Joe Boruchow

Trying to Please You!

2012-02-05T16:00:00.006-05:00

Animal Locomotion

3rd and South Street, Philadelphia

South Philly's own, Pat Martino

2012-01-25T11:46:00.001-05:00

Man With a Guitar

Pat Martino clip

2012-01-23T18:31:00.001-05:00

Fakir

2011-12-19T03:58:00.004-05:00

Fakir is brand new and was intended as an installation in a local coffee shop, but was alas, deemed too challenging for its patrons by the owner. Couch Nap and Wounded Soldier are from 2008 but make a good compliment to this latest cutout.

Fakir

Couch Nap

Wounded Soldier

Shape Shifting - New Paper Cutouts by Joe Boruchow opens November 9th

2011-10-18T13:06:00.003-04:00

Join me for the opening reception - Wednesday, November 9th, 7 - 11pm at The Bean Cafe, 615 South Street, Philadelphia. Limited addition apparel, free posters and libations!

Installation Photos - Look! on Lancaster Ave, 3939 Lancaster Ave

2011-10-11T16:25:00.006-04:00

Thanks to Ryan Collard from the University City District who took the first six of these photos. The killer neon sign on the third floor is by Jack Sloss.

Installation Photos - Traction Company, 4100 Haverford Ave

2011-10-11T16:04:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Jeff Dentz for the invaluable assistance and to Miguel Antonio Horn for these great photos!

A Game of Chess

2011-09-19T18:26:00.002-04:00

a strategy for success? A new paper cutout for the billboard @ 15th and Cherry.

Market Watching

2011-09-19T18:20:00.005-04:00

A series of cutouts designed for an installation in the windows of 3939 Lancaster Ave.

Memorial

2011-09-11T23:45:00.002-04:00

for a billboard @ 15th and Cherry. . . More info to come!

POLARITIES - opening reception Wednesday, August 17th 7 - 9pm!

2011-08-08T14:19:00.006-04:00

The originals will be on display for one night only!

Posters and libations!

T-shirts, Bandannas, Pins and Books!

Wed, Aug 17th, 7-9pm. 4100 Haverford Ave, Philly USA.

Inquirer Interview!

2011-08-06T19:52:00.006-04:00

You can also read the article by following this link!

Polarities - Eleven Windows for the Philadelphia Traction Company installed!

2011-07-27T13:10:00.004-04:00

More photos coming soon! Drive by 41st and Haverford to check it out!

and check out Chip Schwart's article on KnightArts.org!

Polarities

2011-07-27T12:59:00.003-04:00

Secret

Volcano

Magnetic Feild

Vertical Integration part 2

2011-07-05T10:47:00.003-04:00

Nymph

Widow's Walk

Fasces and White Lillies

Copperhead

Vertical Integration part 1

2011-06-14T19:09:00.006-04:00

Here are four of an eventual eleven pieces I am making for the Philadelphia Traction Company, a collaborative workspace and arts center in West Philly. These pieces will cover the boarded windows of this 19th century trolley factory and will be my largest scale installation to date!

Cars and Housetops

Medallion

Waterfall

The Image of Man

Philadelphia Traction Company - 41st and Haverford, West Philly

Square Deal

2011-05-24T03:17:00.006-04:00

Hard Edge

White Iris

Blocks and Stripes

Bathers

Satyr

Pole Dancer

2011-05-10T18:49:00.002-04:00

Step Right Up! Step Right Up!

2011-05-10T18:48:00.002-04:00

The Geek

Preparing for a Freak Show

2011-05-10T18:46:00.001-04:00

Momento Mori

2011-05-03T11:07:00.003-04:00

New EP by The Nite Lights now available!

2011-04-25T15:59:00.002-04:00

Tumbling Hearts EP

Visit the side bar on the right to listen for free!

Or click here for access to free downloads!

Circular Reasoning

2011-04-18T11:42:00.007-04:00

Raindrops
Akuaba
Spinning Wheel
Dionysus
Vertigo
Lolling

Orphan

2011-04-03T16:42:00.001-04:00

Coming to a mailbox near you!

Keep It Safe!

2011-02-26T20:18:00.002-05:00

Above photo taken on Valentine's Day 2011.

This design was rejected from the Philadelphia Dept Of Public Health's Condoms Work! Condom Design Contest.

