GRIME TIME

GRIME TIME - Issue 1, originally uploaded by fotoflow / Oscar Arriola.

The premiere issue of Grime Time zine was released recently and features photo spreads on New Orleans, Chicago, and an interview with tattoo artist Mario Desa. I was happy to see my photograph of THOR used for the cover.

Issue 1 is available at Quimby's and Novem in Chicago, as well as the other places listed here.

Emory Douglas at Columbia College

Columbia College Chicago's Anchor Graphics is sponsoring a talk by Emory Douglas, the former Minister of Information for the Black Panthers. Emory had been jailed in the late 50's as a teen, where he began working in the prison printshop. He then went on to study commerical art in San Francisco. It was during this period that he became disenchanted with the reports of police brutality occuring in black communities around the country.

He joined the Black Panthers and met with the leaders of the organization in 1967. They had just started publishing a newsletter with a typewriter. Emory offered to work on the newspaper and aid in improving the design. He began creating the striking graphic identity for the Black Panthers and was soon elevated to the position of Minister of Information for the group. He spent the following 12 years creating numerous powerful images that were used in both the newspaper and as posters to be put up in the street.





The F.B.I. kept very close tabs on the organization as seen in these notes on Emory's activities. Down to details like the color of ink they were using on each issue.


The New Museum in New York recently had a show of his work. You can see some images of his work here.

Here's a great article on Emory by Colette Gaiter from the AIGA's site, with more images posted as well.

He's also got a book out on Rizzoli titled, Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas, that covers his work for the group.






Emory Douglas talk at Columbia College Chicago
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
6:30 - 7:30 pm
*Free*
Ferguson Lecture Hall
600 S Michigan Ave at Harrison
Room 101
Chicago, IL

Black Friday etchings

Chicago original, Tony Fitzpatrick, will have a special Black Friday sale of his etchings tomorrow. Being held at his studio and gallery, Big Cat Press, it'll also be a nice opportunity to check out his space and beautiful collage work like the pieces below...


Fire Moth from the Chapel of Moths project Tony produced for the Prospect New Orleans Biennial.


The Spider Music. Part of a Tokyo series that Tony writes eloquently about here.

Friday, November 27, 2009
Noon - 6pm
Big Cat Press
2124 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Super Bad Ass

Bridgeport's Co-Prosperity Sphere will unveil Super Bad Ass, a show of artists that the C-PS finds inspiring. There'll be work on display by Juan Angel Chavez, Dayton Castleman, Stephen Eichhorn, Aron Gent, Jeremy Tubbs, Hilary Olson, Tom Torluemke, Gunsho (James Quigley), Berry Sanders, Montgomery Perry Smith, Hui-Min Tsen (with dozens of participants), and Justin B. Williams.

There'll also be musical performances by
Waterbabies
Relay Beken
Dynasty
MR 666
+ special guests
J+J+J DJ

This exhibition is one of the main events for this year's Select Media Festival which runs from Thursday-Sunday this week. More info on the festival here.

Friday, November 20, 2009
Exhibition opens at 7pm
*FREE* from 7 to 9 pm
Admission: $8 after 9pm to 2 am

The show will be on display through December 11, 2009.
Saturday and Sundays 2pm - 6pm, during events and by appointment.
email edmarlumpen AT gmail.com

Goons Cleans Up

Chicago's Goons has a new video out now for Orbit gum featuring his distinctive characters, as well as his take on the British Orbit girl. I'm glad to see his work exposed to a wider audience.


Thanks to Brooks for the heads up.

The Believer: The Art Issue

The latest issue of The Believer, put out by the McSweeney's media empire, is dedicated to Art. Featuring their usual mix of interviews and articles on a wide range of subjects, this issue contains features on artist Andrea Zittel, an interview with painter Jerry Moriarty by cartoonist Chris Ware, a piece on Kymaerica - an alternate universe created by the grandson of designers Charles and Ray Eames, and more.

There's also a brand new comic section debuting in this issue that's edited by Alvin Buenaventura of the prolific Buenaventura Press. This issue will feature strips by Charles Burns, Chicago's Lilli Carré and Anders Nilsen, Al Columbia, Ron Regé Jr., a new edition of Boy's Club (which is hilarious) by Matt Furie, and work by many more.

