The Qualities of Light is a film project curated by my good friend and collaborator Shane Sakanoi of Draftsmen and Rich Hama. I must say, after a number of years giving it up to cameras for interviews an the like, this is by far my most cherished contribution to a doc piece to date. Yes, i did have some say in the style for the film and a bit of direction and im sure that;s helping the sway of my judgement, but the guys went somewhere else with it and I’m happy for that. Music by Teebs & 4×4tracktor.

  Manuel Muccio is a very close friend of Marco Pho Grassi, both hailing from Milan, Italy. Manuel’s English was much better then Pho’s, so not only did he became a great relayer of information, but was a fine photographer on top of that. These were pulled from his facebook page.

Belton spray paint, house paint & acrylic on primed interior cinder block

3 hours

Commissioned by Ben & Shelley of Super Special

Curated by Eddie of T-World

April, 2010

I extended my stay in Melbourne, Victoria to take care of some commission projects set up while I was in town. One of these was for a light mural in the Super Special Warehouse, a high quality screen printing facility in the Spotswood district of Melbourne. Ben and Shelley were more then accommodating and stayed a bit overtime on a monday evening for me to knock out this Circulation style Piece.

As many of you know the Manifest Equality Mural “JUSTICE” El Mac, Retna and myself painted was white washed over in the first week of April, 2010. My time lapse was the first official release of the process of the wall. Shig & Med of ‘Viejas del Mercado‘ & Mid City Arts just released their video of the wall, a homage and funeral doc of sorts. Deep and beautiful. They captured a certain tone in this one, as if they new the wall wasn’t going to last much longer….

Wari and I shared many mutual friends. I cant claim to be in this top tier of peoples, but we always chopped it up deep about music, samples and such when we happened into each other in the Mid city districts of Los Angeles. Wari was a meticulous beat maker and sample connoisseur. It took him a minute to warm up to me, but he finally let me listen to some tracks once in a while.

Taken much to early, he will be missed by many underground Angelinos.

++Full Size Download of my illustration of Wari to share is HERE++

House paint, acrylic & imported spray paint on foundation cement.

Basement in Highland Park, Calif.

Commissioned by Private Collector

This was a sight specific commission for the basement of a large home in Highland Park. The basement is like a true adult ‘Ruckus Room’ with ping pong, pool tables and diner like seating for events and private goings on. My clients an aficionado of true roots and culture, Dub sound system sounds & especially the contributions of Bob Marley. 

Art arrangement and Mural Install.

South/East corner of Gallery.

Never A Dull Moment Group Show

White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, Calif 

When I first saw the flicker pictures for the newly installed wood panels in the gallery, I knew what I was going to do for the install. That was to basically do what I do to natural wood already, age it down.

Oxidized red, black acrylic washes, house paint, gold and black spray paint, fine tip enamel markers and a bit of brush was all I used to treat the wood. Took about half a day to build my install + spread the mural above the front entrance to meat up with Remy Rough’s section.

I would have had better shots, connections and all, but I was using the only camera I had on deck, a 4 year old Olympus Stylus that isn’t working up to par.

[ I will start a monthly residency here at BACCHANAL, painting live once a month. Friday, January 8th will be the opening night of this weekly as well as my first night painting live for Twenty Ten. ]

BACCHANAL: Live Music & Art Installations @ The DayDream Republic

Opening Night Friday January 8th 2010

The DayDream Republic 

4500 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles Ca. 90016

(Between La Brea & Crenshaw)

Suggested donation $5 b4 10/ $10 after /21+

Resident DJs: 

Mason (Quality / Meterhead)

LC / Mr. Numberonederful (Thinkspace / Cannibal Flower)

Shady Hasty (Projections / Orgone)

8pm-10pm - Artist Reception

Featuring the sounds of Triorganico ( With Fabiano Do Nascimento & Pablo Calogero)

& DJ Sergio Mielniczenko (KPFK / Global Village)

11pm - Deejay & the Drummers

Featuring DJ Mason, percussionists Alan Lightner, Ricky Rodriguez,

Davey Chegwidden and Tabla Maestro Satnam Ramgotra

“This genre-bending crew hasn’t performed in LA for a while so

don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience them live!”

