GQ catches up with the multifaceted Pharrell Williams to talk about his clothing line, producing music for Jay-Z and his daughter, being a consultant for the Oscars and much more. In the quick interview GQ touches on all aspects of Williams’ work, most of which he can’t reveal but still gives hints on what’s to come. Click here to read the full interview online.

GQ: The GQ&A With Pharrell Williams is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The show highlights his new geometric paintings, photographic wall wrap, and sculptures that utilizes a color palette reflecting “the brash attitude of the ’80s and early ’90s skate culture,” which means, lots of black, white and neon.

Tofer sat down with me for 2  minutes before blowing me off for someone more important, but that was enough to get a real in depth feel for this new show and make a life long best bud.

JY: Whoa. You don’t look Chinese.

TC: Uhh… hello.

JY: I see this is your first solo exhibition in New York.

TC: Yes it is.

JY: What took you so long?

TC: Pardon me?

JY: During your last show “Alex,” you were on drugs. I’m glad to see you’re clean now.

TC: I wasn’t on drugs. It had a drug themed undertone via an Aldous Huxley quote but focused on Op-Art.

JY: I thought step 1 was admitting you had a problem? Doesn’t seem like rehab was that successful…

—

JY: Your geometric constructions are based on mathematical calculations. Did you use an abacus?

TC: What?

JY: You’re telling me that you’re that good at math that you didn’t need any help? You’re only half Asian, that doesn’t make sense.

TC: No abacus.

JY: I see you like stalagmites. What’s up with that?

TC: I enjoy the sharpness of the shape.

JY: Has anyone been impaled on your stalagmites?

TC: What?

JY: I’d impale someone with that.

TC: …

—

JY: You’re 32?

TC: Yes.

JY: And your show’s color palette focuses on the brash attitude 80s and 90s skate culture?

TC: Yes.

JY: Hmm…

TC: What?

JY: Oh nothing. Just looks like a silent mid-life crisis cry for help that’s all …

—

JY: Your painting, 31 White Lines on Black is made up of 31 white lines on a black background. Why isn’t it called 61 Lines of Black and White, or 3o Black Lines on White, and are you sure there are 31 lines?

TC: It’s a black background with 31 white lines on it. And yes, it has 31 lines.

JY: Are you sure, sure?

TC: Yes.

JY: Go count it for me…

—

JY: Are your parents upset that you’re an artist and not an acupuncturist?

TC: … (gets up and leaves)

JY: Great seeing you again Tofer!

—

Tofer Chin TOTALLY Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Very seldom do we come across an audio interview that we find engaging, but when it is as comedic and insightful as Noirfancy’s latest venture into a podcast interview series entitled “That’s not me, bro,” we cant help but be huge fans. For the first episode, Noirfancy gets together with Union Los Angeles owner, Chris Gibbs. While the lengthy interview is driven by Noirfancy’s uncut, yet authentic personality, we get great insight from Mr. Gibbs on a great deal of the brand’s history, its growth, and his start and personal involvement with one of streetwear’s pioneering names in the industry. The audio does carry many characteristics of an interview, but the dialogue between the two seems more like a natural conversation between friends which leaves us patiently awaiting the next episode.

That’s not me BRO-Pilot Episode: CHRIS GIBBS by thatsnotmeBRO

SOURCE: That’s not me, Bro

Noirfancy talks with Chris Gibbs from Union Los Angeles is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The BPMW Agency’s We Are The Market website recently caught up with Rick Klotz of Warriors of Radness for a quick interview. The two talk about Klotz’s rising brand, what’s expected for Spring/Summer 2012, Klotz’s nomination for the “Best New Designer In America” award by GQ and much more. Check out the full interview online here.

We Are The Market | Rick Klotz of WOR Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Alongside their recently released capsule collection there is now an interview with Owen Parrott. He is one of the founders of the Canadian football club and also one of the persons behind Inventory Magazine. In the interview he touches on a few topics, the most interesting to me being typography and simplicity in design.

