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Home FEATURES Paul Urich Interview

Paul Urich Interview
Written by Trippe   
Wednesday, 09 July 2008 04:19
The very first artist ever added to Fecal Face over 8 years ago. We revisit this SF based artist.

When I was living in a dirty dirty skate house on Howard St here in SF, I created Fecal Face on a roommate's computer in 2000. The next room down from mine was occupied by a scrawny skater with big blonde dreads. I'd always bum cigarettes off him and he'd never mind. He'd let me rummage through his record collection and we started skating together a bunch. Paul ripped, and he was good at just about everything he tried from skating to surfing to painting. So when I started asking friends for art to add to my fledgling art website, Paul was one of the first asked... That was 8 years ago, so we thought it would be good to get another interview going. Say hi to Paul Urich. You're going to be seeing a lot more of him. -Trippe

You were the very first artist ever featured on Fecal Face over 8 years ago... What you've been up to?

Wow. Eight years flew by. I've dedicated myself to my work. I'm a studio freak. If I'm not in there working I feel guilty. So, I work.

How did you end up leaving Florida and arriving in San Francisco those some odd 8 years ago?

I wanted to pursue the arts and this city felt right to me.

Any other cities almost make the cut?

I enjoy checking out New York. They've got a lot of good stuff going on of course.

What were you like in high school?

Shy, quiet, and fixated on skateboards.

Can you tell us a little bit about your current/ newer work?

I've been collecting antique photographs. I have a collection of three separate family photo albums. It's really interesting to piece together these people's lives. I trip out on how many people they came into contact with. Whoever was the last person holding on to these albums is gone. Now I'm the person holding on to these folk's memories. I make work about these people.

What made you gravitate towards that?

It just makes sense for me. I'm dealing with what I know. The people I care about. How wonderful it is to spend time with them and how scary it is to lose them.

What influences you to create the work you do?

See above (fear)

Can you elaborate? Are you saying that your work represents saving memories/ emotions you have with the people who care about particularly family members?

I would say it's more about the fear of the unknown.... of the things I don't understand.

You designed a Nike Dunk (see it) a little bit ago... How weird was that? People go nuts for those things (or where when you did yours)... Any interesting stories from that experience?

I really enjoyed it. I got to work with my close friend Nick Halkias. It was a really enjoyable and pleasant experience and I got a shout out in a hip-hop song... that's pretty cool.

Your works are sometimes collage or completely gouache works... What is it about collage that excites you? What about each medium lends itself to you? Does that make any sense?

I think collage is nice because you're breaking down one image to create another. I usually use a photograph of someone to make my collages. It's all about the metamorphism.... The gouache has a very nice lightness to it. You can achieve a ghostly quality with it.

What was the most interesting thing you did this week?

My truck broke down in the center lane of the 580. The CHP had to shut down the freeway to get me out of there. That was really fucking hairball. Sorry to anyone that had to sit in traffic... my bad.

What happened? You couldn't pull over at all?

The engine seized. I was on the 580 a couple miles from the bridge in the left lane and my only option was the center divide. Stuck in the middle of the freeway sitting on the jersey barrier. Someone called 911 and I was pushed off by a patrol car.

You moved out to the Ocean Beach years ago to surf more... Still getting out there?

Whenever the ocean allows it.

I'm checking out water temps often and notice that it's been under 54 degrees a lot... that was a pretty low temp when I was surfing a bunch... Does it feel like the water has gotten colder over the years?

It seems like it just steadily hovers in the 54/ 55 range these days. You have to embrace the ice cream headache.

We just got a new 2 month old kitty. What would you name a hyper little kitten?

America

Favorite haunts in SF?

The Pizza Place on Noriega

Detail of above

Studio

Upcoming projects/ shows/ etc?

A bunch of group shows outside of SF and also working on a big solo show opening next year. {moscomment}

Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival

Henrik Haven, who keeps us up to date in all that's Copenhagen, emailed over some photos from the Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival that's running throughout June. In this short installment he introduces us to the work of urban/graffiti artist and illustrator NYCHOS.


Kelly Tunstall's A16 Commissions

Kelly Tunstall, who's showing w/ Ferris Plock at FFDG this August 16th, recently finished some commissions for A16 in Oakland. Here's a little taste, and check out her last year's show at FFDG.


