As an American kid who grew up on all the staples such as peanut butter, Star Wars, and kick ball there were other interests that seemed to feed my odd sense of humor and insane lust for bizarre art. That fundamental grain of lampoon was powered by the satirical genius of MAD magazine. MAD offered the most attractive parodies of all popular culture and life such as movies, politics, entertainment, celebrities, public figures, and wonderfully original illustrations imbedded in brilliant article styled cartoons. I wasn’t nerd enough to be impressed with super heros so naturally Mad was my comic book of choice where I could get all the unadulterated, yet PG-13, filth. Aside from some of the more popular segments such as Spy vs Spy the main attraction for me was the inside of the back cover. Here was the coup de grâce to blow the minds of MAD-maniacs, the MAD Fold-In.

For Urban Light Studios MAD Magazine Tribute show I devised a contemporary Fold-In of my own to pay homage to the satirically creative virtuoso, and creator of the MAD Fold-In Al Jaffe.

A Mad Fold-In consists of a single drawing, with a paragraph of text underneath, and a panel across the top with a question. Each Fold-In also features instructions on how to manipulate the Fold-In, as well as a picture illustrating the procedure. Under the instructions are two arrows labeled “A” and “B”. When the paper is folded so that points “A” and “B” are touching, the remaining unobscured text underneath the picture becomes the answer to the question, and the picture itself changes into a fresh image reflecting the new text, as the middle 50% of the drawing vanishes. The Fold-In reveals a hidden picture and answer to the question at the top of the page. Each Fold-In is wrapped in visual trickery and typographical genius leading to a sort of double entendre of ironic witticism.

The headlining question is: “What exclusive academy accepts young musicians who lead fast lives only to further heighten their star status?”. The main image appears to be a red-carpet event set at a stage adorned with a large Grammy surrounded by a crowd and several standing musicians . The headline continues with “Year in and year out the awarding of young star-status achievers occurs just before a new rash of the hot-n-new step up. The music industry will always exploit famous talent. And yet, one group of brilliant miserables rise high without a drop of aid from anyone and pay a price. Fold in page as shown to see just what group makes legends of the world’s most popular and addictive icons”.  The next line of deceptive clues appears at the bottom to say “Twelve nominees a year for rock is plenty. Several artists talent can only be proven with a euphoric ceremony. Clues about who flys next is the hubbub.”

It would appear that the forward answer would be the Grammy’s. The stage is set and the red carpet is rolled out to the five artists in the foreground. However, hidden in the composition are other clues and paraphernalia to hint at the underlying answer to the decoy query. More evidence is laid out right in front with the five musicians who face the stage. Here stands Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse. The Fold-In reveals a new image that turns the stage into a skull, the columns into a syringe, pills stacking, and a hidden bong. My favorite element of the folded image is perhaps the locking arms of Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain, the more recent of the pictured musicians to die from drug related addictions. The true ironic answer at the bottom unveils: Twenty-Seven Club.

For the exhibition there will be a large display canvas of 27 Club for the masses to enjoy. Along with the exhibit piece I have created post card renditions that will accompany the show for patrons to fold-in and enjoy as they view the original display piece. There is a collector’s edition of prints that will be sold exclusively through the gallery opening night and online. Only 27 of these primo 11×17 prints will be offered, all hand signed and numbered. It is going to be an amazing show with an extensive group of talent and not one to be missed. If you can’t make it to the show, enjoy the interactive display above and feel free to contact me directly to buy your very own limited edition print of the 27 Club. Al Jaffe would be proud!

After completing the stencil work to go large and raw with the Abroham Bling-con concept I spent some time perfecting the design and updating it graphically. A few pertinent elements that really enhanced the designs principle such as the spread wings on the floating dollar signs and layered patterning of diamonds were lacking in the “off the cuff” live-painted rendition. If I were shooting for editorial illustration based on the greediness of Illinois politicians precisely I would go the extra mile and add the Chicago city skyline with silhouettes of the Sears Tower and John Hancock center. Either way the quote goes something like “Abraham Lincoln with Bling on?” Limited edition prints are available for purchase. Please contact me directly to purchase.

Abroham Bling-con | ©2011 Nick Beery

I recently was asked to do some live painting at a festival in Decatur, Illinois. I had just finished up shows in Chicago and was coming back through the area in good timing to connect with some local artists and organizers at this annual celebration. With a trunk of paints and swag it deemed a necessity to not pass up dishing out the dirt with a little fun in the sun so to speak. The roster of artists also doing live painting were a mash-up of illustrators, designers, stencil and collage artists, comic book enthusiasts, and character designers. Each given a 4×4 foot panel with custom easels to go big and get seen amongst the roving crowds. I decided to take this opportunity to make a very street oriented piece that spoke volumes to the masses through iconographic elements.

