Poor Life Decisions

METHADONT at UMBER STUDIOS!!!

2010-03-11T12:06:00.001-08:00

"True collaborations are almost impossible in these modern days whose 24 hours seem to rush and drown us. However artist Jesse Draxler and musician and writer Benjamin Kucera created a collaborative - and intensely human - project that has spanned an entire year.

Each day Ben would send Jesse a word, phrase, or song lyric. Jesse would in turn interpret and create a drawing from these words. with no time to toil or over think, Jesse found that each piece represented the initial thought or imagery that sprang into his mind upon reading the daily words. The project was to speak to the immediacy of art, the instant presence of a word to the mind without inference. "methadont" was the first word exchanged.

The pieces were made in bars, clubs, cars, work, restaurants, laundromats, some even while traveling. the location seemed to affect the outcome of each work. Found objects from Jesse's current location can be seen in specific works, and certain pieces were created using the limited supplies Jesse could find at the time in his particular environment.

This project became a year-long dual journal. Ben's words sent to Jesse were often a direct reflection of the happenings in his life and would come from the perspective of good and bad, emotional and impassive, sober and blurry. Jesse's illustrations were filtered through the events and perspective of his own daily life, creating a single piece with two meanings, both strangely and beautifully relatable. The pieces are whimsical and humorous, heartbreaking or crude, and intensely intellectual. This project began on march 23rd 2009 and will be complete on march 23rd 2010. Four days later, the show will open at umber studios and 365 days of art will be revealed."

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 27th. 8pm

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=397183474347&ref=mf

PulpTree

2010-02-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

Kevin, the owner of PulpTree, invited me to sign up and upload some work to his site recently...so I did.

PulpTree is a site that allows artists to upload their work with the chance of winning 200$ and having the winning design turned into a print which will be sold in the store. To win you must have a large number of "props" among a few other requirements.

This being said I ask you all to go to http://www.PULPTREE.com and "prop" my work.

While you are there, surf through some other great work as well...I know my buddy and fellow WAFA member, Colin Jenkins, is in there somewhere so prop his shit too!

Thanks in advance.

(Blogger straight up blows these days, formatting is worth shit...any suggestions on where to move to?)

Cherry.

2010-02-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a long while since my last post. A testament to how busy things have been in the past few months. I would love to go into detail and list off all of the great things that have been going on, but instead I'll just spit out a highlight reel...

// Our Lovelee Buttons event a few weekends ago (Vigilante Justice III) went swimmingly. I have never seen the 501 Club so packed, it was a bit intense actually...Riding on that success we have decided to start talks on VJ4 right away. Lovelee Buttons will be meeting up within the coming weeks to hopefully get the ball rolling on a summertime date for that. In the meantime check out the photos from VJIII: CLICK!

// I was part of a show called Art Form 1040 at the gallery at Fox Tax in January. It was a collaborative show in which artists who would not normally work together collaborated on a piece. I was paired with photographer Hillary Berg and it went very, very well. Our piece was even used in the City Pages for the A-List write up:

// I was asked to create an illustration to serve as the cover for the March issue of the online literary magazine Radioactive Moat. The issue will be launched March 1st.

// A lot of radical shit has been going on with the WAFA. Good press (Blanket Magazine, Urban Outfitters blog, Not Paper, etc,) as well as a bunch of great new projects. Check out some sneak peaks over at Flickr: WAFA Group Pool. As well as on the official webpage: wearefuckingawesome.org.

// Super 8 Magazine out of Florence, Italy asked me to create a piece for their Collabor8 series a few weeks ago. I jammed one out and it should be up on their website somewhat soon. (I'll post again once that is up.) You can preview the piece outside of their template on my Flickr.

// Been working hard on Dearling Physique artwork again. Really pleased with how it is going. I have created a "circle" series of 10 pieces. Which ones will be used, who knows, but the series stands strong on its own. I hope to show it soon. You can preview a few of the pieces over at my Flickr.

// I use Flickr these days.

// Tomorrow I am heading to Umber Studios to discuss my first solo show with Jessica, the owner. I am very, very, very, excited about this show. The date is Saturday, March 27th, and the show will be for the Methadont series I had been working on for 267 days, consisting of 267 pieces. There is a lot more to be said about the project, but that will have to wait for another time.

// This year will be the first year I participate in Art-A-Whirl! I'll be set up at Fox Tax among a few others. More information on this when I get it...All I know at this moment is that its in May.

// I gotta stop. More sooner than later.

WAFA

2009-12-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

Super stoked that I was recently accepted into the WAFA, a global creative collective of about 13 artists spanning the nations that all collaborate on different projects. Check it out at http://wearefuckingawesome.org. Some of my first collabs are up now with a lot more on the way.

/// ∆ \\\

2009-11-06T15:29:00.001-08:00

I created this piece as a prize for Toneski's upcoming trivia night at the 501 Club // Justin and I (BLOODTIME) donated some of our first run of tees to be given away as prizes as well. Come down this coming Monday and try to win all that. Peep Toneski's flier //
In case you haven't caught wind, BLOODTIME now has a BigCartel store! So if you can't come and win a shirt, you can still conveniently purchase one online! http://bloodtime.bigcartel.com

I recently got back from that tour with Dearling Physique I hyped so much about in the past couple of months. I would write a grip about it and make you feel like you were there with us...but I don't want to. Check the pics though: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115539&id=825946464&l=c049fa650f

Emma Berg of MPLSART.com recently asked me to be part of an upcoming show at Fox Tax. The show will consist of works created by two artists who normally would not work together collaborating. I was paired up with local fine arts photographer Hillary Berg. Today I met with her and we hashed out the overall concept and will begin production in the coming weeks. The show will be taking place in January, so I'll keep the blog fresh with updates on that. Exciting stuff.

Mars Argo (grocerybag.tv) approached me via e.mail a few weeks ago asking me to design some t.shirts to coincide with the release of their new album "Technology is a Dead Bird." I gladly accepted. You can view a few of the designs I came up with at my Society 6 page, and hopefully will be able to see more, on actual shirts, soon.

End.

I AM FOR SALE

2009-10-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

I added a link to my Society 6 store on my website: jessedraxler.com.

Go buy.

ANTZIN

2009-10-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

::Much needed blog update coming soon::

...in the meantime...check out the first of a few collaborations I am working on with illustrator extraordinaire from Norwich, UK : Anthony Zinonos.

rats live on no evil star

2009-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

// It has been a minute...here's what has been going down:

+ The "Fame" event at the new Ignite Modeling Agency studio was a riot. One of the best nights of the summer thus far. Working with Garrett on the live art piece left me thirsty to do more, some of the most fun I have had creating...ever. Check some snaps //

+ A couple of Fridays ago I spent the day hanging my work in the newly reopened Music Box Theater. I think we hung about 15 pieces of mine, with an equal number from my show-mate and local illustrator extraordinaire, Peter Lochner. It ended up looking pretty rad for salon style. It will be up through the month of September, so if you end up at the Music Box to catch a gig or...whatever else it is they do there...make sure to scope the walls.

+ The current issue of Metro Magazine sitting on newstands across the cities contains a full page ad I created / designed for the upcoming Clapperclaw Festival. Check it out:
+ Speaking of Clapperclaw, some of my collaborative work with Justin James Sehorn will be shown at the event. Sehorn will also have some of his solo work along with some other buddies, Dain Germscheid and Garrett Perry...plus of course a bunch of other artists. This goes down Sat, Sept 5th. Starts at 2pm and goes all night. www.clapperclawfestival.com for more info and to buy pre-sale tix.

