Strawberryluna

Gig Posters Volume I, big ol’ awesome BOOK!

Gig Posters Volume I

Gig Posters Volume I: Rock Show Art of the 20th Century

ShaaahhDoink! Gig Posters Volume I: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century is a new book chock full of hot rock postery goodness from current, working poster artists all over the world. And cripes! They let me in too. In the words of Omar: “Indeed.”

Available for pre-order now, published through the super Chronicle Books and Quirk Books. And, just an FYI? If you pre-order through the Gigposters.com website you will receive a bitchin’ extra freebie: an exclusive screenprinted poster from the indomitable Jay Ryan. No foolin’!

Official Description of the book, project and limited edition freebie prints below:

Gigposters.com showcases gig posters, handbills and flyers from around the world. Great for artists, musicians, bands, designers, venues and music collectors. A collection of rock posters and music posters.

Ships April 2009
11 x 14 inches
208 pages
Paperback

Includes 101 perforated and ready-to-hang posters along with hundreds of other poster images and designer biographies. Packaged in an oversized 11-by-14-inch paperback, Gig Posters Volume I is a spectacular compilation of rock show art (and a great way to decorate a dorm room or apartment). 

Designers: 
3d Glasses, Adam Turman, Aesthetic Apparatus, Alan Forbes, Allen Jaeger, Amy Jo, Andrio Abero, Andy Vastagh, Beyond The Pale, Billy Perkins, Bobby Dixon, Bongout, Brad Klausen, Brian Ewing, Budai, Burlesque of North America, Casey Burns, Cricket Press, Crosshair, Dale Flattum, Dan Grzeca, Dan McCarthy, Dan Stiles, Daniel Danger, Delicious, Denny Schmickle, Diana Sudyka, Dirk Fowler, Drew Millward, Drowning Creek Studio, DWITT, Eleanor Grosch, Emek, Engine House 13, FarmBarn Art Co., Firehouse, Furturtle Printworks, Gary Houston, Gregg Gordon, Guy Burwell, Hero Design Studio, Invisible Creature, Ironforgepress, James Rheem Davis, Jamie Ward, Jared Connor, Jason Goad, Jay Ryan, Jay Vollmar, Jeph, Jermaine Rogers, Joanna Wecht, Johnny Crap, Jon Smith, Josh Rickun, Judge, Justin Hampton, Justin Kamerer, Largemammal Print, Leia Bell, Lil Tuffy, Little Jacket, Lonny Hurley, Lonny Unitus, Luke Drozd, Lure Design, Malleus, Mark Pedini, Mat Daly, Methane Studios, Micah Smith, Michael Michael Motorcycle, Mig Kokinda, Mike King, Nate Duval, Patent Pending, Powerhouse Factories, Powerslide Design Co., Print Mafia, Rob Jones, Ron Liberti, Ryan Nole, Sasha Barr, Scrojo, Seripop, Squad 19, Stainboy, Steve Walters, strawberryluna, Tanxxx, Tara McPherson, The Decoder Ring Design Concern, The Heads Of State, The Little Friends Of Printmaking, The Small Stakes, Thomas Scott, Tim Gough, Todd Slater, Vahalla Studios, Zach Hobbs, Zeloot 

BONUS ART PRINTS: 
Pre-order now from Gigposters.com and receive an exclusive limited edition screenprinted art print by Jay Ryan! Jay will be creating 3 different 10″x13″ art prints for the book release. The first 1200 pre-orders get free art prints! (400 of each) *Order the 3-pack to assure you get one of each art print!* (Jay Ryan subscribers will automatically receive copies of the art prints in their subscriptions)

Fun, fresh, All Songs Considered.

NPR's All Songs Considered

 

NPR's All Songs Considered

 

I listen to music all day long, always in the car (unless it’s NPR time), and when I’m printing, cleaning the house, etc. Like, basically? A lot. A ton if you will, even. And despite the fact that between me & my fella’s huge collection and varied tastes in music, I still find myself bored with what I’m listening to from time to time. It’s really sort of crazy if you look at it from a volume standpoint. But, it makes perfect sense really if you think of music as a driving force in creativity. Especially for people like us who also work in and for the music industry. Music, creativity, art, emotion, thought…they are all linked in a nice messy complicated creature.

