with our feet on the ground and our head in the clouds » EVENTS

Drugs Crew @ New Image Art

the hippo — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:11:20 +0000

Saturday we cruised to the opening of the DRUGS CREW show at New Image Art Gallery to support our buddy who was part of the show.

Immediately upon stepping inside, we were overwhelmed by the complete floor to ceiling multimedia installation. Layered underneath the pieces, the walls had been completely painted and pieces were even hung from the ceiling.

I took some detail shots of the pieces, but this is really a show you have to check out in person.

LA based artist, Augustus, who recently had a show here, was in the crowd as well as MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch.

I loved these oversize scratchers hung around the gallery.

Thanks to Hex for supporting the arts!

Happy Holidays

the hippo — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:50:30 +0000

Come celebrate the holidays with our friends from this summers No Shirt/No Shoes party.

Tuneage by the Pool Party Legends ; Surf Ambassador Hendo, Bixel Boys, Tropicool, & Junkyard
Golden Gopher DTLA 10-2.
No Cover

Saturday Stimuli

the hippo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:10:15 +0000

Japan was an amazing trip, and Ampal will be making some big moves in 2012 over in the land of the rising sun. Extended Blog Posts to come…

This Saturday, New Image Art gallery with support from Hex Bags will be presenting opening of the DRUGS CREW show. Our talented friend Gus Thompson will be showing some new work.

On the westside, our friends over at Witness This are holding a charity for a great cause. If you’re out in Venice go check out “Give Get” benefiting the woman’s shelter – Time for Change Foundation – out of San Bernardino. These ladies deserve a little holiday support, womans shelter x San Bernardino = heavy!!!

Tickets available HERE

Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby!!!

the hippo — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:49:45 +0000

I’m in Japan with my brother, Nick from Crap/N.Potash Jewelry, exploring our roots and getting inspired. Today we checked out the 20th anniversary Mooneyes Carshow in Yokohama. This is a little preview of the most glorious collection of gasoline fueled speed machines ever assembled under one roof.

Stay tuned, lots more to come…

Westcoast 2.0

the hippo — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:31:08 +0000

I got to cruise to the Kendrick Lamar/DJ Green Latern show at the Music Box on Friday. I had heard the hype about Kendrick – endorsements from Dre and Snoop as the torchbearer of Westcoast Hip Hop etc. – and listened to a few mixtapes and tracks, but seeing it in person, I’m now a believer. Kendrick’s from Compton and his music is part classic West Coast gangsta rap, but with a lot of other influences and a flow that emerges as uniquely his own.

Fellow Compton/TDE artist Schoolboy Q, was on right before Kendrick and put on a great show as well. We were stoked to see him come on stage wearing a REMINGTON snapback – I’ve never seen the winter pin-up girls looking so hard.

Going into the show I was excited to see the legendary evil genius DJ Green Lantern do a set. I’ve been listening to his mixtapes forever so it was great to meet him and I was pumped he was feeling our new hats.

After the show the good doctor, DRE!!!! came backstage to introduce the fam to Kendrick, I was going to ask him about Detox, but had second thoughts when his security locked down the hall.

Occupied

the hippo — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:58:57 +0000

Our friend, Taylor Dunfee, the man behind our FW lookbook, documented Occupy LA on thursday 11/17.

He wanted us to share it with the world. These are a few of our favorites. Check out more here.

Saturday Saturday Saturday

the hippo — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:59:49 +0000

Some of our favorite downtown party people have come together to create a sample sale with the best line-up of brands Ive seen in a while. We’ll be there with a bunch of hats, some good deals and a cooler of cold beer. Make a downtown day of it and check out the TSD art show below.

dont lose your head x TSD Creative

the hippo — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:08:14 +0000

If you were as blown away by the images of our F/W Collection as we were, you should check out Mr. Dunfee’s art show this weekend.

Equally talented behind and in front of a camera, with a pen in hand, surfboard under foot, beer in hand, or crushing miles on his 2 wheeled steed, White Gloss will be hosting an exhibition starting this Saturday 11/5.

And if you’re just a big piece, the rumor is the PBR will be flowing like the Pacific to the soothing sounds of Junkyard or SAH.

R.I.P. Steve, Thanks for Everything.

the hippo — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:04:47 +0000

Thank you for everything Steve. RIP 1955-2011

It’s unfortunate that someone’s passing often makes you think how much effect they have had your life. I really don’t think Ampal, let alone my dream of pursuing my passions for a living would be possible without Steve Jobs.

No words can really describe the impact his products had on my life and I’m sure its a sentiment shared by many in our creative community. I would like to share a few of the ways they effected me along my journey.

My first memory of Mr. Jobs in my life is playing a b/w tank game on my dad’s Mac Plus at a really young age. Kid Pix circa 1990 on our Mac IIfx was probably the first time I really embraced a computer for creating.

Throughout elementary and middle school our progression of macs, played an integral part of my education and artistic life. In middle school I finally got my “own” mac and a little later on the availability of such programs as photoshop, illustrator, imovie and premier allowed me to develop creatively and to embrace the DIY attitude. The beauty of what Steve created was is accessibility and ease of use. With a little bit of guidance I was able to learn these programs on my own.

In highschool I made my first graphics that were actually made into t shirts on the Mac. Another big milestone was the advent of cd burners and napster giving me the freedom to really explore music. The idea of saving up $11.99 – $15.99 to go buy a CD you had only heard 2 songs on was a not that cool as a grom. I played around with logo design creating multiple identities for the local punk label that a best friend and I started and disbanded before we threw our combined $2400 of savings into studio time.

*not my computer

The G4 tower I got freshman year survived the next 5 years. During this period I really embraced my Mac as a tool. I started picking up little projects from people - flyer’s, tee’s, quick video edits. While I studied, I learned how to use the computer to both create an identity for and manage a business.

After I college I worked at an Apple store to support myself while I was starting Ampal. I don’t think I need to explain the countless way’s I use my Mac’s today, but there would be no Ampal and I would not be where I am at without the amazing creations of a visionary college drop out.

Thanks Steve for thinking outside the box and giving the world the power and opportunity to create with your tools.

Thanks for everything.

*I also need to thank both my parents for giving me the opportunity to create with my hands through endless art and craft projects that balanced with all the above.

Summer’s Last Blast

the hippo — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:09:18 +0000

As an amazing summer winds down we are going pay homage to one of the most memorable summers since the grom days.

This Saturday (Sept. 10) is the final all star No Shirt / No Shoes pool party.
RSVP HERE

Shout out to Ian and the Dub Frequency crew for letting us be an official part of all the goodtimes.

This weekend we’re taking the No Shirt / No Shoes party west to the Standard Hollywood.
RSVP HERE