Well, here we are again.
Groundhog day #47. Waking up, it felt the same, but there are a few changes going on. California is getting some stricter stay at home orders while business are trying to open up at the same time. It’s weird. It’s hard. Our doors are still closed, but our lights are still on - for now.
As artists, we are used to things not making much sense, but we don't like being forced into situations. I can’t speak for my partners, but at least I (Peter Pan) really push back against set boundaries in all sorts of ways. No matter what, I like to create and voice things. Whether it is articulating or manifesting my resistance through art, music, essays or just how I choose to live, I always seem to find myself pushing what I believe in, and resisting against what I feel is wrong.
It’s bold and direct, but not violent. It can be dramatic, but not melodramatic. It is not about making a scene, it is about making a statement. A former bandmate of mine, and dear friend, Josh Gonzales said it best about two types of people who voice their opinions, “There are people screaming to be seen, and then there are people screaming to be heard.”
Many people are for show. The want to look the part, and will jump on the bandwagon to be seen and fit in. These are most of the people with a paintbrush, pen or microphone. They are Artists, not artists.
Then there are the others. The people with a message. The ones who care about their cause and will stand by it no matter what. If it is a popular opinion, or wildly provocative, they voice it and stand by it because they care. I’d like to think that when I scream, I am screaming to be heard. I have beliefs. I don't voice them all the time, but I do when I feel like I need to. I want to be heard, and that is why I scream.
Jake Joseph a.k.a. Dead Gringos is a dear friend and artist who has definitely got a message and is “screaming to be heard.” If you are familiar with Shit Art Club, you would certainly be able to pick out his works from a mile away. He paints in a strong graphic style - macabre characters and scenes with narratives illustrated with a bright and bold pallet. Jake describes his style as painting “bright colors for a dark world.” He is incredibly unique, one of the best people I know and one of the most talented artists I get to work with.
You guys know the deal by now. We asked him how he's getting along, and we are glad he let us know:
Alright, Jake, here we go. Strictly business out the gates. How do you foresee the future of the art market post COVID-19?
I think people are gonna keep on buyin' art like they always have been, looking at art makes people happy just like drugs and booze and neither of those have ever had a tough time during tough times. Gettin' drunk or high and looking at art is the instinctive remedy for humans in hard times.
Hell yeah. I suppose that in hard times it can actually have a function as a sort of escape for people, but a sort of healthy one. Art can really put life into perspective sometimes. Can you provide some insight into your studio life and how COVID-19 has made an impact? Any significant changes?
Not being able to do much at the studio in Downtown LA has been a bummer but now I just have a make shift studio at the apartment and paint outside all the time. Pretty fuckin' sweet actually. But I deeply miss being in the grease downtown for sure. Nothing compares to the grease.
Dead Gringos in the Downtown grease factory that is Shit Art Club’s studios
Yeah. I miss it too. Can’t wait ’til we can all rip around again together like a bunch of greased up pigs impossible to catch. Has this pandemic had any direct influence on your work or creative process?
Getting to be able to observe people's behavior in shitty times like these has always interested me, and I pull a lot from observing people everyday anyway and a lot of that goes into my work so yeah to a degree I bet it does but it's not a conscious thing I'd say.
Interesting. Is the town you live in on lockdown? Has the virus affected daily life amongst the locals?
Yep, Venice is pretty locked down but nobody seems to be all that bummed about it. There's still guys on electric skateboards everywhere. The plague isn't being as efficient as it could be.
Loser Angeles, Coulter Jacobs, Nick Lavayen and Dead Gringos throwing paint around after hours.
Hahahahaha. They're probably the cats who invented the thing anyway. Before Snapchat took over Niki’s, I don't remember there being any pandemics. Where’s the first place you’re going when this is all over?
Straight to a bar, probably Hinano. Or South America, but Hinano on the way there.
Hell yeah. Take me with ya. Other than painting or drawing, what is keeping you sane during this madness?
Working on building wood projects, drinking masses of beer, slithering around at the beach like a slug to avoid detection.
So essentially you're like a ninja slug. I may be hitting you up for some help robbing a bank here pretty soon. Do you think anything beneficial can come from this pandemic? What?
I'd like to think people will treat each other better, but we're 0 for 1000 on that one for past plagues. Hopefully a bunch of rad art. Flowers and stuff will keep growing. More lizards in the hills.
Ain’t that the sad sad truth. I do believe we will have some excellent art after all this, and you know I love me some time on Lizard Mountain. Tell us a bit about some of your influences. While developing as an artist was there anyone who you have been influenced or inspired by consistently over the years?
I've always been real into Goya and the other dark masters that analyzed the more fucked side of humanity. Jim Phllips, 90's surf/skate/punk art. Been really into Skinner's stuff lately as well, that guy always rips so hard. Growing up I was always fascinated by watching people and observing them, the weird shit they would say that would stick in my mind like it still does. I could sit in a bar corner for hours and draw people. Well I do sit in bar corners for hours and draw people.
Me encanta Francisco Goya. It seems like everyone is able to share their work today using their almighty iPhone and the internet. We see artists sharing a lot of work all of the time. It is a blessing and a curse. Who are some of the artists active today whose work you are following? What about their work or practice interests you? Is there something that these artists have in common? What are some of the unique things that each of these artists have that piques and maintains your interest in them?
For the innerwebs, I've been really into this group of artists from Ghana that Deadly Prey Gallery Represents, they hand paint these big wild and inaccurate versions of American movie posters that are gory and bootleg and just all over the place. There's a guy named Leonardo, Stoger, Mr, Nana Agyq, I don't know all of their names to be honest but they're really fuckin' rad artists. I always got a kick out of the bootleg movie shit as a kid when I'd take trips to Mexico and guys would be hawking them in the markets up so that mixed with the crazy Ghana monster mash up of Danny Devito beating someone with their own arm or something is awesome. So yeah those guys, a lot of others but this interview took more beers than I expected and I am going to go paint now. Love you.
Love you too, Jake.
SAC Loves all of you.
Take Care.