Mid-August Update: Ed Wood, Elvira, Ghoultown and WM3
Greetings Mad Creator Fiends, August is half way over and I am just sending out the August MCP Nooseletter. Why you ask? It's simple really. After San Diego Comic Con ended the last week of July, I had around three weeks to prepare for a music video I agreed to direct for the band Ghoultown. Those three weeks included long bouts of anxieties followed by spells of sweaty madness. More on that in a bit. To say the least, sending out an August Nooseletter just wasn't probable. But now with the madness behind me, I thought it was high time I send out a fiendly hello and update you on the Gris Grimly happenings that are taking place. CRAZY 4 CULT GROUP ART SHOW TONIGHT! I know some of you are going to be into this: Gallery 1988 Los Angeles is proud to present Crazy 4 Cult 2: This Time It's Personal, the follow-up to last year's cult movie themed and wildly successful Crazy 4 Cult. The art show will run from Friday, August 22nd, 2008 until September 12th, 2008. The opening reception will take place on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 from 7-11 PM, and many of the artists involved will be in attendance, as well as the presence of the yearly hosts Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier (the team behind cult classics "Clerks" and "Mallrats"). Crazy 4 Cult 2 gives artists the chance to pay homage to their favorite classic cult films by putting their own unique twist on well-known characters and scenes. The Big Lebowski, Point Break, Mommie Dearest, Ed Wood, and A Clockwork Orange are just a few of the many cult classics that the artists will chose to immortalize in their works. Me being a huge fan of Edward D. Wood Jr. chose his films as the subject for my piece depicted below titled "I Awoke Early The Day I Died". The title of the piece comes from Ed Wood's supposed last film in production before he passed on. The dimensions are 24x17. Acrylic on wood. If you would like to inquiry about this piece please contact Jensen from Gallery 1988 at 323-937-7088 or Email: gallery1988@aol.com) For more information on the show, visit www.nineteeneightyeight. com Friday, August 22nd from 7-11PM Gallery 1988 7020 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90038 And now, more Noose on the music video: GRIS DIRECTS MUSIC VIDEO FOR GHOULTOWN! This last weekend I directed a music video for Texas based band Ghoultown. The song, Mistress of the Dark, is about none other than the Queen of Halloween, Elvira. And Cassandra Peterson (Elvira) starred in the video along with the six members of Ghoultown and David Backhaus (Stash from Cannibal Flesh Riot!). I am so appreciative not only for her presence in the video as a beautiful female icon, but also for bringing cheer and laughter to the set. I had to schedule a 20-hour production day into 10-hours at the Magic Castle after a night of only two hours of sleep. I was frazzled, somber and seriously focused to get everything accomplished. But Cassandra helped lighten the busy workload with her consistent bouts of joke cracking, laughter and "horseplay". What a trooper! We were able to shoot everything with the exception of three unneeded shots. The video was shot mostly at the Magic Castle in Hollywood and due to budgetary constraints my garage was turned into a honky-tonk variety show stage. We were also granted permission to use Elvira's 1958 Ford Thunderbird. In addition to the music video, we filmed three live performances on the variety show set as well as a cryptload of jokes in a fake cornfield. If you have ever seen the Hee Haw show, we will be cutting together a little mock variety show as a special feature to be included on the Mistress of the Dark Ultra-single CD/DVD. Look for it in 2009. The music video should be completed and released this October.
"Crazy 4 Cult 2: This Time It's Personal" opening reception: Friday, August 22nd from 7-11PM
Gallery 1988 Los Angeles is proud to present Crazy 4 Cult 2: This Time It's Personal, the follow-up to last year's cult movie themed and wildly successful Crazy 4 Cult. The art show will run from Friday, August 22nd, 2008 until September 12th, 2008. The opening reception will take place on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 from 7-11 PM, and many of the artists involved will be in attendance, as well as the presence of our yearly hosts Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier (the team behind cult classics "Clerks" and "Mallrats").
Last year's show welcomed in over 3,000 art and movie lovers, including Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), Michael Rappaport (True Romance), Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko), Jason Mewes (Clerks) and James Duval (Donnie Darko). The show received press from G4, KROQ, 97.1 Free FM, Reelz Channel, and many others.
