Teach'z of Peach'z in T.dot

Hey Kidz!! To any S8 followers out there who are living in - or passin' thru the big T City this month, be sure to swing by Pentimento Fine Art Gallery to czech the 'Home Girls' exhibition featuring work by 30 local artists including work by Section 8's Tess Millar. The show features a variety of portrait work based on the theme of famous Canadian women. The gist of the show is to give visitors the chance to vote on featured work, the winning piece of which is to be resized and affixed as a mural to the side of a Queen St East building wall.

The exhibition is open to public viewing as of August 4th, and the opening reception starts at 6pm on August 10th. come n' get taught.

While you're at it, be sure to czech the gallery's grand Summer Salon featuring a fine variety of artwork by notable artists, including photography by fellow Niagara native Darryl Block.


For more info, visit the gallery's website or blog!!
Pentimento Fine Arts Gallery: First Canadian Place. 100 King St West. Toronto.
xx.

Month Of Musik

This week our formerly quaint city of St. Kitts turned into a real good horror show me brothers. With angel's trumpet and devil's trombone, almost every bar has been packed with bands since the beginning of the month, and especially recently with the coming of Scene. Last Friday, S8 and friends went out to City Lights for a little blues history with the notorious Blind Boy Paxton. We looked on as this veteran of music lost himself in it, but not enough to forget shaking his gangster violin hand at all the people for their hootin' and drunken rambling. "I'll beat cho ass" he'd tell us when we forgot what was what. Strict teacher that he is, the man holds the world title for chill when the bottles are a breaking. I watched as he literally ended the oppression of violence and tyranny with the power of his feared fiddle. He then saluted his new blood dripping friend with a toast and we all had shots. It's been estimated by professionals of the field that Paxton had a sum of 45 that evening.

Oh, and of course the heoric blues duo of our fair city (Danny Phelan and Alex Andrews) had something to do with this, in fact they planned the whole thing in between train hopping through the United States.

photocred: Andrew Arkell

And that isn't all me brothers. This Scene Fest, S8's Re-Bops played Chili Pepper, had a TV interview, and out of 160 bands they got a mondo size picture featured in the Thursday Standard. I shamefully missed their set while covertly setting up a semi-authorized merch table in market square. 3 bands abandoned tables were successfully usurped and a bunch of prints were sold. Meanwhile, the rest of St. Catharines got ultra-violent, shutting down at least 3 major bars due to some wicked brawls at Rockford's, Mansion and L3. Many now walk around scarred after The Cancer Bats show turned the Barracuda Pretty parking lot into a battleground. Perched teenagers watched from the parking garage as limbs and entire persons were hurtled through the air. At the end of the night Merchant Ale House was the place to be thanks to the killer performances by The Dirty Mags and Young Rival. The Young Rival show was fucking magical. The whole bar traded sweat in a crazy intimate dance throw down that persisted until that bald guy pulled the plug and kicked everybody out. Reeeal savage.

photocred: Asta McCann

Welland Shows Love for Urban Art

Last week (June 12th) the city of Welland actually showed some appreciation for the art of graffiti at their annual Welland Art Fest in Merritt park. I only found out about it at the last minute when I was dragged out of bed and driven down to see many Section 8 artists already down there spraying paint on to huge boards (Dead Weight, Soap, Phews and Ners). It was a good jam with live music at the amphitheater, photographers and fine art merchants wandering around while young punks jumped off the bridge into the lake. The Festival was for all forms of art but was saturated with so much graff style, I heard a few people call it the Urban Arts Fest.


Bitchin' new character by Phews

I guess it's just cool to finally see some respect for graffiti as an art on a municipal level. So in the midst of all this crackdown bullshit, my hats off to Welland for the time being.

Just don't eat the hotdogs...

Teddy Troops X Section 8

I've recently been in contact with the great Flying Fortress; designer of the well known Teddy Troop vinyl collectibles. After some negotiation, together we'll be unleashing a wave of 10 custom made and painted Teddy Troop soldiers customized by the visual artists of Section 8. This will be for an art show that's still to be announced, so stay tuned.

