Tony Quan has been stricken with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, for the past 7 years. ALS is a devastating neurological disease that slowly causes paralysis; those who have ALS essentially become prisoners within their own bodies. Tony is no different – the only parts of his body that he can move are his eyes.

That hasn’t stopped Tony from doing what he loves to do though – you see, Tony’s a graffiti artist who goes by the nickname Tempt One. When the people over at Graffiti Research Lab heard about Tony’s plight, they knew they had to do something. And they did. What they came up with was an ingenious solution – eye-tracking hardware and software that allowed Tony to draw with his eyes.

Watch the incredible video and see him tag an entire building.

By the way, the song in the video is “Man on the Moon” by Kid Cudi, which samples “Aquarium” by Nosaj Thing.

April has been a busy month for the artist known as DILLON, and he likes it that way. The American-born artist living in Italy has recently finished a new batch of work, done with some provocative concepts over some eye catching patterns (using aerosol over stencils and acrylic on canvas of course). He has also been showcasing his art at various shops and cafes around Italy, as well as embarking on a book signing tour.

DILLON was born in Phoenix, Arizona and lived mostly in Las Vegas, Nevada before relocating to Italy. He attended private art lessons at the age of 9. As a kid growing up,

DILLON contemplates his next brush stroke

Dillon spent most of his days creating art of famous icons and composing music with friends. His first professional sale, at the age of 14, was followed by entertaining audiences through painting live at gallery exhibits. Upon completion of high school, Dillon’s time was divided between painting large scale portraits of celebrities, recording his own underground music, and acting in local independent films. Dillon turned from a local sensation into an international success in 2004 when his artwork was revealed through online auctions and illustrative websites around the world. Ever since then, his work has been showcased in galleries throughout the United States and Southern Europe.

Right now, DILLON is hard at work on his latest project, boldly named “The Worlds Largest Self Portrait.” This piece will consist of many faces of famous icons or people that have either inspired or influenced DILLON in some way. It will resemble mostly the self portrait sticker but filled with fine detail of famous faces making up the total image. The overall size of this canvas bound painting should fit firmly within a decent sized soccer field. DILLON then says that he plans to auction it off for a favorite charity or a good cause. Recently, Jetcomx’s head writer was lucky enough to chat with the man himself.

DILLON showcases his artwork on a skateboard deck

Andrew Boni: Thanks for taking the time to talk with Jetcomx. We really appreciate it. So, tell me, who exactly is the man behind the moniker DILLON? How did the name come about?
DILLON: Well, 50 Cent was already taken, plus I didn’t want to hurt John F. Kennedy’s feelings. No, seriously some of my friends called me by my middle name during high school and I guess I enjoyed the chance at taking on another identity. Also, I started signing my paintings DILLON because I didn’t like how James Wright looked. It looked like every other artist out there. I wanted something distinct and resolute.

AB: Describe to us a day in the life of DILLON.
DILLON: Ok, so I get up around 11am because I stayed up the night before thinking of ways to obtain a Ferrari. I do the email checking thing. I head into town with my portfolio, some stickers, and a notebook for “instant ideas”. I grab a cappuccino at a random café and scope out galleries or places of interest to set up shows. I attempt to speak to the business owner, knowing little Italian. Hit or miss, I return home with ideas and start painting new projects. Oh, wait I gotta’ make a bottle for the baby. I love on my 2 month old baby girl and kiss on my wife, plug in my iPod and chill in my studio thumbing through magazines, books, or websites to stimulate inspiration… for ways to obtain a Ferrari.

DILLON poses with his Marilyn Monroe & Kurt Cobain

AB: At what age did you determine that art is what you were going to be doing for the rest of your life?
DILLON: I don’t think there was ever an exact time or age that I realized I was an artist or that art was a way of life for me. I think more or less, that I became a product of my environment. Or maybe that I became what my environment lacked. And in return my environment became a product of me (A continuous process that takes years to achieve). Basically, I was about 4 years old.

AB: Do you think that it’s more difficult for people to make a living as an artist today, than say 50 years ago?
DILLON: I can still remember that old saying, “starving artist.” I don’t think that expression is thrown around as much anymore. I believe this is because today’s technology (the web comes to mind) has somewhat snuffed out the stereotype of the “poor” artist and replaced it with artists quickly surfacing to the top of their game. Yes, it’s much easier. It’s absolutely wonderful.

DILLON paints live on the streets of Italy

AB: How has society’s obsession with all things technological (the internet, the iPhone, Photoshop, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc) affected what you do?
DILLON: It has affected my career tremendously. Let’s face it; I sell more than half my work on eBay with a substantial amount of help from photo hosting sites like flickr.com. Most emerging and established artists would still be in the dark if it weren’t for these programs. But, they are merely the tools of our time. The only thing that separates one artist from the other is the patience to learn them.