+ Activist magazine ADBUSTERS contacted me a few weeks back asking permission to use one of my pieces from the Methadont project in an upcoming issue. This is pretty exciting for me being that I've been paging through Adbusters every time I'm at my local bookseller for years now. The piece they selected is "088_06.18.09," and it will be full page in a visual essay about the history of communication. Nov / Dec issue. Go find it at www.methadont.com.

+ I'll be submitting some work to the 99$ sale at the Soap Factory. Opening night is Sept. 11th. I submitted last year but did not make it to the opening. This year I hope to at least stop by. More info: soap99.com.

+ Tour starts soon. Extremely exciting stuff. Sept 24th is the tour kick off show at the Kitty Kay Club here in the cites, save the date. The rest of the tour dates can be viewed over at Dom's blog : http://dearlingphysique.blogspot.com/

// Guess that's all. Gotta run some errands.

∆

my art is more well traveled than I am

2009-07-22T15:04:00.001-07:00

Today I received copies of two zines that I am a part of. The first one being The A5 Magazine out of Isreal. I know I have mentioned this before on a few separate occasions, but now I finally have the real deal and images to prove it...

It comes in a box (mine was a bit beat up from it's travels) //Open the box and take out the contents //
And somewhere in that jumble of cards is my piece (Working Class hEro) //

The second zine is called Vingon Zine, a brand new, experimental zine out of Korea. My favorite line in their mission statement: "There are no limits on anything whatsoever." Damn straight. The theme this time around was "Junk."

The cover //

And it folds out into a sort of poster form (my work is second row to the bottom, far right, two pieces) //
I also sold and shipped off my piece "Lord Of The Flies" to a lovely lady in Germany named Yara. Good day for worldwide mail.

∆∆∆

Next Thursday is the inaugural event for the new Ignite Modeling Agency studios. I will be displaying work at the event in a two man show along side my good buddy Garrett Perry. Should be a pretty fun evening.

∆∆∆

Saturday Dearling Physique plays at the Soap Factory for Artery 24 (you can read up on what this whole Artery 24 deal is all about by clicking that link yo.) Time = 3:00pm. I'll be helping with the "stage design" once again. We had a meeting at the Soap yesterday and from what I can tell, the performance is going to be stellar. Not to be missed.

∆∆∆

Vigilante Justice II was a huge success. Tons of fun was had by all. Check out the photos on the Lovelee Buttons blog. (www.loveleebuttons.com/blog) // thanks to Holly Ann Yamada for snapping 'em.

∆∆∆
End.

B4BC

2009-07-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

This last Thursday was the "Boarding For Breast Cancer" poolside fashion show / event at The Calhoun Beach Club. My friend, Garrett Perry, knew someone in the know and got in on that shit. First off he hooked himself and I up with plaster cast molds of women's chests to paint, decorate, and do whatever we choose on. The finished products were auctioned off at the event with all proceeds going towards Boarding For Breast Cancer. I don't have any money to give to charity, but I will definitely donate my services whenever I can. Good deal. Check the bust //

On top of that Garrett ended up doing a live painting at the event along side another friend of mine, Charles Mossey. The end result is pretty stellar if you ask me, which you didn't, but see for yourself in the detail shot below.
// Good things. Good. Things.

EY Five!

2009-07-06T14:26:00.001-07:00

Not sure if I have mentioned this before, but one of my submissions to the A5 art magazine out of Isreal was accepted and the issue comes out July 9th. //

Apparently they are having a release party for the issue as well, July 14th, at what I am sure is Isreal's hippest trend bar. Wish I could be there, but that's definitely not in the cards. The flyer for that event is the image you see above and if you squint and get real close to your screen, you can see my name in the list of the left. MPLS brah!

//
On top of Vigilante Justice II next Friday, I have been asked to be a part of two upcoming two man shows around the end of the month. One is on July 30th, the other will open Aug 7th. August 7th will be the opening for a show at the newly revamped Music Box theater. The other artist showing will be Peter Lochner, a radical artist and professor of illustration at MCAD. I couldn't find his website, but if you do an Google image search of his name you'll get the picture. Literally.

And the July 30th show is in conjuction to some sort of high end fashion show. The details on this show are still not clear to me, but I do know that it's taking place in the warehouse district, downtown MPLS. I am about to meet with the people throwing the ordeal in a few hours...which reminds me...I need to hop in the shower and get going...

//
Throw Up 5 release party this Thursday night at Big V's. Dont forget that shit!

Jams with Virgins.

2009-06-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

Justin and I whipped this poster design together in a whirlwind of waterlogged confusion and paper scraps sometime last week. Oh yes, oh yes.

See you all there.

// also // check out the Lovelee Buttons blog for a full photo gallery of the Intermedia Arts show from a few weeks ago.

purge.

2009-06-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Throw Up Volume 5 is a 40 page art zine featuring work from: Jesse Draxler, Dain Germscheid, Kris Johnson, Anthony Kephart, Methadont (Malcolm Alchemy and Jesse Draxler,) Sarah Moeding, Justin James Sehorn, Katrin Snider and Mark Vomit.

Click here for the Facebook event page.

the vibes are good.

2009-06-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

Stuff to be said.

+ The Intermedia Arts show the other weekend went amazingly. Good time had by all. Here is a link to a time lapse video of the set up (more video and loads of photos of the actual show to come):

http://loveleebuttons.com/blog/

+ One of the three pieces I submitted to the A5 arts magazine in Israel has been accepted. It will be in the upcoming issue focused around the word "Hero." I'll post again when the issue is actually pressed but in the meantime check out their back catalog (every page viewable online):

http://www.thea5magazine.com.

+ Guitar pedal factory, venue, and record label, Death By Audio (out of NY), gave Methadont a holler on a recent blog entry. Check it out:

http://deathbyaudiorecords.blogspot.com

+ Seattle based brother in arts, Tyson Roberts, has asked me to be part of a three person Seattle exhibition based around the idea of "Urban Dialogue." I have accepted and he is looking for the show to go down later this year. More on this as it unravels. The three artists will be myself and...:

Tyson Roberts: http://www.tysonanthonyroberts.com
Vivian Chen: http://www.vivianchenphotography.com

What else, what else?

+ Vigilante Justice II is still on for JULY 17th. Mark your calendars // you won't want to miss it.

+ Open Door 5 at the Rosalux Gallery this last Saturday evening went well. I had a great time mingling, networking, and all that other junk you are supposed to do at art openings. Most excellent to see many friendly faces as well.

There's more, but as usual, for another time.

i want the candy.

2009-06-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

I got into Open Door 5 at the Rosalux Gallery! Information on the opening is in the image above and more can be learned HERE. My buddy Garrett Perry got in as well, which solidifies the fact that the evening of Saturday, June 13th is going to be a wicked good time.

The night before that (June 12th) is the opening reception for the CVA Alumni exhibition at the CVA Gallery on the corner of Selby and Western in STP. I turned my piece in for that last night and the opening runs from 6-9pm I believe. Uhhh...yea.

Before both of those events is Lovelee Buttons presents...at Intermedia Arts. The date is THIS SATURDAY, June 6th, and we aparently now have a trailer for the gig. Check it:

Buy advance tickets at http://loveleebuttons.com/blog

On top of all that we have officially begun planning for Vigilante Justice II at the aLoft Hotel (July 17th, save the date!) I posted a call to artists for the event on mnartists.org and have been receiving some good submissions, but if by chance you do not read mnartists but you happen to read this blog and want to submit some work, send some images to jesse@jessedraxler.com.

Stay tuned...

