Q: Can you tell us the story behind how your label started?

A: It started off with us wheatpasting designs onto buildings and city surfaces, just street art folly, seeing what people made of it. We started playing around with screenprinting and some of the designs moved from buildings onto t-shirts. We didn’t really know how to get them out there, so we played around with this ‘shopgifting’ idea we had, just the opposite of shoplifting where we’d go into stores, hang our shirt up on their coathangers and see what happened. This was in the States. It got us noticed ever so slightly.

Q: What is the inspiration for your current collection?

A: This current collection is called: “Apocalyptic Optimism” and is mostly inspired by hours and hours spent floating on the surface of the internet.

Q: Who would you love to see wearing your label?

A: Bart Simpson or Frank Abagnale Jr.

Q: What is your favourite piece from the collection?

A: We did a collaboration with our good friend and artist Tyler Hill on a piece called: “Lie With an F.” Its like a mexican day of the dead type puppet with banners around it saying: “In The End Life Is Just Lie With An F.”

Q: Do you have a shopping weakness?

A: I just bought some Amish clothes off Ebay. I’d like to see what we can do with them.

Q: What can we expect to see next?

A: Jackets. Lots and lots of denim. The label was born on a late January so I guess that makes it an Aquarius. According to its Horoscope: “Old habits may be pushed aside this coming month and be replaced with good-old-fashioned hormonal impulse.” Can’t wait.

chopstixcity.com

Michael Huppatz returns for his second exhibition at Lee and Me following his highly successful show last year. He has exhibited in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wollongong, London and regional galleries. Here we ask him a few questions.

Tell us about your art.

This exhibition, like the previous one at Lee and Me, features my signature ‘bunny character’. This time I have him interacting with classic (and some more obscure) cartoon figures from the 1930s to the 1970s. There are a handful of other works in the show too, but most of them are the ‘toons. I guess I’m spending a lot of time with my son and reconnecting with the hours of lost time I spent as a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. The original paintings and drawings will be for sale during the exhibition, as well as limited edition fine-art prints.

Still doing the bunnies then?

Yeah, I can’t seem to shake the bunny. It’s a character I’ve really taken to. I love the way it can be a carefree, playful figure, capturing the pure joy of childhood. But because it’s a man in an animal suit with his face hidden, it can seem slightly sinister too. Also, from a totally art driven perspective, all the folds of the costume make it a much more interesting subject to draw or paint. In fact, I am best known for my paintings, but since starting on this bunny character, I have rediscovered how much I love drawing.

Where did the bunny idea come from?

I was away on a holiday and took a quick photo of a guy in a bunny suit carrying an advertising sandwich board. I thought nothing of it at the time, but a couple of years later, found that all my art pieces since then seemed to have this character creeping into them. So, once I realised this, I thought I should do him justice and did a series of paintings concentrating on the bunny. This year I returned to New York, where the original photo was taken, and I’m looking forward to doing a series of New York works, putting the bunny back into his ‘native habitat’.

‘Bunny Goes To Bitburg’ is showing through November and December. Make sure you drop by for that Christmas present with a difference.

www.michaelhuppatz.com

Cut to 2012 and the O’Shea family has kept Willie’s legacy alive with Uppercut Deluxe, continuing to produce quality pomades for the modern man. They’ve stuck with the traditional Pomade formula, but have also added new products to the Uppercut lineup, including; Featherweight, Matt Clay, Monster Hold and an all-in-one shampoo and body wash.

Unlike Willie’s old pomades, these are water-soluble and sweat resistant. They rinse out after one wash leaving no residue behind. Apply a small amount to your fingertips and rub, creating a reworkable hairstyle of your choice. The key is to look sharp and follow the O’Shea family motto: No cornrows.

What we’ve got in-store for you:

Deluxe Pomade

This is a water soluble product. It is a Medium to Strong Hold and will create a variety of styles but is famous for creating a killer quiff/pomp. Has a fresh sheen finish so looks very crisp and sharp. Scented with a coconut fragrance which is reminiscent of vintage surfboard wax.

Featherweight/ Lite Might- Insight

Also a water soluble product, this pliable paste will create a variety of styles. Great for guys that don’t want their hair to look too ‘done’. Has a neutral/ matte finish. Lemongrass and Ginger fragrance.

Matt Clay

Uppercut Deluxe Matt Clay makes it easy to achieve a no-fuss messy look. Don’t let the thick consistency fool you, the clay does what you tell it to, effortlessly piecing out hair to give a pliable, re-workable style.

Formulated, tried and tested by barbers,Uppercut Deluxe products are ideal for guys looking for a high quality product, without the frills of typical salon brands. Proudly Australian made.

http://www.hisboyelroy.com.au/

Tell us a little about your history;

Our Local family run business is located in the foothills of Mt Keira in the lovely village atmosphere of Keiraville. We first opened our doors 30 years ago and have remained a family run business. We moved to Keiraville in 2000 and were at previous location before this.

