Max Bare

2011: The Happenings

2011-12-07T20:18:00.001-08:00

Apparently there is no internet in the art cave. (lies!)
So here's a massive helping of brain gravy for the holidays:First things last! Or the other way around...

DOOM'S DAY:
This past weekend witnessed the OhNo!Doom collective trek 16 hours across mountains, ice and yeti shanties from Chicago to Denver Colorado."DOOM'S DAY" opened at Illiterate gallery on 12/2/2011. The exhibit featured an onslaught of creative works from 6 artists, 120+ to be guesxact with new product releases to boot.

Here's a peak of my wall from the exhibit.... You can view the show vicariously via our tumblr page, where we update constantly with 6 contributors' work. Also I'll be posting pics regularly on my flickr or portfolio page, just "click the pic" art updates on the right to check it out.

Think Tank: Brainacles

PRODUCT RELEASES!

This September, I released my first solo tee with ON!D. For sale in sportsfan red, fatigue green and heathered green V-neck for the ladies. In limited qualities, sizes goin fast only at the ohnodoom store !!!

Also that fine fall month, the beautiful people at Busy Beaver Buttons invited OhNo!Doom to create buttons for their Superhero! series coming to a gumball machine in a hip Chicago spot near you! The ON!D collective contributed with what else, but a rogues gallery:

My button involved an annoyingly in depth story involving superhero SnaxbugBear when stealing snacks from unsavory bakery establishments get his paws on a jar of evil honey, which bonds to the poor bear symbiotically to create Snaximum Bearnage: foe to all honey-lovin bees alike! ...such as Super-Bee here for example.

You can read an interview with all the Doomers regarding super heroes and the like on the Busy Beaver button site here

MYSTERY AFOOT!!!!

This November, everyone's favorite comic book involving a drunken Bigfoot and Nessie solving mysteries: Mystery Afoot completed another issue!!! Creators Zoran Gvojic, Dave Schneider and I spread the good word as we released for the first time our full issue Mystery Afoot Number 1 at a winter comic creator con hosted by Matt Sardo of Comic Vault.

We'll be appearing at more events like these to come with new issues in hand. Also we're working hard to get Mystery Afoot in local comic shop near you (if you're in Chicago)!!! You can still follow their wacky adventures on mysteryafoot.com where we'll be post further pages and webisodes (along with other secret projects too inexplicable to detail! )

I'm sure I missed something, but that keep us up to date. Exciting things to come in 2012 so perk up your peepers!

Mystery Afoot March Madness!!!

2011-03-12T12:23:00.000-08:00

Haven't served up a helping of brain chowder in a while so here goes:

It's Mystery Afoot month!

In the last few weeks Zoran and I have been brewing up some new Afoot pages to start up a more reliable schedule of Mystery Afoot Wednesdays on www.mysteryafoot.com A handful of pages have been uploaded so far this past month so check it out!

In fact tonight opens "BAM!" a comic book art show at Royal Flesh Tattoo Gallery in Irving Park. On display original artwork from Art Baltazar, Tim Seeley, Bill Reinhold, Jenny Frison, & pages from Mystery Afoot!! Promises to be a boozey night that would make a Plesiosaur proud. Show starts at 7pm and closes midnight. Runs until May. In addition to said madness.

I'll be at C2E2 at the McCormick center Chicago March 18 - 20 selling Mystery Afoot wares and sketchy commissions. I'll also be representing OhNo!Doom with 5 other Doomers at an exhibiting booth. ON!D will be premiering some fresh-fully clean new stuff at the con including but not limited to new tees, tote bags, coloring books, and Fluffy Friends toys! And other super-secret swag! Also Patton Oswalt will be there (not at our booth). Dare I say, how can you resist?
Zoran Gvojic and I will be reppin Mystery Afoot (w/ a possible Dave Schneider here or there) at Artist Alley booth: #D7
OhNo!Doom collective will be at booth #759
Check us out!

this is a future t-shirt design comin' out this summer '11 !!!

Bare Squared premieres at OhNo!Doom

2010-09-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

It finally happened, my little sister (3 years littler so not that little), Zoë Bare and I, Max Bare finished a body of work we've been eager to start for some time now: the first installation of "Bare Squared" a collection of collaborative works. Drawing from our own experiences, we created collaged narratives that explore sibling relationships and make comparisons between events in time, fantasy and reality, and different families.

