Chris Hopewell sent me his design for the Jacknife Firehouse art show – “Spring Forward” – coming this Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Artrock Gallery, 893 Folsom Street in San Francisco. It’s a Jack of Diamonds printed with trademark Firehouse metallic green and is cut to a playing card shape.

“Spring Forward”

Jacknife / Firehouse art show

Artrock Gallery 893 Folsom Street in San Francisco

March 11, 2010

Edition of 75

4 colors on archival cream paper

approx. 22″ x 33″

Signed & numbered

Available Thursday 3/11/2010 at Artrock Gallery

“Small Change” by François Truffaut is playing at The Red Vic Movie House on February 28 and March 1, 2010. I designed and printed this 5 color movie poster with heavy gold and several layers of light tints – a portrait of the director Truffaut – a tip-of-the-hat to Truffaut and the  great films of the French New Wave.

“Small Change” is a light comedy concerning the daily lives of young children in Theirs, France. Truffaut is less interested in telling a three act story, instead focusing on the small events that make up childhood. The result is an almost completely improvised film study of an elusive subject matter: the beauty of being a child.

“Small Change”

Red Vic Movie House

February 28 & March 1, 2010

RV30-11

Edition of 100

5 colors on archival cream paper

16″ x 22″

Signed & numbered

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$30 + $10 Shipping

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“Small Change” Gold Variant

Red Vic Movie House

February 28 & March 1, 2010

RV30-11

Edition of 10

5 colors on Metallic Gold paper

16″ x 22″

Signed & numbered

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SOLD OUT

Here’s some pictures of the actual print. Instead of black – I used a brown ink (cafe au lait). First a heavy-duty gold metallic was laid down. The shadowing was done with two overlaying light varnishes of very translucent black (shadow in a can). One is photographed with gold reflection, one in natural non-reflective light. Click each to see larger:

François Truffaut made an enormous impact on cinema and his films have an enduring popular appeal.  Most significantly, he did a great deal to promote the idea of the director as an “auteur,” making him the inspiration for future generations of independent film-makers.

Truffaut had at least three great passions in his life: women, cinema and American pulp fiction.  These passions were such a big part of his life that it is no surprise they should be so keenly reflected in his films.

Truffaut was also a great humanist, who supported many worthy causes for children, and this humanity is also an essential element of his films.

In 1976 Truffaut filmed “Small Change” (L’Argent de poche), a compelling study of young children.

The Firehouse Goldenvoice Series reaches number 93 with Alkaline Trio. The Trio’s latest release is “This Addiction.” A Dark Crowned Lady printed with heavy dark metallic gold, arms folded in a field of wine-colored poppies, Afghan patterns tracing the edges and dress.

Alkaline Trio, Cursive, The Dear & Departed at The Regency

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Firehouse Goldenvoice Series Number 93

Edition of 150

3 colors on archival cream paper

16″ x 35″

Signed and Numbered

$40 + $10 Shipping

A new show in The Sanctuary for Independent Media’s Underground Gallery, “30 Years of the Art of World War 3 Illustrated: America’s Longest Running Political Comic Book,” will be on display from Monday, February 22, 2010 through June 26, 2010.  The exhibit will be open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 AM-5 PM.

Founded in 1980 by Seth Tobocman and Peter Kuper, World War 3 Illustrated is a labor of love, run by a collective of artists working with the unified goal of creating a home for political comics, graphics and stories. Their confrontational comics shine a little reality on the fantasy world of the American kleptocracy, and have inspired the developing popularity and recognition of the graphic novel medium in the U.S.

World War 3 Illustrated  has served as a document of our collective history—including many aspects ignored by the mainstream press. The retrospective exhibition is gathered under key themes: “From Reagan to Bush,” “No Police State!,” “Housing Is a Human Right!,” “Politics of Medicine, “Women and WW3,” “Against Global Capital,” “Environment,” “Anti-War,” “New Orleans,” “9/11.”

WW3 contributors range from first-timers to veteran artists who were launched into their careers when their first published pieces appeared in its pages. Though numerous contributors have had their work recognized across the arts community from museums to major magazines, they continue to return to WW3 to find an uncensored platform for social commentary.

The artists drawn to World War 3 Illustrated are activists. They have been involved in direct-action movements. They squatted and took part in demonstrations. They experienced poverty, violence and injustice first hand. Their stories ring true because they reflect this first-hand experience.

