Write Up: New Flesh's "No Mercy" Art Print

Every non-Gallery 1988 poster release this week is living in the shadow of the cultural behemoth better known as "Crazy 4 Cult." Depending on your daily web browsing habits, you may have already seen a ton of preview pics from the show, but this, my friends, is what you've undoubtedly been waiting for. Think back: The Last Emperor just won nine Oscars, Sonny Bono became the mayor of Palm Springs, the Soviet Army began withdrawing from Afghanistan, and a George Lucas-produced, Ron Howard-directed, Warwick Davis-starring film called Willow just opened in theaters. Oh, you were only six when that happened and don't remember any of those events? Same here. However, I do remember seeing Willow on VHS years later and having a damned good time watching Warwick Davis and company battle, evade, and ultimately overcome Queen Bavmorda and the terrifying General Kael. Friends of the site, New Flesh Prints, have created an intimidating new poster for this year's New York-based "Crazy 4 Cult" show, celebrating the skull mask-wearing, army-leading Kael in all his lethal glory. Behold!

"No Mercy" Art Print
N.E. (New Flesh Prints)
18" x 24" (Screen Print) - Signed and Numbered
Limited to 80
Inspired By: Willow

Chilling, right? As you know, I've been a huge fan of the now prolific New Flesh guys since day one and have seen their artistic offerings evolve in some amazing ways, but I think my favorite New Flesh posters have been their film inspired art prints. The art print format allows N.E. to really stretch his creative muscles, producing beautiful compositions while allowing him to play with negative space, which can be hard to do with all of the formatting that normally goes into creating a proper movie poster (e.g., film title, tagline, cast info, company credits, etc.) "No Mercy" captures the dread that General Kael exudes in the film and makes a point to show just how inseparable he and his steed were. I've learned that this print will also feature two metallic colors, so you know it's really going to pop no matter where you hang it. Finally, and I'm not sure if this was planned, but I love the fact that a print inspired by a film from 1988 is premiering at Gallery 1988 - there's a nice symmetry there.

N.E.'s "No Mercy" art print will be available at tonight's "Crazy 4 Cult" show in New York. If the print doesn't sell out at the show, the remaining inventory will be made available at gallery1988.com, so be sure to sign up for G1988's newsletter and follow @Galleries1988. To learn more about the folks behind this print, check out newfleshprints.com and follow @newfleshprints and @nenewflesh on Twitter. Good luck!

Scott Campbell's "The Open Road" Art Print

Easy Rider is one of those movies that almost every person has seen, or at the very least been told they need to see! It's iconic; it's as much a piece of American history as it is film history, but more importantly it's a great film. And now, fans of Easy Rider, like myself and probably you, have the chance to own a gorgeous print inspired by the film from artist Scott Campbell.

"The Open Road" Art Print
Scott Campbell
12" x 12" - Signed and Numbered
$50 - Limited to 50
Inspired By: Easy Rider

Scott Campbell, who's best known for his "Great Showdowns" series, has created an absolutely stunning poster that celebrates one of American cinema's most influential films. Depending on how recently you've seen the movie, you may even recognize the image Scott painted as the exquisitely framed scene where our three bohemian protagonists are taking a quick bathroom break by the side of the road. A scene, which in my opinion, exemplifies the film's many attempts at bucking expectations and presenting a sometimes optimistic, often tragic look at the fringes of society. Campbell's artwork is at once classically appealing and still completely fun in the way that pretty much everything Scott Campbell does is. But beyond just being a stylish piece of awesome, this print has had a pretty interesting journey itself, though nothing to rival Wyatt and Billy's "trip." The above artwork was initially used as a portion of the Easy Rider movie poster (presented below) for the All Tomorrow's Parties / Criterion Collection screening of the film in 2010.

Easy Rider Movie Poster (for All Tomorrow's Parties / Criterion 2010 Screening)
Scott Campbell
Not Available for Purchase

It's a beautiful piece of artwork as you can tell, that has sadly never been released to the public for purchase. Thankfully, artist Scott Campbell decided to sell one of the original elements that made up this poster, or more precisely, the lower two thirds of the image sans encircled portraits, during Gallery 1988's most recent "Crazy 4 Cult" exhibit. It was a really exciting release, although that excitement was somewhat tempered by the fact that only one person would ever actually be able to own it. Long story short, I guess the demand was there, because Gallery 1988 has decided to release a print of this marvelous and important piece of pop culture artwork.

Scott Campbell's "The Open Road" art print is currently available through Gallery 1988 for $50. "The Open Road" is limited to an edition of 50, measures 12" x 12" and is signed and numbered. To learn more about Mr. Campbell head over to pyramidcar.com, greatshowdowns.com and follow him on Twitter @scottlava. And visiting Gallery 1988 at gallery1988.com should be a no brainer at this point, as they're always doing something cool and finding new and innovative ways to take our money. Finally, if you are in that second group of people I mentioned earlier, meaning everyone has told you to see the film and yet you still resist, do yourself a favor and watch it!