A mathematical inaccuracy I hear but hey, it rhymes. "Bare Squared": the art of Max & Zoë Bare opened Sept. 4th at OhNo!Doom gallery in Chicago in tandem with Amanda Louise Spayd's "Bedtime Stories". All three of us are from the wild land of Ohio, so naturally it was meant to be. Amanda's work was so amazing it was spooky thus, completely selling out before our first guests stepped foot inside the gallery opening night! The night was a crowded house filled with complimentary PBR drinks and yummy Ohio buckeyes (if you're not in the know epicurious these mugs) crafted by the lovely Tiffany and Maggie.

So that was opening night if you missed it. But the show ain't over til I says so's. The exhibit runs at ON!D through Sept. 25th during gallery hours (Tues & Thurs 4pm-10pm and Saturday 12 to 7pm) if you're in the area and want to check it out in person. I'll be in attendance Tuesday through Saturday the 25th to say hi and stuff. You can also view all the artwork still available for sale on the gallery store page:
OhNo!Doom gallery store
Zoë also has unframed intaglio prints our favorite pets and an array of gorgeous paper-made earring and necklaces by the Zoë and Erin Paulson jewelry crafters Never Contented Things only available in store at OhNo!Doom (Chicago).

I'll also post pics from the opening on my flickr page in the future. For now here are some detail shots from the store page, check em out below! ::

detail of "Hop Up on My Shell as We Climb Across the Highway", w/ acrylic on birch cut-outs by Max Bare, concept by Max and Zoë Bare

detail of "Kyle", w/ acrylic on birch cut-outs with paper collage by Max Bare

detail of "Storytime", w/ wood engraving by Zoë Bare, acrylic on birch cut-out by Max Bare, collage by Max and Zoë Bare

detail of "Once Upon a Time", w/ wood engraving and photography by Zoë Bare, concept by Max and Zoë Bare

detail of "Hop Up on My Shell..."

A Mystery Afoot in C2E2

2010-04-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

Your fuzziest dreams have come true! That's right, the first issue of Mystery Afoot has arrived! If you aren't aware of what Mystery Afoot is all about, here's the low-down:

You know Bigfoot right? And the Loch Ness Monster, we all know him as Nessie? Yep, well they went and done it. They done opened up a detective agency to track down myth-related hijinkery.

Finally the story is told of how this all started. Straight from the minds of Zoran Gvojic and Dave Schneider of LowCarbComedy fame. I provided the pencils and inks. We premiered the first issue at C2E2 in Chicago's scenic McCormick Place. Comic Vault was so kind as to spotlight our comic at their booth.

Below is the cover image of BF and Nessie stomping the competition with eye-pleasing colorwork by Dan Atherton.

In Future Bigfoot News, us Mystery Afoot creators will be at Comic Vault for Free Comic Day May 1, 1pm-3pm selling the new comic, stickers, and prints from some fantastic artists. The story will continue on www.mysteryafoot.com if you would like to receive email updates as pages get added you can sign our online guestbook on the homepage. Until then here's a sample of the story for the readin':

Comic available for 3 measly bucks at OhNo!Doom and Comic Vault. Or just hunt me down.

In other C2E2 news, everyone of us at OhNo!Doom designed a tee for all the protractor and pocket-protector possessing padawans out there. The tee shirt premiered at the Nerd City booth and the official C2E2 afterparty @ Double Door which was fun (seriously, you missed the tantalizing Nerdlesque show. I think you and I both know what Nerdlesque entails) Currently my source for MegaMan or bandana-wearing turtle news, www.nerdcityonline.com/ hosts a weekly podcast of geek speak and drunken debauchery (no joke ear-muff the kids). They've also interviewed me and the ON!Doomers on there for your listening pleasure, if you want to hunt those podcasts down on their site that is!

Tee shirt currently for sale at the OhNo!Doom shop in Chicago (1800 N. Milwaukee for those in the know). or online over here:
Nerd City T-shirt!

And here's my contribution: Nerdy girl cosplayers Represent!

And final C2E2 note, I drew a thank you card for Chicago Bears' Lance Briggs, because Matt Sardo (of Comic Vault) made me.