One of the ways that I regularly combat this need for fresh sounds is to check out what’s new on National Public Radio (NPR)’s awesome show All Songs Considered, (a show featured in NPR’s also excellent NPR Music offerings) hosted by music fanatic and super open Bob Boilen. If you are a NPR junkie like myself, you’ll get the pun, if not…the title is still apt and clear.

What I love about All Songs Considered is the easy mixing of live shows at music clubs or in studio at NPR and exclusive studio recorded music, as well as the variety of bands and performers covered. Lots of music outlets promise variety in their catalogue, All Songs Considered delivers. It’s a little bit insane. You are as likely to find the newest in new movements, let alone artists, from all around the globe working in genres as varied as human history as you are an old favorite working out something new over yonder. I consistently find stuff that I didn’t know existed, forgot that I had liked, or thought that I would never dig and yet…BANG. Awesome. There is something to be said for excellence in curation.

A  new and cool feature for 2009, All Songs Considered will be debuting new work from musicians with online record release parties, followed by live chat sessions to review and discuss a couple of days later. To start off this new venture, January has record special releases from Andrew Bird, M. Ward, and Animal Collective Neat, right? The first in the series is Andrew Bird’s record release yesterday  Janury 5th, 2009 followed by a live chat on Thursday January 8th, 2009 at 1pm EST.

Enough chatty-chat by me. If you like music, this is heaven. GO listen, GO dig, GO play!

President George Washington; New art print released!

United States First President, General George Washington, 8 color screenprint

United States First President, General George Washington, 8 color screenprint

  Mr., General, President George Washington. He was a complicated man for exceptionally complicated times. Farmer, general, slave-owner, politician, surveyor, patriot, Mason, husband, stepfather, and the United States very first and formidable first President. A man who didn’t belong to a political party, nor believed in them. Kind of difficult to imagine these days, isn’t it? Unfortunately. 

Mr. Washington here is a new hand screenprinted art print, done for a print exchange and upcoming show at fellow printmaker Leia Bell’s gallery called Signed & Numbered Gallery in Salt Lake City Utah. The show is called “All The Presidents Men”, features 44 prints from 44 different artists (one for each US President, should you be keeping count. “All The Presidents’ Men” opens on Friday January 16th 2009 during the SLC Gallery Stroll and there will be another party to celebrate the actual inauguration of our 44th president on Tuesday January 20th 2009 from 1:00 until 7:00pm. 

My new print for this show & exchange is available now, and I have just a few since half of the run is part of the show and the print exchange with the other participating artists. Mr. President here is an 8-color hand screenprinted print with process Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CMYK) inks, with lots of overprints to make 8 magic colors out of just 4. Gotta love overprints in screenprinting! Edition of 100, with 47 going to the show and the print exchange, so I have just a few for sale. Size: 9.5w x 13h inches. Perfect for framing. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight. 

Growing up in Philadelphia, just a couple of blocks away from Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell and many other colonial landmarks that were a part of the making of the United States, I was quite excited to get the chance to do a portrait of our first President. Thank you Mr. Washington.

The Gig Is Up!

np-gp-article-blog-top

Indeed. Very cool article in the National Post out of Toronto, ON in Canada on the world of gigposters, both actual and the website dedicated to them. It’s a great piece on Clay Hayes, who started the website www.gigposters.com without realizing that he in fact, was starting a revolution. 

To read the article in full, on the off chance that you don’t have super awesome magnifying specs, I’ve posted the article on my Flickr account. MUCH easier to read. Thanks Canada! You are always lovely.

np-gp-article-blog-bottom2

Vintage Christmas Cards

The imagery for Christmas cards might seem like a given these days, simple  & bold graphics, perhaps tending towards the nearly unidentifiable winter or generic holiday look. Don’t get me wrong, I love a pure graphic approach to a card. But there is something very engaging and fun about vintage and old-fashioned Christmas cards that really gets my attention.

From the traditional Victorian look:

victorian_christmas

 

To the very sweet and peaceful 1940’s style, such a contrast to the reality of that era. Don’t you want to live in that little snowy village?:

Dont you want to live there?

