JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

Our pal and architecturally driven design super hero, Mike Moore, founder of tres birds workshop recently conceived and then crushed a brilliant installation for the Manifest Hope Gallery exhibition atop Andenken.  The installation was constructed of reclaimed bicycle wheels,  aircraft cable, reflective glass micro-beads, and steel pipe and installed over a period of two days.  It’s amazing and so are Mike and his team.

Here’s a little bit on why tres birds created their piece and why they support Barack Obama,

- We want Barack Obama to lead America.
- We support ending our war with Iraq.
- We are working on reducing building and transportation energy use.
- We are grateful for the bicycle

“Wheels of H O P E”

On Friday night Gallery 1988 opened the second annual “Crazy 4 Cult” show, hosted by infamous film director Kevin Smith. The show’s theme centers around a list of films affectionately known as cult classics, and features artists as varied as the films they represented. Some notable participants include Shepard Fairey, Jim Mahfood, Chet Zar, Plasticgod, Reuben Rude, Camilla D’Errico and Shannon Bonatakis. I did not have the pleasure of attending, but the show can be seen online in its entirety HERE.

Smith made sure to snatch up every single piece that featured his film alter ego Silent Bob, hopefully not to look at himself, but to support those artists that have supported his film career all these years… Yup, that’s what I’m going with. Love me some smodcast. Rumor has it that Weird Al will be hosting next year, look for UHF to dominate.

The following are some snippets of my favorite pieces from this show. Enjoy!

Kurt just showed up with our recontextualized, laser-etched rendition of the Bill of Rights… the final focal component of our Manifest Hope Gallery piece.  Homey killed it.  Shit’s tight.  We’re stoked.  Nice work Kurt!!!  Arghhhhhhh, we Can’t wait to see all the art down there.  According to reports from Lefavor (who’s nearly finished with his 7 huge, yep that’s 7 pieces - all roughly 4′ x 5′) - it’s pretty fuckin’ amazing.

The deadline for submissions into INDYINK’s Plastisol Free For All is comin’ up quick… August 21st.  All t-shirt design submissions will voted on by the public at La Rumba on September 7th.  The top ten finalists will win cash and have their tees printed.  Get the details here.

“We’re not going to settle for what the world is, we’re going to strive for what it might be.” — Barack Obama.  And on thing that definitely will be - is one helluva frikin’ awesome art exhibition at Andenken Gallery (2990 Larimer Street) running Monday August 25 though Thursday August 28th.

The Manifest Hope Gallery exhibition celebrates arts pivotal role in creating cultural momentum and shines a spotlight on artists across the nation who use their voices to amplify and motivate the Obama campaign.  The gallery exhibition highlights 5 central themes of the progressive grass-roots movement: Hope, Change, Progress, Unity, and Patriotism.

While we’re super-stoked that this event is coming to Denver’s very own Andenken, we’re even more stoked to be participating in it and representing Colorado’s progressive art front alongside Scot Lefavor, Evan Hecox,  Josh Holland and Shannon Bonatakis, Mike Moore of tres birds, and Rick Griffith of Matter Studio.  The list of participating artists for the show is unbelievable, we’re truly honored and humbled to be involved.  Mark your calendars.  You don’t wanna miss this one!!!

The latest list of contributing artists includes:
Aaron Martin // Adrian Sanchez // Alexis McKenzie // Amy Martin // Amy Rice // Andy Howell // Alex Pardee // Cathie Bleck // Casey Ryder // Chanel Kennebrew // Chris Pastras // Chris Yates // Cydney Payton // Dan Monick // Date Farmers // David Choe // David Lanham // Deroy Peraza // Diederick Kraaijeveld // Eddie // Elizabeth Rosen // Emek // Evan Hecox // Frank Chimero // Franke // Gary Baseman // HVW8 // Irene Hardwicke Olivieri // Jason Alberto // Justin Alberto Garcia // Jason Giglio // Jeff Zimmerman // Jesselisa Moretti // Jude Buffum // Julie Adler // Justin Bua // Kate Luscher //Kay Tuttle // Keith Negley // Kofie // Leontine Greenberg // Lisa Anne Auerbach // Lisa Congdon // Lukas Ketner // MAC //Max Ginsburg // Maya Hayuk // Mear One // Mel Kadel // Melanie Reim // Morning Breath // Munk One // Nick Dewar // Pete Yahnke // Philip John Lumbang // Ray Noland aka CRO // Rebecca Berdel // Retna // Rick Griffith // Ron English // Ron Keas // Sam Flores // Sarah Hoskins // Scot Lefavor // Shannon Bonatakis and Josh Holland // Shepard Fairey // Cypher13 // Todd Lockwood // Tom Slaughter // Mike Moore (Tres Birds) // Van Taylor Monroe // Zara Gonzalez // Zina Saunders // Zoltron // Aaron Axelrod // Thomas Brodhal // Ginger Che // Catia Chien // Christopher Cox // Grotesk // Damon Locks // Zach McDonald // Tres Birds // Adrian Tucker // Arellano Harvath // Antar Dayal // Vincent Comparetto

We’ve been doing a lot of work with Limited Addiction Gallery lately, including all the JUX ads and flyers.  It’s pretty great compiling all the awesome art month to month.

