Colin Matthes

What kind of knowledge does a person need to know in order to survive the threats of our terror-stricken, post-9/11, environmentally fraught, natural-disaster-prone day and age? With tongue firmly in cheek, Colin Matthes has created a series of posters illustrating in great detail what he takes to be the “Essential Knowledge” of today. This includes how to prepare small game, make weapons in a pinch, throw a knife, start a fire without matches, encode messages, shoot a semi-automatic pistol, make a boat from the ruins of a gas station, purify water, and break down a door. The resulting series registers as part Boy Scout manual, part outdoorsman guidebook, part Army/Navy training notes, and part, um, paranoid conspiracy theorist Internet search results. What could be more apt reading for the average American? With the right packaging—certainly not the scrawled, lone man in the woods drawing style that the artist has perfected—Matthes could have a best-seller on his hands. And a whole lot of blood.

—Lori Waxman 5/31/13 4:09 PM

To view the original document click here.

Check out coverage of the new print sets on Printeresting

Each print set is a series of instructional posters teaching basic skills for success in challenging situations. Each print is 15.5x11in, photocopy printed in a edition of 50 on thick paper. The sets are eight prints each, signed, and packaged in plastic sleeves.

For more information or to purchase the print sets ($18 each) stop by Sky High Gallery in Milwaukee or contact Colin Matthes at colincmatthes@gmail.com

I have four exhibitions in the next few months. Lots of new work that I made while living back and forth between Milwaukee and Ireland the last two years.
To read more click here.

So excited to be a part of this one.

I have an exhibit coming up at Sky High Gallery in Milwaukee opening on Jan 18.

For more info

Justseeds got a mention on the Street Art NYC blog for the exhibition at Munch Gallery, NYC.

I am heading to Brussels next week to participate in the project, Cite Maquette (All Problems Can Never Be Solved). The “invention” drawings I have been making led to being asked to participate in this project as an architect.

The last five weeks I have been making drawings in residence at Cow House Studios. I just took the time to upload a selection of drawings from the past year.

Street Scene, 43x40in, mixed media on paper, 2012