranger Things” premiered on Netflix in July 2016 and is currently filming the second season, which premieres January 2017.

“It’s not that ‘Stranger Things’ was a groundbreaking show in the sense of originality, but more of a nod to everything in the realm of science fiction and fantasy from those times,” said Olivares. “It captured It perfectly.”

Xpanded Universe opened submissions for the show to any artist and have highlighted certain pieces on their Instagram and Facebook pages.

Local artists including Rudy Flores, Michael Montoya, Holly Randall and Danny Martin will be showcasing their artwork alongside many others.

National custom toy companies and artists such as Special Ed Toys, Moc Toys and George Gasper have collaborated on a rendition of the character Eleven as a mini action figure and a pin representing the monster in the show called the Demogorgon.

Each artist has a different view that is incorporated into their work and viewers can look at many different pieces made by artists of all ages and skills.

Drawings, sculpting and 3D printing are a few mediums used by the participating artists.

Xpanded Universe will sell signed albums from SURVIVE, the band that created the score for “Stranger Things,” along with signatures from Millie Bobby Brown, the actress that played Eleven.

Art fans can also buy signed printed artwork of local artist Danny Martin, but only a limited quantity will be available.

“Seeing others create brings me back to the first time I opened a comic book or rolled my first D20,” said Olivares.

The show begins Saturday, Oct. 29 and ends on Monday, Nov. 21. Tickets can be purchased on Xpanded Universe’s website.

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