Name: Kelly Allen Nicknames: Silkies, Beeps, Punkin, Kel Sign: LEO
Favorite: Book: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris Season: Summer Color: Currently, it is orchid (pantone purple C)
Q1. What animal is your spirit guide?
A1.Bees!
Q2. What superhero would be your sidekick?
A2. The Flying Pig from Kids in the Hall
Q3. Bathroom read?
A3. Bust Magazine
Q4. Where and When in time would you go?
A4. That is a tough one. I can’t pick just one. For today, let’s say Hawaii, 1800.
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be?
A5. Blue Moon! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(ice_cream)
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?
A6. Unfortunately not, although my sister did. She invented and entire species, called “Popies.” She described them as little people with green eyes, white hair, wore jogging suits, and had suction cups on the ends of their fingers, so that they could stick to the TV. She would tell me epic stories of how they drove in double decker buses and had lots of fun adventures. So amazing!!!
Q7. Personal Quote?
A7. Quotes I coined:
“A son of a bitch is a puppy.”
also:
“A son of a gun is a bullet.”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs?
A8. YES! I LOVE that kind of stuff.
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day?
A9. Yep. Usually 2.
Q10. Best show you have ever been to?
A10. Quintron and Miss Pussycat!! They rock my world. I love them sooooooooooo much!
I was lucky to get to see them on a whim during a trip to Madison, WI with my sister. I had no idea who they were before we got to the show. I was mesmerized. I dream of the day I get to experience their amazingness once again.
I wish I knew of great master artist to compare Kelly’s work to or steal ideas from other interviews and about me’s. But as that just wouldn’t be my style I will jump back into the MAOI style of artist reviews…A painted collage of flora, fauna, flesh, and fur. Kelly isn’t your typical abstract artist but her concepts play in the land of dreams. Jumping from one idea to another till you wake up with bits and piece of your own personal subconscious wonderland. A foggy memory with key elements stepping out from shadows and clouds of color. To see more of Kelly’s work please visit her website.
Name: Cecilia Della Peruti – no longer in Rumspringa/ now leads Gothic Tropic Nickname: The band calls me “C” Sign: Virgo (libra rising, gemini moon)
Favorite: Dessert. too many to choose from…. A well made Flan. Holiday. Halloween (and New Years) Book. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Q1. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A1. Not so much as one friend, but imaginary scenarios, definitely. All the time haha.
Q2. Personal Quote? A2. “son of a bitch” is a staple… and taken from a text convo between my roommate and I “We can donate some of that $50 to strippers and death rock. Yeah, I’ll be okay this week, I’d rather do that than buy lavish meals.”
Q3. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A3. I believe the earliest of human civilizations referenced the night sky and documented their lives according to the stars/planets. Over time, enough consistencies suggested a correlation between humans and what exists outside our planet. It’s already a scientific fact that the moon influences the tides of our oceans, I think as humans, products of evolution, we’re not exempt from the effects of the planets/star systems/universe ect.. I demystify it, because the flower children often distract from the basic logic of it all.
Q4. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A4. Unfortunately I work in a corporate office, so YES. Maybe 2 cups a day. Sometimes 3 😦 Only started about 8 months ago though. Prior to that, absolutely not. Never, in fact. Tea…and hot chocolate…
Q5. If you had a parrot what would you teach it to say? A5.Probably profanity
Q6. What superhero would you make your sidekick? A6. Quail Man?
Q7. What do you admire in a person? A7. Forwardness, intuition, absurd humor, the ability to do anything i cant do…I could go on. Q8. Biggest Pet Peeve? A8. a ‘The Cool Guy complex’…And saying “melk” instead of “milk.” Same rule applies to “pellow.”
Q9. Bathroom read? A9. Mome (graphic novel) Q10. Most Embarrassing Moment? A10. I pissed my pants in 7th grade on the tennis court. I was laughing too hard. I think even then I thought it was too funny to be mortified.