Why We Buy.

2009-05-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Fast Company magazine recently named Jonathan Ive (senior VP of industrial design at Apple) the "Most Creative Person In Business." I really do not know how such a thing is gauged or what is all taken into consideration when choosing to appoint such a title, but sure, this choice seems about right in my eyes. Whatever. But after doing a bit of surfing and clicking I came across an antique of an article with the same man, Jonathan Ive, by Fast Company in 2007, which deals entirely with the emotional response of a consumer to design. In this case the vehicle for such a discussion is ID (industrial design,) but I feel that such ideas could translate into most all fields of design. Just switch some words around and you have a whole different vehicle of topic. Anyway:

"If you've got technology on the one hand and you've got people on the other, then an object's design -- no matter what that object is -- defines the nature of that connection."

Dokument.

2009-05-26T16:04:00.001-07:00

Lovely.

2009-05-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

LOVELEE BUTTONS is LIVE.

//

This is a group that I have been a part of for a lil while now. Didn't want to mention anything until it was all set, and now is the time.

A lot is happening in regards to this. // First is Dearling Physique, Lookbook, and To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie at Intermedia Arts. I am actually working closely with Dom (LB, Dearling Physique) constructing the stage setup for this event. It should be incredibly interesting. Pre-Sale tickets can be bought HERE. // Vigilante Justice II is coming up JULY 17th! We got a full line up of some of the best in MPLS electronica. We will be releasing the band list later on. But let it be known, this is going to GO OFF. // We will also be working some on this years Clapperclaw Festival. // And we are in the works of putting together a local music complilation / mash up tentatively titled "The Great In The Small." More on that as it unfolds. //

On top of that I am working with a fellow named Reynard who resides in San Fran doing some illustritive work for a short story titled "zzzombiezzz." The piece is nearly finished and I am pretty happy with it. You will be able to view it online soon. In the meantime check out some of his Tumblrs. // hahaclever.com and the troof booth // They are both pretty radical if you ask me.

Mutual Design Playground had only a few submissions these last few weeks, but what was posted is most excellent. CHECK IT OUT.

Uhm...there is more to say, but not now. I gotta go fabric shopping.

hell is fading. // hell is a fad.

2009-04-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

the day is cold and gray and you're not helping...

just kidding.

METHA // DONE and DONE

2009-04-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

For about the past month, me and my good friend, Ben Kucera, have been embarking on a collaborative adventure we are titling: METHADONT // Dr. Axler -vs- Malcolm Alchemy. This is a year long project, but we have decided to start a blog so people can keep up with it on a nearly daily basis. More information about the project can be read in the header of the site, which can be located at: METHADONT.COM.

Follow it. Love it. Hate it.

Speaking of collaborations, Justin James just completed his portion of our collab which now renders it completed. Here is what the final product looks like:

You should be able to see this in the upcoming issue of The Throw Up (5,) as well as much more from both me and Justin.

Uhm..a lot of other exciting things are happening, but that is another post for another time. Until then...

The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday April 1st is an estimated $109 Million.

2009-04-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

Things! and then MORE things ///////

First thing/// Stumbled across this article while reading The New York Times online this morning: Computers vs. Brains I found this pretty interesting being that I only hear about how singularity WILL happen, inevitably. Nice to read about the flip side of this theory.

Second thing/// Watched the documentary Surfwise the other day. Totally radical (and moving) movie. Highly recommended. Peep the trailer:

Third thing/// This guy takes the kind of pictures I like to look at: Patrick Trefz (click it!) I can't wait to get that book. His surfing documentary of the same name is supposed to be pretty dope as well. I need to check it out, but am not looking forward to shelling out 23 plus dollars on Amazon to get it. Any ideas on another source? Hit me up.

Fourth Thing/// The Brian Jonestown Massacre just released a new EP yesterday entitled "Smoking Acid." Love that title. Anyway....I like it. A lot. BJM also played the Fine Line last week. I unfortunately was not in attendance, but I heard it was most excellent. Read about my friend Ben's experience over at his blog: Cancers from 1970.
And then check out this slick video for the second track off the EP "Í alvöru talað":

Fifth Thing/// I uploaded a new (kinda) art album to my Facebook. Check it out if you feel inclined: Show people this album by sending them this public link.

And that's all ladies and gentleman.

Enjoy your day!

the only green i care about is the good green.

2009-03-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Had a meeting today with Frameworks Gallery and Custom Framing here in Saint Paul (Highland Park to be exact.) After some artsy banter we agreed that I would be showing some work there. Actually a lot of work. 5 framed pieces on the walls and about 6 (ish) non framed pieces in the bins. Very exciting stuff. I'm not on the card (yet,) but just imagine I am:Being that this gallery / frame shop is located in the same strip mall as Blockbuster Video in Highland Park I wasn't expecting much of the other art on the walls, but to my surprise, everything was really good, even better than good, it was exciting work, edgy, all that. So needless to say I am honored to be in the presence of what I would consider other fun, forward thinking artists. This Saturday evening is the opening event for the latest show. The "featured artist" is Gregory Graham, but everyone else's work will be on display as well. The invite card is below. So the gist of all this is: GO BUY MY SHIT!!!! The time is now!

Mr. Olcott's FOODTEAM is playing tonight at the Kitty Kat Club. That's what's up. No green beer, no "kiss me I'm a dumbass" t shirts. Just some good people listening to good jams. Hopefully. (I'm sure I know some Irish people out there who own that shirt and are now offended. If this is true I apologize in advance, no hard feelings, but I still hate that shit.)

Oh, and it looks like Vigilante Justice II will be taking place sometime mid July. A ways off, but it'll be worth it. Trust me. We'll take care of ya.

'Till next time...

"i'm on fire."

2009-03-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

"Vigilante Justice" was a huge success. I know both me and Dom are extremely stoked on the whole thing and already have tossed the idea of a "Vigilante Justice II" around.

Here's a link to my photos from the evening. I should have taken more, but oh well. It is what it is. If you are on Facebook I am sure you can click around and find bunches more.

///

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64974&id=825946464&l=0b2ed

3. done violently and summarily, without recourse to lawful procedures.

2009-03-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

I helped put together this gig, well, I organized the art end of it. Anyway......should be a good time. And since its down the road from Grumpy's, maybe some of that fucked up juice that tastes dangerously JUST LIKE COFFEE will come into play later that evening. Who knows.

Dom's press release: //

Lovelee Buttons invites you to VIGILANTE JUSTICE! at the Aloft Hotel's WXYZ next Friday, March 6. An evening entwined by a spellbinding ambience of music, art and video.

Come early to experience Xavier Marquis, a fresh and exciting sound in Minneapolis hip-hop/soul. Stay late to celebrate the recent release of Dearling Physique's Impressions Of The Night EP in an environment specially treated to accompany his sounds with an illustrious visual counterpart directed by Minneapolis by-way-of Brooklyn artist Casey Opstad.

Enjoy artwork by:
Justin James Sehorn
Mark Vomit
Jesse Draxler
Dain Germscheid
Garrett Perry
Hannah Haugberg
Brian David
Casey Opstad
Kristina Mooney

With your votes, one of these talented artists will be chosen to have their artwork put on display in the Aloft Hotel's WXYZ!

VIGILANTE JUSTICE! at the Aloft Hotel's WXYZ
900 Washington Avenue South
Friday, March 6 at 8:00pm
No cover. All ages welcome.

what would you do if you were in outer space?

2009-02-20T09:26:00.000-08:00

Some PBRs plus 4 hours of sleep equals a rough morning, so this is going to be pretty to the point.