Could you give us a run down of Gastown FC and how it all started?
Gastown F.C. is the football (soccer) team that Ryan and I started about a year ago now. We started it originally so we could play the game at a more competitive level in an organized setting. We grew up playing the game as kids and through high school, then we started a team in university a few years back. That team died out as we got older and moved away though and we found ourselves playing on various teams as individuals. It’s kind of hard to break into real proper clubs when you’ve only been playing recreationally though and we didn’t really want to have to deal with coaches and team politics so we started our own team. All along, the idea of creating a club was appealing too because it opens up the doors to do things like the Reigning Champ collaboration where we can combine our interests and make products that we love and use and have fun with things off the pitch.

Where do you “scout” your players?
Players come from all over… The spine of the team is close friends and family. We found and signed our goalkeeper with a couple of tweets. Craigslist netted us a couple of defenders and we picked up our first foreign players, a couple of swashbuckling Japanese, off the sidelines at one of our games. Word of mouth has helped too. Admittedly we’re not the best at organizing training so we haven’t really had the chance to open the doors to everyone but we’ll hopefully have some open sessions in the future where we can build the player pool.

Do you feel that sports have become an increasingly bigger part of creative culture?
I don’t think they’ve become a bigger no, but perhaps more visible. People have been active forever and everyone has their past-times and hobbies but for whatever reason these things become ‘cool’, I’m thinking something like track bikes, surfing or whatever is of the moment right now. I don’t really know why that is, but I don’t think it’s a become a bigger part of culture than in the past; especially in Vancouver where being active is just a way of life.

What’s it like having somebody like Reigning Champ in your backyard?
It’s been good. We’re pretty used to working with people all over via email, phone, skype, twitter or whatever so it’s been nice to be able to just drive over to sit down and work things out in person and in the same time zone. Kenta and the rest of the team over there have made it easy for us too and it’s a solid local partnership that will hopefully continue.

Despite the game of soccer growing increasingly technical by the kit, ball and boot release, what does it mean to eschew that in favor of something that is a throwback to the old days before the prevalence of gear laced with hydrophobic materials?

I don’t think it means anything really as I wouldn’t say we were turning our backs to technology and technical garments exactly. We wanted to make products that were actually more for wearing to and from games but could also be incorporated into your everyday wear. They’re athletically inspired but they’re not meant to be performance gear, it’s more along the lines of vintage Champion or Russell Athletic. With that, you can’t beat the comfort and feel of cotton and Reigning Champ make some of the best heavy weight terry out there.

The whole collection seems rather straight forward with scarves, sweat suits and T-shirts but was there a particular reason there wasn’t a snood included in the line?
Well the tube scarf can just as easily be worn as a neck warmer that’s similar to a snood… But we didn’t do a snood proper the first time out of the gates because personally I think they’re pretty terrible looking things and I’d never wear one. They’ve been banned in the Premier League this year too so I’m definitely not the only one. Ryan on the other hand doesn’t mind them I don’t think so maybe he’ll sneak a G.F.C. version in at some point.

Based on the simplicity of the design, typography plays a big role. What were you aiming to achieve on this front?
Just that, simplicity. For us, the best products are very simple, subtle and functional and comes from a genuine reference point. Crewneck sweatshirts are pretty ubiquitous, but the simple type is more subtle than any graphic and the typeface gives it a collegiate or military reference which is completely digestible for pretty much everyone without being completely contrived. Essentially it’s something that literally anyone can wear and easily incorporate into their existing wardrobe and it will look good.

Is typography growing increasingly important in the visual world? Do you associate this with any particular movement (i.e. Apple)?
Again, I don’t think it’s really growing no. Typography has always been critical to good design and is always evolving. Perhaps the success and popularity of Apple has helped people become more aware of ‘good design’ in general but for the most part I’d think that typography is still pretty much taken for granted by the general public. I mean I’d probably have a really hard time differentiating between Akzidenz-Grotesk and Univers, and most people probably don’t even know what I’m talking about.

What’s next for GFC? Any thoughts of hosting a “Creatives” World Cup with the likes of Chinatown Soccer Club etc?
Well hopefully promotion. We’re a brand new team to the Vancouver Metro Soccer League we’ve had to start at the bottom of the pyramid. We’re top right now and we’re hoping to hang on. We’d also love to lock down a proper shirt sponsor as our kits would look that much better with one. We’ve reached out to a handful of brands and businesses but I guess not too many see things the way we do. As for a Creatives World Cup, I’d love to see something like the AdiCup being held every year and to be invited would be great. I don’t think we’d have much luck hosting anything in Vancouver though as travel costs might be a bit of an inhibition. Maybe us and the Ringleaders in Montreal will each take big road trips and meet halfway in Winnipeg one summer.