Name: Ricardo Robles Jr. Nickname: Caco Sign: Virgo?
Favorite: Dessert- too much sugar, don’t like it. I like deserts though. Holiday- Kwanza (don’t celebrate it). Book- “God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian”- In 9th grade I realized my worldview was similar to Vonnegut’s.
Q1. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A1.God.
Q2. Personal Quote? A2. “Get Real.”
Q3. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A3. Hmmm. This one’s hard for me. The idea that the time of year a person is born somehow determines their personality seems like blatant bullshit. I don’t see very good evidence for it; but maybe there could be checkable evidence later- like the location of the other planets of our solar system in relation to earth somehow affects the physiology of a growing fetus’ brain…? The way Carl Jung explained Zodiac Signs makes it sound not too far-fetched: the weather and time of year that a person is born naturally affects a person’s first experiences outside of the womb, and therefore their personalities. My reply to this would be to ask: do only people born outdoors exhibit personality traits associated with their Zodiac symbol? Most of us in developing countries are born in hospitals with roofs and temperature control…How could this apply?
My own horoscope suggests that I’m very picky/anal. Most of the time though, my house etc. is pretty messy and I can just go with the flow…..then again my long ass answer to this question may indicate otherwise! Often, horoscopes seem to perfectly describe a person. I read one of those birthday books and it describes me well. So, I’d say I’m skeptical, but allowing for the possibility.
Q4. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A4. No coffee. I’m always shaky and nervous. That +coffee could = a mess.
Q5. If you had a parrot what would you teach it to say? A5. I’d see how many digits of Pi it could memorize….might take some time.
Q6. What superhero would you make your sidekick? A6. Magneto, duh.
Q7. What do you admire in a person? A7. If a person is really opinionated but not closed to debate, I like em.
Q8. Biggest Pet Peeve? A8. Those who, on a certain level (often barely conscious), are comfortable lying to themselves or others because life is easier that way and second guessing your ideas or values is too uncomfortable.
Q9. Bathroom read? A9. I don’t take THAT long to poop…but I might play Bubble buster on my phone.
Q10. Most Embarrassing Moment? A10. Every time someone walks into my house (often), they are greeted by a CD tower which I’m too lazy to move. It happens to be the tower from the time period between 6th grade and 9th grade with great bands like Limp Bizkit, Slayer, and everyone on the Warped Tour…..there’s a couple I’m proud of and might still listen to like Richard Hell, but for the most part it’s horrible.
Rumspringa is indie rock dipped in a 70’s psychedelic sound. With paisley printed melodies and guitar work they have a familiar gypsy sensibility. Unlike most psychedelic music that tends to be so trippy one needs to be on hallucinogens to appreciate the music. Rumspringa has a very grounded rock sounds that is more of an homage to the great rock stars of days gone by, instead of being trapped in the rock stars acid trip. As a contemporary band they are taking classic rock elements and brushing off the cobwebs to make them fresh again. Their song “Shake’em Loose Tonight” dips into the love den with a heavy velvet rhythm, easily I can imagine a bunch of people dancing together in a room decorated with silk scarves and bohemian pillows. But its songs like Triptych and Sway that validates their music in its current relevance while nodding to their influences and inspirations.
Please listen to more Rumspringa on thier Facebook
Q1. Most wild and crazy thing you have done thus far in your life?
A1. And this is your business because…
Q2. Whats the most interesting thing you found lying on the street/sidewalk/ground/random place? A2. A wet t-shirt with “fuck it” scrawled across the front in sharpee
Q3. How many car accidents have you been in?
A3. 6
Q4. Do you have a phobia?
A4. economic slavery, spiders
Q5. If you could morph into any animal what would it be?
A5. a housecat
Q6. What was your childhood ambition?
A6. notoriety
Q7. Have you ever been in a food fight?
A7. no
Q8. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses, which one would you abandon??
A8. sight, don’t need it
Q9. What do you wish was invented?