This year's show will feature new cult movie inspired artwork from well over one hundred artists, including favorites like Sas and Colin Christian, Gris Grimly (image above), Brandt Peters, Travis Louie, Mark Brown, Matt Dangler, Naoto Hattori, Krista Huot and Luke Chueh. An entire list of the participating artists can be seen at crazy4cult. com.
Crazy 4 Cult 2 gives artists the chance to pay homage to their favorite classic cult films by putting their own unique twist on well-known characters and scenes. The Big Lebowski, Point Break, Mommie Dearest, Ed Wood, and A Clockwork Orange are just a few of the many cult classics that the artists will chose to immortalize in their works.
This year's opening reception on August 22nd is sure to be another amazing, not-to-be-missed event! Posters from Andrew Wilson, Scott Campbell, 2cents, Reuben Rude and Dan McCarthy will be available at affordable prices starting opening night. For more information about these posters, expecially those shopping out of state, please be sure to check out crazy4cult. com for the latest news and updates.
Save the date for August 22nd for the Crazy 4 Cult 2 opening reception to be the biggest event in 1988 history!
Greetings Mad Creator Fiends, It's here! The moment you've all been waiting for! Voodoo drum roll: THE SAN DIEGO COMIC CON '08 NOOSELETTER! The huge pop culture show is this week at the San Diego Convention Center July 23-27. I will be attending to sign Thursday-Sunday at 2pm as well as preview night (Wednesday). Come visit us at the Mad Creator Productions booth ( 509). Here is what we will have: THE NEW SHIRT "ROBOT STOMP BABY"! This humorous Gris Grimly design is printed on a soft cotton grey shirt for both men and women. I find it very funny. NEW CANNIBAL BABY BIBS! Let strangers know not to get too close to your slobbery baby. That's not just drool dripping from the chin. Both "Mommy's Little Cannibal" and "Daddy's Little Cannibal" are printed on black and white cotton bibs with a Velcro fastener. The things you come up with while attending baby showers...
NEW MCP 10-YEAR T-SHIRTS! This year celebrates a full decade of MAD CREATOR PRODUCTIONS. In commemoration, we have this collectable "Ten Years of Madness" T-shirt for both men and women.
NEW MCP 10-YEAR TOTE BAGS! Our annual tote this year will also be in celebration of ten years of madness. Make sure to pick up one of these 50% recycled bags to carry your GG books in.
FROM MONSTER BUCKLES...THE COMPANY THAT BROUGHT YOU THE SOCIETY OF GRAVE ROBBERS BELT BUCKLE...COMES THE MCP TIE TACK... But if you are not fond of wearing ties, these sterling silver pins can clamp onto almost anything. You can pin it to your hat, your bag or even your neighbor's cat (although I wouldn't suggest that). What else will we have available? Besides our usual classic collection of fine books (including all my new releases) and t-shirt designs, we will have the following recently new items (If you are unaware of their existence):
NEW SHIRTS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE! Proceeds from the sales of the new West Memphis Three inspired t-shirt "Broken Justice" will be passed along to aid in the WM3 defense. I encourage you to visit the wm3 website yourself to learn more about this important case.
"Broken Justice" is available on Charcoal Grey and Chocolate Brown T-shirts for both men and women. It features a design I did of Justice, worn and broken down. The shirt was created to raise money for the defense of the West Memphis Three, but symbolizes all injustice that occurs due to race, class and sex.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King Jr.
For more information about the West Memphis Three visit: www.wm3.org
NEW MEN'S AND WOMEN'S VAMPIRE SHIRTS! The new vampire t-shirts "VAMPIRE RAGE" and "VAMPIRE BITE". (Stupid titles...I know)
NEIL GAIMAN'S THE DANGEROUS ALPHABET POSTERS! We will be giving away Dangerous Alphabet posters for FREE with your purchase at the Mad Creator Productions booth. So hurry by to insure you get one as well as other limited quantity items. We are coming to the end of our stock of "Cannibal Flesh Riot!" DVDs. I plan on printing the second batch after comic con, but I am unsure of when that will be. Psycho Charger (one of the bands who contributed a song to the CFR DVD) has just sent me a few copies of their music video for "I Eat The Dead" on DVD. We will be giving away a copy of this DVD for each purchase of the CFR DVD while supplies last. So if you don't have CFR yet, this is probably the best opportunity for you to pick it up. That is all for now. Keep checking in for more details. In the meantime... Be Grim! Gris Grimly and Mad Creator Productions For your unhealthy dose of abnormality, visit our site at:
Hey Everyone, My Vader helmet is heading to Japan!
