GINGERS COME OUT ON TOP AT THE XGAMES
Growing up enthralled by the action sports industry, one can only dream of hitting the huge ramps, carving down the pristine slopes of beautiful mountains, or catching massive airs in the half pipe. Now this may be showing my age a bit, but I remember when the X GAMES started, and I made it a point to watch it every year it was on TV. So sitting here drinking my coffee, reflecting on my recent trip, designing the XGAMES medals, working with FUSE MARKETING GROUP & VIMEO.com to art direct and build out VIMEO’s booth at the games, as well as continue to work with ADAPTIVE ACTION SPORTS, I can only pinch myself after everything that unfolded during my WINTER X GAMES experience. Here are some photos of my dream unfolding.
Shaun White after winning SUPERPIPE gold, recieving a 5 peat, and perfect score of 100 ( first time in history)
Shaun and I before his run for a little pep talk while our seats where with espn media and medics during pipe.
the 25,000 other people in their seats. wooppps
On stage being interviewed by ESPN broadcasted on the jumboTRON and who knows where else, just before awarding the medals I designed to the winners of the Women’s Snowboarder X competition.
While I was in Colorado, I was interviewed by the ASPEN TIMES, as well as The TRENTON TIMES, both coming out on Thursday while I was at the games across the country. pretty awesome!
the Vimeo booth concept was pretty rad… building the area out to be pop art meets the vibe of the ski/snow culture.. you stepped in to get dressed up with props, threw on the actual medals, get interviewed on camera, where the team then uploaded the videos to your new VIMEO account.
the ADAPTIVE ACTION SPORTS CREW… classic photo.
red carpet at the POWDER AWARDS, and getting weird with all-you-can-drink rum at the SAILOR JERRY/REDBULL party in down town ASPENNN … epic nights.
So after 8 days with my 2 best friends ( matt and my brother Mike) I was able to pull off and experience something one as a rider, and artist, an action sports junkie can only dream off. From watching the best athletes in the world, wearing my medals, breaking history, setting new standards, shredding fresh powder for hours with no one around, riding the Snowboarder X course, watching my brother fall from a 30ft jump, eating shit myself giving me a bruise that will last till next XGAMES, meeting new people, catching up with old friends, crushing beers, trying to catch my breath from lack of oxygen, doing tree runs and getting stuck in powder up to our chests all while GOPRO-ing the whole thing… I can only sit here as I write this and say I am truly gratful for everyone in my life that supports the crazy crap I dive head first into, often blind. With out all of you, that read my blog, buy my art, encourage me and push me to new heights, helping me realize everything is possible, I wouldnt be here.
Once again, pinching myself, i just want to say thanks again for all the love…
cheers
joe
MOUNTAINS TOPS AND MURALS (TIME-LAPSE)
I am very honored to announce that I was picked up by VIMEO.com to help design and art direct their presence at this years winter X GAMES. Here is the video my brother and FOOMAN FILMS put together of the process… pretty rad.
He is the final image of the limited edition poster i also created and will be handed out at the VIMEO tent during the course of the X GAMES.
SAN DIEGO SURF FILM FESTIVAL
I am very honored and grateful to be chosen to design the first annual SAN DIEGO SURF FILM FESTIVAL’s logo.
They are great guys, and i was very fortunate to have been able to meet/ hang/ and work multiple times this past year, both on the east and west coast. Check out their site ********HERE*********
Read their recent blog update announcing me as this year’s designer ****** HERE*****
BURTON’S HOLIDAY PARTY AND VERMONT
Another amazing trip in the books… Here it goes.
So currently my buddy Matt and I with a few others have been putting together ideas for a killer event in Manhattan with Burton Snowboards to help raise money and awareness for ADAPTIVE ACTION SPORTS. In this process we have made some great friends and were invited up to Vermont to Burton’s Holiday party. The feeling of hopping in a car, packed to the gills with everything you don’t need, leaving all the important things at home, tons of coffee and nothing but the road is a feeling I live for.