A9. The Morchant Timeline
Q10. Do you have a childhood memento you keep with you always?
A10. Animal.
Name: Marc
Nickname: M
Sign: Cancer
Favorite:
Fruit: Green apple
Book: Infinite Jest (David Foster Wallace)
Place: Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Q1. Most wild and crazy thing you have done thus far in your life?
A1. I rode my bike at night with the Wolf Pack Hustle years ago. Less than 2 blocks into the ride, I rode straight into a pothole and was launched over the handlebars of my bicycle. I ended up with two pins in my pinky and six stiches in my face. It was awesome.
Q2. Whats the most interesting thing you found lying on the street/sidewalk/ground/random place?
A2. $20. I was 10 years old. My two older brothers and I were walking home from school in the San Fernando Valley, and I caught sight of it. They took it from me and insisted that we buy baseball cards with it. I didn’t get to use any of the money for myself.
Q3. How many car accidents have you been in?
A3. At least 10. I have a knack for hitting inanimate objects (dumpsters, parked vehicles, etc.)
Q4. Do you have a phobia?
A4. Acrophobia (irrational fear of heights). The older I get, the more intense the fear.
Q5. If you could morph into any animal what would it be?
A5. A cat.
Q6. What was your childhood ambition?
A6. Decline to answer.
Q7. Have you ever been in a food fight?
A7. Yes, in 3rd grade. I was suspended from Hebrew Day School for one day.
Q8. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses, which one would you abandon?
A8. Smell. As a male, I already suffer from a bad sense of smell. I can’t miss what I’ve never really had.
Q9. What do you wish was invented?
A9. A “waste black hole,” to put all the trash of the world in so that it can no longer pollute the earth.
Q10. Do you have a childhood memento you keep with you always?
A10. A picture of my bandmate from when we were 12 years old. It’s adorable and prominently displayed on the refrigerator.
I have a tendency to talk about things I know nothing about. Take The Pity Party for example, their music has a late 90’s Lower East Side sound to them. But if you asked me to compare it to another 90’s group I can’t name one, all I can say is I think “Love Lies” could have fit in perfectly on the tv show Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s soundtrack (which is my favorite show of all time – I love that soundtrack, so that’s quite a compliment). And I’ve never been to NY’s Lower East Side, but I know a bit about it and there is a basement bar quality to the hypnotic voice of singer Julie Edwards. It seems lately the LA music scene seems to be saturated with a vintage beach/ surf sound, so it’s refreshing to be torn from this “California” sound and hear something a bit more grity.
1. Who was your first celebrity crush?
JE: Scott Baio. Love me some Chachi. RV: Remember that crappy Married with Children knockoff called ‘Unhappily Ever After’? I think I had a crush on the girl who played the equivalent of Christina Applegate’s character. I was 12- give me a break. GG: MC Hammer. DD: Dead even: Rainbow Brite/Strawberry Shortcake. MG: Brian May.
2.Most awkward encounter with someone you were in to?
JE: Most of my encounters with people I like are of the awkward kind. I thank the all-girls high school I was forced to attend for my social skillz. MG: Boob slipped out. GG: Hit her in the face. RV: Trying to kiss this girl goodbye who was totally not into me. It’s a long story I guess, but believe me it was awkward. DD: Got hit in the face.
3. Favorite childhood activity? GG: Pickin’ boogers. RV: Playing video games with my best friend and listening to “Motorcade of Generosity” by Cake. MG: Pretending to be an animal (wolf, lion, griffin, dragon). JE: I used to line up my My Little Ponies (I had about 30 of them) in a straight, single file line and move each one forward about an inch one at a time. I used to walk them all throughout the house like this. It would keep me busy for hours! DD: Eating/horseback riding.
