Art Star

Tag: philadelphia

  • An Interview with Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean

    First time ASCB booth mates Jamie Williams of Dop Dop Designs and Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean interview each other and find out what is in store for the upcoming bazaar! This first post features Jamie’s interview with Amber of Dop Dop Designs.  Enjoy!

    How did you find sewing and what influenced you to turn your skill into a business?  I began sewing around the age of 12. I found my mothers old Kenmore sewing machine and an assortment of my grandmother’s notions and thought I could make things. I didn’t have any fabric so I cut up clothing that I got at the thrift store.  Of course I had no idea what I was doing but managed to make a very simple cross body handbag out of an old blue and white houndstooth polyester suit. I took a crystal clasp off of one of my mothers sweaters to use as a closure and wore that bag for years. I was immediately hooked! I took sewing classes in high school where I was able to hone in on my skills and really learn proper techniques. I went to college for fashion design and during that time made handbags for myself, and then friends, and soon after strangers were asking me where and how to order. So in 2005, phea jean was born, sort of by accident, but once the ball started rolling I just went with it and I love it! It’s still funny to think that I originally set out to be a bridal designer!

     Where did the name phea jean come from?  Settling on a business name seemed daunting at first- what name would I always want to be associated with and never be tired of?!  phea jean, of course, had to be it…phea (Phyllis) and Jean are my two grandmothers, both wonderful and strong women in different ways and both very dear to me.

    Describe your personal style and how that translates into phea jean.
    I love vintage clothing…dresses, coats, hats, etc. The fabric really draws me in, as I find the bright colors and bold patterns hard to resist. I use primarily vintage fabric because I find it so intriguing, I, too, sometimes find inspiration in vintage styles. For example, one of my hat patterns is loosely based on the cloche style made popular in the 1920’s. I also just really like unique, funky pieces. I like when unexpected fabrics are used for traditional silhouettes. I love mixing fabrics and patterns which I do in my designs. In my personal style, I pretty much go for it- wearing and mixing things that other people wouldn’t think to, but somehow (most of the time) ends up working. I never take fashion too seriously, but I want to look good. I want people to look good (great!) in my designs but I also want them to have a good time with the pieces and mix and match them together.

    What inspires your work?
    I am inspired by all the vintage fabric patterns and textures. I “treasure hunt” in attics, basements, estate sales, thrift stores, etc for fabric and I never know what I will bring home, so I have to let each piece speak to me and inspire me as it comes. I’m even often inspired by buttons and will sometimes start with the buttons and design around them. Everything I make is one of a kind and even though I have patterns in place, I do very little planning when it comes to the production aspect of sewing. My process consists of looking around my studio and seeing what catches my eye at the moment.
    My clothing designs are definitely inspired by women, of all shapes and sizes. I really try to accommodate different body types and design pieces that will fit a variety of sizes. I want anyone to come to my booth and be able to find something flattering and leave feeling confident.

    In a literal sense, I am inspired to make things that I want or need for everyday life. My head is cold, therefore I should make hats. I need a specific size/shape handbag so I’ll make it.

    What items will you be bringing to the bazaar? phea jean will be bringing things to keep you warm:  Plenty of hats and scarves of course. I’ll also have my unique wrap tops and ponchos for stylish winter clothing options.

    What item is perfect for gift giving?  The scarves are a great gift and an easy way to spruce up any outfit. At $35-$45 you really can’t go wrong.

    What other artists at the bazaar are you excited to check out?  Considering the shows are our only chance to do our holiday shopping I am excited to see and support all the other vendors!  First thing, I’ll be hitting up my booth mate dop dop designs for a housewarming gift. I’m also a huge fan of miss millie and will be dropping hints to my partner on which of her latest work I need to have. I’m interested to see the coffee drip cones from Melissa Weiss Pottery and the jewelry by Maureen Duffy.

  • Eling of Migration Goods Shares Her ASCB Shopping List

    Hi everyone! Eling from migration goods here. As a maker I rarely get enough time to properly shop at the events I am vending at, and this is doubly so during the fall + holiday seasons. I am always kicking myself at the end of a show because I haven’t had enough time to complete my own shopping!

    This year I decided I would try to organize + plan my holiday shopping ahead of time for events that I know will have really great vendors– like, yup, the upcoming Fall Art Star Bazaar!

    Here’s what’s on my list (so far)!

