RetroDuck Blog

RetroDuck.com, an East Lansing-based screenprinting shop since 2003.

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Shout-out to Saddleback BBQ in REO Town. Great customers, great food!

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Just a few reasons to visit RetroDuck.com the next time you need custom shirts.

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FIVE THINGS: February 23 - March 1

1. Rockabilly

The 1950s are alive and swinging for the Rockabilly community throughout the US. 

Photographer Jennifer Greenburg has been documenting these folks and their perfectly preserved pieces for the past ten years.

Find out more here. 

2. Joanna Gruesome

These rockin' Brits have recently taken over my daily listening pattern. Joanna Gruesome is a five-piece from the UK that delivers sounds reminiscent of Yuck, MBV, and riot grrl. As legend has it, they all met in an anger management program and were asked to create a song as part of an exercise. I guess that went very well because they've been playing since. Enjoy!

3. McNair Evans 

San Francisco based photographer McNair Evans portrays a very David Lynch style of photography. 

Creepy and mysterious yet lovely to look at, Evans' images propose a less traditional method of photography.

View more of his work here.

4. "Here I am" Spotify playlist 

It's been awhile since I've featured a playlist, so here you go! This little jammer includes tunes by Those Darlins, Heavenly, The Magnetic Fields, John Maus, and more. Tune in or, uh, don't!

5. Dance, baby.

In theme with last week, here's an image that I can only hope inspires you for the weekend.

Have a good one.

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: February 16-22

by Holly 

Nicolas Fong creates mind-bending gifs that are sure to trip you right on out. 

Impeccably designed, Fong adds dimensions to his moving pictures that transports the viewer to other worlds -- if only for a moment.

View more of his stuff here.

2. Bob's Burgers x Sleater-Kinney

In further Sleater-Kinney awesome collaboration news, check out this video they did with Bob's Burgers. The song is catchy, the dancing rules, and, all in all, it's a darn good time.  

Man, famous people get to do all the cool things.

3. Loopers

Cool occupation alert: loopers. These are the people that say the background dialogue you hear in all your favorite movies. Yes, their voices are recorded reciting random conversations that would occur in "the real world" and then added as background noise in nearly any scene you've ever, um, seen.

Read and hear all about them on NPR.  

4. Sullivan Goba-Blé

French painter Sullivan Goba-Blé creates lusciously messy paintings that cause a double, or even triple, take.

Warm colors that cast a cold shadow, the paintings reveal a vintage hue reminiscent of an age when fashion solely depended on fabric. 

How come my messy room never looks this nice? 

5. Happy weekend.

It's been a miserably cold week here in Michigan. Let's put the past behind us and gain inspiration from the fabulous babe below.

<3

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: February 9-15

by Holly

1. Ginette Pommette

Meet Ginette Pommette. A maker of the cutest little buttons and brooches that you ever did see.

Moderately priced, as well! Snag a few for your pal just to show that you care, or snag one for yourself for the very same reason.

2. Vintage roller derby

Long before Whip It made roller derby trendy again, gals were rockin' and sockin' each other out on the track.

With these pictures ranging from the 1940s to the 1970s, these derbettes did not take no sh*t from nobody.

View more here.

3. Miranda Lorikeet

Miranda Lorikeet uses MS Paint to make her drawings. Pretty dang unreal.

No Adobe Illustrator needed for this Aussie native. Her ability to create beautiful pastels as well as bold hues is straight-up impressive.

Swooning over Australians again. What else is new.

4. 60s styles

We all know fashion repeats itself in cycles, but these photos I found make me think that our generation is lacking. The clothes just look like they were made better than they are now. Grass is greener, I suppose. 

It's a bit astounding that folks used to dress like this on a regular basis. We need to step our game up. 

5. Hype Hair

Keeping up with that vintage motif, here is some hair style inspiration. 

Switch your style up.