Here's a picture of Lance Briggs:

Alsohere'smorepicsofC2E2
Until laters,

Go Tell Somebody!

Max Bare in twenty-ten!

2010-02-25T17:13:00.000-08:00

Tired of saying Twenty Ten yet? I'm not! Just thought I'd share..

So! Its been far too long since my last unloading of updates. One possible reason for my neglect of the blogosphere could be my current involvement with Wickerpark/Bucktown's newest gallery! ::: OhNo!Doom (Chicago)

I along with Jordan, Joe, Lana, Andrew & Oscar, make up the OhNo!Doom Collective. We've had two openings so far: "Rock the Future" (Jan 16) and "Torn Pages" (Feb 13). Our newest gallery event: "A Healthy Dosage of Restlessness" opens March 6. I'll have more pics and links about these events soon. For more about OhNo!Doom, the gallery, store and what we do, check:
www.ohnodoom.com/

and more pics of January's Rock the Future opening hosted by Sadie Woods/White Label:
Rock the Future pics/

Thought Processor:
This fall ON!D hosted the "Thought Processor: Chicago series" group show at their Logan Square location before the big move. These involved a mass of excellent artists customizing paper toys designed by Phoneticontrol/ and paper sculpted by Sjors Trimbach.
This one's titled "Caught Cross-Dresser" for obvious reasons.

What's got 4 arms, 20 legs, 5 skulls, 1 decapitated head, and 4 scoops of ice cream? ...I dunno, but I painted it. This was basically an acrylic painting of Kali, some dear friends of mine commissioned. I discovered that 4 armed ladies are fun to paint, so maybe I'll do some more...

There's a bunch more I missed, that I'll post later, like comics, conventions and interviews. So stay tuned!

Mural @ FlyBird!

2009-10-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Behold! I have just added another Chicago shop to my already lengthy list of awesome.
Flybird, OakPark's coolest shop of five years, will soon suck my wallet dry with its "curious items for the happy home, body & mind" Curious indeed! With Julie West toys, Ragnar books, run-away clocks and instructional children's material involving peeing elephants (no joke!), how could I not go broke?
Anyhoo, Julia invited me to collaborate on a mural at her lovely store along with the OhNo!Doom Crew and Lana Crooks. "10in10" involved 10 artists/teams creating 10 paintings that make up the new FlyBird mural wall.

Lana and I collaborated on the piece below. Lana created the domesticated Octopus beast, and I created the viking-ish Tapir rider (complete with He-Man fur underoos!). It was a fun weekend at a store definitely worth checking out!

more photos posted here:
Mural Pics
/
artists involved included:
ON!D crew
SuperCorn
Paul Wear
Nerfect
Paranoid Girl
Shawnimal
Jim Arnoldt
Simon Gallo
Hot Funk

ARCADE revisited

2009-10-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

So I finally decided to reach back into the recesses of gallery cache to catologue a "Get Knifed Together" collective show way back from my days in Pilsen Park! I love video games and gamer culture (especially platforms and anything featuring a Mega-buster or SpreadGun here or there) and I was really happy with how this show turned out. Lots of super-rad artistic Chicagoans, PBR, power-ups and 2 projectors. Trying to teach some of our generation-gap visitors how to play MarioPaint on the bigscreen remains a highlight. Anyway a blast from the past featuring megablasts from the 8-bit past. You can view the entirety of the show here: ARCADE pics

Below are some pieces from a collaborative installation I worked on with a very talented artist, Alex Willan, for this show and other incarnations:

"HeatMan" -Max Bare

"MetalMan" -Alex Willan

"FlashMan" -Max Bare

"BubbleMan" -Alex Willan

Tapirs at the Columbian Exposition

2009-09-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, I had the chance to visit the White City last weekend and let me tell you, it's filled with burning tapirs!

"My Kind of Town" opened last Friday, Rotofugi's group show featuring Chicago's fantastic artists.

I chose to depict the epic tale of murder and deception set in Chicago's wondrous World's Fair of 1893, with characters portrayed by tapirs, what else?

It was a fun project where I could call reference/inspiration from the Devil in the White City book, the Weird Chicago blog, and Sufjan Steven why not? This also propels my work into an ongoing series of found-wood structures depicting simple narratives. It will probably star a variety of tapirs too. New updates and pieces will follow.

