The Portfolio of Justin Simoni
Words (Kerouac)
THE NEXT BIG THING took a good half a year of my life to execute. Very simply put, I decided one day to become famous. The idea was that if I told enough people that I was, people would believe me and treat me accordingly.
It worked.
This project was composed of many different efforts and countless collaborations with other Denver artists and citizens. Below is an attempt to categorize some of these subprojects:
THE NEXT BIG THING Flyer Campaign
Mating the literal with the visual you provide a label to what you see. In
this case, a very smug self portrait and the text, "THE NEX BIG THING" (left).
An incredible amount - perhaps 5,000+ fliers were hand screened using cheap
ink and day-glo paper and then: given out, stapled on to anything wooden,
taped onto anything metal, mailed and even worn.
THE NEXT BIG THING Press Releases/Web Activity
During this period, I told people of my impending fame and gave
them the early lead to sign me up. I also posted on Internet personal sites
how you should get to know me before I become untouchable.
THE NEXT BIG THING Suit
Not being satisfied with simply passing out fliers, I became a walking bulletin
board and planned many media spectacles, including walking a 6' x 6' painting
downtown, crashing art openings and going out to dance clubs.
THE NEXT BIG THING Cardboard Cutout
I became larger than life and two dimensional, by creating a 8 foot tall likeness
of myself to meet people on my own behalf. We crashed art festivals and music
shows, amongst other things...
THE NEXT BIG THING The Show
I created a character - half based on fact and half in fiction and
laid down his story at the most underground art space in Denver.
Read Michael Paglia's Westword Review of, THE NEXT BIG THING