Gallery 1988's "Crazy 4 Cult 5" Art Exhibit

Well it's been about a week since "Crazy 4 Cult 5" premiered, and now it's time to take a look at Gallery 1988's inventory and see what's left. As a heads up, there's a lot more available than what I'm mentioning here, the posters below just happen to be a few of my favorites.

"1984-1987 at 1988" Art Print
Andrew Wilson
18" x 24"
$70 - Limited to 88
Inspired By: Predator, Goonies, Big Trouble in Little China, and The NeverEnding Story

This poster is a perfect condensation of my childhood. You've got Arnie kicking some Predator ass, a gang of kids set on discovering a long lost treasure, Kurt Russell kicking some mystical wizard ass, and a kid named Bastian riding a dog/dragon/Mr. Snuffleupagus-type creature named Falkor through the sky - yep, the 80s were a strange/awesome period for blockbuster films. To get a better picture of all of the details that went into making "1984-1987 at 1988" such a success, I highly recommend checking out the preliminary digital sketch. The "1984-1987 at 1988" giclee is currently available through the Gallery 1988 website for $70. The signed and numbered poster is limited to an edition of 88 and measures 18" x 24". For more information on artist Andrew Wilson, be sure to visit his blog at andrewandavid.blogspot.com.

"Coffee Break" Art Print
Pat Kinsella
11" x 14"
$50 - Limited to 55
Inspired By: Ghostbusters

Pat Kinsella really nailed this. All the little details, like the smoking Ghost Trap, the tabletop with the hole blasted through it, and the spilled coffee…everywhere, are what really tell the tale of our lone hero and his previously precarious predicament (yeah I'm a sucker for alliteration). I’ve never wanted a Proton Pack this badly before. Again with the detail, I’m just blown away! The artist was totally able to delineate all of the whirring, buzzing and humming wires, cables and cogs (oh my!). Pat Kinsella's "Coffee Break" art print measures 11" x 14", is limited to an edition of 55 and costs $50. The print is currently available through Gallery 1988 and is signed and numbered. To check out Pat's portfolio and blog head over to patkinsella.com. Note: I think this piece may have originally been for Gallery 1988's "3G" show, but it's listed in the "Crazy 4 Cult" inventory, so I'm going for it.

"Onda Punk" Art Print
Jay Shaw (Iron Jaiden)
19" x 25"
$30 - Limited to 40
Inspired By: Repo Man

I love Repo Man, it's such a strange combination of genres and seemingly incongruous elements that somehow mesh together to make a zany, fun little piece of 1980s magic. There's a lot of good things I could say about this poster, but I think the artist sums it up best (taken from the Jay's website):

"'A Onda Punk' was the title given to the American film Repo Man for it's release in Brazil. The title literally translates to 'The Wave Punk'. Brazilian film posters of the 60s, 70s and 80s often incorporated very bright colors coupled with absurd imagery. The idea was to make the posters more appealing to young Brazilians than the films themselves. This approach to film advertising was taken because most of the movies released in Brazil during that period were goofy comedies considered culturally harmless by the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985. A Onda Punk was not released in Brazil until 1986 after the dictatorship fell. Rumor has it the inclusion of the Circle Jerks song 'Coup D'Etat' in the beginning of the film was the primary reason for the delay in release. A Onda Punk was never given a proper poster for it's Brazilian theatrical release so I thought it would be fun to make one now. It features Fox Harris' character, Frank, wearing the grill of the 1964 Malibu as glasses while he drives around Los Angeles."

Bottom line, this is a kick ass screen print at an amazing price by a really talented up and coming artist. Iron Jaiden's "Onda Punk" art print is available through Gallery 1988 for the surprisingly low price of $30. The print measures 19" x 25" and is limited to an edition of 40. To learn more about Jay Shaw (AKA Iron Jaiden) head over to kingdomofnonsense.com.

Suspiria Art Print
Keith Noordzy
13" x 10"
$35 - Limited to 20
Inspired By: Suspira

This one is particularly awesome. I haven't seen Suspiria since I was a little kid obsessed with mutilated corpses and armed with a subscription to Fangoria (that came out a lot creepier than I intended it to be), but I remember how elegantly and stylish was despite my initially low expectations. Pretty impressive. Keith Noordzy has created a wonderful ode to Argento's masterpiece and has somehow captured the spirit of the 70s with this print. Like all of the artwork included in this post, Keith's Suspiria print is available through Gallery 1988's website. The poster is limited to an edition of 20, measures 13" x 10" and costs $35. For more info on Keith Noordzy check out his blog and portfolio at quid-squid.com.

