Panel #3- Gian Norte of Montebello, CA

STICK A FORK IN HER, THIS B*TCH IS DONE! Yup yup, we finally have the first complete panel of El Travo Collabo 2011!!!!!!

But before I get into THAT, I want to introduce you all to MellyMel of LA! She is my long lost sister and partner in crime and I have asked her to guest write on the blog for our next Collabo artist, Gian Norte. Melly has been heling me recruit fresh faces from the LA area, and she's kind of a big deal, you know? haha, get into this post RIGHT. FREAKIN. NOW.

Hey everyone! Your lovely host asked me to guest write and introduce you to my talented recruits from LA (and a few just outside of LA city limits). My name is Melinda, or Mellymel if yo’ nasty! I happen to be a fan of ELROD’s and by some sick fate we met on the intrawebs. You know when you’re randomly searching through your friend’s profiles (like you never done that before) and find out, “wow! This vata has my artwork as her profile picture!” type of fate. Well, she saw her piece as my profile picture on the social network scene and it blew her mind in a good way (so I’m guessing?). After a few emails and a lot of laughs, I realized I met my soul sista and knew we would make a hardcore art hustlin’ team.

Now for the next artist on the panel and my first recruit to El Travo Collabo familia, Gian Flores Norte. I’m so stoked to introduce Gian’s work to the world. Gian is a true Angeleno, born and raised in East LA. I’ve known Gian for a few years now. We met when Gian worked with Mr. Cartoon at Last Laugh and I worked next door at Upper Playground. When he wasn’t hustlin’ Last Laugh gear to peeps, he was hard at work in his sketchbook. I knew when I saw Gian’s work that he had some dope skills creating his own signature line work. Always on his grind, he’s been busy tattooing and making a name for himself in the art world. He’s created some innovative installations and bold work on canvas that remind me of some tripped out amoeba. The colors and shapes he creates are so uninhibited and fresh. He’s definitely someone you want to keep an eye on! Gian’s work can be seen on Saturday, April 23rd at Soundbite Studios in Echo Parque. Get to know more about Gian and check out his interview AND his sick art HERE.

What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

GN:It was during kindergarten and for halloween we had to paint the pumpkins we had in class and my favorite color at the time was orange so i painted my pumpkin orange i remember my teacher telling my mom "he's going to be an artist"

What are three words that best describe your artwork?

GN:Organic, Amoeba-like, complex

What inspires you?

GN:Life, more like everyday life things I see on an everyday basis as well as street art graffiti on city streets, murals too.

What is your goal in life?

GN:My main goal, my main goal is to be able to do exactly what I love which is artwork and live on just doing that and not only life but live well. I want to have my art in galleries and have installations around the country and be a famous tattoo artist also.

Name something you love, and why.

GN: I love authenticity, whether it be in someone a place somewhere you eat or just in general. I think people and things that are authentic are lacking these days and things are more becoming mass produced, and everyone is trying to fit in with the way society wants people to want. I want love seeing original authentic artwork, i love authentic people, restaurants, ideas, places, like something you dont see everyday or that is rare to see.

What makes you angry?

GN: Conformity. I really hate how everybody wants to flock to a certain image of how they think they should look or what they should buy or what they should be doing. I know for a fact i've conformed in the past but I always knew i wasn't being true to myself. I believe everyone has something to offer the world as themselves as their own people.

What was your favorite toy as a kid?

GN: Wow this is a hard one lol! Well, me and my brother grew up watching predator and aliens and reading comic books. I can't zero in on just one, my favorites were all my toy guns especially the ones that made a shot sound, and all my predator, alien, spiderman,venom and marvel character toys.

What is your favorite toy now?

GN: My iphone lol. I can do so much from just the palm of my hand and it's a great way to stay in touch, plus Ihave some pretty sweet games on here too.

What is your “dream” art project?

GN: My dream project is to make a 10-16 foot instillation piece of one of my piece's but as you would assume in 3D.

What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

GN: Recently i've been listening to allot of rock, but the one band I listen to allot when i'm working is the Arcade Fire.

If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

GN: Heavy kick, because when you drink me I want you to feel like someone kicked you off your feet lol

If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

GN: Don't be afraid of anyone or what anyone is going to tell you because you're gonna grow up into the person you want to be.

If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

GN: Oh hands down Alex Pardee. I love Pardee's work the thought he puts into each piece is so well thought out and in depth and just his use of color and his line work is so on point.

What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

GN: Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do/be because only you and no one else are in control of your own destiny. Be truly You, Believe that there's no one bigger.

If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

GN: Amongst all the fighting and hate that our world is consumed with, has all this racism and killing and hate made the world a better place?

Well said. Thank you Gian for sharing your ameobic love and wise words. And a HUGE thank you to MellyMel for helping me with EVERYTHING! Without her, I fear this project would not exist. She has helped me plan and execute my vision and I shall be forever grateful to have her in my life. We familia now, hermana.

BUT, HEELLLOOOOOOOO! You guys! We JUST finished the FIRST complete panel of the project!!!!!! Let's take a trip down memory lane and see how this baby grew!

First- Elizabeth Amento of San Francsico:

Second- Sarah "Holla Back" Holbach of San Diego:

Third- Forest Stearns of Oakland:

Fourth- Gian Norte of Montebello:

BOOM! BANG! POW! Killed it!!

That's FOUR amazing artists and 1,772 miles of traveling!!! God, I love this project so much.

Take it all in, my friends. Tis a beautiful thing that we did here. 4 people with no prior connection, have created this single piece of traveling art and are now connected for life. And they did such a fantastic job. This panel has so much life and character and you can easily sport each artist's style. Job well done! It pains me to do this, but I must now wrap up Panel #3 and put her in storage until the shows begin next year. Or maybe this needs to be hanging in my office until then... hmmm.....

I love you all.

ELROD