Rising from the ashes

I was thinking about why Phoenix the Street Artist chose his name, Phoenix rising from the flames and ashes - my train of thought lead me onto imagining if we all each chose an Alter ego, what mine would be? 

A friend of mine who last year almost died from a bike accident came into see me at the shop today and showed me this incredible large scale tattoo she had got yesterday on her back and side, a Phoenix - when I asked,  she said, its about rising from the ashes, the flames, new beginnings....

This week has been intense, my peep Robbie Warden, spent the day at the shop with me on Thursday and many times had to 'check me' because of my obsession with the Christchurch Quake websites, I had every site open on my laptop so I didn't miss a beat, I hadn't got a lot of pressing work done -  my heart, my breathe, my thoughts, every part of me but my physical body was (and still is) in Christchurch.

My friends and family are safe, but the thought of them distressed or concerned for their future, breaks my heart,
what would my Alter ego do?

She would take her strong arms across the Tasman ocean, and hold them tight, she would hold the space for all of the tribe to heal, like a KORU - slowly unfolding it's frond toward the light, renewal.

Superhero - KIA KAHA!

In the words of a blog post I read yesterday from the US of A

'May the silver fern forever remain untarnished; may your efforts to rebuild your cities and lives only serve to burnish its beauty. And in spite of these tough times, may your country forever shine brightly as a beacon to Kiwi generosity and nobility of spirit'

James Watkins Aotearoa ink the kiwi spirit - forever..... Kia Kaha

Phoenix the Street Artist - IN HERE : OUT THERE - Exhibition Opening March 10

Surface POP and Dean Sunshine are proud to announce Phoenix the Street Artist's first solo show!

IN HERE : OUT THERE 

 Phoenix, one of Melbourne’s hottest new street artists, presents 'In Here Out There'  

from Thursday 10th March. 

 In 2004, the artist lost nearly all his collage-based works in a fire that tore through his studio.  

Scouring through the burnt remains, he discovered some singed works had miraculously survived. 

From these ashes Phoenix the Street Artist was born. 

Seven years on, the burnt works, copies of his works from the streets, and brand new pieces will be exhibited  

at ‘In Here : Out There’, his first solo exhibition. 

 Phoenix brings to the gallery wall  the art of the street at the Surface Pop Up Shop in St Kilda. 

Media - Comida Bebe & Surface POP - Time out Melbourne

Our mates Comida Bebe, that we do gastronomic collaborations with got an awesome write up on-line in Time out Melbourne along with Surface POP, you can check it out HERE

like the writer said;

do you like 

art

alcohol 

and

eating...

hells yeh!  

You can also check out some fantastic pix of our last collaboration with Comida Bebe on their face book page part 1 and another part 2

Media - Surface POP - Surf bike POP & the T-Squat CREW

If you haven't already checked out T-Squat get onto it! 

 T- Squat is an online magazine and blog featuring news and reviews on street culture, art, photography, music, venues, events and interesting shit from around the world.

Surface POP also got some rad props from our friends over at T-Squat check it out HERE

Matt Yeates - Artist, Surfer, Shaper, Man of many trades!

Matt Yeates who started Sea surfboards in 2001 with buddy Dain Thomas is a Mulit talent in many artist mediums.

Matt has worked with many recognized shapers and artists (Bob Mctavish, Rich Pavell, Steve Lis, Dave Parmenter, Thomas Campbell, Alex Kopps…to name a few), making surfboards, clothes, doing art shows.

 Matty Yeates  co-made with Johnny Abegg the limited edition experimental film  “___” (zine & DVD) that we have had as part of Surf Bike POP all immersion exhibition!
Matt also is doing good things with my friend Brodie Jackson
 [who is also part of Surf bike POP]
http://attdie.blogspot.com/

I hope Matty doesn't mind, I send him a facey add and ripped a pic of him for this blog post!
Hopefully we can get Matty involved in some Surface POP future projects - I reckon this guy is FULLY skilled - it will be a pleasure too work with him -

I'm feelin' Sam Smith, Nick Chalmers, Matty Yeates and Beastman! hummmmmm!
and then....... I realized A- Mac [Untill Never - City Lights] had already done it! still...... A-Mac is a legend and I totally rate all he has done, he is a visionary!

