Sean Aaberg (born June 7, 1976) is an American comics artist, conceptual artist, illustrator and magazine editor active in the punk rock, heavy metal and Kustom Kulture scenes. He is known as a co-founder of Nonchalance and Oaklandish.[1] He was the editor and publisher of PORK.[2] PORK's self-description is "rock&roll, weirdo art, bad ideas. Real American cool culture. Uncompromising. Upbeat. Free. Quarterly. Not suitable for squares".[3]
Sean Aaberg | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sean Peter Aaberg June 7, 1976 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Artist and magazine editor |
| Movement | Kustom Kulture, punk rock |
Early life
editSean Aaberg was born in Oakland, California. He is the son of Philip Aaberg and LouAnn Lucke. He grew up in Oakland, attending Bishop O'Dowd High School and briefly attending the California College of the Arts.[citation needed] As a kid, he liked "anything weird, nasty and old", including cheap magazines which he bought thousands of, as he said in an interview. His friends and he read Mad, drew comics, liked to listen to Cheech and Chong and the Ramones on the Dr. Demento show, and later discovered the Church of the Subgenius. He admired the movies of Ralph Bakshi. The interviewer noted that Aaberg writes in ALL CAPS.[2] Sean founded and played drums for Eugene-based Rock and roll band The Latrines and for the Oakland-based hardcore punk band The Masked Men. He also played drums for Baltimore-based anarcho punk band A//Political.[4]
Career
editAaberg came up in the international DIY Punk scene in the 90s[2] doing zines and art for Punk zines such as Slug and Lettuce. Aaberg has created illustrations and comics for Bitch, Roctober, Kitchen Sink magazine, BANG! newspaper, and VICE magazine.[5] Aaberg is mostly known for his Weirdo Art following in the foot-steps of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Basil Wolverton and Robert Crumb.[6] Sean has been noted for his ability to change styles and use different design languages in order to keep things lively. Such comic artists as Tim Goodyear have been published in PORK.[7]
Aaberg is the designer and artist, with Eric Radey, of Dungeon Degenerates: Hand of Doom, a cooperative fantasy boardgame with a punk metal esthetic[8][9]
He is married to artist and photographer Katie Aaberg, who collaborates with her husband on PORK. She told an interviewer for Tension Magazine that people do not always understand their sense of humor and that they frequently receive hate mail from "activists" who lecture them on appropriate behavior, but "cultural ownership" is against their artistic vision.[10] The Aabergs ran a blog called The Daily Hitler, incorporating Nazi imagery in commentary on contemporary society.[11][12]
In September 2018, Aaberg suffered a major stroke affecting his cerebellum and brainstem. This event left him in critical condition, severely weakened and requiring life support.[13]
Works
editPork
edit
PORK Magazine was created by husband-and-wife artist team Sean Aaberg and Katie Aaberg in 2010.[14] PORK magazine has been a big catalyst for Weirdo Art and Rock&Roll, with an emphasis on street culture elements like denim, studs, pizza, burgers, switchblades and anti-social behavior. Its roots are in 70s New York City.[15] It was a free magazine and in circulation between 2010 and 2018.[16]
From its inception until February 2017, PORK regularly incorporated Nazi imagery. Beginning in 2017, such images were removed from the magazine as a response to changing "national circumstances", according to an interview with founder Sean Aaberg.[17]
References
edit- ^ Marech, Rona (August 23, 2002). "Oakland artists celebrate ignored beauty". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b c Felix, Chico (October 22, 2012). "Underkomix #6- entrevista a Sean Aaberg artista esquisito, criador da Revista PORK". Contraversão. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013.
- ^ PORK MAGAZINE
- ^ Dread, Dennis (2013). Entartete Kunts. Ajna Bound. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 26, 2013.
- ^ "Sean Aaberg". Lambiek Comiclopedia.
- ^ "Sean Aaberg". Juxtapoz. September 28, 2012.
- ^ Nilsson, Emily (February 2013). "Tim Goodyear: Multiple Maniac, interviewed by Emily Nilsson". GRIDLords. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
- ^ "Dungeon Degenerates: Hand of Doom". BoardGameGeek. 2017.
- ^ "Portlander Sean Äaberg Created a Crowdfunded, Cartoon-Punk Dungeons and Dragons". Willamette Week. July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ Katie Aaberg Interview by Josi Hannon Madera, Tension Magazine
- ^ Louis, About Matthew Korfhage Matthew Korfhage has lived in St; Chicago; Munich; Bordeaux; Portl, but comes from; City, Where He Makes Guides to the; Food, Writes About; booze; newspaper, books He likes the Oxford comma but can't use it in the (January 6, 2016). "Pork Army Wants to Catch Alleged Sex Offender Wearing Pork Army Jacket". Willamette Week. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Daily Hitler". dailyhitler.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Sean Aaberg has suffered a debilitating stroke". facebook.com. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ Madera, Josi. "Katie Aaberg Interview". TENSION Magazine.
- ^ Felix, Chico. "Underkomix #6- Entrevista a Sean Aaberg artista esquisito, criador da revista PORK". Contraversao. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ "PORK". Goblinko Megamall. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "Pork Magazine Has Stopped Printing Swastikas, Because Trump". February 27, 2017.
External links
edit- PORK MAGAZINE: ROCK & ROLL, WEIRDO ART & BAD IDEAS
- Eaten by Ducks Group art blog. Aaberg is a contributor: PORK 10 HAS HIT THE STREETS posted by Aaberg on March 23, 2013
- Images by Sean Aaberg on Yahoo
- Drawings by Sean Aaberg on Flickr
- Beer labels: Oakshire, Free State, Pyramid, Wild Onion, Battered Boar Label artwork by Sean Aaberg
- Oakshire Brewing to Release Hellshire II, Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels Artwork by Sean Aaberg