Fish McGill: The ideas for these bears came from spending time at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and wishing there were more contemporary bears in there like the Mad Max Thunderdome Bear.

JG: Why do bear characters play a significant role in your work? or What is appealing to you about bears that make them appear in your work?

FM: Bears are reliable and good to have on your side. The look and act kind but they can rip your head off if necessary – a good way to live.

JG: Why do you think there has been a high occurrence of artists choosing to portray bears in their work?

FM: I think it has to do with that Bear Force One video.

“Mad Max Thunderdome Bear”

“Three Bears”

“Totem Bears”

Armory Week is soon approaching, which means the third installment of DYSTOPIA FILTER is right around the corner. This year’s show is bigger and better than ever, with a roster of 31 artists working in a wide range of media:

Debbie Allen – www.debbieallen.tumblr.com
Adam Amengual – http://www.adamamengual.com/
Marion Bolognesi – http://marion-b.com/
Keely Brandon – http://www.flickr.com/photos/xxkeely
Anthony Calandra – http://www.anthonycalandra.com/
CASH 4 – http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/cash-4
CH0MB0 – http://leagueofbikepolo.com/user/ch0mb0
Naomi Cohen-Thompson
Dark Cloud – http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/brooklyn-street-art-dark-clouds-jaime-rojo-pantheon-03-11-web.JPG
Gregory De La Haba – http://delahaba.com/
Josh Durant – http://joshuadurantart.weebly.com/
Dust La Rock – http://dustlarock.com/blog/
Adrienne Dowd – http://www.adriennedowd.com/
Evoker – http://dramavisuals.freeservers.com/intro.htm
Josh Falk – http://joshfalk.blogspot.com/
Farika – http://farikaphoto.tumblr.com/
Percy Fortini-Wright – http://www.p14ewright.com/
Mike Hammecker – http://www.mikehammecker.com/
Stephen Holding – http://www.stephenholding.com/
Coby Kennedy – http://citizenkroger.com/home.html
Asif Mian – http://evaq.com/
J.S. Mildenberg – http://jsmildenberg.com/
Nathan Nadeau – http://metalwing.com/blog/2010/05/03/looks-like-a-bad-sign/
Mr. Never – http://www.mrnvr.com/
Adam O’Day – http://adamoday.blogspot.com/
Agustin Orengo
Miguel Ovalle – http://www.dizmology.com/
Daniel St. George – http://azstar78.com/
Dana Woulfe – http://danawoulfe.com/
Matt Zaremba – http://www.matthewzaremba.com/
Nick Z – http://www.youlovenickz.com/

So please join us for a drink and check out a cross-section of some of the most driven and talented creators working today. You will not be disappointed. Afterparty to follow at Trophy Bar.

Hope to see you there!

Enemy_of_the_Beautiful_Man  mix …..by me ……. drawing music …Feb 2012

http://bdgastore.com/blog/2012/02/enemyofthebeautifulman-new-mix/

detail of drawing 2012

Here are some shots from the install.. come through and check it out in person if you are in the area!

Evoker and Fish Mcgill are both going to have new artwork in the “Rabid Wild & Docile” show @ Myplasticheart in NYC, on Feb. 24th. Rabid, Wild & Docile will feature a collection of bear inspired artwork from artists from around the globe.

Artist Lineup:
Molly Bosley
Luke Chueh

Rabid, Wild & Docile: A collection of bear inspired artwork
February 24, 2012
6:00PM – 9:00PM
Exhibition runs until 03.25.12
myplasticheart
210 Forsyth St.
Lower East Side
New York
646.290.6866
http://www.myplasticheart.com

detail of drawing 2011

Old yella…..@36″x24″

black ink drawing in progress

fire extinguisher still life

from a huge sketchbook that takes up half a couch

killer combo…lil arm

details soon

details to follow

“Acid Etch” – Cambridge, MA

“Choppy Waters” – Cambridge, MA

“FMK” – Boston, MA

“Candid/Calm” – Boston, MA

“Peace/Piece” – Cambridge, MA

“This Old House” – South Shore, MA

You can also visit MatthewZaremba.com and “Like” it to stay updated.

Towards the end of 2011 we shared some wall space in an exhibition at Boston’s Fourth Wall Project where his prints displayed a command of color and line that immediately drew my attention. I wasn’t just impressed by the strength of his work, I was fully engaged by the subtle narratives he created in each piece.

After some internet lurking and further investigation, I discovered he was the author of a variety of art and design work I’d been admiring for years. His poster for Neptune at Great Scott had been one of my favorite posters in passing, and his design work for Raven Used Books graced one of my favorite totes.