Brendan Monroe Sculptures, A How To

Brendan Monroe, whose show Melting Into the Floor runs through June 15th at LA's Richard Heller, creates these great wooden sculptures and featured a bunch in the show... He's often asked how he goes about making them and gives us at Fecal Face a little 'how to' on the process.


Mural by Curiot (+Mexico)

Mexico City based Curiot, whose sold out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran last March at FFDG, just finished this great mural entitled "El Retorno de Akhankutli" in Mexico. He recently completed one in Berlin too which we'll be posting in the coming week. The guy is very very talented in our eyes.


The Pizza Slice(r) by Henry Gunderson

This made our day. Not only do we love pizza but we also love Henry Gunderson... So a board shapped like a hot slice designed by Henry Gunderson for The Good Company, well... this writer needs to go for a slice right now.


Wendell McShine @Fifty24SF

Wendell McShine (lives in Mexico City, from Trinidad) opened his newest show, Raccoon's Law, at Fifty24SF on Saturday night. ARYZ was a tough act to follow, but McShine held his own in the space... With a combination of a mural, a video, and both drawings and mixed-media works on paper, the diversity of this solo show was impressive. The Raccoon drawings were especially attractive as the way he executed them looked like they actually had fur coming off the page, and you can only imagine how soft it would be to touch. I was lucky to see his work in person through this show, and I hope to encounter more in the future.


Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest

Ingrid Wells just got her MFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and these oil paintings from her Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest were on display as part of the recent MFA exhibition... Ingrid Wells works and lives in San Francisco.


"Out the Window" at Prohibition Gallery

Henry Gunderson emailed over some photos from his recent group show with Andrew Luck, Jordan Bogash, and Mario Ayala "Out The Window" which ran at the Los Angeles based Prohibition Gallery.


The Tornatos in Moore, OK by Justin Clemons

I got there the day after the tornado came through. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My mind just could not grasp what my eyes were seeing. It was just too much to take in, too much to process. So, I did what comes naturally and took images. It sort of helped me separate from the chaos and helped me focus.


Hyuro "In/Between" at ArtRebels

Check out this, what could be, one of the longest murals ever created. Hyuro from Valencia, Spain was recently in Copenhagen for the solo show "In/Between" at ArtRebels.


ARYZ's TL Mural and The Apple

Rachel Ralph spotted Barcelona-based ARYZ working on his mural in the TL a couple weeks back, and we forgot to share the pics. His show at Fifty24SF opened back in April.


Oversized Paintings by Jeffrey Cheung

Jeffrey Cheung emailed over some photos from a recent one night show he had at Terra Gallery/ event space. The May 19th show also featured live music by Oakland garage rockers Twin Steps and Coldtergeist.


Alison Blickle at Eleanor Harwood thru June 15th

Great solo show by LA based Alison Blickle (Born 1976) up now at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood gallery. History of Magic Part 1... The Hermitage runs through June 15th 2013. -- 1295 Alabama St. Hours: Wed thru Sat (11-6pm)


John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 4)

Well, it looks like John Felix Arnold rocked Tokyo with his opening with Koutaro Ooyama at Spes Lab a few weeks back. Even a language barrier couldn't prevent the success of their collaboration. They invited everyone they met on trains, in cars, cafes, bars, restaurants, and people responded by attending, and bringing their families and friends as well.


Sanjay & Craig Premiere Party (+LA)

Last Thursday evening, I was lucky enough to get invited to Nickelodeon's premiere party for their newest cartoon, Sanja & Craig, created by three awesome dudes - Andreas Trolf, Jim Dirschberger, and Jay Howell. Hosted at Tony's Salon with pizza provided by Pizzanistas, the premiere party was filled with libations and celebrations, even a break-dance battle broke out. Congrats to everyone who worked on the show, and especially Trolf, Jim, and Jay who all have been working tirelessly on it. Sanja & Craig premiered Saturday 10:30 am 11 am on Nickelodeon. You can watch Sanjay and Craig Episode 1: Brett Venom on hulu. and read about how the guys came up with it in this interview with The LA Times. Now, here's some photos from the premiere.


Travis Millard Was Almost Rusty Millard

Drawing Stories is a new series from our buddy Travis Millard. Grab a cup of hot coco, get your slippers on and enjoy some time with your uncle Millard.


