1xRUN: Tell us a little bit about this series, how did the idea come about?
Dan Armand: These pieces were created over a 2 month period for a show I was a part of at the Red Bull House of Art in Detroit, MI.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Dan Armand: It was a continuation of these ammo cans I made a couple years back. I thought the image of the Arabic McDonalds logo on an ammo can was really powerful on a whole number of levels. It was very symbolic of what America has become.
1xRun: How long do these pieces take?
Dan Armand: Well I worked on them all simultaneously and the whole installation came together in about 2 months in the Red Bull House of Art Detroit studios. The cans need a lot of sanding and priming for the painting process so each one had quite a bit of time in them.
1xRun: What is unique about these pieces?
Dan Armand: I think they are unique in that each piece is hand-painted with a combination of spray paint and acrylic paints.
1xRun: Why should people buy a piece from the this series?
Dan Armand: Because ammo is getting expensive!!
1xRun: Describe these pieces in one gut reaction word.
Dan Armand: Fascism.
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Dan Armand: I’d been drawing and making stuff since I was a little kid. I used to draw cartoons and made a couple comic books. We didn’t have much of an art program where I grew up, but I did a ton of drawing in high school, and had a chance to take some graphic arts classes where I learned to screen print, run a printing press and roll my own 35mm film. It was also where I had my first experience with photoshop. When I was about 17 I really discovered a whole new world in graffiti. I’d say I was an above-average toy, but it really set me out on the path I’m on today.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Dan Armand: Early on my inspirations were Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Espo, Banksy, Saber, Glenn Barr, and my local graffiti heroes Army, Kosek, Fosik, Justo, Dibs, Sehv, Stori, Jaunt RIP
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Dan Armand: All depends on the mood. I like a lot of stuff. I’ve been listening to a lot of hip hop recently. The new EL-P album is really good. Lots of Slum Village and Dilla, Danny Brown. I listened to a lot of Immortal Technique while I made all this stuff. Dude bring some hardcore reality to hip hop and all of it was inspiring. When I want to know whats going on in the real world, I listen to some Alex Jones.
1xRun: What are your plans now that spring and summer are here?
Dan Armand: I think you’re lying…but yea It’s going to be an exciting summer. We’re opening the new gallery next month and I’m really looking forward to getting the artist studio and printshop up and running. I’m hoping to work on a series of screen prints once everything is all squared away.
-1xRUN