Cracks in the Sky

As it turns out, capturing the swift hand of Zeus almighty with our feeble digital cameras isn't that challenging. Two nights ago I sat atop my roof in the thunderstorm snapping photo after photo of the sky. Using just a basic tripod and half second exposures on a Canon Rebel T1i, I managed to get about 30 shots containing some form of lightning or another. It takes persistence, and good timing, (not to mention a large memory card) but I'd say any moderately skilled photographer could pull off some sick lightning shots with some effort. I got my first capture 4th try with my iphone.
Lightning photography; It's not impossible, and it's tons o' fun.

So go ahead kids, climb atop a high structure aiming your metal object towards powerful electricity, it's worth it.

*section 8 assumes no liability for anyone who actually does this*

 

This one reminds me of Arcade Fire's neighborhood.

Trading Paint with Scion

Yesterday Scion celebrated their brand new dealership opening by inviting DEAD WEIGHT and DOWN to jazz up a brand new Scion. I went by to snap some flicks and this is what I had the pleasure of witnessing. After talking to some representatives, it sounds like some future collaborations with the Scion mecha and Section 8 are a definite possibility.








 







The whip looks sick boys. Pics of the completed car still to come, and you all best keep your eyes out to see it driving through town.

New work by Symptomz

We caught up with the writer SYMP for some snaps of his latest work done with pen and brush.
This new canvas of his is an homage to the timeless classic Clockwork Orange, titled Sympamesc.
Makes me want to go down to the Korova milk bar for a drink.


Some 'sketches' from SYMP's ol' blackbook.

Skate Art

Thanks to all who came out to see our first annual skate art display at the disco gallery!
This actually went down like a month ago, but I'll just recap for nostalgia sake.
J. Coopman came through with a whole pile of canvases and old decks with grip art and a series of stereotypical skateboarding antagonists. There was also art from  Tobey Anderson, Jose A. Medina, Omar Efe, Mike Dirisio, Melony, Marinko, Dragon, and Taylor Perry. Together the artists and patrons drank many beers, hung out on rooftops, fell off of rooftops, skated around the gallery and the town, and enjoyed the last night of the dream machine pillow pit. There was also live music by Chris Jensen. It was a night to remember.



But if you missed out, both the skate art display, and the new bobble head display are up at the disco patiently awaiting your visit. Just get at me or Marinko and we'll give you the tour.

It's finally nice out, go skate & destroy.

Welcome to District 905

The Thoth has been looking mighty fresh lately. With this belated nice weather  getting to us in the late of May, tis finally the season. A couple weeks back I went down with DS and some other local hoods to enjoy the classic creek ritual. With spots set out, we had some beers, painted some pieces and characters, and threw all the empty spray cans into the pit for some relaxing explosions. After, we paid a visit to the creekside fort, which managed to survive that psychotic wind storm.







Yes Indeed, Our Sanctuary is a pretty place. Go take a tour sometime. Just be forewarned that these toy hunters shoot on sight.







Creek days are upon us, and Section 8 shall be spending more time down at the Thoth. I know I'll be there. Perhaps an S8 Jam is an order.

Surf Rock. In Your Town.

The Re-Bops are the newest rockabilly surf rock band in St. Catharines. They shred raw rhythmic jams that are stylistically comparable to spills on concrete amidst broken glass after rough sex and games with kerosene. They'll put you on a wild ride like a gnarly Californian wave, and just as swiftly stab you with a rusty piece of re-bar. This garage style rock n' roll ain't for the light of heart and will probably cause all sorts destruction to the stability of today's youth.
enjoy.



The Re-Bops are one selection of artists under Section 8's new action as an indie label. Joining them in this endeavor is solo musician Chris Jensen who is recording an album in our studio. The Re-Bops have just finished their first EP, Stiletto Beach, and want you to have a copy. Visit them and more of their surf rock action at their myspace : http://www.myspace.com/therebopsband

Media Madness

 

So it looks like the media machine has caught on to our little underground mafia of artists. Our friend Andrew Baulcomb from Niagara This Week asked me last week for an interview which turned into quite a decent feature on the front page of Arts & Life. We also have some love coming up from the Standard for the upcoming Bobble-head show at the disco gallery, so that's pretty cool too.
 Czech the Scoop here ---> http://www.niagarathisweek.com/what%27s%20on/article/996717--fight-fire-with-fire

URBAN SPRAWL

This Saturday, Anah Shabbar and Madison Greer hosted a sweet little show out of Bang On Salon known as Urban Sprawl. This rockin' art show featured work by local artists including some of our own. All the pieces in the show related to urbanization, how it affects nature and the human experience. I especially enjoyed the photography, and the latest work by our own Tess Millar, which is the amazing dear featured below, painted on raw canvas. Bang On is yet another awesome space in downtown St. Catharines that you can rely on the appearance of new style from our growing art scene.  Bang On has a perfect long white wall for art displays along with an easy access art hangin' apparatus, making for an ideal spot for a gallery.