Got the new issue of ELLEgirl Korea from the hip DHL man today. I did a cover image for their 6th year anniversary. Part of their "6th year anniversary special edition cover series." Check it:Go to dearlingphysique.com. The typeface was done by yours truly and you can get that fly new EP as well. Its good shit. You can trust me. You can also trust Andrea at the City Pages: http://blogs.citypages.com/gimmenoise/2009/02/mp3_of_the_week_4.php

This is going to be fun:
Heres the low down:

02-28-2009 12:00 at The Devil’s Workshop Sound Studio "5 Year Aniversary Party" over 30 bands confirmed
400 Cedar Ave 400 Bar, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cost: $10

(MORE BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED!) Accelerated Love Affair Ada Jane Apocalypse Meow Barfly Buildings (REUNION SHOW) Candystore Captain Yonder Cary Aria Cortez The Killer Empires Flock Of Doug God Damn Doo Wop Band International Espionage! Medium (REUNION SHOW) Murzik Red Phone Dispatch Rope Trick Secret Panels Sleeping In Gethsemane The Idle Hands The Nina, The Pinta The Undesirables

I could rant for quite some time about how sick the Dearling Physique and Monotonix shows were last weekend, but I won't. Or about how there was more great art at the Open Sky show last Thursday than I have seen in one single place maybe....ever. But I won't. A picture is worth a thousand words though...(isn't that what they say, do I have that wrong...ahhhh fuck it) and guess who has got pictures on facebook (a place for friends yo!) Like I've said before, I'm no lomographer, but you can get the idea: CLICK CLICK.

I guess that wasn't as to the point as I was initially imagining.

Three Minute Egg.

2009-02-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

I ran into an old CVA teach of mine (Rachel Breen) at Art Ache this last Friday. She was with a friend who was carrying a video camera which lead me to ask, "Hey man, what's with the video camera," to which he responded "stuff, stuff, stuff, three minute egg, check it out, etc, more stuff." Not that what he said was not important, but it is rather irrelevant to this post so I won't bore you with the details. But anyway...then I just got this e-mail from Rachel so it's an easy cut and paste. Check it:

"Friends, please take a moment to subscribe (for free) to 3-Minute Egg. This Wednesday the 100th 3Minute Egg will be launched and we want to have 1000 subscribers!

3-Minute Egg produces videos from all over the Twin Cities arts scene -- new ones go online every weekday! You probably know at least a few local artists who've already been featured on 3-Minute Egg. Just go to WWW.3MINUTEGG.ORG and subscribe for FREE -- its really cool and it's an easy way to support the Twin Cities arts scene."

So there you have it! I checked the site out and it is pretty radical. Definitely something I will be cruising by on a regular basis.

Oh, Art Ache was pretty dope as well, though the pours of wine could have been a bit larger, but who's nit picking?

Make Me Stylish!

2009-02-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

On February 20th Dearling Physique is digitally releasing the "Impressions Of The Night" EP. I just finished the artwork to be zipped up with that digital release earlier this evening. It is a variation on the cover that can be seen on Dearling Physique's myspace page at this very moment. Both covers were done by yours truly, though the one seen on the myspace page will be used for the physical release only (which will be released in the following months.) I've been diggin on this EP for a bit now and I would suggest yall to head over, have a listen, and add 'em to the never-ending list of your online friends. YOU ALWAYS NEED MORE!!!

Don't forget about ART ACHE! That jam is this coming Friday, also know as the day after tomorrow (just like the movie yo!) 6pm to MIDNIGHT, so don't try bitching out with the "I couldn't make it in time" excuse. I have four pieces in this show and I know that Mark Vomit and Justin James have some work in it as well. (Along with about 30+ visual artists, performance artists, and bands.)

And as I have previously mentioned, I was featured in the Feb. issue of ELLEgirl Korea. I just got the issue in the mail Monday. Check the spread:

...i wonder what it says...

Surfin' Superior.

2009-01-25T12:02:00.000-08:00

This was in today's (01.25.09) Pioneer Press. Love it:
I first heard about people surfing the Great Lakes a few years ago when I saw the documentary "Step Into Liquid." This is just more proof, as me and my buddy Jake used to always say while living in Door County, WI, that Lake Michigan (and the Great Lakes as a whole) was the ocean of the Midwest. Fuck yea. Surf that shit BRAH!

//// Step Into Liquid has to be one of my favorite documentaries. Surfing and surf culture is really inspiring to me and my work for some reason....check the trailer:

While speaking of inspiring documentaries, here is the trailer for another of my fav. docs. (completely non-surf related.)

Korea; The Battle of ART ACHE Ridge.

2009-01-16T10:01:00.001-08:00

A few things:

One: Does anyone know how to read Korean? I will be featured in the February issue of ELLEgirl Korea and they are sending me a copy of the magazine so I can check it out...but obviously I will have no idea what it truly says. I did the interview, sent the images and the bio...but who knows what they will really write about me. I have some other things going on with ELLE Korea, but that is for another time. I'll post a scan of the article when I receive the issue in the mail.

Two: I updated my website. Moved some things around, added some images, updated my info, etc...

Three: Any designer want to help a guy out with building a NEW website? I am getting bored of the one I have and I think it would be nice to have a designer help me out with a fresh one. I am a minimalist when it comes to design, as you may be able to tell from my current website, and I would like to keep that same feel. Just more refined and smoothed out with maybe a drop down menu here and there. I don't have any flow to drop on this, but I would be forever indebted and I could possibly throw some art your way as payment? And of course you would have a nice new portfolio / promotional piece as well. Hit me up!

Four: Dearling Physique is getting ramped up and ready to release the "Impressions Of The Night" EP digitally on February 21st. The physical release will come shortly thereafter. The artwork will be slightly different for each release. I'm approaching the finish line for this project and it's getting pretty exciting. From what I've heard of the rough mixes it's pretty dope...all 'n all it's coming together very nicely.

Lastly (but not leastly? huh?): Grain Belt show! I'll be in it! You should come see! Poster and press release below!

A FREE MULTI-MEDIA, INTERACTIVE EVENT
At the Grain Belt Bottling House in Northeast Minneapolis, Film, Music, Art and More

The Grain Belt Bottling House, Northeast Minneapolis, 79 13th Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55413. February 6th 6 pm-midnight, February7th noon-8 pm, February8th noon-4 pm.

The Grain Belt Artists present a free multi-media event featuring resident and guest artists working in film, music, performance art, painting, sculpture and photography. This special event will begin with an opening reception on Friday, February 6th, 6 pm-midnight and will continue throughout the weekend on Saturday, February7th, noon-8 pm and Sunday, February 8th noon-4 pm. Performance events will be scheduled all three days, stop by the Grain Belt Bottling House for a complete listing.

RU-21?

2009-01-02T10:56:00.001-08:00

For those of you who do not use Facebook...photos from New Years Eve:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51382&l=dc97f&id=825946464

into the new year.

2008-12-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

First things first. I recently returned from "celebrating" xmas at my sister's pad in southern Wisconsin. Delevan to be exact. I snapped off a few packs of film on my 420. Some of those pics are up over on my Flickr. Check 'em out.

Not a whole lot happened while there. Basically watched things, drank things, said things, played things, opened things, ate things, and somewhere in the middle of all those things, spent double digits creating my piece for the word "psychedelic," which is now up over at Mutual Design Playground. Check that out as well. Definitely one of my most intricate and time consuming pieces to date. For this current style at least.

Today is new years eve. We are having a few friends over tonight to play trivia and not give a fuck about 'nuthin.

