Artist Shout Out: Buff Diss

Australian artist Buff Diss creates free-hand drawings with masking tape that transform crumbling, dilapidated environments into sanctuaries of graphic expression. In this interview with Upper Playground’s Walrus TV, Buff Diss explains his motivation, the importance of architecture in his work  and how masking tape keeps him out trouble with the law.

To see more of Buff Diss’ work click here

posted by: Harold Johns III

Artist Shout Out: Neil Krug

Images from Krug’s book Pulp

Here in Lawrence, KS (Rathaus headquarters) we are proud and fortunate to give a shout out to full-time promo director and recognized artist Neil Krug. The 25-year-old currently resides in Lawrence, but his name and his art have traveled internationally.

Krug works with Range Life Records artists Dri and White Flight, and recently directed British electro pop band Ladytron‘s video for the newest single “Tomorrow.” Since being featured on Fecal Face, BOOOOOOOM, and Changethethought, among countless other sites, Krug has made headway in the artistic blogosphere and is currently in the process of releasing two projects. First is a book of photos called Pulp, a collaboration with super model Joni Harbeck coming out later in 2009. Second, Invisible Pyramid, is a feature film said to have just wrapped production in Death Valley, California in May and set for release this fall.

Krug cites Robert McGinnis, Tanino Liberatore, Alejandro Jodorowsky, 70s Giallo cinema, and the Leone spaghetti westerns of the late sixties among influences. His photos evoke a deep sense of visual depth and compositional consideration, and while the work sometimes inspires discussions of appropriation and the “fetishization of Native Americans” it more often brings forth words like beautiful, amazing, and wonderful. Krug’s photos seem to pull a moment out of fiction, making every detail both revealing and esoteric.

Neil Krug’s site is under construction, but his work can be viewed in-depth here.

posted by: Scott Starrett

Chomp Womp Family Night – June

The first Monday of every month Chomp Womp hosts their Family Night at the 8th Street Taproom (801 New Hampshire) in Lawrence, KS. Here is the lineup for June’s installment.

CHANTS
BLASTOIDS
KEROUAC KARAOKE
DEREK YOUNG
BABY BIRDS DON’T DRINK MILK

10 pm//$3// 21+

posted by: Harold Johns III

Artist Shout Out: Seth Scriver

Seth Scriver is Canadian, he graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 2002. He uses a delicate, oddly-alluring drawing technique and sardonic wit to create subversive drawings, stickers, and animations that incorporate surrealistic cartoon figures. Besides that, we know next to nothing about Scriver’s background, his methods, or his up-coming art projects. It’s sometimes better if things like that are left unclear, let your imagination come up with the details.

To see more of Scriver’s work click here

posted by: Harold Johns III