Check out the press release below. Be Grim! Gris Grimly
13 Japanese artists join the original Vader Project and premiere their customized helmets in a stunning exhibition for Star Wars Celebration Japan
July 19 - July 21, 2008
Makuhari - Messe in Chiba
The Vader Project , a reimagining of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today's hottest pop and underground artists, will be on display July 19-21, 2008 at Star Wars Celebration Japan , a landmark event being held at Makuhari-Messe in Chiba just outside Tokyo to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. For more information visit www.celebrationjapan.com or www.celebrationjapan.jp
The Vader Project is curated by Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks of DKE Toys. Kelemer and Marks gathered close to 100 of the hottest underground and pop surrealist painters, artists , and designers to participate. Each artist was given a 1:1 scale authentic prop replica of the actual Darth Vader helmet used in the Star Wars films. Each helmet served as a blank canvas for each artist to paint, design, mash up, and customize.
Japanese artists include:
Bounty Hunter Chino Dehara Devil Robots Gargamel Itokin Park Mad Barbarians Mori Chack RealxHead Secret Base T9G Touma Usugrow Yoko d'Holbachie
Many of these artists jumped at the chance to lend their talents to one of the most iconic pop culture characters in film history.
"This could not be a timelier event," Kelemer said. "The pop surrealist/ lowbrow/graffiti/designer art scene is exploding around us. A canvas is what you make it, from bunnies to cows to toilet seats. The 'platform' group show has been around, and we have seen it all."
Ugly Doll co-creator David Horvath said it best: "It's Darth Vader! !! It's the most recognizable character in the universe. After this exhibition we don't ever need to be in a platform show again."
The Vader Project
The Vader Project originally premiered at Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles in May 2007. From there it traveled to Star Wars Celebration Europe in London in June 2007. July 2007 brought 10 new helmets to the Star Wars Pavilion at the famed San Diego Comic -Con on International . The Project's exhibit at Star Wars Celebration Japan marks the first time the collection will be on display in Asia. The future plan is for the exhibition to travel to museums, galleries, and events around the world. The helmets will then be offered publicly at auction. Details will be announced later. For more updates sign up at www.thevaderproject.com
Dov Kelemer & Sarah Jo Marks
The Vader Project Co-Curators and Co-Founders of DKE Toys Dov Kelemer and Sarah Jo Marks make up one of the largest designer vinyl and art-toy distributors in the world, exclusively representing over 100 companies, artists, and designers. Kelemer started the business selling Star Wars memorabilia more than 15 years ago. With The Vader Project he has finally found a way to meld both his passions. Marks divides her time between managing DKE art exhibitions and all DKE promotions including STUFFED: a plush food show. www.dketoys.com
For further questions, to discuss interview opportunities or for photos of the helmets please call DKE Toys at 818.765.3500
http://www.collectiondx.com/node/2655
http://www.toycyte.com/
MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thevaderproject
Artist List
Troy Alders Kii Arens Attaboy Anthony Ausgang Axis Aye Jay Gary Baseman Andrew Bell Tim Biskup Mark Bodnar Andrew Brandou Buff Monster Mister Cartoon Mr Clement Robbie Conal CRASH Steven Daily Dalek Cam de Leon Bob Dob Tristan Eaton Marc Ecko Eelus Ron English FERG David Flores Brian Flynn - Hybrid Design Paul Frank Sunich Huck Gee Fawn Gehweiler Mike Giant Girls Drawing Girls Gris Grimly Joe Hahn Haze XXL Jesse Hernandez Derek Hess Jeremyville kaNO Sun-MinKim & David Horvath Jim Koch Frank Kozik David S. Krys - DSK Designs Peter Kuper Wade Lageose - Lageose Design Joe Ledbetter Simone Legno - Tokidoki Mad Marka27 Mars-1 Bill McMullen Melvins Brian Morris Nanospore Niagara Mitch O'Connell olive47 Estevan Oriol Alex Pardee The Pizz Plastic God Playskewl Dave Pressler Ragnar Jermaine Rogers Erick Scarecrow J. Otto Seibold Shag Sket-One Shawn Smith Winston Smith Jeff Soto Damon Soule Bwana Spoons Jophen Stein Suckadelic Gary Taxali Cameron Tiede Touma UrbanMedium Michelle Valigura VanBeater Amanda Visell
Win A Copy of Neil Gaiman and Gris Grimly’s "The Dangerous Alphabet"
HarperCollins Childrens is giving away fifty copies of Neil Gaiman's The Dangerous Alphabet, illustrated by Gris Grimly (along with signed posters of the book). To enter the drawing, give the publisher your e-mail address on this page: http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/harperchildrens/kids/gamesandcontests/contests/dangerousalphabet/
Entry deadline is 24 July 2008 at 5PM EDT.