12 pm - Allstar Jam

Members of Orgone, Rhythm Roots AllStars,

The Lions, Macy Gray Band and special guests

Team up to deliver a late-night session of

Funk, Reggae, Afrobeat and Beyond… 

Visuals:

Live Painting by Augustine Kofie

Works on display by DJ NdEBELE & Sarah Fritz

Bacchanal Bazaar:

Timbuctu State

Aklias

ViolinaLA

Freshgenet

S.O.J.H.A Strung Out Jeo Holist Arts- Juan Davee

I.C.U. Gallery/ Work studio

La Brea/ Miracle Mile District.

Los Angeles, Calif

Summer 1997

Spray paint on vinyl mural for Justice? Just Us Concert at UCLA Wadsworth Theatre.

Commissioned by Robbie Connal.

Judge character: Axis

Photos by Daniel Gellis

Here is Medusa’s Live Performance at the event.

 [I had recently come across these photos that daniel took at the gallery back in the 90’s. I love the fact that all the paint was Krylon. I was about 23 at the time and working at Cost Plus World Market part time.]

Client: Hugo Boss

Location: Meatpacking District, NYC. 14th Street & 9th Ave

Medium: Acrylic, nylon twine, aluminum screw posts, recycled chipboard & wood.

I was commissioned by the Director of Visual Merchandising of Hugo Boss, NYC to create a unique window installation for their Meatpacking District Store. After a few weeks of sketches and modifications I came up with this direction for the window.

I wanted to keep my materials simple and reasonable to work with, so I went in the direction of a heavy weight chipboard. It was fairly easy to cut with the scroll saw and especially reasonable to paint. Since most of my work deals in layers and structure I felt the floating shapes might be the appropriate direction. Each piece is suspended by clear nylon wire that is attached by small metal clamps. For some support I also added 1″ strips of wood to add to the extension aspect of the shapes, similar to vanishing point lines. Aluminum screw posts were used to attach as well as adhere large pieces together. Keeping the posts visible was intentional. This look ultimately set an industrious mood complimenting the purple and grey tones.

Special thanks to Barblin, Lisa &  Geoff Howell studios for their shop space and assistance in assembling the piece in store.

Was in NYC on a Window Installation project for the Hugo Boss store in the Meatpacking District. Above is a shot of Geoff Howell Studio, a fully stocked workshop specializing in custom window, store & event design, decor and production for more than twenty years. This spot has a great productive energy and was in the midst of a large project for Victoria’s Secret. I was blessed with a corner to work in with the assistance of Collin this day to prep the pieces for the window.

As of the last week of July 2009 I have been dismantling my Echo Park home+studio and preparing for the transition to a new estate to lay my head and to keep drafting. Above is a pan of my now defunct Echo Park, Calif. living room workspace. The majority of fine art works have been mashed out of here with the exception of a few larger commissions. Just a few minuets away will be my new headquarters, which will be fully functional by the end of the first week of September. The jammer is that my new, larger and private communal workspace will be just a few steps from my new home. No more driving to East Hollywood to grab paint and supplies. Big’tings are in the works now. The time to mash out is on.

I was invited to Manuel Arts High School in South Central, Calif. to add to the Art departments ever growing wall installations. Mr. Ayala has been educating the youth there on street art culture and it’s ever changing and developing mannerisms. His program has been running for a for a short time, but has gotten in good standings with the administration to move forward in embellishing the 2 story building with works by prominent Los Angeles street artists. My mural was sight specific, one of 2 main entrance ways into the north east building. Mr. Ayala felt my structural style would fit nicely into the horizontal crevices of the wall in question. I used 3 styles of brushes and acrylic paints to execute this 4 hour jammy.  I may stop in again within the month to add some random colors.

