Poster Child's Blade Diary

TOSAT- August, 22, 2010

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:23:42 -0700

Sunday — August 29th, 2010

TOSAT- August, 22, 2010

After we finished up with the daytime install of the Pattison Pillars, some of the volunteers remained behind to begin the prep for the nighttime mission- Illegal Billboards! (We had cool names; the daytime mission was called Ground Team, and the nighttime mission was called Sky Team.)

Above are most of the billboards that the team I was with hit (We did an additional three other billboards). I was rolling with Jordan, Sean, a film crew, (now into their third year of preparing a full-length documentary on public art and advertising- I’m sure I’ll keep you up to date with that…) and Liliana Velásquez, who did an amazing performance as the “Goddess of Transformation” on a large billboard that we whitewashed for her. Her performance was, hands down, the best performance art that I have ever been witness to. It was the moment, the night, the unique, unreproducible specialness of it all, but it was also such a great use of the billboard as a structure. Most ad takeovers only treat the advertising structure as the advertisers do- a place to mount 2D work. Here the whole thing was used and transformed as a stage- the wasteful billboard spotlight became a theater footlight, the platform for installing work became a thin stage, and the billboard, once whitewashed, became the backdrop where anything could happen. Once the billboard was transformed into a stage, you could really see, as if seeing a billboard for the first time, how goddamn huge they are. I mean, it’s an Ad. And it’s big enough to easily stage a performance on. And they are everywhere. That’s kinda crazy, right? It reminded me of the person who sewed a wearable car suit and walked around in it through crowded public places to remind people of just how big and selfish a cars space needs are- especially in a city- whether parked or driving… anyone recall the name of that artist?

Anyway, here’s a video that captures a little of the magic:

…and you can see some of the Billboards done by the other team here!

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Tags: advertising, Jordan Seiler, Liliana Velásquez, Sean Martindale, TOSAT | Comment

TOSAT!

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:24:42 -0700

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Saturday — August 28th, 2010

TOSAT!

Hello Friends!

It’s been some time. I can now finally tell you why I’ve been elusive of late. I’ve been away because I’ve been very busy helping to plan and execute TOSAT!

If you’re in Toronto, you may have already heard about it, but if you have not, let me give you the low-down:

After coming up to New York by myself to participate in the first NYSAT, and then with a solid crew of Torontonians for the second NYSAT, Jordan, the creator and driving force behind the SAT project became convinced that Toronto would be an ideal city to bring it to next. I believe it was Sean Martindale who first made the suggestion that TOSAT should happen, shortly after the completion of NYSAT 2!
Since that time, we have been talking, planning and recruiting other help (Martin Reis & Vanessa of DUSPA have both been invaluable!) which culminated last weekend when it all went down! Successfully!

I’d like to thank all the volunteers that installed artwork during the day on the Pattison Pillars (including my own work above, which I did NOT install myself!) and everyone that helped with the Billboards at night, which I will talk more about tomorrow!

Thank you so much everyone!

More Soon!

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Tags: advertising, Jordan Seiler, Sean Martindale, TOSAT | 1 Comment

Bronx Birdhouse

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:41:40 -0700

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Wednesday — August 4th, 2010

Bronx Birdhouse

I was recently trackside in the Bronx.

Put up this lil’ Birdhouse!

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Tags: bird houses, New York | 1 Comment

Vault 13

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:45:36 -0700

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Wednesday — July 28th, 2010

Vault 13

Buried underneath a bridge in Toronto, you will find the massive vault door to Vault 13.

I thought it was in California!

Ah well, I hope they are OK in there. No problems with the water chip or anything.

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Tags: Fallout, video games | 10 Comments

Follow Up Friday- Harper Unscathed

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:52:30 -0700

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Friday — July 23rd, 2010

Follow Up Friday- Harper Unscathed

It’s a Follow Up Friday!!

The wall I painted Mr. Harper onto was recently buffed. Whoever was sent to paint over the graffiti generously decided to leave my stencil unmolested! (You can see how they carefully went around the outline of the stencils head, and you can also see the little bit of brown paint on his helmet where a less careful tagger dipped into the stencil- now buffed.)

This could be because the stencil was somehow mistaken for official mural work. It could be because the buffman liked the work or was politically sympathetic- Harper hasn’t made alot of friends in Toronto. But it could also just be Harpers unaccountable knack for escaping normal consequences unscathed.

P.S.: The number “900″ on Harper’s helmet was selected to represent, at the time, the estimated number of arrested: the largest mass arrests in Canada ever. That number is now known to be more than 1000.

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Tags: G20, Stephen Harper | 1 Comment

Guerrilla Gardening: Hops – Nugget

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:34:48 -0700

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Monday — July 19th, 2010

Guerrilla Gardening: Hops – Nugget

More Hops. A little Nugget sprout.

