Friday, October 31, 2008

HORROR BUSINESS



I am all for irreverance, but C'MON! I guess some of the locals in my neighborhood couldn't resist a little Halloween trickery upon the grand estate of the master of Horror Business, Glenn Danzig. I passed his house on the way to my studio this morning and had to double back for a photo.


Happy Halloween, DANZIG!!!



Hallowed House


Trying to catch some of that Halloween spirit today by donning a 'vintage' T from the House 33 line. And being the House Industries fan boy that I am, I can't wait to see what the crew has crafted for Los Angeles. More to come early next week...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SKATE AND CREATE










Shooting vernacular signage via skateboarding in the new neighborhood around my studio. May (or may not) evolve into new works for the upcoming Skate and Create show at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC. The event is being organized by the Pour It Now Foundation and aims to illustrate the positive impact (and creative stepping stone) that skateboarding can have on the lives of the youth.

KULTURE KLASH










Starting to compile 'historic' Streetscribe imagery and text for a new one-off skateboard to be exhibited at Kulture Klash in Charleston, SC, November 2008. (I smell a heavy dose of Jeremy Dean influence here....)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

STUDIO SPACE 1995



411 West Congress Street, Savannah, Georgia, 1995. Paneled and panoramic large format contact print, photographed by Tom Fischer. 

This was just weeks prior to vacating this amazing 1500 square foot warehouse, a spot I occupied from October 1994 thru August 1995. I paid the owners $100 a month for rent (when I could afford it). This location was my also first 'real' studio space after finishing my degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1994. It was during this time that the visual vocabulary of my Nonrepresentational Photographs really began to 'mature'. I finally had the physical space to develop the installational nature of display that these works really benefit from. Pieces on easel include the Carte De Visite series, Grey Rectangles, Monochromatic Polyptych and For S.Mann.

Shortly after this photo was made, I moved into the former York Lane Theater at 15 West York Lane; another loft/warehouse spot that served as both living and working quarters. I remained at that address from 1996-2004, when I packed up and moved to Los Angeles.

Friday, October 24, 2008

SUBURBAN NOSTALGIA









While rummaging through some old boxes of junk this week, I found a few rolls of unprocessed 35mm  film. They were labeled, 'Ty's Ramp/construction/May 1987'. I clearly remember shooting these, and this ramp was pretty typical of the 'fly-by-night' backyard playgrounds around the suburbs of Charleston, SC. In fact, I think this ramp was torn down about two weeks after it was 'finished', and saying it was 'finished' is a pretty big stretch of the imagination....

Regardless, it's great to see some of these old faces, not to mention some classic skate graphics, getting used and abused. Above, images seen for the first time in 21 years; George Gammon, Ty Vagneiur, Todd McGlynn, Jamie Painter and weilding a cap and a hammer, Shepard Fairey. All (previously unpublished) photos by yours truly for Streetscribe.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

REFERENCE LIBRARY PT.2





They say that designers are only as good as their reference material. If that's the case, then I suppose it's an asset that I enjoy hunting/gathering books. I am certainly of the opinion that one will never run 'out' of ideas, provided you keep plenty of these types of materials at hand. They always prove useful in generating inspiration of some sort. Please leet me know if you see anything in the photos above that strikes you as amusing, unusual, or otherwise noteworthy.

REFERENCE LIBRARY PT.1


Adorning the walls around my primary reference library; prints and other miscellaneous ephemera collected over the years. Above are works by House Industries; prints by penpal designer, Jeremy Dean; a photograph by Andrew Jeffrey Wright , a Jeff Koons postcard, a 1977 G&S Dennis Martinez/Flying Aces reissue, a Marshall cabinet badge and a Scott Blake Painting.

Monday, October 20, 2008

MONOCHROME

...I may need to extend this idea of greyscale Drip Paintings; it could be interesting. One of a new suite of nine bound for SCAD/Savannah, GA.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

GRATUITOUS IMAGERY


While I sort out my photos from the last few days, I hope this new little collage will hold you over....

