Cool Shit
The best part of choosing an adventurous life is that you meet adventurous souls on the same roads you travel— “The Troubardours” is an ongoing series where I share the stories of amazing, interesting and inspiring friends who travel under the direction of their own compass.
Danger Dave is a certifiable renaissance man. He usually dresses in bright colors from his own “Cool Shit” fashion line and he complements those with interstellar glasses that allow him to see the world in a different perspective.
His art is like his vision—BIG. Really big. Giant inflatable balloons of big celebrities ranging from The Rock to Lionel Richie to giant pussy cats with laser eyes.
A few years ago I had the pleasure of doing one of the coolest things in my career, and that was to work with Dave in the creation of Laser Cat, a giant pussy cat the spewed laser through its eyes and projected art and music to innocent crowds in Miami, Barcelona, Brooklyn and beyond. My life was never the same after that.
Let’s grab a spoon and go inside the brains of Cool Shit’s founder, Danger Dave.
How did your career path led you into the path of making giant balloon art. Did you know you were going to end up making Snoop Dog Hot Dogs and Happy Kanyes for a living?
I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I just couldn't figure out how to get there. Sometimes you just need to keep walking, keep stirring things up until the universe is generous enough to send something your way.
From a young age I was introduced to the world of Salvador Dali. I fell in love with the way he created his own world, his own personality, was the guy making art or was he actually the art, or both??!! FUCK, I wanted to create those worlds, create that impact through the weird and wonderful and connect with other like minded human beings.
The ideas come first. The balloons are secondary, it just so happens that inflatables are the perfect medium to travel with. When you're done with the festival, the exhibition or whatever you can simply fold them up into a bag and jump on a plane.
We tried many other mediums before settling on the blow up world.
“Happy Kanye” (Reference to internet meme titled sad Kanye which circulated in 2014.)
What is art and why is it so important? How can those whose lives have been disconnected from making art find inspiration again?
Art is doing something that might not work. Art is being generous with your time and putting something new into the world. Art is connecting with people like you, through ideas, cultural references and style.
Inspiration comes from everything and it's different for everybody. Some people like to see what other artists are creating, others prefer to look out onto the world around them, nature, history, culture. I personally look into my screen, I look at the internet before I go to sleep.
Nicolas Cage in a Cage
What’s the fine line between art and commercial art?
There is no line between art and commercial art. All art is commercial.
Andy Warhol (apparently) said “Making money is art, and working is art, and good business is the best art."
I believe that making art is something you do everyday. It's a job, a practice, a vocation, a commitment, it's not always fun. If you wake up everyday and do this, you need to be thinking about money.
If you're not selling your work, then you have a hobby (which is also fine!)
Big Bird “When a bird shits on your head it brings you good luck. The goal was to orchestrate the biggest ever group gunge and to help the people in attendance ‘get lucky’. In order to achieve the biggest shit, you need the biggest bird.”
Have you had feedback from the famous people portrayed in your inflatables? Has Lionel Ritchie called to say, “Hello, it’s me you’re looking for.”
We get feedback. We get a lot of love from the people that are portrayed in our work. The Rock, Snoop Dogg and Lionel have all called to say "is it me you're looking for?"
They embrace it because it's interesting.
Actually Lionel checks in most years. His people are always flirting with the idea of buying the head or using his head for a show that will celebrate his birthday.
Lionel, if you're reading this, you know what to do.
Financially speaking, what’s the reality of having an art studio and being a career artist?
There were many hungry years for Cool Shit.
It takes time to build something from nothing. It takes time to build trust. It takes time to create a product or a brand. It takes time to build an audience.
With persistence and patience, anybody can get there. Maybe keep your day job until you start gaining some traction though??
“Mr. Poopie explores the uncanny visual relationship between poop and ice cream. Inspired by the infamous poop emoji, the sculpture is designed to delight as spectators climb inside for a tasty surprise.People step into the mouth of the sculpture one by one and are served delicious ice cream.”
Take me through what a typical day in the life looks like for you?
Walk the dog. Do some yoga. Drink some coffee. Work on new ideas.
That's what I would like my day to look like. I also spend a lot of time checking emails, calling people and generally not getting as much time as I would like to work on new ideas.
The artist life looks awesome and happy on the outside. Is it the same in the inside? What’s the dark side of being an artist?
The dark side is constantly doubting your ideas and your self worth. When you put work into the world you never know how it will be perceived. Is it interesting? Is it funny? Will it be better than our last work?
Extraordinary art must have attract interesting stories and people. Can you share some good stories that you’ve experienced showcasing your art around the world?
Man the best part about being an artist is the people you meet. Making art and travelling with your work is the best excuse to say hi, the absolute best ice breaker, the absolute best purpose for life really.
We're constantly hosted in different countries by brilliant people and like minded folk. They take us in and show us the world through a lens we simply wouldn't have access to.
What’s your relationship with coffee?
I drink it every single day. Multiple times throughout the day. But never before bed, it gives me nightmares.
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