Left the house at 8pm, headed to Hoboken to grab Matt, back on the road by 10 and we were off. There is something to be said about me and that bastard when we get in a car for a road trip. We Just talk, brainstorm, talk life, business, women. We once got in a car for an expo in Orlando, and talked for 15hrs straight and never turned on the radio, true story and a changing point in my life for sure.
The trip up to Vermont was an experience. Between weird cow crossing signs, flashing neon lights, streaky dirty windows, and starbursts with every headlight that was on coming, I felt like It was a scene from Pee Wee Hermans big adventure. An extremely tired Patty picked us up at the Burton headquarters at 4am, back to the house, pounded beers. awesome.
Hit the mountain STOWE for bit the next day for a bunch of fun runs, felt great to get on the mountain for the first time this year, and got me stoked for the season. Hitting the bar in the lodge for a few PBR’s we then met with some of the Burton crew then headed back to hit the town.
Taking cabs in other places other than NYC always intrigues me. The drivers are always so nice. Of course we make friends with “RICK” our cab driver to the first stop. He is now our go to CABBIE. After Dinner and some amazing beer we head to the party, and it is packed, drink tickets in hand we start throwing them back, we are on a roll and the hurricane of Joe and Matt are now ready to have fun, meet people, and dance our faces off. The guy to girl ratio at this thing was truly the best i have ever seen, 20+ girls, at one point were on the floor and me and Matt, Brian and some other dude, who was using his liquor intake to gyrate his body in ways i have never seen a human do.
“rick” was no where to be found… we wanted a hat trick with the dude for a 3rd trip, we opted for a different guy, wasnt RICK, but we got over it. Heading to another bar, now snowing like crazy, we literally dance and drank the night away… with friends, good conversations, and even Santa.
Waking the next morning we literally had to force our selves to eat with bloody marys, and made our way to the car to piece together the night like the movie HANG OVER, searching for everything we lost the night before in the town of Burlington. truly an epic time, with friends, new faces, ridiculous stupid moments, and all we lost was an IPhone and our sobriety for a night. I say it was a success.
ALL ACTION SPORTS RADIO
All Action Sports Radio just posted the podcast of a recent interview they did with me talking about the Xgames Medal Design contest.
Fast forward to time frame 50:00… and try not to laugh at me… please and thank you.
————–THE RADIO INTERVIEW—————
WINTER X GAMES DESIGN CONTEST WINNER!!!!!
I just won!!!!!!!!! Thanks to everyone who supports me, everyone who believes in me with all my crazy, off the wall, out of the box, wild things I get myself into. I have to be the happiest ginger artist in the world right now. Thanks again, a million times over again!!!
Read the Release here at XGAMES.com
THE MYTH – KRAKEN
The Myth – the Kraken is the first piece of a series i am working on, portraying the myths of the sea.
22″x30″ mixed media/vintage news print/acrylic/watercolor with hand pressed blocked print
total time to carve block = 26 hrs.
VOTE MY DESIGN FOR THE XGAMES!!!
So I was just named a finalist in a contest designing this years WINTER X GAMES medals. 16 were chosen and if you go to XGAMES.com you can click and vote for your favorites… but through a bunch of vote in there for me JOE HODNICKI.
******************VOTE HERE**********************
SURFING HERITAGE FOUNDATION TONIGHT!
I am very honored to be apart of the killer event tonight at the Surfing Heritage Foundation. I was one of the artist chosen to paint a one of a kind handplane from ENJOY and be displayed next to many amazing artists. If your in the area, check it out.
LIVE PAINTING @ THE SACRED CRAFT.
I was asked to take part as one of the chosen surf artists in an event for the Surfing Heritage Foundation. The theme is body surfing, and using the AMAZING hand planes from ENJOY as the canvas. These amazing little hand boards are crafted from donated broken surfboards and wetsuits. An unbelievable way to continue the rides long after your board is broken. The event will take place at the museum on the 22nd of October and will also be showing Keith Malloy’s COME HELL OR HIGH WATER. Its and unbelievable film that if you body surf or have at one point in your life, you will definitely enjoy this flick. here are some photos of me painting live @ the Sacred Craft in DEL MAR.
