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The Smoking Kids

skernick — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:42:28 +0000

You remember that video of that chubby Indonesian kid smoking cigarrettes that went viral a little while ago? So did Belgian photographer, Frieke Janssens. The difference between us and her is that she acted on her reaction to the video and put together an incredibly kick-ass photo project titled, “Smoking Kids”. Keep in mind that no actual cigarette product or smoke was involved in the shoot.

Check em out. Children provide an startling window into how scary and peculiar destructive behavior can be. They illicit the kind of jarring emotion that leads directly to clarity. Smoking is Toddlers & Tiaras chic.

Chillingsworth X 24Flinching present: “Profits of Poetry” Mobb Deep mixtape

skernick — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:29:52 +0000

Chillingsworth & Co. X 24Flinching bring the beat back to the Mobb Deep streets of Queensbridge. Download and chill at will…(subscribe to the mixtape feed to stay looped)

Download - Mobb Deep – “Profits of Poetry” (right click “save target as”)
Download audio file (MobbDeep_ProphetsOfPoetry.mp3)

Billy Dee Williams X Colt 45 40oz. X Lando Calrissean X Culture Initiative

skernick — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:48:20 +0000

The Uncanny Culture Initiative is gearing up to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary of growing and supporting the creative culture in North Carolina. They are doing it up properly with a 3D themed showcase featuring roughly 50 artists freaking it in the third dimension. If you are anywhere near Charlotte this Saturday you need to make like a fetus and head out to AKA Creative.

My submission is a nod to the man Billy Dee Williams and his smooth, seductive and awkwardly sexual support Colt 45 Malt Liquor. If there was ever a man who could convince me to drink 40 ounces of liquid libido, Lando Calrissean is the pusher. You the man though, Lando.

Dice Breaker

skernick — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:17:34 +0000

Yo sculptor Tony Cragg, you actin’ real dicey right now. Really though, the dude is sick with it. CEE-LOOOOOOO!

Tattoo Yo Teeth, Son

skernick — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:16:22 +0000

What the bicuspid, cuzzy?! Tattoo-able real estate is truly limited on the human body. Since you have already thrown a few Nascars on your back, some bacon and eggs on your head, a MySpace logo on your pubic region, a bong smoking dolphin on your tricep and a Hello Kitty on your tongue - what’s left to ink? Your teeth you imbecile! For a very reasonable fee you can get your crowns sent off to a very pleasant looking young couple who offer the bizarre service of custom tattooing your teeth. Now when someone politely points out that, “there is something in your teeth” you can tell them it’s just David Letterman.

Chillingsworth & 24Flinching present: Grand Puba – Maxwell

skernick — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:23:33 +0000

The good people at Chillingsworth & Co. have teamed up with your boys at Two Four Flinching to bring you a monthly mixtape guaranteed to make your ears open wider than the mouth of Francisco Domingo Joaquim. Our maiden voyage honors Brand Nubian wordsmith Grand Puba. What’s the 411, hun?

Download – Grand Puba – Maxwell (right click “save target as”)

Download audio file (Grandpuba_MAXWELL.mp3)

stay tuned, more to come.

Gentle Levitation

skernick — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:03:45 +0000

Humans are obsessed with flight. Ask 10 people what super power they would like to have and half of them will say “flight”. This never made any damn sense to me. After two weeks this “super-power” will turn from exhilarating to just another way to get to work in the morning. Only worse because every other schmuck will be pointing their fingers, gawking at you all day and the other half will be trying to shoot your dumb-ass out of the air. Suddenly you’ll find yourself caged up in some government facility along with Gamayun and the Jersey Devil grounded with regret. My super-power? Never missing a shot. Money, power and respect without the stigma of being a total freak. I’ve put a lot of thought into this.

Meanwhile in Japan, Natsuimi Hayashi has seemingly accomplished the fine art of levitation. Her blog kicks ass all over the place, showcasing daily photos of gentle levitation. I understand these are self-portraits, no photoshop. Jump, freeze, flight. Go girl.

The R-G-Beezneez

skernick — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:55:43 +0000

Color, line and depth are some shit to comprehend when you put your mind to it. Artists leverage these three tools to create illusions when painting or drawing. By layering and playing with color and line we are able to transform a flat surface and guide the viewer into a whole new world.Carnovsky (a Milan based artist/designer duo comprised of Francesco Rugi and Silvia Quintanilla) have created a series of wall installations that tool with our ability to perceive and interact with the RGB color model. I’m a huge fan of artists creating visual art that push their work off the 2 dimensional surface and spill into depths of interactive experience. Making art that can be interpreted over a span of time, breaking out of the moment of a flat surface. Super fresh.