I’m trying to up my odds of seeing some hops survive and flourish through greater numbers.

I’ll keep sending them out just as quickly as I can nurture them.

Just call me Johnny Hoppleseed!

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Tags: beer, guerrilla gardening, hops | 2 Comments

Guerrilla Gardening: Hops – Nugget

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:12:35 -0700

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Wednesday — July 14th, 2010

Guerrilla Gardening: Hops – Nugget

Unfortunately, when I went to check on the hops that I’d previously planted I found that they had died.

Last I’d checked, the hops were doing great and had lots of new growth, but I had to leave town for a bit, and that heat wave must have did them in while I was away.

So here’s some fresh hops- also planted by the rail tracks. It is a bigger, more established plant. Lets see how it does!

P.S. The last Variety of hop was Centennial. This new one is Nugget.

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Tags: beer, guerrilla gardening | Comment

Flickr Friday

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:22:10 -0700

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Friday — July 9th, 2010

Flickr Friday

It’s a Flickr Friday!

I was on Flickr and came across these very sexy pics by Carl W. Heindl! Lovely ladies love to be lovely near Posterchild Illegal Artworks!

Check out the original shots here!

P.S. this spot is a little out of the way, but not exactly secluded! That’s one brave and bold lady!

P.P.S. Thanks Carl!

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Tags: Flickr Friday | Comment

Follow Up Friday- Lovers Locks!

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:52:50 -0700

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Friday — July 2nd, 2010

Follow Up Friday- Lovers Locks!

When we went to attach the new lovers lock you saw a few days ago- we found something exciting: The first lovers locks that I wasn’t responsible for!!

Great to see these. Congratulations to the two couples!

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Tags: lockdowns, lovers locks | Comment

Torn Poster

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:30:06 -0700

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Thursday — July 1st, 2010

Torn Poster

Just a lil’ something

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Lovers Lock – Jenn & Ryan

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:34:29 -0700

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Tuesday — June 29th, 2010

Lovers Lock – Jenn & Ryan

This is a Lovers Lock. If you’d like to submit your own love story -and maybe have me create a personalized lock that will be added to Toronto’s Lover’s Fence- please read more about submitting here. Of course, you can always go and add your own. Toronto’s Lover’s Fence encloses Grange Park, the park behind the Art Gallery Of Ontario.

Ryan’s Love Story:

Hi Post,

I’ve been with my girlfriend Jenn for over two years now, and it’s been pretty rad! OUR STORY:

We met at a book launch for a childrens’ book, Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard (http://www.jeremytankard.com/books.html) – it’s a story about a grumpy bird. I’d tagged along with my friends Kean and John. Also at the show were Naseem and Jenn – Jenn having tagged along with Naseem. And as luck would have it, Naseem went to the same high school as John AND is a very social and friendly lady, so she dragged Jenn over and sat down at our table.

I was shy at suddenly having the most attractive lady in the room BY FAR sitting across from me, so I didn’t say much to her directly, but I do remember regaling the table with stories of how awesomely developed my calves had gotten, thanks to a summer of longboarding. I’d just noticed them myself in the shower and was flush with this new-found knowledge, I guess! They were like superhero calves. Anyway. I remember rolling up my pants to show the table my awesome calves, and then I remember the party breaking up and everyone taking the subway home.

On the subway I chatted with Jenn for a bit, but ran out of conversation. Her stop arrived, she got up, and as she was walking through the train doors I said “I like your coat”, and she said “Thanks”. This was the extent of my flirting abilities! IT WAS A NICE COAT THOUGH, YOU GUYS.

Anyway it turns out that the attraction was mutual and that Jenn’s friend Naseem is amazing at internet stalking! When Jenn said to her “Hey, that Brian guy was cute!” (yep, she mis-remembered my name), Naseem was ready in minutes with a full report for Jenn on who I am (”some guy with a website”) what I did (”he does this wordy comic. It isn’t very funny”), AND a photo of me kissing my ex-girlfriend that she’d found on-line. THANK YOU NASEEM. And even despite this full disclosure Jenn found me on Facebook and we went out on some dates and it was fun and now we live together and I kiss her EVERY DAY, sometimes more than once!

The end!

Oh wait I forgot to mention that now whenever Jeremy Tankard has a new book out we go to his launches and he’s always really happy to see us AND to see that we’re still together!

FROM RYAN

(I should mention that this design is not my own, but a Ryan & Jenn original! [Ryan is associated with T-Rexs and Jenn is associated with Horsies] They made it, and are using it, for their wedding!)

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Tags: lockdowns, lovers locks | 3 Comments

Harper’s Army

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:13:24 -0700

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Monday — June 28th, 2010

Harper’s Army

I don’t like you Mr. Harper.