4.Biggest Pet Peeve? DD: Misogyny, Manifest Destiny and smacking. GG: Douglas screams loudly for food, every morning. JE: Heavy doors RV: When someone asks that kind of question to which it’s not possible to answer both politely and intelligently. My favorite example is when someone asked this guy Charles Babbage “Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into your machine the wrong figures, will the right answers come out?” Mr. Babbage’s only answer was “I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.” MG: Small eyes.
5. What TV show would you want to be on? And why? DD: 30 Rock! Tina Fey is my hero. RV: Law and Order SVU. Mostly I just want to hang out with/be Stabler. MG: Who Wants to be a Millionaire, duh. JE: Weeds. I don’t really do or sell drugs, but I think it would be neat to be a drug lord. GG: Some game show, because I like prizes.
6. Do you have a phobia? If not, what fear of yours is down right close to a phobia? MG: Triskaidekaphobia. * JE: I’m afraid of spiders. Mostly I’m afraid of that movie that’s about being afraid of spiders. GG: My fears aren’t particularly phobic in nature. RV: Spiders. Definitely spiders. DD: Gang rape.
7. Coffee Bean or Starbucks? How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? JE: I prefer a homemade coffee. Or a McCafe beverage. I drink about 4 cups of coffee a day. RV: Starbucks, just because I don’t even know where a Coffee Bean is. Actually, we have this awesome espresso machine in my lab that grinds and brews a really really good cup of coffee when you hit a button, and then cleans itself. When we first got it I was drinking around 24 oz of espresso a day, but I’ve cut down a lot. GG: Teddy Roosevelt drank a gallon of coffee every day. DD: My kitchen- BOOYA. Since the kidney stones, I’ve switched to tea. MG: Coffee Bean but I always go to Starbucks when I have money. As many cups as needed.
8. When do you feel most creative? RV: Those few seconds right before I fall asleep. JE: Mornings and evenings. Afternoons totally zap my creativity. DD: Just before waking/while in the shower/post-masturbation. MG: When I’m in a creative mood GG: It really varies.
9. What do you wish you were better at? JE: Mind control DD: Sleeping! Not taking things personally? Gamelan. MG: Pretty much everything I do… RV: Following my gut. I tend to weigh my options too much. GG: Interviews.
10. Did you have your wisdom teeth pulled? GG: The drugs they gave me were far worse than the surgery itself. DD: They did not give me ANY laughing gas. They broke all 4 of my wisdom teeth in my jaw before they pulled them out in bloody bits. They would not let me keep them. MG: Yep! RV: Yeah, all 6 of them. I know, I’m the missing link. JE: Yes. And I liked it.
*Triskaidekaphobia= fear of the number 13
I’m one of the newer fans to this grand band Big Whup.
Now you can be a fan of Big Whup too!
Q1. What animal trait do you wish to possess? A1. Flight.
Q2. What superhero would be your sidekick? What villain would you go after first? A2. Ringo Starr.Beat Detective.
Q3. Bathroom read? A3. Tape-Op.
Q4. Where and When in time would you go? A4. Here and Now.
Q5. Most Embarrassing Moment? A5. Most of ’em.
Q6. Best compliment ever received? A6. I hate compliments.
Q7. What do you admire in a person? A7. A paunch.
Q8. When do you feel most creative? A8. Coffee.
Q9. What 80’s movie would you live in for a day? Who would you be? A9. Ghostbusters. A Ghostbuster.
Q10. Biggest Pet Peeve? A10. People who use cellphones at rock shows.
Authentic. The music that makes up Say Hi is authentic. It possess a genuine honesty that’s simple and comforting, like hot chocolate with little marshmallows. And I’m afraid to use the word simple as I do not want to insult the music for it has grown and developed over the past 7 years in a beautiful organic way. But I find there is such poignancy in simplicity. With Say Hi I feel there is no flashy gimmick or a care if a song will be radio worthy. You don’t hear marketing coming through his albums, you hear an honest musician, that loves his music. One step away from being acoustic, Say Hi is music with out all the junk.
