I recently made three video shorts for Nike starring Mr Windrunner, my costumed mascot creation who is supposed to represent speed, protection from the elements, and a ton of other sporty stuff. My first challenge was how do I make something invisible like wind read as a cartoon mascot that can be a functional funny costume? The answer was a fast-talking bullet with a wind propeller for a head rocking a cape and ski goggles. Mr. Windrunner is a guy who thinks outside the box, digs what the kids are doing, understands the culture people, and he can outrun any fixed-gear fanatic and beat your whole frisbee league. So to achieve this goal I enlisted my friends, who also all through different channels knew each other, to make this happen. Mr. Windrunner stars NYC’s own Marty B aka Max Cohen if you do know him you’re waiting to see this, if you don’t know him you’re about to be blessed. My good pal Matt Lenski directed it and helped me realize my storyboard and scripts. Ryan Murphy aka Ryze from Boston did the edit who (fun fact) was immortalized in a Barry McGee photo seen in galleries worldwide. We needed some special effects and hot flashy 3-D graphics, so I had my old friend Pete Conlon and his http://www.wutitis.com/crew shine it all up. Here are some stills from the shorts. My three videos and six other shorts made by Adam Weissman and Chris Robinson will be on view Tues Sept 16th viewing at 8:pm at THE MONTALBAN, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood CA. See you there, or not. 
Posted on September 16, 2008 at 07:30 AM
Intergalactic http://www.intergalactico.com/home.php
My old friend Chris Capouzzo sets off his latest venture INTERGALCTICO. Chris one of the founders of Funny Garbage first as a zine in the late 80s and for the past 10 years till now as a design and media company. The graphic Galactus has decided to take off and start his own company INTERGALCTICO. The new site hes put together is a nice triumph of design illustration and media mastery that I’ve been looking forward to seeing for some time. Chris has all ways had the ability to infuse fun and cartoon with the classic in a seamless way that never felt forced. He dug deep in the visual gold mines of Japanese sci-fi splendor shitty hand made signs and the off model beauty of bootleg cartoon remakes. A champion of the throw away hailing such classics as the apathetic mail room master piece “you want it when” complete with xerox dirt and all the digital squish and ink sludge before they became points of popular interest. So many writers claiming the identity of graphic designer and vise versa today but he truthfully Has achieved status in both worlds for what its worth. The difference to me is Chris really stands alone in each with out needing to lean on one or the the other to reinforce his value in either. Galaxy rays, powerful!
peep it here
http://www.intergalactico.com/home.php
Posted on September 15, 2008 at 10:41 AM
One of New Yorks most celebrated Graffiti artists showcased at Dirtypilot.com Ghost is one of the most intriguing and respected New York City Graffiti artists who has taken the successful leap into the fine art world and creating the buzz at Dirtypilot.com. A NYC subway era legend, Ghost developed his unique formal technique through his involvement with the NYC Graffiti movement where he became recognized for his original style and vibrant color combinations, along with his sense of satire. This show runs thru Oct. 17.
http://dirtypilot.com/show1-1.html
Posted on September 15, 2008 at 10:34 AM | Comment (2 comments)
Rip Zinger book party Stussy Harijuku
My friend Rip A photographer and one of the nicest guys in Japan has a new book out with Stussy. I got to see the book over a year ago and he has taken alot of care to see this dream come true, nicely done.Taking place at the Harajuku Stussy store, Rip Zingers book titled West Americanized Tour, was celebrated with a release party. The photo book came about from Tomonori Tanaka aka Rip Zinger’s perspective on the West Coast skate scene while taking a tour to California. Gaining inspirations from some of the greats, Rip’s photography gives off a passionate vibe much like the artist himself. For those that missed out on our recent coverage, Stussy teamed up with Rip on a set of tees while a short video was produced as well.
Congratulations Rip
Posted on September 12, 2008 at 09:34 PM | Comment (3 comments)
cock back the hammer ladies beers are in the hamper!
