The time has come...

Dear Friends.

ProjectNEXT has had a great run. The process and product has been tremendous, after a good year of promoting the project and moveing it about the country, its time to decide each pieces fate.

 Before we get to that let me tell you where its been. First off, the project took almost two years total from the start of the first painting to the reciept of the last canvas. I made frames for each painting, all similar with simple hand made detailing. In January 2007 I drove all the pieces out to Austin, Tx for the Star of Texas Tattoo Revival. In the shows new home the project recieved a great welcome. After the weekend I drove the project to Dallas for an artists reception and showing at Strange But True Studios. Jay and Star where excellent hosts and made the reception a tremendous success. In July of 2007 I picked the paintings up from Stange But True Studios and then proceeded down to San Antonio Tx. for the Alamo City Tattoo show. Another great exposure to the tattoo enthusiast crowd. From there it traveled back to LA for a showing and artist reception at the Mary Paxton Gallery from late July til mid August. The week after that show I packed it up and headed out to Pheonix Az. for the Hell City conventions first west coast appearence. What a great show Durb puts on. Not only is it about tattooing but also the art that tattooers create. After that select pieces where displayed at Trigger Happy Tattoo where I work from Sept 07 til May 08. Each day it was a great inspiration to myself and co workers to look at all the great art that came from this project. Graciously Durb gave me space at the Hell City respawn in Columbus Oh. May 2008. Another great showing with tons of people coming through the art gallery space to check out all the extra work that todays tattoo artists create. A special thanks goes out to Marcy for the space at the Austin show, Jay strange for the oportunity to show at his space and great reception. To Anthony from the Alamo City show for the support. To Durb, you sir definately have the key to putting on a tattoo show that showcases ALL of what tattoing has become. Finally to all the participating artists , Thank You for devoting your time to this piece of work, its changed my life and view of what art can be.

 There was a second part of this project that I havent talked much about because it was typically confusing to explaing both parts to the average viewer. The second part was called a "rogue" painting and consisted of me starting a small portion of a canvas then mailing it to a tattoo shop that has proved to be a leader in the art world. Five canvases where mailed out with simple instructions of contribute to the piece or pass it along to someone else who may be interested in participating. Two pieces came back completed and I must say they both blew me away with the result. The first completed panel came back from Newskool tattoo, Even though it suffered a little hiccup with the original panel being lost in a move a second similar panel was completed by Adrian Lee and turned out great. The Second panel that is probably my favorite piece in the whole project was first mailed to Don Mcdonald of Bodyworks Studio, He then passed it on to Steve Morris and then on to Guy Aitchison from HyperspaceStudios, from such a random mailing out of nowhere these guys really made the piece into a great display of what can come from tattooers for the sake of art. These two pices where proudly displayed with all the other panels of ProjectNEXT. The 3 canvases that disappeared into the ether of a busy tattooers schedule where mailed to, Nine Eyes Studio dallas, Hope Gallery in conneticut and Last Rites in new york. Not having much more contact than a piece of paper with a breif outline of the concept of the idea it was more than a success in my book.

 So now the time has come for me to move on to the next collaborative art project. Its called Evolve and documentation can be found at www.myspace.com/evolvetattoo its basically the same premise as ProjectNEXT but it will involve tattooers only. My goal for this project is 50+ canvases. A collection of straight collaborative work on panels, some "Equisite Corpse" style paintings where the other artist has a limited view of the panel to elaborate on, at least 10 "Rogue" panels to see what happens and some other interesting media to be determined when I figure out what to do. 

 Now the what to do with the paintings of ProjectNEXT, I've been told its a much more valuable piece to have all the panels together but some artists have expressed interest in having certain peices for themselves. So I am going to start mailing them back. For those that participated in multiple canvases we can figure out a fair trade of work where we each get to keep a piece. I will keep them in their display frames and if you like I can mail the accompaning progress pictures that where included in each showing. If you'd like me to hold onto the painting and try and sell it thats fine, just let me know what dollar amount you'd like for your part in participating I'll have them up for sale for another six months only then mailed back to you. Please Send Me your mailing address to ship the painting to. If you dont respond in a timely manner i will continue to send this email.

