JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

A friend has asked me what am I doing in Cali? Well, Georgina and Shanana, here’s some picts of the warehouse space that I kick it at. More picts will be uploaded of some photoshoots, motorcycles and even airplanes and helicopters!

Working on a product photoshoot for L-R-G clothing. Man, they have a lot of clothes! That rack over there is actually only 1/8th of what they had.

Some retardly wicked toys.

Kelsey Brookes print in the background. Me with Playmobil dude.

2 prints by David Choe in the back.

They have another glass case with more toys like Mr. T, Planet of the Apes 12″ action figures. Do you think I should take more picts?

Over the weekend I attended the 5th annual Vail Film Festival. The Cross Brothers (who run the fest) throw a top notch event. I saw some excellent movies and also heard an informative talk about the animation process at Pixar Studios from supervising animator Dylan Brown. Quite a few of the film’s actors, actresses, and directors were in attendance including Adrian Grenier from HBO’s Entourage. I ran into Ray Young Chu from The Yummies working on a live painting during Saturday night’s private party at the top of Vail Mountain.

Oh, and a lady in the audience was doing yoga in her seat while watching films on Sunday…I thought that sort of thing only happened in Boulder, CO?

Over the weekend I attended the 5th annual Vail Film Festival. The Cross Brothers (who run the fest) throw a top notch event. I saw some excellent movies and also heard an informative talk about the animation process at Pixar Studios from supervising animator Dylan Brown. Quite a few of the film’s actors, actresses, and directors were in attendance including Adrian Grenier from HBO’s Entourage. I ran into Ray Young Chu from The Yummies working on a live painting during Saturday night’s private party at the top of Vail Mountain.

Oh, and a lady in the audience was doing yoga in her seat while watching films on Sunday…I thought that sort of thing only happened in Boulder, CO?

Over the weekend I attended the 5th annual Vail Film Festival. The Cross Brothers (who run the festival) throw a top notch event. I saw some excellent movies and also heard an informative talk about the animation process at Pixar Studios from supervising animator Dylan Brown. Quite a few of the film’s actors, actresses, and directors were in attendance including Adrian Grenier from HBO’s Entourage. I ran into Ray Young Chu from The Yummies working on a live painting during Saturday night’s private party at the top of Vail Mountain.

Oh, and a lady in the audience was doing yoga in her seat while watching films on Sunday…I thought that sort of thing only happened in Boulder, CO?

OH SHIT! If you know the talented and revered artist and mastermind, Ray Young Chu, you’re aware a five minute conversation with him holds enough material for a novel. But, twist Ray’s mind in between you hands like a sponge, filter the creative juices through a colander, and you’ll receive an awe inspiring 75 page book that’ll keep you up for nights on end. This 2007 publication, featured below (from The Yummies), is a must have. Every color, every line, and every carefully chosen word makes turning the pages of this book an insane pleasure. The book is pure brilliance, from its layout and short written excerpts to the featured art photographed. This book is a hallmark of recent art and design, and a testament that money and technology fall short to the tools of a creative mind and a few dollars needed to make a book.

SBD and I took a trip to Denver last Friday to check out the Pirate Gallery artist invitational, and support our close ally Ray Young Chu of art superfriends The Yummies. This eclectic group show featured artists employing techniques ranging from metal sculpture to watercolor, and they put together a great mass of work. Our night culminated with late night drinks and some crayon collab action. Good times!

I got a 1 a.m. phone call last night regarding some bicycle references. Ray Young Chu apparently got into some bike themed show last minute out in L.A. and needed to whip something together. We discussed some nice classic bikes from our childhoods and settled on an old skool Schwinn Grey Ghost. While I slept the night away, Ray painted his ass off. He took this picture right before packaging up the canvas and shipping it out. I think the piece is stunning and if it come back, which I doubt, I call first dibs!

The Yummies just don’t stop workin’. Mascot Manny just sent us this pic of “Green Tea Ice Cream”, a dope acrylic painting (18″ x 24″) that is available right now especially for you! Check out theyummies.com and rayyougnchu.com to see some more super rad art, including the small dog series and other new paintings from Mascot Manny, Ninja Nate, Sheep Head, and Donut David.