Source: HB

Reigning Champ x Gastown F.C. Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

SLAMXHYPE: It’s interesting to me that you have traveled a lot and you took notice of things that you would want in a bag… Did you always want to start a company like LEXDRAY?

AD: I’ve always wanted to start my own company and launch my own brand, but I didn’t get the vision for Lexdray until 2008

SLAMXHYPE: I think there’s a huge connection between street culture and traveling. Not just finding cool shit to buy but more importantly experiencing other cultures. Do you think this connection has been lost currently?

AD: My brother and I were just having this conversation.  He’s knows about the search for street culture related limited edition toys, kicks, art, gear, etc as well as anyone I know.  His collection rivals most, largely because he knows where to look online.  So I guess the connection has been lost somewhat, mainly due to the rise of e-commerce. You used to have to go to Japan to buy Bape or NYC to find Supreme – now you can just go on their websites and order whatever you want. It’s become more of a virtual search and blogs like yours have become a major influence. The need to travel to find both gear and experiences has lessened. Hopefully Lexdray inspires people to pack their bags and get out there for real.

SLAMXHYPE: That’s interesting you mention that you have Lexdray inspires people to pack their bags. I was thinking that Lexdray would be more for the consumer who already or loves to travel a lot and knows the value of a great bag. Where is your favorite place to visit and why?

AD: I’m certain The Classified Collection will appeal to frequent travelers as you’ve mentioned as well. You’re putting me on the spot asking this question with so many incredible places to visit, but one place that immediately comes to mind is Paris. One reason I love it there is it reminds me of NYC more than anywhere else.  Everyone is immaculately dressed and fashion forward while the city is filled with culture, art, graffiti, incredible architecture, history, phenomenal restaurants, shopping, nightlife and music.  When I touch down in Paris I immediately connect with the energy and vibe of the city.

SLAMXHYPE: It is a lovely place. You’ve said before that every place you’ve visited has influenced the design and features of LEXDRAY products and bags. Could you expand on that?

AD: Each bag in the collection is named after a city I’ve either lived in, visited or spent considerable time.  With each city I visit I am influenced by the people, culture, public transportation, architecture and even the weather. I envision people in Seattle or Kauai making daily use of the rain cover on both the Tokyo and Boulder Packs, or people running through European airports and train stations taking advantage of the backpack straps on the Tahoe Duffel.  I even selected snaps and added a rubberized coating to the hardware on the bags so they would be quiet, like Zurich or Copenhagen.

SLAMXHYPE: I noticed in 2012 there’s some new things like the London Garment bag, which is amazing by the way.. Do you have any new colors or materials planned for 2012 or will you be sticking with black? Just wondering because I think the Boulder Pack would look amazing in different colors ha. What materials would you like to explore in the future?

AD: I just saw a final sample of the London Garment.  It’s a very unique piece.  Like the styles we just launched, we will make 550 of them in the classic all black colorway.  We won’t produce a style in all black again after it’s initial production run, but we have a number of new colors we are considering.  I am leaning towards olive, khaki, navy and charcoal.  My intention is to dye fabrics so the entire bag remains tonal, including the hardware.  We are always looking at new fabrics to incorporate into our bags as well.  I don’t want to give away too much but they will of course be durable, functional, water resistant and lightweight.

SLAMXHYPE: I love bags personally because I think the things we use everyday are a good example of ones tastes and personality. What are some things you make use of everyday and why do you love them?

AD: The things I make use of everyday definitely represent who I am.  Most of my life I have used Apple products and now is no different.  I’d be a far more unorganized person without without my iPhone, iPad and Macbook.  Today I obviously carry my Apple technology and all my gear in a Lexdray bag, but I recently retired an Acronym messenger that I used for quite awhile.  My other daily go-to’s are Levi’s, a Bombardier watch, a pair of Dita sunglasses and a gore-tex Visvim navy and white M-65 rain jacket that I changed the buttons on from white to orange.  In my bag I typically carry a notebook, the latest edition of Monocle, my Canon 7D with a 50mm L Series lens and a pair of Beats in-ear headphones. On my feet I’ve recently been wearing Jordan III’s again and tri-tone Mark McNairy saddles shoes when I need to look a little nicer.