Everyone has been posting lists of their favorite albums, etc, of 2008. Since I am a total lemming i think I will do something similar. Originally I had planned to do some sort of elaborate, "I like this, this is why, etc," but am not feeling that anymore. Just going to throw it out there. No order either. I can't prioritize my favs, they are just favs. Word?

The Dandy Warhols "Earth To The Dandy Warhols" (the dandys with darker my love = show of the year. minus the WACK crowd.)

Oasis "Dig Out Your Soul"

The Raveonettes "Lust Lust Lust"

The Kills "Midnight Boom"

These Arms Are Snakes "Tail Swallower and Dove"

Dizzee Rascal "Maths + English" (US version came out this year, so yea, it fits.)

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien "Eleventh Hour"

Blood On The Wall "Liferz"

M83 "Saturdays = Youth" (yea, yea. they (he) blew up this year and everyone loves em. whatever.)

Darker My Love "2"

:::Band I shouldn't like, but do: Vampire Weekend:::

:::Two bands I realized I actually do like, after years of blindness by hype and mainstream media: Interpol and the Strokes:::

:::and this is for you Brian...:::local album of the year: Buildings "Braille Animal"::: SNAP.!..(heard the artwork on that album was pretty dope as well. heh.)

Movies I dug:

August

The Wackness

Surfer, Dude (i'm serious, BRAH.)

Let The Right One In

7 Pounds

Slumdog Millionaire

Also a bit: Elegy, Choke, Transsiberian, and Vicky Christina Barcelona.

(yes, it was apparently the year of Sir Ben Kinsley.)

::Television show I became unhealthily obsessed with: Lost.::

And this goes unsaid, because if you know me at all, or following this blog even a lil bit, you know I would say Mutual Design Playground is the website of the year. Way to go Jake! (Hulu is pretty rad as well, though that's a bit late 07 if you ask me. public in 08!)

Guess that is all folks. Time to go get rehydration agents for tomorrow morning. Hope 'yall have a dandy new year and a fun time peacin' out OH EIGHT!

Happy Xmas!

2008-12-22T20:53:00.001-08:00

Vintage High Times magazines have some fucked up shit going on in them. It's amazing.

hey bcd! this is what you have to look forward to:

2008-12-15T17:03:00.001-08:00

Polaroid Land Camera 420.

stuff: from other people.

2008-12-14T21:35:00.000-08:00

Stuff number one:
Went to meet with Justin(james) and Jenny at the new Bulldog in Lowertown STP last night. Pretty chill spot. I can see many future evenings spent there, especially since J and J's new loft is located in perfect stumbling distance, right across the street. Last night after bar close I went up to their new loft to check the joint out and ended up doing a little internet show and tell with Justin. He turned me onto this designer / illustrator: STEAK MOUNTAIN. Now I'm telling you about it.

Stuff number two:
Read about this on Kucera's blog. Laughed out loud multiple times.

Man Smokes Grass ; Eats Wife.

There is no stuff number three:

4. 8. 15. 16. 23. 42.

2008-12-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I volunteered at the Urban Arts Academy juried show and auction at the Weisman Museum. I sat at the door, checked people in, and ran credit cards / took cash money. It was a time. I was actually impressed by the amount of good work chosen to be in the show, so kudos go out to the jury that selected it all. I'm not sure how well the sale went for the UAA though. I didn't see a lot of work with the little orange (or red?) sticker next to it indicating it was sold, and the auction was almost laughable. At the end of the art auction they held a little donations auction as well. This is where the auctioneer (?) just spat out a large number (starting at $1000) and people would raise their number to donate that amount. As the time went by the dollar amount would get lower and lower and more and more people were willing to donate X amount. I was baffeled by this. Hardly any of the art was selling, but people were giving away their money?! Yes it was to a good cause, but instead of just giving their money away for nothing, they could have got a piece of art to go along with their good conscience. WTF?! Did these people just dislike all the art so much that they would rather GIVE their money away than actually get a little something for it. Fucking hell. Whatever. Rich people are a strange breed that I will never understand.

Getting pretty hyped about the new season of Lost. Not going to lie. What is going to be hard is watching it week by week instead of watching four season consecutively over the span of three weeks (I geeked the fuck out.) We'll see how that goes down.

I'm working on some album art for a local electronic artist Dearling Physique at the moment. I was going to wait to mention this until it was done and a sealed deal, but its looking like this will all be coming to fruition sooner than I thought. I guess he will be releasing the EP early '09. Check the shit out at myspace and get on board.

What else? My piece for "loveable" has been uploaded and is ready for viewing over at Mutual Design Playground. That's radical...right? Things have been picking up over there. New artists, more discussions, and some good energies are flying around. Any of 'yall would be stupid not to join in on the action.

I suppose that is all for now. I need to run and buy more colored pencils. I go through those fucking things like an old man goes through kleenex in winter. I need a Prismacolor sponsorship! Someone get on that!!!

2008-12-02T11:45:00.001-08:00

I was reminded of something yesterday that was shown to me while in an illustration class at CVA. Kowloon the "walled city." These images are mind blowing in a post-apocalyptic / Mad Max sort of way. Oddly inspiring as well.

(it no longer exists.)

I cooked a lot the other day. It all tasted real good.

2008-11-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

I had a piece accepted into the juried show for the Urban Arts Academy. Exciting, right? The show / silent auction takes place at the Weisman Museum on Decemeber 6th. I highly doubt I know a single person that will be attending, due to the ticket price of 50 bones, but hopefully someone running the thing will be thoughtful enough to take some photos so all of us poor ass artists can see what kind of shin-dig we took part in.

I just uploaded my piece for "sleepless" to MDP. Its up over there...right now. CLICK.

I recently discovered that there is only 3 degrees of seperation between me and Megan Fox. I'm nowhere near as big of a Megan Fox freak as some dudes have been since the whole GQ blowout, but I still thought that was pretty neat.

I'm currently working on some stuff for some people / things.

Unfortunately I did not have a chance to put anything in the CVA Holiday Art Sale, but hopefully a lot of people did and that turns out to be a huge success.

ME ME ME ME ME.

polaroid 420.

2008-11-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

Still not exactly sure how to properly use this thing, but after a pack and a half of film I at least know that my recently acquired Polaroid Land Camera 420 is in fact in good working condition. Not going to lie, I'm pretty hyped on the whole situation.

took my carbon pill.

2008-11-10T11:20:00.001-08:00

By no means what-so-ever am I a photographer, but I took some shots at the Clapperclaw Festival this last Saturday night. You can check them out on my Flickr if you feel so inclined.

I don't know why I didn't take more (any) pics of the gallery spaces, since they were the most excellent part about the whole event, but whatever. Some of the art was way bomb, and some not so much.

Good stuff though. Lotsa fun.

I have more things to post about, but I'm going to hold off for now.

(by the by. if you are interested in seeing some GOOD photos from Clapperclaw, check out photographer Stacy Schwartz's clicks from the evening over at facebook. link link.)

The Clap.

2008-11-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

I just got word that I will be displaying some work at the Clapperclaw Festival this coming Saturday at the Sound Gallery in downtown MPLS.

Seems like it should be a most excellent evening. If you plan on attending I would suggest advance tickets. 12 bones at the door, 5 in advance. Do the math.

www.clapperclawfestival.com

I also just uploaded my piece for "simplicity" to Mutual Design Playground. Others did as well.

throwin' up in uptown.