Name: Jacob Duzsik Nickname: Handsome Jake Sign: Cancer
Favorite Food: Burritos Book: The Plague: Albert Camus. Season: Summer
Q1. What is the best show (music) you have ever been too?
A1. Pearl Jam in 1991. I don’t even like them but it was one of the first shows I ever went to. My dad took me.
Q2. If you could live in any time period or be anyone dead or alive?
A2. who would you be or where would you go? The Idea of being someone else is pretty terrifying philosophically speaking.
Q3. What is something you hate doing, but must do anyways?
A3. Getting gas. Fucking hate it.
Q4. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses, which one would you abandon?
A4. Taste.
Q5. Most rewarding moment of your life thus far?
A5. The birth of my first daughter…hypothetically
Q6. If you owned a parrot, what would you teach it to say?
A6. I would not own a parrot.
Q7. How old were you the first time you got drunk? How was the experience?
A7. !2 years old, new years eve. I puked all over the ground outside my house and tried to clean it with the hose, but it just froze into pools, like giant puke ice cubes. My mom found them in the morning and was furious. It was awesome
Q8. Biggest Pet Peeve?
A8. I have too many to pick a favorite but for right now I’ll go with people who walk around whistling. Can’t fucking stand it.
Q9. What was your childhood ambition?
A9.To be a movie cop. Not to be a real peace officer or an actor, but just a fictional badass.
Q10. Is there any toy you really wanted as a kid but was never given? Did you ever buy it for yourself when you got older?
A10. Remember those footballs or soccer balls that had monster faces on them? Well I really wanted one, and for some reason my mom flatly refused. Never did figure out why.
Those nights out that feel like a dream, where the people are beautiful and life seems surreal. Everything was intangibly exciting. In the moment you wonder if your awake or asleep, closing your eyes to open them up and see that this place, this wonderland, is real. When I listen to HEALTH this is the feeling I am filled with. Their music would be the soundtrack to that night’s movie. It’s haunting, and yet so present. I’ve yet to have the delight of seeing HEALTH live but I could only imagine how hypnotizing the performance would become.
please listen to more HEALTH. They are currently touring with Crystal Castles in the UK and other various parts of Europe! Jealous.
Q2. If you had a parrot what would you teach it to say?
A2. I would probably teach it my weekly itinerary and have it repeat it to me often as I am the worst with dates and remembering things.
Q3. What superhero would you make your sidekick?
A3. I’m not sure if Scooby Doo is considered a super hero but he would definitely be my sidekick if he is. I love dogs way too much and oddly enough have hair similar to Shaggy. We would make a good duo!
Q4. What do you admire in a person?
A4. Genuiness
Q5. Biggest Pet Peeve?
A5. People that are overly confident to the point of rudeness.
Q6 Favorite amusement park and ride?
A6. Canada’s Wonderland-The Wild Beast! And at little podunk fairs I love The Zipper!
Q7. Best vacation memory?
A7. Eating Crepes while walking the canal in Paris.
Q8. Childhood ambition?
A8. There was a brief period of time where I wanted to be a miner. I’d go into caves with a pick axe and dig up jewels and nuggets of gold the size of my fist….It didn’t take long to realize that it doesn’t quite work like that. Probably one of the biggest upsets of my childhood.
Q9. Best compliment ever received?
A9. One time someone said my paintings were ‘neato!’ It’s a fine compliment and I am genuinely happy that people think as much!
Q10. What do you wish was invented?
A10. potbellied elephants (miniature sized elephants the size of a potbellied pig)
In the spotlight Jacub captures nature inspired surreal moments, decorated with toys and nick nacks, little found treasures; his work is a dark whimsy. Set behind a black backdrop, his subjects dance in contradiction. Tiny elephants and vagabond birds, a house that sits on a dead dandelion; creates a composition suspended in the realm of imagination. His attention to detail only helps intensify and create the illusion that is Gagnon’s surreal wonderland.
please check out more of Jacub Gagnon’s work on his website.
