Every organisation that was built up on passion and a love of what they do, finds themselves more and more pro-active in their work each year. Montana Cans is no exception as we strive to make the best cans on earth. But that is no excuse to reflect on all the extra curriculum activities like collaborations, festival, project and artist support that happen through the year as well. After all this helped create history.
The Montana Cans LOOKBOOK gives an outlet to remember, reflect and reward those who deserve a little extra attention with some extra glow of the spotlight. With great pleasure, we announce the online release of the Montana Cans LOOKBOOK 2019, looking back at some of the highlights of 2019.
This edition delves into many projects such as the Montana Cans limited edition cans that featured Mina & Bruce (plus interview), Felipe Pantone, Most and Flying Förtress. We reminisce on the cool collabo's we were involved in with Happy Socks, Good Guy Boris and Reebok Sneakers. We get re-inspired by feature articles on artists IMAGINE, THE LONDON POLICE, FRAU ISA, 1010 and 1UP CREW. We take a look at some of the urban art festivals that raised the bar even higher like METROPOLINK, POW!WOW ROTTERDAM and the THE BERLIN MURAL FESTIVAL. With eyes wide open we scratch under the surface of some alternative disciplines within graffiti culture. The spotlight gets turned on ABSTRACT LETTERING, GRAFFITI ON FREIGHTS and CALLIGRAFFITI.
We share some knowledge on the new products like the Montana BLACK INFRA colors and Montana BOLD marker line, which took the industry by storm. Just as the special moment that was the grand opening of the MONTANA STORE VIENNA with our industry partners CONCRETE, did. All this and more over 160 enthralling full color pages.
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I take rituals, philosophies and especially colors from my Hindu-Buddhist up bringing. Color is so important to my work and Montana Cans provides a range of colors that resonate with me. (Favorite color is Royal Red). Another thing is that Montana Cans products are still not fully available in Nepal so I see it as a privilege I have earned to regularly use high quality products that I didn’t have around me as a young kid. 5) Do you have any special projects that you have been involved with recently that you want to tell us about? Yes! I recently released a collaboration with Reebok for their Artist Collective line. I had a great time working with the Reebok team with complete creative freedom. You can see more of it reebok.com/IMAGINE. Another great opportunity came about when Facebook invited me to participate in their Facebook Artist in Residence program. I created a large installation for their new office in Cambridge and I had a blast! I recently painted for POW!WOW! Nepal, which very special. I have had a lot of fun painting twice at POW!WOW! Worcester so I was very much looking forward for POW!WOW! Nepal because it was in my hometown of Kathmandu where I grew up! It was amazing traveling back to my hometown of Kathmandu for POW!WOW! Nepal, and I was so thankful for the opportunity. It was my two very different worlds coming together and I can’t think of a more cathartic life experience. Like… when have I ever painted a wall where I’m with all these amazing international artists, but also have my people speaking my native language around me? And I also have my best friend and my MOM watch me paint??? My street art and mural world that largely lives in the United States, met with my world in Nepal that I grew up in. I am not sure if I am able to express to you how amazing this is for a Nepali kid to experience this. My world is so big and so small at the same time. I am forever grateful for art making this possible in my life…I made sure to take time to take it all in, each and everyday. Right now I’m painting a building for the Harvard-Sparked space called “Zone 3”, on Western Ave in Allston. During my time at Harvard, I spent a lot of time at the Harvard Innovations Lab at the Harvard Business School, so coming back to paint something for this area means a lot to me. 6) As a woman, what are the difficulties you have faced in the street art/ urban art scene? How do you think women and men should face these together and create awareness for everyone else, so there’s a possibility of sorority and equality for the future generations of artists? I think as a woman, there are difficulties to navigate through the art world and street art isn’t any different. I think women should face them in a way they would approach any other sort of work, stand your ground, be confident and have an undeniable work ethic. Women supporting other women is also a powerful thing and I feel lucky to be part of Few and Far Crew, where we do just this. 7) What are your up and coming projects? What’s next in the career path of IMAGINE? My future plans is to continue pursuing my art career. This summer, I am wrapping up a prestigious artist residency with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, which I am very, very excited for. It’s another opportunity for me to create more work and share it with this city that I love so much. I will continue making my way into galleries across the country and paint as many walls as I can! I am also working on designing the Visiting Artist Program at Harvard’s South Asia Institute so I can’t wait to share it with everybody. www.imagine876.com 55