Conclusion? It's amazingly cool to see "Crazy 4 Cult 5" artwork in the gallery, but if you can't see it in person, at least you and I have a chance to pick up some fantastic prints after the fact. I recommend checking out the rest of Gallery 1988's offerings when you have some time, because there's far more available than what I've included here.

By the way, I just realized this is my 100th post! I think I should buy a poster in celebration, or something.

Gallery 1988's "Crazy 4 Cult 5" Preview

UPDATE 1 (8/5): Joshua Budich's "Marla Variant" of his Fight Club print is available through his store right now! The print measures 18″ x 24″, is limited to an edition of 75  and only costs $40. Pick one up before they run out.

With the "Crazy 4 Cult 5" show only a few days away now, I think it's safe to say the Internet is in full on excitement / hysteria mode. In an attempt to add fuel to the fire, I wanted to go over some of my favorite pieces I've seen previewed so far. The vast majority, if not all of the images in this post, were found at /FILM. These will all be available during the show's premiere on Friday (7/8) night, and who knows, maybe a few will be available after, either through Gallery 1988's site or the artist's.

"Crazy 4 Cult 5: I'm Too Old for This Shit" Show Poster
Alex Pardee

I thought I'd start with the show poster itself. I think this may be my favorite "Crazy 4 Cult" poster yet, although Mike Mitchell's print from last year was pretty great as well. The thing I like most about these images, besides the crazy amount of skill involved, is the sheer quantity of movie characters present. I mean, you've got Jason, Freddy, Robocop, It, the Fly - there's just so much going on. The planning it must take to get so much content onto such a small canvas always impresses me. This poster will definitely be available at the show, and very likely after the show on Gallery 1988's website gallery1988.com. To learn more about the artist Alex Pardee, head over to his blog and website at eyesuckink.com.

Fight Club Movie Poster
Joshua Budich
24" x 36"
Limited to 100

Joshua Budich has completed yet another killer poster, this time for the 1999 classic Fight Club. This poster is perfect in all the right ways and includes some fantastic little details from the film (e.g., the in-flight safety card, the narrator's power animal, and of course the "Bob" name tag). I'm not sure if this, his O Brother poster, or his Pulp Fiction poster is my favorite, but I can say without any uncertainty that this is one of his best and is sure to sell out quickly. Joshua Budich's Fight Club poster measures 24" x 36" and is limited to an edition of 100. The poster will be available for purchase at the show on Friday (7/8), but a few will also be available through Joshua's website after the show. To see the rest of Joshua Budich's work visit joshuabudich.com.

"Rubber" Art Print
Alex Pardee
Inspired By: Rubber

Huzzah! I can't believe Rubber has finally made it to the hallowed grounds of "Crazy 4 Cult," and it's an Alex Pardee piece to boot. I guess I can't really be shocked; it does have the word "cult" in the title of the show after all. If you haven't seen this movie, please stream or buy it right this second. Rubber is bizarre, clever, and most importantly a fun deconstruction of cinema's language. Oh yeah, and it's about a sentient, telekinetic tire named Robert who can explode people - that too.  I know this sort of artwork probably has a rather small target audience, but I pray that this will be a print (rather than a one off) and I'll be able to get it online at some point after the show. If you'd like to Pardee on (even I know that was lame) be sure to visit eyesuckink.com.

"They Live" Art Print
Andrew DeGraff
Inspired By: They Live

For me, this is essentially a picture of an action figure from the 1980s I never knew I wanted. Andrew DeGraff's They Live art print is awesome and hilarious in equal parts, much like John Carpenter's 1988 film. Our favorite bubblegum chewing, ass kicking hero, George Nada, is sporting both the "Rowdy" Roddy Piper-approved kilt and the formaldehyde face visage - some may say fashion faux pas, I say brilliant! To check out more Andrew DeGraff artwork be sure to visit his blog and portfolio at andrewdegraff.com.

"Room 237" Art Print
Tom Whalen
16.9" x 22.5"
Limited to 80
Inspired By: The Shining

Finally, we come to Tom Whalen's amazing Shining-inspired print, titled "Room 237." It's not a "Crazy 4 Cult" show unless there's at least one piece of awesome artwork based on a Stanley Kubrick film. Whalen brings his characteristically clean lines to this print, but there's also a sense of chaos and asymmetry in the design, at least more so than in his previous work. I especially enjoy the barely visible typing that seems to be hiding just beyond your vision. Tom Whalen's "Room 237" print will measure 16.9" x 22.5" and will be limited to an edition of 80. If you'd like to learn more about Tom Whalen be sure to check out his growing portfolio at strongstuff.net.

