Migrated to a new site.. Sorry Blogspot..

http://detourstudio.tumblr.com/

Going Back, way back.

So a little background history is needed before i make these next posts. 

It all leads back to Bridgeport, 32nd n' Halsted to be exact. About 2 1/2 years ago now i was 1/4th owner of a gallery called 32nd&Urban. I acted as the curator, graphic designer and all around floor sweeper. We were able to put together a solid 12 shows, a few parties and a couple space rentals. It was a great learning experience and a lot of good work. When the doors closed i made good ol' college try at a normal 9 to 5, I worked this job for about a 1yr 1/2.  I took a break from all things art and tried hard to kick this monkey on my back called DEBT. I was able to at least kick him in the balls but he's still on my back...

Now i would've stayed working my 9-5 if i didn't get layed off but what ya gone do? I think i was meant to be because i was done checked out from that job and needed a change of pace ASAP, and change came quickly. 

I jumped back in to creative work,ie. design and contracted artist. I also started to regroup and form a new venture with a past partner from 32nd&Urban gallery (Lauren Pacheco) called Chicago Urban Art Society(CUAS) . Here's our thang:

The Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS) promotes the art makers visual voice by way of group or solo exhibitions, innovative teaching and learning opportunities and the creation of an arts and culture archive.

So working as CUAS we were asked to curate 7 storefront locations in the Chicago Artist District in Pilsen right off 19th and Halsted. These were the newly closed off Podmajersky Gallery storefront spaces called "ShowPod"

Here's a few videos and interviews with some of the artists.   

 

Here's my ShowPod Space

This is the third installment of my bird house street art projects. The other 2 are here and there. I use all found and salvaged goods along with a few free paint chips from home depot to make the hair and leaves on the tree. This will soon find it's home somewhere in chicago with plants growing out of it and hopefully birds living inside it. It will be the first installment of my reclaiming the streets of chicago urban gardens. I'll keep you posted of when and where soon.

Our second venture as Chicago Urban Art Society was our fundraiser "SWEET TOOTH" a Charity Bake Sale. The purpose of this event was to raise funds in the hopes of us finding a new home for exhibitions and arts education.

Here's some more information on the event.

 Images of the event can be found here.   

Thats if for now. I'll post some graphic design work soon as well,recapping the past is tiring. 

peace.

Backdrop

Here's a quickly designed backdrop i created for a past co-workers birthday jam.

Welcome to the Dead Zone.

WAZ-A-HAPPANIN?!,

So i just finished up a semi-traditional day of the dead painted skulls project. It was a last minute job, a few days notice and i had to finish them in a week. Did i mention there was 80 anatomically correct, science grade skulls that came apart in 6 places?? It was pretty hectic. Below are some process shots from the beginning of the project. We(15 or so freshman and sophomore's from UNO Charter School)had to glue the tops of the skulls down, Spackle the gaps, and sand. I painted the skulls with spray paint to speed up the process.Process shots below.
Here's some shots of the students working. To make the process easier i painted about 15-20 myself then set them in front of the kids and asked them nicely to replicate my design. I did give them freedom to inject some of there own designs into the pattern work. And i was thoroughly impressed with there speed, eagerness, brushwork and overall creativity.
Some more process shots below. Also the lady pictured below is Kristal Pacheco. She has the incredible task of teaching art to high school students. I have a renewed respect for the time and effort teachers put into there classrooms and to top it off have a smile while they do it. Plus she's my big sis and i think she's the tops!And finally the finished product. Materials used wall Spackle, liquid nails, Elmer's glue, spray paint(ironlak & rusto), acrylic, glass bead gel, lava bead gel & metallic flake gel mixed with matte varnish to give it that sugar skull feel. And lastly a sprayed on gloss coat..
I worked on 80 and i just got word that all 80 sold for 75 a piece and they were a huge hit.You can do the math..now on to the next project.

$$$$$$

Sup,

So the post has been overdue for a bit. I've been held captive by the almighty dollar and yet to do anything truly creative. I'm sure we all fall into this rut , and it's not like i don't want to make some work..but lets just say that the market is slllooooowwwww... mostly my part, I'm super lazy now a days. so to appease my sanity here's a post of the ghost of a creative past. (last year).

