‘Unknown’ collaborations

Whenever friends Keith McCracken and Anthony D. Grow collaborate they like to sign their art work, “Artist Unknown.”

Modesty, perhaps?

Not really.

“We came up with the ‘Artist Unknown’ [title] five years ago for our collaborations,” McCracken said. “The name makes sense for the pieces because they look like one person painted them.”

McCracken and Grow will display their most recent work at the opening of their first “Artist Unknown” exhibit from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday in an eVocal event that will also feature live music from Orange County Music Award nominees Venus Infers and Parker Macy Blues.

Grow and McCracken, who befriended one another as artists a decade ago, said it only made sense to do a show together.

Inspired by “life, beauty and color,” McCracken said his acrylic, graphite, charcoal, ink and burnt plant material on canvas works are left to his audience to interpret.

“One can put meaning behind them or in front of them, but it’s just paint,” he said.

All of his canvasses are stretched over or framed with reclaimed (old-growth) wood, making his work environmentally friendly as well.

Grow, who works exclusively with oil paint, which he brushes on canvas and wood, said his surreal and abstract Impressionism is all about the process.

“The resulting [image] is what I see as I’m painting,” he said. “Images just come out of the act of painting.”

Both artists have displayed their collections at eVocal, and numerous restaurants and bars throughout Orange County.

Uplifting rock ‘n’ roll band Venus Infers, who recently released their second album, “The Truth About Venus Infers,” last November, following their self-titled debut album in 2007, and Best Blues nominee, Parker Macy Blues, who will soon release his new album, “Hope for the Revolution” with Pepperland Records in April of this year, will perform with the Steel Wells, DJ Kaboom and the eVocal Family Jam Band.

Macy, who is occasionally joined by McCracken on the blues harp, said he is stoked to support the show.

“Keith, Anthony and I have been good friends for a long time, and whenever they invite me to play an event, I know it’s going to be fun,” he said.

In addition to catering and cocktails, the event will hold a raffle and giveaway — a T-shirt designed by Grow and McCracken.

EVocal, an establishment designed to give rise to artists through vocalism, provides artists with the opportunity to build brand identity, create products and reach their audiences.

A promoter of freedom of expressions, individuality and originality, it fuels the creative arts evolution by changing the way talent is showcased. Embracing all styles of music and forms of art, the organization aims to bring together the community as one.

“They are a blessing for the local art and music community,” McCracken said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Artist Unknown

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: eVocal, 814 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa

INFO: Admission is free, 21 and older. Visit www.evocal.com for information.