    All of Dirty Ass Soap‘s soaps are so fun, but this ramen soap is definitely tops on my list for gifts this year (hope none of the potential recipients are reading this)

    Also on my list for gift shopping (and in the category of food related accessories): The everything bagel necklace from inedible jewelry

    and the amazing Old Bay Seasoning earrings from Flat Rat Studio. (Their pet portraits are totally on my own wishlist too).

    I’m obsessed with paper goods & can never find enough time to look at them all! But I’ll be making a point to find Bowerbox Press next weekend for this card & to check out all the rest of the lovely work in person.

     More paper goods please! I can’t wait to see Sarah Ryan‘s sweet cards + illustrations up close!

    For my book-loving friends (and me too), I’m very excited to pick up these bookmarks from New Academy Press, and this super-cute tote from Common Rebels too.

    Common Rebels also makes a ton of cute cat items, which I will be shopping for my cat-loving friends. Speaking of those cat friends, I’ll also be looking for this sweet cat lover scarf from Red Prarie Press.

    If my friends/family are very very good, they might find themselves the recipients of one of these gorgeous spoons or sake cups from Melissa Weiss Pottery (I’m coveting these ramen bowls for myself).

    And how cute is this stegosaurus from By Yivvie? Some tiny (or not so tiny) people I know may need a few of these plushes…

    A couple other items I will be checking out for some potentially very lucky folks include this beautiful whale skeleton necklace from J.TOPOLSKI (I am saving up for this sloth bracelet for ME!)

     and the beautiful printed work of Bonnie Kaye Studio — so good!


    Finally, I’m really excited to see these diorama & miniature pieces from metamorphosis metals up close!


    And I won’t be leaving without a print for myself from Naughty & Nice. I’m pretty sure I want Tag You Are It (below), but I’m also eyeing The Terror of the Sea…

    I really hope I get a chance to see all of these things in person next weekend, but at least I’ve made my list, right? There are SO MANY talented artists + makers vending at the Fall Art Star Bazaaron November 8th + 9th. Don’t forget to check them out ahead of time here & make your own list!

    ———————————————————————————————————-
    Thanks to Eling from Migration Goods for sharing her Art Star Craft Bazaar Shopping List!  Be sure to stop by her booth to check out her line of adorable felt accessories and illustrated paper goods.


  • “Robots and T-shirts and Art Star, Oh My” by Matt Eyer + Pete Oravetz

    If you’ve been attending Art Star events for the past few years, you’ve probably seen Matt Eyer and Peter Oravetz’s shared spot full of robots and t-shirts. Matt creates limited edition graphic t-shirts, tank-tops, and hoodies inspired by Philadelphia under his brand Wear Liberty. Peter has been illustrating his Robots! series for almost ten years now in which you can find them in all walks of life from battling giant squids to drinking beers at the bar.

    Peter Oravetz

    This Fall bazaar will be Matt and Peter’s fifth Art Star event together and to celebrate they did a little interview with each other.  Matt goes first with questions for Pete and then Pete follows up with questions for Matt.  Enjoy and be sure to stop by their booth (#41) at the bazaar!

    Matt Eyer: Why robots? Why not dinosaurs?
    Peter Oravets: Dinosaurs are so Cretaceous period…robots are the future! Not to mention that they’re made by us…we’ve essentially engineered a new species that could potentially think for itself. It’s inevitable that they’ll have some of the same ticks and hang-ups we humans do, especially when it comes to movement and gesture. It would be interesting to see how a robot might respond to the world with the outlook of an adolescent and a similar range of motion.

    “Squid” by Peter Oravatz / graphite on paper (also available as a print)

    Matt: How long does it take you to complete your big pieces? How many hours total and over how long of a time period do you work on them?
    Pete: They can take a tremendous amount of work. The more detailed pieces like “Squid” or “001” took about a month each but that was when I had more time to produce them. I’d say close to 60 hours a piece (not including preliminary sketch time). The small ones are much quicker but do take a lot of consideration and brainstorming as well.

    “First” by Peter Oravetz / graphite on paper

    Matt: Have you ever collaborated or do you plan to collaborate with any Philly artists or others?
    Pete: Yes, I have collaborated with a now ex-Philly artist…my friend Mike Studebaker of Studebaker Metals. We were getting into the business of making toy soldiers, lapel pins, and other tiny metal versions of the Robots but it never got off the ground. Partly because he moved away to Pittsburgh. He produces excellent work, I highly recommend his line of mostly male oriented metal-ware (tie-clips, mustache combs and the like.) Recently I have collaborated with Printer Martin Peeves to help produce my new series “Catastrophe”. Screen prints of those will be available at the Fall ASCB too.

