Episodes (Selected Poem-Prose: 2008-2010) by Zach Matteson

Zach Matteson will be self-publishing a volume of written work this weekend for his Master's Thesis at APSU. I had the pleasure of talking with him about his work and designing and illustrating a cover for the collection this week. Zach has a fine grasp on his voice and has harnessed some wonderful situations onto paper for his audience. I'll take the liberty of giving audience to a sample with you here...


Zach's Thesis:

One cannot disinherit narrative,

neither the number

nor the pronoun.

Ask a mathematician, a linguist.

Sequence equals consequence.



PLASTIC MENAGERIE: 1989


You learn early that fireflies don’t bite, that insects that can’t make their own are attracted to light. My mother drowns a plastic, peanut butter jar in dishwater. With her nails, she flays the wolfish visage of its flakey fish-scale label. No bowl molds before soaking in her sink, though macaroni grows occasionally hairy, forgotten in the fridge. She slits the lid with squinty-eyes.


Zach, I also had a poem with Erato as the subject in my first volume of poety, entitled Sun Twist. My brow went wAY uP when I saw the title in your final draft. Keep the translation of your voice tuned and sound; it's a fine instrument which you've mastered.

Mickey Brand Halo

Early last year, I was contacted online by Toby HK, a designer and liaison for the Hong Kong division of Disney about a project entitled Mickey Brand Halo. A few dozen artists were chosen to paint custom 12 inch tall vinyl Mickey Mouse toys to be showcased in Hong Kong at Times Square and auctioned off for charity. Other artists and designers came together for the event with paintings, sculptures, and utilitarian works to commemorate Mickey and his iconic image. Although I couldn't make it to the opening, Toby was kind enough to send out pics of the event.



My Mickey sported my own pop-surrealist style! On the back-side shot posted here, you can see I gave a window into his brain and what's on it! I never got a good pic of the insides of his hands due to the angle (which also was very difficult to paint!). In his left hand is a U.S. penny and in his right hand a pellet of green rat bait... which might also explain the look on his face and the foam at the mouth! I'm glad to say he made it around the world to me and back and now takes happy residence there. It was loads of fun taking part in a project for a company like Disney and hope there are similar opportunities in the future!

Here is a great article on the exhibit from Toys 'R' Evil...

The Dogwood Arts Festival

This past weekend was a special occasion for me, being the first arts festival I have attended outside of Middle Tennessee, the 50th annual Dogwood Arts Festival. I arrived with Aurora, van packed down with a year's worth of artwork and prints just behind the rain Thursday evening to load in and find optimistic vendors setting up in the gloomy muck. The weekend did not disappoint with the weather being the topic on the tips of most peoples tongues.

I found myself some more this weekend or better put- reinforced my belief in my work to mySELF by opening my heart and mind to the general public. It's weird watching a sea of people float by your work. A double-take here and there. Occasionally, you catch an eye bulge or facial expression similar to something I'd draw. If the purpose of art is to evoke emotion, I'm a successful man. I saw parents pull their children back from my work and saw others hold them and laugh and laugh and point and giggle. I saw people stare and saw people take one look and shake their head in disgust. I talked to kids barely in school and men who told me psychedelic stories from fifty years ago. All of them told me the ways my work opened their mind. In turn, these perfect strangers (and some new friends) gave me new perspectives on the effect of what I do.

Congratulations to Alex Bowers who won my drawing for an original framed illustration on Sunday. He took home a couple of my buttons the day before and I spotted him later on with the Timothy Leary button pinned on his little brother!

Yellow Submarine

On our way to Knoxville for The Dogwood Arts Festival, we ran into Marty from The Liverpool Legends (The Ultimate Beatles Tribute Experience), who was in route from Missouri to Pigeon Forge to rock the socks off his legion of screaming groupies from Rocky Top.

Marty was cool enough to talk to us about his Yellow Submarine Bug and pose with one of my prints of my illustration, Octopus's Garden, which I gave him for having the trippiest hippiest ride on the block!

Inside Job

Here is a fun digital work which took a ride to San Diego late last year to Thumbprint Gallery for their PROPAGANDA exhibit. I had him matted with a white matte printed with the company logos from all the corporations who profited from the Middle Eastern invasions of the past decade.

Dick had a grouchy ride back via ground service FedEx. Dick doesn't like me very much because I argue with him all the time so I had to let him stay at my dear friend Su's house. I think they're getting by... I wouldn't argue with Su. She knows her false flag operations.

Based on a true story...

This recent illustration is a portrait of my friend, Lee Wolfe. I've known Lee and his family for many years now, having some wonderful and clairvoyant experiences together.

Lee was in an accident several months ago in which he lost his arm. (Click here for a local news article about the accident) I drove down to Alabama to find my friend alive and well and still with us. My next worry was for Lee's own artistic endeavors not knowing which arm he'd lost (of course, the first thing I'd think of considering my own paranoia's of protecting my hands and eyes simply because of my art). Fortunately it was the left arm he lost.

Lee described the phantom pains months later to me as an "alien sucker fish" latched onto his arm and working its way up devouring the arm as it went. I couldn't get this image out of my head for months until I translated it onto paper, for which I submit to you now... based on a true story.

Lee, your will to survive is inspiring... stay strong with your new endeavors.

TOPSY-TURVY II

Photo by Marsha Rusk (curator)












 A collection of 30 recent illustrations from my Topsy-Turvy series can be currently seen at Wired Coffee Company in Hendersonville, TN through March 30.

Wired Coffe Co. is a gem of a spot for the Nashville area. The atmosphere is very chill and if you're in the area, I urge you to stop by and check them out!