If WW3 had a manifesto (which they don’t) it might say if you’re going to talk about changing society, a magazine’s not a bad place to start. WW3 has functioned as a microcosm of the the kind of society they would like to see. Content is valued over style and ideas are not regarded for their popularity, but for their substance. Artists are given a forum to reach an audience with their work and the opportunity to interact and examine their concepts and creative processes in a supportive group setting.

World War 3 Illustrated  isn’t about a war that may happen, it is about the ongoing wars our so-called leaders have been waging all our lives around the world and on our very own doorsteps. World War 3 Illustrated  also illuminates the war we wage on each other and sometimes the one taking place in our own minds.  World War 3 artists take a personal approach to social and political issues, from race to religion to sexual relations, and depict their own dreams and nightmares, both real and imagined. They’ve been covering the topics that matter for 30 years and they’re just getting warmed up!

THE ARTISTS OF World War 3 Illustrated :
The World War 3 Illustrated  30th Anniversary Exhibition was curated by Christoper Cardinale, Sabrina Jones, Rebecca Migdal, Nicole Schulman, Susan Simensky Bietila and Seth Tobocman. Other members of the collective featured in the show include Peter Kuper, Scott Cunningham, Kevin Pyle, Eric Drooker, Sue Coe, Susan Wilmarth, Ryan Inzana, Paula Hewitt, Art Spiegelman and Chuck Sperry, among many others. This show originated at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Library Special Collections and was assembled and archived by Susan Simensky Bietila, Jessica Bublitz and Max Yela.

The magazine could never have survived without this collective effort and the contribution of so many other artists and writers who have donated their talents. In the hierarchy of the magazine editors and contributors receive the same pay: a magazine they’ve helped build. Only the printers and distributors are paid, all profits go into producing the next issue.

Meet the artists of World War 3 Illustrated on Saturday on May 8, 2010 at 8 p.m., at their 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration, as they rejoice in their history of cutting-edge art with multimedia presentations, performance and music.

The Sanctuary for Independent Media is a telecommunications production facility dedicated to community media arts, located in an historic former church at 3361 6th Avenue in north Troy, NY.  The Sanctuary hosts screening, production and performance facilities, training in media production and a meeting space for artists, activists and independent media makers of all kinds.  Call (518) 272-2390, email info@MediaSanctuary.org, or visit www.MediaSanctuary.org for directions and more information.

Spring Forward

Poster Show Featuring British Poster Artists

from Jacknife Poster Collective of Bristol

with Firehouse of San Francisco

Ron Donovan and Chuck Sperry of the Firehouse Kustom Rockart Company met Chris Hopewell from Bristol, England at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas in 2005. In 2007, while conducting a silkscreen print demonstration at Flatstock poster convention, Chuck and Ron spoke at length to Chris about getting started with his own print studio. Inspired by the demonstration, Chris Hopewell went home to the United Kingdom and opened a silkscreen print studio with partners and called it Jacknife.

By the time Firehouse toured the United Kingdom in 2008, Mr. Hopewell and the Jacknife print collective would have dozens and dozens of cool rock posters under their belt. Since 2007, Jacknife has been spreading art of rock to Great Britain – most notably by producing posters in the open air at the Glastonbury Music Festival.

Jacknife posters have a bold style informed by a punk aesthetic. Using surprising imagery, Jacknife pares their posters down to a clear, direct statement. They design and print their unambiguous, rebellious posters with a hands-on silkscreen process that informs their art.

Come and celebrate our San Francisco joint show as we get ready to go together to SXSW in Texas and later to the Glastonbury Music Festival in the UK.

Opening:

Thursday, March 11, 2010

7 pm

Artrock Gallery

893 Folsom Street in San Francisco

The show will last for two days – Thursday and Friday – March 11 & 12, 2010.

The Editors, Antlers and The Dig put on a great show. Enjoyed thoroughly!

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When I began to meditate on the idea of an Editors poster I began by thinking of all the writer friends I have out there thrashing out ideas against the background of the cold infinite and warm divine. I was tweaked on the ass by the good old Existentialist Albert Camus and his edict that “the absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.” So I poured out this design in heavy metallic blue and metallic red with a deep blue tint. Against a backdrop of the depths of space, the ever present modularity of the keyboard of modern reality.
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Editors, Antlers & The Dig at The Warifeld

Monday, February 8, 2010

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Firehouse Goldenvoice Series Number 92

Edition of 150

3 colors on archival cream paper

23″ x 35″

Signed and Numbered

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$40 + $10 Shipping

Here’s a preview for my poster for the ever cool Jerry Joseph on January 28 at the Mercury Lounge in Goleta, California.