FANG ISLAND:
chris georges- guitar.
jason bartell- guitar.
michael jacober- bass.
nicholas andrew sadler- guitar.
Name: chris georges Nickname: crust crustopherson Sign: Aries
Favorite: Color. Seafoam green Food. Tacos y burritos Magazine. Mojo, 60s-70s rollingstone, creem
Q1.What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1.I was straight edge in highschool
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. Chester Cheetah
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. Windmill strums
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. “The Kids Are Alright. ” I would be myself in the crowd at every show.
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. It would be every flavor on a sugar cone. It would taste like sweet, sweet infinity
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. The Ultimate Warrior
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “Mein fraulein likes to party all the time”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. No way
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. Yes way. As much as it takes.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? Q10. Black dice and sonic youth opening up for lightning bolt. That or Meatloaf at Mohegan sun.
Name: Jason Bartell (guitarist/singer)
Nickname: Bread
Sign: Me Up
Favorite:
Color: Aqua red
Food: Mom’s white chili
Magazine: That one Spin where Radiohead had their faces photoshopped
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing?
A1. Be mistaken for Nic Cage
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide?
A2. KFC Double Down Sandwich
Q3. What’s your vice?
A3. (See spirit animal)
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character?
A4. I’d be the cameraman on the set of Holy Mountain
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be?
A5. Extra Spicy
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?
A6. Yes, all the future members of Fang Island
Q7. Personal Quote?
A7. “Does people still say ‘stoked?'”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs?
A8. Sometimes?
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day?
A9. I eat 5 bowls of coffee ice cream a day. It equals about one cup.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too?
A10. Rhys Chatham’s 10 guitar orchestra, performed in an abandoned silo.
Name: Mike Nickname: Jonathan Davis Sign: scorpion man
Favorite: Color: Money Green Food: Candied Quarter Magazine: Fortune
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1. Said, “I love you.”
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. Falcor de Never Ending Story
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. Homework
Q 4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. The maestro of The Pied Piper
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. Rum Craison
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. Oh, thats what those were….
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “the soup is gentle”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. Oui
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. Never.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? A10. American Gladiators (’92)
Name: nick andrew sadler
Nickname: nickiiii
Sign: libra
Favorite:
Color. chrome (is that a color?),
Food. eggs
Magazine. popular science magazine.
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing?
A1. cry
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide?
A2. cat
Q3. What’s your vice?
A3. coffee
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character?
A4. pennies from heaven, myself.
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be?
A5. brie.
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?
A6. no, but i honestly believed at one point that other people were not real and i couldnt decide whether or not what i was experiencing around me was some pre-programmed act, like a play.
Q7. Personal Quote?
A7. “sorry, my phone got turned off”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs?
A8. yeah.
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day?
A9. my french press is blown out and my teeth arent as white. my best ideas seem to happen when my cheeks are buzzing and my eyes are burning.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too?
A10. oops tour, philli. with lightning bolt, arab on radar, the locust, pink n brown, orthrelm, etc etc etc.
If Explosions in the Sky had a fun unjaded totally upbeat and excited for life younger sibling, it would be Fang Island. Fang Island, mostly instrumental but instead of being melodic, is more a series of intense guitar riffs and epic rock progressions. And the vocals, instead of haunting and lingering behind the music, it’s more like the almost audible bar chant of a local pub rocking out to the jukebox. On their website they say that their intention “was to make music for people that like music”. Well boys, mission accomplished. Every song dripping in joy and pure love for the music they are creating, how can a person that loves music not love Fang Island.
please visit Fang Island’s myspace page to hear more music… (currently on tour with Matt & Kim and then off to another tour with Coheed & Cambria…isn’t this band just awesome!!)
Name: Hannah Stouffer Nickname: the littlest hobo Sign: such a taurus
Favorite: Color. black on black Animal. my dog Fruit. all of them juiced up with a lime
Q1. If you could go anywhere in time where would it be and why?
