I just got back from a fun-filled trip to LA for some pre-E3 festivities, including the opening of The Future of Gaming exhibit at iam8bit. Gallery owners Jon M. Gibson and Amanda White teamed up industry luminaries with renowned artist to conceptualize what the future of video games might look like. There’s a great write up about the show here.
I was teamed up with Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning, whose quote really aligned with my own musings on where this technology could be headed:
“You are the game of the future, where every bit of energy exerted thru your digital daily life will be captured toward more real world incentives,” Lanning predicted. “Each beat of our heart, calorie we eat, footstep we make, and mile gained thru our day will be captured, converted, and gamified into cost saving incentives that just ‘can’t be beat.’ Our decreasing privacies increasingly offered as the willing sacrifices made at the altar of savings, incentives, and reward points. Three billion years of progress will have finally evolved us into the hairless walking coupon.”
The Hairless Walking Coupon
I really just wanted to capture the overwhelming system shock of the world that Lorne anticipates, with every movement and action inside and outside of the game world being captured and quantified. Whether it’s defeating a Level 99 dragon or eating a Burger King Whopper, everything we do will be watched, recorded, and rewarded.
Other luminaries who lent their theories to the exhibit include Megaman creator Keiji Inafune, Tim Schafer who created the Secret of Monkey Island, and video game jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-most-of-them Seamus Blackley.
The exhibit runs through June 22nd at iam8bit’s Echo Park headquarters at 2147 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles, CA.
Gallery1988 has been one of my biggest supporters over the years, and I couldn’t be happier to be on the roster for their 10 Year Anniversary Show, The Subtle Art of Pop Culture. For my contribution, I tried to think of something that would literally connect to all aspects of pop culture, and I was reminded of the popular parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. In case you’ve lived under a rock for the last twenty years, the point of the game is to pick an actor and connect them to Kevin Bacon in six moves or less, using movies they have appeared in with other actors. The amount of steps it takes is their “Bacon Number”.
“Bacon Number” – Giclee print on canvas – 19-5/8″ x 15-5/8″ – S/N Edition of 10
What many people don’t realize is that the challenging part of this game isn’t connecting an actor in under six moves, it’s finding an actor that can only be done in OVER three moves. Everyone is so connected that most actors, living or dead, can be connected to Kevin Bacon in only one or two moves. In all my experiments, I could only find one person that took four full moves to get to and, HINT, he’s a former US President.
I even extended the game to non-human characters and could usually connect them to Kevin Bacon in only 2 moves (Kevin Bacon was in “Apollo 13” with Tom Hanks, who was in “Castaway” with Wilson the Volleyball).
See if you can figure out everyone, and leave a comment if you do!
The Subtle Art of Pop-Culture: Gallery1988’s 10 Year Anniversary Show
Opening Reception: Friday, April 11th, 7–10pm
(on display through April 26th, 2014) Gallery1988 (West)
7308 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046 @gallery1988 / gallery1988.com
For Gallery 1988‘s upcoming show “We Made Them Do It” artists were asked to focus on a “guilty pleasure” in the realm of pop-culture. The exhibition aims to be a commentary on the oversaturation of pop-culture themed art shows that Gallery 1988 themselves pioneered so many years ago. I’ve always had a huge bro-crush on Tony Danza, and loved the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?” growing up, for it’s humorous challenge of gender stereotypes. I imagined Tony taking on every Nintendo boss ever to prove, once and for all, Who’s the Boss. And appropriately, despite all these other pop-culture-gallery-wannabes, Gallery 1988 is still, also, THE BOSS.
We Made Them Do It
Opening Friday, July 26th 7-10pm
(on display through August 15th, 2013)
Gallery 1988 (WEST)
7308 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
For Gallery 1988‘s upcoming “The Official Bad Robot Experience”, they asked artists to contribute work inspired by the films and television shows produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. I have to admit I was a pretty big LOST nerd; it was probably the last show I ever watched when it actually aired each week. I chose to illustrate what many fans would agree is probably the most heart-wrenching scene in the entire six years of the series. If you haven’t watched the show, I won’t say anymore as to not spoil it entirely.