"My Kind of Town" continues on at Rotofugi gallery, 1955 W. Chicago, through Oct. 11. more info: www.rotofugi.com

This past weekend also saw the opening of "Trophy", the plushinator Lana Crooks' solo show at OhNo!Doom gallery.
In "Trophy", Lana diplays her most recent acquisitions in the mythical creature community. One such beast on display, was the "Squidgeon", a tentacled and feathery friend commonly found lurking above awaiting to release their inky payload upon the heads of urban commuters below. This specimen pictured here is preserved as he was found, loitering on a sewer wall.

The piece "Squidgeon" is a collab between Lana Crooks and Max Bare. Lana created the plush Squid elements and I sculpted the charming Pigeon head.
"Trophy" continues @ OhNo!Doom through Oct. 20th. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
more info: www.ohnodoom.com

Toys Toys Toys 2

2009-06-08T19:02:00.001-07:00

More delicious toys in your fabulous faces!

#1! "Cave Bunny" custom Qee

Exhibit: "Into the Darkness" @ 1AM gallery / 1st Amendment (San Francisco)
www.1amsf.com
virtual opening

#2! "You F%#K with One of Us" custom Mutt
Exhibition: "The Mutt Show: Reloaded!" @ A.Okay Official (Chicago)
aokayofficial

Posters Posters Posters

2009-06-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple posters for some wonderful events that have sadly come and gone. Boo hoo!

Below! Promotional poster for Chicago's favorite sketch comedy gentlemen:
Long Pork! for the two month run: "SODA"
it was hilarious. and involved grabboids. stay tuned for future hijinks: http://www.longporkcomedy.com
You also missed out on some wikkid T-shirts silk-screened with the design.

Flyer for the A.Okay Official Group show: "Nesting"
A brilliant group show involving an array of wonderful artists customizing Russian Dolls aka Matryoshkas.
curated by Max Bare and Lana Crooks
I did the pencils/inks. Color work by Lana Crooks

Toys Toys Toys

2009-06-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Below is a semi-slew of custom toys for shows early '09/late '08.
Enjoy!

Exhibit: "Humans Beware: IWG Custom Show"
@ RocketWorld, San Francisco 4.10.09
curated by Alex Dril

Toy: "She's Not Worth It" - I.W.G. Rhino w/ Vespa custom

Buy Stuff: http://blue77.bigcartel.com/products
Relive the Opening: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drilone/sets/72157616649997990/
http://www.rocketworld.org

Exhibit: "A.Okay Loves CTA 2009"
@ A.Okay Official, Chicago
http://www.aokayofficial.com
curated by Max Bare & Lana Crooks

Toy: "Caboozery" - Amtrak model train custom

Exhibit: "Calacus"
@ 54B Gallery Chicago
curated by Ian Bennett

Toy: "Skully" - painted skull mold (produced by Ian Bennett)

Comics Comics Comics

2009-04-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

If you haven't picked up your free copy of Mystery Afoot Preview.. well then... I don't know what to tell you

...other than, Mystery Afoot is an exciting new collaborative comic series birthed from myself and the yuckster genius minds behind LowCarbComedy Zoran Gvojic and Dave Schneider. >credits include instant youtube classics "Mick Chandler: Unlicensed Child Psychologist", "Hate Soap" and "Saw 4,5,and 6" also the cult MTV pilots for "The Kusper Show" and "After these Messages"<

Mystery Afoot tells the tale of a Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster duo who happen to be the only mythological creatures that are real. Naturally they start up a detective agency to debunk other myths. Adventure and hijinks ensue.

You can download your very own 4 page 2008 Comic-Con preview at:
www.mysteryafoot.com

and await the first full issue due out this summer!

FRESH 1/2/09

2009-04-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

work for group show: FRESH @ A.Okay Official - Chicago opening 1/2/09
Wicked art party by Sadie Woods and Madrid
I thought nothing rings in the new year like bears eating random animals.
...right?

