I have work featured in a new book entitled
UPSET: Young Contemporary Art
A new breed of contemporary artists is celebrating new found international recognition for their style and approach to creating art that is sprouting from and largely influenced by visual subcultures. The Upset documents the burgeoning artists in this new movement whose works are often figurative and narrative employing classical techniques with great skills to create sculpture, illustration design and painting with the use of spray cans, sharpies and elaborate colour palettes on canvas. In addition to the striking visual work, the book features portraits of artists as well as in-depth interviews with selected artists who are creating outstanding cutting-edge contemporary fine art.

Featured artists:
Maike Abetz / Oliver Drescher, Alexone, Grant Barnhart, Gary Baseman, Tilo Baumgartel, Tim Biskup, Mark Bradford, Daniele Buetti, Cailan Burns, Ray Caesar, Miguel Calderon, John Casey, Paul Chatem, The Clayton Brothers, Joe Coleman, John Currin, Brendan Danielsson, Stephan Doitschinoff, Blaise Drummond, Dzine, Ala Ebtekar, Martin Eder, David Ellis, Ron English, Faile, Christian Farner, Rosemarie Fiore, FriendsWithYou, Camille Rose Garcia, Os Gemeos, Michael Genovese, Charles Glaubitz, Benjamin Güdel, Robert Hardgrave, Maya Hayuk, Ryan Heshka, Femke Hiemstra, Cody Hudson, Gisela Insuaste, Rich Jacobs, John John Jesse, Colin Johnson, Mel Kadel, David Kassan, Aya Kato, David Kinsey, Henning Kles, Kozyndan, Susanne Kuehn, Mia Mäkila, Mateo, Elizabeth McGrath, Casey McKee, Jason McLean, Philip Metten, Moki, Brendan Monroe, Heiko Müller, Muntean/Rosenblum, Yoshimoto Nara, Aaron Nather, Anne Faith Nicholls, Jose Parla, Nigel Peake, Raymond Pettibon, Danielle de Picciotto, Anthony Pontius, Pooch, Johan Potma, Jeremy Pruitt, Leopold Rabus, Scott Radke, Rex Ray, Scott Rench, Daniel Richter, Rostarr, Christoph Ruckhaberle, Mark Ryden, Christoph Schmidberger, David Schnell, Sebastian Schrader, Michael Sieben, Michael Slack, Jeff Soto, Fred Stonehouse, David Stoupakis, Swoon, Johannes Tiepelmann, Chris Uphues, Miss Van, Vania | Ivan Zouravliov, Matthias Weischer, Martin Wittfooth and Chet Zar.

This book is now available in Europe with releases in Asia scheduled for early October and a November release in North America.

Editors: R. Klanten, H. Hellige, S. Ehmann, P. Alonzo
Language: English

Release: September 2008
Price: € 44,00 / $ 69,00 / £ 35,00
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: 288 pages, full colour, hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-89955-221-8

Work has been keeping me VERY busy but I am back on production of my new site and working hard to go live with at least a partial version this month. Please keep checking back.

Thanks again to Lucky magazine for featuring my work. It was in the regional section so unless you were in Chicago you would have missed it.

EXTRA. EXTRA. My work will be featured in the regional section of LUCKY MAGAZINES August issue. Learn how to Look amazing in 5 minutes flat and see what I have been up to.

PITTSBURGH PORTRAITS

While I was walking through downtown Pittsburgh I came across these photos in a window display. Now I have seen lots of sun faded images but these take it to an all new level.

CLAY & PRINT INVITATIONAL
Pittsburgh, PA @ Artist Image Resource
Here is a small sampling of the work exhibited featuring artists working in ceramics and print.
To see more images from this exhibit click here

Scott Rench

Paul Scott

Paul Wandless

Megumi Naitoh

Charlie Cummings

NCECA Pittsburgh was fun on many levels due to the fact that it is not from Edinboro University, where I received my MFA, I reconnected with lots of old friends. The first photo is of Ian Short who taught print making for many years at EU as well as the Chair of the Art Department. If you know anything about my story Ian was responsible for giving us a key to the Doucette Hall. It was here that over the course of Xmas break I spent about 15 hours a day teaching myself the Apple computer and the design programs. I wanted to learn them so I could apply them to ceramics and print. Ian and Bob Beckman, also a print teacher of mine, were very supportive of my exploration of ceramics and print. The two of them opened up a workshop/school/gallery in Pittsburgh called Artist Image Resources. Ian and Bob were nice enough to host the Clay & Print exhibit that coincided with the conference. It was really good to reconnect with them and see what a wonderful setup they have.



During the conference I reconnected with many Edinboro alumni that I had not seen for 10-15 years. My old studio partner Steve Dark showed up (guy with cap) from Mobile, Alabama and surprised all of us.

Also pictured above is Gerry Dinnen who was my neighbor at EU and is the only person I know who has held his Ceramic Master Thesis show at a miniature golf course. When I say at a golf course I mean his work was literally on the course.



And then there is my good friend Larry Geiger. Larry is the person responsible for showing me the world of Adobe. In life you never know what people will effect your life or how. My meeting Larry changed my life on so many levels. It changed how I work as an artist and opened the door to my successful career in advertising.