    Matt: Why black and white and no color?
    Pete: I have no simple answer for that. One of my works, the Robot Normal Rockwell self-portrait was re made into a color piece. It came out great but took forever and had to be done digitally. I have never been particularly good with markers and water-color and, truly, I would have to introduce that kind of medium into the Robots. They benefit from the precision and clean straight lines a pen offers. Beyond that, some of my favorite illustrators and cartoonists worked mostly in B+W.  Perhaps the next evolution of them will be in color.

    “Drunk on Oil” by Peter Oravetz / graphite on paper (also available as a made to order, hand inked print)

    Matt: What’s next for the robots? Or will there be a new theme/series?

    Pete: Like I just said maybe I’ll introduce some color! T-shirts are a must, that will happen soon; a lot of people have been asking if I have a book of them made. That might be my next big project… I’d like to make a children’s book of the bots telling a story without any sort of caption or written word, just images to get them thinking critically and come up with a story of their own. Kids have such great imaginations like that.

    A new series of drawings! Yes! I have started a new, albeit depressing, series of drawings titled “Catastrophe” that deal with natural disasters and urban destruction. You won’t want to miss it. Great gifts for the holidays.

    ———————————————————————————————————

    Matt Eyer

    Peter Oravetz: Wear Liberty is a specifically Philly themed line of apparel. Do you simply tell the designers “Give me Philly!”? Or do you ask for more specific themes like the Philly Skyline, Ben Franklin, or City Hall?
    Matt Eyer: All Wear Liberty designs are my ideas and concepts but I collaborate with a few different artists to come up with the final product. Usually I give them a very rough sketch (sometimes digital mock up) of what I’m going for and then tell them to incorporate their style into the design. So yes, it’s always very specific.

    Pete: In the past your clothes have been displayed on the runway by beautiful models. That’s a big jump from craft fairs. How has that helped/hindered you? Has it inspired you to find other creative ways of getting the word out?
    Matt: Having Wear Liberty worn on the runway opened up a whole new side of things for me. I never considered myself a “Fashion Designer”, but when grouped with other mediums of art, t-shirts fell into the fashion world for the events I’ve done. It gave me a chance to present my brand to a new audience and it was very exciting to have beautiful models wearing my shirts! Because of those events, I’ve met people I might not have otherwise and it certainly helped in expanding the reach of Wear Liberty.

    Philly Famous Zip hoodie by Wear Liberty

    Pete: People always seem to ask you for screen prints of the designs on your apparel. Are you planning to make that happen?? (I promise I won’t get mad if we continue to share a booth, so long as you won’t get jelly when I sell robot t-shirts, just sayin’).
    Matt: I’m actually planning to have a small run of screen prints at the Fall ASCB! This will be the first time I’ve ever done it, so I’m just doing a small run to see how it goes. This one guy has been asking for a print of my Ben Franklin design since we started doing Art Star events in 2012. I hope he shows up to this one!

    Founding Fathers Tee by Wear Liberty

    Pete: Do you have any advice for the young creative type dreaming of starting their own clothing brand?
    Matt: Reach out to your favorite artists and/or brand owners. There are so many smaller, independent clothing companies these days and most of them are very willing to share their experiences with you or pass along some advice. Also – do events! Present yourself to the public. Even if you have the coolest clothes ever, no one will buy them if they don’t know about them.

    Pete: You freaking love Pugs. What’s up with that?
    Matt: There’s not a logical explanation for that, which kind of bothers me cause I’m a very logical person. My family didn’t even have a dog growing up. There was just a point when I fell in love with them. Their cute faces, their funny grunts and snorts, and their amazing energy and personality. Oliver (my pug) will be 8 in November and my life has been ever the better since I’ve had him 🙂 I also have a pug tattoo!

    Ben Franklin Tee by Wear Liberty

    Pete: Have you considered a Wear Liberty line for dogs and/or babies?
    Matt: I have! I’ve been planning a Wear Liberty doggy line since the beginning, I just wanna do it right. I recently found a lady on Etsy who makes custom dog collars…so I think it should happen soon. Maybe Spring 2015? Stay tuned!

    Pete: What’s your favorite color to wear? Don’t say grey, that’s really boring.
    Matt: Funny you say that cause I used to hate heather grey, but now it’s definitely one of my favorites. Recently I’ve really liked “coffee” colored shirts and also “cranberry”. Pretty much any of the American Apparel tri-blend colors. It also helps that their super soft and comfy. And I could never deny how good a design looks on black, plus black goes with everything.