SLAMXHYPE: Since old brands are getting old and Lexdray is part of the new generation of brands how do you plan to create the future? In terms of how you want to run the brand and what the new consumer wants from a bag. Personally, I think a big part of it is not reacting to the consumer wants but predicting what they need.

AD: I have a lot of respect for the “old” brands who established the market for luxury travel gear. Launching a brand today is much different than years ago.  When most of the older brands you are referring to launched their business, their was no internet, no major technology to carry around everyday and figuring out how to get your name out there was far more difficult.  Products developed by older luxury travel brands typically lack a well thought out user experience.  Today there are so many gadgets, computers, power cords and gizmos that everything needs its place just for organization.  Some of the older brands may use exotic materials or have a recognizable monogram, but the overall functionality of a bag can be a challenge for them.  When predicting what a customer wants from a bag in the future, a secure spot for their latest technology is going to be crucial.  Times have obviously changed and so has the sales process.  Ecommerce and web-based sales avenues are more common than ever.  As a young company, I definitely intend to take advantage of these opportunities to reach potential customers, in addition to the plethora of social networking, gifting and luxury sales sites.  Staying ahead of the technology curve is ultimately going to help us make a better product and distribute it more efficiently.

SLAMXHYPE: What is one item (preferably some sort of bag) that you think would assist you in your travels or daily life but hasn’t been made yet. It doesn’t have to be completely new silhouette it can just be a unique feature or a variation. And will Lexdray be making this?

AD: One item I have in mind is something I am working on now.  I always find myself constructing padded areas at the bottom of my backpacks for camera equipment, lenses, etc.  I am in the middle of designing a series of inserts which will be available at some point.  These inserts are designed to house camera equipment in any bag, Lexdray or otherwise.  They will assuredly have some unique features like the rest of our products and they’ll be constructed from lightweight high quality fabrics.  This way even if you are set on your current backpack or messenger, you can still utilize one of our functional inserts.

SLAMXHYPE: That is a good idea and practical as well! Classic menswear is the current trend and seems to be here to stay for a bit. For you personally, do you feel it is more important to see what the future of design holds or to just keep things how they’ve always been?

AD: I’m not really sure.  Part of the reason I decided to make bags and haven’t moved forward on designing garments is because I see them as timeless pieces that don’t really revolve around seasons or trends.  I’m not rushing like the major fashion houses every season to meet delivery dates and create products that must stay on trend.  I happen to have a solid understanding of this side of the design process because I’ve watched my wife deal with it for 7 years with her business.  When designing pieces for The Classified Collection, I didn’t really think about any of these things.  I just created functional products with silhouettes and materials that I thought made sense.

SLAMXHYPE: What’s the most valuable thing traveling has given you?

AD: Three months after my wife and I started dating we decided to take a trip together to Paris.  We’ve never looked back.

—

Check out the Classified Collection online here. The full collection is also available at UNION Los Angeles and Darkside Initiative SF.

Photos: Alex Drayer

Quiet like Zurich: A Conversation with LEXDRAY is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Adam Kimmel certainly is the man of the moment at present, with each collection he continues to impress. He is a firm favourite of ours and recently has graced the cover of The New Order issue 4. Here is another great interview from the guys at Tres Bien Shop when they were visiting the  Kimmel showroom in New York the other month.

I’ve read that you started out making clothes for your friends in college. Do you look back at your early projects and think that the seed of later collections was there, or were they more of a pure experiment?

I think over time, as I gained experience, my collections have become clearer and more focused—in terms of both the product and the inspirations. But the values have been there all along. The seeds of the brand were in the ground on the first day.

Clearly there’s a lot of art influence in your stuff. Can you name a few artists that are currently lighting your creative fires? Is it the personal style of artists that grabs you mostly, or their work?

When an artist informs one of my collections, it tends to gravitate around their personal style. But I have to love and respect their artwork. I definitely have an interest in art outside of my collections and I don’t mine every artist I appreciate for inspiration. But it’s funny. I do think, coincidentally, that the greatest artists of all time happened to have amazing personal style one way or another. In terms of my fall 2011 collection, the Portland artist Dan Attoe lit a big creative fire for me. The all-time greatest creative fire ever lit for me was the artist George Herms.

