Mile 44 - Split Lip
For the 3rd installment of my Artist Q&A series I present to you Dave and Stacy from Mile 44. These two guys put out some seriously sweet shit so make sure you show them some love and pick up a few of their prints.
How long have you guys been printing posters and about how many do you put out per year?
Dave: We started printing posters in January of 2004. We began with linoleum blocks because it’s what I knew how to cut and print. I’d done silkscreening in high school, but not since. I figured lino blocks would work just fine – until I split my hand open while cutting block. Then, the mastermind behind Screwball Press, Steve Walters, contacted us about taking his screenprinting class. We figured there would be less injuries involved, so we jumped on board and have been silkscreening since.
We put out, on average, 20 or so posters a year. Seeing as this is a hobby for both of us, it’s a good amount to balance full-time jobs, family and printing. Last year we were really busy and put out 27. It all depends on how many requests come through, or how many art prints Stacy feels like creating. We work as a duo more so than two single artists. Stacy is an illustrator by profession, so 99 percent of the prints are his illustrations. He’s not very fond of printing, and I love the process, so the majority of our work, I’ve printed. We share ideas and sketches and tweak each other’s ideas until Stacy finalizes the illustration. I’ll then cut the rubylith and go from there to make the printed piece.
Mile 44 - Melvins
What poster are most proud of and what was the inspiration behind the piece?
STACY: I really like our “Split Lip Rayfield” poster. Before I draw or help come up with the concept for a band poster, I’m listening to the band’s music on my bike ride, while I walk or work in my studio, over and over for inspiration. I like to get a feel for the band’s work. I’ll catch lyrics here and there and an idea will jump out at me. The band’s music inspires the images in my mind.
DAVE: I have to say our Smoking Popes from June 2008. One of my favorite bands, my favorite venue, a great illustration from Stacy, and I must admit, I pulled out a spot on printing job. I don’t remember what really sparked the idea, but I was putting dishes away and listening to “Destination Failure’ when the image of a sad pirate kid popped into my head. I stopped doing dishes and went to my sketch pad and knocked out a thumbail right away. I sent it to Stacy, he loved the idea and turned around a final illustration. I was printing it two days later. Sometimes it’s the immediacy of the piece that makes it just that much better.
If you had to pick just one artist, who inspired you the most to get into the concert poster business?
Mile 44 - Calexico
STACY: Actually, Dave talked me into doing gigposters. Until he mentioned them to me, I wasn’t that interested in doing this. I was aware of gigposters, but they were the farthest thing from my mind as something I’d care to get into.
DAVE: I started collecting with a Derek Hess Pink Floyd piece I bought at Von’s Records – my college record shop, so I guess that’s where it started. But, my most inspirational artist would have to focus back to Steve Walters at Screwball Press. Steve tought us everything we know about printing and how to design for the silkscreen medium. Not only just Steve, but showing up to print in the Screwball basement and seeing work by other greats – Keith Herzik, Dan Grezca, Kathleen Judge, Billy and Jason of Delicious. It was a great environment to work in because you’d see so much fantastic work being produced there. We printed out of Screwball until May 2007 when I moved to Indianapolis. My dad helped me set up a print shop in an old single stall horse barn my grandmother owned. It’s great for me, but sometimes I miss the Screwball shop.
What can we look forward to seeing from you guys in 2009?
Mile 44 - X
DAVE: 2009? Hmm .. hopefully a ton of gigs coming in. We’d like to take on as many new opportunities as possible. We’ve got a couple of galleries that are considering us for joint/group shows too. I hope to get us a little more involved with the scene of sorts in Indianapolis. We’ll be doing more movie posters with the movie theater we are involved with. That’s a lot of fun. We’ll definitely be attending Flatstock in Chicago during the Pitchfork Music Festival. A Renegade Craft Fair or two. We’re hoping to do more artprints as well. Stacy has an infinite book full of illustrations and ideas he wants to get printed, but time constraints and family commitments hold us back sometimes.
What music do you currently have in your playlist and who are your all time favorite recording artists?
STACY: My playlist is loaded with all kinds of stuff… The Gourds, Split Lip Rayfield, Bad Livers, The Corn Sisters, some Danny Elfman, Hayseed Dixie, Jewel, Johnny Cash, Rachel Ries, She & Him, Smoking Popes, The Handsome Family, Guns N’ Roses, Run DMC, The Wailin’ Jennys and The Wayfaring Strangers. My all-time favorite recording artists are Guns N’ Roses and The Handsome Family. I have been a GNR fan from Day One, for some reason, I identify with their work. And The Handsome Family has the best lyrics of any band ever. Rennie Sparks is a helluva writer. The best!
Mile 44 - Smoking Popes
DAVE: Holy cow, looking in my iTunes, there’s Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Art Blakey, Bad Religion, Band of Horses, Bob Dylan, Drive-By Truckers, Hank III, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Iron and Wine, The Hold Steady, My Morning Jacket, Smoking Popes, Arcade Fire, Ramones, The Sword, The Pogues, Ween … I could go on and on and on. I am looking forward to the Mountain Goats tour this spring, and hoping The National come through Indy at some point. I’m dying for the day Pavement agrees to take stage again. My all-time favorites? Jeesh … I dont’ wanna take the easy road and say the Beatles here, but we did name our son Jude. I’ll say other top faves: Neil Young, Pavement, Tom Waits, and Ween.
Finally, do you guys offer an annual subscription service and what is the easiest way to find out when you release a new print?
DAVE: We started setting aside the first few numbers of each run last year, then offered up subscriptions. If someone wanted one, we had one available. We actually have a full set remaining, and we’ll probably offer the subs again later this year. In 2008, we waited until we thought we’d have enough prints to justify the subscription offer from a purchaser’s point of view, I think it worked well.
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Now that we all know a little bit more about these guys you should mosey on over to their site to see what kind of prints the put out. Here are some links for you to chew on:
