Bamboo Grove

So I just got word the bamboo grove is closing down. I guess the business world isn't kind. It takes more than being a bad ass salon with great art gallery to make money and stay in business.

Here are some pics from the show at the beginning of the month.

I painted a character on one panel. I started when it was nearly dark, and while I LOVE the face, I'm not too crazy about the letters here.

Here is the peice that was created by an Artist I only know as John. (wierd how the artists in the show were John Greater, Jon McKee, this other John.... and then me.) This guy's peices were flying off the rack, everyone loved his work.

Straight Vegetable Oil, what an idea. This guys comes up to us saying his Cruiser runs on Vegetable Oil and he gets all these dirty looks from the Portland Granola types about driving a guzzler. He wanted it to tell the world his rig runs on the vegetable oil...I'm not sure this was the best idea. However, let me and Jon McKee drink our fill of the Blue Ribbon then ask us to paint a car and we will NOT turn it down!!

Vegas in two days....

SICK art Party

Killer weekend filled with graffiti and a perpetual chaos. I will handle a few things at once as I have little time to post, but this post is dedicated to the great sunday afternoon I spent out on SE 63rd with the Caedmonster.

Jon and I hit went to hit up an "art party" as they called it. They needed some graffiti artists, and little did we know they were lookin' to hit someone who had some lettering skills. Well, I had intentions of writing "sick" as... sick as possible, but wasn't expecting what we walked into.

SICK. is a big production dance party of sorts that takes place every 3rd saturday. I have yet to go to one of their events, but from what I can tell if you go, expect; Booze, Very Friendly People, Dancing, Mad crazy partying, some great Art, and some awesome Music. I can't imagine you'd want much more than. If you do need more, they probably have it.

SO, we arrive at this cool little green and purple house with extensive landscaping. We were instructed to walk into the backyard upon arrival. As we show up, we see portlands artsy finest working away. The back deck is filled with beer and people greeting us wondering who the new strangers are. Then we see it, right as we walk in. The sign. This panel was 4 or 5 feet tall by maybe 8-10 feet wide and said SICK in a very cool 3-D tag. Apparently they have used this for the last 6 months and it sits right in front of the DJ booth. With Beer, People, stencils and spray cans everywhere we were told "you can re-write that if you are confident in your capabilities that it will be on par or better."

"We'll make it happen." we responded.

Now you vote...which one is better? Truth be told, I really dig the old one and I'm uber critical of my own work. However, I still think we may have been better. I think the magic ticket for ours will be to see it in the dark with a bunch of light on it. I think then it'll really pop.

I also wanted to show a picture of one of the other spray artists' work. His claim to artistry was his characters.... and as all graff artists, the peice started out by worrying some of us, then all of a sudden the characters came to life.

August is Graffiti month

Starting today, Aug 1. Portland will be hit by a slew of graffiti artists in legal applications. Jon McKee starts his portland artistry introduction tonight. He has great work, and is a fun artist to watch paint. I saw a new painting he is showing tonight.... and it's spectacular, I want to steal it from him before the show.

BAMBOO GROVE SALON
134 SE Taylor, Portland Or
6-11 Music by Dr. DJ FuManchu
Artists include Jon Graeter, Jon McKee, Myself and I believe a few more artists. Should be a good time.

Stop by Bamboo grove salon between Aug. 1 and Sept. 5 to see works by many great artists

GET BENTO
505 NW 14th Ave, Portland Or
Graffiti installation for about a month, possible first thursday live paint... stay tuned.