Abroham Bling-con ©2011 Nick Beery

As a native of Illinois I am extremely familiar with the political debauchery, Chicago city-gangsterism, and economic hardships of the state. This comes as no shocker to anyone who knows the recent scandals involving nefarious politicians, constant greedy hands in the tax-payers pockets, state tax inflation, and the firing of corrupt governors such as the JFK-wannabe Rod Blagojevich for counts of wire fraud, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. Anyone who lives in this long state knows that the faithless system of corruption runs so deep that the state of the state is itself way beyond repair and welfare in jeopardy for the struggling lower and middle classes statewide. Thinking about the ideals that governed the state long ago and the juxtaposition of where the wounds scar now brought about the conception of Abroham Bling-con.

To be clever and make a statement is what street art is all about. Abe Lincoln is the State of Illinois political icon who represents proud and true characteristics of the American establishment such as honesty, peace and compassion, sincere religious conviction, and social humanitarian positivity. He is one of the country’s most enduring symbols of democracy and statesmanship. Lincoln is the Illinois State symbol and rides high in the state slogan “Land of Lincoln”. In fact this is the very reason for my choosing this infamous President who empowered the civil rights movement and emancipated the South from the tie to slavery. Lincoln embodies all that is patriotic and especially the American devotion to freedom which has apparently fallen to the wayside through the cracks of infidelity in the hardened grime that is Illinois politics. This systematic failure of the economy of the state knows no bounds in terms of class, race, and is rooted in the cold black heart of the wealthy, unethical so-called elite.

Abroham: Lincoln dawns an afro representing the largest minority group in Illinois. The states suppression of blacks as a minority is obvious. Drive through any inner city slum or metropolitan areas and witness the unchanging affairs of the minority communities to witness an atrocious irony. Again, the corruption of the state does not pick and choose at will but spans the entire infrastructure of citizens. It so happens that the African American demographic gets hit hardest.

Bling-con: It wouldn’t be completely street if there wasn’t a big gold chain attached. Seriously though, a massive gold chain with the American Dollar sign attached says “Illinois State politicians control the money and are greedy to show it off”, like when they need to take their personal jet 300 miles in the same state and use tax-payer’s dollars to justify their comforts. Lincoln had to be defaced with the gold grill as well. I figure this reflects the ‘gansterism’ that is engrained into the political culture of Chicago. Some words just work out to the advantage of the creative writer. With ‘con’ at the end, Bling-con becomes synonymous with crime, deception, fraud, and furthers the mockery of this portrait of the state. Last but not least, the golden devil horns emerge from the fro. These horns of course symbolize the greed and evil associated with the entirety of the theme. Not to mention depict the more sinister side and expression of the face of Abroham.

The rest of the panel is duped out in a Japanese style sun burst (for the Illinois war veterans) and some blinging gold dollar signs flying away for symmetry. I had considered tying in the Chicago city skyline on the shoulders and some added wing elements to the dollar signs but figured that the portrayal had gone far enough for viewers to get the meaning. However, I did get a few comments that ranged from trivial questions of passerbys to one another such as “Abe Lincoln with an afro?” to less intellectuals who just didn’t get it and asked harshly “Why did you give him evil horns?”. For the record, I love the state I grew up in. I am proud of Lincoln and what he means to so many Americans. This is a piece to invoke feelings that the political big-dogs would rather see suppressed. My intention here is to create a dialogue and get people talking, not to slander Abraham Lincoln or the resident citizens of Illinois.

I’ve had several offers on the original. It is not for sale. However, collectors and buyers will have a chance to buy a commissioned edition if they so desire. Interested parties must contact me directly.

In the tradition of undead work I’ve been cranking out these past few months it was inevitable that somewhere along the line I’d infiltrate the finer art of the Italian Renaissance legends. What better classic beauty to cover with decayed flesh than the timeless Mona Lisa of Leonardo daVinci. Twisting the otherwise lively effect of daVinci’s use of sfumato into the austere clear-cut inked line work is my favorite juxtaposition and cruelty of re stylization for the best of screen printing effects. The fact that the original work has survived for more than 500 years screams “time for a zombie makeover” in my book of revelled fine art iconography. Seeing as how the painting has undergone the most extensive cleaning, revarnishing, and recorded number of touch-ups ever in the history of restoration to prolong this gender-ambiguous model I find a comfort in irony to destroy the established elegance and refine her attraction in an otherwise more contemporary fashion. I can hear her moaning “Brains!”

Moan-a-Lisa ©Nick Beery

If you’d like to see Moan-a-Lisa for sale on tees please hit the link below to cast your vote at Threadless in the Horror III. She’d make the perfect addition to any zombie collector, dark art lover, or simply an evil tee for the next Halloween!