Hyena Art Gallery and the Outsider Misfits of Art.

(I originally wrote this piece in hopes it could get published in an art magazine...to my knowledge it hasn't to any of the ones I'd submitted it for.) (((Photos Enlarge When Clicked)))

HYAENA and The Outsider Misfits Of Art: 

By Daniel Krone (Photographs by Sarah Chorley) 

Bill how did you come up with the name Hyaena? 

In Native American culture they have the coyote (the trickster) but in African culture they have the Hyena. Hyena's may have been the earliest inspirations for the Werewolf myth. Rich Europeans brought them over from Africa and at night heard the laughter and the growls and thought it was a man-creature robbing graves. Hyaena and its unusual latin spelling isn't quite the obvious choice and like the outsider art carried within the galleries walls that isn't quit the obvious choice for any other gallery. 

Bill is originally from Boston and before the Hyena art gallery Bill worked at a record store and was in the punk band "The Gutters". His taste in the wild and bizarre was long established before his art dealing career and his punk days. Bill began collecting serial killer art and gathered his first piece around age 16. 

The Hyena Art Gallery opened up here in Burbank in 2006.  He scouted the gallery for several months before he honed in on the final location eating up the foot traffic he knew would play a big part of curiosity seekers becoming regulars in the begin of the gallery's beginnings. 

September 18th 2013:

It is a full moon out tonight which is a rather fitting thing considering the artistic electricity in the air.  

Tonight is a rather special night here at the gallery. It is a once a month endeavor started by Clint Carney (one of the gallery's regular artists) a little over  a year ago ago called "The Art Autopsy", a nighttime show-like event where sculptors, painters, musicians, and generally all different kinds of artist are encouraged to come out, drink a glass of wine, and sit in the presence of other artists and be creative. There is something very refreshingly bohemian about the whole experience. 

I think the misinformed stigma behind most artists, especially the kinds of outsider artists showcased here at this particular gallery, is that they are not social creatures, which considering my relationship with Hyaena's owner (Bill Shafer) could not be further from the truth. It is more of a warm welcome when one comes in here, like a holiday or family dinner, as opposed to the cold snotty receptions I've received at other art gallery show openings. 

I met Bill Shafer, owner of the Hyena Art Gallery, about 3 years ago while doing a very abysmal door to door salesman job and despite the decorum of the gallery was taken back by his openness and candor and more enveloped by the sheer variety of art the small gallery seemed to showcase. "The art" (the type he showcases) as he said would be 'just another  Halloween specialty art show' at any other gallery pushed away in the back burner til the next year. But he proudly showcases this type of art all year round. He was "sick of selling shit I hated", as he stated to me. 

The first thing that hits you when you walk into the gallery is how very much its own thing it really is. Unlike most galleries I've seen you won't find too much blank space on the walls. It is literally covered wall to wall in eye candy. And from the cute art of Julie Bossinger to the introspective macabre of Clint Carney's work despite that it streamlines to the bizarre is sure to have something for any open minded weary soul. This gallery is an overwhelming feast for the eyes in such a small space. 

Bill also is a strong dealer and collector of serial killer artwork. His gallery Features many pieces from John Wayne Gacey, Henry Lee Lucas, and even Ted Bundy's original signed court certificate. As Bill has told me numerous times before he is fascinated by the artwork of the insane. 

The Hyaena Art gallery is unique in many more aspects than just the art it showcases. It turns over a new show every month now. It used to turn over shows every 2 weeks which I think must be a record for any art gallery. But whilst doing that he fills the space with smaller pop-up events like 20$ requested drawings on Sundays by some of his regulars (Kat Philbin, Jeremey Cross, Angus Oblong, and Big Tasty) among others.  Right next door to the gallery is a bakery that makes Hyaena it's own custom peanut brittle (quite fantastically delicious if you ask me with an extra kick fitting for the gallery's taste *cayenne pepper) which is a unique local community incorporation of the gallery. But by far one of my favorite contraptions the gallery featured in its artillery is a wild instillation I can't imagine in any other art gallery in the world . . . an art vending machine. Yes, you heard me correct. His artists come in with a  series of small sketches and for 5$ you can buy a token turn the key and get a small random piece of art from one of Bill's regulars. 

The one thing I take overtime on my frequent trips from the gallery is that art should be unique, expressive, and available to the general public. I don't make tons of money. But keep coming back for the sheer affordable variety of amazingly unique and beautiful artwork the gallery has to offer. In the same vain of that 'punk rock' mentality Bill Shafer has created an establishment that throws away the normal sterile still life approach to the artwork and says dive on in into the id of the art world. It's okay. It's safe. Just keep telling yourself…it's only art, it's only art, it's only art.