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: February 2-8

by Holly

1. Florida Man

In a style reminiscent of Harmony Korine, Sean Dunne's Florida Man, portrays just that - a bunch of men that live and love living in Florida. This strange and oddly heart-warming mini-doc speaks for itself. Have a watch. 

2. Kinchoi Lam

Delicate drawer Kinchoi Lam of Hong Kong combines the relationship between daily life and contemporary arts. 

A more glorified version of the type of doodles one may draw on their graph paper while bored in math class, Lam's work is precise yet simple, adding a humane touch to each piece. 

3. Missy Prince

Portland-based photographer Missy Prince hosts an apparent vacancy throughout her photos. 

Her work has me wondering, "Where is this? Who are these people, and how did she meet them?" more so than most modern photographers I've been perusing as of late. She definitely keeps you wondering. 

4. Mr. Whaite

UK-based graphic designer Mr. Whaite rethinks film posters into retro neon gifs. 

Pretty cool, right? If only they were real neon signs. Get on it, Mr. Whaite!

5. MOCAD 2015 Winter Opening

There's a cool thing happening at the MOCAD in Detroit tonight. It's their winter opening! Check out new art by Ragnar Kjartansson, Jamian Juliano-Villani, and Tirtza Evens. Also, it's the debut of Cafe 78, the all new, ultra hip cafe located inside MOCAD. Also also, music will be played by Protomartyr, one of my favorite bands of 2014, and a really weird psychedelic doo-wop band called Double Winter. COME! :)

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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Day made.

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Screen-printed t-shirts from Retroduck. Thanks Luke for making these!

Get em while they’re hot $10 limited edition available for the first time ever at The Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit this Friday, Feb 6, 2015. 

Email us at [email protected] to reserve your tee now. 

See ya there snowballs <> <> xo <> <>

EXHIBITION OPENING Winter 2015 Opening with music from Protomartyr and Double Winter Friday, February 6, 7pm Admission: Free for MOCAD Members, $10 for non-members after 9pm Schedule for the evening MOCAD Member preview: 6 - 7pm Gallery talk: 6:15pm Public preview: 7 - 9pm Music performance by Protomartyr and Double Winter beginning at 10pm Galleries close: 10pm

Purchase tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1179030

RVSP  https://www.facebook.com/events/418822421627672/

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FIVE THINGS: January 26-February 1

by Holly

1. Alex G

Characterized as the Internet's best kept secret songwriter, Alex G creates bedroom rock jams that flow with ease. Paired with an excellent lyrical sense, this mysterious dude's songs parallel the style and emotions of Woods, early Modest Mouse, and most artists featured in Wes Anderson films.

Intrigued? Check him out in Detroit tonight at the Magic Stick with Pity Sex. 

2. Ed Freeman

Ed Freeman's story is almost as interesting as the photos he takes. With his early career entirely focusing on the music industry including gigs such as road managing the final Beatles' tour and arranging songs for Cher and Carly Simon, Freeman now captures the decline of American realty in varying environments.

Some of the photos feel as if the buildings were dragged and dropped onto the landscape, but I assure you, these scenes are the real deal. 

The sudden urge to make a movie about a mundane-yet-bittersweet modern love story at these locations ensues. 

3. Suburbia and Other Catastrophes by Jeremy Profit

Jeremy Profit's drawings place the harsh reality of war on the quiet comforts of suburbia. 

The concept that rests behind Profit's drawings is nearly as detail-oriented and complex as the drawings themselves:

The way I build my drawings is to put some daily life pictures with violent pictures coming from photo journalism about war, disaster that capitalism bring everywhere in the world, my drawings speak about that and about the mental depression on our society, working class has been destroyed, people are trying to survive individually on a such violent society without real hope of a collective change.

Chew on that for a minute. Oof. 

4. New Courtney Barnett!

Be still my beating heart, Courtney Barnett is releasing a new album. Check out the first song off the album below; it'll be sure to pump you right up. 