Zoso’s Contributions 

2cent’s Contribution 

Climb In The Back Widow + A group show Curated by iO Wright

Shadow’s Space and Kung Fu Necktie

1248-50 N. Front St Philadelphia, PA

+

Features the work of

Anthony Lister + Cheryl Dunn + Ricky Powell + Skullphone + Ale Zuek + iO Wright

Curtis Kulig + Luiza Sa (of CSS renown) + Augustine Kofie + Erik Otto + Various and Gould

+

All info for the show, artists & online sales please visit Darlingdays.com

In January I was commissioned by my friends at The Red Umbrella Group to create a painting for the MICROSOFT ‘Softwear’ T-shirt launch Featuring COMMON and Biz Markie. Above are the pre party photos of the back-lit painting which was an acrylic on canvas.  Here are some event photos from Freshness.

Wednesday, March 4th 2009. I spun a 2 hour set of music to compliment Sonik Mercury’s timeslot during The Engine Collision Film Fest, an intimate, 11 day celebration of fringe artists from all over the world. Yes, this is the same space that I designed the seating for as well as painting the walls and floor, and now the back entry included. Sonik mashed out some very beautiful liquid like structures along the ceiling as well as the rear of the theatre. Expect to hear and see an esentric assortment of progressive creatives doing their thing.

 The Engine Collision Festival (ECF) is an intimate, 11 day celebration of fringe artists from all over the world. Taking place in Hollywood, this eclectic program of Cinema, performance and Multimedia dynamically presents - the current state of ‘Genre’, the influence of past, and the vision of future. Among Engine Collision Fest headliners:David Lynch will be screening a selection of unavailable short works. Metalocaplyse will be premier their second season from Adult Swim. Slamdance Film fest has put together a night of their 2009 winners. Cory McAbee is screening “The American Astronaut”. Cherry Vanilla will read from her autobiography. Shannyn Sossamon will reveal her experimental video project, “Maudegone”.And many more accomplished headliners. Everything will be projected onto a 2000 pound sculpture of made out oxidized steel called, “The Engine” amidst the breathtaking installation art of world renown artists Sonik Mercury and Kofie One. And screening Daily, BIZZURKE ARMY UFM has selected a number of films from the UFM objective.

Light acrylic mural and 10 recent works are on display and sale at Munky King on Melrose in Los Angeles. Zury recently picked up a one of my many painted file boxes I had on display at my recent Regent Theatre Installation in Downtown. A wall was available for me to display some work for a while. Thanks Patrick.

 This was a one night only installation for the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk. I probably put in more work than I needed to for this, but it’s an amazing and fairly raw space. I had to insist on painting directly on the interior walls if I was to show any work & with Mr. Gillmores approval I crushed a lil jammie in the south west corner on the spot. I also showcased 10 new collage/assemblage works as well as a special selection of painted file boxes from my collection. Here are a set of photos Space Weave blessed me with.

Friday July 18 - Hours: 7 pm - 12 midnight, $5 at door w/ RSVP to studio1636@gmail.com 

Friday JULY 18th 2008, LOS ANGELES – Hollywood’s newest independent art gallery, STUDIO 1636, in alliance with L.A.’s leading guerilla film militia Bizzurke Army U.F.M is proud to present”Engineering Cinémathèque,” a multi-media movie theater designed by renowned graffiti artist Kofie’One/Draftsman, installation artist Sonik Mercury and internationally acclaimed renegade filmmaker Burke Roberts. 

“Engineering Cinémathèque” showcases Burke Roberts revolutionary project, THE ENGINE.Beginning Friday July 18th, for one month Studio 1636 will transform into a unique screening venue that examines the ways in which the presentation of space and environment dictate the cinema experience. ”Engineering Cinémathèque” marks the first extended showroom for THE ENGINE — a transportable, kinetic, sculpture/projection hybrid that redefines the art of presentation and introduces a new era of independent screening venues. Designed to be equal in form and function, the 1000 pound steel sculpture houses a rotating 17-foot screen and features a high-end, audio-visual system.For each subsequent weekend after the July 18 opening until the August 17th closing, the artists behind “Engineering Cinémathèque” will offer select filmmakers and programmers the opportunity to curate their own screening presentations on Fridays and Saturdays for the duration of the run. Screening presentations have already been booked by the Slamdance Film Festival, the creators of Showtime’s groundbreaking animated series “Queer Duck,” and the DVD release viewing of “The Legend of God’s Gun,” a psychedelic spaghetti western film from the band Spindrift, featuring songs from the forthcoming Quentin Tarantino production “Hellride.”Freeing filmmakers from the restrictions and politics of traditional corporate venues, THE ENGINE indulges a myriad of interesting and forward thinking motion picture presentations. From hard-hitting documentaries to avant-garde short narratives, street-wise skate videos to refined art exposes, up and coming animators to those at the top of their field with a soft spot for the unexpected, THE ENGINE welcomes a wide spectrum of motion picture possibilities.