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Radioactive Super Fetus

skernick — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:59:01 +0000

What came first? Hitler or his moustache? French artist Alexandre Nicolas tries his hand at uncovering this ancient proverb with his completely captivating series of pop culture fetuses. I’d be lying if I didn’t have my fingers crossed on my daughters born day secretly wishing that a newborn Spider-Man was crowning. Oh well.

How to Paint Biggie – Graffiti 101 Teaser Video

skernick — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:41:21 +0000

I have joined forces with the man Joe Bruno and Critical Cutz to create a series of instructional videos to teach spray painting and illustration techniques. We are finishing up the first installment showcasing a large format caricature of Biggie Smalls on a wall and the teaser video is ready to roll. Check it out yall. The Bob Ross of can control.

Mr. Rogers Graffitihood

skernick — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:49:09 +0000

Graffiti was born from the voiceless demanding to be heard. Feeling small and going big. This incredible stop-motion animation flips the script a bit and shows how getting up can get real small. The unknown creator of this film who only goes by his Vimeo screen name yo man recreated a wall of fame in Munich making Mr. Rogers‘ “Neighborhood of Make-Believe” look like child’s play….. wait….

Tumblingerstraße from yo man on Vimeo.

Mini Colorful Army Man Uprock

skernick — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:42:47 +0000

Leave it to Kidrobot to continuously make shit that I continuously want to waste my money on. Little colorful breakdancing army man dudes?! Don’t you know I’m a grown man trying to live a life that appears to look somewhat mature? Damn you all to hell Kidrobot. I’m shaking my fist right now.

(Scheduled to release September 15 for $1.95/each. Get yours here.)

While you’re at it check these jawnies out!

Giant German Riverbound Exhibitionist.

skernick — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:52:32 +0000

German sculptor Oliver Voss has submerged an enormous nude woman into the Binnenalster lake in Hamburg, Germany. What you are seeing is art as marketing in motion. This supersized seductress is an advertisement for British beauty products company Soap & Glory to promote the “art” of bathing. She will be pruning for 10 days before she gets out of the tub allowing her frumpy 50ft husband to use the lake as a urinal.

RIP Case 2 – The Death of Super Duty Tough Work

skernick — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:02:46 +0000

Damn, just caught word that the King of Style Kase 2 passed away in the Bronx this weekend after a long fight with cancer. Fuck cancer man. This terrible beast has been taking down great people left and right. Cancer is an evil, nasty, ruthless monster and it scares the hell out of me.

For those that don’t know, Case 2 rose to fame as a writer in the 70′s and 80′s being catapulted into the social conscious through the legendary graffiti documentary Style Wars. If you don’t know, you really need to get on it.

RIP King of Styyyyyyle.

“We don’t leave time. Time leaves us.”

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Skull Vomit

skernick — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:42:54 +0000

Miami graf artist Typoe kills it on the streets both inside and outside the gallery walls. Check out this stand-out piece titled Confetti Death created from a skull and shards of plastic spray-paint caps. Absolutely incredible. I couldn’t dig up an official site for Typoe but click here for his full flickr feed. Enjoy.

Running stupid.

skernick — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:14:48 +0000

What’s good, good people. I have been on a full sprint for the past month or so. Full on, high steppin’, walk on water sprint-job. Needless to say that when you are trying to stay afloat by running on water you can’t really carry a load. All peripherals fall wayward, the blood leaves your extremities and actively supports your core. There is a strange satisfaction I get from setting goals, achieving them and starting anew. I believe that is the base currency of my happiness in life. These goals are not always professional or project oriented. Often times they are more relationship-facing or parental. Either way I feel certain that the trick to getting by with a reliable smile on your face is by challenging and achieving.

Similar to dancing, hustling hard and running full speed can leave you looking physically ridiculous to a spectator. When your eyes are transfixed on the prize it is sometimes hard to notice that your arms are flailing about. That being said I am going to propose a new slang term for when we are on our extreme hustle. The next time I am juggling three or four projects and training for a half marathon I am going to say “I’ve gone Basset Hound“. Why? See below.

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The Art of Raising Nerds

skernick — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:57:47 +0000

My Mom posted a link to an article on CNN that was written by a Dad who detailed, “Why I’m raising my son to be a nerd“. At a glance I thought this guy had the same approach to parenting as I did which got me all giddy for a minute. The author is clearly a good Dad with a hearty conviction for celebrating good grades and academic achievement. I did however take issue with his alignment of “good grades” with “nerdiness”. Let’s get things straight here. Kids who get good grades are bright, capable and sometimes quite talented…. but not necessarily nerds.

