dreXeL's Blog - Author Archives
Thoughts, Musings, Ramblings, Etc...
I Love You, Johnny
Today is Johnny Cash’s birthday. I love that man like crazy and it got me thinking about how he actually makes me proud to be an American. Growing up I wasn’t very patriotic. I wasn’t anti, I was just…ambivalent, I suppose. But thinking about it, there are a few things that definitely make me proud to be American. Here’s the short list:
1. The existence of NYC
2. Specifically, the existence of Brooklyn
3. Johnny Cash
4. Hip Hop
5. Pop art and culture
There are probably a few more things, but those are the first ones I thought of. And I know I’m not alone in being so proud of Johnny Cash. It’s practically un-American to not like him. NOONE talks shit about Johnny Cash. Or Elvis. And that’s how it should be.
Happy birthday, man. We miss ya. XOXO
Group Show Brooklyn Comin’ Up
My newest group show is on Friday, March 7th. If you’re in the area, COME! It’s at Hope Lounge at that’s ALWAYS a good time.
TooFly’s Jewelry Debut
Last night was the debut of TooFly’s first jewelry line at All The Right in Queens. Really good time. I saw some of my good friends and fellow members of the Younity collective, listened to some seriously old skool tunes (to the point that I woke up this morning with “Lyrical Gangsta” in my head over and over and over), and of course got to rock my new bling…
For all the pics and the show info, click here for Toofly’s blog…
Reasons to like NYC
I started a series. Don’t know how far I’ll go with it, but I can come up with hundreds of reasons to like New York, so I could theoretically take it pretty far.
For now here are two…
Reason number 1
Reason number 2 aka “Masked Self Portrait”
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Long Overdue Props
I know I usually post about something having to do with me. My art, my shows, whatever. I mean, it is MY blog after all. But today I feel like talking about other people. Of course it will still be MY opinions about other people. 😉
Anyway…I have some artist friends I’ve made pretty recently, and I’m real proud to know them. So it’s time to tell the world. They have just mad, endless talent. And I have been fortunate enough to hang out with them, paint with them, learn things, watch them work, AND I have some of their pieces on my walls. So yeah, I’m pretty much lucky all around. They’re really well known already, but just in case you aren’t one of the enlightened many who know about them, let me introduce you to AVONE, NOBODY, 2ESAE and SKI.
This piece is by avone. And I OWN it. You should be very jealous.
This one is a nobody(tmnk)/avone collaboration. i *heart* that rust for reals.
Here’s a collabo piece by ski mst, avone, tmnk and 2esae. And one that I dig. like a LOT.
Here’s me holding up a piece that i own, in the spot in Soho where they sell their work. 2esae, avone and ski mst collabo:
Their spot in Soho is corner of Prince and Greene…you know…so you can go out there and buy up all their paintings. Do it. You know you want to.
Thanks to avone for the photos for this post. I yanked em off his flickr page cuz I’m way too lazy to take all those photos myself. And thanks to all four of you for your inspiration, your friendship and for just making the world a more beautiful place. <3
Here are some more links if you wanna find out more…
Art Show Pic
(originally uploaded by jcn.)
This is actually the only pic I have of opening night at my show. It was taken by my friend, Jesse…the link to his gallery is above. Guess I was just too busy shmoozing to bother taking photos. Glad SOMEONE was on the ball that night. Thanks Jesse. You da bestest.
XO Erica
Thanks!
To all of you who came to my opening this thursday at Sapphire Lounge. It was a lot of fun and I met amazing people, as well as getting some time to hang out with old friends. I appreciate you guys like crazy. Here’s to lots of good times to come! XO Erica
And Here’s your Invitation…
Sapphire Show
My upcoming solo show (and first solo show in NYC) is at a really cool lounge in the East Village called “Sapphire”. Opening is TOMORROW (eep!!!) at 7pm. Deets: 249 Eldridge St. (between Stanton and Houston), NY, NY. If you’re in the area I’d love to see you.
Peace. XO Erica
[tags]painting, art show, nyc, sapphire lounge, east village, mixed media, japanophilia, spray paint, acrylic, paint markers[/tags]
Theft Isn’t Cool, Man
I’ve been a fan of Johnny Cupcakes’ designs for years. So I kind of keep track of the haps. And I just had to write something about this today.
Sometimes it’s a fine line between “inspired by” and flat out STOLEN. Not this time… Check it.
In case you can’t see the image for some reason, the left side is a design by Johnny Cupcakes from 2005. It’s a mouthful of teeth, with one gold cupcake tooth. On the right is the new Billabong ad with the exact same teeth and the exact same gold tooth only sans cupcake.
While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it isn’t rocket science to know you’re not supposed to steal another designer’s designs. As you can see, there wasn’t even an attempt to make it original. Unbelievable. Sometimes you have to look at other people’s artwork to get some inspiration for your own. But oh my god, then go MAKE YOUR OWN. If you can’t do that, you should be in real estate or something because you’re not an artist. Anyway…just trying to speak up for what I believe and let you know what’s what. Check out the AUTHENTIC Johnny Cupcakes designs here.
We love you, Johnny. XO
paint the planet
My newest self portrait. BAM.
[tags]selfportrait montana spraycan illustration[/tags]
Martha Stewart-esque Holiday Goodness
I’m not quite sure what has taken over me. Maybe it’s the festive nature of NYC during the holiday season, the lights, the shopping, the snow. All I know is this year I bought a ridiculous amount of christmas presents, I made homemade christmas candy. TWICE. And now this…homemade holiday cards. This MIGHT be the first of a small series, as I already have a request for a Solstice card. We’ll see. Until then I fully intend to get as cracked out as humanly possible on peppermint bark that I made. Cheers. XO
