Portland Mercury

The Portland Mercury, a weekly paper here in Portland, approached me recently for some artwork for their cover. It just so happened that some of my work fit right in with the story they were running about the approaching citywide smoking ban. I went out this afternoon and was psyched to see my recent work "Lime Frosted" , from my Acid in the Ice Cream show right there on the cover.. sweet!

Acid in the Ice Cream - Opening flix

Some pictures from my opening of the Acid in the Ice Cream show.
The show will be up until Jan 4th of 2009, so anyone in the area who didn't have a chance to come out.. come out!

See can see additional photos at my show gallery here.



::BACKSPACE PRESENTS::
“Zach Johnsen: ACID IN THE ICE CREAM”
First Thursday / Art Show Opening
December 4th, 2008
Show Dates: December 4 - January 4, 2009

Backspace is pleased to announce Acid in the Ice Cream, the a solo show featuring the newest body of work by illustrator and artist, Zach Johnsen. Acid in the Ice Cream is a departure from Johnsen's customary imagery of critters, miscreants, and darting bodies. Instead, this show depicts more the human form and how it interacts with this world of ghosts and energies. Acid in the Ice Cream implies an act of violence or revulsion amongst something cute and cuddly. It is a sea of stuffed animals filled with cacti. It is a lollipop that tastes like tar and oil. It is a moment of pure revelation while drinking your morning coffee or tea. It is a sudden realization that everything we deal with on a day to day isn't all that there is.. that there is in fact, so much more around us if we open our senses to it.

This show will feature new works on paper plus new installations.
Also showing will be a variety of older works on paper as well as silkscreen prints, tees and more!

Backspace Gallery
115 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Acid in the Ice Cream - Show Progress

Thought I'd post some pictures of the work in progress (yes, I'm still working on it) for my show this upcoming thursday at Backspace gallery in Portland, Oregon. The show is called Acid in the Ice Cream.. and in a nutshell will feature the cute and the violent all in one. I will be showing huge new drawings.. which you can see some of in this post.. as well as new installation work in wood. Anybody in Portland and the nearby area should come out and enjoy some good times at first thursday!

Complete Skate Deck Show

The Complete Skate event that I posted about earlier finally went down this last weekend. It was a skate deck art show and silent auction to benefit Complete Skate and its various youth programs here in Portland. The show was sick, with tons of great decks, good music, and beers a'flowin! It was a great success.. and I bid on a board myself.. pssst.. it's the upholstered one. We'll see if I end up winning it.

Check out some pix, including some of my own deck in the show.

Last day of 50% off sale at TankTheory.com

Should have posted this sooner, but never had the chance. Since friday, we have been having a 50% off sale on every tshirt on the site! Well it's still going on, but today is the last day. Swing on through and get half off all of your favorite tshirts or maybe one that you have been on the fence about.. because after today, everything goes back to regular price.. Come by for the Economy Sucks Sale now!



www.tanktheory.com

Back in Black - Tshirt Show

Fellow designer in arms, Hydro74 and Pale Horse Design are throwing a tshirt show in St. Petersburg, Florida on Nov 22nd and asked yours truly to be involved.. It looks like it's going to be a killer show so anyone who lives in the area should go.

More info at http://backinblackapparel.com

Confirmed Artists:
Munk One - http://www.munkone.com
Julie West - http://www.juliewest.com
Zach Johnsen - http://www.zenvironments.com
Horse Bites - http://horsebitesdesign.com
Hydro 74 - http://www.hydro74.com
Iron Forge Press - http://www.ironforgepress.com
Pale Horse - http://palehorsedesign.com
Ray Frenden - http://www.frenden.com
Dan Mumford - http://www.dan-mumford.com
God Machine - http://www.godmachine.co.uk
Michael Cina http://www.youworkforthem.com
Jimyo - http://www.jimiyo.com
Tristan Eaton - http://wwwthunderdogstudios.com
Rob Schwager - http://www.robschwager.com
Danny Jones - http://www.yasly.com
Alejandro Fuentes - http://www.losfokos.com
Tech Vector - http://www.techvector.com
Jeff Hamada - http://www.booooooom.com
Pencil Bomb - http://pencilbomb.blogspot.com
Noah Deledda - http://www.myspace.com/thxmgmt

Fright Night

Halloween for me is a special treat considering my brother Blake, whom I live with, celebrates his birthday on the same day. What do we do in this event? Throw a party of course! Our good friends the Fasttakers blessed us again with the rockin set. Blake you might recognize as the Teen Wolf.. i'm old filthy.. can you spot him?

All these photos were taken by my brother. You can check out more at his photo page.