 

Where does the meat come from?

Our Lambs are hand picked out of the sale yards at Cowra.

All our Beef is Cape-Brim Free Range / Hormone Free from Tasmania.

Black angus Beef is from the Riverina located on the Border of NSW and VIC.

We use free Range Otway Pork.

And Thirlmere Free Range for our poultry products.

Our Misc Gourmet products are sourced from local highland suppliers and from other quality Australian companies.

 

What are you best known for?

We are known for our great selection of time saving value added products and our quality hand-picked traditional cuts of meat, our award winning sausages are regularly spoken about at BBQs.

 

Details;

We are open 7 days a week for the convenience of our customers so come on in and visit us and be served by a staff member who has been trained in the good old fashioned personalized service and have a fantastic product knowledge.

207 Gipps Rd, Keiraville

(02) 4229 6784

Keiraville Butcher serve the finest quality of meats and are always well priced, definitely worth a visit.

We’ve found Proof! Proof that you can spend money and give back to a greater cause than just looking awesome! Although in saying that looking good in your shades is definitely a worthy cause..

None the less now you can buy a pair of shades, look awesome and restore sight to one fortunate person in India.

From the day the first pair of Proof’s sold, they have been involved in different charitable opportunities and ways to give back. Proof provides a sight giving surgery to people in India who can’t afford it. Typically these are cataract surgeries that can be fixed easily with the right amenities. For every pair of shades sold, one of these sight giving surgeries is funded for a person in need. Proof sunglasses are always looking for opportunities to serve in its local communities and throughout the world.

Proof Eyewear prides themselves in manufacturing top of the line products and the lenses are no exception. All lenses are polycarbonate, 100% UVA and UVB protected. Proof also offers a variety of mirrored lenses along with your standard grays and blacks.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get better?! The wood that is used in their shades is replanted for our future enjoyment. Proof initiated the industry’s first recycling program, Oh and not to mention they are handmade!

Check out there website I Want Proof and try a pair on in-store..

Local photographer, surfer, and all round nice guy took some time out with us to chat about his latest exhibition:

T O U R I S T

Tell us a little bit about your life:

“Growing up the son of wandering surf/travel photographers and living between remote south-west Australia, the rat-race of Southern California and New Zealand’s lush, empty pastures, I’ve spent a lot of time moving from place to place, and have never quite known where home is. My whole life has been spent sharing time, family and friends across oceans. I moved to the Illawarra in 2007 and have discovered a place to call home and never leave, however the role I moved here to take up has required fairly constant travel. It is on these travels that the exhibition’s images have been captured.”

What wakes you up in the morning and says ‘hey, let’s take some cool shots today’?

“The concept of the shrinking world intrigues me and moving through countries both familiar and foreign discovering how people react and interact with different faces, cultures and beauty is fascinating. I think I enjoy watching people’s reactions to scenes more than the scenes themselves, especially the most famous – Grand Canyon, Eiffel Tower, Aya Sofya, etc.”

Do you have a favourite shot from the T O U R I S T collection? 

“One of my favourite images from the series is one that is in the booklet, but not on the wall. It’s in the Louvre looking away from the Mona Lisa at all sorts of people clamouring maybe for a glimpse of it, but more importantly, a photo of or with it, while exceptional works of art sit directly behind being completely ignored.”

Was there something that sparked off your imagination for this collection? 

“I based the booklet, and somewhat the exhibition, around Ernest Hemingway’s first novel The Sun Also Rises which beautifully captured and gave life to the so called ‘lost generation’ of the 1920′s, a generation that seems to mirror my own quite exceptionally, though a quote at the start of the novel likely sums it up best: “You are all a lost generation” (with credit to Gertrude Stein).”

Do you have a favourite camera that you love to use?

“Since I started capturing images at age 16 I have shot predominately on one of the original manual SLR’s, a Nikon FM, and love the feeling of timelessness that film gives, especially black and white. I like to think that these images could have just as easily been captured in the 20′s, as in the 50′s, as in today.”

Framed by the magnificent  Egg and Dart  in Thirroul and printed on high quality metallic paper, each print is limited to 8 and will be for sale through to the end of October.

For more information on Aaron’s Photography and Business check out his website In Your Shadow

See you soon for a coffee and a viewing of the T O U R I S T exhibition.

Leather Status Anxiety Wallet $65 – Dad’s price $58

Happy Socks $17 – Dad’s price $15

Mug $19 – Dad’s price $17

Casio Watch $120 – Dad’s price $108

Gift Voucher – $ up to you

Gift card $6 – Dad’s price $5