Wednesday 31 August 2011

It's Smashing...

image from The Collective studio

Time to catch-up
with The Collective.

Advert- The Collective Team

Off The Wall

One to One with Max Kauffman



I met Max Kauffman 6 years ago, when I was 18. A teacher pulled me aside to let me know that a "skateboard artist" was coming to town. I figured what the hell, and went to the show. It was at a art collective called "Cream City Collectives." At this show, I met the curator- future owner of Jackpot Gallery- Sean Heiser, and I also met the artist- Max Kauffman. I didn't really say much to Max at the time, but we became long distance friends. Eventually we both worked as illustrators for a midwest skateboard publication ran out of Ohio called "Stuck Magazine" and we'd frequently catch up online. Now, 3 years later, Max is killing the game. He just recently exhibited in a group show with Travis Millard, and has worked in the past with high end art magazines like Hi-Fructose. Out of all the artists I've seen "coming-up" in the past few years, Max seems to be one of the more promising ones.

-intro by Huey Crowley


RD: Tell us where you're from and where you live now please Dude.

I was born in Chicago, and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. Been sort of all over the place, but am currently residing in Denver, CO.


RD: What media are you into?

Im mostly painting these days, but have been doing installation work, and ceramics/sculpture here and there.


RD: Could you tell us about your background in art - at what age did you think, yes I wanna do this and where did you find your inspiration came from?

I think late in highschool there was that initial idea to explore the art abit more, but it wasn't until after college where I had that freakout moment- everything I'd done up until then was pretty much assignments. So I started working on stuff for me at that time.
Inspiration comes from all over the place, but heavily so from music and nature.


RD: Are you self taught?

I was doing ceramics in college, and a few painting classes here and there, but the style I'm using now is self taught.







RD: Was Stuck magazine your first job in the industry and how did you get hooked up with them?

I'd say yes. I was at my local shop (Kellys in South Bend, IN) and saw the mag one summer, saw they were covering artists and reached out to them. I had an interview in 2005 perhaps? And they'd feature little things I did here and there. When I moved out to CO, I talked with Joel one day and he asked if I wanted to contribute. Then I started doing illustrations for articles and interviews with the likes of Jeremy Fish, Chris Ryniak, Dennis Hayes the IV and more.


RD: Do you skate yourself and fill us in on The Robot Skate Agency?

Defunct at this point, but it was a clothing company. Wanted to do boards, never got to that point. I do skate, its been spotty lately, but from 14 to 22 or so it was my everything.







RD: You have designed covers for musicians like Will McCrannie and The Motet to name just a few. How do you gain inspiration for a cover, do you listen to a musicians ideas or are you left to your own devices while designing?

Inspiration there comes mostly from music, but little things will get thrown in there too that come to me....I guess I've been pretty lucky in that most people Ive worked with are understanding of me doing what I want, or at least reaching a finished state via organic process.

So mostly my own devices, heh.


RD: When you were a kid where did you hope your career would lead and have you reach that goal yet?

I never had any idea of a career in art when I was young - I remember reading Jack Horner long ago when I dreamt of paleontology. Perhaps my brain made that same leap from velociraptors & gt;birds?


RD: What do you enjoy designing the most, cd covers, t shirts, posters...?

I enjoy the work I do for me the most. Though shirts are always fun, and posters I'd like to do more of.

RD: We are 'down' with studios and how each artist functions within their own space, could you describe your studio for us please?

I have a spare bedroom at the house. There's a giant desk in the center where I'll sit/stand and paint. I keep a small wall of work up behind me, its the only place I hang my art in the house(just feels weird).
To the side of said giant desk there's a shelfing unit w paint, tape, jars, pencils, pens and other various supplies.
Bout it!


RD: Are you a ketchup or mayo man?

Mustard.


RD: What shows have you got coming up?

I have a print for a bike themed poster show this weekend(believe it was just in London) called Artcrank. Its in Denver at a place called Super Ordinary. Then at the end of Sept I'll have a show of drawings alongside Dee Dee Cheriel at Black Book Gallery(also in Denver). Finally, a few small paintings headed to Modern Eden in SF for a mini show in October.
Nothing on the plate after that but catch up.

RD: Well, it's been excellent to meet you Max, keep up the great work man.

