Fame @ Ignite wrapup

On Thursday July 30th Ignite, a local model agency, hosted Fame. It was an evening event to celebrate the grand opening party of their new office space. Ignite knows how to throw an event, there was a fashion show of local designers, a cash bar, a DJ playing some music, and hair and make up consultations. Art also played a huge role in the evening, being that the space was filled with art by Jesse Draxler and myself, while we also worked on a live painting.

Jesse and I spent most of the week setting up the show, hanging and organizing our art, so we had little time to work on any preliminary sketches for the live painting.

I've known Jesse for many years now but we have never collaborated on something together. We have shown together, we've talked art, but we have never worked on the same piece together. We had little time to setup and even less to discuss what we were going to do, but I don't think it could have gone any smother.

On Wednesday night we setup the blank canvas and briefly discussed what we wanted to do. We agreed on an idea and a composition, did a sketch on the canvas, started it and called it a night.

Looking back on the situation and our plan I am somewhat amazed at how smoothly things went. It could have been a total shit show, but it wasn't. Working with Jesse was a natural organic process. We agreed on what needed to be done and did it.

Later that night we ended up deciding that this would be the first of many live paintings. Look forward to many live paintings from Nice Awesome, the name of our live painting collab group company. Get a hold of one of us if you want Nice Awesome to do some live painting at your event.

Here are some pics:

FAME @ Ignite Models Studio

This thursday i'll be showng some work with my good buddy Jesse Draxler. The event is the grand opening party for the new office space of Ignite Models Studio. Check it out, word is i might be doing a live painting with Jesse, be there.

7.30.09 7-70pm

here is the press release for the event:

FAME @ Ignite Models Studio
Fashion|Art|Music|Entertainment: A Swanky New Monthly Soiree

Grand Opening Party - Thursday, July 30, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (July 16, 2009) - Ignite Models, Inc. boutique model management agency today announced their exhilarating addition to the cultured Minneapolis nightlife scene: FAME is a brand new event that will bring together the Twin Cities Fashion, Arts, Music & Entertainment Communities once a month for Fashion Shows, Art Exhibitions, Music, Shopping, Trunk Shows, Cocktails, Tasty Bites, Posh Decor and much more.

The FAME Grand Opening Party will take place on Thursday, July 30 at Ignite Models Studio in the North Loop of Minneapolis. Hosted by Ignite Model Management & Cliche, the event will feature a Fashion Show with Ignite Models, Art Exhibitions by Multimedia Artist/Illustrator Jesse Draxler and Garrett Perry (Who Will Paint A Canvas Live,) house, electro and pop music by DJ Timmay & Jiz Tha Goods and food and drink from The Loop.

Kicking off July 30th with the Grand Opening Party and taking place the last Thursday of every month thereafter, fashionistas, stylistas, designers, artists, models, musicians, writers, djs and assorted creative cool kids will mix and mingle at a splashy new warehouse loft space in the heart of the North Loop - Ignite Models Studio, located in the Brin Building at 600 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis.

Each month, FAME will shine the spotlight on several distinctive designers with a Fashion Show featuring gorgeous Ignite models, who will showcase more than 30 of the designer's looks. The Grand Opening Party on July 30th will be hosted by Cliche clothing boutique and feature the design talent of the Twin Cities' own Jenny Carle, Kelson, Renate Adjei, Amanda Christine, Kjurek Couture, Carmichael Claith and Cliche, with Accessories by Tea Tree Designs, Andrea Oseland, Kula and Zoby. Rocco Altobelli will take care of all hair and L.mae Artistry will provide make-up for the models in the fashion show.

Fashion fanatics will experience a completely unique shopping experience at FAME that's part fashion show, part trunk show, all fabulous. On July 30th, Cliche will create a mini-store inside Ignite Models Studio, with pieces available for purchase from the featured designers lines. And best of all, each month you'll be able to meet and greet the designers, ask questions and maybe even change into your chic new couture and sashay your way down the catwalk once or twice.

The Grand Opening Party will feature live painting by Minneapolis Artist Garrett Perry throughout the evening, and Perry and Multimedia Artist/Illustrator Jesse Draxler will exhibit their recent pieces in the Art Gallery through the end of August. Each month, FAME will feature different Twin Cities Artists to show their work, which can be purchased throughout the month by appointment.

Sip refreshing summer cocktails on the back patio lounge or one of the plush couches throughout the Ignite Models Studio warehouse loft space, and nosh on tasty bites provided by The Loop as you groove to electro, house and pop music by DJ Timmay & Jiz Tha Goods. Nino Altobelli and his top Rocco Altobelli Hair Stylists will have a space set up to give free consultations to anyone who looking for a new hair do. You can also view all model books and portfolios, tour the Ignite Model Studio space, and shop the trunk shows at these one-of-a-kind events.

The worlds of fashion, art and music will come together at each monthly FAME event, so prepare to hobnob with more than 50 hot male and female Ignite Models, fashionistas, stylists, designers, artists, musicians, DJ, hairstylists, make-up artists and writers from around the Twin Cities and beyond...

FAME events will go from 7pm -10pm, the last Thursday of every month - starting July 30. Ignite Models Studio is located in the Brin Building at 600 Washington Ave N, Suite 101, Minneapolis. Anyone who RSVP’s to info@ignitemodelsinc.com, or prints off the email, flyer or Facebook invite will be admitted for free. Otherwise there will be a $5 cover charge at the Door.

Ignite Models Inc. was founded by two models who recognized two basic truths: Models deserve to be treated fairly, and many designers struggle to put on their own events. Jessica Cunningham and Allison Hamzehpour joined in 2006 to form an entertainment and production company that grew to include model management. Always dedicated to the advancement of models, the pair launched innovative, high-fashion runway events that quickly took Minneapolis by storm. Collaboration with leading photographers, designers, hair and makeup artists, dancers and musicians created breathtaking events that sold out every time. All while focusing on what was best for each model. Today Ignite Models Inc. offers comprehensive model management services, and is proud to be a non-exclusive agency, available to models who may have representation elsewhere.Jessica and Allison credit their success to a new style and vision, and all the models who guided the company to its unmatched reputation within the industry. For more on Ignite Models Inc., please visit: http://www.ignitemodelsinc.com/

Press Contact: Natalie Auger, VimLab Promotions, 612.229.8522, natalie@vimlab.com.

Swell society B4BC wrapup

On Thursday July 9th Swell Society hosted the Boarding for Breast Cancer poolside fashion show at the Calhoun Beach club. The weather was less then perfect and tried to literally rain on our parade, thankfully though the rain held up and the show was amazing. The models rocked some legit gear, the tunes were banging and the silent auction of lots of merchandise helped to raise money for breast cancer research. Quiksiler was in town with some of the coolest dudes I've had the honor of showing around town and came to the event. The night was one of the highlights of my young art career and a total blast!

Me and my buddy chuck aka charles mossey were there doing a live painting, we prepared the week before by working in my studio and doing many preliminary sketches, after many failed attempts we both agreed on an idea and composition that we liked. We wanted something elegant but also contemporary and fun, something we wanted to enjoy painting but also created visual awareness to breast cancer, or at least tie breast cancer into the piece.

All in all the night was a blast and the live painting went well, even though me and chuck were both a little anxious being that we had never done a live painting in front of a large group.

I also painted a bust that was auctioned of in the silent auction and my good friend Jesse Draxler did as well.

Here are the photos from the night, it is a mini photo documentary of one of my favorite nights of this summer so far.