And the flowing, natural yet stylized Arts & Crafts-centric 1920s look of this beauty:

 

1920s

 

Dashing glamour, sweeping elegance and the highest of hopes translated into a party scene:

 

 And yet, so many cards were not as soft, sweet or traditional, unlike so much of today’s Christmas cheer fare as edited and produced by (perhaps overly) PC and inoffensive greeting card companies. Prime examples of a more ironic, or bitter take on the Season:

 

polar

And the of course, there is Margaret Keene (you thought it was Walter, didn’t you!) being a little creepy for Christmas:

 

There was even a time when Christmas celebrations were outlawed in Boston, MA the Protestant heyday. Bah Humbug!

For more vintage Christmas goodness, check out these Flickr pages and groups:  Vintage Christmas: 1945-1970, profkaren’s set  Vintage Greeting Cards and a lovely assortment in sakameg’s Flickr account.

While this isn’t a card, this WPA poster is just the tops.

 

Works Progress Administration poster for The Federal Youth Theater's Christmas Carol production.

Works Progress Administration poster for The Federal Theater for Youth’s Christmas Carol production.

The Dandy Warhols, new poster released!

Yeah, what is UP!

I just released a new poster for a great new band called The Dandy Warhols, perhaps you’ve heard of them? Just kiddin’, goofus. They’ve been around the block and back, consistently putting out good solid psych-pop, which I love. I’m pleased as piked punch to have done a poster for The Dandys Bournemouth UK show with the lovely  Fabienne Delsol  through the Richard Goodall Gallery as a part of their European tour series.

2-color hand screenprinted poster for The Dandy Warhols in Bournemouth UK

2-color hand screenprinted poster for The Dandy Warhols in Bournemouth UK

This poster is all hand screenprinted by me, 2-colors on acid-free & archival Cougar White, 100lb heavy cover stock. Available now at my website, or my Etsy store. 

Also, I HIGHLY recommend  Ondi Timoner’s rock-documentary DiG! if you’ve never seen it, heard of it, or have seen it half a dozen times (like me) or more. Super intense and amazingly entertaining and Sundance Grand Jury Prize award winning  look at not just two bands’ symbiotic  and tumultuous relationships’ to each other, but the touring and creative life in general. Hilarious, freaky & groovy, sex, drugs, death threats and fashion – basically everything you want rock music to be. Check it!

Super fun Year End Exhibition Art Show at AIR

 

AIR community print studios.

AIR community print studios: 518 Foreland St. Pgh. PA - 412-321-8664.

Ooooooh yeah! This one is going to be a rad fun time. It’s experimental, and if you know anyone from the AIR studios (Artists Image Resource, where I print) then you know this is going to be a funfest. 

What: The AIR Annual Staff & Volunteer  Art Show, Party & Exhibition. Over 32 artists’ current work will be on view ranging from print, sculpture, painting, photography, sound and video installation.

When: Saturday December 13, 2008 from 7:00pm –11:00pm

Where: AIR, Artists Image Resource, 518 Foreland St. Pittsburgh, PA 412-321-9664, on Pittsburgh’s historic North Side.

More What: Fresh music, fresh food,  a fresh new exhibition of experimentally focused pieces created just for this show by the AIR staff & volunteers, an Open House. It takes a village to run a community arts co-operative and members of this tribe are showing off their hot stuff on Saturday. And you are cordially invited!

Cool extra stuff: DJ Mary Mack, DJ Sean MC and the duo of Hoof & Beek will be spinning music throughout the evening – food and drink will be provided – admission is FREE. This event is not to be missed and we look forward to seeing you!

see works by:
matt cummings  / howard booth  /  andy english  /  ian short  /  kerry gaydos /  katyana gradler  / matt forrest  /  mary tremonte  /  hunter blackwell  /  meredith hertel  /  strawberryluna  /  jenn pascoe  /  erin foley  /  ryan emmett  /  rachel maran  /  jamie adams  /  sabrina adams  /  josh troy  /  gene marsh  /  mike hegedus  /  carolyn kelly  /  budai  /  kristine synowka  /  amos levy  /  nathan mould  /  julia kennedy  /  lizzy devita  /  tresa varner  /  bill rodgers  /  robert beckman  /  nick fredland  /  ashley brickman  /  shaun slifer

Here’s a little mock-sneak peak at my piece. Note the “mock” adjective as this is an installation yet to be installed. Digital print, with tissue paper & yarn (to be added), hung low on the wall with the pond set onto the floor. I will post photos of the finishing and installation process and post them next week. 

