As we enter the final weeks of the
year, we asked a group of our friends to let us know their “Favorites of 2003” 
Today’s entries come from Chad at Kid Robot, Craig Metzger, Calma, Kid Acne, and
Mysterious Al.  Check back each day for more….

Favorite Event of 2003:

Chad (Kid
Robot): Black Out vs. Clash of the Titans… ummm black out, b/c it
shows how great a city NYC is once again!

href="http://www.enginesystem.com">Craig Metzger “My wedding
and Honeymoon. Going to Austin for the href="http://www.enginesystem.com/friendmakers_intro.html">FriendMakers show
and meeting 2 dudes with whom I’ve only known through email and regular mail. We
had such a blast!!!

src="http://www.woostercollective.com/images/calmaoc.jpg">

/>Calma:
“Well probably it is the show I participated along with Asa, Cruz, SHN, Vicio,
Temp and Radioatividade. The event was a mix of social action and art show and
it took place in a giant squat; not a squat for punks or whathever, but homeless
and families that have been kicked out from a favela or were living on the
street. It was two 17th floor buildings (no water service, illegal light
connection and no elevator. We painted the “barracos” (wooden small divisions
built inside the corridors and were before tath were offices ) while the
Temp/Radioatividade DJs were putting music and playing with the children.
Fun!

Mysterious
Al: “Wow- 2003 saw the birth and rise to fame of the Finders
Keepers shows- So I’d say those collectively took my top spot for shows of the
year- The first and second shows particularly were filled with totally inspired
artwork by some amazing artists - It was awesome to see everything work out and
I’d like to publicly thank all the artists who made it happen again. It was
awesome. This was also the year I hooked up with my crew (The mighty FKC) - and
I have really good feelings about what’s to come. 2003 has been a good year. I
drank a lot this year.

href="http://www.invisiblespies.com">Kid Acne: 1. Kid Acne
Live at Leeds Hi-Fi Club when we killed it proper good. 2. The weekend in Paris
with Anne and Akroe. 3. Kid Acne’s 25th birthday party with all the legends of
the city in one place!

Favorite Artist of 2003:

Chad: Lern/GH

Craig: (I can’t pick one and the list is way bigger): Kara Walker, Evan Hecox, Chris Johanson, Raymond Pettibon, Swoon, Dan Witz

Calma: Asa

Mysterious Al: “Fuck- I have had the most unbelievable year, making friends with lots of totally amazing artists from all over the world. It’s so fucking difficult to put anybody up over anybody else- In fact it’s impossible- But, right at this moment, I’m back into my old comic book ways and am fully rating Jamie Hewitt as my favorite artist of 2003- The stuff he had at ‘Santa’s Ghetto’ is nothing compared to what he’s capable of, and it was nice to see him back in the public light after his ‘Tank Girl’ and ‘Gorillaz’ projects. I managed to drink a pint in four seconds flat tonight. The kids were so proud…”

Kid Acne: Miss Van

Favorite New Artist of 2003 (an artist who you did not know of last year):

Chad: Flying Fortress

Craig: I was playing with hand cut paper and some one mentioned her to me. The very next day I saw a PBS special about Kara Walker and ever since it has really inspired me to do more with the hand cut paper.

Calma: Cruz

Mysterious Al: My god- are you guys deliberately making this hard for me? Typing is difficult enough as tonight I managed to partially snap my collarbone again whilst breakdancing. I heard it make this dull snap, followed by the sound of tearing canvas- which I reckon was not good. Anyway- This year- in fact, in the last few months I discovered Fawn Gehweiler, a dope illustrator who’s responsible for http://www.nocandy.org Her work is beautiful and dark at the same time. I can relate to the strange sort of sub-story level shit you see in her work. Chalk me up as another fan.

Kid Acne: Flying Fortress

Favorite Piece of Art of 2003:

Criag: Dan Witz and his photos of the humming birds from his early street projects (I bought two 16x20 prints)

Mysterious Al: Is it too pretentious to include a piece I did as my favorite? Only I was so pleased with my show at DEAL REAL RECORDS: I nearly killed myself whilst doing it- and I got SO fucked around by Deal Real - But with the help of my homeboy Jeff Metal we pulled through - and I honestly think it’s the best looking shop in Soho. If this all seems too big headed then fair enough. My *other* favorite piece of art from 2003 has to be the motion picture ‘Spirited Away’ by Hayao Miyakazi. I know it was released in 2001, but I only got into Studio Ghibli this year and it is, without doubt the best animated movie of all time. You have never seen anything about character study and attention to neo-twisted detail until you see this movie. I got a copy on Amazon imported from Canada, and let me tell you- It’s the best ?15 I’ve spent since I persuaded the barman at my local to put a shot of everything in a pint glass.




