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.

Flight ©2009 Nick Beery

Silhouettes of birds rise from the buildings to positive fills bursting out into the sky. They flutter up to the large eagle which delicately caresses the side of the left breast on the women’s garments.

In Flight Black

When Ruthless Ink took the design to production they removed the lettering, thus making this tee not speak so much branding but beauty in an art-inspired graphic tee. The two color print ended up on women’s sheer black and gray short sleeve cap tees with distressed edges on the neck, sleeves, and hemline. The company had bought several designs which are to be released in upcoming seasonal lines.

In Flight Slate

These tees look stylish on the body and off! Check back for updates with the Ruthless Ink crew soon!

Flight on Slate | Black | White

3 Demented Stooges ©2010 Nick Beery

The concept behind mashing up these iconic comedians with fiendish movie characters, serial killers, chemical abusing celebrities, and national hero presidents is create a juxtaposition of character while maintaining a similar expression and mannerism in the facial features of the Stooges. It is no secret I love the Stooges, horror flicks, Tool, Stephen King, and even the captivating killers of our society. To find a resemblance in these personalities would seem odd until you see them side by side. The total shocker comes when there is a hint of say Moe’s expressive eye, a bit of Abe’s chin and mouth, and a smidgeon of Micheal Myers face mask and there is still the ‘Moe’ in there.

Larry was always kind of the tertiary stooge, regardless of Curly Joe and Shemp’s time on screen. His moppy doo and big nose made a nice pairing with Stephen King’s IT. Rick James bedroom eyes, little stache, and later to be saggy expression seemed like the perfect tertiary for this mash up.

Curly…aaaaah my favorite Curly. John Wayne Gacy who dressed up as a clown for the local townspeople and turned torso’s into lamp shades fit perfectly into the gone mad side of this piece. Just to push the extremity of the craziness I had to add that lolligag lazy-like eye, which reminded me of the TOOL cover Aenima.