Tofer Chin @Lu Magnus (+NYC)

Los Angeles Christofer Chin (Tofer) emailed over some install shots of his current show Ar running in NYC at Lu Magnus through June 29th. Simple/ clean and continuing his op artstyle Tofer Chin features new paintings, photographs, and sculpture continuing his exploration of geologically and architecturally inspired Minimalist forms.


Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival

More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.


TrustCorp @Lebasse (+Los Angeles)

TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.


The Sound of Dust

I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.


Murals at Harry Wirtz Elementary

Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.


Ryan De La Hoz @RVCA through 5/25

Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.


Daniel Chen @The Book and Job Gallery (SF)

The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future





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Whole Foods Rips Off Corey Arnold?
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 13:57

Tucker Nichols emailed over this Whole Foods poster (below right) which looks a lot like one of Corey Arnold's photos (bottom left). Coincidence? Where they inspired by Corey's photo? Did Corey actually shoot the photo? Who knows and Corey is fishing for salmon right now (like this), so we can't ask him to find out.

Wait, on this Instagram, Corey Arnold writes "Ripped off!", so we guess that's your answer.

Whole Foods highly inspired by a Corey Arnold photo. Ripped off?

 

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Wednesday, 16 June 2010 17:39


Homemade Tattoos (+How To)
Friday, 14 June 2013 10:00

Yeah, bad tattoos are basically a bummer, right? But they're also pretty much a rite of passage for bored and disenfranchised-feeling teenagers the world over. At least it was for about 95% of the people I know. Going to a reputable tattoo shop and getting a wizard or unicorn drilled into your lower back is totally fine, but nothing really takes the place of sitting around with a bunch of friends and some beers, enthusiastically taking turns poking each others' arms full of bad ideas-which actually is fun at any age.

Homemade Tattoos

Andreas Trolf's feature is an olde but goodie

 

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Wednesday, 25 April 2012 11:56

 

Oakland: Organizers Trying to Keep Monthly Street Art Party Alive
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 15:18

OAKLAND -- First Fridays is hoping Oakland hasn't seen the last of the one of a kind event... The street art party is free to attend, but organizers say with police and other costs the price tag to throw the monthly party is $20,000... The City of Oakland has been footing the bill for months and after kicking in $500,000, it's pulling the plug... Organizers are now asking for donations and developing a vendor fee schedule to try and keep the party alive. ~continue reading

From a Fecal Face visit to one in 2008 (pics)

 

June Group Show @Guerrero Gallery Saturday
Thursday, 13 June 2013 09:52

SAN FRANCISCO -- Guerrero Gallery, here in the Mission, opens their summer group show this Saturday, June 15th, featuring works from a steller lineup: Daniel Albrigo, Ryan Travis Christian, Alejandro Diaz-Ayala, Frohawk Two Feathers, Michelle Guintu, Justin Hager, Cody Hudson, Terry Powers, Rye Purvis, Victory Reyes, Jamie Williams, and Yarrow Slaps.

~complete details

Work by Alejandro Diaz-Ayala

 

Austin McManus Photography
Monday, 10 June 2013 14:06

NYC based Austin McManus updates his site with more tasty photography like the below image from his "Partner in Crime" series.

Image from Austin McManus' "Partner in Crime" series

 

SOEX's Monster Drawing Rally
Tuesday, 11 June 2013 12:42

SAN FRANCISCO --- Southern Exposure hosts thier annual Monster Drawing Rally Friday, June 14, 2013 at THE NWBLK, 1999 Bryant Street (at 18th). Tons of great artists auctioning works at a starting price of only $60.

A live drawing and fundraising event with 120 artists working side by side. The event lets spectators to observe artists in the act of creation, providing the opportunity to watch a drawing come to life, and to purchase a work of art minutes after its completion. Drawings are available for purchase immediately for just $60 each.
~complete details

 

Disputed Banksy graffiti art sold for $1.1M in London
Tuesday, 04 June 2013 14:00

Wonder if our old emails with Banksy are worth a few thousand dollars. It seems everything the dude touches is worth a million dollars these days! Nutty and much deserved.