A1. Trannsylvania. Or that one castle where everything is made out of ice and crystal, and its always the middle of winter black as night- but only if I get to wear a polar bear, and my hair is really, really long… Remember that one scene from Willow when the giant fleshy vein monsters with no eyes are surrounding them on all sides while crossing that rock bridge thats like a million feet up and Val Kilmer comes in to sword them right through their disgusting heads?? Yeah me too. Shit. Anywhere but there… totally not there.
Q2. Do you have a phobia or irrational fear?
A2. cats, cat fur, furry cats and fur cats. gross.
Q3. Most exciting moment of your life thus far?
A3.The MOST exciting?? Thats impossible. Sometimes I feel like my day-to-day epitomizes the most epic adventures through the universe- filled with giant ice cream cones with so many sprinkles and I’m riding a mystical dolphin- and the air smells like lust and magic- and everything is cloaked in constellations and darkness… then I wake up and we’re naked in the forest- brunch is ready and my favorite song is playing so fucking loud.
Q4. Do you have a lucky charm?
A4. Keys, phone and wallet- check.
Q5. If your artwork was a cereal, which one would is be and why?
A5. If my artwork was cereal I’d snack on it all day long- it doesn’t matter what flavor it was. Then I’d REALLY never get anything done. Great. Please don’t turn my art into snacks. I’d be so fucked.
Q6. If you were in Willy Wonka’s factory, what would you be looking forward to the most?
A6. Everything except for those flowers that look kind of good but then they taste like wax….and that fucking tunnel with the giant worms!!! I’m definitely gonna barf- then I’ll push that one stupid chick into the chocolate river, oh wait, she totally turns fat- perfect.
Q7. What do you miss most about being a kid? What the best thing about being an adult?
A7. I’m definitely not all growned up yet.
Q8. First show (music) did you ever go to?
A8. Does The Simpsons on Ice count? If not, then maybe the Temptations?? James Brown? Not a whole lot of music came through Aspen when I was a kid- but I would have probably wished it was Salt and Peppa… push it.
Q9. If you knew when the world was going to freeze for ten minutes, what would you plan to do in those 10mins?
A9. Lets Get Naked.
Q10. What animal trait do you wish to possess?
A10. I had a lucid dream the other night for the first time, and I was flying. Definitely flying. Big black raven, golden eagle or California condor please. I’m gonna throw all my change into the lake and blink three times for that one.
The revealed bones and exposed skeletal bodies of animals ripped of flesh dancing amongst the living. There is a deep darkness that is entwined in the electric neon pop compositions of Hannah Stouffer. Always maintaining balance in her detailed compositions. Predators become her prey as she exposes what lies beneath in a technicolor dreamland of chaotic or blissful emotion.
Please check out more of Hannah’s work on her website
Nickname: For some reason if I find myself in a gym, by the end of the day the gym-rats always end up chanting in admiration “the Gunshow,” so I guess that’s as good a nickname as any.
Sign: Sagittarius, just like me half man half horse
Favorite:
Color: I’m always drawn to the fluorescent colors in nature.
Time of Day: In the south I always loved the evening when the frogs and bugs sang in harmony but in New York I guess its early morning.
Scent: I like the smell of a freshly cut lawn, too bad there aren’t too many of those in NYC.
Q1. What animal trait do you wish to possess?
A1. Well my cat purposely does annoying things to grab my attention, causes me a lot of work, and has even damaged or destroyed my artwork. Though for some reason I can never get mad at her or at least stay mad long. I’ve been around and owned several cats and they all seem to possess that ability to get away with anything, so I’d like to have that trait.
Q2. What superhero would be your sidekick?
