Neck Romancing, Swamplanding and the ARTS of Ben.

Benjamin Paskins comes from a Graphic Design background. Likes to illustrate colourful explosions of weird shit. Makes up bands and draws them in  watercolour awesomeness.

Hollerin' from the Sunshine Coast, He makes art to sell, including  bringing you a wide array of colourful stickers, prints, original paintings and illustrations and pretty much anything you can print on.

Ben is  also co-owner of the Sunshine Coast institution The Time Machine and is responsible for the Zine SWAMPLANDS. Its a cool little publication that aims to embrace creative Australian small business. Music/art/fun times.

Here is a little bit of what Ben has said about the Zine.

 

Swamplands Issue one







Issue one of Swamplands hot off the press



A little while back I applied for a Small Creative Government grant, not thinking I was going to get it, just for practise really. It was to fund the printing for a zine (a small independent publication) for promoting creativity, embracing D.I.Y culture and whole-heartedly supporting Australian Independents. Funnily enough, we actually got the funding for it. Which is great! Except now I have made... more work for myself and now have to put it together". 

The first issue was  primarily focussed on his little town, Nambour, and its inhabitants. Its primary focus was to lift the terrible stigma and reputation Nambour has, whilst networking the Independent businesses to try and work together and you know, be nice to one  another.

"the main aim was  to bridge the gap between other suburbs on The Sunshine Coast, to try and work together to get a whole bunch of things to do organizsed 'round here parts. It will also have profiles on a bunch of bands/artists and articles on varying topics to make it a bloody good read, eh? Also to show people the potential Nambour has at being the Arts/Music Hub of the Sunshine Coast".

To find out more about Swampland here

Artwork illustration and other oddities. Benjamin Paskins

Neck Romancer.: SHURTS.: benpaskins@hotmail.com



Shirt Designs contact ben directly for custom orders



 

A selection of weird from Ben



The Time Machine

OUTPOST PROJECT Art from the Streets

This years sees one of the most significant street art events occur in Australia happen in Sydney. OUTPOST PROJECT Art from the Streets. is running from the 4 November to the 11th of December and takes over Cockatoo Island.

I will be heading down to check this awesome event out as well as attend the announcement of the winner of the 2011 Australian Stencil Art Prize of which I am a Finalist with my piece Steam Punksnot Dead. 

Expect to see crap loads of images and interview posted in the next couple of weeks as well as features in our new Magazine Blank Canvas (Clock the link to the right)

So anyways below is some info on the OUTPOST PROJECT and some highlights. 

Ad

Cockatoo Island's vast abandoned factories and intriguing forgotten alleyways are the perfect backdrop for projects showcasing the energy and diversity of Street Art. With OUTPOST PROJECT, visitors will be able to see a huge range of Street Art in one location. And because of its dynamic and live nature, the art will change and evolve, giving visitors something different to see throughout the course of the festival.

 

Cockatoo Island

Here are the two events at Outpost that I am participating in. For more Awesome Exhibitions and info on featured artists go to the the website www.cockatooisland.gov.au  and join the mailing list to get regular what's on updates, news and special offers.

Australia Stencil Art Prize  2011 Finalist - Steam Punksnot Dead by Obscene 

Now in its 3rd year, the Australian Stencil Art Prize aims to recognise and reward Australian stencil artists. The Prize grew out of discussions about the calibre of stencil art in Sydney's Innerwest and a desire to see more of it. 

The Australian Stencil Art Prize attracts emerging and established stencil artists and receives international attention. The winner takes home a $2000 cash prize. For more information visit: http://www.australianstencilartprize.com

Paste Modernism 3 Flyer

PASTE MODERNISM 3

Paste Modernism is the largest celebration of the medium of 'paste-ups' in Australia, and is now presented again for the 3rd time at OUTPOST PROJECT on Cockatoo Island. Throughout its inception it has found residence in staples of the Sydney art scene, starting initially with the artist run residence Hibernia House in a guerilla exhibition, and finally graduating to the heritage walls of Cockatoo Island. Every available inch of over 300 square meters of wall space will be covered with the pasted artworks of over 100 local and international artists.

Obscene SkullEelz for Paste Modernism 3

The 'Paste-Up' is an ever-expanding and innovative form of street art, that involves an artist making their work onto varying sizes of paper and then applying it to walls and surfaces within their urban environment using wheat-paste or wallpaper glue. Whether as black and white multiplied photocopies, colourful hand painted murals or thought provoking text pieces, the 'Paste-Up' is an immediate and bold contemporary art-form. 

Paste Modernism Progress shots

Obscene muscleman Paste Up

The medium explores not only aesthetic values, but is often politically and socially motivated - which allows experimentation both by accomplished artists as well as people with little or no artistic training. With all other street art genres, a hierarchy is in place based usually on the skill and years of training and practice of each artist (aerosol-can control/complexity of a stencil etc). Most 'Paste-Up' artists also have years of experience, creating intricate and well-planned artworks - however anybody right now, could find a photograph or jpeg that resonates with them, take it to a digital printer and with relatively little expense, print it out in wallpaper width paper sheets and put it up on the streets.

Paste Modernism Progress

Curated by Ben Frost, Paste Modernism 3 includes artists such as: Pure Evil, Copyright, Dan Baldwin, Anthony Lister, Drab, Urban Cake Lady, Heesco, Bei Badgirl, Houl, Creon, John Doe, Simon Lovelace, RJ, Mats?!, Bridge Stehli, Esjay, Anton Benois, Numskull, Bennett, Vexta, Tez, Bunkwaa, Jumbo, Zap, Skel, HA-HA, SMC, 1337, Obscene, Felix, Konsume Terror, Pigeonboy, Vars, Aelhra, Qwux and more.

For more info go to www.pastemodernism.com