interview and cover…….
Archive for press
I dream you learn.
The above quote was from a great email I recieved from a Siberian, thankyou Dara.
I’m in Texas at the moment taking it easy with the family and working on some paintings for the upcoming Metanoia show in NYC.
you can see my progress here………………..
http://residualselfimage.wordpress.com
I just read this write up on the Envoy Exhibition at the Opening Ceremony Blog by Sean Risley.
(photo Sean Risley)
It has a great interview with my friend Maxime.
Read it Here…………..
Back to NYC wednesday…………
Metanoia – July 15th 2010.
P.J.S. Exhibitions Presents “Metanoia”
- A Collection of Works by Renowned NYC Based Artists -
New York, NY (June 2010) – P.J.S. Exhibitions, an edgy and avant-garde W. Village gallery (238 W. 14th between 7th & 8th Ave.) presents Metanoia, a collection of twisted and visually captivating works opening July 15th 2010.
Aptly titled Metanoia, the Greek word for a change of will and the reforming of one’s mind, the exhibit will showcase the mind-bending, detailed, and somewhat dark artwork of Chris O’Donnell (New York Adorned), Jason June (Daredevil), Josh Egnew (Three Kings), Ryan Bonilla (Bellum Concepts), Stephanie Tamez (Brooklyn Adorned) and Thomas Hooper (New York Adorned). Bevin Robinson and Patrick Sullivan will be co-curating the show, which runs July 15th through August 29th.
“We’re excited to have this many accomplished artists under one roof,” says Patrick Sullivan, owner of P.J.S. Exhibitions, “Metanoia will have some very high caliber talent on display.”
Each artist has already left a very permanent mark on the art world. From highly acclaimed tattooing to laser etching, they have established amazing reputations for creating everlasting work. Pieces on display at P.J.S. Exhibitions will include drawings, paintings and etched metals, ranging from dark religious iconography to bright fantastical images.
“The tactile properties of the pieces really speak out,” explains Bevin Robinson, co-curator of Metanoia. “Their surfaces tell as much of a story as their colors and content.” Through textured media such as etching, painted wood panels and charcoal, the artists’ works stand out physically, visually and psychologically.
The exhibit aims to increase viewer introspection, and encourages a focus on the artists’ creative process. All are invited to come appreciate and celebrate their own Metanoia.
THE GALLERY IS OPEN TUESDAY-SUNDAY 11:00am – 7:00pm
RSVP
pjs-exhibitions@pitchcontrolpr.com
Chris O’Donnell is a professional tattoo artist who works and lives in Brooklyn New York. www.chrisodonnelltattoo.com
Jason June is a tattoo artist at Daredevil Tattoos in New York City’s Lower East Side. He began pursuing a career in art after many years of self-training and production. With many pieces on display in shows and galleries across both the United States (Pale Horse Gallery, Tattoo Arts Expo, and Coquille or Be Killed Traveling Gallery Show amongst others) and Europe (Brighton Tattoo Arts Gallery and Reykjavik Ink Tattoo Art Exhibition amongst others), June has also been published in various books both for tattooing and artwork. www.jasonjune.com
Josh Engew holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Atlanta College of Art. After starting his artistic career in film he transitioned to the gallery world, working as a preparatory while studying his current and final career as a tattoo artist and painter. He has been tattooing professionally for 4 years in Brooklyn, NY as well as frequent international stints, in cities such as Brussels, Stockholm and Luxembourg. His ethereal yet somewhat terrifying paintings have been exhibited in Brooklyn, NY and Atlanta, GA. www.joshegnew.com
Ryan Bonilla lives as an artist/conceptualist in NYC. He is the creative director of Bellum Concepts, a creative think tank and design collective catering to designing and customizing intimate objects of art. Creations range from hand laser etched vintage timepieces to personalized custom vehicles of desire. Ryan’s aesthetic combines Old World Romanticism with mid-20th century machinery to create his vision of art. www.bellumconcepts.net
Stephanie Tamez lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y. She received her Associates in Graphic Design from San Antonio College. Her work has been featured at Scott Campbells Saved Gallery Space in Williamsburg, Fuse Gallery in the East Village, White Box Gallery in Chelsea District and presently featured in a gallery exhibition by Kathleen Cullen. Tamez’s work explores the ubiquitous symbol that crosses human cultures. The axis mundi as represented in the Chiapas Roof Crosses reveal a point of connection between sky and earth where the 4 directions meet. Immersed in the history of a country associated with an abundance of strength and dignity as well as strife and poverty, her respect is obvious in these paintings. www.stephanietamez.com
Thomas Hooper is English born, but lives, paints and tattoos in New York City. He’s worked with highly acclaimed tattoo artists such as Jim Macairt, Alex Binnie, Dante Dimassa and now works alongside Chris O’Donnell and Lori Leven at New York Adorned. Born in Hastings East Sussex, Hooper obtained a BA Hons Drawing at The London Institute of Art & Design, subsequently moving from London to New York City to pursue his goals in tattooing and art. www.meditationsinatrament.com
P.J.S. Exhibitions, which opened its doors May 20th with erotic photography exhibit Risqué, will be home to series of exciting exhibits rotating every 45 days, with every fourth show benefiting a non-profit cause. After graduating from Christie’s Educational Program in Modern Art, Connoisseurship and the History of the Art Market last June, Sullivan has developed a keen eye for admiring and appreciating various media of artist expression. He aims to dedicate his space to being the premier location for displaying the works of exciting, modern, young and avant-garde artists. www.pjs-exhibitions.com
For more information regarding P.J.S. Exhibitions, Patrick Sullivan, or the artists, please contact Sarah Cirkiel (scirkiel@pitchcontropr.com) or Ashton Stronks (astronks@pitchcontrolpr.com) at Pitch Control Public Relations, 212.475.4919.