AB: What made you decide to leave everything you knew behind and move to Italy? How well received is your work in Italy?
DILLON: To make a long story short, my wife’s choice to secure a future and try to better our lives by signing on with the U.S. Air Force has provided us with a very rewarding experience. As far as culture reception and such, the Italians, for the most part, have welcomed my style of art with open arms.

AB: Which contemporary artist do you think has most profoundly impacted society?
DILLON: Playing a notable part in the election of President Barack Obama through his campaign poster/ portrait… I would say Shepard Fairey hands down. But, I admire Banksy. I believe he has accomplished a much greater influential impact on society.

DILLON's rendition of Marilyn Monroe

AB: Speaking of Shepard Fairey, what’s your take on his work being used as an icon of Obama’s historic presidential campaign?
DILLON: It’s a dream come true in the eyes of an artist.

AB: Where do you get your ideas & draw your inspiration from? Do you experience artist’s block often?
DILLON: Gandhi and Genghis Khan (They happen to be the historical figures I am researching right now). I would have to say that the people who have influenced me are Walt Disney, Stan Lee, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Tamara de Lempicka, Shepard Fairy, and Banksy. (In order from earliest to now.) I get artist’s block all the time! But sometimes it’s quite the opposite. I’ll have such an abundance of ideas that I don’t know which one to execute first.

AB: What are some words of advice that you would like to give to aspiring artists?
DILLON: You can remain who you want to be or become who you are. You have the unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices to become knowledgeable and great at whatever you do. But first; if you want to be heard, you have to listen. Do not fear the absence of knowledge. Embrace it. Now go do something.

AB: Do you plan on returning to the US any time soon?
DILLON: Not sure? I just came back from Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria after checking out their art scene. Maybe I will come home for a short stay after I check out the United Kingdom or Switzerland. I want to take in as much as I can. Only then will I truly be able to give something back.

AB: Well that concludes this interview. Do you have anything else that you’d like to say?

DILLON: No, I think that about sums it up. Thanks for the opportunity to express my thoughts and ambitions! Here are some available links to my art:
Blog: http://hollyworx.blogspot.com/
eBay store:http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Hollyworx-Ultramodern-Art
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollyworx/

Indie art, fashion, music, graffiti, and design magazine Beautiful/Decay is undergoing a complete overhaul. Starting with their July 2009 issue, Beautiful/Decay will have a number of new and innovative changes. I like to think of it as Beautiful/Decay 2.0.  The magazine was started over 10 years ago as a hand-copied, black and white ‘zine. Since that time, it has quickly blossomed into one of the most well-known magazines in the industry. Today though, the state of the economy is wreaking havoc on many companies and businesses. Beautiful/Decay is no exception to that fact. But, instead of laying off workers, watering down content, or even going out of business, Beautiful/Decay has decided to be proactive about the situation and implement unique changes. They are even doing their part to be more environmentally friendly.

One thing we’ve always disliked about the mainstream print industry is that it can be wasteful. Newsstands throw away all unsold magazines, averaging a 40-60% waste rate. In keeping with our commitment to staying green, Beautiful/Decay will instead send issues straight into the hands of subscribers, rather than dumpsters.

The new, revamped July 2009 issue of Beautiful/Decay will have the following features:

• No more traditional advertising. This means that things like full page ads are a thing of the past.
• The page count of the magazine has increased by 50%.  There will now be over 164 pages of content.
• Features in the magazine now have double the page space, with more images & articles. Articles now run anywhere from 16-20 pages in length.
• Each magazine is hand numbered and limited to 1,500-2,000 copies.
• Each issue comes with a limited edition collaborative artist project ranging from inserts, stickers, posters, to original artwork
• Presented in new format & size, including French flaps and multiple printing processes within
• Released 3 times a year (once every 4 months)

We here at Jetcomx are eagerly awaiting the release of this issue. Issue 1 will feature hand-drawn, original artwork by Beautiful/Decay artist Kyle Thomas. These are going to sell out quickly, so be sure to subscribe to reserve your copy.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of months or inside a deprivation chamber in prepartation for a mission to Mars, you’re well aware that the state of the world economy has turned to complete shit. One of the nations that is feeling the burn much worse than we are is Zimbabwe. The African nation is currently undergoing what is known as hyperinflation, which basically means that prices are rapidly increasing as the value of the currency is rapidly decreasing. Six months ago, the inflation rate was calculated to be at a staggering 516 quintillion percent or 516,000,000,000,000,000,000%. Zimbabwe’s currency has since been pronounced dead.