A disputed Banksy graffiti artwork removed from a gritty London neighbourhood has sold for approximately $1.1 million US at auction. The provocative Slave Labour (Bunting Boy) sold at a private auction held by concierge firm The Sincura Group at the London Film Museum on Sunday, according to Bloomberg news service. The spray-painted, stenciled work depicts a child labourer using an antique sewing machine to create a Union Jack bunting.
-Continue reading

 

Deutsche Bahn plans to use drones to catch graffiti artists
Tuesday, 04 June 2013 10:27

Germany's national railway is testing the use of mini-drones to curb damage to its trains from graffiti. Experts call the move pointless and excessive, saying that varnish for trains could solve the problem instead.
~continue reading

 

The Boys From The UK
Monday, 03 June 2013 14:39

Daniel Cronin, who shot The Gathering of the Juggalos Feature (book out now through Random House), swung through FFDG last Friday to check out The Skull & Sword show (running through June 8th) with a couple of English fellas that's he's been traveling with for a feature on The Guardian UK's website.

Daniel Cronin was hired to shoot photos for the ongoing feature series: the Road Trips USA: Pacific Coast... An interesting idea where the trip was live blogged/ tweeted/ Instagramed with people making suggestions for what to check out, and well, into FFDG they stopped.

Look ma, we made The Guardian U.K.

Come on, guys. Don't call San Francisco "San Fran".

 

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Wednesday, 25 August 2010 12:50


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Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival

Henrik Haven, who keeps us up to date in all that's Copenhagen, emailed over some photos from the Viborg International Billboard Painting Festival that's running throughout June. In this short installment he introduces us to the work of urban/graffiti artist and illustrator NYCHOS.


Kelly Tunstall's A16 Commissions

Kelly Tunstall, who's showing w/ Ferris Plock at FFDG this August 16th, recently finished some commissions for A16 in Oakland. Here's a little taste, and check out her last year's show at FFDG.


Brendan Monroe Sculptures, A How To

Brendan Monroe, whose show Melting Into the Floor runs through June 15th at LA's Richard Heller, creates these great wooden sculptures and featured a bunch in the show... He's often asked how he goes about making them and gives us at Fecal Face a little 'how to' on the process.


Mural by Curiot (+Mexico)

Mexico City based Curiot, whose sold out solo show Age of Omuktlans ran last March at FFDG, just finished this great mural entitled "El Retorno de Akhankutli" in Mexico. He recently completed one in Berlin too which we'll be posting in the coming week. The guy is very very talented in our eyes.


The Pizza Slice(r) by Henry Gunderson

This made our day. Not only do we love pizza but we also love Henry Gunderson... So a board shapped like a hot slice designed by Henry Gunderson for The Good Company, well... this writer needs to go for a slice right now.


Wendell McShine @Fifty24SF

Wendell McShine (lives in Mexico City, from Trinidad) opened his newest show, Raccoon's Law, at Fifty24SF on Saturday night. ARYZ was a tough act to follow, but McShine held his own in the space... With a combination of a mural, a video, and both drawings and mixed-media works on paper, the diversity of this solo show was impressive. The Raccoon drawings were especially attractive as the way he executed them looked like they actually had fur coming off the page, and you can only imagine how soft it would be to touch. I was lucky to see his work in person through this show, and I hope to encounter more in the future.


Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest

Ingrid Wells just got her MFA from The San Francisco Art Institute and these oil paintings from her Honey Boo Boo's Amurrican Starquest were on display as part of the recent MFA exhibition... Ingrid Wells works and lives in San Francisco.


"Out the Window" at Prohibition Gallery

Henry Gunderson emailed over some photos from his recent group show with Andrew Luck, Jordan Bogash, and Mario Ayala "Out The Window" which ran at the Los Angeles based Prohibition Gallery.


The Tornatos in Moore, OK by Justin Clemons

I got there the day after the tornado came through. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. My mind just could not grasp what my eyes were seeing. It was just too much to take in, too much to process. So, I did what comes naturally and took images. It sort of helped me separate from the chaos and helped me focus.


Hyuro "In/Between" at ArtRebels

Check out this, what could be, one of the longest murals ever created. Hyuro from Valencia, Spain was recently in Copenhagen for the solo show "In/Between" at ArtRebels.


ARYZ's TL Mural and The Apple

Rachel Ralph spotted Barcelona-based ARYZ working on his mural in the TL a couple weeks back, and we forgot to share the pics. His show at Fifty24SF opened back in April.


