IAM - ISSUE #2

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

new issue featuring photography from Lester Green, Henry Swasey, and Nathan Combs. Also interviews with Reuben Levi, Jimmy Houston, and GIVE UP.

MIDTOWN ART IN THE PARK

It seems like every week I am being introduced to a new event. a few Saturdays ago it was "Midtown Art in the Park". basically it is was a smaller outdoor version of the artcrawl. i was able to catch up with old friends and meet new artist. food vendors and live bands were all out, trying to make the day better for those attending. the Main Street art crawl happened to be taking place that weekend also.

ILLUSTRATED FINGERPRINTS - LEVI

I have known Reuben since high school and since then, he has remained one of my most trusted friends. he is honestly one of the most talented and smartest people I know. When i approached him with my idea for an art gallery, he was the one who suggested an art blog. when i talked to him about expanding the blog, he was the one who suggested the magazine. i have been waiting for his schedule to clear up so i can have a sit down with him and discuss what has been going on with him, his art, and his clothes.

GRITS….What was the inspiration for that?

Long time ago, I had clothing line that kind of fizzled out. I wasn’t really trying to do another one but I felt a lot of clothing stores here were catering too much towards brands that were not reflective of our culture. You would go to the store and see California and New York brands, but nothing that was truly for the south. There were a lot of clothes that were heavily influenced by East or West coast culture, but nothing really for the 3^rd coast. So I wanted to make something that had that “southern flavor” to it, but design wise could compete with any of those lines from the coast.

So I tried to come up with a name, and when I came across the word “Grits”, it embodied what I was looking for. Something that was synonymous with the south.

You have a lot of hand drawn elements in you artwork; can you talk a little about your artistic process?

Its not really a “process” to me. It’s just the way I kind of grew up doing things. Some people are real good at going in and doing things on computer, I like things that are not perfect. I like looking at certain artwork which you can see those minor imperfections. There is an organic feel to it, a bit of character that hand drawing provides.

Explain how you got involved with the Kweli cover?

A friend of mine that I have been collaborating with for the last five years got approached about doing the cover and he hit me up. We already had some earlier work that we had done and he wanted to use it for the cover and we submitted that. And they chose it. From there I did some additional illustrations on the inside to go along with the cover art.

Does music influence your creative process? Or is it just work music in the background?

I think the music I grew up on has a influence on the what I decide to use for my clothing, such as different sayings and lyrics. The music I listen to now doesn’t necessarily influence me like that, but from a cultural aspect music has definitely influenced me.

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment so far as an artist?

I know some people would think it’s the CD cover, but it is having the courage to start Grits. A lot of people talk about what they “want to do”, but not many people actually go out and do it.

Do you have any dream projects? If you had unlimited resources or budget, what would you, as an artist, like to do?

EVERYTHING!! If I had the ability to and resources to do whatever I dreamed, why limit myself to just one thing? I would like to do EVERYTHING?

www.weargrits.com

Rafal Karcz - Poland

The work of Rafal Karcz, a contemporary artist from Cracow, can be broadly described as urban stylistic, bordering on the underground and the mass culture. Working primarily with photography and watercolor, but also incorporating other techniques, Karcz creates a personal, non-realistic world that oscillates between the excesses of the psychedelic era and contemporary pop culture. He works primarily with mixed media on papers : acrylic, tempera, and inks.

see more here...

ARTIST OF THE DAY - TIAGO HOISEL

BACK TO THE FUTURE - IRINA WERNING

PANCHO IN 1983 & 2010, Buenos Aires

MATIAS IN 1977 & 2010, Uruguay

FLOR, MALE, SIL IN 1983 & 2010

FER IN 1970 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: IAN IN 1984 & 2010, London

: Nico in 1986 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: LUCIA IN 1956 & 2010, Buenos Aires

La Negra 1980 and 2010, Buenos Aire

Ato 1992 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: MECHI IN 1990 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: FLOR IN 1975 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: TOMMY IN 1977 & 2010, Buenos Aires

Lulu & G in 1980 & 2010, Buenos Air

: FLO, MARIA & DOLORES IN 1979 & 201

: MY PARENTS IN 1970 & 2010, Buenos A

: FIONA IN 1978 & 2010, London

: DAMIAN IN 1989 & 2010, London

: CECILE IN 1987 & 2010, France

NICO IN 1990 & 2010, France

: INGRID IN 1987 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: MARITA & COTY IN 1977 & 2010, Bueno

SUE IN 1977 & 2010 , London

: MARINA IN 1988 & 2010, Buenos Aires

: LALI IN 1978 & 2010, Buenos Aires

Oscar 1978 & 2010, Buenos Aires

LOOK AT WHAT I GOT

The KAWS book published by The Aldrich and Skira Rizzoli features a retrospective look into the artist’s successful work. Among the work shown is KAWS’ early poster re-appropriations as well as some of his toys created with MEDICOM TOY. You may have seen his work in Complex magazine and his work with Kanye West and N.E.R.D. This is a great addition to my "artistic inspirations" library. As a matter of fact, I used some of the layout work for the magazine.

ARTIST OF THE DAY - THEO AARTSMA

you cant knock a guy who has the word "art" in his name. this works are currently alternating on my desktop wallpaper.

see more of his work here