There are lots of people out there who have shaped my life, to many to mention. Many things will come and go from your life, but a good friend is there forever.

CLAY AND KETCHUP
I am in Pittsburgh, PA. attending the NCECA clay conference home to among other things HEINZ. Last night I caught up with two old friends I have not seen in 15 years. I'll be posting picks of shows and the like a little later. Hope you enjoy the ride.

My UNIPO figures have arrived. Almost a year ago I was one of 4 lucky winners the UNKL Unipo Fan Series. Well my figure is ready and while different than my orginal design I am still happy to have it.

To purchase this or one of the other 3 in the series visit
your local store or go to: unklbrand.com

I am happy to report that one of my designs is the GRAND PRIZE WINNER. Thanks to everyone that supported me. You can see the results at http://imprintlab.com/archives/407

IMPRINT Culture Labs: Design Contest
ICL is hosting a purse design contest which is now in the voting stage. Please stop by and cast a vote for my two submissions and checkout the other entries. visit: http://imprintlab.com/designcontest

I talked to the folks at UNKL and it seems things are taking a little longer but they think my figure will release in or around March of 2008. My design was one of four chosen as part of a contest. Visit: http://www.unklbrand.com/

Last night several inches of the white stuff fell. Being that my mini doesn't fair so well in the snow this meant I had to shovel the walks and a path for the car. It reminds me of when I was a kid, we always used to have a foot of snow on the ground. These days snow seems to be more of a rarity.

Today my little lady had her 10th birthday and as usual she decided to be a drama queen. "But I asked for a bigger bone". "This wet food is cold". "I want sparkling water".

I will have several pieces on display at this years Design Miami

Die Gestalten Verlag, a German publisher, is firmly committed to identifying the zeitgeist of contemporary visual culture. They are constantly exploring all areas of creativity to examine currents in visual codes – from graphic design and illustration to photography, furniture design, interiors, architecture and art.

For Design Miami 2007, dgv presents Fragiles, an extraordinary collection of work created from porcelain, ceramics and glass that indicate how visual culture and high tech production processes are influencing and reshaping this delicate territory in pioneering ways.

Selected works by:
* Arne Quinze
* Jaime Hayon
* Scott Rench
* Marcel Wanders
* Jerszy Seymour
* Hella Jongerius
* Jurgen Bey
* Hans Van Bentem
* Stephen Burks
* Nik Schweiger | 3deluxe
* Stephanie DeArmond
* Charles Krafft
* Emma Woffenden & Tord Boontje
* Alessandro Mendini
* Commonwealth & Joshua Davis
* Malin Lundmark
* Maxim Velcovsky
* George J. Sowden
* Wendy Walgate
* Christie Wright | Elastichome
* Lola Goldstein
* Cynthia Hathaway
* David Amar
* Emily Forgot
* Frida Andersson & James Steiner
* Giordano Redaelli
* Miwa Koizumi
* Guillaume Delvigne
* Hana Vitkova
* Ineke Hans
* Jakub Berdych
* Kate Hume
* Laura Mckibbon | Cul De Sac
* Sebastian Menschhorn
* Lisa Goldberg
* Megan Bogonovich
* Katie Parker
* Mimi Joung
* tjep.
* Nathalie Schaap
* Doodle
* Nicolas Bovesse
* Robert Dawson
* Sarah Cihat
* Milan Pekar
* Guillaume Delvigne & Ionna Vautrin
* Thomas Paul
* Jason Miller
* Tamsin van Essen
* to22
* o-d-a
* Louise Hindsgavl
* KleinReid
* Dan Yeffet
* Dror Benshetrit
* Bathsheba Grossman
* Assa Ashuach

///////// visit: http://www.die-gestalten.de/fragiles/

I have a new t-shirt available through threadless.com. This 10 color shirt features black flocking and glow-in-the-dark ink. It's called ME VS. ME ss an homage to human regret. A visualization of the little voices inside your head that have you constantly second-guessing the decisions you make as you travel through life.

Well, I am back in Chicago now. Denmark was one of the top 3 journeys of my life and it has me looking and reflecting on my life. This trip has changed me in ways I cannot put into words. I am so grateful to all the new friends I've made. You made my trip special and I am glad we could share it together. I would be remiss in not thanking my friend Paul Scott for yet another amazing opportunity.

I'm not sure what this says in Danish, but when I pushed the button I farted.

It was time for me to board the train to the airport. Before leaving, I went to the room where all men go to reflect on their life. The bathroom.

There was one thing I wanted to try that alluded me on our last trip to Copenhagen and that was these open air hot dog stands. I am told they are owned and run by people with disabilities. There was this lovely older lady running one near the city center train station. She could see my fascination and invited me into her stand so I could take more photos. I bought Fransk Hotdog for 20 Danish Krone's with the weak US dollar came to about $5 I think. It consists of a hallowed out roll filled with you choice of mayo, mayo with chopped pickles, ketchup or mustard. I went for the Danish choice which is mayo with chopped pickles. It was amazingly good. My mouth is watering just thinking about now. It was so good I walked back 5 minutes later and asked her for another.

I present to you Copenhagen's Chinatown. I was looking in the store windows and saw these cool boxes. You can bet this will show up in future work. I am attracted to the shapes, colors and repetition.