Oversized Paintings by Jeffrey Cheung

Jeffrey Cheung emailed over some photos from a recent one night show he had at Terra Gallery/ event space. The May 19th show also featured live music by Oakland garage rockers Twin Steps and Coldtergeist.


Alison Blickle at Eleanor Harwood thru June 15th

Great solo show by LA based Alison Blickle (Born 1976) up now at San Francisco's Eleanor Harwood gallery. History of Magic Part 1... The Hermitage runs through June 15th 2013. -- 1295 Alabama St. Hours: Wed thru Sat (11-6pm)


John Felix Arnold III in Japan (Part 4)

Well, it looks like John Felix Arnold rocked Tokyo with his opening with Koutaro Ooyama at Spes Lab a few weeks back. Even a language barrier couldn't prevent the success of their collaboration. They invited everyone they met on trains, in cars, cafes, bars, restaurants, and people responded by attending, and bringing their families and friends as well.


Sanjay & Craig Premiere Party (+LA)

Last Thursday evening, I was lucky enough to get invited to Nickelodeon's premiere party for their newest cartoon, Sanja & Craig, created by three awesome dudes - Andreas Trolf, Jim Dirschberger, and Jay Howell. Hosted at Tony's Salon with pizza provided by Pizzanistas, the premiere party was filled with libations and celebrations, even a break-dance battle broke out. Congrats to everyone who worked on the show, and especially Trolf, Jim, and Jay who all have been working tirelessly on it. Sanja & Craig premiered Saturday 10:30 am 11 am on Nickelodeon. You can watch Sanjay and Craig Episode 1: Brett Venom on hulu. and read about how the guys came up with it in this interview with The LA Times. Now, here's some photos from the premiere.


Travis Millard Was Almost Rusty Millard

Drawing Stories is a new series from our buddy Travis Millard. Grab a cup of hot coco, get your slippers on and enjoy some time with your uncle Millard.


Tofer Chin @Lu Magnus (+NYC)

Los Angeles Christofer Chin (Tofer) emailed over some install shots of his current show Ar running in NYC at Lu Magnus through June 29th. Simple/ clean and continuing his op artstyle Tofer Chin features new paintings, photographs, and sculpture continuing his exploration of geologically and architecturally inspired Minimalist forms.


Sten & Lex for The Katowice Street Art Festival

More great street art by the Italian duo, Sten & Lex, this time in Poland for the Katowice Street Art Festival.


TrustCorp @Lebasse (+Los Angeles)

TrustoCorp's all new work for their exhibition at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, Los Angeles is a perfect continuum from past work that embraces the bipolar "have/have not" socioeconomic identity of Los Angeles, which they recently established their new studio in.


The Sound of Dust

I didn't know if you came across this video yet, but I ran into my friend Brian Hanson yesterday who helped film and edit it. It's a film short documenting the work and philosophy of Huntington Beach surfboard Shaper Tim Stamps. Super rad and really inspiring! Anyhow take a peek.


Murals at Harry Wirtz Elementary

Last year, Eric Caruso a teacher at Harry Wirtz Elementary School (Paramount, CA, near LA) had an idea to invite some artists to paint some murals at the school because there wasn't an arts program for the kids. That brilliant idea resulted in some awesome murals by artists Seitaku Aoyama, Yusuke Hanai, Rich Jacobs, Tim Kerr and Albert Reyes.


Ryan De La Hoz @RVCA through 5/25

Ryan De La Hoz' show in the Upper Haight at RVCA runs through this Saturday... And the next time you're in the Mission, be sure to swing through his new shop on 14th St, Cool Try... We need to get over there soon and do a little photo feature for ya.


Daniel Chen @The Book and Job Gallery (SF)

The Book and Job Gallery (San Francisco) really stepped it up with the opening of Daniel Chen's loveBlast on May 4th. Complete with a doorman, piano player, old fashioneds, and some really nice paintings, I could hardly believe I was at the Book and Job. The paintings varied in size, and the show was balanced nicely between them, the spray-can work on the walls, and the smaller drawings displayed throughout. The kind notes Chen wrote on the walls are certain to brighten your day, and the rest of the work is definitely worth a look. It was a very classy evening and I hope they continue to intersperse shows like these into their schedule in the future


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