"Spring Spiders", 3D print mock, part 1

"Spring Spiders", 3D print mockup, part 1

spring-spider-installation-waterblog

"Spring Spiders" 3D print mockup, part 2.

For more information about AIR and this show or the resources available to artists through AIR please check out my home-away-from home’s website. Hope to see you at the show on Saturday!

Screens’nSpokes MS 2008 benefit print

 

Screens'n'Spokes benefit art print, 2-color screenprint available exclusively at SnS' Etsy store.

Screens'n'Spokes benefit art print, 2-color screenprint available exclusively at the Screens'n'Spokes Etsy store.

Multiple Sclerosis is an often debilitating disease that strikes millions around the world. It is estimated that over 400,000 Americans are currently living with the autoimmune disease. Some of our great friends at Team Screens’n’Spokes came up with a fantastic way to help raise money for the National MS Society by combining screenprinted art and the annual MS Bike Ride.

Screens’n’Spokes combined the love of bicycles, the MS Ride and their affection for all things screenprinted. They tapped their connections and friends in the scene and BOOM! Magic happened.

For the second year in a row, I was pleased to pitch in and help Screens’n’Spokes who this year were able to raise an amazing $50,000+ for the National MS Society by designing and printing this print for them. Screens’n’Spokes has an Etsy store, and that’s where my print is available exclusively for sale online.

With 2 art simultaneous shows in September  – November, lots of folks got to see  the hand screenprinted bicycle themed art from over 25 artists. Missed the shows? Check out Screens’n’Spokes Etsy shop  take a gander. Proceeds benefit the NMSS.

Can’t wait for next year!

Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair this Sunday!

Crafty fun! Super duper! 

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, December 7th, 2008

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, December 7th, 2008

The Pittsburgh Craft Collective is busy these days, putting on shows and great local events for the Pittsburgh area artisians and crafters. The Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at the CC Mellor Library in Edgewood is just the latest offering. This holiday show is loaded with local talent. What does that mean? Crafters and artisians who live in your town and make all of their work by hand. 

Here are the official details:

What: Holiday Arts & Crafts Show

When: December 7th from 11am to 5pm

Where: CC Mellor Library at 1 Penwood Place, in Edgewood, conveniently located just off the Parkway East and easily accessible from Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Edgewood, Wilkinsburg, Forest Hills, and all points Pittsburgh!

Click here to download the official flyer for the show.

Buying local, and buying handmade for the holidays is a fantastic way to affect your world, at the community level. And, the event doubles as a fund-raiser to benefit the historic community library. Win-win for the civic minded and arts and crafts lovers alike!

Dirty Dozen Interview on Poster Rocket. ZOOOOOOM!

 

Six in one...

Six in one...

Shazam! I done got interviewed Ma!

The poster art and design blog Poster Rocket just published a Dirty Dozen interview with me, and it’s sure to answer all of your burning questions about strawberryluna. Well, maybe not all of them. But some of the biggies are covered, most definitely. Secrets about my early formative years as a writer, how I never planned on being a printmaker and poster designer, and what deceased musicians would best love to do a poster for, in an alternate universe are all revealed.

The Dirty Dozen is Poster Rocket’s choice of 12 posters from a single artist or studio coupled with an interview. It’s a good time and be sure to check out the Poster Rocket site for past installments as well as the bevy of rock poster hotness featured every day. Or, be brave and submit your own (legit!) posters for review.

Half dozen in the other.

Half dozen in the other.

Peacock Feathereyes, new art print released!

 

Peacock Feathereyes, 2 color, hand pulled screenprint

Peacock Feathereyes, 2 color, hand pulled screenprint

Fresh off the presses at AIR. This is my newest art print, Peacock Feathereyes. Hedonism at its best. Alluring, elegant, or spooky as all get out? You decide.

This watchful crowd of a print is a 2- color, all hand printed screenprint, with peacock blue and black inks. Edition of only 40. Size: 16w x 22h inches. Paper: acid-free & archival Cougar 100 lb White, cover weight. Available now at my website and in my Etsy shop

I’m watching you.

Free Holiday Shipping in my Etsy shop & website!