You do a lot of tailored clothing. For a few years now, the mark of a well-dressed guy, or at least a guy who pays attention, has largely been a close fit, but that’s not what your clothes are about. What does “fit” mean to you?

Fit for me means comfort and flattering lines. A suit should not be skin-tight. Shoulders should hug the body with softness and not wrinkle. My lapels are never pressed like a factory-made suit and my cuff buttons always function. My suits are handmade in Italy and I like to take advantage of all the quality that affords me.

I also read a quotation from you: “All good things should be timeless.” Can you expand on your idea of timelessness?

It’s been thrown around a lot to describe things that are really not timeless, but rather dated or nostalgic and just being brought back. I don’t get the feeling that’s how you use it. When I say timeless, I use it to describe something that will stand the test of time. The trick in this business is to create a wearable product that is truly a one-of-a-kind piece. It’s relatively easy to make a one-of-a-kind piece that looks outrageous and leeches onto the latest fad. The challenge—and I must say the exciting part—of what I do is to create that one-of-a-kind piece that is an automatic classic. That’s what I mean by timeless.

Not to ask you to pick favorites, but can you talk about something–a piece, a theme, a fabric, whatever–in your upcoming spring or fall 2011 collections, or your work with Carhartt, that you’re really excited about?

I’m really excited by the outerwear and suiting from my new fall 2011 collection, which was inspired by the Pacific Northwest. The outerwear is all reversible, the fabrics are killer, and the suits are the finest tailored garments I’ve made to date.

Adam Kimmel Interview by Tres Bien Shop is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The people over at DEADLINE recently interviewed LoveMe AKA Curtis Kulig in honor of their recent collaboration together. From putting up his stickers and scrawling his name in various cities, to working with Ace Hotel and Nike Sportswear LoveMe has been keeping busy as of late.

DEADLINE: Do you think there’s something inherent about the phrase LoveMe that makes people pay attention?

Curtis Kulig: I mean…  The two words are obviously powerful and relate to most. The thing with LoveMe is that it relates to such a broad spectrum of people.  I think and hope it touches others in a positive way and that’s the cool and interesting aspect of it all for me. Unfortunately LoveMe touches a lot of graffiti writers and some people negatively at times also, which is a bummer, but I suppose something I can’t avoid.  For the record I have  never claimed to be a graffiti writer. I respect the graffiti game and my friends in it. I put my work out there because its something that I have been into since a young age and always liked to do, the rest is out of my hands.  Take it as you will, say what you want, love it or hate it.  I am just trying to stay happy and enjoy my life like everyone else.

DEADLINE: Do you think there Is a connection between your photography and your art?

CK: My photography and my art are both honest creative outlets, each requiring entirely different skill sets. With photography I am documenting my life and the people around me. I usually like to shoot natural situations with natural lighting. It’s comfortable for me to shoot friends acting how they act going about their business, that’s what catches my eye and my interest rather than trying to get someone to act a certain way, I’m not a mood setter. When I am painting or creating art objects I am looking within myself rather than at others. I guess creating art requires so much solitude that I enjoy bouncing back and forth to the photography to keep me on point.

DEADLINE: LoveMe is a name that worked out to be perfect for the cross-over between art and commerce, which is how I think a lot of younger generation is being exposed or actually being interested in art. Do you think there’s a point where it stops being art and is full on consumerism?

CK: I think were living in time where art is consumerism, but who am I to say. What is consumerism what is art…To me its an art to wake up, brush your teeth, take a piss, drink your coffee, smoke a cigarette. Where and when does it end?? I like when people enjoy my “art” but to consume is somewhat irrelevant to me I guess. If that makes sense.

DEADLINE: The Ace Hotel installation you did is very cool, it is your art almost invading someones personal space. How do you feel about projects like that?

CK: I enjoy installations and the process from point a to b, and I have done a bunch since the ACE Hotel. These installations usually turn into a few day project where homies are stopping by to visit, put their two cents in, share a laugh, it’s always an enjoyable time for me.  Its a break from studio work and computers and shit like that, which we all get stuck on for the day to day.  I like invading spaces, it goes back to the origins of tagging and working outside on unique walls or settings.