My parental approach to schooling is that good grades are the norm. They are not to be celebrated like a touchdown. They are the baseline, the expectation. So, if good grades aren’t involved in “nerdiness”, what do I mean by “I’m going to raise my daughters to be nerds”? I’m referring to the social aspect of nerdiness. The art club, indulging in creative expression, challenging the expectations of society, intimately investigating the uncharted, exploring their colorful uniqueness without the shame of ‘fitting in’. Grades may measure scholastic aptitude but they do not measure the the character of their cultural identity. And in the end it is the creative, cultural and relationship-oriented challenges that define how much we enjoy our time on this earth.

Nerds are loyal. Nerds are creative. Nerds tackle passion and skillfully watch it evolve. Nerds have amazing, life-long friends. Nerds define the shape of their own slot. Peel back the PR saturated, heavily marketing-influenced facade of almost every successful person (musicians, businessman, artists, entrepeneurs, etc) and you will find a hardcore nerd. Ironically, nerdiness is cool as all-hell!

Even though I will expect good grades as the baseline, when all is said and done, grades are just grades. Tackling passion is happiness. And happiness is the whole point of this crazy thing, right?

The Huster Unplugged

skernick — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Everyone talks about how “dialed-in” we are as a culture and how increasingly difficult it is to “unplug”. As technology has evolved it is always the “next big thing” that will be the undoing of life as we know it rendering the old ways irrelevant. Each new development being demonized by the paternal attachments to the innovations that defined the generation previous. I consider myself someone who is extremely plugged-in. Between my time spent online, checking emails, social networking, text messaging, checking-in, researching, blogging, reading feeds, managing my calendar AGHHHH! It’s a lot. It is amazing how heavy a digital existence can feel.

I went to the Outer Banks last week with the family and my phone got terrible reception. It was beautiful. You know what filled the void? A book. Yep, with a spine, paper pages and everything. It was beautiful.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with technology or the submersion of our contemporary culture into the many social networks that have acted as foster friendships for the hustlers. It just feels good to cut off and chill out.

Since we are speaking about the ubiquitous advancement of digital media I figure it’s a good opportunity to share this incredible site “Dear Photograph“. This incredibly endearing site allows people to assemble printed photos from the past and hybrid them with the modern day scenery. The concept is cool but it is sealed with a kiss by tagging each photo with a short message to our photos past. I love it. Check it out.

Dear Photograph,
Dad never took a picture of me, ever. Then I noticed his reflection in the glass.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Anonymous

Dear Photograph,
I drained 3’s all day!
Janet

Dear Photograph,
Me and my first bike. The bike I have now goes a little bit faster.
@bizaaron

Dear Photograph,
Oh, to be young again.
Wizemark

United for Robert – Art Show preview!

skernick — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:42:14 +0000

Friendship and family are the fabric of life. So when a friend is in need I say we take that fabric and stretch a canvas.

Saturday night we are throwing a party that will include a silent auction for local goods, services as well as a large collection of artwork donated by the cream of the Carolina creative class. This is the best collection of artists I have been involved with and to be frank, I am psyched to be a part of it.

Take a look at a small sampling from the show…

Greg Carter

Paul Friedrich

Casey Porn

Derek Toomes

Shaun Richards

Sam Cox

Pete Sack

Holy shit, right?!?!

This full line-up of artists includes:

Susan Woodson

and more…

Keep in mind that we also have a wide variety of goods and services that will be up for silent auction. These include a team signed and framed Hurricanes jersey, gift certificates from Angus Barn, Douglas Carroll, Blue Water Spa and Nina’s Ristorante and more.

Music will be provided by the infamous Joe Bruno and a stocked bar will be at play.

The silent auction will run from 7pm to 10pm however we will be partying till we get thrown out.

We’ll see you there!

Extra Gravy, 135 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh

Keep up with Robert on the blog: United for Robert

The Playful Decay

skernick — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:32:30 +0000

When I was growing up we would often play in the open expanse of vacant lots (in Detroit) and lush tree-filled lots that would act as “filler” between the houses in the neighborhoods (in Philly). In the cut of these unclaimed urban areas would often be the final resting place for all sorts of wild and domestic critter. As kids we would stumble upon these often half-decayed carcasses, with skin erosion exposing weathered bone yet still clinging firm to patches of fur and stench. Each kid would deal with these findings differently according to their natural disposition. Some of us (myself included) would often feel an undesirable curiosity that would track us in to get a closer inspection while the more morbid and vindictive would suddenly push our faces into the critter igniting screams, laughter and sometimes tears. I remember one time in particular a dead cat was found decaying between a stack of cinder blocks and a temporary wall. One of my neighborhood friends picked it up by the tail, chased me around the street while swinging it around his head until ultimately throwing it in the corner mailbox. And I wonder why I have anxiety issues. If only I could translate the trauma from these memories into constructive contemporary art like the incredible Jessica Joslin I may be able to become a constructive member of society. Until then I will sit back and admire her anomalous ability to balance the stark landscape of death with the cultural anitiquity of Victorian-era, steam-punk infused playful decay. Purrrrrrr.