A Couple of Warm Days in February

2011-02-21T16:10:00.005-05:00

Into The Future

2011-02-17T14:30:00.003-05:00

Enter the Noosphere

Valentine

2011-02-13T11:00:00.003-05:00

Tumbling Hearts

The Queen of Carthage

2011-02-08T00:21:00.002-05:00

As unrest spreads throughout the Arab world I couldn't help but think of Dido's curse from the Aenied, "May an avenger rise up from my bones. . . I call your shores to war against their shores, your waves against their waves, arms with their arms. Let them and their sons' sons learn what is war." (IV 861-869)

Feature...

2010-11-30T16:09:00.000-05:00

In Flying Kite!

Last Week to See ICONS!

2010-11-29T14:13:00.006-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the opening! This is the last week to see the show at The Bean Cafe, 615 South Street. I comes down on Tuesday, December 7th.

Here are some new al fresco pieces:

The Contemplation of Justice

2010-11-08T11:34:00.005-05:00

Happy Veterans Day! Yes, that's Ron Castille, former Philly DA and current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, where we elect our judges.

ICONS

2010-11-01T22:00:00.004-04:00

Opening reception on Wednesday, November 10th from 8-11pm!

Posters and Libations!

T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Totes and Books!

The Battle Continues!

2010-10-13T22:59:00.004-04:00

Entitled, A Sign of Civilization?

Out and About

2010-10-07T00:34:00.004-04:00

Lost Horizon

2010-10-06T16:43:00.003-04:00

"Is he a good dancer?

Whaddaya mean is he a good dancer?

Well, how does he dance?

Close. Very, very close."

-The Shangri-Las, Give Him Great Big Kiss

Keyhole

2010-08-19T13:00:00.002-04:00

New T Shirts - Visit my online store!

2010-08-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

Melt Tank tops; Icon Tees; Revolutionary Taking his Tea Tees; Sailor's Valentine Tees and 26" Invasive Species Tondo posters! Take a look at my new online STORE !

Aviary

2010-08-12T15:38:00.001-04:00

Hot! Hot! Hot!

2010-07-07T01:26:00.002-04:00

Melt

Soda War

2010-06-29T19:24:00.004-04:00

The Invasive Species Tondo was created for these Coke signs which are all over my neighborhood.

Before...

and after...

If you're in Philly and know of one you want invaded, let me know where it is and I'll do my best!

Invasive Species Tondo

2010-06-29T19:23:00.002-04:00

Preparation For a Feast

2010-06-11T01:54:00.004-04:00

Dedicated to Arlene Ackerman, Philadelphia superintendent of schools. Bon Appetit!

Working Blue

2010-06-04T21:57:00.002-04:00

North

2010-05-16T18:32:00.002-04:00

A triptych.

Love Your Neighborhood Civic Association!

2010-05-07T19:36:00.000-04:00

Secure Your Place In Heaven!

2010-04-22T16:14:00.002-04:00

Behold, Icon.

Stuffed Animals Installation at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

2010-04-14T19:55:00.002-04:00

Have A Spot of Tea

2010-04-08T03:40:00.002-04:00

"... Panics in some cases have their uses... they have the same effect on secret traitors which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man and hold them up in public to the world." Thomas Paine, The Crisis 1776

Encore!

2010-03-30T14:54:00.000-04:00

Buy Stuffed Animals at this website!!!

2010-03-18T10:32:00.002-04:00

www.kettledrummerbooks.com

2 New Stores!

2010-03-17T15:56:00.001-04:00

Fat Jacks, 2006 Sansom St

Long In The Tooth Records, 2027 Sansom St

Stuffed Animals available now at these fine bookstores!

2010-03-15T17:58:00.002-04:00

Brick Bat Books, 709 South 4th St

Head House Books, 619 South 2nd St

Brave New Worlds, 45 North 2nd St

Atomic Comics, 642 South Street

. . . and these record stores are carrying both the book and the DVD of the slide show and music:

Repo Records, 538 South Street

AKA Music, 27 North 2nd Street

. . . more to come!

The Promo Continues!

2010-03-15T17:54:00.002-04:00

Toody ROCKS!

I love my bike!

The Nite Lights Just Finished Recording the Soundtrack to Stuffed Animals

2010-02-24T22:14:00.003-05:00

One room, one TV, one mic, one take. We hope to have it available at the Johnny Brenda's show on March 19th! Cutting out the credits for the slide show now.