DEADLINE: As a photographer, are you more strategic with your sticker placement in terms of where you want people to see it and how it interacts with their environment?

CK: For sure.  I am definitely particular about my placements.  Almost obsessive, especially with making sure everything is properly stuck.  I’ve taken my own work down before, because I didn’t like how I put it up.  My spots are random though, depends how I’m feeling that day.  Often it can just be the path I walk or where ever the day takes me.

DEADLINE: Do you think you’d ever mass produce your stickers for the public?

CK: Not necessarily.  I’ve been pretty good about keeping them for people that I want to have them.  Or mailing them out to people who’ve requested them.  However, I don’t want to sell them really, or anything like that… Unless Jumanji is on a bus making money to survive!! (laughter).

DEADLINE: You recently did that bronze sculpture, what other mediums are you interested in exploring?

CK: I’m working with lots of metals, resin, plastic, and wax.  It never ends with different mediums and I love to explore all the options out there and try to create something unique to my style in the process.

DEADLINE: What are your goals for 2011?

CK: Just trying to keep moving forward. Put up the blockers, Zone out the fucks and keep doing my work and what I like to do.

www.lovemewashere.com // www.curtiskulig.com

Interview with LoveMe is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Polish born former skate betty Magdalena Wosinska is the second featured interview on the excellent new photography site Camerabag.tv.  Focusing on various subcultures in her photography Wosinska makes for a rebellious and interesting interview subject.  See the interview at Camerabag.tv

Magdalena Wosinska Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Vogue Italia sat down with New York artist Dan Colen a few months ago to talk about his first ever solo show in Italy entitled “KARMA.”  Colen explains the changes in his work that occurred after a difficult year that saw him lose his best friend and fellow artist Dash Snow.  See the interview below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dan Colen Takes A Bow is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Common Projects started in 2004 as a collaboration between graphic and industrial designers Flavio Girolami and Peter Poopat. Going into their sixth year they are still creating the “perfect” sneaker, but also expanding into accessories. This Spring will bring an exceptionally nice pair of Sunglasses with Moscot and also their first Womens collection (preview below). Their mix of smart street style and understated luxury is something relevant and necessary in an otherwise watered down market. My personal favorite from them is the Achilles Mid, the perfect mid top sneaker. NY Times Bifen Xu recently caught up with the two designers and asked them a few questions.

Q: Who is inspiring you right now?

A: Ian Curtis

Q: What music is playing at your studio right now?

A: “If I Could Write Poetry” by Television Personalities

Q: What’s the last item of clothing you bought for yourself?

Peter Poopat: RRL Chambray shirt

Flavio Girolami: It was a shirt I actually had fabricated at a factory in Italy.

Q: What’s your favorite vintage store?

PP: I stop in just about every Salvation Army that crosses my path. I like to look at all the weird electronics and random junk. It’s like walking into a rotating cultural museum, but I’d have to say Melet Mercantile. It’s like a dream in there.

Q: Name a book you’ve read more then five times.

PP: “Welcome to the Monkey House,” Kurt Vonnegut.

FG: “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Oscar Wilde.

Q: Which fictional character do you most relate to?

PP: R2D2; sometimes Boba Fett.

FG: C3P-O; sometimes Han Solo.

Source: NY Times

Common Projects Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Daiki Suzuki is not only an amazing man, he is also an amazing designer. In 1989 he came to the U.S. as a buyer who brought hunting gear and American work wear to Japan. Near the millennium he started the iconic clothing line Engineered Garments. The brand is heralded worldwide by casuals and those who enjoy classic yet refined work wear. In 2006, he became head designer of Woolrich Woolen Mills, where “every garment has a purpose.” They create classic American sportswear and the project itself “originates from the desire to create unique items for their simplicity and authenticity.

Stan Parish of GQ recently visited Mr. Suzuki’s studio and gave us a glimpse into his daily life. Thank you to our friends over at Inventory for the tip.

How he starts his day: I get a cup of coffee on the corner, first thing in the morning. I check emails at my desk, maybe do some paperwork. And when I’m ready, I just come here. This round table is where all the planning and designing happens.