Thanks Again
Darin

And to the tattooers who participated in this work and would like to continue with Evolve it would be my pleasure, just contact me through the myspace page. To the non tattooers I'm always willing to make art so let me know if you wanna do more paintings.

best show ever.

Just got back from Hell City last week. What an awesome show, I forgot how fun a tattoo convention can actually be when its about the artists.  I want to thank Durb for having ProjectNext be a part of the art gallery.  This years gallery was one to be seen, there was so much awesome work presented by the tattooers that attended the show , it really put some perspective of the level of artists that are out there.

I put up some pics of the show in my gallery. Basically a couple of artists shots, pics of the dream art fusion crew, and shots of the shooting for "Tattoo Wars" . What can you say, its like you know how babbies are born , you just really dont want to have to witness it firsthand, you just wanna be able to enjoy the end result. Well hopefully the end result lives up to the greatness of the artists involved and doesnt get turned into the reality tv trite thats currently plaguing the industry.

As of now ProjectNext is on haitus, there will be a rotating exibition at Trigger Happy Tattoo , just so the paintings dont sit in a box in my house for the time being. I'm gonna wait it out for a bit to wait for the perfect next show or person to take charge of promoting these works. I really suck at this part, and it takes a lot to make these things happen.  So there may be one last showing at a certain tattoo convention, or i may just dispurse the paintings and focus on my next project... which is called EVOLVE. 

 Thank you , once again to all the artist that participated, to the fine folls at the art galleries, and to the tireless individuals who put on tattoo conventions. without you this wouldnt have seen the light of day.

darin

found a link with a mention.

http://www.needled.com/blog/entries/upcoming-tattoo-conventions/

ProjectNEXT Artist Reception.
 Mary Paxon Art Gallery
 Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex.
 13200 Clarkdale ave. Norwalk, Ca 90650, Aug 4th 7pm

 Wine and Refreshments will be provided.

 Will be shown from July 30th until Aug. 11th

http://www.google.com/maps?q=13200+Clarkdale+Ave,+Norwalk,+CA+90650,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title

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Posted Photos from the Last show in my pics gallery under Alamo City tattoo show. Was out at the pomona show for about 45 mins putting out flyers... cant stand that place...  Come join me for the first time ProjectNEXT will be displayed in Southern California.

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This Summer is Ours!

ProjectNEXT will be on display at the Alamo City Tattoo Show, July 13, 14, 15, 2007.

Alamo City Show!

Then it Will Finally Make its Way to its LA - SoCal Showing.
Mary Paxon Art Gallery, Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex. 13200 Clarkdale ave. Norwalk, Ca 90650, Aug 4th Artist Reception. Will be showing from July 27th until Aug. 11th

Finally we make the Treck out to Phoenix, Az for the Hell City Tattoo Fest

Hell City Tattoo Fest

Its gonna be a fun Summer, I hope you can join me and have the chance to enjoy these paintings up close. Prints will be available for purchase.

Darin
Drain13.com
ProjectNEXT
EVOLVE

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i am no good at this pr shit...

the remaining shows go unplanned...
work on the new project has yet to start...
tattoo schedule just keeps getting more hectic...

but.

theres light, last night i had a plan of sorts created in my brain, a timeline if you will, but lots to do to make it happen...

lets see if i can pull it off.  

In My haste to get out the door and on the way to Texas in Jan. i forgot to update the Drain13.com ProjectNEXT page. Now its done...

Check It Out here!

Also Project NEXT will be Proudly Displayed at The HELL CITY Tattoo Fest this year in Phoenix Az. august

dont forget to EVOLVE!