Matt Yeates - Hoiser Lane

St. Kilda Festival day - Phoenix the Street Artist visits!

 I got to work this Morning, big Festival day, and Phoenix the Street Artist, had left a gift paste up on our back door!

I then went for a walk with my camera and found more..... 

Surface POP's back door

next to Gypsy bar - Acland Street

Media - Surface POP - Surf bike POP on Broadsheet on-line

Just happened to google Surf bike POP trying to pull info for my blog and found us on broadsheet!

nice one Robbie Warden!

You can check the link too it HERE!

Simon Perini - photographer, Graphic Designer, Surfer

I have already posted some of Simon's incredible photographic works up from the Deus ex machina post I did a few weeks ago - you can check out.

Simon hails from Sydney and I was honoured when Simon agreed to take part in Surf bike POP, We admire him and hold him very highly as a Surf photographic artist - he's taken the time out to stay connected through email.

It's a real pleasure to have his work hanging on the walls at Surface POP

 Simon is such a lovely genuine person!

From Rake Surf Boards blog.....

"Simon lives in a small coastal town on the South Coast of NSW Australia. He lives in a small house with windows that let in the sound of the ocean. Inside his house he provides refuge for a large collection of unwanted vintage cameras rejected for their lack of megapixels. Simon takes compassion on them and gives them new life. He searches second hand stores, friend’s garages and old timers cupboards for them. He appreciates what others deem as their faults, takes them home, feeds them film and gives them purpose"

Darren Henderson - Artist, Surfer, Great guy

Any readers or friends out there, already probably know my love of Daz 

I have a thing about his OWLS and his styles.....

This article by Mr Blanc is well worth a visit and the photo's of Darren Henderson are truly fantastic!

photos courtesy of MrBlalnk

Media- Surface POP The AGE Newspaper - Postcode 3000

Second time this week - not bad eh - getting to like this....

This time back page, Melbourne Life Postcode 3000, my names in bold!
[click image to enlarge]

you can also view it on the Age on-line by clicking here

Reg Mombassa - Artist, Musician, Mambo legend

Reg Mombassa is a musician, painter, writer, poet, humanist.

 He is also a founding member of legendary Australian rock band, Mental As Anything.

 I pitched Reg via email about our Surf bike POP exhibition, he called me the next day and offered 5 limited edition prints - I was pretty contented after that phone call!

Reg has exhibited extensively throughout Australia and overseas. His work can be found in the permanent collections of every major Australian Gallery including the MCA in Sydney and the National Gallery of Australia.
Reg has worked closely with Mambo since 1986

When not painting or recording and performing with his brother, Peter in their band, Dog Trumpet.

Reg is a fellow Kiwi, a total Legend and has become a big part of Australian iconography.  

Surf bike POP - All SURF immersion OPENING night - Floods, Fire and Famine

"There was flood, fire and famine (the beer ran out). Was it the apocalypse? 

Nope, just a night out at surface pop!"

- Darren Skadiang - punter

 SURF bike POP - all Surf Culture Immersion   

it was baptism by immersion for Surface POP  by the Surf Water Gods! 

After a smooth start to the evening with Slabs from Cricketers Arm Larger on ice and The Deus Ex Machina Motorcycle  delivered, with pride of place, bodies started pouring into the gallery to get an eyeful of our amazing line-up, the space was jammed with hot beings after a muggy inner city Summers day, before anyone noticed the waves lapping at the door and the flood waters rising right on Carlisle Street, Ghost Mutt from the Surf Coast, where all set to play, and it was a MAD rush to get all their gear off the floor and too higher ground. 