And on top of that the cover of this issue is a collaboration by cartoonists Charles Burns and Chris Ware.

Available in Chicago at Quimby's and other bookstores, and through McSweeny's.

Monsterbox Closing

monster box, originally uploaded by Joey D.™ ©.

This Saturday is the closing party for the Monster Box show that's currently up at Pilsen's 54B Gallery. There were a lot of great reclaimed newspaper boxes on display at the opening, including the one pictured above by Chicago's Joey D.

You can check out some of the previous Monster Boxes by TEWZ and IKIL that were released into the wilds of Chicago over the last few years here.

The Mr. Tastees crew will make an appearance and there'll be live performances by
DJ AMBIDECKSTRICKS
& MINDS OPPOSITE

Saturday, November 21, 2009
6:30pm to midnight
54B Gallery
2128 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL

*FREE*

Bill Daniel's Mostly True

Writing about The Sea Hag's tattoo flash honoring boxcar artists (posted below), reminded me that I'd been meaning to praise this book. Mostly True, billed as "The West's Most Popular Hobo Graffiti Magazine", is a really interesting collection of hobo art related material compiled by filmmaker Bill Daniel. It's a good companion to his Bozo Texino documentary but it also stands up well on its own. There are interviews with and articles about artists like Herby, Colossus of Roads, and Bozo Texino. There are also reprints from hobo related articles from over the years, photo artworks by the late Margaret Kilgallen, pictures of tramp art, and to top it all off there's a cover drawing by TWIST/Barry McGee.

Mostly True is available locally in Chicago at Quimby's here and is also available through the publisher Microcosm here.

The Sea Hag honors those who paved the way

Detail of Moniker Flash., by The Sea Hag.

Canadian artist, The Sea Hag, just released this hand drawn sheet of tattoo flash honoring early boxcar artists Bozo Texino, Colossus of Roads, Coal Train, and Herby. Herby was well known for his dozing character under a palm tree drawings. Bozo Texino was renowned for the 1,000's of drawings on train cars incorporating his infinity 8 hat. Bozo Texino and the boxcar art tradition are also the subject of filmmaker Bill Daniel's Who Is Bozo Texino? documentary.

This print is 11" x 14". Contact logan1184@gmail.com for more info. Check out more of the Sea Hag's tattoo flash work here.

Mario Zoots Redux

I never get tired of viewing Colorado artist Mario Zoots' collage work and found image interventions. Now he's getting into making animated gifs like the one above.

garry mad dox, originally uploaded by Mario Zoots.

Check out more of his work here and on his Flickr.

Check the Pulse

Chicago painter and muralist extraordinaire Jeff Zimmerman will open his studio tonight for a showing of recent work titled, Check the Pulse. He'll also be raffling off a painting to raise money for upcoming mural projects. If you haven't seen his paintings in person before this would be a great opportunity. He's got several massive photorealistic murals up in different parts of the city, including the ones facing each other at the corner of Ashland and 19th. St. in the Pilsen neighborhood. Check out his work here.

Jeff Zimmerman
Check the Pulse
Saturday, November 14, 2009
5 to 10 pm
2712 W North Ave (1 1/2 blks east of California)
Chicago, IL

Den

Humboldt Park's Garage Spaces has a show opening tonight titled, Den. Info from their site.

Garage Spaces, a temporary art space located in 2 garage spaces in a 3 car garage in Humboldt Park, will continue it's program with Den. Den was created through the collaboration of artists/curators Mike Bancroft and Evan Plummer featuring work by: Bridget Bancroft, Jeremy Scidmore, Gabrielle Carasquillo, Alex Inglizian, Jasemine K, Maria Perkovic, and Luis Sanchez. Den creates a space also known as the rec room by using performance, video, and installation. The space introduces viewers to the uncomfortably sacred domestic world of the tv room and those couch bumps that inhabit them.


Den By Mike Bancroft, co-curated by Evan Plummer November 13th – December 6, 2009.
1337 N Maplewood - In the garage at the rear
Chicago, IL

Exhibition Reception: Friday November 13th, 5pm-10pm

Gallery Hours: Saturday, November 14th, 2009 Saturday November 28th 2009 12:00pm - 5:00pm ,12:00pm - 5:00pm, Friday, December 4th, 2009 5:00pm – 10:00pm, Saturday December 5th ,Sunday December 6th Dinner performance (reservation only), and by appointment.