2008-10-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Throw Up magazine is now available at Robot Love in Uptown! Wicked, right? I hear they make excellent Thanksgiving gifts, and if you participate in some sort of weird cult in which you don't exchange gifts on Thanksgiving, then I suppose they would make good Christmas gifts as well. Hell, give 'em to kids trick or treating. Halloween is tomorrow, right? Whatever. Just buy 'em and support the cause.

Word from Mark Vomit is that a new issue of The Throw Up is being prepared. I'll be working on material for this soon and post when it is available. Exciting!

(The Pop Vomit sticker sets are also now available at Robot Love. See the post a few entries down.)

MDP 2.0

2008-10-28T11:05:00.001-07:00

Over the past few days Mutual Design Playground has gone through an overhaul. There is now a rating system, a "voted best" catagory, and a bunch of other junk I haven't had a chance to mess around with yet.

I really urge any artist / designer / illustrator to get on this bandwagon. I have a feeling this is the real deal and is only going to grow larger and larger as the days go by.

At the time the new link is http://mutualplayground.com/blog/ but soon you will be automatically redirected there through the old shortened mutualplayground.com.

Go check it out yo! (And give me some stars!!!)

whats your url girl?

2008-10-26T12:47:00.001-07:00

I got some old magazines that I won off ebay in the mail the other day. 1953 "Secrets" magazines to be exact. Some sort of odd women's magazine, mostly ads mixed in with lengthy fiction stories about fulfilling your womanly duties or some shit. Whatever. Found this ad in the back of one though. Pretty funny stuff.

"Gosh, Jean, you sure are popular since you put on those extra pounds."

And...since I got all these rad new (old) magazines, keep the watch out for some radical new collage work coming from yours truly!

ohhhh yea. one last thing. Rock and Roll band Akimbo is playing with another rock and roll band called Buildings on Halloween night at the uptown. I would recomend yall to go, but hell, do whatever the fuck you want.

happy downloading.

2008-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

The wait is finally over, today is Bill Gates Anti-Piracy Day!

Let's party.

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/21/1422247&from=rss

http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-celebrates-microsofts-global-anti-piracy-day-081021/

::edit: I also added a few new pieces to jessedraxler.com ::

the pick up artist.

2008-10-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

Look at all that green!
My sis was visiting from the Janesville area of Wisconsin this weekend and she was telling me about a large marijuana bust down there recently. I was a bit surprised to be honest. I don't think much of that part of our fine country, but this put it up a few notches in my book. All I want to say about the whole ordeal is screw those stupid ass hunters. For real. Found the story, read for yourself: http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/oct/15/hunters-stumble-upon-massive-marijuana-crop/

and...

I'm online all the time. Like. All the fucking time, but the one day that I don't even check my email I so happen to be featured as the artist of the day at Artistaday.com. Either way it's pretty radical, and you can still head to Artistaday.com and check it out, but I would have really liked to see my piece in that iGoogle widget gadget do dad thinger. Whatever though, good things.

That's all I got for now. Word of the week at MDP is "simplicity." Get on that.

Dizziness.

2008-10-15T15:30:00.001-07:00

My bi-weekly piece has been posted to Mutual Design Playground.

Check it.

I updated jessedraxler.com. "It's all fired up."

2008-10-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

I was in Chicago last week. It was rainy. And windy. And dirty. And smelly........still had a good time though thanks to some fantastic friends and some pretty excellent watering holes.

I managed to make my way to the MCA. It was disapointing overall, but I did experience an artist I have never seen nor heard of before. Sarah Sze. She's an installation artist who uses everyday found objects to create her mindfucking visuals. This shit is intense yet evokes a child-like mysticism. I was enthralled. Check it out: www.sarahsze.com.

While on the subject of "artists Jesse recently discovered," I may as well mention that the cover of the new Juxtapoz caught my eye the other day. (Juxtapoz catching my eye these days is a rare occurance, for obvious reasons.) The cover artist's name is Conor Harrington. At first the style looked like collage / mixed media, but when I approached the magazine and picked it up I realized..."damn, this shit is all paint." Oil and Aresol to be exact. Very talented gentleman this Mr. Harrington is. Bummer of the story is that in the interview he keeps talking about "street art" and "graphiti" etc. Screw that ish. So don't read the article. Just look at the pretty pictures: www.conorharrington.com

Speaking of Juxtapoz...Pop Vomit has a funny sticker in one of the sticker sets that reads "juztaposuer." I stuck it on my sketchbook cuz I get a kick out of it and I'm a poser like that. (time for a plug...) You too could own this hysterical sticker by visiting www.popvomit.com and purchasing it!

In the most important news of all...I updated my website. New images, sketchbook pages finally present...and more! Wait, there's not more than that. Just the images and sketch. CHECK IT OUT YO! www.jessedraxler.com

Lastly...MUTUAL DESIGN PLAYGROUND. This thing could really breathe if a bunch of people would join on in. Tell your friends, nag your fellow artist folk, lets help get this thing off the ground. I know I'm a hypocrite for saying this since I did not submit last week due to my being in Chicago, but I will be uploading my (now) bi-weekly piece later today. Hell maybe even two of them. Just do it. www.mutualplayground.com

Come on and shout me out!

we'll bag it up!

2008-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

The album art for the new Oasis album is siiiick yo! Seriously, some of the best album art I've seen in a while. "Who was it done by?" you may ask. The answer is Julian House. The same guy who created another one of my favorite album covers, that being Primal Scream's XTRMNTR, as well as others for the likes of Prodigy and Broadcast. He is apparently "the most expensive graphic designer in London," or so says Noel Gallagher. See:

'I didn't spend a year in the most expensive studio in england, with the most expensive producer in america, and the most expensive graphic designer in london to then give [the album] away. fuck that.'

Thats Noel for ya I guess, love 'em or hate 'em. (By the way, "the most expensive producer" he is speaking of is Dave Sardy of the now defunct Barkmarket. He brings the dirt.)

The album is bomb by the way, definitely should be checked out by all.

Collage is the new green.

Saturday.

2008-09-24T08:02:00.001-07:00

I hooked up my friends from Milwaukee (John The Savage // myspace.com/johnsavageband) with a show this coming Saturday at the Uptown Bar.

"I open em up like research monkeys."

2008-09-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

Mutual Design Playground . Check it out. The link is on the right. (----> over there.) I was virtually approached to partake in this venture and am pretty hyped on the whole shape of the idea. I believe anyone can participate if they feel so inclined...so yea. Do it. Or at least check it out on a regular basis.

minded.

2008-09-10T17:15:00.001-07:00

I just finished that. Up there.

Does anyone have an inside tip as to where I can get decent quality post cards printed at a reasonable price? Graphic designers...I'm looking at you. Help a guy out.

Thanks.

Saucy Juices?

2008-09-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

I feel like a lot of my posts on this here blog start with "it has been a long time since I last posted." Maybe not. I don't know. But anyway, it has been a long time since I last posted. Summer time is a boozed up busy time, you know the drill.

What's new, whats new...I recently moved back to Saint Paul from Northeast Minneapolis and what a lovely breath of fresh air that is. I love Saint Paul. I missed Saint Paul. It's good to be back.

Yesterday I finished my piece for the 99$ 5x7 Soap Factory fundraiser. I've known about the event for several months and just now got my ass into gear to complete something for it...3 days before the deadline. Way to go Jesse! Fuck.

Tonight I will be seeing one of my all time favorite rock and roll bands, The Dandy Warhols: That's pretty fucking exciting. Especially since Darker My Love is opening. Both bands have recently released two of the best rock albums of the year in my mind (by the way, fuuuucccckkk pitchforkmedia.) If I wasn't sick I would say I'm going to get a bit lit up and jam out to that shit tonight...hell...I'm still going to say that. Can't let a cough get in the way of getting lit and vibing on some live tunes.

