Located on MIT’s futuristic campus lined with modern glass buildings, the Garment District’s bright pink facade stands out the way a gold sequined dress would stand out in a pile of normcore clothes. On Dec. 14, the thrift store hosted Boston Hassle’s Confront Your Issues show to celebrate the work of artists who illustrate the Boston Compass, a monthly zine that showcases underground music, film, and art events and original artwork.
Photo by Olivia Deng
The show featured the following artists: #94 Alizee De Pin (@alizeedepin) / #93 Aaron Demuth (@noraahtumed) / #92 Nick Shea (@Nick_Shea_) / #91 Cassandra Long (@caseislong) / #90 GOBBY (@celtric_cringe) / #89 Mithsuca Berry (@foxyfries) / #88 Adelaide Bruce (@mermurdr) / #87 Sage Schmett (@sageschmett) / #86 Sean Watroba (@thankyou_Sean) / #85 Chloe Conceicao / #84 Sarah Rae / #83 Sally Schofield (@ham_sanguish)
From Sally Schofield’s colorful ink and chalk drawings to Sage Schmett’s collages to Nick Shea’s line drawings inspired by strangers taking the T, the diversity of the artwork at the event reflects the different styles each artist brings to the Compass.
For example, Nick Shea’s drawings features a signature, very distinctive kind of face.
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Photo by Olivia Deng
This face, Shea said, was inspired by the faces of humans taking the T: slightly passive, but not entirely emotionless. “This face that I specifically draw, I started drawing that because I ride on the train a lot and I like to draw people on the train,” Shea said. “I know there’s a 20-second window of drawing people on the train because people move or people just change their position or get off the train or whatever. I notice everyone’s face is more or less like that so this is supposed to represent every human.” The drawings of these creatures of the subway will later be compiled into a book, he said. So far, Shea said he’s drawn an estimated 200 people.
Prominently displayed at the gallery are Shea’s drawings on UPS packages. His decision to draw on UPS packages is somewhat of a continuation of his childhood habit of plastering stickers all over the place. “When I was younger I used to put stickers all over the place. I feel like my image is getting a little more known now, so I feel weird about putting stickers places. People will be like, ‘Oh, that’s Nick!’ Which is a good thing, but also I don’t really want to get in trouble,” Shea said. “This is kind of like a homage to that and I love the style of graffiti.”
Shea said he got his start in illustration in high school with a tough, but encouraging, art teacher. “He was like, ‘You’re going to draw your ass off. I was like, ‘I don’t want to.’ He was like, ‘I don’t give a shit. You’re drawing right now.’”
Photo by Olivia Deng
photographer: Olivia Deng
Photo by Olivia Deng
A wide variety of mediums was on display. Sage Schmett showcased her colorful collages.
Complete with DJs Jason Trefts (Illegally Blind), Hilken Mancini (The Monsieurs, Girls Rock Camp), Kris Thompson (Prefab Messiahs),, and Susanna Bolle (Nonevent), the show was an opportunity to celebrate the work of artists who made a DIY zine possible.