"Croc N Bear"

"Shamu Sashimi"

"Ain't No Party Like My Grandma's Seal Party"

"Poor Piggy"

"Tummy Bound Pachyderm"

Portfolio "5"

2008-12-21T18:54:00.000-08:00

As my website undergoes reconstruction my portfolio will be posted on my blog. Here is part 1 titled Portfolio "5" confusing no? Documented here are 3 collaborations with Lana Crooks www.crookedart.com exhibited in the group show entitled "5" curated by Revise CMW at A.OKAY Official where they are available for sale in their storefront www.aokayofficial.com The final image has been on exhibit at A.OKAY Official's "5" show and at Get Knifed gallery www.getknifed.com

Ursula Honeypot - acrylic on wood, plush sculpture by Lana Crooks

Sammy Snooter - acrylic on wood, plush sculpture by Lana Crooks

Bambi Bucktooth - acrylic on wood, plush sculpture by Lana Crooks

"Come to Pupa" Acrylic on board

Detail

ARCADE sneak preview!

2008-06-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Power - Up!! This Friday the 13th, the slewniest gallery in Pilsen Park, Chicago opens its door for its sixth art collective themed show! Get Knifed gallery hosts "ARCADE" featuring new work spawned by the warped minds of the few dozen artists that make up Get Knifed Together: the funkiest Chicago artist community!
Get Knifed is located @ 1932 S. Halsted unit 201
Chicago IL 60608 more info: http://www.getknifed.com

The event takes place June 13, 2008 6pm-10pm. Activities include projected Mario Paint interactive installation and free PBR (that's an activity right?)

Credits
3. Jay Smith "Midnight Munchies"

4. Matt Sharp "Putting the Man back in PACMAN" / Cantu "Chicago Kong"

5. Ian Bennett "MegaMan Maverick Hunter" / Ian Bennett & Erik Stenbert "Duck Hunt"

6. Peabe "Wily OG"

7. Yoink "The Palace is a Complex Labyrinth"

Artist Roster:
Max Bare/
Nathaniel Bettinger/
Lana Crooks/
Ian Bennett/
Erik Stenberg/
Alex Willan/
Ricardo Gonzalez/
Roderick DeJesus/
Pamela Marie Brotko/
Cantu/
Matt Sharp/
Nicole Pacillio/
Carolina Reyes/
Peabe/
Yoink/
Jose Garibaldi/
Jay Purugganan/
Michael Angelo Gagliardi/
Allison Tenn/
George Bowles/
Brett Johnson/
Likalee/
Rosemary Barria

Hipster Zombies!

2007-10-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

Zombie sketches!!
"Why?" you ask?
To go on a fish.
That should teach you to ask questions.
..punkass

Sitty Chicky

2007-07-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

I doodled this chicky last night. Maybe I'll paint her after working out some anatomy issues.

Paint it Bare log 000001

2007-07-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

And yes, my blog title is alluding to me painting while nekkid. ahem, Don't ask me how I mix my palette. Yuho! Yes so with the first two sentences of my first entry in an online journal designed to promote my artwork to art lovers, art critics, art-ists, and art buyers (eh?) I successfully erradicate any shred of respect from my reader(s).
And on that note, hello. hi. how ya doin? want a glass of Kool-Aid? i have purplesaurus..
so yes it's true. My name is Max Bare and I have a problem. I have this gigundous blimp that is packed with an equal mass of sand. The blimp has a small incision along its side that allows sand to push out and fall to the earth grain by grain. In other words I have alot of ideas in my noggin and they need to be on paper post haste. Thus I'm using flickr and myspace and now, hopefully more effectively, blogger or blogspot or whatever this is, blogger as a vehicle for getting some extra neato images out into the open. Preferrably as a tricycle or a hover-board or a landshark.* (vehicle, thats a joke son)
To kick this off I'll include a couple photos of a giant mural I along with 5 other awesome Chicago artists just finished in Wicker Park this weekend.

Saturday July 21st for "All Hands on Deck" a community building block party in Wicker Park. Mural/Tag courtesy of Creature House crew! Ian, Max, Erik, Simone, Riccardo, and Ralph (website and last names to be included later)
Evergreen / Milwaukee
And here's the details I made. wheeee!

These bees (ralph did the sass)

This bunny trying unsuccessfully to join the fun.

And party bear.
I also made the big she-sass on wall's far right.

So yep! Thanks for lookin' Now I can post on dan's blog.

*yes. Land Shark. A big vehicle Skeletor used to drive around that was part tank with a big shark head in the front. He would troll this baby around tearing apart folks like He-Man and Man-E-Faces limb from limb. Gruesome ain't it?