5. Art Socks

Are you looking to up your footwear game? Look no further, Art Socks from Sock Drawer has your answers. 

They're only $8/each, too, and if art isn't really your thing, they have hundreds of different styles to choose from. Even ones that fit little baby feet!

Treat yo self.

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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RetroDuck staff, Detroit, October 2007.

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Shirts on sale now! Click here. 

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FIVE THINGS: January 19-25

by Holly

1. Happy 12th birthday, RetroDuck!

RetroDuck has been alive and kickin' for 12 years as of today. Here are a few words from the Head Duck himself, Luke Hackney:

Just wanted to take a moment to mention that today is RetroDuck's Birthday. Can't believe it has been twelve years since I was writing (really weird) captions for t-shirts that my buddy Sean was shipping out of his room in Mayo Hall.

Thank you to everyone who has made that milestone a reality, even if it's making me feel really old right now.

And as an added bonus, check out the picture below of Yung Luke from RetroDuck.com circa 2003. Back then, RetroDuck only printed vintage iron ons, hence the Johnny T. swag.

Look at him go! Enjoy your last year as a tween, RD. You precious duckling, you.

2. Chris Schoonover

Chris Schoonover's photos cast a mysterious shadow on the art of portrait photography. 

With a vintage feel, he uses his subjects as catalysts for deliberate bursts of nostalgia.

It was difficult to choose which photos to include, but if you're digging his style be sure to check out his website.

3. Anne Hollings

Anne Hollings' collages combine elements that were seemingly destined for one another.

The way she describes her work is quite interesting, as well:

My favourites are those that I don’t have much say in making, it feels like they are making themselves using my hands and eyes, while the ones I control and direct seem less meaningful, more contrived.

You can buy prints of her stuff, too!

4. Broad City x Sleater-Kinney

Abbi and Ilana of the hilariously generational TV comedy Broad City interviewed the OG gals of Sleater-Kinney on NPR this past week. Abbi is a little tipsy, Ilana gets existential, and all-in-all my love for all parties involved grew at an exponential rate. NPR doesn't really offer embedding options, but you can watch the interview right here.

5. Benjamin Phillips

Benjamin Phillips' work felt oddly familiar. Similar to other illustrators, Phillips uses simple drawings to exemplify notions of the human condition.

His drawings are reminiscent of Quentin Blake (Roald Dahl's illustrator) as they both combine scratchy lines, slightly eery figures, and soft coloring.

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: January 12-18

by Holly

1. Elicia Edijanto

Indonesian artist Elicia Edijanto's work truly exemplifies the smallness of humans. 

Creating hyper-realistic paintings that could easily be misconstrued for wild-eyed photographs, Edijanto allows the viewer to imagine scenes they otherwise would not.

View more work here.

2. Are You You?

Shantell Martin, a rather notable name in the art world in recent years, uses white surface and black permanent marker-esque drawings to make her pieces. Her past exhibit "Are You You" explored identity, change, and flow.

Covering the walls with her signature designs, Martin transformed the gallery into a yoga studio while also using those who attended as her very own canvas.

Her designs are obviously reminiscent of Haring, but add an entirely new and introspective flavor. Three cheers for self awareness. Come to Detroit, Shantell!

3. Adam Juresko

Adam Juresko takes classic films and redefines their posters. 

Adding elements of mixed media, scans, and bold typeface, Juresko's ability to capture the essence of the film in his posters is spot on.

4. Vaselines at The Loving Touch 1/20

Scottish cult rocker's The Vaselines are passing through Detroit via Ferndale next Tuesday. Predominately more known for being an obsession of Kurt Cobain, The Vaselines use quick drums, fuzzy guitars and infectious melodies to make a sound all their own. Below is a track off their most recent album. Enjoy and hope to see ya there!

5. Infomercial gifs

Internet gold. Check out these helpless people and feel a little better about yourself. 

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: January 5-11

1. Art Kane, photographer

Throughout the 1960s, Art Kane took photos of well-known musicians. 