^^Here's another birdhouse i made. This one was about 6-7 ft tall x roughly 2ft cubed w/o roof.

Again a bunch of found materials that i painted,drilled,caught tags on,and wheat pasted on. I also had a roll of 15ft fabric (for some unknown reason) so i wrapped it around the base creating that warm summer day beach scene on a dreary rainy Chicago day.

------------------------>

This thing disappeared in a day...sucks..i never got flicks of it until my sis told me she had some. Good lookin out bub.

^^This was posted below already. Funny story about it.I watched some dudes steal it.

I talked to them quick to see what they were up to. Now i thought they playing me for a fool when they said they were going to use it for a dog house and for there many bunnies so I never told them i made it. (i wanted to see where the story was gonna go, plus i donated it to the public so the public owns it). So i let them take it.

One day i was walking through a fine south side neighborhood and what do i see in someones backyard? My crazy bird house with a dog coming in and out of it. Ha! Props to the peeps that dug my piece that much to honor there dog with it..Nice.!

there was no bunnies in site.

----------------------------->

This was cool. Got asked to be in a photo series by Mireya Acierto Top Center.

------------------------>

It was my honor to be apart of this show. R.I.P. Afroe42 & Evol.


I lost a cool homie due to irresponsible acts of judgements.

------------------->


Meet Ana B. She's an aspiring young artist that i had the pleasure of mentoring. I schooled her on organizing and curating her very own art show. She located her artists, gave deadlines, did the promotional footwork, picked up pieces, delivered pieces, hung the show, had to be mean, and basked in the elation of the opening night.
Good luck in New York Homie!!!

A few things i picked up during my stint as a Curator at 32ndUrban Gallery.
WE BROKE SON!!

-------------->

Recent Flyer i made. Simple, nothing flashy.

Renegade Craft Fair!!!

STOP ON BY AT OUR BOOTH THIS SATURDAY 13TH AND SUNDAY 14TH..WERE BOOTH #71..SHOW SOME SUPPORT,BUY SOMETHING OR JUST SAY WHATS UP..

A few things...

Taking part in a show coming up on September 12th @ AOKAY shop&Gallery..check the flyer



Partaking in Renegade Craft Fair this coming September 13th & 14th. Booth #71 Right off Wolcott Street on Division,, Come Check out what i got!!

IRONMAN.

I painted this for my nephew while he was out of town. It came out pretty fresh and i dont get the chance to paint much anymore so it was fun also..

STREET ART : BIRDHOUSE PROJECT-1

I created this pretty large birdhouse out of junk i found in the garbage and leftover scrap wood that ive been saving. I needed to clear out my studio and everything that i got rid of found it's way onto this street work.


It came out pretty cool and i've been seeing alot of passer-by-ers snapping there necks to get a good look at it. The location i found works well with it to.

I wanted to try to continue to reclaim city spaces and re-use discarded materials creating a visual impact but more importantly a home for anything that digs the digs..ya dig?

Updated.....

heres a montana spray paint box that i drew on for the Montana Shop/Gallery show out in oak park earlier this year...





i also got to hang the show-100+ boxes..

updates....

found new some images of the show i had at phaiz boutique last december on flickr...
peep em..

updates...

just found out that i had some of my el graffitio printed up in a magazine out of mexico..pretty cool man, pretty cool.

4th one down in the left hand column. second from the bottom. the one with the skull in the middle..

updates.

Recently had an interview in Gapers Block about our recent group show "FRAMED" at 32nd&urban gallery. go peep it.

updates...

some new design work.

some new design work

Lord Egor Rock

wearing "I Heart Chi" Shirt....Thanks Homie

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR,,YOU AINT READY!!

DETOURSTUDIO BOUT TO TAKE IT OVA,,GAME OVA...

keys open doors

flics from keys open doors show @ south union arts..
better flics to come later..

These are from Hot Pop out in Milwaukee, Wis. I think i sold one, but the "curator" hasnt said anything.. there a mix of collage and paint on birch wood. about 2ft x 1 ft.