The Yummies | Ray Young Chu

We recently caught wind of some exciting new shit from The Yummies, and have been anxiously anticipating its arrival. Well, it’s here, finally… a whole new series of paintings by Donut David. This go round Dave focused on small dogs as his subject matter and the pieces are FRESH! You can check ‘em all out here and buy ‘em online. They’re goin’ quick, so get ‘em while they’re hot. Yea-ah, Dave!

theyummies.com

Thursday night at Den Gallery in Denver, four super terrific artists showed their latest and greatest work. Not only did I get the chance to see the newest work from some of my favorite artists but I had the opportunity to check out a new gallery space. Den Gallery is kind of tucked back behind Space Gallery. I have to say I feel a little behind on the whole scene thing. I was told its been around for about three months but haven’t heard anything about shows that have come and gone… Either way, it was a perfect introduction to the new space. To see The Yummies, Amanda Marie, Jeremy Charles Burns and Ethan Smith all in one space was more than enough of a treat. The Yummies have some super rad new work. They seem to be introducing a lot of fresh content in the pieces and developing their color pallete. Im always amazed by their craftsmanship and am waiting patiently to attain another piece of their production. Jeremy Burns brought to my attention an oustanding array of odd portrait style paintings. Super cool to say the least. Ethan Smith’s work was quite a bit different than I would have expected and had so much detail my camera couldn’t even capture it. I feel like the photos I have, don’t give his work any ounce of justice. Amanda Marie did what she does best and completely dominated all things art. I couldn’t believe how cool some of her work was. It was some odd 1950’s dreamlike interpretation of a “Howdy Doody” show. Very nifty! Hi-Five and a firm compliment goes out to you Amanda, for your work and the ability to get me to want something so bad. I can’t wait for the day I get to hang one of your pieces on my wall!

Aside from all of this excitement, I had the opportunity to meet AJ Fosik and rap about his recent show at Jonathan Levine Gallery. He did tell me that he has a lot coming up and is staying super busy with upcoming shows. Unfortunately he mentioned he isn’t going to be in the next show at Andenken Gallery because of how busy he has been. But rest assure, the next show at Andenken will be rad. He has a hellacious line up of artists that will be showing in his place. Check out the Andenken website for more info.

Jeremy Charles Burns | The Yummies | Jonathan Levine Gallery | Space Gallery | Andenken Gallery | AJ Fosik
Ray Young Chu | Scot Lefavor | Celeste

The South wall is hung. We’re ready for Mr. Holland. It was burly… it always is, but we think we nailed it this time. Josh’s work should start rollin’ around noon. Doors open at 4:30. Prepare to crap your pants. Scot and I think we just did… whoops! But, it comes down to this: What the hell was Alex about to get into with 2 chicks and a big-ass pizza at 2:00am? Would you like some sausage with that?

RANDOM SIDENOTES:
1.) Word on the street is that Ray Young Chu is bringing Kimchi for everyone!
2.) Some sources might say Small-BUT-Dangerous is more of a “man” than ever.
3.) Eva may be in the house, yeah, that’s right Eva. F-R-E-S-H!
4.) As much as we all want Shitty to handle his mural up in Summit, Co. We hope it snows so he can’t make it up there and ends up showin’ at Holland’s show
5.) Scot and I should probably go to sleep now… it’s 5:29am

josholland.com

Our friend Ray Young Chu called me last night around midnight. I got back to him around 1:00am. He called me back around 1:30am. I think we were on the phone ’til close to 4:00am. Ray is awesome. Really - he’s an amazing individual. If you know Ray, and consider him a friend - you’re lucky. We spoke about art and design and business, all of which are closely intertwined in both of our lives and they’re at the very root of our existence. The three occassionally mix well, but more often than not - they don’t, and subsequently create a lot of internal struggle for people like Ray and I. Regardless, we bounced ideas off one another, shared our hopes, ambitions, utopian dreams, and discussed BALANCE - in detail. I’m thankful I have people like Ray in my life. In my 31 years of life experience I’ve deduced a few things, one of which is that truly good friends are hard to come by. I have one in Ray. He has one in me. At 4:00am this morning that’s really all that mattered.

If you don’t know Ray, here he is, in the flesh, trophies and all.

rayyoungchu.com | theyummies.com | myspace.com/theyummies