Go Buy These: Curve – Love Is…

More Valentines Day type stuff for today, this time it’s in the form of some art work you can purchase for that special someone.  Curve started cartooning at an early age and naturally gravitated to graffiti art, which he first discovered in his hometown of New Haven, CT. Today he spends his time with Illustration, animation and graphic design, the piece below made me smile and it along with some other clever designs can be purchased HERE.

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 3: Dead Kennedys

From the chaotic, surreal, madness, of collage mixed with political folly that blazed their LP's and gig flyers; to the razor edge ultra-simplistic DK symbol that is still lovingly displayed on shirts across the world today, the latest episode of The Art Of Punk focuses on San Francisco punk band legends, the Dead Kennedys. In the fourteen minute video Jello Biafra discusses his own warped inspiration for the many sleeves and often controversial posters created in the early days of the band. We also meet pop surrealist artist Tim Biskup who chimes in about how the DK's affected and twisted his own young mind.  And finally we meet up with master collage artist, and designer of the DK's symbol, Winston Smith in his North Beach art studio, where he talks about how he was drawn into the early Bay Area punk scene - and his long and creative artist relationship with the Dead Kennedy's and Jello Biafra. 

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 2: Crass

From the black and white photo-realistic paintings of protest, anarchy, and social satire, to their legendary adopted brand and two headed snake and cross symbol  the latest installment of The Art of Punk is an inside look at the art and music of Crass..  In the video Gee Vaucher, and founding Crass member, writer, and activist, Penny Rimbaud discuss the art and the lifestyle stemming from the infamous Dial House, where they have lived, worked, and crated their own brand of anarchistic beauty, for more than 3 decades.  Onomatopoeia favorite, artist Scott Campbell, also chimes in to talk about how the art of Crass, and how one single t-shirt created a fork in the road of his own life and career. Finally British graphic designer Dave King - the creator of the infamous snake and cross symbol, discuss’ post war England, hippies, punk, graphic design, and more, that led him to the creation of the symbol made legend by the band. 

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 1: Black Flag

Whenever we can share something that combines our love of art with our love of music it’s always a good thing. The Art Of Punk, a new web show from MOCAtv premiered yesterday with an episode focusing on the art of Black Flag and is just that.

The show which was created, directed, and executive produced by writer/author of 'Fucked Up + Photocopied', Bryan Ray Turcotte (Kill Your Idols), and Bo Bushnell (The Western Empire) and traces the roots of the punk movement and the artists behind the iconic logos of punk bands such as: Black Flag (Raymond Pettibon), The Dead Kennedys (Winston Smith), and Crass (Dave King.) So you are basically getting some top tear experts in the subject matter and it shows throughout the twenty-two minute run time.

From the iconic four bars symbols, to the many coveted and collected gig flyers, singles, and band t-shirts, all depicting the distinctive Indian ink drawn image and text by artist Raymond Pettibon. The episode starts off in Los Angeles talking to two founding members of Black Flag, singer Keith Morris and bass player Chuck Dukowski, about what the scene was like in 1976 - setting the stage for the band’s formation, as well as the bands name, and the creation of the four bars symbol. Raymond Pettibon speaks from his New York art studio while  back in LA we hear from Fleaof the Red Hot Chili Peppers, about how the art, the music, and that early LA scene impacted his own life and career. To wrap it all up Henry Rollins chats via MOCA Grand Ave in Los Angeles, about all of the above and more.

Episodes exploring the visual identities of Dead Kennedys and Crass will debut soon at the MOCAtv YouTube channel. In addition to profiling the artists, the series includes intimate interviews with former band members, notable artists, and celebrities who have been heavily influenced by the art of punk rock including Jello Biafra, Tim Biskup, Scott Campbell, Steve Olson, Penny Rimbaud, Owen Thornton, and Gee Vaucher to name but a few.

