400 West Rich's Winter Farmers Market part II....

Currently blogging while vending at the 400 West Rich Winter Farmers Market. This is the first one (technically the one on the 24th of October was a soft run)... The parkerpopshop.com Studio was honored to participate in the "soft run" & is very much looking forward to this second installment at 400 West Rich...

Set up started at 10 A.M... This after pulling an all nighter working on co-labs with photographer & good friend W.E. Arnold for the January 2 man co-lab show at Clayspace/831 gallery, so needless to say exhaustion is kicking in...But this is sucha great event it's worth the sleep deprivation. 25 vendors are participating in todays event as well as Aerial dancing from Mickey Thomas & Dinin' Hall is open providing the very best in local food trucks, we also have Scott Yonker screen printing tee's...

One of the main reasons we do what we do at Parker POP Shop is to reach a younger audience and that includes children. A mother and her two daughters just purchased 2 Andy Bananas as their first paintings. If I had to guess I'd say they were 6 & 5 years old or so. The youngest held it close like it was a stuffed animal or something, so again it was a special moment & why we have various price points as well as bright POP'n colors...

 

               Fellow 400 artist Jane Landwehr with her new buy 1 get 1 free bananas.
                                           
This runs until 2 P.M& so far it's been a great crowd, the market is also running in conjunction with the Cheesy Trucks Columbus best grilled cheese contest. That event is running in the Gallery at 400 West Rich, while the market goes down in the big bay area.So with a half hour to go we're signing off from the 400 West Rich Farmers Market, till next time kids.....

New York City Trip Part 1

For the longest time I've wanted to return to New York city (the mecca) to exhibit my artwork.My first show (2009) was at the now defunct Climate gallery (left) in Long Island City, where I exhibited two paintings, but was unable to attend (probably for the best) & the last time I was there in Manhattan (pre 9/11) was 1998...After a year of showing in Columbus,Cleveland & Springfield as well as solid commissions & sales (including Vancouver B.C) I began to build up my bankroll & my contacts with a 5-10 day return trip to N.Y.C in mind for spring 2011.My original intention (plan) was to travel alone (lone butterfly) by train (Amtrak) out of Cincinnati to New York's Penn Station & stay with an Italian art model (Marie) for 7 days in Brooklyn & the Carter Hotel (from the movie Great Expectations) for 3 days.Well as we all know plans can change & I found a sweet little spot in Williamsburg (awesome!) at the Splatterpool art space courtesy of my guy Tolga.Fellow Pop shop gallery (Cleveland) & 83 gallery (Columbus) artist surprised me by wanting to join me on the adventure.The two weeks leading up to my departure date were filled with nothing, but hours of research,maps,emails,confirmations all while painting my usual output...Set up a show with the antagonist art movement at Niagara in Alphabet city (Tompkins square) for March 31st & was also accepted to ASA gallery (July) along, with a show at the Chelsea hotel ( May) as well as a meeting with my guy, New York's best artist (voted by time out N.Y) Borbay...With everything set & ready to go (relatively speaking) there was one last thing to do, buy a camera as well as lots of black & white film.

We set out of Columbus, Ohio fully packed with our art (8-10 paintings each) at high noon (symbolism) on March 30th for a 9+ hour drive (according to google)thru parts of 5 states.Passed thru Ohio (80mph) into the depressing West Virginia coal country & the town of Wheeling.Stopping for gas on the weirdest off ramp (gas station literally on the ramp) just before entering Pennsylvania & it's mountains.20 minutes after our encounter with the before mentioned off ramp station (cue the Dane cook public restroom joke), up in the foothills next to the highway were two snow foxes (playing or ?) in the high elevation snow.I always heard from my grama Parker growing up that seeing a fox was "good luck" & "auspicious" & there were two!!!Seems like a silly native superstition, but hey?Whatever helps me focus on positive thoughts & energy is (to me) a good thing.Driving on we climbed up into the mountains it began to snow huge powdery flakes that blanketed out everything in front of us (to Arlo's credit,he's a pro) & I looked out my passenger side window at the barely visible 2,000 foot drop with subsequent warning sign,thinking it's not the same as a sheer drop in Colorado, but still pretty goddamn scary.....Soon we began to go thru the tunnels under such mountains as Allegheny,Blue & another (or 2?) I couldn't pronounce & it reminded me of my honeymoon in Hawaii.Driving thru the like-like (pronounced lick-e lick-e in native Hawaiian) tunnel of Oahu with my wife on our way back from the Byodo-in temple & of course my thoughts turned to her for a while, which was a nice break from the intensity of the white out & riding thru the base of a mountain(s).Climbing down from the hills, rollin' fast thru the valley land of Penn & crossing into New Jersey (Dirty Jerz) the anticipation really began to pick-up as the light from Newark & New York stained the sky above a pinkish/magenta.Arlo turned on New York radio & we we're particularly taken with the hot 97 & funkmaster flex (can't believe he's still on it) as you just don't hear current solid east coast hip hop on Midwestern crap radio.After a few moments of confusion on the Jersey turnpike, we found ourselves in the Holland tunnel under the Hudson river (enough with going under crap) & came out onto the island of Manhattan & the west village.Takin' our "sweet ass" time to ensure we didn't take a wrong turn, but also to enjoy the action,scenery & all the other things that make the city so unique.After China town we climbed the Brooklyn bridge (roller coaster for me) & I thought it would collapse beneath us,crashing into the river below along with all the other 100 cars,trucks,etc.Just one of those random paranoid delusions that stops your heart and you hold your breath until the end of the ride.You come off the other side into Williamsburg (up & coming) in the borough of Brooklyn & every thing's comin' up Milhouse.A few mistakes later & we found ourselves at our destination just under the suggested time of google maps (sweet speed racer) & our hosts for the next 5 days,the gang at Splatter pool art space.The vacation officially begins when you reach the place you can relax & call your home away from home & we were at ours & our business trip officially began......................To be continued in Part II