Artcrank... Here
Black Book... Here
Modern Eden...Here
More of Max's work ... Here

Off The Shelf... Out in the UK Now

Art + Culture Magazine
September 2011



For the inside story go... HERE.

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Murals Under Threat

Os Gȇmeos Bomb Scottish Castle



Kilburn Castle, Largs, Ayrshire

Patrick Boyle The Earl of Glasgow asked the Brazilian brothers Os Gȇmeos to paint his 13th century castle while it was under restoration.

"Historic Scotland" gave the go ahead for the castle to remain painted for only 3 years, with the proviso to convert it back to its original state, as it's a grade 1 listed building.
In 2007 the Os Gȇmeos (Portuguese for the twins) started and completed the work which cost£20.000.

Now that the 3 years is up, the Earl (who's family has lived in the castle for 800 years) has ask permission for the mural to stay up.



He says, "In the three years that the mural has been on the castle it has attracted enormous interest from around the world and is loved by anyone who sees it. It has become a landmark and a talking point and it has given the castle and estate a whole new character".

Only last month the castle murals were deemed one of the world's best top 10 examples of street art by author and designer Tristan Manco.











images courtesy of universal news and sport, Alamy, William Thornton, and PA.




We will watch what happens
and keep y'all in the loop...





Monday 29 August 2011

HELP...London Fund Raiser For KING ROBBO

Robbo Still in a Coma


big it with a click

RD: You may have heard about the conflict between Banksy and King Robbo over the last few years.

Robbo is one of London's original graffiti artists and back in 1985 he did a mural under a canal bridge, it remained untouched until Banksy got his hands on it in 2009. ☀see pics below
A feud broke out between the two, a tit - for - tat row which lasted until mysteriously, K Robbo was found in a coma?

6months on and he is still in hospital comatose and fighting for his life!

This is where Pure Evil Gallery comes in...


Fundraiser
Art Auction 4th September
We’ve just started putting up a few of the pieces handed in so far for the Preview of the ROBBO auction @ Pure Evil Gallery
The preview of the auction opens Thursday evening at 6pm but some images of the work donated so far is up already because we want to get on it straight away… so far we have already raised abut £25,000 selling paintings and prints which is going towards Robbo and his family… he has a baby who is 1 year and 8 months old and other children and we’re trying to help the family out.


The guy is in a coma still, but he seems to be responding to some commands… anyone who has speculated about his injury and what actually happened to put him in hospital heres the scoop : He fell outside his house and hit his head really badly on some stone steps and he has been in hospital ever since.


I dont care about the graffiti / street art politics behind Banksy vs Robbo thats just a falling out between 2 painters. In the bigger picture of things its meaningless . This is more important than all that, we’re just trying to help out a mate. He’s no angel but he’s had a hard knock (literally) and he needs our help.



Original King Robbo 1985 mural.


Banksy claimed it in 2009


KR fought back!

Robbo and Bansky Dilemma Update... Sunday, 4th Sept 2011 Here

King Robbo Update... Sunday, 18th Sept 2011 Here

PURE EVIL / Charley Uzzell Edwards
Artist | Accidental Gallerist
T: 020 7729 2866
M: 07805 420 771
E: cue@sofuzzycrew.com

---------------------

Pure Evil Gallery,
108 Leonard st,
London EC2A 4XS


Keepin Up With... Dave The Chimp

"freedom" In Freedom Park



I was recently asked to paint a section of the Berlin Wall to be
displayed at the "Freedom Park" on the Friedrichshain side of the
river Spree.

For me, involving the word "freedom" with a barrier built around one
half of a city, a barrier involving not just a wall but barbed wire,
guard dogs, machine gun implacements, search lights, and soldiers with
the instructions "shoot to kill", doesn't make sense, and I wanted to
use this opportunity to remind people of just how disgusting it is to
divide a city and it's people. The barrier built between the Russian
sector and the British, American and French sectors of Berlin was, in
many cases, built down the middle of streets, dividing friends,
families, and whole communities. Over night on August 12th 1961
relationships were destroyed and freedom, a natural human right, was
viciously snatched away from millions of German citizens, people just
like you and me. I tried, in my simple way, to show this with one of
my "one line" drawings. I hope it will stand as a reminder of the
reality of the Berlin Wall, and of the walls dividing people in other
parts of the world.