Kid Acne: UFO from France taking one of my illustrations and making it into a big stencil! this was a drawing i did for the TTC album sleeve last year.

Favorite New Product of 2003:

Chad: I hate the 3g Ipods, does that count?. For real though those Marc Newson cell phones for Japan only.

Calma: Clayton Brothers book

Craig: iPod

Mysterious Al: My Ipod (R.I.P.) Our time together was cruelly cut short. I stacked it on my BMX. I hurt. You died. Not a day goes by when I don’t miss your drunken DJ. Remember when I’d get ‘in tune’ with you on the late bus home? You always knew what to play. I sill have your headphones. Oh, How I wish you were still fine, Just to hear you again, I wouldn’t mind, The time you took to find…

Kid Acne: East Skateboards

Favorite Toy of 2003:

Chad: brothersrobber Toycon edition!



Craig: The pink Kaws Accomplice toy (so funny how it mocks the whole tough guy collector toys)



Calma: My digital camera

Mysterious Al: 2003 pissed me off just as much as all the other years with shit ‘collectable’ over-priced toys. Who is buying these things? Please stop. You’re just encouraging more of the horrible kubric / bearbric / whatever lego-rip-off crap. My shoulder hurts.



Kid Acne: James Jarvis’ rock and rolls toys.

Favorite CD of 2003:

Chad: Right now it is the DIPLO CD for TTL (not hollertronix one though) OR the promo mix by J-rocc for the jay-lib album… or the STARK REALITY re ish

Craig: The Joggers (Solid Guild) and Interpol

Calma: AFI - Sing the Sorrow

Mysterious Al: Oh my god- Now you’re just being silly! This year I’ve been mostly listening to: (ahem) Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Deftones, DJ Shadow, Earthling, DR Octagon, FORSS, Fortet, Gus Gus, Incubus, MF Doom, Victor Vaughn, Mike Ladd, Mogwia, Scientist, Slint, Smashing Pumpkins, Underworld, Wagon Christ. I totally recommend checking ALL their back-catelogue on MP3. Don’t steal music.

Kid Acne: Victor Vaughn

Favorite Website of 2003

Chad: Beinghunted.com & Kidrobot of course!

Craig: FecalFace.com and MarketEast.com

Calma: Skullzpress

Mysterious Al: Wooster has taken over the world this year. Through this site alone I’ve had the chance to hook up and work with so many ‘proper’ artists. I love that. It’s been long overdue to get a website that brings everyone together as much as this one. Aside Wooster- The second best site on the internet is www.explodingdog.com - Sam doesn’t need the link as he probably gets SO MUCH traffic I doubt he even notices anymore - But I still urge you to check his beautiful artwork and conceptual website…

Kid Acne: Suicide Girls

What do you most want for Christmas?

Chad: For my loved ones to be happy and healthy!

Craig: Stricter laws on hand guns and for myself: my own art gallery

Calma: Markers. All of them. Its hard to find good ones here. And paint.

Mysterious Al: Peace, Love, Stability, Happiness, Scalextric.

Kid Acne: Baron Munchausen on DVD

What is your New Year’s wish?:

Chad: stopped doing this long ago

Craig: Bush is given the boot

Calma: Be less confused to use my time better.

Mysterious Al: If I told you, it wouldn’t come true….

Kid Acne: To marry the girl from the copy shop.

How will you be spending the Holiday’s this year? / What will you be doing for New Years Eve?:

Chad: In HK & Tokyo!!!! SHOPPING FOR SNEAKERS AND RECORDS. WOO_HOO!, I will be sleeping on New Years Eve.

Craig: Doing the family marathon which entails 4-6 days of non-stop visits to various relatives. As far as New Years go, I’m building a rocket and flying it to the moon.

Calma: I’ll go to Sao Paulo’s seaside and spend the New Years Eve at UBATUBA, at my friend Vinganca’s house with other friends and girl, after take a plane to Bahia were I’ll have a show with artist ASA in Trancoso. If anyone is around Trancoso or Porto Seguro in January just email me to know were is the venue.

Mysterious Al: I’m spending the holidays with my girl in my newly rented place in East London. We’re gonna try and cook a Christmas meal and watch some crap X-mas telly. I hope Short Circuit 2 is on. It gets me every time. (sniff). I’d like to wish everyone I’ve met, and everyone I haven’t had the chance to my kindest regards over the Christmas period - All the best, and I look forward to hooking up with you in 2004! Peace on Earth

Kid Acne: Going back to The Woof for Crimbo to see the rello’s and Woof Stallions.
down The Unicorn on Christmas day and New Year in Madrid with the crew. Don’t knock the hustle.