Not Penny’s Boat
Giclee print on canvas • 19.75″ x 9″ • S/N Edition of 25
The Official Bad Robot Art Experience
April 26 – May 18, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday, April 26th, 7-10PM
Gallery 1988 West
7308 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
This Friday, April 19th, is the opening reception for iam8bit‘s exhibition “It’s the ShizNick!”, remembering the good ol’ days of the network (Nickelodeon) that ruled our youth. For my contribution I decided to go a little more obscure and focus on the Jeopardy-meets-Indiana-Jones gameshow “Legends of the Hidden Temple”. The show had sort of a real-life video game feel to it anyway, so it was a natural fit for my 8-bit illustration style.
Olmec Coming! Giclee print on canvas • 19.75″ x 9″ • S/N Edition of 25
The opening reception will feature (in addition to art by over 60 artists):
Live tunes by DJ Lance (from Yo Gabba Gabba!)
A very cool photo playset (hmm…)
25 ft wide “Animated GIF Theatre”
And of course… SLIME!
It’s the ShizNick! Remembering the Good Ol’ Days of the Network that Ruled Our Youth!
April 19th–May 5th, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday, April 19th, 2013, 7–11pm iam8bit
2147 W. Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Press Paws is a charity art show I recently contributed to, taking place on February 9th at Gallery Nucleus. The theme is “Saving Animals with Art and Video Games”, and all proceeds raised at the event go to What’s Up Dog! LA, a volunteer animal rescue.
For my contribution, instead of picking an existing “pet” from a video game, I decided to combine my favorite dog breed (Boston Terrier) with one of my favorite games growing up, Double Dragon. When I was younger, I always thought the villain Abobo looked kind of like a Rottweiler…
Double Doggin’
Giclee print on canvas / 15.75″ x 11.75″ / Edition of 25
Opening Tuesday, December 4th, Gallery 1988 presents A Tribute to Judd Apatow, an art show inspired by the comedic producer. Best of all, Judd will be hosting the event, and if you’re able to attend (RSVP at gallery1988melrose@gmail.com) you might just see some other familiar faces.
For my contribution, I chose the infamous dodgeball scene from Freaks and Geeks. Sometimes I’ll try and reference specific games and/or genres in my work. When I decided to illustrate Freaks and Geeks, I tried to think if there were any games from the 80s that had to do with high school and bullies, since that’s an integral part of the show. I kept coming back to River City Ransom for the NES, and when I realized the same company, using the same graphic style, made the game Super Dodge Ball, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
“Smear Weir” Giclee print on canvas • 19.75″ x 9″ • S/N Edition of 25
A Tribute to Judd Apatow
December 4–30, 2012
Opening Reception:
Tuesday, December 4th, 7–10pm
Hosted by Judd Apatow
Awhile back I was commissioned to do some illustration work for a rather peculiar video game for the SONY Vita called Frobisher Says. The brainchild of Richard Hogg and indie developer Honeyslug, Frobisher Says involves playing through a fast-paced sequence of minigames at the command of the titular character. It’s hard to explain, so I suggest watching the appropriately bizarre commercial for the game here:
The first one involves running through Frobisher’s Mansion and finding friends from your Playstation network and leading them to Frobisher’s hot tub.
The second one is a slot machine game, with an unusual twist… I won’t spoil it for you!
The last one, my favorite, is called “Stir My Soups”, and involves rotating the thumb joysticks in the required (usually alternate) direction as Frobisher’s crazy eyes spin around and around.
The game was originally only available in Europe, but I just found out it will be available in the US as of October 23rd! And best of all, it’s free! So if you have a Vita, make sure to grab your free copy.
If you live in Seattle, or are there now for PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) you absolutely must check out Fangamer VERSUS Attractmode tomorrow night! Video games, music and beautiful game-related artwork! What more could you ask for?
Play indie games like Super Time Force and Cumulo Nimblers, rock out to chiptune musicians, including hip hop genius Mega Ran, and feast your eyes on artwork from over 40 amazing artists, all available for purchase!
For my contribution, I created the piece below, titled “Couples Counseling”, as a commentary on the use of virtual space within the context of relationships, and how that affects and dehumanizes communication.
Couples Counseling 9.125″ x 9.125″ / Edition of 25 / Giclee print on canvas
Right before the craziness of the Pixel Pushers opening, I had a chance to sit down and chat with Jeriaska from Indie Games about three of my favorite subjects: video games, politics, and meat. Read the interview here!
Jude Buffum 