WAVES OF WINE
So not being able to sleep one night, i pulled out my sketch book, and started coming up with random household objects that can be functional, needless to say, i wasnt able to sleep, and up early the next morning WAVES OF WINE were started.
ARRIVING IN LA FOR A FEW DAYS
I just got to LA for a few days, and of course it was raining just off my flight. People have said it hasnt rained in months, and lucky me, I hit perfectly. Met up with some friends, spun around Venice and Santa Monica for the day, drinking coffee, and soaking in the vibe I just dont feel on the east coast. Turned out to be a beautiful night. LA how i missed you.
on a jet plane.
around venice.
THE THINKER
THE THINKER – paper/pen/acrylic on vintage book cover.
We spend a lot of time thinking of regrets, lost chances, passing dreams, staying lost inside our minds as the world passes us by… Now let’s find the door.
THE SLEEPER
THE SLEEPER – paper / pen/ acrylic on vintage book cover… More than often opportunities don’t just fall in our laps…. With hard work we can make our dreams come true, its time to wake up.
NEXT TIME
NEXT TIME – paper/pen/acrylic/dollar bill/mounted on wood.
we are all guilty to some degree, we get caught up in our lives, our vices, the newest cell phone, not to mind you the bills with it, expensive taste, or sometimes just the lack of knowledge about knowing how to get involved to help make a difference. If we don’t have the money to help, just bending over and picking up trash someone decided to throw on the ground is a step in the right direction.
WORLD TRAVELER
WORLD TRAVELER- paper/pen/map/acrylic/mounted on vintage grammar school geography book cover.
We often go through life saying we want to travel, see beautiful places, meet interesting people, experience the diverse cultures this life has to offer, and more than often put it off.
NEW WAVE/ NYSFF PHOTOS.
So on Sept 15, I had 2 events in NYC to attend, both of which where amazing. One the NEW YORK SURF FILM FESTIVAL and the other A SURFRIDER event called NEW YORK/NEW WAVE. here are some photos.
Tommy Colla showing off his recent photo of Kelly Slater doing his Hail Mary Huck at the recent Quiksilver Pro in NY.
Dave from WAVES FOR DEVELOPMENT, Christian from DRIGGS BRO Productions, Tyler from SMASH, and Will marketing director for TEVA.
Hanging with christian from driggs bro productions, Morgan the owner of the NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL, and Josh from SKULLCANDY.
Holding up the new shirt i designed sponsored by NIKE, for this years NYSFF.
MAINE & SURF RE-EVOLUTION
entrance to grain / jon wegener gluing up some paulownia blanks for his alaia class.
burning the mid-night oil at the shop gearing of the weekend… surf is building.
finishing a new Channel Islands biscuit while Chester watches.
jon wegener teaching the students the steps of shaping an alaia, and even got do some shaping outside after the rain let up.
BEHIND THE PALMS IN MALIBU for SURFAID
I am very happy to once again work with my friends over at SURFAID INTERNATIONAL for their upcoming event. I have 2 pieces of art up for auction. A one of a kind block print, and a hand etched mirror.
Join SurfAid for a special night featuring a live music performance by DONAVON FRANKENREITER and spinning by KCRW’s DJ MARIO COTTO.
Enjoy gourmet eats, hosted cocktail bars, wine tasting, live and silent auction, raffles, giveaways and more…
With your help Behind the Palms – Malibu will raise much-needed funding so SurfAid can continue to deliver its community-based health and emergency response programs in the Mentawai, Nias, Telo and Banyak islands and build on its award-winning capacity in emergency preparedness. It promises to be a great evening – for a great cause!
SURF RE-EVOLUTION
So stoked to be heading up to Maine to help setup up the first annual SURF RE-EVOLUTION festival with my friends from Grain Surfboards. I will also be showing some of my recent art happenings, so take the drive and come on up.
