A temporary goodbye to Cleveland's Pop shop

I started showing at the Pop Shop Gallery in Cleveland almost exactly a year ago after moving to Columbus & Ohio in December of 2009.Remember the first 2 1/2 hour drive up to drop off art work for the $5o dollar show, a show where I sold two Kool-Aid's & my wife & I fell in love with the Lakewood area.Before that I thought it was very cool to have found a gallery devoted to pop art, especially in Cleveland & with the first few emails back & forth owner/artist Rich Cihlar found it funny my email was parkerpopshop as that's what I named my fledgling business in 2009.We had never heard of one another (obviously), just a case of two artists with a major commonality in influence with pop art & it's "movement"...




Before I even walked in the gallery screamed of pop goodness what with the neon signs,stickered up door with tint & Mullens the bar right next to it.You walk in & see all the art,shirts,crafts & the bubblegum machine filled with pop pin's,thinking it's an indie pop sanctuary!You start to talk to Rich & Jeff (his right hand man) & it's just Kool laid back pop biz as usual just outside Cleveland.I showed there the rest of 2010 & every experience was awesome.Fellow Columbus artist & friend Arlo Moon began showing there & we even drove up to pop shop together on one occasion as well as being in 3 shows together there...
After almost a year Rich asked if I wanted to participate in a 3 man exhibition at ARTificial gallery, which is a gallery within a gallery or basically another room (large) for the gallery's 5 year Birthday.How does a pop painter say no to that?An idea of his was for us to stencil the walls with corresponding work in the "Connect the dots" (above) show.We drove up on a Saturday with 15 paintings & spent a good 4 hours talking & working together to prepare the show.Upon completion Rich gave Jen & I a bottle of his homemade apple wine (deli sh) we drank later that nite back in the studio in Columbus.A few weeks later we attended the show & also Lakewood Park on lake Erie.Our favorite place in Lakewood,along with pop shop or Starbucks,a park where one could take peanuts & be overwhelmed by a squirrel army of 50 strong.They'll come right up to you & almost eat it out of your hands.Several art drop offs & pick ups were spent this way with me playing Ace Ventura, while Jen & Chey went down to the lake or were playing at the playground, good times for sure!!!

The POP SHOP GALLERY in Cleveland will be having it's last two shows in the physical gallery coming up in June & July.The temporary closing of it's location is due to owner & Artist Rich Cihlar & his wife expecting their first child in September.Rich will be spending a great deal of his time with his child over the next few years & a big congratulations to the expecting couple.The gallery will still be active in Cleveland arts & of course Rich isn't gonna stop painting in his soon to be done new studio.Jen & I drove up to pick up work this past Tuesday & got to talk more with him of the overall transition of being a dad & the gallery as well as the building's future.Breakneck gallery as well as the Cleveland craft coalition will be taking on the space at 17020 Madison Avenue one in the Pop shop space & one in the ARTificial space, shows will still take place & local artists save a spot to promote their art.The last two shows (for now) at the pop shop gallery Will be the $50 dollar show & the Avenging Cleveland show, after that the before mentioned Breakneck & Cleveland craft will be taking over the space.Do yourself a huge favor & don't miss these two last shows because once it's gone you're gonna miss it,I'm gonna miss it & so will Lakewood.A big congrats to Rich,his wife & the artists taking on the space & doin their thang.

Before leaving Tuesday with art work in tow bound for home in Columbus,Rich & I traded paintings...My "Kool-Aid" (yellow #1) for his "Aint it cool" (Fonzie) skate deck.Making it the first time I've traded my work with a fellow artist.I mentioned how much I liked the deck at the connect the dots show or pre-hang or both & Rich suggested we trade.It now hangs in my studio & an awesome painting that will remind me of Rich,Jeff,Jerry Shirts,Lakewood park & the times spent there...Thank you POP SHOP for the memories we've had for the last year & Cleveland keep bein' Rockin'!!!!!!

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...

Busy lil bee....

A busy two weeks in store for yours truly...There is so much going on & so much to do,i must say I'm humbled as well as grateful to be here in Columbus.I've painted 40 pieces so far this year (a pace of 120) & I will be pushing myself hard preparing for the next two months.I intend on painting 25 pieces by the end of May,twelve of which will be done in the next two weeks for The Gallery hop.May 1st the gang at 83 gallery will be doing there thing & bringing out live silk screening as well as live pottery throwing...I'll be there in full force as will some of the other 83 crew.Join us for cocktails 6-8ish in 11 at Hyde park where they always have team 83's work...I very much enjoy the hop in the short north & the two weeks building up to it are intense.A hummingbird couldn't keep up.I keep tabs on how many hours I work in the studio & those last two weeks (broken record) are 50-55 hour weeks.By the end of it I feel like the Tin man in desperate need of some oil for our joints...Mid May brings us 83 gallery at Bristol bar 5...There will be an 83cent cover & you can enter ($1)for a chance to win an original painting (Bob Dylan 12x12")by your humble artist & shamelessly self promoting author...I love the gang at Bristol & i hope this time round they have my Guinness!Agora 7 takes place May 22nd & while I've never been to this before,I hear great things from people about it & I dig the cats at Junctionview studios.That's all I know about May so far,but,who knows what else Geoff & Mic at 83 gallery will line up for the crew.These are exciting times & I invite you to join ride...

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..."

"Just like heaven"

I recently had a painting stolen from an exhibition,Stardust #2 (pictured top left)a 38x38 aerosol i had painted back in August 2009.I feel no loss,no sense of redemption.I know it's long gone and yet i feel honestly quite flattered.My curators are making things right and there are no worries.I have many questions of course ,but no answers.Does this sorta thing happen very often to starving artists and if not why am i a starving artist?I like the motivation this question raises in me.I look at this as an opportunity to make an evolution with that particular motif (Marilyn Monroe)...I blew the image up by another 100% and set about creating 6 multiple stencils for a two-tone effect,along with 6 stencils for 3 different sized two-tone stars.The first one in this series of 5 is "Stardust #5 (pictured top right) a 21x27 aerosol on canvas beat my own wildest expectations.I was then accepted to present work for the i heART show February 13th at Junctionview studios and i hurriedly set about on a 23x32 "Stardust Valentine" with the holiday of love (both good & bad)in mind.I enjoyed working on it while listening to an 80's mix of The cure,smiths,talking heads,public image and some others.I painted and envisioned myself working in New York City in the 80's.A favorite day dream of mine and as i painted i thought of no valentine,no past love or great love lost.The moments flowed thru me as the paint flowed from the can.It felt "Just like heaven"............