 

Free Holiday Shipping

Yup! That’s right. As a holiday thanks to everyone, I’m offering free shipping on all US & Canadian bound orders until midnight /11:59 pm EST on December 15th, 2008 on all purchases made through my Etsy shop. and via my website too!*

* For US & Canadian bound purchases made through my website, please enter the code: “freeship08” and I will refund your shipping as soon as I see your order. It’s that’s simple!

Stock up on goodies for friends, family, and hey if you find something for you I won’t tell. This offer is good for purchases made through my Etsy shop & my website (with use of the above shipping code) on anything that you see there like my hand screenprinted rock posters, or my fresh crop of art prints, women’s and men’s (or unisex) tshirts, and alphabet prints. All made by hand the old fashioned way. There’s even a new sale section in my Etsy shop (only) where I’ll be rotating the stock through with weekly specials. All shipped right to your door, for free to all US & Canadian destinations!

Drop by, see what’s new and don’t forget to support the DIY arts & crafts movement and shop handmade this season. Cheers! 

Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Perfection.

Perfection.

 Simply stated, and with deepest apologies to Charles Schulz, wishing everyone a lovely, peaceable and relaxing Thanksgiving.

Enjoy!

“Jolly Good” Group print show at Bluebottle Gallery, Seattle, WA

“Jolly Good” holidays to you and yours! Super excited about this show. 

Blue Bottle Gallery in Seattle, WA - Jolly Good print show

Blue Bottle Art Gallery in Seattle, WA - Jolly Good print show

The excellent-cool folks at the Bluebottle Art Gallery & Store in my favorite-not-home-city, Seattle, WA are putting on a fantastic holiday art print show called “Jolly Good” which features the work of over 30 screenprint artists from all over the US. And best, they invited me to join in the fun. Yes huh!

The “Jolly Good, Group art print show” will run from December 2nd, 2008 – December 31st, 2008. The opening reception for the show will be on Saturday Dec 13th from 5 – 8 pm, so please join in the fun for drinks, snacks and cheer! Blue Bottle Art Gallery & Store is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle at 415 East Pine Street.

My newest, fresh off the presses art print “Winter 2008″ will be available making it’s debut at this show and will be available for view and purchase, yep. Other participating artists include Cricket Press, Tad Carpenter, Nate Duval & a slew of others that make up the 30+ artists. The artists have entered 2 -5 prints into the show and all prints will be available for purchase. I’m sending 5, wassssup?!

Please note that as “Jolly Good” is designed to be a cash and carry show, to allow for holiday purchases, prints will be going fast while the show is up. All art prints are priced under $100, many in the $25 – $50 range.

Bluebottle Art Gallery & Store also runs an email preview list that you can sign up for here, which allows you to get sneak previews of art work before the general public. It’s a cool gig!

"Jolly Good" art print show info

Bluebottle Art Gallery & Store is an independently owned & operated art gallery and curated boutique shop of handmade goods run by the lovely husband & wife team of Andrea & Matthew Porter. We’re tickled holiday red to be a part of this show. Cheers!

“Screenprinting 102” art print show in Charleston, NC

Once again, independent music store 52.5 Records in Charleston, SC is showing some mad love for the screenprinting community! 
Screenprinting 102 poster by Chuck Keppler

"Screenprinting 102" poster by Chuck Keppler

This time with a focus on art prints by local and national printmakers. Rad! “Screenprinting 102″ is the second annual screenprinted art show at 52.5 Records (hence the collegiate title) and I’m thrilled to be a part of it again. Pieces in the show are from artists from around the country and will be available for sale as well. Quite affordably too I might add. My newest, fresh off the presses art print “Winter 2008” will be available for view and purchase, yep.

“Screenprinting 102” opens on December 5th 2008 from 7-9pm and will run through January 3rd, 2009. 52.5 Records is located at 561 King St., Charleston, SC. 

Participating  artists include: Leia Bell,  Johnny Pundt, Chuck Keppler, Cricket Press, Adam Turman, Crosshair, Jason Goad, Pete Cardoso, Jason Cooper, Mike Klay, Aesthetic Apparatus, Lon Unitus, Nate Duvall, myself and others to be announced shortly. A good handful of these artists will be at the opening too. Keep your eye on more information here.

We love you 52.5 Records!