Stuffed Animals Book Release

2010-02-16T17:46:00.006-05:00

The date is set: Friday, March 19th at Johnny Brenda's. My band, The Nite Lights, will be performing a live soundtrack to a slide show of the graphic novel. It lasts about 20 minutes so we plan to do it twice, once at 9pm and again at Midnight. We will share the evening with Northern Liberties, Mondo Topless and DJ Brown Jeff! Fun Fun Fun! Tickets on sail now at www.johnnybrendas.com

What follows is an excerpt from Stuffed Animals that I had made into a newsprint zine. Let me know if your outside of Philly and I'd be happy to mail you one. If you're in Philly look for them soon in coffee shops and other select locations or pick one up from me at Tattooed Mom, Friday and Saturday noon-7pm or Sunday night 8-2am upstairs (I work there). They're Free!

Sailors' Valentine

2010-02-14T10:15:00.004-05:00

NFS

Isaiah 2010

2010-02-01T14:44:00.003-05:00

Commisioned by Isaiah Zagar, Philadelphia mosaic artist. www.phillymagicgardens.org

New Front and Back Cover for Stuffed Animals

2009-12-23T02:10:00.003-05:00

New and improved front cover-

Back Cover-

More Stuffed Animals news to come!

Last Minute Shopping

2009-12-23T02:07:00.006-05:00

I received the commission request for these two new cutouts on Dec. 20.

City Hall 2010

2009-11-28T20:22:00.004-05:00

For those familiar with the proposed bicycle laws in Philadelphia, I offer this cutout. Not in Philly? Check out how the tribal hill people of our city council suggest bettering our fine metropolis - http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/70444347.html

Next Up

2009-11-17T16:09:00.002-05:00

I'm going to re-do this cover for my graphic novel, Stuffed Animals: A Story in Paper Cutouts. It won a Xeric Grant for graphic fiction and will be published in a hard bound volume due out in February. Also, I've booked Friday, March 19 at Johnny Brenda's (Fishtown, Phila) for a slideshow of the book with live musical accompaniment by my band, The Nite Lights.

Public Service - Up and Running until Dec 8!

2009-11-17T16:05:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the opening!

When You Fuck Up a Cutout There's No Way To Fix It!

2009-10-28T17:08:00.007-04:00

But you can fix a xerox copy of it with a knife and some glue. So, now there are two t's in street. Which one do you prefer? Come see the original fucked up cutout at the show!

Public Service

2009-10-28T13:58:00.001-04:00

Just finished the poster for my upcoming exhibition at the Bean Cafe. Come the the opening reception on Wed. Nov. 11, 8-11pm!!!

Ennui

2009-10-19T17:44:00.003-04:00

Waiting for Porno

A Campy Cutout of "Kitschy Skulls"

2009-10-07T15:12:00.003-04:00

Whenever I am at a loss for ideas I like to arrange some objects from around the house. Most of these skulls come from the CVS seasonal aisle.

Pet Memorials

2009-09-29T12:35:00.005-04:00

I just finished this one for a friend that recently lost their beloved boxer. The other two are older, but now that I have done three, I figured I could publish them as a series in progress. I have lots of friends with pets.

They're everywhere!

2009-09-24T17:22:00.003-04:00

I'm going to hang these by the local drugstores.

I Had No Ideas Today

2009-09-18T01:20:00.002-04:00

But I did have some guacamole.

Cathartic Evisceration of the Art Scene Continues

2009-09-16T11:32:00.002-04:00

Oooh, I'm so excited I can already taste the throw up in mouth! Let's have a party... an Art Party! I think I'm going to wait until First Friday to release this one.

A Word of Advice to Struggling Artists

2009-09-10T10:39:00.002-04:00

To be a fine artist, indeed, one must use more than just one's hands.

Justice

2009-09-06T15:00:00.002-04:00

I actually did this one about six months ago, but I finally got around to making posters of it. It was really meant as an exercise in portraiture, but I think its starting to work in the overarching theme of my new body of work.

On Camelot and other disasters...

2009-09-06T14:57:00.001-04:00

I call it,

"Death Panel."

Face it, man!

Battle Royale

2009-08-18T23:37:00.002-04:00

In the immortal words of David Hasselhoff, "this is a mess." I mean. . . You see, I just saw the James Ensor exhibit at the MoMA (go!) and Francis Bacon at the Met (you slept, its over) last Thursday and riding my bike back from the bus station I past WHYY's scrolling message on 10th Street and it said Michael Vick had just signed with the Eagles and , and , and . . . E. A. G. L. E . S. go!

"City Inlet"

2009-08-11T21:54:00.003-04:00

I once made a stencil which read, "YOUR TRASH RUNS INTO YOUR SOUL!" and painted it by the sewer grates in my neighborhood.

Here is the mother of depravity and her two devil's spawn.