After the fire brigade came to check the small electrical fire we had, a few of us sat in candle light with a few bottles of red, (that had been stashed away for a "rainy day" :)) ready to go down with the ship if another Storm front came through. Nothing was damaged and we have been left with an opening no-one will ever forget.
Was it fortuitous to have the water lapping at the door of a Surf exhibition like this one - that has never been done in Victoria before? totally!

it's a Omen! :)

We keep hearing about loads of people who were on their way to the Opening when the storm hit, so come on down the exhibition runs it the 20th Feb - Support this great artistic culture!

Heres a few pix by Robbie Warden of the evening, you can also check out the entire Album here.

Photo's courtesy of Robbie Warden

And..... a few of My Deus pix :)

Media - Surface POP in the AGE 'Living by Design'

Surface POP in the AGE Newspaper, Domain section 'Living by Design' page 14 Saturday 5/2/11

[click on the pic to enlarge to read]

Media - Long Boarding Australia on-line

What a couple of days!

I have been meaning to blog about all my artists but time has slipped into the vortex of surf immersion.

but do keep reading regularly as I intent to get though each and every one of my amazing artists over the next week, of the St. Kilda Fest.

props to my mate Robbie Warden [you probably know him quite well by now] Robbie did some media pitch today and got our press release into Australian Longboarding mag - on-line and because my email has been down for the last 24 hours [thanks bigpond!]
Robbie has also been following up my list of press contact - I am blessed to have him! 

On the media note, a Journalist from the 'Age Newspaper' rang me today about doing an article on the exhibition..... it was one of those 'they followed me up' moments...
I'm been waiting for one of those! 

frame courtesy of Robbie Warden

Nicholas Chalmers - Artist, Graphic Designer, Film Maker, Innovator, Pro Surfer

I LOVE Nicholas Chalmers Work, I guess you might define [him in a way] as a "sub culture artist"

 He teams intricate and detailed ink-work on wood along with pained canvases and also makes short films, he's known for his artistic collaborations both here and internationally.

Chalmers work presents humorous, quirky, often in a way that engages, entertains and provokes viewers.  

Working as a Graphic Designer by day, Chalmers continues to challenge with his views and body of work in everyday "conventional gallery space" which is exactly what we are not - and why its an honour to exhibit him!

If you get a chance its well worth watching Chalmers surf, he has a certain "je ne sais quoi" you can see him in Johnny Abegg's film  “___” its like a dance on a long board, amazing! 

One last note - When Aaron and I saw this pic of Abegg, Heywood and Chalmers from ArtPark, I was determined to pitch all 3 - and I did and here we are!

Nicole Tattlersall - Stencil Artist, Illustrator, Surfer

The second of my two Women represented...

Nicole Tattlersall  is a Melbourne Based Artist and has been creating works since 2006 and is most well known known for her stencil art, illustration and installation works. 

Which lend themselves to convey the context of the piece and the overall feel of the work through a selection of mixed mediums, from the innocence and creative minds of two children to the dirty look created to interpret the streets of a busy city.

Nicole's style has changed several times throughout the years from simple outlines to her now exhibited urban inspired stencil and illustrative works. The use of stenciling as a technique came about when she wanted to start to customise her own surfboards.

 Nicole also has a facebook page you can check out.

Nicole Tattlersall

Clare Plueckhahn - Photographer, Producer, Art Director & Film Maker

One of my two women represented! 

Clare Plueckhahn came into the gallery and dropped of her work today, beautiful, fresh and full of passion!

Her work is stunning and her determination is second to none, this girl along with her fellow team mate Fran Derham started u a venture called Cos we Can and now they have a hit film on their hands that will be released on Feb 14th called First Love, they just got back from the USA where they won an award for Best Documentary at the X-Dance Action Short Film Festival.

With a Bachelor of Arts Photography from RMIT Clare has been operating as a commercial photographer out of C.I. Studios, Melbourne for the past 4 years. If you haven’t seen her work on billboards and metro lights around the nation you would have spotted her shots in publications such as ACP Magazines, News Magazines, The Age, Foam Mag, Pop Magazine and Australian Surfing Life. When she’s not working on commercial jobs Clare spend most of her time at her place down on the Great Ocean Road shooting and surfing in amazing locations like Indonesia and Hawaii. 

 

Clare Plueckhahn