Earlier this week, the newspaper known as The Zimbabwean created one of the most unique and eye-catching guerrilla ad campaigns. In order to spread the word about the current dire conditions in Zimbabwe, they created posters, flyers, billboards, and murals made from Zimbabwean notes. They chose to display their works in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa.
[Gallery not found]

These days, the ongoing corporate greed on Wall Street seems to have taken over the headlines. In this stencil graffiti piece, artist Vinchen wants to remind everyone of the effect that this will have on our future generations. This is one of the more culturally relevant graffiti pieces that I’ve come across lately. Take a look at more of Vinchen’s work below:
[Gallery not found]

Nowadays, it seems as if it is getting harder and harder to find magazines or publications with any substance. But for those interested in venturing into eclectic bookstores (i.e. Trident on Boston’s Newbury Street), look for the art and design publication Beautiful/Decay. Immediately, the cover draws in any passersby with it’s provoking and contemporary artwork. The cover of the recent issue X has a colorful portrayal of a soldier covered in graffiti standing in the middle of a surreal jungle scene. But the cover is only the beginning of what it holds printed inside. There are pages and pages of contemporary artwork from new artists, making Beautiful/Decay a great stepping-stone for emerging talent. In addition to the publication which is printed quarterly, Beautiful/Decay also has a website and e-mail newsletter that provides more information about the creative world and updates on B/D ventures, respectively.

Rokurokubi by Aya Kato

Another way Beautiful/Decay reaches out to its audience (and perhaps the most creative way) is through its artist-inspired apparel line. All the artists who design for the line have been featured in the B/D publication and were picked because of their extraordinary talent and ability to catch the attention of readers. The artists, who range in their styles and themes, are given the opportunity to design 1-2 shirts for the Artist Series Apparel  and showcase their artwork through a contemporary media. Under the direction of Something in the Universe (an extension of Beautiful/Decay), the apparel line has been able to grow significantly and produce screen prints of more than 40 emerging artists.

Frog Prince by Aya Kato

Unlike most artists who collaborate with the Artist Series Apparel line for only a couple shirts, Aya Kato has collaborated with Beautiful/Decay in order to form her own unique line.

“For me, the beauty of Japanese art is in its two dimensions – its deepness and the beauty of the outlines. I often find inspiration from books or poetic language and my pieces extend from there. I like to think the passion I have for my work is expressed through the images I produce and would love to collaborate with people all over the world – in music, illustration and fashion.” – Aya Kato

Her style of combing Art Nouveau with Japanese scroll art is particularly reflected in her designs “Frog Prince” and “Rokurokubi.” Both of these shirts exhibit Kato’s strong Japanese influence along with her unique and imaginative perspective.

Lung Music by Jan Kallwejt

By working with artists such as Aya Kato, Beautiful/Decay has been able to help new, influential artists reach a larger audience. By giving people in the creative world access to new art, Beautiful/Decay is doing both sides of the creative world a service. What started out as a fun project for creative director Amir H. Fallah and his neighbor has blossomed into the sophisticated art and design business it is today.

John McCain Dancing in Stamford CT by Billi Kid

Right now, you may be scratching your head, wondering what exactly constitutes “sticker culture.” Well, sticker culture can be categorized as an off-shoot of graffiti, wheat pasting, and other forms of street art. It’s fresh, ground-breaking, and setting the street art bar just a little bit higher. No longer bound to legendary figures like Shepard Fairey of “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” fame, sticker designs come from all manner of places and all kinds of skill. From hand drawn pieces on USPS labels, to high-quality vinyl prints, artists all across the globe create and trade stickers with one another. This can be to simply beef up personal collections or more importantly, to spread the wealth through impromptu street galleries otherwise known as combo slaps. Billi Kid has firmly placed himself at the heart of the combo slap phenomenon by delivering eye popping visuals that turn heads, while still respecting individual designs. Through careful planning and creative execution he highlights each and every artist by making sure their work gets noticed on the streets and on the web.
At times Billi Kid admits it’s heartbreaking to part with one of these tiny master pieces, but he knows he has to follow the rules of the game: stickers belong on the streets, not in your closet. For his latest incarnations, Billi Kid has partnered with legendary street artist Zoltron, who owns one of the best sticker printing websites out there, Sticker Robot. Together, they have created Obama pieces decorated with hundreds of stickers. In the middle of these pieces, Zoltron’s Obama for president poster is visible. With 5 boards under his belt, he will continue the onslaught at least until election day, maybe longer.
The first five people to email Billi Kid at info@billikid.com with the slogan GO OBAMA! will get a free swag, including a Billi Kid t-shirt and some Billi Kid stickers. Just leave your mailing address. If you’re interested in the Obama posters, check out Zoltron’s store.

Billi the Kid slaps Henry Street in Stamford, CT.

Billi the Kid vs Wooster Street near Grand, NYC.

