“That’s My Ride, Bro!!”
Tripper & Friends
OPENS: First Thursday, April 5th from 6-9pm at Grasshut
Online launch at 4/5/2012 at 6pm
Artists include: Hilary Pfeifer,Bwana Spoons,Scrappers,Martin Ontiveros, Meredith Dittmar, Brett Superstar, Eatcho, Adrienne Vita, Aaron Barker, Chelsea Fletcher, Caleb Highley, Tripper Dungan, Steve “ManVan” Mathews, And Shawn Wolfe!

April 3rd at powell’s books downtown- 7:30. She will be signing her new book and various other  goodies, and doing a meet and great. Show some support and come out and say hello.

Check out her work here.

Interview with Tripper Dungan by Bwana.

GH- Hey Tripper. Let’s start talkin’ about vans?

TD- Ok. I like most vans but I think the older they get the cooler they are.

GH- What got you excited about this show?

TD- It was a gradual development. I’ve always liked vans and really any vehicles you  can sleep in all stretched out. Over the last couple years I’ve been taking a lot of walks with my daughter Birdie. Along these walks I found I was seeing this great old vans in my neighborhood. Most of them from the 70s and 80s with little touches like pin-striping, abstract shapes and some with topical scenes on the side with the scene blending into the color of the van. I started drawing vans inspired by the ones I saw on my walk and thought it would be a great Idea for a group show.

As far as what I’m excited about what I’m working on I’m carving a couple custom wood vans and a wood paneled R.V. They have working wheels and everything.

GH- How did we meet?

TD- I think we met at Grass Hut when it was over on east Burnside. I don’t remember exactly but I loved your art from the first time I saw it. I actually got an old spray paint print you made from Gallery Bink when I first came into town in 2002.

GH- Was your name always Tripper? How did you get that name?

TD- My mom named me after my dad, John Smith Dungan II, but my brother was also named John after my grandfather. My dad went by Smith and so my aunt Locey came up with the idea to call me “Tripper” because it was a nickname for people that are the III, I’ve heard of other Trippers named for the same reason but haven’t met one yet, we’re like unicorns or something. And I eat magic mushrooms on my granola every second since infinity, or so they say.

GH- I heard you were me and I were you a couple times before we met. How could this be?

TD- There’s so many laid back artist dudes with beards I can’t even sort us out. I recently had to shave so I could remember witch one’s me. I couldn’t think of someone I’d rather be confused for though; kids give me high fives in the street, grandmas blow me kisses, ice cream truck operators give me complimentary choco tacos, it’s great.

GH- Is an ice cream truck a van?

TD- The one’s in my neighborhood are. As far as the ice cream truck that’s conjured when you think of one, that’s most likely a step van.
GH- How has your life changed since the birth of your daughter Birdie?

TD- No. Well, ok. I guess a little. She gives me a chance to look at things from a fresh perspective.

GH- Does she influence your art in any way?

TD- She’s a big reader, and I like getting her older books with nice illustrations and I’ve got some inspiration from those. I also painted a couple pictures inspired by her. One that I like is where her teeth are coming in and she’s holding a little apple man and wearing a blue furry outfit that one of her dolls wears. I’ve always painted and been inspired by toys but I’ve gotten reacquainted with some old faves since Birdie came along.

Aloha Grass Hutlers,

It’s me Justin “Scrappers” Morrison in Hawaii. I haven’t posted anything here lately cause I’ve been surfing, tanning my buns, eating tropical fruit, and tripping out on how it’s March, know what I mean?

Anyhoo, I thought I’d let you know about a radical collaboration happening between Joseph Harmon and me. We made some toys! They’re two characters from that little kids book I made called Owl’s Surf Club. Meet Owl Kahanamoku (slightly related to the Hawaiian who brought surfing to California, Duke Kahanamoku) and El Capitan (he only speaks Spanish, but he understands Spanglish).

So here’s the deal: two new customs will be released everyday next week over at the Department of Awesome’s Shop starting next Monday the 26th. Half of the customs are painted by me and the other half by Joseph. Joseph did a totally epic job sculpting and resin casting the characters from the crappy doods I gave him to work with.

BONUS: Win a Free Owl or El Capitan by “Liking” The Department of Awesome on Facebook and leaving a comment telling us was is most “awesome”.

To get on the preview list, email aloha(at)thedepartmentofawesome.com the secret password “Dawn Patrol” and you’ll get first crack at a chance to score these super rad figures as soon as they’re available.