For press inquiries, an opportunity to program an event in this revolutionary venue, or for more information, please contact:Erin Broadley at STUDIO 1636 at 866-808-9260 or email studio1636@gmail.com, ATTN: Engineering Cinémathèque.Please note a limit to available dates, as the space is booking quickly.

STUDIO 1636: 1636 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, Ca. 90028 one block south of Hollywood Blvd. 

2008. Acrylic & Watercolor. Curtis of Marvol Board Works commissioned me to paint his Skate shop, Covert in their Upland, CA Store. Signed a few books & had shish-a-bobs for lunch make for a complete day.

2007. ‘From LA With Love Installation Exhibit’ .  The A+D Museum off  Wilshire in Los Angeles.Large scale installation of found aged wood, metal signs & siding, Light box as well as a steel Drafting Desk. A handfull of recent works inspired by architecture & the beauty of urban decay also adored the display which was on view for 3 months. Video of installetion by Theo Jemison.

2007. SURU Store. Presented by: AGENDA, Draftsmen, KnownGallery.com, SlamXHype.com, Guerillaone.com & Beautiful/Decay. This Install was the first time i showed off what i have packed in my garage. A smorgusboard of Snatched metal signs, vintage spray cans, outdated drafting supply’s, assorted Boom Boxes, Electronic Equipment, Industrial Furniture & a healthy handful of Tool Boxes. I used the front & interior display windows to host my personal & never before seen artifacts. There were also recent assembalge pieces displayed on the back wall. It was a greate turn.

2006. Was hired to age and distress a bathroom for a show called ‘Suspect’ directed by Guy Ritchie for ABC. I used american spray paint for the stencils and the rest is a mix of house paint and acrylics. I created a few stencils just for the gig. The owl logo is JAO’s. Last I heard the show is on hold. This is the second time I did some work for a show that gets canned or on hold. It must be my fault.

2006. Acrylic on masonite 4 x 12 ft. I was Commissioned by Set Designer Charisse Cardenas to create a painting for an NBC pilot entitled ‘The Singles Table’ staring Alicia Silverstone. The piece is displayed in the living room of a teck geek/aspiring DJ in NYC. Last i heard the show was drooped, but they did film about 6 episodes so there is sill a possibility of it airing. If so, this was planed for a thursday Prime Time slot. 

2006. Commissioned by SS+K to produce an inspirational mural for their conference room in the Santa Monica/ Venice District. The design is based off of their inspirational materials & felt it was best suited for an installation rather than my traditional paintings. The 3 canvases were digitally printed and I painted the wall itself to match.

2006. Acrylic & Enamel. El Mercado is a Street wear Boutique off of Pico in the Mid City District of Los Angeles. This is my second outdoor Mural for the store. The ‘Juanita’s Menudo‘ girl was a billboard that has fallen off of it’s billboard and was in storage for years. I incorporated it into the walls with other posters from the street as well as my ‘Slinky Cloud’ Style.

Solo Exhibition

Hands On

New works in Black, White & Grey

February - March 2006

Transport Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.

Currated by  Michael Russek

Flyer

This was my first solo show in some time & I knew I wanted to go simple, but big. Over 25 new works were on display as well as a few light murals of Hands & my shapes. Kutmah & Coleman played very select instrumental beats & Jazz sets while over 200 people made their way in and out of the gallery. One wall installation consisted of over 40 indevidually screen printed Colby posters printed just for the event. 

2004. Acrylic Paint on drywall. Installation Mural in the Agenda Trade show Offices in the California Fashion Mart, Downtown Los Angeles.

Client: Zen & Fred of Charizmatik  for the flagship store “The Treehouse Endeavor”