This past Monday I flew into Montreal for the first time. Drunk Off Shoes, a Montreal-based sneaker broker, has been a long time supporter and collector. DOS have been backing the work like the GMP masks and the Olympic 180 Air mask (currently unreleased – follow @drunkoffshoes on IG for sneak peeks). This Saturday – May 18th – they’ll be bringing you Sneaker Lifestyle 2013 (click for more info via Facebook), a sneaker and sneaker art event right here in Montreal. You won’t want to miss this event, I’ll be there signing and selling prints as well as a LIVE CHOP sponsored by Reebok, the completed mask will be raffled off to attendees but only if you buy your ticket so don’t miss your chance to win a highly coveted sneaker mask. Come by to sell/buy/trade kicks, see multiple masks in person, kick it with me and the Drunk Off Shoes crew while DJ Quest keeps the 1s and 2s spinning. Big thanks to DJ Deleon and Jimmy Choo aka @badboychoochoo for all their help as well!

The event is sponsored by vendors like Mitchell & Ness, Starter, SUBV, RBK, Reebok Classic, DJ Toddy Flores, Kings & Gods, Artcore Clothing, Boro Clothing, PREZ-ONE, KORchains, Hype Energry, AQUAHYDRATE & more! Seriously not to be missed!

Peep this video brought to you by DJ DELEON for a sneak peek at the Grape V mask that will be on display at Sneaker Lifestyle 2013.

Live performances by DJ Quest, Deadly Venoms, The Posterz, Friday AKA Ricky Dred, DON SMOOVE, BSWAG, DJ Toddy Flores, DJ Goldenchild, DJ Sun,  DJ Payce & more!

Other artists to be featured included Bryan Beyung, Jennifer Aquino aka @jboogs317, Gene Pendon, Jonas aka @jgbxxii

Speaking of not to miss events, be sure to come out to SUBV for an Army of the Undeadstock book signing on Friday May 17th. Not only will I be there but San Diego poet and co-author of Army of the Undeadstock, B(e) Selah, will also be there signing books and prints with me. The book is SOLD OUT everywhere online, these are the very last copies of the 1st Edition book. There will be a 2nd Edition but it won’t be as heavy duty as the 1st Edition so don’t sleep on this opportunity. See you there!

The t-shirt is another classic brought to you by 8 & 9 Clothing, hit up 8and9.com for the freshest gear on the streets. Use 00Freehand for a discount!

The sweatshirt is from PROFITink and is sold out but new colorways will be releasing in the fall.

More info on the book signing, just click here!

Be sure to check out the gallery below for more photos from the shoot. Big thanks to the lovely Betsy VanDeusen for her part in the photo shoot!

This piece is for sale. All inquiries please contact info@rswdsd.com.

On April 19th my first solo show opened at Rosewood San Diego. I had been looking forward to my first official solo show at a gallery since high school, when the opportunity arose at @RSWDSD ( half sneaker consignment shop/ half art gallery in San Diego) I knew I had to step my game up. This was the chance I had been waiting for and I wouldn’t settle for less than mind blowing. It was time to make my long time dream of creating a Boba Fett helmet from sneakers a concrete goal – I now had a deadline set for myself. Hell or high water, the Boba Fett SB helmet must be complete for “Rise of the Undeadstock”.

It was no easy task, especially not after setting the bar so high with the Adidas Superskate Stormtrooper helmet. After all the Stormtrooper did a lot to make the name Freehand Profit synonymous with “whoa…” – it was featured on sneaker blogs like KicksOnFire & SneakerNews as well as G4′s Attack of the Blog, Playboy, Juxtapoz, the Australian News (news.com.au) & many more. I did my best to push all of that noise out of my mind, the real joy was underneath all those layers. Being a lifelong Hip-Hop head and Star Wars fanatic, this was a labor of love – a reflection of self as much as a reflection of the world around me.