Where he got it: I got the table off the street about 10 years ago in Tribeca. I was drunk, and I was walking after midnight, and I saw this table. It was so heavy, we needed three people, so I got two friends of mine, and the three of us loaded it up. Ever since, it’s been the planning table.

What he does there: I draw most of the time. Before the process I have so many ideas, but the hard part is how you pick things, and put them together to make them look like what you want. In the beginning it’s really busy inside the brain, but you’re not actually moving anything; it’s working, but it doesn’t really look like working.

Working tunes: Today it’s classical, but sometimes it’s ’70s American rock. I love music from England; I was really into New Wave. I still go see Echo and the Bunnymen. Those guys are still doing great.

How he gets is all done: I come here very early in the morning, when no one is around. There’s a good two hours with maybe one other person here. After 5:00 or 6:00 p.m., everybody leaves, so I get two or three hours that I can be here alone. I actually come here every weekend, too. I go surfing in the morning and then I come back in the city around 12 or 1 o’clock. I shower, get dressed, and come up here. I stay all night—sometimes I fall asleep here, if I’ve used too much energy in the water.

Where he surfs: Long Beach, NY. Me and my friends get together at 5:00 in the morning, get out there at 6:30, watch the sun come up, and jump in the water.

Why he surfs: It’s becoming a bigger and bigger thing for me. When you work like this, you need a break. Just to go out there, and be in the ocean, is really great for me. I can’t live without it now. I work so hard on the weekdays, but I’m always thinking about the weekend, and how the waves are going to be. I never surfed until last summer, but I love the culture, the fashion. I grew up in Japan in the 1970s and at that time we got so much inspiration from the states. Everything was new to us. One of the first things that came from the states was a west coast lifestyle like skateboard and surfing—the pocket tee shirts, the Ocean Pacific corduroy shorts, and windbreakers. All those kind of things. What I did for Woolrich for next spring was based on what I remember from my teenage years.

Daiki Suzuki | Studio Visit is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

On Dec. 12 Medicine Agency played host to the release of Ron English and TOTT Globals release of the “Mandala Grin” jigsaw puzzle. I was fortunate enough for them to invite me out for the release and signing. TOTT Global makes art more interactive by producing toys and novelties solidifying a place for street art and the culture to reach a wider audience. Mr. English is one of my favorite artists of our generation and I was lucky enough to ask him a few questions in which he addresses the topic of our culture and its future. The live painting video and photos are by Sean Desmond. Thank you to Rama, John, Sean, and Mr. English for making this possible. The puzzle is now available at TOTT Global’s Online Shop for $39

Slamxhype: Do you think every generation has that one pop artist that is most influential, or would you consider yourself a pop artist?

Ron English: Well our generation has two..

Slamxhype: Meaning the obvious? Warhol?

Ron English: No that was generation before, see now that the population has doubled there has to be twice as many.

Slamxhype: So what is it about pop culture that intrigues you?

Ron English: I think its the way that the impressionists kind of all went to the same locations, and painted the same scenes. If everyone is looking at the same thing then its also something everyone can go see. Then you can really get an idea of what the individual interpretation of that artist is. It is a way to see your style and what you bring to it, cause you know what you’re painting. Everyone knows pop culture so they understand what part is English.

Slamxhype: You reinterpreted Picasso’s Guernica, why did you choose that particular piece?

Ron English: I like that piece because it has a certain meaning already to people, almost like a universal meaning. Also, I was thinking about when we were kids we used to sing “Ring Around the Rosie,” but it had long since lost whatever meaning it had about the Black Plague. That is how humans get through tragedy, it can’t be that tragedy anymore. Picasso’s “Guernica” was a step away from that tragedy. It wasn’t this brutal depiction about what happened so he had already taken a step away from it. You have to bring things down to the level of a nursery rhyme otherwise our brains would explode with all the stuff that happens in the world. And trying to personalize or internalize it all.

Slamxhype: Is that what you try to do, make everything more personal to people?

Ron English: Well its a step away from the actual events, and making it a part of pop culture. It is also identifying other things that are problematic too. Besides dropping bombs on civilians to see if they work or not. There is also dropping bombs on people culturally.

Slamxhype: Do you still do billboards?