And that's it. I hope everyone who has a chance to check out this show has a great time and picks up some beautiful artwork. Be sure to visit Gallery 1988's website for more information on this barmy, beautiful thing known as "Crazy 4 Cult."

Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art (2011) Book Review

I've lived in Los Angeles for about five years now, and I only found out about Crazy 4 Cult about three years ago, but for the first time last year I actually got to see the show in person. Needless to say, it was an incredibly exciting and fruitful (if crowded) experience. There's something really rewarding about being able to see one-of-a-kind movie-themed artwork before the Internet gets its hands on the images and decides to make it a viral sensation (deservedly so) on every film and poster blog the world over (Posterocalypse included). It's even cooler when the artwork in question is for one of your favorite films. Yep, last year's Crazy 4 Cult was a blast and I imagine this year's, brilliantly titled "Crazy 4 Cult 5: I'm Getting Too Old for this Shit," will be even bigger. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this time around, because I'll be out of town for much of the show's duration. Meaning many pieces of the artwork I may have had a chance to purchase, will be proudly hanging on someone else's wall. With that said, I received something last weekend, that officially went on sale yesterday (6/21), and has managed to somehow fill the 18" x 24" void left in my heart (what can I say, I've got a big heart). The item in question is a book, and that book is of course Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art.

Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art Cover "Mushroom Cloud-Layin' MF" Billy Perkins Inspired By: Pulp Fiction

"Necesito Más Cerebros" Frank Gonzales Inspired By: Dawn of the Dead

I know that the first part of this review has mostly just been me prattling on about myself with nary a word really spent talking about Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art, but that's because there's not really all that much to say. This book is brilliant in just about every single possible way. Besides an introduction by Kevin Smith, who's enjoyment of dick jokes seems to know no end, the book is very light on text. Instead, Titan Books and Gallery 1988, the publisher and curator of Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art respectively, let the artwork speak for itself. And speak it does, having been to the Crazy 4 Cult show only once before (as was previously stated ad nauseam) I was blown away by the sheer creativity on display. Freaks, A Clockwork Orange, Dawn of the Dead, Jaws, Pulp Fiction, Goonies, Harold & Maude, it's all here. And much like the show, the book features a diverse range of artists and artistic styles from polymer clay figures and graphite on matchbooks (yes, matchbooks) to acrylic on wood and screen prints on archival paper.

"The Parking Ticket"
Scott Listfield
Inspired By: Star Wars

I'm not going to lie, this book hurts my soul just a little, because it reminds me of what I'll be missing out on this year, but I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that Titan Books' Cult Movie Art is probably one of the classiest and coolest ways one could celebrate the geek art culture, which thanks to Gallery 1988 and others like it, is currently thriving. One last thing before I get off my soapbox, the majority of the art books I own focus on one artist, which is great if you love the work of that one artist, but not very helpful if you want to discover anyone new. Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art is in complete opposition of that, because not only is there a huge cast of artists including many names you will and won't recognize, but at the end of the book each and every artist (that has a digital presence) has their website listed. This artist directory allows both new and old fans alike to learn more about these very talented people. That alone would be worth the price of purchase in my opinion.

"Henry" Paul Barnes Inspired By: Eraserhead

"Positive Surrender" Yoskay Yamamoto Inspired By: Akira

If you're at all interested in movie-themed artwork then Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art is the book for you. A word of warning though, if you're not already infected, there's a very good chance this book may start you down the (often expensive) rabbit hole known as art collecting, and before you know it you'll be taking down all of those family pictures to make room for a family portrait of The Shining cast. The book is available right now through Amazon and is surprisingly affordable at $23. I'd highly recommend making a blind purchase of this title, you won't regret it.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Coming Soon - Crazy 4 Cult (2011) Book Review

I meant to write a proper review for this amazing book today, but to be honest I didn't get any sleep yesterday, and am thoroughly exhausted. This means two things, first, the full review will published tomorrow (promise!), and second, in anticipation of tomorrow's review I wanted to briefly tell everyone about the must have book of the week/month/year. Bottom line: if you're a fan of Posterocalypse (I know one day I'm going to misspell the name of my own website, if I haven't already), if you're a fan of Gallery 1988, if you're a fan of Mondo, if you're a fan of art, then this is the book for you. And it's available today!

Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art

Seriously, Crazy 4 Cult: Cult Movie Art is absolutely amazing and should be picked up by anyone and everyone who considers themselves a moving pictures enthusiast. It's surprisingly affordable at around $23 (at least at the time of this writing), especially given the fact that it's a fat hardcover, the paper is super high quality, and the art is indescribable in its awesomeness. As a side note, this book is put out by Titan Books. These are the same people who put out the wonderful Art of Drew Struzan and The Art of Hammer; both incredible art books for us movie poster geeks, so clearly they're doing something right. More to come tomorrow!