Archives for May 2010
Psychedelic Secession
Firehouse returns to Europe for the first tour on The Continent in two years. Firehouse has been touring Europe since 1999 – here’s a complete list of past shows.
We are eager to share our newest work, and very pleased to be able to share our posters with old friends made over the first decade of touring Europe.
Check back as I’ll be posting specific Art Opening times for each venue / and tour poster image.
Our Europe 2010 Tour is called “Psychedelic Secession,” and is aimed at connecting to poster movements of the Decadent Period and Belle Epoque in Europe, folding that connection into the Psychedelic Period of San Francisco in the 1960’s, and moving ahead at the forefront of the present modern global silkscreen poster movement.
“Firehouse, based in San Francisco, is a supremely renegade printshop, a partnership of two master screen printers, Chuck Sperry and Ron Donovan. Sperry is a hot-button cartoonist from the political ‘zine and post-Zap Comix tradition, while Donovan does wheelies on their computer.” – King and Grushkin, “The Art of Modern Rock.”
“Often referred to as “modern day masters of screen printing”, poster artists Ron Donovan and Chuck Sperry have been printing in San Francisco under the name “Firehouse” for close to 15 years, now. They have traveled the world exhibiting their work, and have been featured in numerous books and publications including Juxtapoz magazine, as well as on NBC. In addition to creating and printing their own work for bands such as Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer, and Eric Clapton, they have also printed work for poster art giants such as Victor Moscoso, Gary Grimshaw, and Stanley Mouse. Armed with a subversive sense of humor, Chuck and Ron always make a trip to visit the Firehouse a good time.” – Merle Becker, director “American Artifact, The Rise of American Rock Poster Art.”
Italy
June 2-3 – Rome – Mondo Bizzarro, via Reggio Emilia, 32 – Opening: 7pm
June 4 – La Spezia – Club Shake, via Valdilocchi, 9 – with LIARS & Malleus – Opening: 7pm
June 5 – Genoa – Taxi Driver – Opening 7 pm.
June 6 – Pisa – Keith Café
June 7-8 – Pisa -Leningrad Café, Argini e Margini di Arno – Opening: 7pm
June 9 – Milan – Magnolia, Circonvallazione Idroscalo, 41, Segrate – Independent Music Festival with Ufomammut – Opening: 7pm
June 10 – Florence – Cuculia, via dei Serragli, 3r e 1r – with Alessandro Ansani, THE LIARS & “Eighties Colours” (book release) – Opening: 6:30 pm
June 11 – Florence – Black Candy – Opening: 7pm
June 12 – Milano – Alcatraz, via Valtellina, 25 – Firehouse poster for Bad Religion & Peawees – Opening: 7pm
July 4 – August 26 – Ancona – Mole Vanvitelliana, Sala Kliss
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Switzerland
June 16 – Lausanne – Les Docks, avenue de Sévelin, 34 – with music by Disc-a-Brac – Vernissage: 6:30pm
June 17 – Geneva – Usine / Moloko, place des Volontaires, 4 – Vernissage: 7pm
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UK with Jacknife
June 19 – Bristol – The Croft, 117-119 Stokes Croft – 1 pm until late
June 23-27 – Glastonbury Music Festival – all day every day
June 29 – London – Nottinghill Arts Club, 21 Notting Hill Gate – “Firewater Club” with live music: “The Invasion of…” – Opening 7 pm – 2 am
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France
July 1 – August 1 – Paris – Sesame, 51 Quai de Valmy – Vernissage: Thursday, July 1, 2010 – 7 pm
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Back home in Time for San Francisco Flatstock 25, Saturday, July 10, 2010 – 11 am
Alejandro Escovedo, live on “Austin City Limits”
Alejandro Escovedo is a legend in my book. I was very happy to hear from Mark Pedini at the television program “Austin City Limits,” who told me my poster design and printing skills were being requested to make a very special poster for Mr. Escovedo’s appearance on their well-known live music broadcast.
Since making dozens of posters for Alejandro’s brother Mario Escovedo and his legendary band the Dragons (a few of which are published in The Art of Modern Rock poster book), I’ve been trying to put a really stellar piece together for Alejandro for a few years.
I told my good friend Lawrence “El” Colacion about the Alejandro poster. Lawrence is a well-known Mission / punk rock artist extraordinaire and a fan of Alejandro’s band “Rank and File.” He was over at Hangar 18 printing some cool sacred heart / punk rock art pieces. Lawrence said, “Dude, if you make a killer Lady of Guadalupe print – that would be perfect.” I ran with the idea. I gave my virgin a bit more figure, and went crazy on the hair. But that’s just how God’s mom looks to me.
This piece is a homage to a great musician, Alejandro Escovedo, my friendship with his brother Mario, and my friendship to “El” Colacion, my connection to the Mission art scene, my deep concern for the border politics in america that are running off the rails. I’d say this one sums up a lot for me. And in the end I’ve got none for sale, sorry, it’s too personal and I’m holding on to the very few I have.
Poster will be made available by Austin City Limits at the live taping for Alejandro Escovedo on Friday, May 7, 2010.
Alejandro Escovedo
Austin City Limits
Season 36 – KLRU – Studio 6A
Friday, May 7, 2010
Edition of 100
7 colors on archival cream paper
23″ x 35″
Signed and Numbered
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