The book tells the story of "Two children, treasure map in hand, and their pet gazelle sneak past their father, out of their house, and into a world beneath the city, where monsters and pirates roam.
"Will they find the treasure? Will they make it out alive?
"The Dangerous Alphabet is a tale of adventure, piracy, danger, and heroism told in twenty-six alphabetical lines—although even the alphabet is not to be relied upon here. A delightfully dangerous journey from national bestselling author Neil Gaiman and the monstrously talented Gris Grimly, The Dangerous Alphabet is sure to captivate and chill young readers."
Hello, Just wanted to invite everyone out to the artist reception and opening party Saturday July 12, 8pm-11:30pm at Copro Nason Gallery in Bergamont Station in Santa Monica, CA. I completed a new painting that will be on display and for sale, titled: "When everything is said and done...I am nothing more than a lifeless maggot" This art show is going to be the most amazing of the summer.
Here is the flyer for the show:
I will be at Copro Nason right after we visit my pal Eric Pigors art show and book signing at Halloween Town that same night. I suggest you do the same.
Hey cool ghouls, Here is a little interview and recap from the Where Madness Reigns book release, shot and edited by Frank at Halloween Town. Hope you enjoy it. See you at the next one. Be Grim! Gris Grimly
I don't normally agree to phone interviews because I am afraid that I might say something without thinking, reveal too much information or say something I shouldn't of. But, I have also realized the lack of personal touch to an email interview. Besides a swear word slipping in, I think the interview went pretty well. Check it out for yourself:
Hey Ghouls and Ghoulettes, I don't know about all of you, but I'm getting pretty anxious for the WHERE MADNESS REIGNS hardcover book release THIS SATURDAY (June 7th) at Halloween Town in Burbank California. I've been working my fingers to the bones to get a few surprises completed. For those of you who plan on attending, this is what lurks around the corner. Heh. Heh. Heh... ...A-hem.
WHERE MADNESS REIGNS IN HARDCOVER! This event marks the exclusive release of the hardcover version of my new art book, WHERE MADNESS REIGNS and related products. WHERE MADNESS REIGNS is an 80 page book collecting some of my seldom seen personal and gallery art, including never before published work, and pieces that have only been available as fine art limited editions.
This book delves far beneath the surface of my well-known illustration work, and uncovers a wealth of humorous, emotional, satirical and thought-provoking imagery.
The limited edition version is a brown clothbound hardcover with the title gold embossed. The dust cover is similar to the paperback version. This edition is strictly limited to 500 copies, each one signed.
"Effortlessly mingling the morbid with the marvelous, the horrible with the humorous, the visionary with the venomous. Eat at Gris' table, and you'll never go hungry for the weird and the wonderful again."
-Clive Barker
For each hardcover edition of the book purchased, the buyer will receive a ticket. Throughout the night, tickets will be drawn and prizes will be given out. These prizes include limited edition items and one of kind items.
LIMITED EDITION EVENT POSTERS! This will also be the exclusive release of a limited edition serigraph poster. This 11 x 17 event poster is signed and numbered (limited to 100). It will be available for purchase this night on a first come first serve basis. One of these prints will be given out as a prize to the lucky ticket holder.
LIMITED EDITION AND EXCLUSIVE T-SHIRTS! We will also be releasing three new T-shirts at the event. All of them limited edition and the event tee will only be available this night. One of these shirts will be given out as a prize to the lucky ticket holder.
LIMITED EDITION ARTIST SERIES! This event will also mark the release of the limited edition ARTIST SERIES of the book WHERE MADNESS REIGNS. This is the hardcover edition of the book but with an original sketch of the cover drawn in gold paint pen. Each book is also signed and numbered (limited to 25 copies). The gold paint pen is permanent and acid-free. Each sketch is an original so they do vary from each other slightly.