Collaborations with photographer W.E Arnold

http://www,parkerpopshop.com/

http://www.wearnoldphotography.com/

...So growing up my grandfather was an amateur photographer and he would show me alot of the film, pictures as well as old movies he shot from the 20's on up thru the 70's. His photos of Catalina island off the coast of California (L.A) were always my favorite, along with his WWII photos of the south pacific and Panama...That was my introduction into B&W photography. I never went that route (photography)as it was a little to expensive, so I paint instead...

...Earlier this year, I met W.E Arnold thru Geoff Collins, chief curator with 83 gallery, at his (Geoff's) birthday party & we just kinda hit it off. A month and a half later we were talkin' about a collaboration...That piece turned out to be Godzilla in N.Y.C #1 (above right). A 20"x30" photographic print from a negative of battery park & the statue of liberty from his (W.E) trip to New york City. At the time I was very impressed with the effort, now in hindsight I know we could & did a much better job the second time around on that subject (Godzilla), but it was the foundation and what a way to start. We showed it for the first time at 83 gallery & their old location at the house on First Avenue. It made a good impression,but didn't sell. In June W.E approached about doing a second for the Exquisite corpse show to benefit the Columbus art mobile at Artillery. We came up with Holiday in N.Y.C (above right)this was a 20"x30" too, but on photo board. It was very well received by a lot of people, including the Director of that show & of the art mobile itself Heather Wirth. A favorite quote was provided courtesy of Ana da Paz-York as "a Phallicly dope co lab!"...The painting sold & helped go to a very good cause (a win-win)...In October we exhibited Godzilla #1 at Clayspace/831 Gallery in a very last minute deal with curator Juan Carrera and were rewarded for it. It was purchased by a man (Tom Wagner) that had bought my Skeletor (O.M.F.G) painting at the C-note show in Junction view studios earlier in the year (April). With the sale of that we were then able to do Shanghai street fighter, this was 24"x36" and on photo print like Godzilla #1 ,but instead of framing this one I used some adhesive to attach it to stretched vinyl.Makin' sure it was square was the real challenge, although I will say that these surfaces are the most demanding I've ever worked with.There is no room for error, as you screw up (misplaced stencil,over spray,etc.) that's it! The surface and painting will not be saved. Thankfully I've not encountered a problem I couldn't handle (knock on wood) & pray to the art gods it stays that way...Shanghai Street fighter is currently on display in Cleveland at the pop shop gallery. When dropping it off up there Rich (owner) & his main dude were shocked it was on a photo print, then to top it off I told them the photographer (W.E. Arnold) took that photo in China! It was at that point that I knew this was a special collaboration & that no two artists had done this kind of thing (Not pop art with B&W photography) before, since that moment the love of the process has increased and the work is so much more rewarding. Also, in October our N.Y.C Holiday was published in the Cleveland State University "Vindicator" along with a lovely article about me by Jordan Leah (Thanks again). In November we knocked out a Jack Kerouac co lab entitled "On the road" for which I sat & cut out a stencil of the last paragraph from the book (on the road). It took about 6 total hours to cut & in the whole duration of makin' the painting listened to my Kerouac spoken word & Jazz mix. He would have to be my favorite author or at least American author. It sold at Aberration consensus in Springfield at the State theatre, a show that W.E & I both showed & stayed at the Marriott along with our girls (Jennifer & Kaycee)...Even without the sale(s), the friendship we've developed has been so awesome & that is another point I keep makin'...The relationships I've made thru these collaborations is so far reaching & so I now have the feelin' that these (paintings/photos) are so much bigger than just myself the artist...November we also took another Godzilla & changed it up. The end results were Godzilla in N.Y.C #2 (screamer)...Another 20"x30" on the foam board (now a fav). This was exhibited at 83 gallery as part of Holiday Hop & it sold that nite. I enjoyed doin' the first one, but #2 was so much fun & I pushed myself hard. I especially enjoy the 50's Esq screamer as well as the new & improved attack helicopters! Now, here we are in December & just completed two more "On the roads"...One of which (above top) "On the road" #2 I did as a Birthday (Jan 1st) present to myself & plan on displaying it above my bookshelf, which contains 4 of Kerouac's works (on the road,dharma bums,the subterraneans & visions of Cody)...W.E Arnold is busy celebratin' a Birthday (Dec.25th) too & together we've both had a pretty incredible 2010 & so there is much to celebrate. After the New Year (my birthday) I look forward to doin' 3 completely new collaborations. That will take us up to eleven paintings with 8 different subjects & I could see gettin' up to 20 real quick...2011 will also see me take the co labs to N.Y.C to show with the Antagonist art movement, along with my other work.The first trip is scheduled for March/April and am very excited, hopefully they will be well received in the big apple too...? I'm pretty sure W.E. is "jacked up" for it as well... I've seen a great deal of Arnold's work & I also look forward to seein' him complete his darkroom along with all the new prints he'll undoubtedly produce, I imagine by late spring. To look at W.E Arnold's work you can do so at http://www.wearnoldphotography.com/ where you'll find more about the artist as well as his upcoming shows. Here are some other links as well...http://www.popshopgallery.com/ - http://www.83gallery.com/ - http://www.macworthington.com/ - http://www.cnoteartshow.com/ - http://www.clayspace.com/

