Archive for September, 2007

Low Ballin’…

Published by Matt Gondek September 28th, 2007 in Art, culture, marketing, Community, Hillbillies, Design, gallery, Underground and Artist. 0 Comments

Today I got an e-mail from another Pittsburgh artist talking about collecting as many Pgh artists as possible and amassing their information on one site. Not a bad idea at all. One site with everyone’s contact information as well as samples of work seems like a good idea. I was excited to jump on board. Until I got to the guideline portion on the e-mail.

 There was your standard rules, but one in particular stood out. It stated that “This site will not list artists who lowball their prices in order to sell in
volume, hobbyists, or those who do not know how to value their work, all of
which hurts the art community in general”.

When people write things like that, it makes me mad. I know that this sentence isn’t directed at me, but in a way, I feel that it is. I definately don’t charge alot for my work. I would make rather have my work in someone’s house, on their shirt, or in a shop than sitting in my house where no one is seeing it. How many times did you see a certain piece of art you really liked, only to get discouraged at it’s $500 price tag? Another reason I charge low is because, like 99% of the art world NO ONE KNOWS WHO I AM. I am not famous in any way. I can see jacking up the price on a piece by Crayola or Alex Pardee because they are amazing at what they do, and the demand for their work is high.

Listen. You want to know what hurts the art world? High priced, no name artwork. If EVERYONE didn’t charge so much, then ALOT more people would have artwork in their homes, where it could be appreciated. Not sitting in a closet of the artist’s home, waiting for the day when some asshole is going to pay 2 grand for a 6” by 6” piece of wood with some acrylic paint on it.

 I get alot of freelance work. ALOT. And with each piece I make sure I’m not ripping them off. I do it for as low a price as possible, because I know they will tell their friends, who will also want something done. It’s called MARKETING. I can see where you get the argument of “well, people will pay high price for an original piece”. Maybe if those artists had more creativity, EVERY piece would be original.

I have no problem with big name artists w/ high prices, but c’mon people, don’t try to be something your not.

Dunny Series 4!

Published by Matt Gondek September 27th, 2007 in Art, culture, street art, Advertising, Design, eBay, Underground, Artist, Kid Robot and Dunny. 1 Comment

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Dunny Series 4 from Kid Robot comes out today at 11AM ET. If your not up to speed with Dunny, or are looking at the pic above and thinking “Those are gay” while you and your buddy are benchpressing, you better get with it real quick.

Dunnys are Kid Robot limited edition figures that are each done by a different artist. Each series sells out quick, due to high demand, amazing design, limited quantities, and the ever elusive “Chase Dunny”. Each dunny comes blind boxed, which means your not sure which one your getting until you actually buy and open the box they come in. The chase dunny is a extremely rare figure that is hard to obtain, and often go for hundreds of dollars on Ebay. The normal figures are each assigned a numerical value such as 2/25, which means, out of every 25 dunnys produced, they made 2 of this figure. Some are more rare than others, which is where the passion to collect comes in.

The line up of artists for series four are Frank Kozik, Jon Burgerman, MAD, Tara McPherson, Mad Barbarians, Shane Jessup, David Flores, KOA, Sket One, Gary Baseman, Michael Motorcycle, Joe Ledbetter, MIST, Nico Berry, Thomas Han and Mike ‘2600′ Davis of Twelve Car Pileup. Don’t sleep on this one. Get your dunnys now, because they sell out quick. I’m gonna go there now and get my credit card ready!

9.26.07 A.H.

Published by Matt Gondek September 26th, 2007 in Fun, Halo 3, X Box and FPS. 4 Comments

As I sat down last night for the first time with my new game, Halo 3, I was immediately blown away. The new environments are perfect place to drive around in the new chopper vehicle, which literally eats anything in front of it. The ability to rip gun turrents off the ground and turn them on the enemies made the giant scarab battle on the beach an amazing victory. The improved Jeep physics allowed me to tear across the countryside while my fellow marine on gunner tore through the enemies. God only knows what I haven’t seen in this game yet.