My Kid Can Do That.

skernick — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:41:22 +0000

Contemporary Art is typically digested in two ways by the common populace. Either, 1. “My kid could do that. It ain’t art” or 2. “What the fuck is that? It ain’t art”. Both expressions of the same negative, belittling attitude attempt to neuter creative expression that difficult to categorize or quantify. As the years pass I find myself more and more attracted to the odd and contemporary. I rolled through the Philadelphia Art Museum last weekend and found myself giddy and giggly standing next to some Warhol “Brillo Boxes” and the Jasper Johns “American Flag“. I’m not afraid to admit it. And since were being honest, one time I drank two forties and cried through most of “The Green Mile” in a Harlem movie theater. Since were being really, really honest, one time I pooped my pants from laughing at “Coming to America” in a theater and had to throw away my tighty-whiteys in the men’s bathroom. I could get more honest but I have to ration my humiliation efficiently.

Ok, no need for a segue (were talking about contemporary art so who cares). Check out a sampling from one of my more recent favorite contemporary artists, Andrew Lewicki. I am a big fan of playful art that allows you the space to question how you contemplate and categorize. Draw your own conclusions but we can be certain of one thing. This is art, and your kid can’t do it.

accordion obscura

oreo manhole cover

two untitled concrete paintings

petit déjeuner

concrete lego

y=x²

west valley boulevard norms

The Soliloquy of the Bud-Chucks

skernick — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:37:06 +0000

Art imitates life. And your face is going to imitate a Jackson Pollock if you step to me the wrong way when I am up to my chin in Yeungling. Now I’m a peace-loving chap for the most part but there is never a time when I am not ready and willing to break out the Bud-Chucks and reprimand a party-foul!! These cement-filled 12oz cans of Bud created by Brooklyn based industrial designer Chen Chen and Kai Tsien Williams kicks ass as fast as Tango and Cash. The only thing more epic-sized-awesome would be a fight scene between Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Oh wait…

The Illuminated Breadcrumb

skernick — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:55:35 +0000

Life is all about the journey, right? I talk a lot about the “path”. Finding the path, uncovering the path, looking back on the path, baby got path, pathamatics… Unfortunately the path we take is one that can only be traced back with the help from our fleeting memory. We don’t leave a tactile trail and even if we did our paths would be crissed and crossed by the millions of other paths that are left behind as people grind on making it virtually impossible to rediscover the trail. We are congenitally nomadic creatures so we continue to forge forward valuing every moment as best as we can. Yukon ho’ beotch.

This airplane photo collection created by the long exposure night photography of Flickr users Terence Chang, Luis Rosa, Sam Chul allow us a brief glimpse into how beautiful the path left behind can be when the moments have passed and the light doesn’t fade.

via

Human Flight

skernick — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:37:05 +0000

Life is hard and can be incredibly unfair. Bound to the dirt of this earth by gravity, our troubles seem to drag around behind us like rusty tin cans tied to strings around our feet. No matter how fast or how far you run the rambling noise of your troubles will persevere. The only way to properly move forward is to stop, sit down and pay the proper attention to the complexities of the knots. With a delicate touch and white-knuckle focus each binding wind needs to be unwound. It is quite hard for us to pay this kind of attention to the things that anchor us down. Our species are adapters. As long as we face away from the problem and adapt to the constant ‘clanking’ that our troubles make we feel like progress is being made. But this is not progress and we are not meant to be a vessel for negativity. It is high time to pay intimate attention to the negativity that we carry with us and address it honestly. Only then will we be able to lift up from the confines of this world and fly.

Sand Land

skernick — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:33:25 +0000

My man Greg put me on to this abandoned mining town call Kolmanskop that was built in the middle of the southern Namibian desert. Coming from Detroit, I have a particular fascination with cities and towns that have been left to fend for themselves post-industry. Check out these gripping shots of homes and businesses that the sands of the desert have reclaimed. Amazing.

photos from Picassa user scollard.