    Pete: What’s next for Wear Liberty?
    Matt: Wear Liberty will be expanding into more than just Philly designs very soon. I love Philadelphia which is a major reason why I started this brand but I feel that I’m limiting myself. I want to create designs that people worldwide can appreciate, but the roots will always be here in Philly.

     

     

     

     

  • Guest Post: Melissa Weiss Pottery


    We are thrilled to welcome new Art Star Craft Bazaar Vendor, Melissa Weiss, to our November 8th and 9th show at the 23rd Street Armory and as a guest writer on our blog today!  Melissa is a studio potter from Asheville, NC.  She digs all of her own clay off her land in NW Arkansas and each piece is made entirely by hand.  Enjoy her post about her work and process. Be sure to check out her website and her booth (#47) at our upcoming bazaar!

    Melissa Weiss in her studio

    About 6 years ago on a visit to my land in NW Arkansas I dug a bucket of clay out of the ground and brought it home.  I made a cup and fired it.  It withstood the firing but had some issues. On my next trip to Arkansas I dug a few hundred pounds.  I brought it back to my studio in Asheville, NC and started adding feldspars, sand and other commercially available dried clays.  I made about 13 variations of clay bodies incorporating my hand dug clay in different percentages.  I tested all of these variations with all of my slips and glazes and after hundreds of tests came up with a working clay body that was what I wanted based on functionality and aesthetics.  The clay I dug from land is 25% of the body and this is the clay I use to make every single pot.  The process is arduous but the reward is grand.

    About once a year I drive to the land I bought in 2002 with friends.  I was not a potter then.  We bought 75 acres of wild woods an hour from town.  This land is full of a beautiful iron rich, red clay. I dig about 1000 lbs on a trip and bring it home.  This will enable me to make 4000 lbs of clay.  I make clay at my studio in batches of 1000 lbs.  I put the Arkansas clay in a 55 gallon drum and add water.  I let it sit for a while and drill it up until it’s a slurry.


    Then I screen it to remove the big rocks and debris.  This now liquid clay is in a giant metal trough.  I then add all my commercial ingredients and drill it up.  At this point the clay is mixed and is the consistency of yogurt.  I remove this liquid clay by the bucket full into racks lined with old bed sheets.  The racks are basically wood frames with a chicken wire bottom.  These racks get stacked upon each other until they are all filled with the clay.  They will then sit for 2 weeks or more depending on the weather.  At this stage the water slowly drains through the sheets and screen and eventually I am left with a useable clay.

    the clay’s water slowly drains through bed sheets

    The reason I do this is not to save money on clay.  After all the labor and driving it costs much more than buying clay at the store.  I do this for many reasons.  The most basic is aesthetics.  The clay I make looks different.  It is imperfect and slightly varying.  Small rocks and bits of iron remain, which melt out in the firings and give the pots a raw, wild look. This clay also feels different.  It feels alive.  It has a character and a life of its own.  I also love the process of autonomy.  I like being involved in the making process from the beginning to the end.  The finished pot was made by me every step of the way.  It gives me a connection to my work I don’t think I would have if the clay was more easily come by.

    hand formed spoons made from Melissa’s own clay body

    I work out of an 8000 square foot warehouse in an industrial section of Asheville, NC between the railroad and the river.  It’s called SouthSide Studios which I founded in 2013. I run the studio which houses about 20 other artists working in a variety of media.  My studio hours are dictated by the fact that I have a 10 year old in public school.  I get to the studio by 8am, Monday through Friday.  I work until 3 most days and later when I have the opportunity.  I spend time there on weekends when I can.  On average I spend about 40-50 hours a week in the studio.


    I work in a rhythm. It starts with making clay, slips, glazes and washing ash for glazes.  I then make pots.  I usually have the pots I want to make laid out by weeks.  This is dictated partly by orders and deadlines.  This system seems to give me structure and keep me from becoming overwhelmed with too much to do.  For example, I will lay out the month of making by Week 1: slab pots, Week 2: mugs and drip cones, Week 3: pitchers and animal pots, Week 4 thrown bowls and teacups. This is never rigid and I ALWAYS make or do something new in every cycle.  When the making is complete I bisque fire all the pots. Then I glaze and decorate all the pots.  They are now ready for the final firing.  I fire the pots in a gas reduction kiln at the studio.  The firing lasts about 10 hours.  The kiln cools for a day and then I unload the pots.  All the pots get their bottoms sanded to make them smooth.  They then get washed and priced.