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Sang Bleu Five 2010
Amongst other contributions to the next issue of Sang Bleu magazine, I also designed this t-shirt for them, soon to be on the Shirts and Destroy e-store.
Thankyou Maxime.
Missing Questions Tattoo Life August 2009
So when I did my interview with Miki Vialetto from Tattoo Life, my answers where unfortunately way too long so we had to leave out a few questions, here they are so you can see my ramblings in there full.
1 – Why did you choose to leave London’s Frith Street Tattoo to work at New York Adorned.
When Lori Levin offered me a job at New York Adorned, I new immediately that it was the right thing to do. Moving to NYC was a logical step forward not only for my tattooing and painting but for my wife Kimberly and I, the only drawback has been being apart from my close friends and family, Peter and Eleanor my brother and sister, my mother Mary and grandmother Eileen. As much as I enjoyed working at Frith Street Tattoo with Dante, Xam, Ian, Claudia, Valerie, Stuart, Piotrek and Stephano I needed change. It was good to become the newest member of such a large and extremely talented family as NYA, starting from scratch was very humbling, creating a new beginning with my work and client base allowed me to re think what i was doing so i could control the direction i wanted it to head in.
2 – People say that changing studio is always an exciting experience, do you agree?
Yes moving to a new shop is always a very exciting experience, its great to be around new people and new influences. I always enjoy the opportunity to grow and change, doing this especially when moving to a shop like New York Adorned is amazing. We have the Brooklyn location now as well which I think is the most incredible Tattoo shop I have worked in, not just because of the artists but the layout and the design of the inside of the shop is so big and expansive, its unlike anything I have ever worked in or been to visit, Lori has created an environment that allows you and the customer to relax and concentrate yet you still have the option to communicate with your peers.
5 – The skull is one of the most frequent subjects in your tattooing and art. Why do you have this fascination? Does working on this subject matter allow you to explore your own experiences with death and mortality?
The skull is an amazing image, object and symbol. For me it contains a mysterious spiritually, symbolizing death, rebirth and the element in between our life and nothingness. I luke to think about that when we are alive our skulls hold our brain which encompasses our imagination, our consciousness and dream state, our minds are as vast as the universe, yet when we die that giant infinite mass disappears and we are left with this vessel – the skull, which is so small compared to the quantity of space that it held when we where alive. This contrast of space and the physical elements of the skull are what inspire my fascinations with it.
7 – How is important heavy music for you? Does it influence your artwork?
Music has always been an extremely important element in my life. It is my one regret that I never learnt to play an instrument. The music I listen to has always influenced my work, whether it is my tattooing, painting, drawing, design or photography. Before I started tattooing I was taking a lot of photographs of bands, playing live and on tour. I guess it was my dream to become a photo journalist. The music i listen to can be very dark and in this darkness i find inspiration, to give you an idea of what i like to listen to here is a little list……… Neurosis, Converge, Old Man Gloom, Grails, Clouds, Mastodon, Pelican, Sunn O))), Old Man Gloom, Earth, Agalloch, Cronos Quartet, Asva, Baroness, DoomRiders, Bohren & Der Club of Gore, Crippled Black Phoenix, Tombs, The Hope Conspiracy, Deadbird, Enslaved, Gallows, Hyatari, Isis, Dirty Three, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Nick Drake, Om, Electric Wizard, Eight Hands For Kali, Atman Acron, Great Coven, William Elliot Whitmore, Alexander Tucker, Philip Glass, Purified in Blood, Rachel’s, Shora, The Fountain, Twilight, Yob, Vetiver, and Wolves in The Throne Room to name a few. I do a lot of art work for bands as well, my time is limited with tattooing 40+ hours a week so i only to get to do a few things for friends and bands that i like. I think to the average listener the music i listen to could be heard as negative or evil, but this is in no way true, my attraction to this style of music is the same as with mortality and death, perhaps the same thing could be thought of with my paintings and tattoos but again i never use negative symbolism in my work.
I’d just like to say thankyou again to my good friend Miki Vialetto for giving me the opportunity to have the article in his magazine.
Tattoo Life August 2009
The Book of Skulls got Reviewed!
Tattoo Life 7 page feature, August 2009.