A2. What villain would you go after first? Hmm, at first thought Batman sounds strategically good because I’m sure Bruce Wayne would buy all my art, but he has a lot of annoying villains that would make it hard for me to find time to paint. So I choose Superman, because not only can I be as reckless as I want and be safe, but people would think, “Man, if the man of steel is his sidekick he must have some really special power.” It wouldn’t be a totally one-sided partnership either. My job would be to hide in the background and conveniently appear if someone pulls out some kryptonite. Also to make sure Superman doesn’t get too bigheaded and realize I’m talentless compared to him, I’d keep a little bit of kryptonite around as a reminder. Superman can seek out villains if he finds it necessary, personally I’d rather avoid those people. Maybe I’d show up at the last minute for the photo-op.
Q3. Bathroom read?
A3.I like nonfiction, so whatever historical figure or time period is on my mind.
Q4. Where and When in time would you go?
A4. Well definitely not in any period where crowds delight in gruesome public executions (yeah I know some countries still do today, but they are the minority). I wouldn’t want to live in the 20s because the great depression is right around the corner, the 50s was dull, the 60s too turbulent, the 70s too ugly fashion-wise. I was fond of the 80s as a little kid and it did have a large art boom so maybe the 80s.
Q5. Most Embarrassing Moment?
A5. I was at the neighborhood playground with my friends, and my older sister was there with her older friends so I wanted to make an impression among both sets of friends by messing with my sister. I was climbing on this half circle jungle gym like thing and my sister was in the middle with her friends. I crawled over her head quietly and hung my head down and attempted to scare her. So her reaction was to punch me directly in the balls. But the physical pain is not what I remember most. At the time I was fond of wearing my pajamas outside. I was a little kid so I guess that wasn’t too weird since some kids wear capes. I was into comfort so naturally I was also going commando. The impact of my sister’s fist split the seam of these cheap Scooby Doo pants right down the middle. It felt like ten minutes where my balls were just hanging out over all of my sister’s friends as they pointed and laughed. I jumped down as fast as I could and ran home crying. I imagine that was a troubling sight for my mom.
Q6. Best compliment ever received?
A6. Man, I’ve been told a lot of nice thoughtful things so I appreciate any compliment. This probably sounds like a cop out but I don’t have a favorite I can think of. There are certain people I have spent time with in some way or another that I either respected their work or their honesty, who don’t compliment people too often or can be pretty brutally honest. So when they complimented me, that really made me happy. I don’t want to in anyway say that those people’s opinion are more important than anyone else’s, it was just nice for my neurotic mind to know they aren’t just trying to be nice.
Q7. What do you admire in a person?
A7. Probably loyalty, but whenever I see someone doing something nice or generous without any ulterior motive that always makes me happy for humanity. I can be a bit pessimistic at times and those people always make me feel good for being wrong.
Q8. When do you feel most creative?
A8. Whenever I had a regular job it would seem like every time I was on my way to work I would feel most creative and feel the need to work. Then I would have to push down that desire and work monotonously for eight hours. These days, since art is my job, I feel most creative when I think of some new technique or color I want to play with, or if a particular theme is obsessing me that always helps.
Q9. What 80s movie would you live in for a day? Who would you be?
A9. I would be Mark Holten’s character from Teen Wolf one and two. Holten is probably best known for his role as Pee-wee’s nemesis, Francis in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. His Teen Wolf characters name is “Chubby”. He is the most out of shape and athletically talentless guy in both movies but for some reason not only does he start on his high school’s basketball team but he’s also a boxer playing on a collegiate level in part two. The guy from the movie Rudy practically killed himself to make up for his athletic short comings. Chubby could care less, he had a terrible attitude and put in as little effort as possible. That guy has really made a lot out of nothing so when he finds something he’s actually talented at, he’ll be amazing.
Q10. Biggest Pet Peeve?
A10. People who litter two feet in front of a trash can. It’s amazing how often I see that.
Steve Tabbutt use of lines create a fluid surreal world. There is no beginning or an end, just one continuous motion through out his pieces. Playing with the idea of reality and manipulating it into his own unique world.
Please take a look at more of Steve’s work on his website.
My Favorite MAOI 