Faile x BAST Deluxx FLUXX Arcade 2010

Tim Peeler "Checking Out" Book Cover.

A new book of poems just came out from writer, Tim Peeler, from North Carolina. Peelers' poems speak of the quiet parts of American life as well as the dark parts that go unseen, or unnoticed for their banal quality. Through precise description Peeler is able to make you feel as though you are back in time in a small town cafe. The smell of the greasy food. The feel of the vinyl seats. The glow of the cigarette and the steam of the coffee. Its all part of the adventure.

Emily Smith, of Hub City Press worked with me on the images of the books cover and the chapter breaks. You can order the book here.

Jeff Schaller Public Works Project.

Jeff Schaller was commissioned by SEPTA in Philadelphia, PA to create a mural at Berks Station subway stop. Here is a short about the project.

Juxtapoz Interview about Pop Art and Zoo York.

I recently sat down with Katie Zuppann at Juxtapoz Magazine to discuss 2 of my favorite things..making art and Zoo York. The interview is set into 2 parts and you can read part one here and part two here. Enjoy!

Slayer "Raining Blood" piano cover.

Just simply amazing.

The Woods "Songs of shame" CD

Navigating through iTunes last week I came across The Woods out of Brooklyn, NY. Their sound struck me in a similar way that early Sebadoh and Guided by Voices did. Their folk lo-fi sound and high pitched voice are a perfect combination. Their rough psychedelic sound is coupled nicely with the cover and flyer art which has a hand done feel that only adds to their lo-fi appeal. If you are a fan of lo-fi folk then give them a listen.

You can check them out here and here.

The artwork of Christian Hellmich.

I came across the work of Christian Hellmich through Art Forum Magazine and was instantly drawn to the architectural composition of his artwork. Hellmich is currently having a solo show at Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York. The show is entitled "The Array/Transfer-Domino" and below is the press release.

Returning for his second solo exhibition in New York, German artist, Christian Hellmich, will present a group of new works at Lehmann Maupin Gallery entitled The Array/Transfer-Domino 14 January- 20 February, 2010. Since his 2006 show, Arrangement, a group of paintings depicting interiors, exteriors and arrangements of architectural perceptions all emphasizing form, texture, and geometry, Hellmich has endeavored to further explore the roles of painting and architecture within the context of his unique process. As Hellmich's previous works depict definitions between an interior and an exterior, viewers will find in this second exhibition a broadening of these definitions. The role of architecture remains one focal point of Hellmich's subject matter, though a myriad of topics and imagery flow throughout the works.

Hellmich's new works reveal a certain grade of concreteness and representation through his process, in which he strives towards a decisive moment and a formulation of definitions in the exactness of the vague, appropriating his artistic strategies. The two-part title of Hellmich's upcoming exhibition, The Array/Transfer-Domino, is drawn from influences he finds in many different pictorial sources, whether it be news, advertisements, entertainment, literature, or any other form of culture.

In informatics an Array is seen as an arrangement of similar elements through a determined method. The term "Transfer-Domino" can be seen as a constant search for the next tile, but for example, also refers to the personnel carousel found in professional sports. The exhibition title demonstrates the way Hellmich works and where his interests lie: in communicating through definitions and terms, and the exchange process of these terms, all of which, pertinent in this body of work.

Christian Hellmich was born in 1977 in Düsseldorf, Germany and studied at the Folkwangschule of Essen with an emphasis on free diagramming/painting. For Hellmich, painting is an exercise in taxonomy rather than storytelling. Hellmich's work has been included in numerous group exhibitions such as at Kunstverein Mannheim and Von-der-Heydt-Museum Wuppertal, he was featured in Lehmann Maupin's 2005 Summer Show, "Fresh Paint", and held a solo show at Tanja Pol Galerie, Munich in 2009. In 2010 a solo exhibition of Hellmich's work will be on view at Kunsthalle Barmen. He lives and works in Cologne.

Robert Rauschenberg "Man at work" documentary.

One of the most important American artists of the twentieth century, since the mid-1950's Rauschenberg has continued to pioneer new approaches to an extraordinarily diverse range of media. The many aspects of his prolific creativity are explored in this film, which draws on the ideal resource of a major retrospective of his work at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. At his studio on the island of Captiva, Rauschenberg gives a relaxed and candid interview and is seen at work.

This originally aired on Ovation TV.

Horse feathers "Cascades" 7".

Horse feathers is an amazing band from Portland, Oregon fronted by Justin Ringle. They currently have two records out: "Words are dead" and "House with no home". They are both solid records from start to finish but I am drawn more to "House with no home" because of its orchestration and deeper concentration on multiple instruments to achieve its sound.

They have also just released a new 7" entitled "Cascades" which furthers the sounds of "House with no home".
You can hear more here and here.

The decollage artwork of Wolf Vostell.

Amazing piece of decollaged art by Wolf Vostell.

Happy Birthday, Norman Rockwell.

Norman Rockwell was born today in 1894. Rockwell is truly the master of capturing Americana in its purest form.
His vision of the American family, sports, and everyday life was envisioned in over 4000 works that he made over the course
of his prolific career. He is best known as the cover artist for the Saturday Evening Post.

Happy Birthday, Norman Rockwell and thank you for your contribution to the art world.