The filmmakers Bryan Ray Turcotte and Bo Bushnell take a unique approach to exploring the rich histories of these three seminal punk legends by focusing on the influential imagery and seeking out stories that have not been told yet through the artwork, which is integral to the importance and influence of each band.

Listen: Flabmag Podcast #10 - Sonny Kay

This week’s guest on Flab Magazine’s podcast series  was is multi-media artist/singer/entrepreneur/art director and all around inspiring guy Sonny Kay, who is perhaps best known for starting indie label, Gold Standard Laboratories. Before closing it’s doors in 2007 the label was home of some of the most genre bending punk rock acts of my time including a number of bands that Sonny was a member of like Angel Hair, the VSS, Year Future, Savalas, Subpoena the Past and more. Sonny’s time now days is spent working on some of the best photo collage art works gracing LP covers today.

Sonny Kay – “Accidental Math” 2010 Photo Collage

In the hour and forty minute discussion Sonny talks about his career as a lover and performer of punk rock, a trip down memory lane on life in Boulder, Colorado circa the 90s, the rise of ‘mainstream punk rock” as compared to the rawer sound of GSL, his relationship with Omar from the Mars Volta, the transition from music to visual arts and much more. 

LISTEN HERE.

Go Buy These: Henry Leutwyler Ballet Skateboards

“In ballet and skateboarding, fearlessness rules. No half-measures or marking the trick. Just passion, grit and blood.”

Photographer Henry Leutwyler released two fantastic limited edition skate decks featuring some of his trademark ballet photography. The two images are quite powerful when displayed side-by-side and beg to be hung as art. Purchase them while you can HERE.

Video: Steve Powers at the PSFK Conference NYC

Artist Steve Powers recently gave a lecture at PSFK Conference NYC and we got the video to share. Espo takes us through his recent public and private art projects. He explains love-letters to the neighborhoods he painted on the sides of buildings in Brooklyn. He also talks about his one-a-day art “Daily Metaltation” pieces that he paints on 8×10 pieces of metal. When you’re presented with any day you’re presented with a blank slate he says and as an artist it’s his job to find some form and boundaries and distill his experiences of the day onto that canvas. Enjoy the 15 minute video below….

Al-Qaida Marketing Campaign

Al-Qaida has apparently gone and got its self a marketing department as the organization released a warning that they will soon be returning to New York City (in broken English) via a flashy web based graphic. This is probably one of the strangest things I have ever seen, we really do live in a different world when terrorist organizations have a glossy campaign behind them! The graphic in question could easily find its self on billboards and in magazine across the world in-between known branding from the likes of Apple or The Gap without one even taking any notice.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the graphic appeared on a site that has hosted al-Qaida material before and is what the NYPD Intelligence Division refers to as a "Category 1" website, meaning it is heavily used by jihadi and al-Qaida adherents.

He added that the NYPD is working to determine what individual or group posted the threat on the website; it is now being spread across numerous extremist forums.

Browne said the graphic appears to have been created with Cinema 4 software, which typically costs about $1,600.

The Poster Art of Mike Joyce

This is some really cool stuff right here. Swissted is an ongoing project by graphic designer Mike Joyce, owner of stereotype design in new york city. Drawing from his love of punk rock and swiss modernism, two movements that have absolutely nothing to do with one another, mike has redesigned vintage punk, hardcore, and indie rock show flyers into international typographic style posters. Each poster is sized to the standard swiss kiosk dimensions of 35.5 inches wide by 50 inches high and set in berthold akzidenz grotesk medium, all lowercase. There are over a hundred in the collection currently covering all your favorite bands from high school including, Bad Religion, The Descendents, ALL, Nirvana, Sound Garden, Gorilla Biscuits, Helmet, PIL, The Dead Kennedys, Sick of It All, Naked Raygun, 88 Fingers Louie, Bikini Kill, Pennywise, Rich Kids On LSD, Slapshot, Pegboy and many many more.  Every single one of these shows actually happened.

