The "Love Will...Project"

MARK BREITHAUPT

Born in the Chicago area Mark spent much of the first 6 years of his life working in the mediums of a #2 pencil and Crayola crayons while exploring his dark period often using Darth Vader, Alien and Jaws as his subjects.

After leaving the Midwest and spending 28 years in the Northeast, Mark has returned to his roots and once again resides in Chicago where he takes a welcome break from the "creativity on demand" environment of the corporate world to deliver a work that combines a dry sense of humor with a hint of irony.

"If there were no measure of ugliness, there would exist no measure of beauty. If there were no measure of hate then there would exist no measure of love." - Mark Breithaupt 2006

JAMIE DIHIANSAN

Born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. He started skateboarding in the mid-80's and became obsessed with skateboard graphics and the culture. He was also an active participant in the graffiti boom of the early-90's. He is married to a wonderful woman and they share a 2-year-old daughter together. This work is dedicated to them.

"True Love is about acceptance of vulnerability. When you are open with yourself enough to share your vulnerabilities with the people you love then you are opening yourself to Love. You can't share your vulnerabilities without first having a foundation Trust. Trust, Vulnerability, Love: It can keep you together or tear you apart." - Jamie Dihiansan 2006

TONY FRANCESCONI

Raised (all over) CALIFORNIA Tony never had many friends cause his parent's kept moving until he got his 1st skateboard. the thing was plastic, slim, bright yellow and had clear wheels. His influences stem from California telephone poles papered with flyers using thousands of staples and covered in hot tar. To Lester Beall a man ahead of his time in the early Chicago pool of designers. Tony is currently working in strategy, branding and advertising for Treacy Marketing Group.

Tony never skated pools before 2004, always street or ramps. For his 30th birthday Tony decided to drop in, not out(for once) as a present to himself. Currently the only joy in life comes above four 59mm wheels. Everything else seems to prioritize itself, given those guidelines. Providing a simple lovely clarity. "Love is Fleeting. But it stays for a while. Hate is foolish unless you want to die of some stress related illness." - Tony Francesconi

ERIK MATSUNAGA

Has no middle name.

TIMOTHY PIGOTT

Tim likes to make pictures and mail them to his imaginary penpals. Sometimes they mail him random artistic brick-a-brack in return. He likes to get mail. You can learn about his disastrous calamities at www.suchluck.com. He also likes to pilot his skateboard early in the morning, smiling and cheering on the whippersnappers. He likes to make the fun. He defines love as wearing earplugs to block the snoring, camping among the Amish when you'd rather be walking around the concrete, and most importantly setting the alarm.

ERIC PITT

Born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, Eric was always looking for an escape, both physically and metaphorically. He got into skateboarding, punk rock, and art at an early age and never looked back. It probably had a lot to do with growing up in that small west Texas town. If you didn't play football or couldn't rope a steer, you were a target. He believed there was safety in numbers and found a community of outcast united by their mutual love and respect for skateboarding, punk rock, and all kinds of art.

Eric moved to Chicago in early 2001 after spending a few years in school studying art and working as a graphic designer on the East Coast. Currently making a living doing web design and web development, he's really just trying to make it through the Chicago winters and maximize his time riding, listening to records, and painting. Oh, to be 16 forever.

MATT RAETTIG

matt raettig is a chicago graphic designer by trade, not known for anything in particular. his work deals with raw simplicity of form and humor and harkens back to a simple time of life before computers.

LOU SHIELDS

Lou Shields, a lifetime Chicago area native received his MFA from Northern Illinois University in 2002. Shields is currently teaching Art History and Studio Art at Prairie State College in Chicago, Heights, IL. In 2006, Shields opened EXPgallery in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, IL. He continues to make art and music and has recently found an afterlife as an "old school skateboarder".

"Love and Hate in my opinion go together hand in hand. You can't have one with out the other like night and day or anger and happiness. I am excited about this show and the art that will be made in reaction to the two songs and the reality behind Love and Hate…" - Lou Shields 2006