    Everyday I am in my studio I feel grateful and lucky.  So grateful that I do what I love for a living.  It takes a strict discipline and sacrifice of certain things but they are all worth it.  I will be making pots in my studio, listening to music with my dog and drinking coffee thinking – “I am at work right now!”  I work hard and it feels easy.

    Iron + White “V” Lidded Elephant Jar by Melissa Weiss Pottery

    Purchase Melissa’s work at our upcoming bazaar or on her website here

  • Guest Post: “Power of Three” by Forge & Finish

    The women behind Forge & Finish jewelry collective invite you into their Philadelphia studio to catch a glimpse of their creative process through these fun short films.

    You can find their work at Booth #20 at our upcoming Fall Art Star Craft Bazaar on November 8th + 9th! Look out for more Guest Posts by participating vendors in the days leading up to the show.  Enjoy!

    Demure de Rigueur’s Little Shaker Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Lace Army’s Fortune Cookie Necklace from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

    Bombita Designs Raw Diamond Ring from Fo Sho & Tell on Vimeo.

  • Jen Corace Opening + Our 10 Year Anniversary Party THIS SATURDAY!

    We will be celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary and the opening of Jen Corace’s solo exhibition, Within, with a party at Art Star this Saturday from 6-9pm + you are all invited!

    There will be beer, booze and food aplenty – including snacks donated by Soy Cafe + Honeygrow!

    Nick + Danielle of All Boy / All Girl will be playing an acoustic set throughout the evening.

    Cut and Paste Photobooth will be here with her fun props and backdrops. Cram in with all your friends and take some fun pics!

    Jen Corace will be exhibiting new, original paintings all done in gouache, ink and pencil on Rives BFK.  Corace states, “Within explores the practice of bringing the outside indoors.  I’m interested in representation of nature through home decor, the restraint, patterning and control that occurs within a space, what it means to internalize the external and the private world of quiet reflection and imagination.”  This will be Jen’s 3rd solo exhibition at Art Star.

    Please contact us  if you are interested in being on our collector’s preview list for the show. We will be sending out a email preview of the work on Thursday before the opening.

    ABOUT JEN CORACE
    Jen Corace was born and raised in the not so wild wilds of suburban South Jersey.  She attended RISD from 1992-1996, graduating with a BFA in Illustration.  For the past few years Jen has been focused on children’s book illustration. She’s worked with Amy Krause Rosenthal on the Little series, with Cynthia Rylant for Hansel and Gretal and The Steadfast Tin Soldier and most recently Mac Barnett for Telephone.

    Jen currently resides in Providence, RI.  When she’s not children’s-booking-it-up she’s doing something else in her studio … like drawing for fun or working on projects with her brother.  Or she’s gardening … or wrangling a dog named Leonard … or eating too much toast … or laying on the floor and staring at the ceiling.

    Thank you to our Partners:

     

  • Tyler Art Market Call for Vendors

  • ASCB Shopping List: Baby + Kids

    We’ve got a great group of vendors making things for the little ones in your life! Is it weird that I just want all of it in my size?  Here’s a list of vendors that will be selling goods at our upcoming Art Star Craft Bazaar for babies + kids.

    1. As the Crow Flies & Co: The West Philly husband  + wife behind this line of goods is Wilder + Mike Scott – Straight. Mike makes broken plate jewelry and wife Wilder makes vintage inspired skirts + dresses for kids.  Also, I hear that she is now making matching apparel for us grown-ups too.  Yes PLEASE!  I would totally rock this fox dress!

    2. Cutesy but not Cutesy:   Every cool kid in town owns one of Diane Koss’ super awesome monster plushies!  We love her new fuzzy monster hoodies too! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Diane prancing around the bazaar in her huggable monster head piece.

    3. Oh Hello Deer Cute screen printed tees + onesies for babies + kids, plus these awesome printed super hero tops with a cape that can velcro on + off. 

    4. Olive  + Bo Philly crafter, Lori Thomson of Olive + Bo stitches modern quilts, mobiles and plush rattles for babies and kids.  Her grey, black + white palette always includes a nice pop of  color like neon yellow or purple. These simple, yet striking, geometric designs would be a stylish addition to a kid’s playroom, bedroom, or nursery.

    5. The Opposite of Far What kid doesn’t like to play dress up?  Jessica Near of The Opposite of Far is travelling all the way from Indiana to bring Philly her popular line of felt animal masks + tails.  Her vast collection includes zoo, woodland, barnyard animals and more! You can also find a smaller selection of non-animals, including super heros and robots.  And, um, P.S., she also makes adult sizes.