The other side of my wall is a little lighter, showing the words
"Every Wall Is A Challenge". This is both intended as a reminder of
the many people from the East that escaped, and of the teams of West
Berliners who dug tunnels and found other ways to rescue and reunite
families, and as a cheeky nod to the graffiti writers of the city
today.

-- Chimp




Flesh Cuts

Two For You


Wildly different in concept and content.
Hav a lookey...


NUG - the concept is fuck you, yes you
Edit: fame festivil



Ephin SDK
Edit: Stompdown

Sunday 28 August 2011

Keepin Up With... Dave The Chimp

My First Skateable Sculpture
"Dad and I"



I am happy to announce the recent completion of my first skateable
sculpture, "Papa und Ich".

Commissioned by the Oxylane Art Foundation as part of the Berlin
International Skateboard Artist Residency (BISAR), this piece will be
on display in front of the Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, Kreuzberg,
Berlin, until 31st October 2011. It will be on hand to greet visitors
to the BISAR exhibition "Do Not Think" which opens on Friday
September 9th at 7pm. More information on the exhibition can be found
- at bottom of post.☀

"Papa und Ich" is based on one of my simple "one line" drawings, and
joins the list of Berlin's DIY skate spots - 100% skater made!

Street art fans can see the sculpture being ridden by Brazilian Daniel
Marques, as well as other Kreuzberg art pieces, in the video - below.


Big thanks go out to Lennie Burmeister, Kerry, Wulf, Juppie, Mischief
Skateboards, Radio Skateboards, Search & Destroy, and the Kreuzberg
skaters that rolled up their sleeves to help feed their local scene
with more delicious concrete!

-- Chimp









☀ Click logo for more

Hang Outs... Battersea Park, London

Two Fairs, Two Parks, Two Weeks



20 – 30 October 2011, London

We’re totally madly excited to announce a brand new Affordable Art Fair right here in London town!

From 20 - 23 October our much-loved Battersea Park event returns, and it will be followed a week later by the launch of the Affordable Art Fair Hampstead.

Situated on gorgeous leafy Hampstead Heath, from 27 - 30 October just over 90 galleries will be bringing all the fun of the fair to NW3!

To find out more, you know what to do...

Friday 26 August 2011

Keepin Up With...Dave The Chimp

A little bit of Berlin Skateboard Action


including my "Papa und Ich" sculpture



Chimp

Flesh Cut Fridays with Luci Westphal



This week we made a dream come true and traveled to beautiful and mysterious Portugal. We visited our friends Marisa and Nuno, whom we had met in Berlin last year.

Our first few days we spent in the Algarve: the lovely South coast. Then we drove up to Lisbon: a city full of angles, tiled houses, hills and ancient trams.

Of course, it seems crazy to try to fit an entire country into a one-minute video. But you know I had to try. So as usual, bare with me if shots are too short for you. Just pause, take a breath and enjoy.

The music is a song called "Some Other Guy" by Jason Matherne of Goonygoogoo Productions.
--- Luci




Keepin Up With...Phlegm

São Miguel, Azores.



Here's a big boat I painted in São Miguel, in the Azores. It was for the walk and talk festival. It features imaginative but slightly impractical ways of fishing, like herding fish using dead fish heads on spears or tricking fish into shoals with a mobile of false fish.

post courtesy of phlegm comics













post courtesy of phlegm comics

Thursday 25 August 2011

Off The Shelf

KiCKS jAPAN
Authors: Manami Okazaki and Geoff Johnson
Publishers: Mark Batty Publishing



It's time to put your best foot forward and take a walk in the direction of this fascinating footwear book.
This title takes a look at wearable works of art, most are handmade and hi - tech, you will find this an interesting Sneak-er preview into the world of Japanese footlore.

These shoes originate from the USA and are rooted in skate, hip - hop and graff cultures, they now offer so much more than just somethin to go for a run in.

Kickin it off at the start of this book with what looks, at first glance like a family tree but on closer examination turns out to be a time line, with the first shoe appearing in 1949 and the main footwear fetish gaining momentum from the 1970's up to present day.

Contents include:
Intro
Fashion
Kicks World
Interior
Street Snaps
Street Culture
Kustom Kicks
Events

Artists Including:
Hisashi Tenmyouya
Dj kentaro
Tono
Shinraro Maruyama
Shiro
Tigarah
Feebee


All in all a wicked book, laced with colour pics and a true street vib - ram sole within.


Time to try it on for size...


















Stomp on the logo for more