Metamorphosis interviewed Gilpin and Lauren of KickStand Press, a Minneapolis-based custom screen printing business. Here they talk about their new custom wallpaper project and their upcoming show at Cult Status Gallery.
Morph: How did you first get into the screen printing business?
Kick Stand Press: Lauren was a Printing major in school (UW Stout) and knows a lot about many different print methods and I (Gilpin) picked up screen printing a bit in college (MCAD) and honed my skill working at Borden Decal in San Francisco. Lauren was working as an intern at a T-shirt shop (Ape Do Good) in SF and hooked me up with a job there. The owner took us under his wing and educated us as to how a printing business is run. We started printing as KickStand Press in SF in our garage doing jobs for Revolver Records and City Beer (another husband/wife entrepreneur team in SF). We saw that the economic situation in California is way less than ideal to run a business or buy a home, so we moved back to our pool of family and friends here in Minneapolis. Since we moved back, we've been building our arsenal of printing gear and honing our business plan and portfolio.
Morph: Tell us about what you’re currently working on...
KSP: We're honing our abilities to print and design wallpaper and inventing other means of solving the equation: room+printing=KickStand. Until a few months ago we were only toying with the idea of wallpaper and wall printing with t-shirts being our money maker. Things are changing and the business model is shifting. We're really excited about this. It opens things up to better flex our Artistic muscles.
Morph: Where did the inspiration for that come from?
KSP: I think ideas grow in Lauren and I from within. We still can't remember what made us want to jump in an R.V. and move to California. I think seeing a desire to resurrect wall paper and other interior design (printed) treatments on Design Sponge and in Ready Made magazine helped sow the seeds.
Morph: We heard you will be doing the MPLS Show at Cult Status Gallery...tell us about it.....
KSP: Well at heart I am an artist first and foremost. It's an opportunity to play with printing without a client on the other end. Getting into group shows is also a great way to promote what I and the company can do. Bottom line is it's fun. The show is 'Art about Minneapolis'. Without giving too much away, I did a piece about my love for the aesthetic of maps AND my desire to unearth the Minneapolis that 'was'. To get a better idea of my piece you'll have to go see the show on the 18th.
Morph: Are there any artists, local or otherwise, that have influenced you, and how?
KSP: Oh TONS! I can only speak for myself (Lauren could give you more info) Locally:
*Broken Crow/J. Grider does amazing spray stencil/mural work.
*Drew Peterson always pushes us to better our Screen Printing skills (he rocks).
*Dan Black of Land Land is also a heavy hitter as far as local screen printing goes.
Nationally:
*Barry Mcgee (Twist) is a great "street" artist.
*Joel-Peter Witkin has long been a photographer I admire.
*The war prints of Goya also influence my art process.
Morph: What inspires you to do what you do and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
KSP: Easy. I don't like having a boss. I like having a client. There's a HUGE difference.
Morph: What Twin Cities neighborhood do you live in, and what do you like about it?
KSP: We live in a weird pocket between North and Northeast Minneapolis in between the Mississippi River and Highway 94W. I call it Steel Scraper Island. It's industrial and I love that I can play rock music as loud as I want at 3am if I want. I hate the horrible smell and that the view leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Morph: What are some of your other favorite things about living in the Twin Cities?
KSP: This city is SO Accessible (is that the proper use of the word?). Any community, be it music, art, restaurant, or bike building/riding, is easy to get into and flourish. People like to help each other and the winter brings us all together...in bars. He he he.
Morph: What do you do for fun (besides making your art)?
KSP: Play music. I was in a one man band and now I'm trying to find time to build a super band of a few old friends that rock. We work a lot so it's hard to make the time.
I also like to be outside in the summer. I'm not much of a winter sport guy.
Morph: If you could have dinner with one person, living or dead, who would it be?
KSP: Right now it would be my friend Ted Folstad because I miss him a lot. He's in San Francisco....not dead. But it could be argued that they are one and the same.
Thanks KickStand Press! Go check out their work in the MPLS show at Cult Status Gallery on December 18!
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All images courtesy of KickStand Press.
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