Josh Rufford - Artist, Graphic Designer, Creative Spirit

Josh Rufford is an extraordinary  artist - working with a strong focus on drawing while maintaining a significant multiple-medium practice. He likes to draw, paint and animate working with pens, ink, acrylic, watercolours and any kind of found objects to create interesting visual compositions. 
He works as a graphic designer/pre-press operator by day and freelance illustrator/animator by night.
Josh does these amazing post it note flick animations that are well worth a look, Super talented guy! 
I have to give props to Josh for sending me the most detailed installation map, it's so amazing I almost think its worth exhibiting! 
I'm a MASSIVE fan - as is my 13 year old son Dylan, I sent a message to Josh the other day saying - don't be surprised if you suddenly find you have a heap of 13 year old skater boy fans from Melbourne!
Josh  creates a heap of characters - best to check out his site (which changes so its always interesting) to see them all - I just choose the budgie as they are a personal fav.
He also has a fan page on facey, check it out, and recently started up a page RuffBat Creative with his creative partner Rhiannon Claire McLay, I can only imagine the inspiration and colour in that household! 

How could you NOT want to hang with this guy! 

Ed Sloane - photographer, Surfer & Aquatic being

Ed Sloane's Doppelganger is most definitely Kurt Cobain but an aquatic version, I'm sure Jackie, Ed's lovely girlfriend would agree, although I believe she might just be a mermaid herself! 

Sloane has an eye for a wave and a barrel and his images thrust you into an underwater would that even I would like to know 

(and that's saying something coming from a girl who saw jaws and still believes it to be true)

He's a heart kinda kid and his images spell that - that's for sure!

Hope Ed Doesn't mind me posting this, but I reckon it might just be spot on, this was Ed's last face book status update"

" I'm in love with the sea, we are going on a date this weekend. it's going to be emotional"

:)

thats how it rolls....

Luke Taaffe - Artist, designer & Surfer

I recently read an interview about Luke Taaffe and something the Journalist said touched a cord with me about Luke as It's so very true about his character they said '...... this guy deserves an amount of undivided attention for the progress, passion, and determination to which he’s applied his creative skills over the past few years …' I only meet Luke Briefly (with Heywood at the Surface showroom) but that's the vibe I got, and subsequently through emails. he is so incredibly approachable, we feel so fortunate to be exhibiting Taaffe.

" My inspiration is an organic experience where I draw on my life's experiences around the ocean and surf.

 I try to capture the beauty, power and terror that that the ocean can bring to our lives which in turn is showing my respect for it. 

I feel there is a constant struggle of balance between man and the environment and I try and capture this through these isolated and almost dark scenes.

 I guess this a reflection of how I have felt the last four years with the passing of my father. There is always a lot of colour within my work and that is because the coast is like a wonderland to me- ever changing and always beautiful. 

I feel my work as an artist has only just begun and I'm excited and positive about the future"

 Taaffe is represented by Retrospective galleries NSW and works as a graphic artist for surf brand Roxy/Quiksilver based in Torquay on the Surf Coast of Victoria, Australia.

'New Dawn'

'New Waters'

Frame Of Taaffe Courtesy of Ryan Heywood

Ryan Heywood - Photographic artist, Art Director & Pro Surfer

Ryan Heywood Walked into the gallery a few weeks back, I took a moment,  and shyly asked "are you Ryan Heywood"  I totally knew it was Ryan, he has a pretty distinctive look -  I was running through my mind the fact that only the day before, I had emailed a pitch to him, I was wondering if he was there, maybe because he got my pitch? so I said "Ryan did you get my email?" he was like "No, my mates and I where just next door having breakfast" I was like "no way"~! 
(I was probably really animated when I said that)
We were both pretty stocked with the Synchronicity, I pretty much attached meaning to the fact that SURF bike POP would be a monster of a success - I'm a big fan of Heywood's work.
BUT, then he was like "hang on" and a few moments later in walked Luke Taaffe!
then I knew we where a monster! :)

 The thing about Ryan Heywood is his perception. He sees things that regular people don’t. He has an eye for angles, levels and detail that escape the normal human being, his work is incredibly intuitive.

There's something dreamy about Heywood's work, that draws you in and makes you believe you where actually there the moment that frame was taken.

His fashion and portrait work is phenomenal, and his Surf portfolio is equally impressive

Heywood is represented by Nouvelle Vague in Venice California. 

Peter Webb - Artist, Surfer & Total Legend

Peter Webb is one of the most reputed artists of the Board Culture; and one of the most underground. He owes his renown to the fact that his creations have been used by Quiksilver for the past 20 years; and his underground reputation to the fact that he has never signed his work, which are recognized as his for their definitive style. As a dedicated artist, Peter has been able to let his imagination run free full-time, providing the world of surfing and then snowboarding with an incredible number of visuals. 

While Peter’s work was the foundation for Quiksilver’s graphical identity at the company’s debut, as the industry grows his visibility diminishes with the plethora of new work. He pioneered a technique that has become a craft today: 

Peter’s compositions, his history and his commitment to Art above all else guarantees the Rock ‘n Roll attitude of the Board Culture. Long life!