I don’t like what you’ve done to my democracy, my country, and my city.

You have a reputation as a bulldog- a bully. But you are a coward, man. When democracy gets too hot for you, you prorogue parliament or mobilize a unprecedented private security force- along with unprecedented powers. Your sniveling cowardice is detrimental to our democracy and I have had enough.

In a more truthful world, perhaps the private security you brought in -and gave me and my fellow citizens the bill for- would brandish shields bearing your name, not the misnomer “Police”. It is an abuse to the good name that the Police of Toronto have worked hard to build to call them that.

In a more just world, perhaps you would be forced to work that security yourself.

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Tags: G20, Stephen Harper | 7 Comments

An Appeal to Consequences – SPUD – DMC, Acrylic & Black Spraypaint on Canvas, 55′ x 40′, 2010

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:18:39 -0700

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Sunday — June 27th, 2010

An Appeal to Consequences – SPUD – DMC, Acrylic & Black Spraypaint on Canvas, 55′ x 40′, 2010

SPUD! The name is hard to miss in Toronto. Cast your eyes up and you’re likely to spot his name or the name of his crew in huge & soaring letters! Not to say that that is all he does- SPUD doesn’t limit himself. He does it all- including freights and even stencils but what I love the most about his work is the big rollers. SPUD is an undeniable, unstoppable master of the roller, the blockbuster, the rooftop.

So, naturally, while I had no shortage of works to choose from, I’ve chosen to paint him here with one of his huge rollers. He was good enough to meet with me, and provide me with reference photographs. Over beers, we talked about art and graffiti, work and travel, and Toronto: The Screwface Capital- where we hate from within, and are slept on from without.

Thank you again, SPUD, for meeting with me and trusting me to paint your portrait!

I’m still looking to get in touch with so many of the other great writers in Toronto!

TEASE
TRIK
GRAMS
OCHRE
MANR
OREK
CAUSR
SCAR
BOOKS
EYES
ANSR
RASPER
CHUCK

If you are on this list, or know someone who is, could you please get in touch with me? posterchilds.blade.diary@gmail.com

Full info on the project here!

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Tags: An Appeal to Consequences, SPUD | Comment

Truth In Advertising

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:07:17 -0700

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Friday — June 25th, 2010

Truth In Advertising

Today I have something great to share with you that I’ve been excited to share for some time! Do you recall that one project that Jason Eppink and I came up with? No, not that one; this one!

Well, Jordan loved it, and with his help, we were able to take it to another level. This time we got the new signage printed “professionally”, and we did a lot more of them. It took Jordan and I about a day to assemble the vinyl, and we took another day (…and a good bit of the night) walking all around New York installing them! We had a close call with a couple police officers, close encounters with a couple bars along the way, and very tired feet by the end of it all!

Jordan Writes:

“Back In February PosterChild created an altered placard for the NPA city outdoor illegal street level billboards. He was aware of the fact that these placards were a lie being perpetrated on NY City by NPA as it made its transition to a new company called Contest Promotions. Under this new company, NPA’s illegal operations would be shut down and only those that could pretend to be running a raffle box would remain through a twisting of legal language. PosterChild’s single placard flew under the radar while still informing the public of NPA’s little secret, in a stark contrast to more overt actions we tend to carry out here at PublicAdCampaign. Needless to say, I wanted to see more.
At this same time I had been toying with the idea of running a micro-grant program. The grant would be on a rolling submission/review basis and the only stipulations would be that projects facilitate critical public interaction with outdoor advertising, and cost under one hundred dollars. Along with this small amount of production money PublicAdCampaign would help by tapping any resources we might have which could facilitate potential projects. PosterChild’s Truth In Advertising was a natural choice. In total the entire project ended up costing $91.48 and produced about 40 fake placards. You can see all of the images [Here]
I would like to thank PosterChild for inaugurating this micro-grant program with such a fantastically simple and effective project. In doing so I would also like to open up the next cycle of grant submissions. A clever idea can go a long way, alter how people think about the spaces they live in, and change what they come to expect from the streets that surround them. We hope that even in a small way we can facilitate this process and enrich the cities of this world with innovative and fun public works. Please take a look at the simple guidelines for submitting a proposal.”

I highly encourage you to submit to this new, fantastic and generous micro-grant program offered by PublicAdCampaign!

You can see my “Under One Hundred” project page here!

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Tags: advertising, collabos, Jason Eppink, Jordan Seiler, New York | Comment

More Monday

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:35:07 -0700

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Monday — June 21st, 2010

More Monday

Hey, time for more of THESE!

Here are some new colourways that I didn’t put up before, but have been holding onto ever since.

Which is your favorite of this new batch?

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Tags: Indian Head Test Card | 1 Comment