Like most sneakerheads on IG, I follow a number of ‘sneakers for sale’ feeds – my eyes glued to square after square, hunting for size 11s at the right price. To the dismay of my bank account, there are a lot of opportunities to pick up pairs for retail or less – especially if you don’t mind them UNDS (worn). And considering I take pride in wearing my collection, lightly worn works just fine for me. Still, I had given up finding pairs of the ‘Boba Fett’ Nike SB Dunk HIs from 2008- it seemed like no one was selling them. I assumed no one in their right mind would give up such a great piece of SB Gold… then a pair appeared… and at a price I didn’t even flinch at. I realized with all the hype and the market flooded with newbies after ‘nothing but HEAT’, some folks gave up selling shoes that weren’t South Beach Lebrons, Tiffany SBs or Jordan Retros. I was lucky and ecstatic to find 4 pairs from great folks all across the country – some by trade some by cold cash money. I set 2 aside for the mask, and a wishful thinking 2 for me. Anytime I start a big project like the Stormtrooper or Boba Fett helmets I know I’ll need more material than a “standard” sneaker gas mask. I aim to do each piece with as few pairs as possible to avoid waste, for the Boba Fett helmet it could’ve been done with just 2 pairs. I saw more potential in sacrificing a 3rd pair for the sake of certain design elements in the finished piece. Very happy with the results, and just as happy with a single pair in my rotation.

If you’d like to know more about the work, take a quick look at the artist statement I wrote for “Rise of the Undeadstock”. For a more in-depth understanding browse through the Interviews & Publications page, or flip through some recent releases by simply clicking here.

Prints of the Boba Fett SB Helmet are available from RosewoodSanDiego.com. These art prints are archival fine art photo prints, signed & numbered by the artist. Limited Edition: 12x18s (only 100) , 20x30s (only 25)

Despite running right up to the last week before the show, I still couldn’t bring myself to cut corners. When I wasn’t happy with the base helmet’s visor I took the extra time and headaches to create a custom lens using Lexan (like plexiglass but stronger). In the long run it was worth it but it still meant the photo shoot didn’t happen until the Tuesday before the show. Lucky for me I have a beautiful & talented fiance, Betsy VanDeusen, who helped turn a last minute, stressful photo shoot into an ideal hike through a trail in Thousand Oaks, CA – she even packed us up a picnic (defintion of a keeper lol). She helped me capture the Boba Fett SB helmet exactly how I had imagined it. Otherworldly yet so real you can feel the arid alien air.

Stay blessed! – FP

Be sure to check out more pics in the gallery below!

]]> https://freehandprofit.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/freehand-profit-presents-the-boba-fett-sb-helmet-from-riseoftheunds/feed/ 4 Boba Fett SB Helmet by Freehand Profit freehandprofit Boba Fett SB Helmet by Freehand Profit Boba Fett SB Helmet by Freehand Profit Boba Fett SB Helmet by Freehand Profit https://freehandprofit.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/sneakernationtv-presents-phase-3-of-the-grape-v-sneaker-mask-construction/ https://freehandprofit.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/sneakernationtv-presents-phase-3-of-the-grape-v-sneaker-mask-construction/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:20:29 +0000 freehandprofit http://freehandprofit.wordpress.com/?p=3239 Read more]]>

Check out Phase 3 of the Grape V Sneaker Mask Construction via Sneaker Nation TV. I’m back in the lab working on completing this mask for debut at Sneaker Lifestyle 2013 in Montreal with Drunk Off Shoes. Even with all this amazing footage, I guarantee you’ll be surprised at the outcome. Stay tuned to freehandprofit.com tomorrow for the highly anticipated release of the Boba Fett SB Helmet as well, now on display at Rosewood San Diego.

If you’re interested in purchasing a sneaker mask, there are still pieces for sale via Rosewood San Diego. Shoot them an email at info@rswdsd.com

Just a few of the masks now on display at Rosewood San Diego (877 Market St). PHOTO BY HUGO V PHOTOGRAPHY

I was honored to have such a great turnout for my first solo show, a big thanks is due to everyone who made it possible: from the folks at Rosewood to friends & family to the San Diego sneaker community who came out in such strong and positive support. Special shouts to Dante, Chris, Mike & Tyler from RSWDSD; to the lovely ladies from Lovelys Sinfully Sweet Creations for the amazing treats (seriously though, if you weren’t there you missed out on sweet bacon cupcakes – they were even topped with lil chocolate kicks!); even had the pleasure of meeting Gretchen Mars & Aubry Marie; and of course to B(e) Selah and the guys from SD Sneaker Swap, Sole Clinics and Sneaker Head Confessions. And as always none of it would be possible without the support of my team: The Fat Chance Crew – namely my fiance Betsy VanDeusen & brother from another Sebastian Bleak.

