2024 • PEMEX
2023 • NICOLAS BARROME
2021 • CHEMA MENDEZ
2020 • BIRDCAP
2019 • ROBERT BOWEN
2019 • CHARLIE IMMER
2018 • FELICIA CHIAO
2017 • DULK
2016 • DAN MAY
2015 • RAOUL DELEO
2015 • GRAHAM CARTER
Dirtybird continues its legacy of showcasing forward-thinking visual artists with its first NFT drop in partnership with their 2021 Artist in Residence Chema "mendezmendez”. Chema has been creating original artworks for all of the main label releases throughout 2021 and is a long time collaborator of the Dirtybird family.
In 2012, Dirtybird began commissioning pop surrealists to create the record label artwork for a full year. For over 9 years the label has worked with renowned names such as Dulk, Raoul Deleo, Charlie Immer, Birdcap, Felicia Chiao and now menedezmendez. These collaborations offer a look into the left of center artistic direction of the label’s owner, Claude VonStroke, a champion of the Lowbrow art movement.
Artwork was originally released in January, 2021 as the 252nd release on Dirtybird Records. It has since been animated as a 1 of 1 NFT with an edition of 25 stills.
The NFT includes an unlockable high resolution print file, music file and video message from Claude VonStroke.
Chema Mendez has been creating surreal digital artwork for well over a decade. He has also been Dirtybird's chief graphic designer for many years. Chema uses a myriad of techniques to accomplish a unique style.
This drops marks the debut of a series of NFT pieces from the label, starting with their first release of 2021.
NFTs and the environment
The concern for the environmental impact of NFTs is an issue that has some elements of truth and misinformation mixed together.
The reason why NFTs have any carbon footprint at all is because they are being hosted in Ethereum’s blockchain, which uses Proof of Work in order to operate and confirm transactions. Proof of Work requires a lot of computing power and is not very efficient. This will change very soon as Ethereum 2.0 is going to be rolled out later this year using Proof of Stake, which uses a tiny fraction of the current energy consumption and will reduce Ethereum’s (and NFTs) carbon footprint and transaction costs down ~99.5%. Furthermore, Etherum network nodes are switching to renewable energy sources to decrease their impact even more.
Blockchain technology is barely a decade old and is quickly evolving to reduce the environmental impact it has. It is important to note that the current world banking system consumes orders of magnitude more energy than Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains combined.
Everything we do has a carbon footprint, but it’s hard to know exactly how big of an impact it has. The transparent nature of blockchain technology allows for quantifying the electricity used, therefore it’s easy to criticize. For context YouTube and the current Ethereum network have a similar carbon footprint.
FEEL A LITTLE STRANGE - 2PHARGON & STOM500
This artwork is from the 278th release on Dirtybird Records “Feel a Little Strange” by 2phargon.
The artwork is animated as a 1 of 1.
The NFT includes an unlockable music file of “Feel a Little Strange” by 2Phargon.
LOVE & GIVE - MZ WORTHY & STOM500
This artwork is from the 277th release on Dirtybird Records “Love & Give” by Mz Worthy.
The artwork is animated as a 1 of 1 NFT with an edition of 20 stills.
The NFT includes an unlockable music file of “Love & Give” by Mz Worthy.