Jesse LeDoux + Veggiesomething

Two fun artists, Portland's Jesse LeDoux and Chicago's Veggiesomething, will have shows opening tonight at Rotofugi.

Jesse LeDoux
Exit Strategy
Veggiesomething
Hells Yeah! Let's Do It!


Opening Reception
Friday, November 13, 7-10PM
Music by Genghiswon
Both artists will be in attendance.

Rotofugi Gallery
November 13-29, 2009

Bowling for Becca

Capoeira artist, folk music enabler, and all-around good person Becca is fighting back against her colon cancer the best way she can, with a bowling party. Come join Becca and her friends at Chicago's Lincoln Square Lanes this Friday the 13th. If you haven't been to Lincoln Lanes yet you're in for a retro treat. Old man bar paired with an old school mural over original hand scoring lanes make for a fun night out.

Tickets are $20 and are available at the door.


Bowling for Becca
Friday, November 13, 2009
7 to 11 pm.
Lincoln Square Lanes
4874 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60640

The Undercolor

Curator Anna Cerniglia, of the newly opened Johalla Projects, presents a new art and film series by Elevation, titled The Undercolor. Elevation, composed of artists Brian Keller and Erik DeBat, will show work featuring burlesque artists Angela Eve and Becca Brown.

Here's a preview of the film...

The Undercolor from Elevation Productions on Vimeo.

The artwork and film installation will be on display Friday, November 13 – Tuesday, November 17 at Johalla Projects - 1561 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 2nd Floor

Opening hours: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment during the week.

Contact: johallaprojects@gmail.com or annacerniglia@gmail.com

Opening Night Party for “The Undercolor” Artwork and Film Premier
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
9 p.m. ­- 2 a.m. (free entry)
Rodan
1530 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL

Jay Ryan and Paul Hornschemeier at Quimby's

Tonight at 7pm. I really like both of their work. Info from Quimby's site...

Chicago postermaker Jay Ryan has been busy since the 2005 release of his book 100 Posters, 134 Squirrels (in its third printing with Akashic/Punk Planet Books), a collection of his favorite prints from the first decade of his work. This debut collection of Jay’s was praised by Chicago media and publications across the globe, including:

“Not only a gorgeous catalog of the artist’s many memorable posters, but a history of sorts of the Chicago underground rock scene in the last 15 years.” –Chicago Sun-Times

“Jay Ryan takes the germ of an idea and makes it uniquely great. His genius is in knowing what matters and what doesn’t . . . His genius is in having the image matter.” –Steve Albini

Since the release of that book, he has honed his craft continuing without the use of computers, and screen-printing the work in his shop called the Bird Machine for bands such as the Melvins, the Shins, Modest Mouse, Andrew Bird, Shellac, My Morning Jacket, and hundreds of others. His new book, Animals and Objects In and Out of Water features 120 of Jay Ryan’s favorite pieces of art from the last three years, including text about each of the prints, detail photos (shot at the MCA in Chicago), and original drawings. With a foreword by Andrew Bird and an essay by best-selling novelist Joe Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned), this volume solidifies Jay’s position as one of the most unique postermakers in a thriving and exciting field.

Jay Ryan has been making screen-printed concert posters in Chicago since 1995. Known for his hand-drawn type, humorous animal subjects, and muted color selections, he has worked for thousands of rock bands, as well as clients like Patagonia clothing, Converse shoes, Burton Snowboards, and the BBC. When he’s not playing bass in his band Dianogah, Jay lectures students and shows his prints at universities and galleries across the U.S. and Europe.

Jay will be joined by fellow artist and author, Paul Hornschemeier, who will be presenting his newest book, All and Sundry: Uncollected Work, 2004-2009, which corrals Hornschemeier’s work from the last five years – work previously ungathered, and in many cases never before seen in print.