Ron English: I actually haven’t for a whole year, besides the Obama thing. I’ll start again within the next couple weeks. I literally went somewhere almost every single week this year, so it was a hard year. But, next year we have Mexico lined up so were gonna go down there and do billboards. I don’t know what happened this year it just got away from me.

Slamxhype: Now that you mention Obama, how do you feel about Shephard Fairey being persecuted?

Ron English: That is kind of a loaded question, what do you mean by being persecuted?

Slamxhype: Well he used the Obama image he might go to jail..

Ron English: Oh he won’t go to jail for that, that’s a financial crime. He will probably have to pay the original fee whatever that was, $15? Then the lawyer fees on the other side, if he loses. AP isn’t known for losing, but he was completely in the right. He made a mistake in trying to fake some evidence. There was no reason to do that. He was the first big artist of the generation that actually makes art using images from peopel all over the globe. They make this art at 2 o’clock in the morning in front of their computer. So it doesn’t seem like you’re stealing everything because you never leave your apartment, how can a thief steal something without ever leaving their apartment? Its this new age and hes a pioneer in this new age. Its important that he fights it and not cave in and just get it off his back. It sets a precedent, He changed the image more then 30% which is the law. But if he pays them off or settles, it is going to weaken the law, for everybody. We don’t have access to people like Obama or Ghandi or different public figures. If we want to make social commentary were going to have to use someone else’s photos to see what they look like. More freedom of speech more liberalism, more use of images not less.

Slamxhype: How do you feel about street art just recently becoming more accepted in the art world?

Ron English: That was an interesting turn of events. The art world is very fickle and they go through a lot of fads. Street art is interesting juxtaposed against other art movements that have came and went. Because it also has legs outside of the official art world. It has other venues to sell itself like on skateboards etc. It is also something anyone can do. I think what has happened with street art is its become more like soccer. It is the new sport, people I know like to watch baseball or football. They’re not football or baseball players but they did play in High school. Because they learned it at a young age, once they realized they weren’t going to be a professional player.. They continue to appreciate the sport and support it. I think now were in this generation that came after the original generation that actually went out and did graffiti or just practiced in their notebooks. But they had a relationship to graffiti when they were very young. At some point they probably realized they weren’t going to be a professional artist. Or maybe they can be a graphic designer. They still understand and appreciate the artform by buying the products or actual paintings, in one way or another they’re going to support the culture, because they understand it. Its sort of a weird culture because like baseball, it doesn’t make a lot of sense if you don’t understand the rules. Neither does street art, but everyone understands the rules. Street art is here to stay now.

Slamxhype: Especially with companies like TOTT Global it is really solidifying a place for it now

Ron English: Right. Its a lot more democratic, if I think I have a lot of talent you know.. The old art system there was really no way into it. You could take your slides into a gallery and they’d throw it into the trash. It was a very elite group of people selling art to another group of elite people. graffiti and street art. it had to quit being just graffiti. It is too narrowely defined of a thing. There is a lot of rules with it that had to be broken.

Slamxhype: Would you consider yourself a graffiti artist when you do billboards?

Ron English: No no, I did traditional graffiti when I was a kid because I was from that generation. I very quickly thought I’m not in New York and I can’t paint subway trains and that was the place you really had to make your mark as a graffiti artist. So the billboard in Texas was the equivalent to the Subway cars in New York. Everybody saw the subway cars everybody saw the billboards. So, I started taking over billboards. And also I needed to write my name, I still felt like they had ownership of that, that was their thing. I don’t know if that makes any sense but I wanted my own thing. Keith Harring very much thought I miss this, I am not one of these guys. I’m kind of an interloper so I can’t imitate their art and become a part of them. I think he felt like he had to find his own turf he didn’t put it on subway cars he put it on subway posters. He was the first authentic street artist, the new way of thinking of it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ron English x TOTT Global is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Kevin Lyons from Arkitip, Inc. on Vimeo.

Source: Hustler of Culture

Kevin Lyons Interview | Video is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Glltn have caught up with Futura in what is a very thorough interview, one of the best I’ve read, with the legendary NYC based artist. A lot of us have been wondering what’s next for him, his career has spanned over numerous era’s and his style and works have constantly stayed ahead of the pack. The Interview looks over the past and towards the future… Read here.

Futura 2000 Interview is a post from: SLAMXHYPE