FLAT SPELL – MIXED MEDIA
So i guess i was inspired by this summers flat spell to do this mixed media piece using plaster/spray paint/ acrylic/pen
DRIFTWOOD VANITY TABLE
So after Nor’easters and hurricanes, i often find myself getting to the beaches here on the east coast in hopes to fill my truck with as much drift wood as possible. Most of the time i have no clue what the hell i will do with it, often it sitting in my studio for a very long time, but today i was inspired to build this table.
SEA PADDLE AND WHITE WATER EVENING
I have 4 pieces for auction at the SEA’s WHITE WATER EVENING @ the SOUTH STREET SEAPORT in Manhattan.
SURFING 28 STATES BENEFIT AND BOARD
So Jonno Durrant & Stefan Hunt, of Surfing 50 States, and now the new Surfing 28 States in India, asked me to hand paint the grand prize for their premiere of their new video master piece. check out the links below… super rad film put together by some great people.
—————- SURFING 28 STATES LINK ————
ANOTHER COMMISSIONED PIECE
I was ask to do a painting recently as a birthday gift for her boyfriend. Being they are both rock climbers, love the outdoors, and their boxer, she asked if i could somehow incorporate it all in to some sort of mixed media painting. This is what i came up with.
ART SHOW IN AN AIRSTREAM
so i was asked to be a part of this rad art show in a gutted AIRSTREAM trailer by my good friend Scott Szegeski, a fellow artist and business owner. The show was at one of his many restaurants around the Jersey shore. The vibe was great, people were stoked, and if i didnt know any better i could of swore i was in San Diego. check the links. –SCOTTS ART– – RESTAURANTS– –AIRSTREAM TRAILERS—
SOME BEATER ACTION
so i was able to finally ride one of these BEATER BOARDS made by CATCH SURF i heard so much about… and i have to say they are a blast… check out the link
—-CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT BEATER’S SITE ——
NEW SCHOOL OF GUPPIES
a new run of hand-planes made from paulownia i just put out. plenty of “guppies” in the sea so they say.
HAND PAINTED BOARD FOR W.A.V.E.S.
I was asked to hand paint one of the grand prizes for an event put on by WAVES for DEVELOPMENT.. and amazing non profit and deserves a look.
NEW COMMISSIONED PIECE
I was asked to do a painting for a 20 year anniversary. I was very honored to do this piece, their story is amazing. This is a mixed media piece with plaster, wood, acrylic, and pen 36″ x 36″
CLUMSY
i have the constant habit of putting these small cups full of big brushes on the ground… they are all over the place… i randomly kick them over quite often.. think i would learn my lesson.
SALTBOX n MONTAUK
So i was given an opportunity to bring some of my work up to the a rad shop/boutique in Montauk, NY called SALTBOX… if your in the area its a must see.
RECENT WRITE UP
Thanks to support of my local newspaper, Suzette Lucas for the photos, and my buddies Matt Colvin and Mikey Pie for the quotes in a recent article released this week on my art and entrepreneurial ventures.
SECRET SPOT
SECRET SPOT – acrylic/ wood/ plaster/ pen
THE DREAMER
I have been contemplating moving for some time now… always in the back of my mind, but recently i have been put in a situation where i have to world at my finger tips… one of those days inspired me to draw this for my nephew jack. I know I most likely wont be around as much, to see him grow, and teach him all the things i would love to as a COOL uncle, but i wanted him to at least look at this picture everyday, and realize its ok to follow your dreams… he is my little monster.
PANE OF PLEASURE
My landlady had this old window pane laying around the property, she kindly let me have it, saying ” i dont know what you would every do with that??” so the challenge was on… I kind of wanted to push myself a bit with this idea, so i painted it backwards, starting with the detail first, then layering color and more color… then finally the basecoats. When i flipped the pane over i was able to see my finished product, with the smooth glass on the front giving the image a bit of dimension while still being able to see through parts of the glass.
IN PROGRESS
So this is a pic of part of my block carving process when my studio is freeeezzzinggg… it helps when cutting the linoleum… this day it was unbearable.
