Two Evenings of Mayhem

The first of two nights hosted by my good friends at The Bait Shop is the BONEYARD. It’s a 19+ Devils Night event with a $5 dollar entry fee. Come by and be sure to have a drink and check out the new artist tee’s and rip the ramp!

The second event is Halloween 101 at School Bakery and Cafe. You gotta come check out The Misfits cover band, The Monroes. As well and Dj Fathom, a pumpkin carving battle, loot bags and $100 for the best Costume. Plus a limited Edition tee for the night.

Full info & details at The Bait Shop Site HERE

 

Mutate This

I wish I was in London for this month long show and to see my friend Dr. D who has a piece/installation  in it. This weekend will be the last showing of Mutate Britain. So if your in the area do yourself a favor and go check it out. If not, then checkout the video below and the site HERE. 

 

Mmmmmm Drop!

I’ve been meaning to post about this for awhile. The 2012+ closing party is tonight!! So you you’re in NYC please drop by and check it out and lend your support. A friend of mine Chris Mendoza artist, activist and founding member of THE DROP. It’s volunteer-run and the festival is seeking to provide space in the center of Chelsea and bring together developers, business owners, the art community in New York. It’s based on the idea of creating a self-perpetuating series of Arts projects. The main goal is to provide space in the city for a wide range of emerging to established artists.

Please check all highlighted links to checkout just what they are up to and how you can hook up with or help them out.

Opening Flyer

 

Been Busy, Not Sleeping’ I Swear

I’ve been meaning to post more from Manifesto but I’ve been super busy as of late. As well I’m waiting on more pictures. I did stumble across a little write-up by BlogTo.

Alan Wood was kind enough to jump in and paint up a couple of decks.

Our day started off with us arriving around 8:30 in the morning. Only to find our fencing/racking was a little late. Even tho it didn’t come till noon. I was lucky enough to have assistance from some of the best volunteers ever! and Manifesto. Thanks again to all of you that helped make this possible. We were able to quickly put the decks up and then the rest was all Smolik. 

I cut of Bilal’s head off. Sorry homie, but he was one of the coolest cats I met that day. He’s has some pretty crazy plans and interesting ideas. So watch out for him and his future projects. I’ll keep you posted, and maybe a FF collab!?

As I’ve mentioned before. I always manage to forget my camera, and even when I don’t I seem to take a few shots then forget about it. Check out the Manifesto site for more pics of the day and I’ll keep you posted with photos of all the finished boards. 

 

The final day of Manifesto

Sunday was the second last day of Summer but the most beautiful day of it’ 

The Manifesto wrap party at Nathan Phillips Square was absolutely amazing! The Energy and the people were unbelievable. I have a TON of photos but forgot my camera in a box. Sorry! You’ll have to wait till later this week to see them all’ but trust me when I say they’re while worth it’ 

Smolik killed it! of course. If you checkout his blog HERE you can see a few of the decks he did. He ended up painting 24 decks with the theme of Peace. Alan C. Wood from Market Garden Collection stepped in contributing  three decks. Which ended up being a pretty crazy piece. Thank again Alan.

As I said beforepictures still to come & more about the festivities. Thanks to everyone that came out and supported, and all the new friends Freedom Fighter made.

 

The Freshest Kids & Bomb it

So as I mentioned before Manifesto is on and to kick it off their was a screening on The Freshest Kids & Bomb it this past Wednesday. If you missed out no worries because they’re both available on DVD. Checkout the trailers above and be sure to hit up the art show tonight if your in the Toronto area.

Here’s the deets for the art show this evening.

52 McCaul Street

(30 Steps North of Queen West and McCaul) / Near Osgoode or St. Patrick Subway Station

8:00pm – 2:00am
PWYC 
19+

 

The 3rd Annual Manifesto this week

It’s true’ Manifesto turns 3 and to Celebrate they’ve been throwing events all month long. Leading up to the 5 day festival, starting this Wednesday. I’ve always been down with Manifesto and when I got a call from my good friend Che about being involved and helping out I said ” of course” We went back & forth on a few ideas and finally came up with a concept.