@dunks_n_mishka & @freehandprofit at Rosewood San Diego for the opening of Rise of the Undeadstock. Photo by HUGO V PHOTOGRAPHY

For more pics from the show, check out #RISEoftheUNDS on IG & Twitter

Another big thanks to Hugo V Photography for coming out and snapping some great shots of the show!

I also had a chance to link up with A07 Entertainment for an interview about the work, check it out!

CLICK FOR MORE INFO

Just 48 hours left until the opening of my very first solo show. The event will take place at ROSEWOOD SAN DIEGO (be sure to follow @rswdsd on Twitter/IG) and will be open 6PM-9PM for a private reception & open bar. If you’d like to attend please RSVP to info@rswdsd.com.

I’ve been working feverishly in the lab to bring a wide selection masks together for this show. Thanks to private collectors, I will be showing masks never before seen works (like the Jordan Infrared 6 mask) as well as crowd favorites (like the Jordan Concord XI – now with improved canister & lenses). Not just Js though, the show will feature masks made from Adidas, Reebok, Nike & Nike SB (of course!).

I will be displaying 13 pieces, including never before seen sneaker gas masks. I will also be unveiling the highly anticipated Boba Fett SB Helmet. If you’re in the SoCal area you are not going to want to miss this. Come celebrate the occasion, enjoy some artwork & hang out with the SD sneaker community.

If you’ve been looking to buy a mask this is your best opportunity! It will also be the last chance to purchase a 1st Edition copy of “Army of the Undeadstock” (sold out online both on PROFITink.com & Amazon.com)*. Less than 10 left so don’t sleep on it!

Hope to see you there! – FP

Here’s an excerpt from my artist statement:

My first passion has always been art but Hip-Hop became my mistress. She first tempted me in grade school with Snoop Dogg’s ‘Doggystyle’, in middle school she introduced me to graffiti and emcees/rappers like Bone Thugs N Harmony and Busta Rhymes, in high school Method Man & Redman sealed my allegiance to the beat of Hip-Hop. In 2001, when I arrived at Corcoran College of Art & Design, I set my mind to exploring and expressing the visual languages of Hip-Hop beyond graffiti.

After earning my BFA in 2005 from the Corcoran I moved to LA chasing those Hip-Hop dreams. In 2010 I began a year long creative project inspired by Noah Scalin’s ‘Skull-A-Day’. It was called MASK365 and every day for a year I created/drew/assembled/designed/painted/sculpted a mask and published the work through my site: freehandprofit.com. This creative gauntlet forced me out of my comfort zone and a few months into the project my hunt for new materials led me to tear a Gucci handbag apart at the seams only to reassemble it into a functioning gas mask/purse. The finished work clearly held the key to unlocking my next body of work, but I knew and cared very little about handbags. I wanted to work with materials that I cared about and revered.

Shoes, kicks, sneakers – whatever you call them – have always been a part of Hip-Hop. Run DMC turned the Adidas shell-toe into an icon for a culture. Since then rappers & emcees alike have curated the dress code adding staples like Chucks, Uptowns, Timberland boots, Jordans and Pumas. The shoes on our feet came to represent a part of our identity. The lines, color and textures of sneakers sold today even parallel those used by graffiti artists.

But why the gas mask? Mask making is an ancient art form and I look to link our modern times to this ancient art. The gas mask is the mask of our times, it represents atrocities at war, civil unrest, environmental damnation and works both as a symbol of fear and of protection. It also tips its hat to the keepers of the graffiti flame who wore/wear respirators and masks to protect their lungs from their poisonous art of choice. The ties to Hip-Hop’s original art form deepen when we examine the language within graffiti- the act of painting renamed “bombing” solidified the warlike nature of the art form.