CUSTOM PAINTED COWS! Why not? Cows never get the respect they deserve. They are rarely ever immortalized as pieces of art. I hand painted three customized plastic cow toys, each to be given away as prizes to lucky ticket holders. Get a chance to win MY FAVORITE CUTS, MAGGOT MEAT CARCASS, or TOXICOWLOGY.
ONE OF A KIND ULTRA EDITION! No. This is not like the ultra editions or special editions or even millennium editions that accompany the titles of DVDs. This actually is special. One copy of a hardcover edition of WHERE MADNESS REIGNS was pulled aside and I did an original painting of the cover on it. But this too is not for sale. It is actually our grand prize to be given away to our luckiest ticket holder. But you must be present to win this or any of the prizes offered this night.
THE ORIGINAL ART AND PRINT EXHIBIT! There will also be a gallery display of original art and limited edition prints. The pieces of art on exhibit are a few I picked out from the selections in this book. Some have been kept in my personal collection for years. Some have never been in print before. Some have never been displayed to the public before.
THE DISPLAY OF CANNIBAL FLESH RIOT! PROPS! We will have a few props and stop motion puppets from my film CANNIBAL FLESH RIOT! on display. We will also be displaying the Stash and Hub sculpture by Gentle Giant. This collectable piece is not for sale yet, but this is your chance to get an early glimpse of it before it is released. The store will be playing CANNIBAL FLESH RIOT! on their televisions as well as the original score and soundtrack over the gallery speakers.
That, my fiends, sounds like a killer time. I'm looking forward to it. Join me and like-minded fiends (from 7pm to 9pm) to get these great limited items. I'll be signing books as long as I'm able.
This event all takes place at the spacious Halloween Town in Burbank California.
This appropriately creepy setting is not only your one-stop Halloween headquarters, but they are also known for their selection of horror t-shirts, gothic home décor/decorations, jewelry, clothes, fashion accessories and gifts.
Here's the info: WHERE MADNESS REIGNS book release signing Saturday, June 7th, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm at HALLOWEEN TOWN 2921 W. Magnolia Blvd Burbank, California 91505 Telephone: 818-848-3644 See you there! Be Grim! Gris Grimly and Mad Creator Productions
"Where Madness Reigns" Limited Edition Hardcover Book Launch Signing
"Where Madness Reigns: The Art of Gris Grimly" is now available in paperback. This 80-page book collects some of the more memorable, thought provoking and visceral pieces of art to ooze from Gris Grimly's mind in the past decade. Your opportunity to purchase the limited edition hardcover, as well as a number of other exclusive items, is creeping near.
On Saturday night of June 7th '08, join artist Gris Grimly and a community of fiends at HALLOWEENTOWN for the book launch signing. Not only will you have the opportunity to be one of the first to purchase a limited edition copy of the hardcover book (limited to 500), you will also have the opportunity to purchase limited edition silk screened posters (limited to 100) and exclusive event t-shirts. There will be a gallery display of prints and original art for sale. Some, of which, have never been available to the public before. Props from Gris Grimly's film "CANNIBAL FLESH RIOT!" will be on display as well as some three dimensional sculptures. There will also be the Artist's Series of the hardcover book (limited to 25) each signed and numbered with an original drawing on the cover. The paperback version of the book as well as other event t-shirts will also be available.
This event all takes place at the spacious HALLOWEENTOWN in Burbank California. This appropriately creepy setting is not only your one-stop Halloween headquarters, but they are also known for their selection of horror t-shirts, gothic home décor/decorations, jewelry, clothes, fashion accessories and gifts. Join like-minded fiends (from 7pm to 9pm) to get these great limited items, meet Gris Grimly and get your book autographed. Items are on a first come first served basis.
Here's the Info you need: "Where Madness Reigns: The Art of Gris Grimly" Book Launch Signing Saturday, June 7th 2008 7pm-9pm HALLOWEENTOWN 2921 W. Magnolia Blvd Burbank, CA 91505 www.halloweentownstore.com 818-848-3644
Items available include: -Where Madness Reigns Artist Series Book -Where Madness Reigns Limited Edition Hardcover Book -Where Madness Reigns Limited Edition Silk Screened Poster -Where Madness Reigns Event T-shirts -Where Madness Reigns Paperback Book -High End Prints and Original Art