Mike Joyce Posters - picture slideshow

Video: Steve Powers – “A Love Letter To Brooklyn”

Vice catches up with Mr. Powers in this episode of Art Talk  to explore his new project "Love Letter to Brooklyn" in the heart of downtown at the old Macy's parking garage.  We get a behind the scenes look into his career as ESPO, how his work has developed over the years, and his life as a dad.

For those in the NYC area, make sure to hit up Livingston Street Market this Saturday.

Read: Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color and Music

At nearly 400 pages of full-color artwork and editorial, Chromatic: The Crossroads of Color and Music by Scott Morrow, is a dynamic print presentation of independent musicians and artists who are using or exploring color in unorthodox ways. It’s a highly saturated, prismatic presentation of some of today’s most adventurous underground artists, including Sonny Kay, Seripop, John Zorn, Daft Punk, Sigur Rós front-man Jónsi, Blue Man Group, The Zhou Brothers, Ratatat, Holy Fuck, Damon Locks of The Eternals, Rob Mazurek, NewVillager, and many others. Get yours while supplies last.

Listen: Tycho - Dive

Tycho is the side project for Scott Hansen a busy fellow being a musician, artist, graphic designer, running a clothing line, and blog. Check out his latest album in full below along with  some choice tracks via his soundcloud. 

Tycho by Tycho

Show Opening - "Flights of Genius" Stephen "Espo" Powers @ Ogilvy & Mather, NYC

Espo, friend and Josh Liner.



on display in the stairwells of Ogilvy’s Manhattan officescommissioned by Ogilvy & Mather. The murals reinterpret the words and quotes of agency founder David Ogilvy, one of the most influential and important figures in modern advertising.  With Power’s bold graphic style Ogilvy’s famous sayings are transformed into actionable words designed to inspire the viewer as they walk from floor to floor.  The event was first class taking place on the roof of Ogilvy & Mather’s Manhattan offices overlooking the New York Skyline and with an open bar and DJ providing some choice tunes the crowed came in droves.  Enjoy the photo stream of the event below….

Espo - Flights of Genius July 14 2011 NYC - free slideshow

Flights of Genius by Stephen Powers

Tonight I will be attending the premiere of “A Love Letter” a new film from art giant and 80's hip hop hair enthusiast Stephen ESPO Powers in conjunction with Ogilvy & Mather New York and Joshua Liner Gallery. The short film is part documentary part fiction and focus’s on a large scale mural project that ESPO undertook in his home town of Philly. Along side the screening is the opening of “Flights of Genius” a series of commissioned murals on display by the celebrated artist that reinterpret the words and quotes of agency founder David Ogilvy, one of the most influential and important figures in modern advertising. Power’s bold graphic style, reminiscent of vintage advertising illustrations puts a unique emphasis on famous Ogilvy sayings and transforms them into actionable words designed to inspire the viewer.  Check out the short clip below and stay tuned for more exclusive coverage of tonight’s event later this week.

 

Poster Documentary In The Works

Producer Johanna Goldstein and director Scout Shannon have been on the road filming an upcoming documentary about the poster world, and they’d like a little bit of help. The footage is looking awesome, check out the promo reel below. You can donate at a bunch of different levels with some very enticing gifts in return.  help them out at IndieGogo.com.


INDIEGOGO PROMO FINAL from Johanna Goldstein on Vimeo.

Artist-Inspired Tattoos

A Jeremy Fish inspired tattoo

Tattoo's are becoming part of mainstream culture more and more these days, you might have one yourself or know someone who does. Living in NYC I see my fair share on a daily basis but some of my favorites are those inspired by the Contemporary Art scene so I decided to compile some stand outs featuring the art work of some of the leading artists involved with graffiti, street art, graphic design and more including Aaron Horkey, Alex Pardee, Craola, Miss Van, Sylvia Ji, Sam Flores, Derek Hess, Kostas Seremetis, Tara McPherson, Kaws and more.

 Enjoy the 100+ slide show below...

Art Tattoos June 29 2011 - slide show