D-Structure is excited to feature returning artist Nick Beery for the November installation. Beery’s new show “The Deathside: A dark tribute to Star Wars, Pop Culture, Underground Evil and a deathly fairwell to the repetitious mutations of fan art” will run for the entire month with an opening reception on Friday, November 4. Limited edition Tee’s with Beery’s designs will be available for purchase at the event, along with prints, and more! 15 archival canvas prints and a very limited embossed leather print will display aside a 3D installation put together by Beery’s darkside of the force. Mobile Libations will be onsite to quench any thirst you may have. Redhook Brewery has graciously sponsored the evening with some of the best beer known to Man, Jedi, Storm Troopers, and Wookis alike. DJ Ollie will be providing auditory stimulation for our cantina drones.
The Deathside | Sneak Peeks | Beery
Sorry, no Jar Jar Binks’ will be admitted to the event.
RSVP to let us know how many people we will be fitting into our Death Star.
Photos from The Deathside opening courtesy of Devoir Art. Special thanks to Dylan and Jason.
The Deathside | Golden Blasters Bling Installation | Beery
Working with one of Chicago’s best Fashion Designer, Anastasia Chatzka, has been an absolute pleasure and break from the normal routine of my typical designing habits. Ana has an immensely intimate passion for dress making and her fervor for finding the best fabrics and producing gorgeous chic cuts is nothing short of her everyday routine of production. We decided it was time to collaborate and produce a primo repeat pattern design for her summer 2012 collection.
Floral Summer 2012 | Anastasia Chatzka | Beery
The collection consists of a variety of women’s pieces that reflect a flair of retro 50′s stylization combined with playful composites of color choices, flanneling, austere embellishments, and lightly flowing construction that makes a summer walk a breezy throw back to the days of boardwalk entertainment. Our choices for the summer collection colors are bright and yet have a seemingly muted effect on the eye when in the glow of sunlight. A Twilight Blue and Meadowbrook set the tone to season the dresses with a duality that can be used over a multitude of stylish cuts. The patterning we wanted needed to be florally and yet have a unique twisting effect when viewed on the cascading structure of the feminine body. Not only do the styles and pattern warrant sleek company the fabrics range from knit bamboo, rib knits, silk crepe de chine, matte satin, as well as loose silk ties and clever adjustable straps for adjustable fit.
Cheryl | Nick Butterfly Dress | The Nick Tent | The V Tab
Ana’s vision for 2012 bolsters her feminine, fun, colorful, and edgy appeal that has gained her past notoriety of creating amazing garments that make you smile & feel sexy when you slip them on. Everyone wants that special garment in their closet that makes them feel empowered, Anastasia believes that her garments give women that sensation.
The collection can be found at Ana’s flagship store: Anastasia Chatzka 1740 West Division Street Chicago, IL 60622. For more information please visit Anastasia Chatzka.
I had the pleasure of developing a logo and identity package for Klench custom mouthguards. The approach was very straight forward in producing a logo that reflected the edgy-brutal force that is MMA Sport. The heads at Klench knew that symbolically the logo need simply be a mouthguard. My job was to refine the concept and company/product name to be a highly recognizable icon that would proliferate the full contact/combat sports industry with hard hitting impact. With the seemingly ‘blood-thirsty’ appeal of the mixed martial arts arena it was inevitable that the logo would be delivered as the deadly semblance of a vampirical grill.
Klench has gone on to sponsor some great young talent in the MMA and UFC platforms. They offer a unique line of sports guards for all levels of contact in hockey, football, kickboxing, baseball, soccer, rugby, wrestling and more. The line of mouth guards are fully customizable. The design options for Klench mouth guards include a vast array of color choices, image and fighter logos, as well as sparkling lettering that is layered within the construction of the molded guard. Needless to say, if you are in the contact sport field and an active contender wearing a mouthguard can protect your jaw, your neck and all the connecting and surrounding muscles and joints. Without a mouthguard, a blow to the face sends shock waves through to your skull. Check out Klench and go with not only a functionally proven piece of gear but a fully customizable and stylish accessory for the ring.
Here are a few shots from the Klench fighting tour.
I’ll be exhibiting new canvas works, limited edition prints, tees, and bringing my dastardly Pulp Street duo to this one night event. In conjunction with RAW my work will be on display at iMUSIC for an evening of creative madness. The night consists of presentations from Seattle’s leading and emerging creative talents from every angle. RAW coalesces into a indie music performance, a vast visual art gallery, stand-up comedy acts, a fashion show, and gathers a huge crowd to come imbibe on the best local art on the scene. To purchase tickets to the event please visit my BEERY RAW profile where you can also find more information regarding the organization and my portfolio of music, video, and art.
RAW Junction | Seattle | The Return of Beery's Muppet Hitmen
RAW Junction Seattle was a blast. Many great local visual artists such as Chani Murat, Carlos Aguilar, and Jenny Dayton were on hand showing out their best. Along with the amazing visual artists included into the evenings agenda there was an amazing comic act (forgot his name, but hilarious) as well as a bad ass fashion show pounded out by Idolatre Clothing. Needless to say, the Muppet Hitmen made RAW a hit. Check out the post-party photos. Photography courtesy of Raquel Dennet.
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.
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.
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!”
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!
First off big bows with clasped hands and hats off to all who came out to Raising Hell. The response and attendance was amazing. Made was packed out all night with the best of Chicago crowd. Mega huge shout outs to VIPJ and Dreas for tearing it up on the turntables. The crowd was bumpin and groovin all night! Big thanks to our friends at Arrogant Bastard Ale for keeping the hoppy ale flowing. Last but not least a giant high-five to the crew at Made for all their assistance in providing the perfect venue to pay tribute to hip-hop’s greatest!
Lots of artwork was sold and the limited prints are dwindling so if your in need of that perfect zombie rapper you need to get down to Made quick to get yours. As typical with most of my shows I’m pretty tied up talking to everyone coming through so the shots from my camera are pretty limited. If you have photos from the show you would like to post, hit me up and I’ll get them in the gallery. Below are a few shots of the hanging artwork.
VIPJ co-illin on the vinyl!
VIPJ co-illin on the vinyl!
More photos from the crowded gallery to the after party to come! Thanks CHICAGO!
I’ll have a couple of works in a new exhibit at Tasty this month from my Agents of Dawn series. The show takes an unusual approach of juxtaposing the mechanical with the organic. You’re invited to meet the artists and be the first to see the show, opening night Friday July 8th, during the party from 6-10pm.
Since March 2010, Tasty has been open 6 days a week to showcase fun & funky local urban art. Every month they curate a group exhibit, themed in sync with the selected featured artist(s). To see their entire 2011 calendar, please contact Sheri. To view art from past shows, visit their website www.ShopTastyArt.com
Tasty’s hours are 11-7 Tuesday thru Saturday plus 12-5 Sunday.
BeeryMethod was founded by Nick Beery with a simple mission: to help clients present themselves to the world in an authentic and visually appealing way.
From traditional and digital illustration, photography and design, to the simplest one-off print needs, BeeryMethod is committed to delivering unique, aesthetically pleasing, and clever marketing products in a timely, cost-sensitive manner - instantly enabling your concepts to come to fruition in the means you desire.
Nick Beery brings experience from a vast array of creative disciplines including fine art, photography, illustration, graphic design and typography to each client project as well as a high level of expertise in information artistry and resourcing.
A deep background including prior work with, apparel companies, record labels & musicians advertising & retail, publishers & editors, communication & event, commercial media, as well as commissioned work in multitude of creative venues brings a highly considerable asset to an array of client’s needs.
