#loosebehavior is a group exhibition featuring new artwork by Schoph, Mr. Dvice and Taylor Reeve, opening at the T.F.R. gallery in San Diego on November 16th. When we first heard whispers about the show from LS artist Schoph a few months ago, our interest was immediately aroused, and rather than wait for the usual press release pack / pdf. to re-hash and paraphrase for a promo/blog piece (nowt wrong with that by either the way) we reached out to the artists involved to see if we could get the lowdown on the show, their work and the connections that brought them together.
Despite being a mix of male and female, Euro and US artists, Schoph, Taylor Reeve and MR. DVICE are all artists whose work shares many influences and inspirations. Even coming from such different locations as Yorkshire and Southern California, a shared love of art, skating, snowboarding, surf culture, music of the punk and metal variety and the creative culture that surrounds them all not only brought them together, but influences and informes their work which, in their three differing styles, all nods to surrealist, abstract, pop and graffiti art.
All three artists took time out of their busy schedules in the run up to the show to answer some questions about the exhibition, their work and each other…
LS: I know you guys have know each other for a while, and even exhibited / collaborated together before for the likes of AR4T and Dragon, can you tell me how you came across each other and what you like about the others work?
Taylor: “I met Schoph through Dragon years ago. I saw his work and was immediately a huge fan, everything about it, his use of colors, imagery, drips…it’s all just too good! Dave and I actually met at the premiere for the ‘Art of Flight’ snowboard video in San Diego – he rallied up a gang of artists and we painted live throughout the party…not to mention a few bottles of vodka behind the painting haha…it was a great night and we totally clicked! Dave’s work is bold, bright, and in your face. His work has an energy to it, like it’s moving, and you’re in the crowd with those goons of doom. I love how his work keeps you looking for more, it’s a feast for the eyes!! Yeah I just said that, a feast! “
Schoph: “I’ve known Taylor and her work for a while now and was fortunate to colab. on a show alongside her at AR4T last year in Laguna; the show went off, good times were had and it was awesome to have the opportunity to show with Taylor and at the AR4T Gallery. Dave a.k.a the infamous Mr. Dvice: once again known of Dave for a while now, I guess through my Dragon hook ups and purely through art and the happenings he has going off.”
“Both Taylor and Dvice’s work I find super inspiring as an artist, appreciating the way they approach making a piece or creating art. I’ve been a fan of Taylors work for time, with her use of colour, her signature shoes, naked women and the vibrancy to her work – it tends to just say I’m Taylor Reeves art work yknow? And Dave, I’m a huge fan of any artist that just goes for it, lets it out yknow. I like raw art that just happens and for me Daves work shouts this off the canvas or page. Stoked once again to be showing in Cali, in my book along side two stella artists!”
MR.DVICE: “Both Taylor and Schoph I have been lucky to get to know through the art world that lurks within the action sports industry. Both are amazing creatives, unique individuals and stand for something that is all their own. Those qualities are what I respect in an artist and a person and am super stoked to be doing a show with both of them. Taylor and I have collaborated on projects in the past like live mural installations and good times stuff like that. She is a funny girl but never drink Tequila with her. You will lose. I promise. And from the stories I hear about Schoph, I would assume about the same… “
above: #overview of completed #loosebehavior pieces in the studio by Schoph
LS: I mentioned Dragon above, who I believe are the main force behind this show in particular, and who you’ve all done or are doing work for – they seem to really support art and artists, work with them on interesting colabs, products etc – tell me a little about them and your connection with them…
MR.DVICE: “I am the current art director at Dragon and am very stoked to be a part of their program. Dragon supports art at not only a grass roots level such as shows like #loosebehavior but also on a larger platform such as the ‘Dragon Artist Project’ initiative: Each season Dragon chooses an artist to collaborate on a product line of glasses, goggles and soft goods to be released as a collection. Taylor Reeve was last years D.A.P. Artist, which was a huge success, I am the current D.A.P. artist (line drops spring 2013) , and Schoph has been chosen for the D.A.P. next season. Amped to work with the product crew at Dragon to make my artwork come to life in this kind of medium. Dragons internal culture is cool because they believe in a free thinking lifestyle and stay true to their roots in supporting those who live this life in art and action sports.”
Schoph: “I first got involved with Dragon from my Snowboard days, living and traveling out in the French Alps, Dragon hooked me up 6 or 7 years ago now and the relationship built when I began Dalikfodda back in 2005. Since then we’ve been working closely with Dragon Europe, pretty much everyone on our shred team is now on Dragon and we’ve recently released our first Dalikfodda X Dragon colab. goggle here in Europe.”
“As regards my Art….it’s now the second time Dragon have been part of shows that I’ve had state-side, its cool that the brands that supported me through snowboarding are still backing me now, continuing to build that relationship with me as an artist, so much so I’ve been chosen for the next D.A.P Artist, releasing my own signature Schoph artist goggle and sunglasses for 2014.”
