A floating sperm whale carcass is slowly collecting sea-garbage. This demi-island is ultimately discovered and it’s inherent obstacles and unique terrain are capitalized on as the world’s first miniature golf island. WHALE ISLAND. This installation is the product of a summer-long tour of every miniature golf course in Massachusetts. It is the predecessor of Capital Falls, my first attempt at playable-art. Whale Island was installed over the course of a week in MassArt’s Godine Gallery. It featured eight “hole-in-one-able” putt-putt holes, a mystery dwelling structure adorned with a waterfall skull, and the origin theater (housed inside Moby Dick). Also sprinkled throughout the exhibition is evidence of other related miniature golf courses, and illustrated permutations in the development of Whale Island. More images after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Mini Golf Across Massachusetts was a project in which Colby Leonard and I documented every miniature golf course in Massachusetts in the summer of 2007. At the time there were 84 courses total. These are some highlights from our adventure… Read the rest of this entry »

Summer 2008 I spent two weeks in China, before the Beijing Olympics. This was my first time going abroad. The trip was organized and hosted by MassArt, and traveled through Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Beijing. While there, in the wake of the devastating Sichuan earthquakes, I got involved in a group exhibition that was customizing kids shoes and dedicating them to earthquake relief. Then I enhanced my shoes with a pair of “heel-wheels” I purchased from a street vendor in The Bund. (After learning the delicate art of negotiating prices). There is this wild psychedelic tram that goes under the Bund Canal. My pal John and I took it for a spin and were astonished by there high-tech-metaphorical-light-displays and wacky-waveable-inflating-tube-men. Also, with purchase of tram ride, we also gained entry to an Aquarium and Sex Education exhibit. We happily discovered lucky rotting sea mammals that people had placed money on in the aquarium, and a deluxe array of perverted sculptures in the sex exhibit. I was struck by the juxtaposition of ancient culture and modern kitsch. That’s basically what the painting above is about. When visiting The Great Wall, we found a giant slide roller-coaster built off the side. That type of defilement to a national treasure, in the name of tourism, had me thinking… Here are some things from my sketchbook. Read the rest of this entry »

Surprise Illustrations!
Surprise Illustrations!
Surprise Illustrations!
Surprise Illustrations! Read the rest of this entry »

First off, Dan Deacon hates this poster. Specifically the way I drew him. (I’m sorry man, I draw everyone grotesque!) The flyer was for one of the shows I threw at Mass Art, in conjunction with BOWAAC and Urban Monsters. First Time I met Mr. Deacon was at the Avalon in Boston, when he was opening for Girl Talk. I was around because I was painting this wild roadside DKM mural on the back of the club, and I overheard Dan talking about the band Neptune. I interrupted to announce they’d be playing later that night at the Milky Way in JP. I went to that Neptune show, and sure enough Dan Deacon jumped on the roster last-minute for a midnight neon-skull freak-out!

The Ultimate Reality show advertised above was a blast, Jimmy Joe Roche had made visuals for the tour, and Deacon was providing the score. I remember they wanted to push the sound up to 11. Lots of concern over the volume. Local heroes Ho-Ag and Big Digits opened, alongside my pal Dank of Main Fader.

After the Boston Cut&Paste, I spent some time in Brooklyn. I was trying out for their Traveling Production Assistant position at the New York event in Webster Hall. It was bananas! Sold out the 1500 person capacity venue. It was packed and sweaty and charged! People from the audience were heckling the designers for typography related issues. “Your kerning sucks!” type stuff. Big-Ups to my man Tunde Ogunnoiki, for coming up to NY from Atlanta to compete. Read the rest of this entry »

As an alumni of the 2007 Digital Design Tournament Cut&Paste, I had to get involved when I heard it was returning to Boston in 09. I synced up with my friend Kristen, and scored the title of Design Ambassador for the event. Which ment we were responsible for assembling all the calls for talent, test rounds, judges, themes, and comunity outreach. Quite the responsibility, but absolutely worth it. It was great to feel out the Boston Design scene, both emerging and professional. In the photo above, Chris Piascik, Dan “Props” Amalbert, Kyle Brandse, and Matt W. Moore addressing the crowd.