Peter will have this work 'Chigasaki Express' and also an Awesome painting just completed of Kelly Slater for sale at our all surf immersion exhibition SURF bike POP

Peter Webb & his Kelly Slater Work

Chigasaki Express 

Cam (cAsT) Stynes - illustrator, artist & Surfer

Hailing from the Mornington Peninsula and going by the name cAsT, surfer, artist, father Cam Stynes is devoted to drinking coffee and wine in-between water glides and paint slides.

With influences from the ocean and nautical days his freehand characters come to life.

Cam Stynes

Ripped from your Facey Cam - Sorry! 

Robbie Warden - Photographic artist, Surfer, Pirate & Adventurer

Robbie Warden is my( first) mate, keeps me calm, fixes my spelling mistakes and sees into the Crystal ball of our Surf (ace) future :)

Seaworthy photographer Robbie Warden christened in the southern seas of the Mornington Peninsula, has been traveling the mountains and coastlines of ye old world for many a years in his search of capturing hidden treasures and wonderlands.

The sea’s ginger boy, calm above and underneath, his world filled with gliding monsters and fellow adventurers.

We also have to Credit our Robbie for the amazing dreamy water image on the SURF bike POP flyer.

Robbie Warden


that's me boy (click) x

Robbies water shot

SURF bike POP - artist list with hyerlinks

 Here's a list with Hyperlinks to all artists info, blogs and sites

enjoy!

Reg Mombassa
Deus Ex Machina Motorcycles
Ryan Heywood
Luke Taaffe
Nick Chalmers
Johnny Abegg
Aaron McKenzie
Adrian Knott
Rake Surfboards
Keiron ‘Seamouse’ Lewis
Gerry Wedd
Peter Webb
Simon Perini
Paul McNeil
Shaun Freeman
Marcos Davidson
Darren Henderson
Robbie Warden
Adrian Dennett
Ed Sloane
Brodie Jay
Magnus Mcintosh
Rhombus Surf Shop
Schade Boardshorts
Gav Barbey
Paul Carlyle
Clare Plueckhahn
Cam Stynes
Eli Curry & Will Shea
Harley Manifold
Josh Rufford
Nicole Tattersall

Also Feat. the band GHOST MUTT from the Surf Coast.

Johnny Abegg - Filmmaker & Pro Surfer

Johnny Abegg was one of the first Artists to get back to me when I did my big pitch.

With baited breath I waited to hear back from some of the top artists, illustrators, photographers and filmmakers in the local and international surf world, Johnny was right there within hours of my pitch, totally into our concept. 

Johnny's film Two Weeks has just recently finished touring the country, a must see. 

We will have Johnny and Matty Yeates limited edition experimental film  “___” (zine & DVD) which was a finalist in the amstel surfilm festibal-2010 in Spain
( you can interpret your own title for   “___” )

The film will be playing in our little special "film room" at Surface POP gallery during opening night of Surf bike POP exhibition and then during the extent of the exhibition and St Kilda Festival - it will also be available for sale.

 Quote - "This surf/party underworld, away from the idealistic locations and groomed surf pornography. Exploring the fragmented world of a surf culture, through the blurred eyes of a few"

love this guy!

"twins"

"Nose love"

Spread the

“___”

"crush"

Surf bike POP official invite!

Gerry Wedd - Ceramics, Public artist, Jeweller, Fabric designer, Surfer

Gerry Wedd walked into the gallery on the weekend, I was so excited I hugged him

I cant wait to receive these ceramic thongs made especially for SURF bike POP. 

Gerry is well known for his thongs hes even had a book written about them, Gerry designed for Mambo back in the day, along with two of our other artists Reg Mombassa and Paul McNeil , but more about those two later. 

Gerry work is really quite something, he is also a very funny man and a bloody good story teller!

Chic Erotique - Opening night at Surface POP

Yum, I guess the best way to express this Opening is with pictures.

Andrew Mattock's works, paintings and Works on paper

Comida Bebe Gastronomic treats, white Sangria and Red POP-up wine from TarraWarra Winery in the Yarra Valley.

One of the highlights of the evening was meeting Geoff from San Fransisco, who runs Pinot Festivals in NZ and all over the world, and has a collection of 8 Reg Mombassa Mambo Shirts. 

Mattock's Works perfectly hung

prep

Beginnings of the mouth feel dessert - meringue and lemon cones that explode in your mouth on impact

A bit of micro herb maintenance

Surface POP ready 

Tri - colour goats cheese and melon

paella - squid ink, prawn, calamari and crocodile

TarraWarra POP up RED

Menu

Andreas and his Tomato plant

Aaron the Bar man with his bowl of white Sangria

Chorizo, sardine, and bread salad

Andreas

Raul and Paella Number two - a Comida Bebe signature dish

Geoff from San Fran and his Reg Mombassa Mambo shirt

end