This past weekend, my friend Paddy and I put our hardhoods on and started working on installing glass block windows in what will be a multi use gallery / showroom shop. Apparently people have stopped installing glass block back in the 80’s because it’s been a %^&* getting materials. Hope to have this up and running real soon. You are still encouraged to come visit the studio space / shop!
I’m proud to announce that there are a couple new shirt options available. An inverted version of I can’t afford to love NY shirts are now available along side the new more optimistic Made it in NY shirt, which is a play on Sinatra’s New York, New York. Maybe it’s a sign that I should sail the HeadHoods ship to another town. These two shirts will be found alongside my small line of tshirts called “Clintees,” which I hope will debut in the next few weeks. This line will consist of a few more conceptual shirts.
One of the best rewards of having a clothing line is seeing complete strangers looking good and having fun wearing your creations. A friend forwarded this photo of a fucking hipster wearing a fucking hipster tshirt down at the recent SXSW. Earlier this month I also got a fantastic photo from Anthony Eccles over in the UK proudly wearing his threads. I hope I see more
of this as time goes on!
I’m proud to announce that HeadHoods finally has a studiofront display. Just last week I happened to come across somebody discarding three beautiful picture frames complete with plexiglass which just so happen to fit beautifully over my loading dock entrance. (Crazy how this kind of stuff happens) After a little modification, I created a modular pseudo studio front display, which easily open up or come down. I plan on switching up the display on a routine basis to show Manhattan Ave. the latest in HeadHoods products. It will be fun to experiment with rear projections, backdrops, lighting, other mannequins, I might even play a future show out of it! Oh the possibilities…
This past week, I installed a clothesline. I wish I would have done this along time ago. Better later than never I guess. The clothesline is great for making posters quickly and efficiently. Up till now I used to have to set them all over the floor which basically made my making of posters into a game of hopscotch. It’s also a great way to experiment with prints too.
Now that it’s set up, I’ve decided that I will be including posters along with the orders i make for my customers. So don’t be surprised if you get kitty Marilyn print with your Kitty HeadHood. I date and stamp each one before sending it out for $&#@s and giggles.
If you’d like a print, go ahead and send me a larger sized stamped and addressed envelope and I’ll be happy to send you out a print.
Send to
Clinton Van Gemert
427 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY, 11222
I went out last night for a little solo mission to shake off whatever wheatpaste cobwebs I’ve acquired. It felt good to be out again. Keep an eye out for scantily clad Vargas girls doing fun recreational activities around Williamsburg as well as three mouthed girls checking you out as you walk on by. I think I’ll be leaving the “I CAN’T AFFORD TO LOVE NY” slogan with “Made it in NY” to push a more positive message this time around. Keep your eyes peeled and your hoods up.
It’s been a busy week down here at the HeadHoods ranch. I’m releasing not one, but two new styles in the very near future. (as soon as I get around to updating the website!) I chose to go with the lovely Grace Jones and Jason from Friday the 13th. I’ve gotten a couple requests for a Lady Ga Ga so I decided to go with who Lady Ga Ga wishes she could be, which would be Grace Jones. Two new friends of mine, Katy and Nikki Bagli stopped by the other day to buy a couple hoods. While doing so, they noticed I had both a black and a dark heather Grace Jones available and they instantly got in a huge fight over who gets the Dark Heather one. It was intense.
I really can’t explain to you why I decided to add Jason to the HeadHood mix, but I did. His face works great on the hood and would be fun to wear this summer camping with your friends. Works great in a collage as well!
I still don’t really know why I chose to make the UTZ potato chip girl into a HeadHood. Is it because of those piercing cute eyes? Is it me paying homage to my Pennsylvania roots? Is it because UTZ salt and vinegar potato chips are da bomb? Regardless, I think it works. My good friend Martha, who is an awesome hairstylist and who also happens to play a mean violin stopped by the other night. I just printed up some UTZ hoods and couldn’t resist but to do a spontaneous UTZ girl HeadHood photoshoot. She put on one of my new Gracey Jones T shirts too for good measure. My new Tees will be available in the near future. Stay tuned. There are more hoods around the corner too!
Last night after a long day of getting orders out and updating the site with the new UTZ style I was doing what I usually do, which is making a little music. While doing so, who comes and visits on a snowy night but my good friend Zandy Mangold. Zandy is a damn good photographer and when he isn’t behind his camera, he is probably training for a 150 mile marathon in Australia this coming April. So we jammed a lil’ bit and then Zandy had to hit the snowy trail again, but not before giving him a new Sock Monkey HeadHood for his journey!
Yes, it’s true. I’m holding my first sale ever. I feel there are entirely too many unworn HeadHoods here at my studio and I want to get them out of here and onto the streets. Over the last couple years, I’ve accumulated quite a few HeadHoods for flea markets, photoshoots, an occasional return, or an occasional F— up, which happens from time to time. As a kid, I would have never been able to shell out the money to buy a HeadHood, but might be able to do so if there was a sale! If you are brave enough to order a Sale HeadHood, drop me a line and let me know which faces are on your wish list and I will do my absolute best.