New Poster

2009-08-01T20:09:00.003-04:00

"If love be courtesy refined,

And you be civil in profusion,

That you will to my hopes prove kind,

Is but a natural conclusion." - Antonio's Song, Don Quixote pt I, chapter XI

"Portrait of a Family - 2009"

2009-07-31T19:50:00.003-04:00

All Done.

2009-07-27T23:39:00.004-04:00

I'll look at it again tomorrow and see if anything else needs to be added. Then I'll paint out the pencil lines.

One More Day

2009-07-27T03:56:00.002-04:00

A few more leaves at the top, some stars, motion lines and a title.

Took a Week Vacation.

2009-07-23T22:39:00.002-04:00

It was nice to get away from this one for a while. As always, it's taking a lot longer than I anticipated. I'm happy with the frog and spider. I think I'll save the two shells for last. We'll see.

Getting Close Now

2009-07-10T00:23:00.002-04:00

Some Space Emerges

2009-07-09T00:10:00.001-04:00

First Figure and Face

2009-07-08T01:03:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to capture the likeness of the family that commissioned this piece: Wife, husband, daughter, two dogs and two cats. They do not, to my knowledge, own a crab.

Cats and dogs

2009-07-07T01:21:00.000-04:00

2009-07-01T00:33:00.000-04:00

Crab, Cactus, Turtle and Grasshopper

2009-06-30T00:09:00.002-04:00

I'm looking forward to working on some of the long lines. I can't wait for some depth to develop. I hope that it does.

The Weekend

2009-06-28T18:39:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to save the most fragile parts for last so that I don't have to tip toe around them later.

Day 3: 29 leaves

2009-06-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

Day 2

2009-06-24T21:33:00.000-04:00

Fireflies and flowers.

So it begins!

2009-06-24T00:08:00.000-04:00

I've been working on the drawing stage of this commission for over a month now and I finally began cutting it today. Stay tuned...

My Band, The Nite Lights, releases our sixth "The Poster Series" song.

2009-05-15T19:38:00.000-04:00

"The Poster Series" are songs free to download at www.thenitelights.com. Put 'em on your ipod/itunes/mp3 player and the poster will show up where the album cover art is displayed.

This next poster is just for the series in general...

And here are the other five songs!

More coming soon!

2009-05-10T18:55:00.001-04:00

Six little cutouts for six great Moms!

Controversy Over "Canine Fecal Death Act" poster, An Exchange

2009-05-08T19:48:00.001-04:00

I've been getting a lot of responses to my latest poster. Many people have suggested that my fantasy punishment should be directed more at the people who don't pick up after their dogs than the dogs themselves. But, I ask you, if you kill the owner, what do you do with the dog? Shelters are already at capacity and besides, last time I checked, dogs are merely considered property under the law. Which punishment is more draconian? I'd love to hear City Council debate over it. Until then, the following is the best negative email I received on the matter followed by my response:

Hi Joe,

I saw some of your posters plastered around my neighborhood today, and while I appreciate both your frustration with owners who don't pick up after their dogs and your spirit of community activism, your posters direct the retribution towards the animals, who are not at fault. Inciting violence towards animals is not only inappropriate, but may in fact be illegal. I've removed any of the posters I could find in my area, but if you happen to repost them with the punishment being directed toward the real, human offenders, then I'll leave them alone. Might I suggest "Any person caught not picking up their dog's shit will have said deposit forcibly shoved down their throat" or something along those lines. - J.

My Response:

Dear J.,

I first want to thank you for taking the time to respond to one of my paper cutout posters and assure you that I believe it is as much your right to remove them as it is mine to put them up. I believe, however, that you have misinterpreted my meaning. I in no way see myself as embodying an activist's spirit and the poster, although admittedly provocative, is not meant to advocate for or against anything. All of my posters originate from a single sheet of black paper with the white parts cut out with an xacto blade. The process is painstaking and the result (if successful) is very graphic and direct, so I am always grateful for an emotional response. Far from promoting violence I am simply expressing (I hope in an elegant, humorous and nuanced way) my own outrage and indignation at the shitty situation in our neighborhood; the same outrage I sense that you share. However, I question your moral certitude in regards to your preference of forcing a man to eat dog shit (presumably by threat of force) to killing a dog. I think this is a subject worthy of debate. You are not alone in your criticism of my latest poster and I hope that you don't mind if I post your email and this response on my new blog,www.joeboruchow.blogspot.com , in the hopes of airing such a discussion.

Respectfully,

Joe Boruchow

2009-05-07T15:51:00.000-04:00

This is my first blog post and my most recent paper cutout posters!