Freedom Fighter has teamed up with Smolik and……..I guess you’ll just have to show up to see. 

I’ve wanted to work with Smolik for some time now. Not only because his art, in all forms is absolutely amazing, but b/c he’s one of the coolest laid back people you’ll meet and he’s REAL. I thought this project would be a perfect fit. So I gave him a shout and a couple of days and a coffee later, we started planning. Smolik will be painting 30 blank decks in 4 and 3 board sections that will all flow into one another. With the overall theme of the day being peace. I can’t wait to see this all come together!! The decks will go for $50 dollars each with the section coming to $150 to $200 dollars in total. Why so inexpensive you might ask?? Well, Manifesto is a non profit community based festival and with this in mind we thought what better way to give back then to give YOU affordable original pieces of art. You can stop by and watch the pieces being made inaction. 

What better way to have people look at graffiti as art (which it is) then to bring it to canvas and skateboards. Hoping to change or sway the opinion of those that deem it as vandalism.

We’ll have a booth and a second artist painting a canvas on our third side. Yup’ we have a three section triangle. So you’ll have to come by to check everything out.

OH NO, I almost forgot! Reflection Eternal ( Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) with a TON of other artist will be performing. Check the flyer above for all the acts.

 

Friday Night

The Steve Olson Art Show went down this past Saturday, and it was pretty amazing!! The man himself was there and art was sold and drinks were served. Thanks to everyone that came out and supported! Pictures still to come. 

 

Only a few days away!!

If you don’t already own the June issue of Juxtapoz art & Culture Magazine it’s well worth grabbing. If only to read the article on Steve Olson, and just before you hit up Sleeping Giant Gallery this Friday for his solo show. 

Steve Olson is one of if not the most gnarly skater ever! and he’s still ripping it’ Now with a couple of impressive art shows under his belt. He’s taking over Toronto this weekend. Be sure to checkout the opening STEVE OLSON Art Show this Friday September 11th. Here’s the first page of his interview in Juxtapoz, love the headlining quote!

 

STEVE OLSON ART SHOW

 

                                        Amanda Curtis Presents Steve Olson Art Show

                            Sponsored by Converse  & Freedom Fighter Skateboards

When I received a call from my good friend Amanda asking if I knew of any nice gallery space that might be available for a Steve Olson art show. I messaged her back and said ” Steve Olson! You mean gnarly as Hell Steve Olson!?” She replied “Yep!” So I made some calls and emails and within minutes I had had a space that I thought would fit perfectly. Amanda & I met up the next day and after a bike ride to gallery and a coffee, she had a space. Her & Josh from Sleep Giant Gallery met eye to eye on everything and was able to work everything out on such short notice, which was amazing!

This show is looking to be off the wall and it’s all going down September 11th 2009. Yes folks I did say Sept. 11th, and with knowing how Steve normally using his mediums to say just what’s on his mind. This show and date will make for an interesting/amazing time!!

Here’s some deets, can’t wait to see you all there!!!!!!

“My Art gives contemporary art a juvenile delinquent phase. Its self-made style icons gleefully trashed conventions of beauty and society while pickpocketing from the coolest underground styles and beliefs of the previous centuries…” Steve Olson

Steve Olson, a pro skateboarder in the 70s and 80s and prominent figure in the L.A. and San Francisco Punk Rock scene, creates Post Modern work that weaves narrative themes of capitalism, pop culture, social decay, and modern banality with the energy and fun of the early Punk scene. Steve Olson’s work confronts and undermines the way society constructs and imposes a traditional hierarchy of cultural values and meanings by critiquing contemporary society and our relationship with it. The artwork explores power and the way economic and social forces exert that power by shaping the identities of individuals and culture. Questioning the nature and extent of our freedom his art challenges our acquiescence to authority and conventional thought.

Bold imagery, layered texture, deconstructed material and a playful relationship between art, language and meaning gives this thoughtful work a dimension beyond it’s visual impact.