Matt Curry and Robert Hardgrave are showing this month. The show opens this Saturday, September 16th at 7pm and the artists will be in attendance.  You can check out the work on the LAG site.  And be sure to stop by and see it in person!

Matt Curry

Robert Hardgrave

Michael Moore recently put together “a blueprint for losing the most winnable presidential election in American History” for Rolling Stone Magazine in an article entitled How the Democrats Can Blow it in Six Easy Steps.  In so doing Moore addressed a number of issues all surrounding Obama’s weakening position on John McCain and his latest centrist tendencies.  Come on Barack - don’t blow this one.  We need you more than ever.  Stay true.

Here’s Moore’s Six Easy Steps.  You can read the article in its entirety here.

1. Keep saying nice things about McCain.

2. Pick a running mate who is a conservative white guy or a general or a Republican.

3. Keep writing speeches for Obama that make him sound like a hawk.

4. Forget that this was a historic year for women.

5. Show up to a gunfight with a peashooter.

6. Denounce me!

“We can’t take four more years of this madness, Barack. We need you to be a candidate who will fight back every time they attack you. Actually, don’t even wait till you have to fight back. Fight first! Show some vision and courage and smoke them out. Keep asking why these lobbyists are McCain’s best friends. Let’s finally have a Democrat who’s got the balls to fire first.

So Barack, by denouncing me, you can help McCain get elected. Because when you denounce me, it’s not really me you’re distancing yourself from — it’s the millions upon millions of people who feel the same way about things as I do. And many of them are the kind of crazy voters who have no problem voting for a Nader just to prove a point.

Elections have been lost by just 537 votes. I don’t want that to happen to you.” - Michael Moore

Shannon Bonatakis just put the finishing touches on her piece for Gallery 1988’s “Crazy for Cult” show in LA, and you’re getting a first look at it! The show is hosted by film making duo Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier, of Clerks and Mallrats fame. We’re all big fans of Smith’s and Shannon’s work, and super excited to see the two names in a single sentence. Her contribution is a beautiful little painting of a Tim Burton cult classic that’s near and dear to her heart. The rest of the group show is looking promising thusfar, check it out! We’ll keep you posted on news and a final recap of the best pieces in the show. Snoogens!

Barack Obama’s official party nomination speech at Invesco Field is sure to be a historic moment in American politics. CO residents are getting half the seats in the stadium, but you gotta sign up on the waiting list HERE! Hope to see you all there!

Think you’re good at multitasking?  You’re not.  Not compared to this dude.  Shane Ocell aka Via Vengeance is a “one-man doom metal band.” He plays a seven string guitar, drum kit and sings vocals. Wicked! When he sings he also looks like Satan, what could be better?  How about the fact that he’s coming to Denver! If you like doom metal and want to see one guy do it all, you should go!  Check out We Like To for some sweet video action!

The Sayama Forest is an 8750 acre park on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. Also known as Totoro Forest, anime legend Hayao Miyazaki was inspired by these very trees to write his classic and breathtaking childhood tale “My Neighbor Totoro”. In 1990 Miyazaki created the national trust, Totoro Forest Foundation to pursue the preservation of this land, which has been continuously threatened by urban development.

The Totoro Forest project is a huge collaborative effort between Hayao Miyazaki, Pixar Animation Studios, and countless artists to create a fundraising auction/exhibition to benefit the preservation of Sayama Forest. The participating artists were asked to contemplate the sense of wonder that “My Neighbor Totoro” undoubtedly leaves within us all and create visual expressions of what that has meant to them in their lives. The result is incredible.

This is just a sampling of what will be offered at Pixar Animation Studios on September 6th, but there is plenty more to be seen here. With the combination of Totoro, Pixar, and art - three of my favorite things in this world - I’m already salivating. You should be too.

And p.s. if you’ve never seen “My Neighbor Totoro” then I’m sorry, we can’t be friends.

Composition is a design retail shop, with a stunning award winning website in Denver’s Belmar suburb.  Jennifer just alerted us that they’ll be kicking off their new retail project with Animal Attraction on July 17th. This gallery style retail exhibit features nearly 40 artists and designers whose work is inspired by the animal kingdom. Everything from silly (trout staplers) to lovely (silver jackrabbit necklaces) and sophisticated (the photography of Catherine Ledner). Come out and join Composition from 5 to 9 pm on July 17th to see and celebrate this newly curated collection of work. The exhibit will run for 3 months with a closing party on October 9th. Throughout the exhibit, Composition will host several craft classes and lectures based on our Animal Attraction theme. Come out and support independent and interesting retail in Colorado!