Uhhmmm...I think that is all for now. I have a few new(ish) pieces that I need to scan and get onto my website, so check those out in the next few days.

Give me money.

And in the words of Soul Train (and Luke's father:) Peace, Love, and Soul.

Put it on your "to do" list.

2008-07-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

ALTERED AESTHETICS THIS FRIDAY! (1224 Quincy St. NE, MPLS)

July 25

7-11pm

Free food. Cheap drinks.

Throw Ups for viewing/purchase.

Pop Vomit display and stickers for viewing/purchase.

Collages and other shit to look at on the walls.

Watching old Yo! MTV Raps episodes on a projector for entertainment.

:::I just got all that info from Pop Vomit Mark the other day. So head down there if you have the chance. (You have the chance and you know it.) I unfortunately have to work this particular evening, but since the ordeal runs until 11:00 I'll make it for the last hour or two:::

Oh, and at this very moment I am working on scanning in all of my more recent pieces that have been in galleries for the last month...so look for some new-ish images on my website real soon.

TU4.

2008-07-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

July 25th (a Friday) at Altered Aesthetics gallery will be a Throw Up Issue 4 release party/closing show for operation vomit boy. If that English doesn't make sense to you, deal with it, it's how it was sent to me. The Throw Up is a radical little magazine that a few of my friends put together and publish totally out of pocket and basically never turn a profit. Feel the love? I have taken part of the last number of issues and plan to keep on taking part for as long as I can. I suggest yall head down to AE on the 25th to kick it with us and purchase one of these visual gems while it's still cheap and not every hipster in Uptown is claiming "they knew of it first." (I'll post when the issue is available for online purchase as well.)

Californication.

2008-07-07T18:52:00.000-07:00

I was at Barnes and Nobles the other day perusing the magazine isle when I ran across the Communication Arts Illustration Annual. At first I was very excited. I know I should be keeping up on this sort of thing, you know, aware of when this issue is due on shelves, but I am not...oh well. Anyway, my excitement soon died upon fingering through the multitudes of pages. Illustration today is BORING. I am not an expert by ANY means what-so-ever, but I do like to think of myself as one who recognizes exciting imagery, or at least entertaining visuals. All the illustration in this magazine was either shit that has been done bunches of times before, or illustrations by illustrators trying to copy all that shit that has been done bunches of times before. Straight up figure paintings. Vectors. Drawings with digital color. Digital line drawings. Realism and swirls. Surely good concepts but without any eye catching charisma. I caught no feeling behind any of it. I remember in school being taught that style does not make good illustrations, and I do believe that to be true, but maybe style is just what some of these excellent conceptual minds need. I've felt this way about these illustration annuals and books for a while now. Just the same old shit in different bindings. Now I am also not saying that these illustrators are bad at what they do, in fact I will say that they are very talented. What I am saying is that it is repetitive and seemingly visually uninspired. Basically uninteresting to look at.

What I did find at the bookstore was the new How magazine with a "special focus" on handmade design. The articles focus around the implication of handmade imagery or objects within design. For a lil while now I have considered the work I am currently creating to draw from the idea of handmade design, but from a bit more literal standpoint than what the new issue of How focuses on. I use rulers, stencils, square edges, large areas of flat color, striping, type, even some simplistic mathmatics, etc...to create much of my work. I even use "stock" photography, but for me "stock" means the stockpile of ancient magazines and cataloges from which I draw my photographic imagery from (not a website to which I pay a monthly fee to jack their digital photos.) You could say that I take design aesthetics and implicate them into my handmade work. Whereas handmade design implicates hand done techniques into it's design. Basically a 180 but in fact so similar that it's almost the same.....and fuck...I talked myself in circles and forgot where I was going with all this, but either way, pick up the new issue of How. It's pretty dope and I found it to be very relavant to myself and my work.

In the end I just don't know. Maybe I don't like illustration in general, hell maybe I dont like "art" in general, maybe it's not my bag, but illustration is what I supposedly went to school for and lately I have been questioning that decision, though I do find solace in the fact that the lines between all these disciplines has been blurring for a while now. Either way...my work most likely still sucks in the grand scheme of things so fuck it.

&

2008-07-01T19:42:00.001-07:00

Threw a couple new images on my website. Nothing extremely new, just some that I had not uploaded yet. Once I take down the show at the Cal Surf gallery I'll have a larger scale update in the works.

PLDs. again. and again.

2008-06-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Poor Life Decisions reception at Cal Surf a few weeks ago went pretty swell. Thanks to everyone who came. If you care to see photos of the evening, or just want to check them out to see if you are in any of them (cough:: so you can jack them for your myspace or facebook profiles :: cough) you can view them at my Flickr. Also new on my Flickr are pictures from the days following said gallery opening when I was in Chicago to see Swervedriver. The show was bomb, but I don't have any good photos since it was dark and I was standing near the back. Amazing experience none-the-less. Anyway...the photos are basically of me and friends sipping drinks on patios from sun up to sun down.

What else is new? I may be hooking up with another local artist to do some collaborative work soon. Still in the early planning stages, but we will see what comes from that, if anything.

The CVA Alumni show opens this Friday. That should be....eh....interesting...I suppose.

The Soap Factory is doing their annual 5x7 99$ fund raiser soon. I'll be submitting to that, I would suggest 'yall do the same if you can. Check the details at soap99.com.

Crossings gallery in Zumbrota used one of my images as the front of the postcard for their upcoming show, Layers: Collage and Assemblage. I got a stack of them in the mail the other day. Pretty radical stuff.

And...I guess that is all for now. I'm sure there is more but I am getting sick of typing and need to eat something.

PLDs Yo.

2008-06-08T11:53:00.001-07:00

My first show since graduating! (Snappy name, right?) Come party with me and others. Drink free beer 'n shit.

To Re-Upload.

2008-05-17T17:06:00.000-07:00

I updated my web shit a bit. Small re-vamp and a new image on the website, new header and some layout changes to this here blog...and...yea.......that's about it.

As a follow up to the post below: I did indeed win the tickets to see Swervedriver in Chicago. Totally radical. I'm told the bars are open until 5 in the AM over there too, which is...interesting. Anyway, thanks to those who helped me on my conquest.

I've been doing a lot of work lately. I'm about half way done with my CVA Alumni piece and am putting the finishing touches on a piece done for a friend as a wedding gift, amongst others. The wedding is next weekend, so that one needs to get done STAT. Which reminds me...I'll be in Kansas City next weekend attending said wedding. Maybe I'll have some hazey pics from the long drive down when I return.

Seriously though, who the hell gets married anymore?

I'm a Swervie.

2008-05-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Incredibly Lame Post Ahead
So I am trying to win tickets to see one of my all time favorite bands Swervedriver play on their reunion tour in Chicago. That's right, REUNION tour. These guys haven't been playing together for a grip of time now. Understand: to me this is huge.

To win these tickets I must refer as many people as I possibly can to their myspace page and add them as a friend. In the message you can attach to the friend request you must type my full name and myspace URL.

I'll make it easy for 'yall:

Here is the link to their myspace profile: myspace.com/swervedriver

and here is the info you need to put in the message box (cut and paste...BAM.)

Jesse Draxler

http://www.myspace.com/cybersex

So there ya go. This post has nothing to do with visual art, but definitely has to do with some of the best sounds I have ever heard. Fair enough.

DO IT!!

Ah, how I adore this hair-do. It's blown up!