These works span the globe, from periodicals to museums, including: conceptual drawings and comics of Ulysses S. Grant created for an exhibit in Paris; an award-winning cover exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; the seventeen-part serialized tale of divine intervention, non-linearity, and social webs “Huge Suit Visits the People” created for the celebrated German newspaper Frankurter Allgemeine Zeitung; and comic strips for The Wall Street Journal and CNN featuring the unlikely cartoon protagonists of Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, and the “gray fox,” Anderson Cooper. In addition to these oddities, All and Sundry collects covers and designs from multiple foreign editions of Paul’s books, ranging from Holland to Korea; recent album art for David Byrne’s Luaka Bop record label; a collaboration with celebrated comics humorist Michael Kupperman (Tales Designed to Thrizzle); as well as short, illustrated prose (thus far seen only in the pages of the anthology Mome). The collection concludes with extensive selections from sketches and sketchbooks, providing an unusual glimpse at the chaotic world of Hornschemeier’s work, before the polishing of lines and colors of the printed page. Here we see how works have developed and what the future holds for still gestating projects. All and Sundry, perhaps more than any previous collection of Hornschemeier’s work, demonstrates the variety and depth of the artist’s interests and pursuits, and invites an examination of the entirety of his process, from first fevered scrawl to final, pristine brush line.

“Hornschemeier doesn’t simply push the panel edges of the comics medium; he designs entirely off the page, encouraging other creators to join him over the horizon.” –Chicago Tribune


Jay Ryan and Paul Hornschemeier
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
7pm
Quimby's
1854 W. Damen Ave
Chicago, IL

Juiceboxxx, Pooper, and Pizza Dog at Berlin

Chicago's Pooper and Pizza Dog will join forces with Milwaukee's Juiceboxxx for a free show at Berlin Wednesday night. Complimentary Colt 45 will be served.







You can practice Pooper's Ham Dance here...


Juiceboxxx, Pooper, & Pizza Dog
w/DJ's Zebo and Popstatic
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
11 pm
*FREE*
21 and over
Berlin
954 W Belmont (under the CTA Red & Brown Line Belmont Station)
Chicago, IL

Chicago Urban Art Group needs your help

The Chicago Urban Art Group is the reincarnation of the former Bridgeport gallery, 32nd&Urban. Building on the workshops they conducted for local youth and the amazing roster of artists they showed in their space, CUAG now has a new large space devoted to teaching silk screening and more. Info from their Kickstarter page...

We are an emerging arts non-profit organization offering high-quality, low cost silk screening workshops for youth and adults in ChiTown. We know this type of creative medium is costly and requires space, lots of space!

What we have to offer is just that- space, equipment and a wealth of DIY knowledge. CUAS wants to teach youth and adults’ guerrilla style tactics and do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques. Our workshops are meant to support a community of like-minded art makers and creatives in an open-minded and green-friendly space.

You can find our home in the Central Manufacturing District, now renamed the Chicago Sustainable Manufacturing Center Space in the Bridgeport community on Chicago’s south side.

What to expect? 1,000 square feet of raw space, washout sink room, dark room for burning and exposing screens, communal art community, screen printing presses, various silk screen sizes and shapes, t-shirts and papers, inks galore, drying racks, green roof observatory, and much more!

Workshops vary in level and duration. Choose between a 2, 3, or 4-week workshop with a qualified instructor(s), opportunities to meet working screen printers and other special guests, as well as open studio sessions for those who wish to use the workshop space on their own time.

CUAS hopes to diversify our DIY workshops while offering employment to artists and art makers as instructors.

Visit their Kickstarter page to donate here... and their blog for great pictures of their workshops as well as studio visits with artists Brooks Golden, Revise CMW, and Phoebe Fisher.

Matt Groening and Lynda Barry: Cartoonists in Conversation

Cartoonists Matt Groening and Lynda Barry first met as students at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington in the 1970's. He was the editor of the school paper and they both created comics for it. They kept up their close friendship over the years as they continued on with their respective comic strips in alternative newspapers. I always liked Matt's shoutouts to Lynda in the credits of his Life in Hell books.

Matt then went on to fame and fortune with The Simpsons and Lynda continued to produce the awesome Ernie Pook's Comeek for nearly two decades. She's also recently written a guide to writing called, What It Is, that's presented in her distinctive illustrated journal style.

Matt and Lynda will share the stage at this event sponsored by the Chicago Humanities Festival. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Admission is free for students and educators with a school ID.

Matt Groening and Lynda Barry: Cartoonists in Conversation
UIC Forum
725 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608

Thursday, November 5, 2009
7 to 8pm