I am a Minneapolis based graphic artist named Brian Geihl. You can blame me for this madness.
The Gourdies are small hand painted characters that carry many personal qualities. Their awkward proportioned bodies with lovable facial expressions create unique personalities. Their vibrant backgrounds give them even more life.
The creation process is a wonderful thing. It begins with scavenging the streets of Minneapolis looking for solid waste. All of the Gourdies' backgrounds have been painted on recycled solid waste that neighborhood residents placed on the side of the road. Office desks, bed frames and skateboards are all items I've rescued. I think of it as a way to up cycle junk into beautiful art. Once a background is found, it gets paired up with a Gourdie. Color, placement, theme and scale are all factors when placing a Gourdie on a background.
Even though I love creating these little guys, I enjoy seeing viewer's reactions even more. No matter the age or gender, people seem to really draw connections to specific Gourdies. Perhaps one reminds them of a friend, or another brings back a childhood memory. Some people even build a little story around them. My goal is to bring out a viewer's emotions and inspire their own creativity. To me, that is what art is all about.
Check out the upcoming events to find out where the Gourdies will be appearing next!