I don’t offer answers in my work, instead I seek to explore issues we face within the Hip-Hop community. Issues of identity, materialism and duality intertwine as the work reflects a world that is in love with objects but that also has a love for a culture & lifestyle. The masks embrace our guilty pleasure while reminding us there are much more important problems at hand. The sacrifice of the shoes I love for the sake of my art is essential.

-Freehand Profit (Gary Lockwood)

*If you’re a Canuck, you’re in luck! 30 copies are on their way to Montreal now for my event with Drunk Off Shoes May 18th. See ya there!

It’s been a helluva ride getting the last pieces together for my opening this Friday at Rosewood in San Diego. Just last weekend Betsy VanDeusen and I were in San Francisco shooting masks with Dubstepslap415. This weekend I was in San Diego for another mask shoot and for Sneaker Swap SD. Folks who made it out got the first glimpse at the Bred XIII mask which will be a part of my show, entitled “Rise of the Undeadstock”. If you’re in SoCal you won’t want to miss it, I’ll be displaying 13 masks and photos of my work. RSVP by emailing info@rswdsd.com.

Yesterday however I was in Palm Springs for the newest Burn Rubber x New Balance MT580 “Blue Collar” mask. Thanks to the help of fellow Fat Chance Crew founder, Sebastian Bleak, and sneakerhead and welder Jaime (@hi_mee_toe on IG) I wrapped up the second to last photo shoot for the show. (Tuesday morning I’ll be shooting the Boba Fett SB helmet which will make lucky number 13)

Big thanks to Jaime (@hi_mee_toe) for breathing life into the Burn Rubber x New Balance “Blue Collar” mask (L to R: Freehand Profit, Jaime, Sebastian Bleak)

We shot the mask at Jaime’s family shop which his father started 30 years ago. The mask features the Burn Rubber logo on the oblong canister. The gas mask base I used was made for miners, sticking with the “blue collar” theme. This mask is also the first mask to be made from pairs of youth sizes giving it an entirely unique feel. Another first in the mask series, the Blue Collar mask features a hose wrapped in braided laces. These MT580s were part of the “Workforce” pack and don’t you worry, there’s a “white collar” tribute on the way as well so dust off your cubicle.

I’ve been a big fan of Burn Rubber’s sneaker collabs for a while now. It was a pleasure creating this piece for Rick & Ro, two of the hardest working cats in the shoe game. Be sure to watch their show “Detroit Rubber” on YouTube. Stay tuned as we bring you more collabs including the Burn Rubber “Apollo Young” Reebok Questions.

The shirt is one of my newest designs for the Fat Chance Crew and will be available on PROFITink.com soon enough. Always limited, never reprinted.

Be sure to check out the gallery below for more pics!

Philadelphia’s Emɐnuǝl X releases the first official vi$uals for the first single entitled “All American Dreams” off of his upcoming album ‘Gold Tombs’. The jam features Delaware artist J.Mars on the chorus and a verse to conclude the song. The two styles compliment each other very well and make for a cohesive vibe, a really enjoyable listen. It’s an original song produced by Philly’s Mike Horn (@MrCrowseph).

Emɐnuǝl X

I’m not putting 10s on 2s here, Emanuel X’s upcoming album “Gold Tombs” is one of my most anticipated albums of the year.  This cat, Emanuel X – previously known as ELG, always impresses me. I keep setting my expectations higher and he never disappoints. Hip-Hop is very much alive in Philly. Salute fam! Keep up the great work! – FP

 Even I cringed at the thought when my buddy Henry, known as the artist- DeathVSLife, suggested sacrificing his ‘Bin 5′s to the Chopping Block last summer. As I’ve mentioned in interviews, the Vs are my favorite from the Jordan line-up and cutting up a high holy grail like the Bins was daunting. And even though I’m unveiling it today, on April Fools’ Day, trust me it’s nothing to joke about.