After gassing him up with compliments, James agreed to answer a few questions about his art, his design, and the perils of riding a bike in Boston.

How long have you been making art in Boston? How did you end up here?

I have been at it about 10 years and I was in Colorado for while but grew up on the North Shore of Boston and I came back to take design classes at Mass Art.

Why did you decide on silkscreen as your medium of choice (assuming it is)?

The first thing that got me interested in art was silkscreen posters. I used to go to Providence all the time and were alot of people making amazing posters, art and zines using silkscreen. It is a good way to print my design work. Also unique textures and effects can be made through over-printing and the colors can be really rich. When I used to paint the colors where really muted and when I started printing the colors got way more punchy.

Your new work is much more focused on geometry and type, what inspired the change?

I am using a lot of the elements that are in my design work and now using it for art, so it is kind of a natural progression. When I make posters I like the type to be a big element in the design, A lot of the posters I make have this use of patterns that creates an optical vibrations by using blue and red or similar color interactions.

What has been your favorite both personal and professional projects to date?

Last winter I made a series of 40 postcards that I mailed directly to the venue one at a time. it was called “Going Postal” there was something really liberating about banging stuff out at the small scale and not over thinking and the prints got alittle distressed through the mail. A lot of that work was studies that I have been developing into the stuff I am doing now.

Professionally making silkscreen posters and bookcovers have been my favorite. I like seeing that kind of work in the public.

I know this has nothing to do with art, but you are an avid bicycle rider. Do you ride all year round?

Yes I do I have an a bike for all the seasons. In the winter I ride the beaters and hoopties. Boston is a drag for parking and getting around by car so I think biking is faster and keeps you moving and looking at stuff around you.

I’ve seen you ride through Kenmore Square with a three foot wide tupperware full of artwork. Have you ever had any close calls?

So far I have been hit by one car and have hit 2 cars. My motto is “That could have been alot worse”. When I transport art I take it real easy. One show in south boston I rode my bike right into the space with the framed art in the basket.

Who are your top three local artists and why?

I tend to like work that is really visual and illustrative. I have been seeing Raul Gonzalez’s work around and I like the lowbrow, often cartoony and expressive look of his drawings and the references to his cultural heritage. Kenji Nakayama’s sign paintings and stencils are really impressive. One of my teachers from Mass Art: Resa Blatman makes these mega paintings of animals and graphic swirls where everything seems to be humping.

Thanks again for doing this! Do you have any any advice for the kids out there?

Thanks for having me. I do have advice for the kids, first when you are drunk at a party do not spray a CO2 fire extinguisher when horsing around it will set off an alarm system that will contact firetrucks and the building will have to be evacuated. Also do not think you can cut safety glass like regular glass it will explode when you try to break it. Finally slow the fuck down, kids are too tech savy, motivated and confident; it is scary for older people.

You can see more of James’ work at weinbergdesign.com and check out his prints on Etsy.

I cant run from the fact that i love colored pencils…. and black ink.. 8.5×11″ framed

Little jammy I did with Nick Z... the return of Nick & Never, Take Me To Your Dealer at Fourth Wall Project

I’ve been lucky in my life to always have family and friends around me who are amazing creative influences and mentors (Thanks Nana!)…but never more so than with Project SF. From the moment we all met and started working together it was obvious something was different. We all pushed each other to be better artists, people and friends…and through those efforts built a collective that was bigger than any of us.

Project SF not only helped take our individual careers to better places but it gave us a creative family unlike any other I’ve ever seen. We’re not friends cause we’re gonna make each other rich and famous…or have something the other wants…we just enjoy hanging out and working together. That kinda thing is rare these days… and its something I really value.

Here is an old video I put together in 2005 that I feel captures some of that energy…

So if you haven’t heard of us before or just got sick of looking at our tired old blog. Come check out our BRAND NEW WEBSITE!!!!

WWW.PROJECTSF.COM

scupty lil guy   and painted on…

repainted scuplture from the thrift store

Radio Control is the dynamic duo of Matty Studivan and Kristina Otero. Their debut album “Hot Audio” came out last year and yours truly created their album cover and art.

They told me the story of their recording process in their triple decker apartment and it sounded like a great example of energetic artists making it happen for themselves. They recorded in the basement with like a hundred and sixty mics with wires running up the chimney, past their roommates, up to their computers in the attic to mix and record songs. This seemed like the perfect thing to draw for the inside of the disc.

These guys rule check out there music at weareradiocontrol.com.

Here are a couple sneak-peaks at some new paintings I’ve been working on for some shows this Spring/Summer.

Upcoming show with Josh Falk at Lot F Gallery

acrylics and spraypaint on wood panel

acrylics on canvas