2008-05-06T20:51:00.001-07:00

So the CVA thesis presentations last night seemed to go pretty well for those kids, congrats to all who are finished, and good luck to all those who have yet to speak.

While at the gallery after the presentations, Rosie (CVA gallery director) handed me a call for submissions pamphlet to the CVA Alumni Exhibition. All work must be exactly a foot by a foot in dimension (no exceptions) and if you are CVA graduate you get in automatically. I'll be doing this and if anyone I used to be in classes with actually reads this silly blog, I would suggest you do the same. Go to the CVA website for the details I suppose.

Old news I know, but what about this Yale chick who did the "abortion art." How funny is that shit. And by shit, I mean....shit.

Night.

Drink Some Liquor, Drink Some Liquor, Smoke Some Weed, Play Some Bowling On The Wii

2008-05-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of things.

1. I uploaded some new images to my website.

2. Tonight is the beginning of the CVA senior thesis presentations in St. Paul at that one rinky-dink excuse for a church. I have friends that will be speaking, so I'll be there for a short bit.

3. Friday is the opening of the CVA senior exhibition(s.) Details:

CVA Gallery (5pm-8pm) | A-Z Gallery (7pm-10pm)

I guarantee there will be some interesting work being shown at both galleries so everyone should make a point to head over there sometime.

4. I have submitted some work to a few gallery shows coming up this summer, we'll see if I get in any of them...I'll be sure to post the news (if there is any.)

5. More new work is coming very soon.

6. I finally created a mnartists page: http://www.mnartists.org/Jesse_Draxler

7. That's all.

june thirteenth, two thousand and eight.

2008-03-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

Last week I finished the Buildings artwork and design for their upcoming album, Braille Animal. I also brought the album down to my buddy Justin at Copycats Media to get printed with hopes of having the CD pressed and ready to roll by this coming Friday. Sure enough, the task has been completed and this Friday will bring us the Buildings CD release show at Club Underground in northeast MPLS (flyer below.)
The Throw Up is also getting ready to press another issue of their random art magazine. Justin invited me to submit some work again, so I created a few pieces for the rag with the only concept in mind being the concept that the whole issue will abide to: black and white. I finished the pieces today and am sending them to Justin right after I finish typing this pointless blog. Anyway, I'll post when the issue is available and urge everyone to go buy it STAT.

That's it.

A Spellbinding Film.

2008-03-06T22:02:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of friends that are in bands. Therefore I have the opportunity to create many show flyers and do artwork for their albums on a decently regular basis. Currently I am working on completing the artwork and layout for the new Buildings (myspace.com/buildingsband) album which should be coming out around the end of March. More on that later.

Torch The Spires (myspace.com/torchthespires) also recently had me create a flyer for a show this coming saturday. I'm also working on a load of artwork for these guys ranging from logo/button designs to album artwork, I'll be posting that when it all nears completion. Peep the flyer down there and head to the show if you feel so inclined.

Opposite Sides

2008-02-29T10:58:00.000-08:00

I uploaded two new collages to jessedraxler.com.

Viva Dixie Submarine Transmission Plot

2008-02-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

I sent out self promotional packages to some publications yesterday. Neat, right? I'll be sending out more every week from here on out. If, by chance, anyone reading this receives one of said packages...drop me a line, let's talk, and as my friend Benjamin used to commonly say, "I'll take you to the top," but that doesn't really make sense here.

I threw some new images on jessedraxer.com as well. ie: I updated my website.

black chambers has a new home.

2008-02-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

I went to the Chambers Kitchen Wednesday night to celebrate Valentines day. The food was stellar and the ambiance was top notch, but that was to be expected of such a fine dining establishment. What really blew me away was the actual Chambers Hotel itself. How the hell have I never heard of or been to this place before. An art hotel...what a great fucking idea. The art was all very intriguing, extremely eclectic, and completely open for the general public to come in and view at any time. Maybe I'm a jackass for not knowing of this place earlier, but it was a pleasant surprise added to an already wonderful evening. I suggest if you are like me and have never been to the Chambers before, head on over. It's worth the trip.

We got this little art thing (by Mim Golub) out of the Art-O-Mat, what I understood to be an old cigarette vending machine turned into a low brow mechanical art dealer. Neat shit.

print shapes /& cut.

2008-02-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

So, I've been meaning to update this blog for a bit now. I was in New York late Decemeber / early January and when I returned home I was planning on posting a grand blog with photos and witty stories of my travels...but alas, I did not, nor do I plan on ever doing that being that my personal statute of limitations for posting said blog has ran up. If you know me, I have already told you of my adventures and if you don't know me, why the hell would you care anyway?

I have been working on a new body of work as of lately. An extension of my thesis work I suppose you could say. Collage/drawing/painting sort of things. Images of this work will be on jessedraxler.com relatively soon. Hopefully. I am also getting together self promotional packets to send to publications with hopes of having some sent out by early next week. To the art directors who receive these packages: Hire me to doodle you pictures n' shit yo!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. That image up there (the "Munny") is actually something I created as a gift for said occasion. Well, I didn't actually create is as much as I decorated one of those do-it-yourself blank Munnys. It was created with cut strips from 1950's Life magazine pages. There is a theme beyond that, but I do not know what that theme is.

What else, what else? I've been on a big 12 Rods kick lately. That seems relevant since this is my blog and that is something that has been affecting my day to day life. I suggest everyone to go out and buy all of their albums, especially Separation Anxieties, which is my favorite. All of them are most excellent though.

I guess that is all I have to say at this particular moment.

The Season For This And That

2007-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm done with school.

This last Tuesday I gave my thesis presentation and that was the last of it. The presentation went okay in my mind. I did not burst into flames, pass out, cry, or vomit, so I'm counting the damn thing as a victory...of sorts. After that my illustration class went out to Pizza Luce so our professor and accomplished illustrator, Andy Powell (earthispissed.com,) could drop some words of wisdom on how to make it in the intense world of modern illustration. Once through, me and Dain stopped by Sweeneys to throw back spirits and swap, what ended up to be, meaningless banter. Many other CVA students ended up dropping by and we turned the night into an interesting little party. The night ended at Dain's apartment with everyone watching comedic youtube videos, and me passing out on a incredibly uncomfortable beanbag chair.

This Monday I leave for one of the most boring, expendable places I have ever been, Appleton, Wisconsin. I'll be there with limited family through Christmas and will be returning to the Twin Cities the evening of the 26th. If any old friends happen to read this, and still know my number, give a guy a ring. When I return to MPLS I'll be bringing Texas' newest resident, Eric Greiner, with me. So to everyone who already misses seeing the kid zip around causing car accidents on his bike, dial him up.

The following Monday I'll be leaving for New York City to visit my good buddy Jake Stone. Yes, that is New Years Eve day. We have already discussed and agreed to avoid that whole ball drop fiasco at all costs. Dive bars, Hendricks gin, and cheap women will be our celebratory party favors. Minus the cheap women of course. Hell, I believe Jake is in a committed relationship anyway, which truly ruins my chances of meeting any interesting females since I have no clue how to talk to random women. Jake has always been the master of that domain. Anyway, I'll have pics from that adventure up shortly thereafter.

Speaking of pics. I put some pics on Flickr of my thesis piece in the gallery. My sis took them while visiting last weekend. Props to her....er....something.

Click here to check those out.

Happy motherfucking holidays.

CVA Graduate Show

2007-12-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

+ Last night was the senior exhibition at the CVA gallery. I snapped some photos and put them on flickr.

Click this to look at those.

Oh yea, i'm "blogging" now apparently.