Taylor: “Dragon is awesome and I love their products. I did a collab a while ago on the Domo sunglass- and on a ‘moto’ goggle. Being a part of their family and working with them has been great. I’m excited to rock Dave’s and Schoph’s new gear! yew!”
above: #loosebehavior works by Taylor Reeve
LS: Can you tell me a about the actual work you’ve done for this show…Schoph, having seen some of yours I can see it’s somewhat of a continuation of your recent works which have included more mixed-media elements than maybe a year or two ago? Can you tell me a little about the series, any inspirations, if you agree with me on the style / content point above?
Schoph: “Yeah man, over summer and the past few months I’ve been working on a lot of different ideas and how to get those ideas across in my work – some personal but some relative to everyone. For a while now I’ve been wanting to experiment with more collage pieces alongside mixed media, print work and painting. For the loosebehavior show I wanted to show all aspects of this, maybe by exhibiting originals, prints and collage – a step away from what I’m used to and others expect from my work in the past . I think its important for me to step away from my comfort of painting and learn more about different aspects of creating art to get across my thoughts.”
“The new series for the states I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve been able to learn again – this years been a great year for inspiration, from moving studios, being homeless, some epic trips in Scandinavia with the Rhythmlivin Europe family, hanging out in the smoke of London to setting up a new studio here in Yorkshire, I guess all just great memories, and as my old man says “character building” experiences that I can take a little piece of inspiration from and let my subconscious do the work.”
above: studio details of #loosebehavior work by Schoph
LS: Dave and Taylor, can you tell me a little about the work you’re doing for this show?
Taylor: “After we came up with the name for the show my mind startling ramblin’ with ideas. “Loose Behavior”… this can go so many ways… I love it. I am rolling with the theme and then some as my inspiration… keeping my traditional style, cleaning up my lines a bit- and paying more attention to detail. I am painting a lot of ladies (of course) that are seductive and sultry, yet innocent at the same time. I also added my flair to a Harley Davidson motorcycle- she’ll be on display as well.”
Dave: “The work I am currently painting my face off to make the show date is loosely based on where I am in my life right now. My life seems to be in a constant state of chaos and the only way I know how to decompress is to spill paint onto things and try to make sense of things going on around me through my brush and cans. It’s therapy. I recently went through a pretty tough breakup so some of the subject matter is me dealing with those emotions and some of it is me just escaping to a happy place. That happy place for me at the moment is a world where there are no rules, like the Pleasure Island that Pinocchio went to where anything goes, there are no adults, everything is free and the night never ends. Take it how you will.”
above: ‘Hotbox’ bY MR.DVICE
LS: Will any of the work be available for sale at the show? Any prints? Any product colabs. with Dragon coming up from it (that you can tell me about)
Dave: “All my new artworks will be available for sale at the #loosebehavior show as well as some limited canvas prints hand textured and signed. I will also be debuting the new Dragon Artist Project x MR DVICE product line at the show and doing some giveaways as well.”
Taylor ”Yes my work will be available.”
Schoph “For sure – some will just be showcased as it has to be shipped back soon after the show, but some of the work is for sale as well as going else where in the states…as for product Colabs look out for my Dragon Artist Project line in 2014!”
above: ‘Coachella’ by MR.DVICE
above: detail of show prints by Schoph
For those not lucky enough to be able to go to the show in person, here’s a few links for you to check out what went down, see more of the artists work, and get in touch if you’re interested in buying:
https://www.facebook.com/Schoph
www.mrdvice.com & facebook/mr.dvice
LS: Finally, anything else you’ve each got coming or you’d like to tell us about?
Taylor: I’m coming out with a high heel shoe line called “TaylorSays” – they’ll be available this December! They’re high, sexy, and fucking bad ass!!! “
above: ‘TaylorSays’ heels details by TAYLOR REEVE
MR.DVICE: “Yes a lot of people ask me the meaning of my icon. Its a smiley kind of cherrybomb with razor sharp teeth. To me it icon feels like being a kid, somewhere I will always live no matter how old I get. The smile defines stoke for the simple things in life but then the creepy teeth within define the mischievous side of my personality….the lightning coming from the top is like my stream of consensus style of painting I always gravitate to.”
above: Mr.Dvice icon detail
MR.DVICE from EQ Culture on Vimeo.
To find out more about each artist:
SCHOPH:
Schoph Looking Sideways artist profile
Schoph RhythmLivin artist profile
Dalikfodda.com & Dalikfodda Facebook
MR DVICE:
TAYLOR REEVE:
The #loosebehavior exhibition is at T.F.R.gallery, 1026 North Coast Highway 101,Leucadia, California 92024 – opening on November 16th and is presented by Dragon Alliance with support from Skullcandy, Converse, Juxtapoz Magazine, Ryhthm Livin and Peligroso Tequilla
above: Schoph for #loosebehavior
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