Billi the Kid, just killin it. Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.

Notorious Billi The Kid hits NYC, on Mott Street between Houston and Prince.

Billi Redux - corner of Wooster Street and Grand.

Last week, this stencil piece by graffiti artist Above surfaced outside a bank in Lisbon, Portugal. If you’ve never heard of Above, he’s an eccentric twenty-something artist who travels the world and shares his art. He’s been handcuffed 9 different times. Six times were from police officers in 4 different countries. The other three times were from women in the bedroom. Watch the video.

STEALING FROM THE RICH from ABOVE on Vimeo.

Two weeks ago, we here at Jetcomx published a short article entitled 14 Amazing Works of Political Graffiti and Street Art from Around the World. It quickly became the most viewed article on our site. Due to the popularity of the first article, it was only natural that we once again showcase a few more hand-picked examples of the most fascinating political street art and graffiti from around the world. Without further ado, we present to you, part deux:

16. John McCain’s new campaign slogan: McCain’t. This was found in Austin, Texas.

15. A TV show poster is modified to portray the faces of Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, and Condi Rice.

14. We live in the age of the laser guided democracy. Seen in the Soho section of New York City.

13. Barack Obama says that this is our moment. This was found in Brooklyn, New York City.

12. Barack Obama looks good on an orange background. Designed by Billi Kid.

11. Barack Obama is good with words.

10. Ronald Reagan and Zombie Reagan make an appearance this election season.

Ronald Reagan as a cat (or mouse).

Zombie Reagan needs BRAAAAAAIIINNNSSSS. Zombie Reagan was found in Washington, DC.

9. Richard Nixon also decides to make an appearance during the 2008 presidential election season. This particular piece was found in Paris, France.

This piece was seen in Brooklyn, New York City.

8. Dick Cheney clutches his infamous shotgun, dressed in Wild West garb. Designed by Billi Kid. This poster was pasted on the corner of Bellevue and Memorial Avenues in Newport, Rhode Island.

This version was seen on Wooster Street between Grand and Canal in New York City.

7. John McCain sprouts wings and spews (or sucks) what looks to be oil funnels in this graffiti piece.

6. Barack Obama knows how to use cans. Seen at the Cans Festival in London.

5. Barack Obama and John McCain hang out with a little girl in this graffiti piece in Spokane, Washington.

4. George W. Bush is a true cowboy at heart. This was seen on the corner of Jackson Avenue and Davis Street, Queens. Designed by Billi Kid.

This poster was seen on 22nd street between 10th and 11th in New York City.

3. Al Gore has always been known to love the Earth. Now we know why. This piece was found in London, England.

2. Sarah Palin was once crowned Miss Wassilla. Maybe she has a future in bodybuilding? Both of these were found in New York City and created by Billi Kid.

1. “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick.” -Sarah Palin
This stencil piece features Sarah Palin’s head on pitbull’s body wearing lipstick. It was found on Ponce de Leon Ave in Atlanta, Georgia in between Briarcliff and Highland. The artist is unknown at this time.

This is the same exact piece as above, but shot from a different angle.

Here is the same piece cleverly placed on a billboard underneath text reading “This is why we are FUCK’D.”

When you think of graffiti and street art, politics is probably one of the last things that comes to mind. There seems to be a complete disconnect between the two realms. Knowing this, we here at Jetcomx decided to scour the corners of the internet and come up with the 10 most astounding examples of modern political graffiti. Here’s what we came up with:

14. Barack Obama shakes the hand of America in a piece by Chicago based artist Ray Noland. This was spotted at the Got Next art exhibition in San Francisco.

13. John McCain gets his heart ripped out by the devil himself. This was spotted in downtown Freemont, Washington.

12. George W. Bush depicted as a true cowboy. Spotted in Sydney, Australia.

11. Hillary Clinton wears a Barack Obama campaign button on her hat. Found this in New York City.

10. Barack Obama is straight gold.

9. It only seemed natural that these next two graffiti pieces be grouped together as one.

8. John McCain sings “Bomb, bomb, bomb… Bomb Iran” to the tune of the Beach Boys Barbara Ann. This was spotted in the Pearl district of Portland, Oregon.

7. This John McCain piece was found on Olvera Street in Hollywood, California.

6. Dick Cheney as Jabba the Hutt. Found in Brooklyn, New York City.

5. George W. Bush points a gun to his head in a chair. This piece was found in London, England.

4. Bill Clinton was always known as a ladies man.

3. Barack Obama gives a speech to America on a street corner from Chicago, Illinois.

2. Hillary and Barack put up their dukes. This was spotted in New York City.

1. George W. Bush as an old school football player clutching a bomb. This is by Maya and was found in Cambridge, Massachusetts.