Two definitive moment's...

My original intention was to paint tonight in the studio but,after an 11 hour session last nite (3rd shift)I'm a lil' tired physically.So,I thought I'd use this time to blog about my introduction into art & how I became an artist...
I'm not going to go back to far (we all made things in kindergarten) and so I guess we'll start with 6th grade...Growing up my family was very poor (parents poor,grandparents rich) & the only outlet for me was athletics.I saw that as my only way out and so I played just about every sport there was to play.When 6th grade began I never thought of anything else and certainly didn't think much about art other than drawing sneakers,cityscapes,cars etc...So,first day I have art for like 4rth period (or something).I walk in take my desk (in the back) & as it turned out our teacher was no ordinary teacher.Miss Richards was incredibly beautiful,young,smart & funny so,not your run of the mill 6th grade art teacher (or was she?)...Anyway,to this day I have no idea why she picked me to be her "project" as I was just 1 of 35 students & I didn't think I gave her a reason to as I wasn't that inclined but,she did.I learned so much about art that year & it wasn't dogmatic (as I would experience it alot later on) or boorish.She would use every resource to make all kinds of art from copiers to enlargers,early computers (& not "The Oregon Trail"),oils,spray paint,silkscreen,everything!!!We spent alot of time in the dark working with an enlarger and talking about Paris,London & the like.All the places she had been as she herself was an artist (of course) & I thought a good one at that.At the end of the year she put me in a show at a TCBY yogurt!It was an "exhibition" of young California artists and so,to this day I consider that to be my first show.For years after I clashed with all my art teachers or professors & never had the same "great teacher" so,art was kinda lost to me again....

Until 2000...Like I had mentioned before I was an athlete first & foremost.That was my way out of poverty,the ticket to my dreams.I was a varsity athlete in 5 different sports.Basketball,football,track,swim team & a five star baseball prospect.I was in Fort Myers,Florida that summer playing "A League" & I blew my knee out (ACL&MCL) for the second time.I had the first surgery when I was 12 (for the same thing)& so,every once in awhile my knee would give out.The second time was a freak injury while delivering a pitch (like I said freak).Anyway,I remember sitting there at my locker in the clubhouse after I was carried in & the medical staff had gone away,thinking what do I do now?I hate to toot my own horn but,I had a million dollar arm & my knees/legs weren't worth 99 cents a pound & so,my arm was now worth the same (99 cents)...I drove home (rented furnished apartment)got inside & my girlfriend at the time played nurse (c'mon she iced down my knee!).Brought me the mail & my Smithsonian magazine had com.I was a subscriber & into those publications because of my opa (grandpa in German).He had a 1,000 old (20's,30's,40's,50's National geographics & I use to read the hell out of 'em growin' up but,I digress...
On the cover of my Smithsonian was Pierre Bonnards "Almond tree in bloom" & my heart was captured again for the arts.I was struck as I read the article (awesome by the way) by his brushwork,colors,composition & subject matter.Now,I was an art major but,I don't recall ever hearing about Bonnard until I was reading my magazine.A lot of my teachers were Picasso lovers or Warhol lovers & so I had never heard of the guy.Here I am,my baseball career over & asking myself what I was gonna do just hours before?Here was a sign if there ever was one & that was the moment I knew I was gonna be an artist.Especially with my 6th grade experience & all the wonderful things my grandparents showed me (paintings,books,history & he was an amateur photographer)while growing up with them.There are many other stories of artistic folly but,that was the definitive moment,a definitive time.And so,10 years later I'm climbing the mountain of my profession & I still think of it as a sport,an individual one (except in cases of collaboration or gallery unity)but,a sport none the less.As an athlete I was incredibly competitive because I had a huge chip on my shoulder to be the best,to make my dreams come true & as an artist now I feel that I still have that same chip on my shoulder only the dreams are a lil' different but,it drives me & my motivation has never been stronger.It's been a great year & it feels like it's only just the begining...

Masters of my smart assed universe...

I just finished a "mini series" of He-Man & skeletor.I was asked by a fan how i had come up w/these particular ideas?The answer i had not fully thought out,it was a spontaneous execution on canvas & vinyl.While riding back home from the exhibition i saw something in passing that reminded me of my lil sis & i understood the motivation.Growing up my sis & i really only had each other as our parents were total hippies lost in their own world of music & drugs.We were born 1year,1month & 12days apart ,so we were as mentioned before close.In the summers of my youth my parents would "ship" us back east to our Oma & Opa in Indianapolis as they were touring w/whatever band & doing only God knows what,my sis & i would sit & play w/ our He-man & Sheera sets.Our grandparents spoiled us w/toys & we had em all.All the characters,the grey skull castle w/mote & my sis & her Sheera set.We would put He-man ,beastman,skeletor & whoever else on her my lil ponnies & have a convoy.It was pure child imagination & to this day i still possess my child-like imagination (thus the art)...In the end i miss my lil sis & as we both have gotten older we've grown apart (marriage & children will do that),but i had missed her & my subconscious was probably telling me that.We haven't spoken since shortly after i got married a year & a half ago & it's time i picked up the damn phone & called.Maybe we could somehow re-connect thru this crazy series,i don't know,but it would be nice to re-hash old memories w/someone i thought i would never lose.Right?We could talk about how He-man was a super gay character & how skeletor was always like W.T.F after his plans went south or how because of our parents we both suffer from huge abandonment issues (we all have em),but mostly i just want to say i love her & she'll always be my lil sis...I'll end w/ my favorite personal quote: "My art isn't for the young,it's for the young at heart..."

New studio and sessions

I've been in my new studio now for 1 week and the first few days were spent feeling the space out.Imagining what all it would allow me to do.Very much like the first few rounds of a boxing match i circled and paced w/ a determined enthusiasm.Feeling the approaching sessions and what painting,style,media,medium and motifs would i use as the studios first piece?In the end i chose to return to a theme i first did 2 years ago.There was a commonality and desire to top the first one.The Pink Panther...This one would be different,better.More thought out and w/ out the urban landscape of skyscrapers in the background.I went w/ a 34"x26" size canvas and decided on aerosol for my paint.The first session was tediously slow and all the coffee in the world wasn't going to make this process any faster.Stencils had to be cut while hunched over my new desk,although this was not as bad as anticipated.The desk and chair are at that perfect height and meet like two corresponding puzzle pieces.The background took most of my attention ,along w/spacing and proportion.I wanted to go w/a first layer that was "aerosol point ism",followed by an "Expressionistic outburst" of throwing paint.It started to look like a summer sky w/explosions like those of fireworks.Next was applying the stencils one at a time and one spray at a time.This is the most time consuming part of this style.Care must be taken as to not allow over spray,bleeding (which can depend on glue)or impatience in dry time.For if you're ready to put on another layer ,while the painting is not...We all know bad things will happen.This next session was faster and fresher.It flew by and the ideas come rushing in and i felt very much in control.I even painted for a time in silence and the studio was serene and i knew it would allow me to do whatever was within reason.It feels very nice to start and finish this piece in 3 days in the new studio.It's been broken in and i'm ready for 2010......