These images offer a more unique portrayal of some of rock music's most beloved souls. 

View more photos here.

2. Chastity Belt

I recently discovered this quartet from Washington. Low and harmonic bellows, airy guitar dreams, and soft rhythm, Chastity Belt got my heart thumpin' way too quick for my own good. 

3. Tao Lin, photographer

Another photographer? Hey, why not? Tao Lin captures mundane moments in a seemingly comical manner. 

Predominately taking photos on the streets of Hefei, Anhui, China, Lin's work offers a shy commentary on contemporary urbanism. 

4. Green Eggs and Ham

Have you ever wondered how Dr. Seuss' green eggs and ham came to be? Well, whether you have before or are just now embarking on this marvel, allow Linda Claassen to explain a bit about Seuss' thought process. 

5. Pizza

To conclude this week's Things, here are a few gifs of pizza from all your favorite 90s toons. Enjoy.

Hungry for more? Hath no fear. 

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: December 29 - January 4

by Holly

1. New Year - 2015 !

First things first, happy 2015! Let's make this year a real ripper.

2. Patrick Warner

Patrick Warner's photos create an anonymous and crisp blankness. Providing a voyeuristic view into rural America, his pictures feel familiar yet mysteriously shadowed by an underlying ghost of the unmentioned.

All of his photos are taken with film. No Instagram filters needed. 

Follow him! 

3. Tanawat Sakdawisarak

Out of this world graphics artist Tanawat Sakdawisarak totally rules. 

Somewhere between our universe and some intergalactic/1980s teenage clothing catalogue, this Bangkok-based artist uses multiple layers and personalities to portray their very own narrative.

Weird, cool, and weird all over again.

4. The Kitchen Table Series

Carrie Mae Weems took the same photo of her kitchen table on several different days. 

Each photo demonstrates a different happening that reveals the kitchen table as a commonplace for activities of all sorts – and emotions. 

Taken throughout 1990, these photos place the viewer in Weems' most intimate moments, inspiring a more personal view of the photographer's perspective. 

5. Mittenfest: January 1-4, Ann Arbor

Cool thing alert! Mittenfest is happening at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor all weekend long. Come join the fun and help raise money for 826michigan, a non-profit that inspires creativity in writing for folks ages 6-18. Hope to see ya there!

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx

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FIVE THINGS: December 15-21

by Holly

1. Stephen Knezovich

Landscape cutaways through the heads of corporate businessmen, distractingly romantic couples, and stripes of various scenes are just a few themes that Pittsburgh-based mixed media artist Stephen Knezovich chooses to portray.

I especially enjoy his use of blank space. Collages can so easily chart into the territory of overbearing busyness, but Knezovich avoids such distraction.

2. Malls across America by Michael Galinsky

Malls, man. Malls in the 80s? Man, oh man! Michael Galinsky has been documented malls all across America. Here are a few shots of teens at malls in the 80s being, well, teens at malls in the 80s.

They have an oddly familiar style to the Tumblr teens of today. If you weren't given the context that these pictures were taken over 25 years ago, they could be mistaken for students from your local Residential College.

They just don't make hair like they used to.

3. Cherry Glazerr, Haxel Princess

You know when you make a list for the grocery store, but once you get there you realize you have totally forgotten it? Then, you just wander around the store hoping you'll pick-out semi-relevant items. Well, that's how I felt when I accidentally left Cherry Glazerr's Haxel Princess off my top ten list of albums this year. To make up for that, here's a pretty cool live session and interview they did last May.

4. Art by A. Lie

Norweigian artist Andreas Lie creates tearful and delicate inkblot silhouettes.

With vivid and alluring details, Lie's portraits are calming as well as intriguing.

5. Twin Peaks cast photo

To conclude this week's Five Things, here's a charming photo of the cast of Twin Peaks. Enjoy your weekend; make it a damn good one.  

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That's all for this week. Until next time.

xx