Only problem is, as I’m laying on the couch playing in my state of euphoria, I couldn’t help but think about all the various freelance projects I had upstairs sitting on my computer. All the different people waiting on, and expecting, some sort of T-Shirt design or logo done ASAP. How am I going to balance my time effectively post 9.25.07 A.H., or “After Halo3″? 

 I had NO problem sitting at my computer working diligently pre 9.25.07 B.H. As long as I had a few cigarettes and I-Tunes, I could work until the wee hours of the morning no problem. That all changed for me, and millions of other people yesterday. At least I went to work yesterday. I know a few people who didn’t… and I’m sure somewhere out there a freshly dumped girl is crying herself to sleep while her now single boyfriend is playing a 50 man slayer game in the rumble pit. I can’t blame him. 

So.. as I sit here at work, doodling Master Chief shooting GraveMinds with various weapons in my notebook, I began to think of some ways to keep myself on schedule with my freelance artwork and in touch with the real world. I will list them, in hopes that maybe you can take something away from this post, and get your life “sort of” back on track.

1. Remove the cord that connects the controller to the XBox 360. This will give you roughly 5 to 6 hours of playing time before the controller runs out of juice. I know this will be EXTREMELY difficult, but promise yourself that when it dies, you quit playing.

2. Establish a “Three Text” rule regarding your girlfriend, Mom, Jesus, or whomever is trying to get ahold of you. You can’t just stop talking to these people, but you also can’t just stop playing Halo to talk to them either… Instead, reply after every third text. This will make you look like you care, but at the same time, let them know you don’t want to get into a long drawn out text conversation about that mean professor that is hitting on your friend, or Aunt Shirley’s foot cancer. Here is an example of a conversation I had last night:
Girlfriend: 7:20PM :”Hey Baby! What are you doing?”
Girlfriend: 7:49PM :”Are you busy?”
Girlfriend: 8:32PM :”You’re playing that god-damned video game aren’t you”
Me :8:41PM :”Can’t talk. Halo”

 3. Although forgoing the morning shower to get in a quick game of capture the flag before work seems like a good idea, you’ll regret it about two hours later while sitting here typing this blog post.

4. “Because I was on Google looking for Halo easter eggs” is not an acceptable thing to tell your boss when he asks why you sent out the 10AM Punctuality Report thirteen minutes late.

 Hope these help.

OMG!!!!

Published by Matt Gondek September 25th, 2007 in Fun, Advertising and Video Games. 1 Comment

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BONEZ!!!  OMG !! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

24 Hour Creative Marathon

Published by Jackie Vesci September 24th, 2007 in Art, Fun, Gondek, Pittsburgh, Community, Design, gallery, Artist, Bellevue and Creative Treehouse. 2 Comments


24 Hour Creative Marathon

This weekend, September 28-29, check out the 24 Hour Creative Marathon. Artists can register for FREE online by following the link provided or on Friday at the door (maximum 150 artists) to create a work of art around-the-clock following the theme “Lost and Found.” A gallery show will then start at 8:00pm Saturday to showcase and sell the artwork.

All artists including painters, illustrators, cartoonists and sculptors - from amateurs to professionals - basically, if you create art in Pittsburgh, we encourage you to register for this event!

For art admirers, there will be artwork, food, drinks, and live music to enjoy at the gallery show Saturday night. And your chance to purchase an original piece created by Matt Gondek!

All the fun can and will be had at the Creative Treehouse in Bellevue.

Address: 517 Lincoln Ave., 2nd Floor, Bellevue, PA 15202

Any questions? Contact Josh Sager at creative.marathon@gmail.com
See you there!

WHoo dilly

Published by Matt Gondek September 24th, 2007 in Uncategorized. 3 Comments

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When I’m not busy w/ work or freelance stuff, sometimes I like to read. That’s why I’m super pumped I bought all kinds of new books this weekend.

The first is the original Bunnywith Comic from artist Alex Pardee. You’ve seen his work on the last three Used CD covers. The comic is just about his popular character, Bunnywith in various conditions… such as bunnyWITH herpes… bunnyWITH 1,000 eyes and so on. I also picked up his book “and so he bathed in the blood of the lepers” which is about a hand turkey.