Saturday, October 18, 2008

STUDIO CONSTRUCTION PT.2

Two coats of mud down, one thin, final coat of mud to go...skewed and panoramic view of what will become my primary 'easel' for all future works; large format drawings, screenprints, etc. (BTW- having an air conditioned work space is a new and welcomed luxury).

Almost complete with all the major interior construction and not a moment too soon, of course. Received an invitation this week to participate (alongside Kevin Taylor) in a small exhibit, "Skate and Create,"at the Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC. Show will open in early January 2009. 

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

DRIP PAINTINGS



Amidst my scramble to complete interior construction in the new studio, I had to stop and complete a small suite of Drip Paintings for an upcoming show. The work ships out today to Philly for the Inaugural Show at T&P Fine Art, which will open November 7, 2008. This is a group exhibit featuring more than 30 artists, including Adam Wallacavage, Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Logan Hicks, Shepard Fairey and many more. The works above will be available for individual or group purchase directly through the gallery, and they are finalizing their preview list now. If you are interested in making a purchase or an inquiry, contact Jonathan Halperin.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

DUSK ON MYRA




Exterior views, looking west...

Friday, October 10, 2008

UPDATES?



No updates for the past week!? Hopefully, some of you have been wondering what the hell the hold up is.

My new art and design studio is the 'hold up'. 

Finalizing work flow patterns and blueprints, framing and hanging artwork, running electrical conduit and installing light fixutres, rolling out fresh paint, fabricating and assembling furniture, framing walls and installing sheetrock, taking new business meetings, organizing the reference library and making endless trips to the local hardware store. And shooting plenty of in progress photos.

It's coming together and I am happy.


Saturday, October 4, 2008

GRIND 2.0





Zak Cochran and The Rabbit Hole Gallery in Atlanta, GA, have organized and will be hosting The Grind 2.0  show on October 10, 2008. Over 50 different artists have created and donated one-off skateboards decks to help raise money for the Swift Cantrell Skate Park. Notable participants include skate graphics icon, Jim Phillips; living skateboard legend, Steve Caballero; and Brooklyn-based duo, Morning Breath, among many others.

I am a grateful participant in this show as well. I created a 20 year anniversary piece to commemorate Streetscribe, the skateboarding zine that I co-edited/co-published with close friend, Kevin E. Taylor in the mid/late 1980's. My entry comprises a screenprinted and collaged deck featuring imagery from Streetscribe Issue #3 Summer 1988, and was actually set-up and ridden by yours truly prior to display.

The auction for all entries is now LIVE and will continue until October 9, 2008. 

Friday, October 3, 2008

MOVING DAY



...getting my gear out of my previous, super-cramped, workspace and into a larger, brighter and more secure workspace has me very excited. Can't wait to get everything organized and start workin' the space! (Special thanks to the Barnacle Brothers for the use of their monster 1970 Dodge pickup).

Thursday, October 2, 2008

STUDIO CONSTRUCTION


...making progress with a fresh coat of paint. Can't decide if I want to replace the anodized red aluminum stand-offs with galvanized, black oxide pipe in the bookcase. Either way, I am happy that my reference library will be getting a new home.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

PRINTS ON WOOD








I have (fortunately) been receiving several purchase inquiries from some of you regarding artwork featured on this blog. Thank you very much for your interest and support. Many of the examples I have posted are available for purchase. I sell work directly out of my studio, and until I find gallery representation that is an ideal fit for me, I will continuing doing that. You can contact me by clicking on the "view my complete profile" on the right hand side of this page. In additional, I am about to begin taking appointments for visits at my new studio within the next few weeks. Those of you in (or passing through) the L.A. area (Silver Lake) are welcome to stop by and see the work in person.

Above is another selection of test prints, this time a little less haphazard and a little more permanent. Silkscreen, enamel, acrylic, pencil and collage on gessoed wood panels, each 18" x 24" and each 1/1, and each available for purchase. Not 'typical' of my work (representational, popular and appropriated imagery), but interesting stuff nonetheless.