Canal Street Cutaway

skernick — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:44:24 +0000

One of the many things that amazes me about New York City is that the people occupy it vertically. I know it is only logical but when you allow yourself to conceptualize how strange it is that we stack up so high and dig down so deep to maximize the footprint of our occupancy, it’s odd. Similar to the many layers of our Earths crust, NYC has uniquely distinct layers in of itself buzzing with ant-like anxiety, pumping harder than the heart of Pig Pun eating all-you-can-eat brunch buffet at Sue’s Rendezvouz. Check out this intrinsically detailed miniature of a cutaway corner on Canal Street in what appears to be the mid-80′s created by artist Alan Wolfson. I know I have been posting quite a bit of doll house-ish miniature material lately but I assure you it is purely coincidental and not a relapse to my childhood doll-absorbed days. (I’ll always love you Calvin Reggie).

Make sure and take a minute to check out his website. It is loaded with 30 years of truly incredible work.

Industrial Revolution Nightmare Dream House

skernick — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:52:01 +0000

This is the kind of dollhouse that would inspire a young Jame Gumb to keep guests in a hole in the basement and take up lampshade sewing. Fantastically detailed and hauntingly manicured, these “miniatures” created by French artist Marc Giai-Miniet are hardly pint sized and demand super-sized respect. I’m pretty sure this is where Polly Pocket goes if she disobeys the commandments of her God. In a somewhat related note, I’m pretty sure I signed a lease in the mid 90′s to rent a room in one of these joints in Bed-Stuy. Luckily my Mom made me stop the check and cancel the deal although imagine the additional creativity-inducing emotional damage that I would have endured. Who knows, I might have been our generations Hieronymus Bosch. Damn you Mom and your protective nature!

Click image below to see detail.

Carving Washingtons

skernick — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:37:59 +0000

Stacks of money got you bored? Call up Scott Campbell and he’ll take care of that problem dumb quick. Stacking up your greenbacks, cutting them down and revealing their true complexion. Scott leverages tattoo art and smashes it with a contemporary vision creating these laser cut stacks of Washingtons. I am all about this “subtraction” art lately.(here and here) Retraction for creative expansion. Scott Campbell is pure nasty with it.

Pop-Up Pirate Ship Med School

skernick — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:13:11 +0000

The year is 1718 and you have just celebrated your 23rd birthday on the main deck of Queen Anne’s Revenge. You have been living in your parents clay hovel rent-free with the agreement that you would help fix the thatched roof over the summer. Needless to say you spent the majority of your days recovering from long nights drinking ginger beer and imported bourbon while your nights were choc-full-o karaoke night at the local tavern singing “Soldier, Soldier Will You Marry Me“. Before you knew it, your folks have thrown you out and your only option was joining up with Blackbeard to get your plunder on. After nine month at sea you start noticing some nasty wounds opening up on your belly and your teeth start falling out. Bed-ridden to your swinging hammock in the cargo hold you need medical attention and you need it quick. Luckily for you the last ship you plundered in St. Lucia had a Barber-Chirurgeon (Barber Surgeon) that you took captive. Lucky for the Barber-Chirurgeon part of the bounty you scored in Antigua included a collection of anatomical flap books for his reference. Subsequently, it is unfortunate for you that almost every illness in the 1700′s is treated by bloodletting, leeching and amputation. Not to worry though, the anatomical flip books will provide you with hours of entertainment as the Barber-Chirurgeon gives you a quick trim before mysteriously slipping you an out-of-time-and-space piece of Halls Defense with Vitamic C miraculously curing your undiagnosed case of scurvy while simultaneously condemning this mysterious time traveler to the condemnation of practicing witchcraft and black magic.

Fast-forward 293 years to the present day in the Duke University Library where they are going to be featuring a lineage of the (preposterously prefaced) Anatomical Flap Books. These dynamically rendered and fascinatingly intricate printed texts and illustrations acted as a surgical assistant allowing early medical practitioners to partake in virtual autopsies by meticulously flipping through the anatomy of the illustrated body. This collection dates back to the 1500′s and will be on display in the Perkins Gallery within the Perkins Library at Duke University from April to July 2011. Check out a sample of the showing and click here for more details.

Cornerstore Camouflage Resistance

skernick — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:57:38 +0000

When government censorship reigns supreme and art studios are reduced to rubble it seems only logical that the creative community would form a retreat and prioritize their safety over their freedom of expression. In an act of artistic brilliance Chinese artist Liu Bolin has managed to take cover through an act of harmonious aesthetic execution. A truly creative act of social resistance by painting yourself invisible. Wow. With the help from a few assistants Mr. Bolin is painted to seamlessly blend in to the setting in which he stands motionless. Some of these setups can take up to 10 hours but once completed he is often unseen by the people who are walking by. These pieces have gained significant international attention as acts of protest against the Chinese governments persecution of contemporary artists as well as the difficulty creative people have in fitting into modern society. There isn’t an artist out there that hasn’t felt like a social outlier at some point in their life. The work of Liu Bolin exemplifies this feeling while shining the spotlight bright on the plight of persecuted artists around the world….. all while being invisible. That’s the man right there… (where?)… Right there!

