Big Brain Awards

Big Brain Update: Safwat Saleem

By Claire Lawton Wed., Feb. 29 2012 at 1:21 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Big Brain Awards
​In preparation for this year's Big Brain awards, we're checking up with a few of last year's winners. Know of an emerging creative who could use $500? Nominate 'em right here before March 5. Our Big Brain today: Safwat Saleem:

safwatsaleemftft.jpg
Jamie Peachey
​Safwat Saleem (thankfully) isn't throwing in the towel any time soon. The local designer said he was on the edge of giving up personal projects last year, but we've been lucky to catch his work during Phoenix Design Week at an exhibition at monOrchid and at Regular Gallery for You Are Here, a map show we hosted in November. 

Oh, and he also raised more than 1000 percent of his pledge goal (and will now be busy printing for the majority of 2012) for his latest project, Oh Shit! . 

Today, we're catching up with Saleem, who won the Big Brain Award for visual art last year. 

1. What have you been up to for the last year? 
Since last year's awards, I've been making more mediocre and completely forgettable work. I worked on a series of illustrations called "Oh Shit!" which I later adapted into t-shirts and screenprints. And I am also currently working on a sequel to A Bunch of Crock. I suppose I can now called it the "Big Brain Award winning exhibit A Bunch of Crock."

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big brains, monorchid, oh shit!, Regular Gallery, safwat saleem, you are here
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5 Questions

Big Brain Update: Joseph "Sentrock" Perez

By Claire Lawton Tue., Feb. 28 2012 at 2:00 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Big Brain Awards
​In preparation for this year's Big Brain awards, we're checking up with a few of last year's winners. Know of an emerging creative who could use $500? Nominate 'em right here before March 5. Our Big Brain today: Joseph "Sentrock" Perez 

josephperez.jpeg
Photo by Jamie Peachey
Joseph Perez has had a busy year. When we caught up with him last year, the local artist and dancer was break dancing/painting (in one motion) and kicking off The Rise Project, a youth urban arts program. 

Since, we've seen his work grow out of his pop-up studio on Roosevelt and into a spot on Grand Avenue, and his designs on the wall at the Downtown Market, on canvases at Bragg's Pie Factory and A.E. England Gallery, and on T-shirts at The Lab. 

Today, we're checking up on Perez, who won a Big Brain award last year for performing art.

1. What have you been up to for the last year? 
I have just been making/creating art, running the Rise Project, and performing w/ my crew. 

2. What do you want to accomplish in the next year? 
In this next year, I am seeking to progress and get better as an artist, not any type of artist but all aound an artist. I'm planning on going to Chicago for the summer and working on art with Chris Silva. 

I hope to redefine my art and one day become the greatest artist to come out West Side Phoenix.

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Big Brain Awards, joseph perez, Rise Project
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5 Questions

Safwat Saleem on Expletives, Kickstarter, and Making 900 Screen Prints in Three Months

By Claire Lawton Wed., Feb. 8 2012 at 12:20 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
safwat saleem.jpg
Safwat Saleem's "Oh Shit: Unicorns!","Oh Shit: Sharks!", and "Oh Shit: Zombies!"
​Safwat Saleem's not afraid to use a couple expletives. The local designer used plenty of colorful language in A Bunch of Crock, a project born out of sayings, conversations, and stereotypes he gathered following 9/11. 

His latest project, Oh Expletive!, is a little bit different. Saleem says his latest series began with a poster he created for  Jessica Marquis' "Raising Unicorns" book launch art show last year titled Oh Shit: Unicorns!.  

"We know that unicorns are happy and magical and make our wildest dreams come true. But what we don't always see is that sometimes unicorns can be real assholes," he says. "They can get together in groups and beat the crap out of other unicorns just like some asshole humans. And that's the print I made -- a whole bunch of unicorns about to kick the shit out of a fellow unicorn. And once you've made a ridiculous print like that, the possibilities are endless -- zombies, sharks, dinosaurs -- you name it."

Saleem launched Oh Expletive! on the crowd-sourced fundraising site, Kickstarter, a few months ago. It has since raised more than 1,000 percent of the original goal. 

While he's currently buried under the number of posters and T-shirts he now gets to create and hand-pull, with the help of local screen printer Crystal Phelps and The Lab 137, he took (a very short break) to answer five questions ... 

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a bunch of crock, chrystal phelps, Kickstarter, oh expletive!, safwat saleem
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Fun

Holiday Lights: The Coach House in Scottsdale

By Benjamin Leatherman Mon., Nov. 28 2011 at 3:09 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Fun
​It's the holiday season, which means light displays are everywhere: On your neighbor's house, at the local bar, and on buildings of downtown Phoenix. During the buildup to Christmas, Jackalope Ranch will be running the numbers on some of the best and brightest light displays around the Valley.
coach house lights.jpg
Photos by Benjamin Leatherman

Christmas decorations are kind of a big deal each year at the Coach House in Scottsdale. So much so that the staff at the historic tavern started setting up the day after Halloween. 

Such an head start is necessary, consider the massive amount of festive decorations that are involved. Practically every inch of the Coach House's exterior and interior is adorned with colored bulbs, cheery wrapping paper, bulbous ornaments, and shiny tinsel. It's been an annual tradition of the Bower family, which has run the rustic-looking dive since it opened in 1959 and has decorated the joint for more than 25 years.

The Numbers: 

Strands: According to Irene Bower (one of the many proprietors of the Coach House) more than 250, which works out to around 12,500 individual lights.