    6. Sewn by Shylo Shylo Egenski makes the most precious clothing + accessories for women and children in Wilkes Barre, PA.  Her peplum + halter style dresses for little girls are particularly adorable and are made from vintage bed linens.

    7. Sundae Matinee Rosalie Hick’s fun + quirky animal portraits are made with stitched fabric + felt and are sure to bring a smile to your face.  Napoleon Longslice, Roxie Fox, Bobby Feathers and others each come with a handwritten “Life Details” card.  Though these aren’t made specifically just for kids, I think little ones will really have a fun time coming up with stories about each of these funny characters.  The little felt pillows and framed portraits would look great in a playroom or nursery too.

    8. Tadpole Creations Renee D’Amico creates an ever expanding line of handcrafted goods for little ones. Her booth is always bright, colorful and cheery and filled to the brim with the sweetest plush toys + rattles, appliqued onesies + bibs, baby quilts, purses, DIY kits and more.  Renee’s creativity is boundless and I always love to check out her latest creations.

    9. The Wind and The Sail Laura Stantz’ line of sweet+ modern plush toys are a favorite among bazaar shoppers and we are happy to welcome her back to our line-up again this year.  Her plushies include hippos, giraffes, kangaroos, and more! Most have move-able limbs and all are superbly crafted and made from top quality materials.  Her collection of goods also includes happy vegetable baby rattles.

  • An Interview with Marcus Benavides of Red Light Press

    Red Light Press is Marcus Benavides’ Fine Art Printing Press that specializes in limited edition woodcuts, lithographs and other prints on paper.  This will be Marcus’ first year participating in our Art Star Craft Bazaar, so we were interested in learning more about him. Visit his booth #50 at our upcoming bazaar or check out his website

    Art Star: What will you be selling at the bazaar?
    Marcus Benavides: I’ll be selling Woodcut and Lithographic prints.

    AS. Describe your process. 
    MB: I carve tiny marks into wood, roll those carvings up with oil based inks, and reproduce the images on paper. I also draw images on Bavarian Lithographic Limestones, chemically alter the stones with acids and solutions, roll the image up with ink, and print the image on paper.  Both of these methods are printed with the help of Lula, a 100 year old, cast-iron, hand-cranked printing press.



    AS: Are you professionally trained?
    MB:  I received a BFA, MA, and an MFA in printmaking. I’ve been making prints for 10 years and I’ve been making art as far back as I can remember. Years of honing my craft, sharpening pencils, and grinding down stones can only stem from a love of hard work and printing beautiful images.


    AS: Are you able to make your work full time?  If not, what is your day job?
    MB: Sadly, I am not. I work at a commercial print-shop here in Philly.

    AS: Where would you like to see your craft business in 10 years?
    MB:      Owning a printing press allows me to make multiples of not only my own work, but collaborations with fellow artists. I would like to see Red Light Press’s expanding portfolio include more collaborative prints. I want to provide an artistic outlet for the ideas of like-minded individuals. Today, this is achievable with local artists; however, in the future I hope to build a fund for visiting, nationally-recognized artists.

    AS: Any exciting projects in the works?
    MB: I am currently in conversations with two local artists about printing collaborative prints.  That, and I’m working on a new piece entitled “Surf Mothers Must Die!”

    AS: What is your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
    MB: Dim Sum Garden’s soup dumplings.

     AS: What are some of the inspirations for your work?
    MB: I’m inspired most by the things that scare us as civilized beings; Indecency, the Grotesque, the Occult, Rebellious Behavior, Moralizing Folklore, and the Sleaze and Grime of back-alley cultures. I’m also influenced by the pop culture and cartoons of my childhood.

    AS: What are you reading / listening to?
    MB:      I listen to a lot of early Blues and Rock & Roll music. Mostly stuff from the 30’s to 50’s. But my taste runs the gamut of music genres.


    AS: Anything fun readers might be interested in knowing about you or your business?
    MB: I grew up in South Texas.  I have a rifle-scope scar on my left brow.  That, and I have a collection of voodoo and Mexican witchcraft paraphernalia.

  • Philly Art Star Craft Bazaar Deadline TODAY

     You have until Midnight Tonight to apply for our May 10th + 11th Art Star Craft Bazaar at Penn’s Landing Great Plaza right here in the city of brotherly love.  Click the image to head straight to the application!

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.