It’s not unusual to find: the greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward. I was relieved to find that uber-premium materials that made up the ‘Bin 23′ 5s also allowed for a premium quality mask. When I came across a gas mask with a clear silicone face piece I knew it would pair well with a pair of icy soles. While I worked I thought a lot about the story behind the shoes. Not just Tinker’s P-40 inspriation that surely fuels my love for the Vs, but the story and concept of the “Bin 23″ Vs specifically. I heard it first from Henry as he handed his sacrifice over with confidence (I was less confident at that time and more in awe). Luckily you can read about the back story from HYPEBEAST.

This mask was an exclusive to my book ‘Army of the Undeadstock’ when it released last November.  There are still a few copies left of the 1st Edition, the slimmed down Version 1.5 will drop this Spring. ‘Army of the Undeadstock’ First Edition is available NOW on PROFITink.com and Amazon.com.

The Bin 5 mask also traveled with me to Miami and was on exhibit with 8&9 Clothing Co during Art Basel, some of you may have spotted it in the interview that posted last week. It’ll be the West Coast’s turn to see this piece in person, it will be one of 11 other sneaker gas masks (and a 13th wild card mask) that will be at my first solo show ‘Rise of the Undeadstock’ at ROSEWOOD-SAN DIEGO. You will not want to miss this, anyone who’s been following my posts on IG or Twitter can tell ya that I’ve been working on some serious heat here in the lab. The show, ‘Rise of the Undeadstock’ opens April 19th at ROSEWOOD, be sure to RSVP by email to info@RSWDSD.com.

This mask belongs to Henry (DeathVSLife) as I mentioned above so it is NOT FOR SALE. He and other collectors have been so kind to loan their pieces to the gallery for the show but there will be new and some classic masks for sale at the opening of ‘Rise of the Undeadstock’. All the masks are 1 of 1, you can find more info about the masks on the Interviews page and/or the FAQ page.

A big thanks to my good friend Charlton over at Caliwood Design Labs for laser engraving the face plate with the trusty Profit brand ambigram. Be sure to head over to his page to check out what awesomely creative hi-jinx he’s up to with his laser minions.

Big thanks to @8and9, @iLoveDeviant, @RobDade, @RespekFresh and the whole #braingang!

@FreehandProfit @8and9 @iLoveDeviant Visit the mind of famed and self-proclaimed sneaker destroyer , Freehand Profit who we hand the opportunity to partner up with during Art Basel 2012 for 8&9 Clothing’s Pop Up shop. Find out some of his favorite sneakers, how the gas masks got started and what the sneaker culture means to him. Filmed by @iLoveDeviant x @RobDade x @RespekFresh. Edited by @ iLoveDeviant.

Pick up “Army of the Undeadstock”
Follow On Twitter:
@8and9
@FreehandProfit

www.8and9.com

Freehand Profit and fellow sneaker artist @jboogs317 at Art Basel 2012

Art for Suspect’s newest single “WWJD” feat. Dizzy Wright

PROFITink is proud to sponsor Suspect from IV Parallels, today IV Parallels gives us a preview of their upcoming mixtape “IV: The Record”. When they asked me to put together the album art for a new track featuring XXL 2013 Freshman of the Year, Dizzy Wright from Funk Volume, I knew I had to bring the artistic heat to the table.

This song is the first SINGLE off a joint mixtape between Orlando based Hip Hop recording artists’ Suspect & J. Wise entitled “IV: The Record”. IV: The Record will be hosted by DJ SEMI (Chris Webby’s DJ) and includes another feature from Jon Connor. Appearances on the tape include Wyclef Jean, DJ Paul (Three 6 Mafia) and many others! Mixtape expected to drop late 2013!

For more info on Suspect please visit:
http://www.reporlandohiphop.com/2013/…

Connect with Suspect:
http://Facebook.com/Suspect.IVParallels
http://YouTube.com/SuspectIVParallels
http://Twitter.com/Suspect4P
http://Instagram.com/Suspect4P
http://IVParallels.com

]]> https://freehandprofit.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/ivparallelsllc-presents-new-track-from-suspect4p-ft-dizzywright-wwjd/feed/ 1 WWJDSuspectftDizzyWright-featimg freehandprofit Art for Suspect's newest single "WWJD" feat. Dizzy Wright