Jerry plays solo, with his rock band the Jackmormons, and with The Stockholm Syndrome. He’s played around with Vic Chesnutt, Pete Droge and Dave Schools of Widespread Panic. On this solo tour he’ll be playing songs from his recently released album, “Into The Lovely.”

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“Into The Lovely” features a who’s who of Portland musicians including Jennee Connlee (The Decemberists) on keyboards, Willy Vlautin (Richmond Fontaine) on vocals, Steve Drizos on percussion, Mike Lewis, Pat Kearns and Joseph’s co-hort from his Little Women days, Steve James, on guitar.

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Jerry Joseph at the Mercury Lounge, Goleta, CA, January 28, 2010

Edition of 150

3 colors on archival cream paper

11 X 33

Signed and numbered

$30 + $10 Shipping

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Jerry Joseph at the Mercury Lounge, Goleta, CA, January 28, 2010

Edition of 20

3 colors on archival cream paper

11 X 33

Signed and numbered

SOLD OUT

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Jerry Joseph at the Mercury Lounge, Goleta, CA, January 28, 2010

Edition of 10

4 colors (blue over orange) on archival cream paper

11 X 33

Signed and numbered

SOLD OUT

]]> http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/jerry-joseph-at-the-mercury-lounge-goleta-ca/feed/ 0 http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/edwardian-ball-at-the-regency/ http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/edwardian-ball-at-the-regency/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:09:47 +0000 squirt http://chucksperry.net/?p=982

Here’s my poster for the Edwardian Ball which will be celebrated at the Regency Ballroom on January 22 & 23, 2010.

I went for a retro Edwardian era style (1900-1910) with an influence from Gustav Klimt. Since I’m using a lot of metallic inks, I resonate with Klimt’s use of “bling” in his art.

I’ll be releasing this poster here on my site on Sunday.

Here’s some pictures of the actual print. You can see the paper is textured like watercolor paper.

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From the Edwardian Ball site:

“The award-winning Edwardian Ball transforms the historic Regency Ballroom into a garden of delights, Friday and Saturday January 22nd and 23rd, 2010. Join a magical outdoors-indoor symphony of music, theatre, dance, art, storytelling, circus arts, fashion, technology, and, of course, the art & stories of Edward Gorey.”

Edwardian Ball at The Regency

Friday & Saturday, January 22 & 23, 2010

Firehouse Goldenvoice Series Number 90

Edition of 200

5 colors on archival cream paper

15″ x 35″

Signed and Numbered

$40 + $10 Shipping

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I’m really happy to report that my American Artifact poster won Expresso Beans Poster of the Week.

Great way to start 2010. Thanks to everyone for your support!

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Congratulations to Aaron Horkey and Emek for winning 2009 Poster of the Year for their combined effort. I’ve come a long way in one year. I feel that the number two spot for my Widespread Panic poster reflects a positive change. I’ll keep kicking out the cool posters you just have to have for 2010.

]]> http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/umphreys-mcgee-poster-wins-award/feed/ 0 http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/umphreys-mcgee-with-cornmeal-at-the-regency/ http://chucksperry.net/2010/01/umphreys-mcgee-with-cornmeal-at-the-regency/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:10:13 +0000 squirt http://chucksperry.net/?p=965

I designed and printed this psychedelic polliwog poster for Umphrey’s McGee with Cormeal at The Regency Ballroom, San Francisco on Saturday, January 16, 2010. The band dug it so hard they just about croaked.

Stare at this video for the full 1 and a half minutes – and then look at this poster

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A li’l zen froggy digging a dayglo Lotus in an iridescent green metallic frog-pond.

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I went for maximum Eye-Fry using an ultra powerful florescent red: I hand-mixed the red ink with extra flo’ powder, so the frog just leaps off the poster.

Blue outline for my fluorescent amphibian is mixed just right to knock your eyeballs into the Fourth Dimension. Shades optional.

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Umphrey’s McGee with Cormeal at The Regency

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Firehouse Goldenvoice Series Number 88

Edition of 150

6 colors on archival cream paper

23″ x 30″

Signed and Numbered

SOLD OUT