 I also picked up the new book by artist Tilt called “Fetish BubbleGirls” which is a collection of photographs of girls with grafitti painted on their bodies. Kind of like suicide girls, but with more class.

 My third shirt from ShipShape clothing should be out soon, called “Fishy”, but having absolutely nothing to do w/ fish.

Also working on shirts for the clothing companies “With Open Eyes” and “Edison Apparel”.

Additionally, the two bands “Deadwalk” and “The Underscore Prevails” have comissioned me to do work for them, so keep an eye out for that.

 My portfolio site is almost completely re-hauled w/ more content and a better overall feel, so go take a look at it! www.mattgondek.com

 Ok, that’s all for now.

On Imagining the Future of Pittsburgh - September 2007

Published by Jackie Vesci September 20th, 2007 in Pittsburgh and Community. 6 Comments

On imagining the future of Pittsburgh - can we unite our community around ideas of technology, the environment, and/or higher education? I attended Pop City Live! earlier this month at the New Hazlett Theater, an event planned by the creators of PopCityMedia.com, an e-magazine praising the people, businesses, and ideas leading Pittsburgh to a brighter future. The panelists encouraged attendees to promote technological, environmental, and educational initiatives to transform Pittsburgh into a “hot” city.

Sure, we have Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Robert Morris University, Chatham University, Carlow University, Point Park University, La Roche College, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County (among others) all within minutes of each other and downtown Pittsburgh, PA. They are all teaching tens of thousands of young adults to think for themselves, become active and informed citizens, and to all-around enrich their lives - no doubt many lessons integrate the use of technology and challenge students to find sustainable solutions to environmental and social concerns.

However, are these students the people of Pittsburgh? Are the professors at these colleges and universities teaching the students about the rich history of Pittsburgh and truly providing them with a sense of community?

People of Pittsburgh - people that stay because they remember and reminisce about the Steel City, their families live here, they love the Steelers, the Pirates, the Penguins, and the Panthers, taking their children and grandchildren to Kennywood in the summer, watching the nostalgic documentaries by Rick Sebak, visiting the Carnegie Museum, the Carnegie Science Center, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Benedum, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and throwing back an Iron City or enjoying a Primanti’s sandwich with old friends.

A disconnect remains. Until our leaders and teachers understand what motivates the people OF Pittsburgh, and not the people in Pittsburgh on their way to a life outside of our Three Rivers, we cannot unite the community around a shared vision.

The Adventures of Matt Gondek, Freelance Artist

Published by Matt Gondek September 6th, 2007 in Art, Fun, Pittsburgh, smoking, culture, Community, Design and Artist. 1 Comment

I recently got invited to hang some of my paintings in an up and coming coffee shop in Oakland, which is a part of Pittsburgh.

It was my first trip to Oakland since all the college students came back, and I forgot how impossible it is to find a parking space down there. I drove around for a good twenty minutes before I parked. As soon as I stepped out of my car, there were drunk 19 year olds everywhere. EVERYWHERE. None of them smoked though, as I must of asked at least 15 of them if they had a lighter.

When I finally got to the coffee shop, it was empty. Except for the 2 guys working there, who were both laying on seperate couches playing some Mario golf game on a N64. Neither of them got up when I came in or even bother looking at me until I went up to them. This story doens’t have a funny ending or a moral. I just wanted to gripe.

 In other news, I just finished up a pair of custom Air Force One’s for Fenix Entertainment. They will be for sale shortly on their website, and myspace.
www.myspace.com/fenixent

Working on the third shirt design for ShipShape clothing, and recently wrapped up the second, which is a giant monster rampaging through a city. It will be available real soon. The first shirt I did for them sold out!
www.shipshaperoolz.com

A brand new custom hoody is now available on my myspace. www.myspace.com/huskydiver       It’s called “Disco Ain’t Dead”, and has a zombie funk machine breaking it down on the back. TIGHT!

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