Inflatables: One, a gigantic Santa in his sleigh is perched on the roof.

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Coach House, Irene Bower, Jim Bower, Scottsdale
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5 Questions

Carrie Marill's "Black Mountain - Cave Creek"

By Claire Lawton Thu., Nov. 10 2011 at 11:30 AM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
carriemarill_300.jpg
"Black Mountain - Cave Creek" 2007, Gouache on Sheep Vellum, Mesquite Wood Frame w/ UV Glass by Carrie Marill
​This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix, at Regular Gallery. While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 

We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez, Safwat Saleem, David Quan, Sarah Hurwitz, Thomas "Breeze" Marcus, and Sue Chenoweth; this afternoon, local artist Carrie Marill answers a few questions about her map:

1. What were the inspirations for your map? 
I was inspired by the mountains encompassing Phoenix. Went to this great map shop called "Wide world of Maps" and found topo's of the mountains. 
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Carrie Marill, Regular Gallery, You Are Here
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Visual Art

Thomas "Breeze" Marcus' Hohokam Canal System

By Claire Lawton Wed., Nov. 9 2011 at 1:20 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix, at Regular Gallery. While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 
BREEZE_MAP.jpg
mural by Thomas Marcus Breeze, photos by Claire Lawton
We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez, Safwat Saleem, David Quan, Sarah Hurwitz and Sue Chenoweth; this afternoon, local artist Thomas "Breeze" Marcus answers a few questions about his mural map of Phoenix, which you can check out on Regular Gallery:

​1. What were the inspirations for your map? 
The inspiration for the mural map is based off of a late 1920s Archaeological map of the Hohokam canal system and ancient village sites. It has the original names of some of the local mountain ranges which are written out in the O'odham language.

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Regular Gallery, Thomas "Breeze" Marcus, You Are Here
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5 Questions

Sarah Hurwitz's Phoenix Proper

By Claire Lawton Fri., Nov. 4 2011 at 12:00 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
hurwitzyouarehere.JPG
Sarah Hurwitz
​​​This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix, at Regular Gallery. While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 

We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez, Safwat Saleem, David Quan, and Sue Chenoweth; this afternoon, local artist Sarah Hurwitz answers a few questions about her maps of Phoenix:

1. What were the inspirations for your map? 
I did a ton of research and it was fun. I looked through the Rumsey map collection online, but mostly I sought out maps that hang at diners, touristy maps with large attractions and bright colors. As well as vintage auto maps for great typography.
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Regular Gallery, Sarah Hurwitz, You Are Here
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5 Questions

David Quan's Silly Map (of Phoenix)

By Claire Lawton Wed., Nov. 2 2011 at 11:09 AM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
​​This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix, at Regular Gallery. While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 

We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez, Safwat Saleem, and Sue Chenoweth; this afternoon, local artist David Quan answers a few questions about "Silly Map (of Phoenix)." 
davequanmapphx2.jpg
Detail from David Quan's "Silly Map (of Phoenix)"

1. What were the inspirations for your map? 

2. Give us a childhood memory of a map. 
Whenever I would go somewhere with my Grandpa he would always tell me what everything on the map was. I pretended like I understood all about mile markers and the grid and the distance to inches ratios but I didn't, I just stared at him and nodded. 

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David Quan, Regular Gallery, You Are Here
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5 Questions

Sue Chenoweth's 14th St. and Missouri: Central Phoenix

By Claire Lawton Tue., Nov. 1 2011 at 1:30 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
suechenoweth.jpg
Sue Chenoweth
​This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix, at Regular Gallery. While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 

We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez and Safwat Saleem; this afternoon, local artist Sue Chenoweth answers a few questions about "14th St. and Missouri: Central Phoenix." 

1. What were the inspirations for your map?
I always paint what I know, so it isn't surprising that my map came from the tight surroundings of my world. I choose to paint a map of the street where I live and the treasures found there. Treasures that run the gamut from the blackberries in the alley behind my house to the basketball court in the side yard of the house across the street. 

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Regular Gallery, Sue Chenoweth, You Are Here
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5 Questions

Safwat Saleem's Land of Sunshine

By Claire Lawton Mon., Oct. 31 2011 at 2:15 PM
Categories: 5 Questions, Visual Art
landofsunshine.jpg
"Land of Sunshine" (archival ink on matte paper) by Safwat Saleem
​This month, Jackalope Ranch opened its first curated exhibition, You Are Here: A Collection of Maps of Phoenix at Regular Gallery. 

While you still have a chance to check out the show, which will be up until November 12, we'll give you a little background on each creation. 

We spoke with Monica Aissa Martinez last week, and this afternoon, local designer Safwat Saleem answers a few questions about "Land of Sunshine." 

1. What were the inspirations for your map? 
 I wanted to make something that unabashedly represented Arizona and not just Phoenix. What better way to do that than with an image of Colt Single Action Army Revolver aka the "Peacemaker"? It is Arizona's official state gun and Arizona also happens to be one of only two states in the country to have an official state gun. 

It made sense to let this revolver, which is clearly a symbol of pride for the state, be the focal point of the print. The words in the back are from the Arizona March Song. There's also a map of Arizona in there somewhere, but let's not get ourselves distracted here -- we must continue to focus on the important matter of having an official state gun.

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Tags:

Land of Sunshine, Regular Gallery, Safwat Saleem, You Are Here
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