Woodworking Griptape with Mumbai Skateboards

skernick — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:00:07 +0000

The countless cultures of our planet produce equally immeasurable expressions of the unique creative paths our ancestry has socially negotiated. Sometimes the by-products of these ethnological paths criss-cross and beautiful things happen. Check out the cultural merger of impeccable Indian wood carving with the urban Western aesthetic of the skateboard. This is the goods right here. German curator Tobias Megerle collected twelve Mahim woodcarvers and let them loose on a skateboard, the worldwide symbol of urban expression that stands fairly unknown in Mumbai. What is known in Mumbai? Woodworking. These dudes have been beasting it with the native grown soft wood of Walnut Trees and a rich history of carving craftsmanship. Not sold yet? Check out this incredible photo set by Burhaan Kinu detailing the meticulously intricate artistry of the Kashmiri woodworkers. The final skateboard project is called Final Cut and will be showing at THE LOFT at Lower Parel from March 25 to April 12. Unfortunately for most of us, that gallery is located in Mumbai so we’ll cross our fingers for a traveling show. Mumbai grinding hard.

Half-Marathon Delerium Drive for Detroit!

skernick — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:30:01 +0000

Hello family, friends and fans….. and any mix therein. Good to link with you as always. So, I am doing something crazy this Saturday. I have decided to fly out to beautiful Napa Valley with members of my old crew from West Philly to run a half-marathon. Now, I’m not a super-fit guy…. and let’s be real, I’m not even a regular-fit guy. Irregardless I have committed and am doing the damn thing. Some may say, “Sean, shouldn’t you be able to run 10 – 13 miles before you fly out there and break your ass in half?” and my reply would simply be, “um, probably”…. but when has the seemingly impossible stopped me before? (not including that roof I plummeted off of in ’02)

I rep Detroit hard and this situation is no different. As I am running my ass off I will be attempting to raise money for my old neighborhood Boys & Girls Clubs back home in Detroit. I called my connect at the Bloomer Club and asked him about the best method to set up fundraising for the club and he replied, “Well, I’m not sure. Nobody has ever asked me that.” I find that hard to believe. Matter of fact, I’m just going to choose not to believe that considering that I’m certain that I’m not the only kid to come up through those ranks with the skills and drive to organize ways of giving back. Guh, anyways. Some of you may remember the project I began last winter when I traveled back home and interviewed some of the kids who are latch-key kids (as was I) from the club. The project is still in motion and I will keep you looped as it develops. If you missed it, check it out here. The kids are amazing kids. They are worth it.

If you have an extra few Washingtons or Lincolns laying around, possibly Alexander Hamilton wants to do some traveling, or what if Jackson, Grant, and Franklin want to see the great Motor City?… who are we to deny them? No donation is too small and hopefully no mile will be too painful. If you are feeling so inclined please click the link below and know that your money is going to a good place for some great kids.

CLICK HERE to donate (and thank you again)

———————

While you’re at it swing by and check out the Detroit section to sift through the continuing posts about my hometown.

“Detroit Lost”

Detroit section of the site.

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Anatomically Correct Octopus Balls

skernick — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:48:12 +0000

You ever wonder who the guy is that spritzes beads of hydration onto the slice of tomato and carefully arranges each piece of lettuce and onion on the Whopper in the print and tv advertisements? Meet Nir Adar. Ever wonder what he does with his downtime? …Giant shrimp balls. You see, when your official title is “Food Stylist” you know there are probably a few screws loose and certainly a few balls of compacted lamb shank laying around the crib.

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Planet Frying Pan

skernick — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:44:51 +0000

We are what we eat….and we eat planets. Wait, is that right? Doesn’t matter. Check out these photos of frying pans from photographer Christopher Jonassen. Cosmically flipping our perception of the bottom of a frying pan quicker than I can stack up Sunday flapjacks. So the next time you are getting ready to set a searing flame under that frying pan remember to listen closely. If it happened to Horton, it can happen to you. While your frying your chicken, you might be frying a who.

Check out his book detailing the full set of frying pan photos here.

Wrong Side of the Tracks vol2 announced!

skernick — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:17:15 +0000

The inaugural “Wrong Side” event was such a fun and positive event that we decided to roll out another. We are proud to announce the urban, gritty artwork of Durhams own Vanilla Gorilla will be featured throughout the month of March with an opening on First Friday, March 4th from 7pm to 10pm at The Union Tavern.