Posted on September 11, 2008 at 12:16 PM | Comment (4 comments)
The Book From my Show is Available
Todd James “Blood & Treasure” Hard Cover Book introduction by Jonathan Lethem http://www.jonathanlethem.com Edition of 500 52 page 18cm 25cm 100 signed copies. To place an order call the Lazarides Gallery Greek Street, Print Room +44 (0)203 214 0055
Posted on September 06, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Info on Blood & Treasure my latest exhibit at Lazarides in London aug 28th
for more info go here http://www.lazinc.com/
Lazarides Gallery Greek Street is delighted to present an exhibition of new work by Todd James, a.k.a. REAS. Blood & Treasure features a series of over twenty new paintings, as well as a never-before-seen animated video.
Protest images marked out in cartoon outrage, filled with recycled advertising cast-offs and corrupted child scrawls, these large-scale works of gouache and graphite smash the distance between death and jokes and between the viewer and what he or she probably goes around trying not to know about the present state of things.
But this subject matter—grinning aircraft carriers, lounging blondes, sneaky missiles, beleaguered tanks, and skulls wearing sailor suits—most certainly has a direct connection to reality. Because no matter how fantastical or cartoony the imagery gets it still presents an array of problems that have no immediate solution. James evokes a comic book sense of horror at the modern world and pity for those that live in it, while his death-ink warplanes and battleships have a chunky authority that embed themselves permanently in the mind of the viewer. Stealth bombers jack-off over cities, cheered on by bikini models jostling for space with partying warships, creating a feverish mix of complex mayhem that’s fully apparent in paintings such as ‘Damage Incorporated’, above right, or ‘Yo Ho Ho’, above left.
These works are psychologically and literally unstoppable, in the sense that the situations they depict are in full swing and degenerating by the moment. They are absurd yet strike a chord of realism that cannot be denied. Blood & Treasure is a profound exhibition about the bizarre hybrid of war, commerce, and popular culture that the western world is trying to pass off as democracy, and with it James lays that canard to waste.
Todd James (a.k.a. REAS) is an internationally recognized artist who began his career as a child in the New York City subway system, and who remains one of graffiti’s best-known elder statesmen to this day. He is a co-creator of the seminal Street Market exhibition at Deitch Projects in New York, which was selected for the Venice Biennale in 2001. James’ work has also been shown at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, the Tate Museum in Liverpool, the Parco gallery in Tokyo, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, amongst other venues. Todd James lives and works in New York City.
Visitor Information
Lazarides Gallery 8 Greek Street
Soho, London
W1D 4DG
Hours: Tues-Sat 11am-7pm
Admission: Free
Directions: Visit http://www.lazinc.com to download a PDF map with directions
Visitor information: Call: +44 (0)20 3214 0055 or visit:
http://www.lazinc.com/contact
Posted on August 24, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Beijing: Artist James Powderly, Detained - Aug. 19, 2008
Beijing: Artist James Powderly, Detained - Aug. 19, 2008
UPDATE AUGUST 20 1pm EASTERN: No new information at this point. Based upon our experience, it can take up to three days for formal notification of detention by the Chinese government. We will continue to post the latest information here, including ways you can help.
International Artist Detained in Beijing for Planning Pro-Tibet Free Speech Exhibit
Students for a Free Tibet Notified of Detention by Twitter Message
Beijing – Internationally known artist, technologist and co-founder of the Graffiti Research Lab, James Powderly, was detained in Beijing early this morning while preparing to debut a new work and technology of protest, the L.A.S.E.R. Stencil. According to a “twitter” message received today by Students for a Free Tibet at approximately 5 pm Beijing Standard Time, Powderly had been detained by Chinese authorities at 3 am. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
from Wikipedia:James_Powderly
“James is a unique voice in the world, who lives and breathes art and technology for the purpose of promoting and enabling freedom of expression for all,” said Nathan Dorjee, Director of Technology for Students for a Free Tibet. “His trip to Beijing, in support of the Tibetan people and all people around the world whose voices have been silenced by their governments, is a small piece of his portfolio as an artist who won’t back down in the face of authority.”
The work, “The Green Chinese Lantern,” uses a 400 milliwatt handheld green laser with micro-stencils to beam simple messages and images up to three stories high on surfaces such as billboards, buildings, and bridges. The Laser Stencil technology was developed in conjunction with Students for a Free Tibet.
Images from the US Debut of the Green Lantern Technology
The images below were shot in New York City in July, shortly before James departed for Asia. For more information and high-resolution photos of the work, please visit http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?p=161
Posted on August 20, 2008 at 09:04 PM | Comment (0 comments)