Drinks were had, wisdom was shared, and friends were made at this hoppin' yet underground event. It was great to see some aesthetic commentary on the ol' surrounding all-consuming sprawl and urban living as well. Thanks for the show guys! Do it again soon!

Section 8 in NYC.

This past week, I've been hanging with the talented artists of Section 8 in the Big Apple. We've had some killer times already, seeing some famous works by Dali, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Picasso, Magritte, and some new shakers including the notorious 'Misttuh Braainwash!'. Chris played 'Sweat For It' walking right through the heart of Time Square, Omar and Mike threw up some fantastic pastes in Greenpoint, and we've been having all round good times and making friends all over Brooklyn and Manhattan. Just today I encountered BASK and TES ONE working on some commissioned wall in Williamsburg.
All these wonderful exploits aside, we have run into some legal issues.. Today we were chased by a dedicated member of the NYPD for wheat pasting. I managed to escape, but some of our comrades (who will remain nameless) have been tragically locked away for the night in a holding cell in the fine city of New York. This one goes out to them, and the rest of Section 8 wishes you boys the best of luck in the slammer.
In the meantime, here is a small taste of the brilliant street art we've been seeing in Williamsburg.
 
Let My People Go!!

 

The Love Monster

Alright so maybe it's a tad late for a valentines day post, but do you really think the featured monster bellow gives a damn about you or your greeting card selling, chocolate devouring, love exploitation holidays? NO. All this all-consuming beast cares to do is devour your love, every shred of the juicy pink goop. This here is my simplistic portrayal of the way love can be used as currency, frequently exchanged and devoured in today's society like any other object of value. This gluttonous monster down here lives off the stuff. Can't get enough, much like certain undeserving celebrities of an industrialized culture such as our own. But never mind all that now. Happy (belated) Valentines day! Hope all you lovers had a good one.

Love,
Sec. 8


Love Monster. by Jamez Townsend.

The Sound of a Showdown

 Here's a new two part series I finished while working at the disco gallery last night. We're going to be open every Friday and Saturday from now on, so feel free to stop in to check the latest works of the new brow scene. We'll have something wild and new popping up in the space every week.

Anyway, this one's all about the dichotomy of music aesthetics, divided by the new wave, and the ol' skool. Almost characterized by their sense of conflict and contrast, both sides have their own following army. Whether they're made up of them young punk earbudder techno hooligans, or the old fogies holding their pride for there phonographs and mix tapes, it's all music. These are some depictions of the multiple music mediums and some of the controversies that come attached to them.

Section 8 presents...


Admiral Analog


Dominant Digital

by Jamez Townsend

It's an 'ARTy' Party!

So we kicked off the new year with a little hiatus there.. but now we're back, and to make it up to you readers, we're throwing a party at the disco gallery and then City Lights this upcoming tuesday. It is a so called 'Arty Party' so feel free to bring your art, sketchbooks, and ideas along. I'll be doing some live painting along with Marinko, and others. Guaranteed interesting tunes and live DJing and loads of drinks available. And of course most of the Section 8 crew will be kickin'it there as well.

6pm - 10pm at the disco gallery (24 James Street) all ages
10pm into the morning at City Lights (67 St. Paul) 19 +

Here's a tuesday you can't say there's nothing to do.

Section 8 Welcomes Dead W8!

Section 8 is proud to present our newest artist addition; Dead Weight. He is both a talented local street artsit and fine artist of St. Kitts, and a strong new member of our collective. This is just a sneak look at some of his work, so stay tuned for some more pieces, links and possibly an interview from this mischievous maker of monsters.



With so much style and skill climbing aboard our crew, the apocalypse is becoming more and more of a certainty. This may indeed just be the beginning, of the end.