Immediately following the official opening we’ll set loose the 2nd Wrong Side of the Tracks – All City Art Show After-Party. Plan on hitting up some of the many amazing galleries first? Perfect. Once you finish checking out your favorite artists and galleries, make your way over to The Union for a gathering of the North Carolina creative class. After absorbing and appreciating some of the premiere artwork in the country you’re not going to feel like drudging to the “oomph oomph” club or slinking into a formerly smoky bar, so head on over and join a collection of artists, breakers, singers, writers, emcees, DJs, urban artists, art nerds, fanboys, mischief makers, whiskey lips & iron lungs. Don’t worry, were quite friendly.

Don’t miss the one people.

Remember:

Art opening from 7pm – 10pm.
Art Show After-Party from 10pm – 2am.

The Union Tavern 327 West Davie Street Suite 114

*Click to RSVP on Facebook.

(click here for Google Maps link to The Union Tavern 327 West Davie Street Suite 114)

While your here check out the photos and video from our last event below.

[Show as slideshow]

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Seano blasts panels on Raleigh Public Bus Line

skernick — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:46:48 +0000

The City of Raleigh Arts Commission organizes a public art project called “Art-on-the-Move” that places a curated collection of artwork directly onto the side panel of Raleigh city buses. So yea, my original steps entering into the art world through the gateway of graffiti has now come full circle. I am actually being commissioned by the city to put artwork on panels of public transportation. Crazy world.

I decided to focus on the rich heritage that North Carolina holds with jazz music. It only seemed natural to put together a dream team quintet consisting of legendary musicians that were born here in the great state. Nina Simone on lead vocals, Thelonious Monk on the keys, John Coltrane on the tenor sax, Percy Heath donning the double bass and Max Roach keeping rhythm. In addition to the artwork I had to write up an artist statement as part of the submission process. I saw it as an opportunity to profess my affection for the fine art of riding the city bus. Check it out and stay tuned for the bus launch information.

click image to enlarge

The Bus.

I grew up riding the SEPTA bus. Every morning I would put my lunch in my backpack, double-knot my sneakers and make my way the half-mile to the bus stop. Over time you would develop a sonic ear for the noise of a public bus engine and if you heard it coming, you better move your tail. Once on routine the people who rode the bus converted from complete strangers to silent traveling partners that you would inspect and admire in the subtle changes in their hairstyle, wardrobe and demeanor. We were regulars. Everyone had their favorite and preferred place to sit but it wasn’t always a guarantee that it would be available. On a bad day you would have to stand for the route. Sometimes you would have to give your seat to an older, injured or pregnant person and in some cases you would offer your seat to someone just because they looked like they were having an exhaustively bad day. The practice of standing on a bus for an hour will crown you the master of your center of gravity. Hawaiian surfers have nothing on a woman with an armful of groceries and a two year-old standing on a bus as it curls through the city. If you’re really good you can go “no-hands” reading a book while your internal pendulum anticipates sudden stops, sharp turns and rushed accelerations. A sharp tug on a cord above the windows would signify to the driver that I wanted to get off at the next stop. As my feet would tumble down the steps and the fresh city air flushed into my lungs I would feel a satisfaction that only riding the bus can provide. It is an intimately shared journey with the people you normally wouldn’t even connect eyes with in your community. It is a reminder that we are all in this together. An understanding that we all have our individual hustles and stresses yet we all flow down the same current. I love the bus.

Every time I stepped foot on the bus I would be packing my trusty Walkman in pocket with over-sized headphones keeping my head warm and my ears entertained. It was on these long rides that I fell in love with music and began my lifelong exploration of the selfless collaboration and individual expression that is jazz music. When I moved to North Carolina I began to unearth the rich and robust heritage of jazz music and the musicians that this state gave birth to. I was surprised to hear that our beloved NC gracefully gave to us the legendary Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Percy Heath and Max Roach. It seemed only natural to combine my sincere admiration for the public bus line with jazz music and create the NC-born Jazz Quintet. A bus ride and jazz music both reflect a textured American experience, communicate without saying a word, sit colorfully and loud, run muted and hushed while bringing people together and taking them on the ride of their choosing. It is a beautiful thing really.

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The Don of Tridimensional Dumpster Diving.

skernick — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:37:17 +0000

As I drive around my city I always keep a keen eye out for construction sites and the dumpsters that always accompany them. You can be certain there are a handful of quality pieces of wood that can be used as a canvas, frame or structure for a future sculpture. I enjoy utilizing pieces of life that are on the brink of destruction, salvaging them, reinventing their purpose and breathing a new life into them. A solid piece of oak that served loyally holding a row of books in a shelf for years seems to feel thankful when pulled and painted upon. I am in turn thankful for the opportunity.

Re-purposing and seeing potential in the world around us is critical in an artists perspective. The Don of dynamic dumpster dives is no doubt, Henrique Oliveira. While working in his Brazilian studio Henrique took note of the colorful peeling pieces wood on a fence across the street. After collecting the formidable fragments Henrique created his first form “tridimensional” piece for his senior show. Since then he has set this engaging process ablaze with sculptures and installations across the world. The aesthetic experience is visually jarring with a tactile energy that I have never seen before. These tridimensional works of art fuse the discarded pieces of a vibrant Brazilian society into a colorfully rusted, living and breathing experience that you can see, smell and touch. I am completely taken by his work. Get inspired people.

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“Best of my Blackbooks” vol1

skernick — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 06:40:44 +0000

Anyone coming up in the graffiti scene was always packing a bag of paint, pocket full of markers and a blackbook. Before the internet entered into the picture, blackbooks were critical in sharing skills and building community. Artists would mail books from Brooklyn to San Francisco and vice versa all around the country. These books would sit around writers apartments and any other writer passing through would light it up. After a month or so the books would be sent back to the original owner and gold would be struck. I never mailed my books anywhere but they did go everywhere with me and would hang out wherever I was hanging out. Over the years I accumulated 20 or so books that doubled as a sketchbooks as well as proverbial graf writer guest-books. If you know the game you will note the heavy hitters.

I will be pulling these books off the shelf in no particular order, photographing some highlights and building a “best of my blackbooks” series. Hope you enjoy.

AST – 2001 Sixers run to the Finals. Legendary.

AROE

AST – hand-style color study

SERF

MINT

NET & SERF

ZYRE & AROE

AST

RATE & SEANO

KAWS

GAGE

RATE & AST

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123KLAN is the man!

skernick — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:16:55 +0000

Well, “the man” isn’t quite the proper nomenclature considering the husband and wife France-based graffiti crew featuring Scien and Klor have been cold-crushing kids with 123klan since 1992. The remaining members, Dean, Sper, Skam, Meric, and Reso1 combine graffiti and graphic design while meshing street knowledge and technology. Sharp angles, hard to handle, cold to hold, these guys can’t/won’t stop. You will be hardpressed to find another crew that took a more successful path from street-rep to commercial integration without loosing their focus or integrity. Check out their new video promoting their creative skills and services and keep scrolling to consume some cold-collective client creations killing em’ with can-control.

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The Impossible Sound of Color.

skernick — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:28:24 +0000

I am fascinated by art and the various ways it is leveraged to communicate. Often times I find myself attempting to find the common strings between music and visual art. Both utilize elements of deep and shallow, high and low, light and shadow to weave us into a feeling or a series of feelings. I am unable to play a musical instrument at a level that could even remotely communicate anything outside of uncomfortable confusion or rudimentary self-fulfillment. This has left me with a creative void that systematically plucks at me. My primary desire to learn an instrument is based on the collaborative nature that music embraces. I truly love that about music. Beautiful musical expression can be created with the largest collection of classical musicians or in the lonely confines of prison. It is this inclusive collaborative nature that music embraces that visual art struggles to find a place within. Artists often collaborate on a single work or art, work collaboratively on a project and form art crews and show collectives but none of these forms of creatively connecting communicate forming a singular voice like music can. The only way I see this working effectively is if each artist involved were somehow able to become individual hairs in a single brush. With each stroke of this collaborative brush, each hair would be communicating with their own voice while manifesting a collective brush stroke. Since this is an impossibility (in this dimension) we are left to enjoy these art forms in the countless shapes that can form and leave the unformable to be enjoyed in our dreams. I think I’m ok with that.

Moving forward, fear not. There are countless parrallels that run between music and visual art. Take for instance the incredible sculptures and installations of Swedish-born Michael Johansson. While listening to Wynton Marsallis perform in Chapel Hill this Saturday I had a flash of comprehension that allowed me to see these sculptures as the visual embodiment of jazz music. Incredibly varied in content, inherently collaborative while holding surprising structure and form. I find myself asking the same questions when looking at Mr. Johanssons work that I ask myself when listening to Thelonious Monk, “How can something that is so wild and tame, familiar and peculiar, old and new, explosive and calming fit into such a beautiful box?”. It is one of those rare formations where visual art makes music and sounds so colorfully muted.

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click image to enlarge

The Bus.

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