Very Limited Raffle for Custom Jewelry Piece ($475USD Retail) To Help Local Musicians Produce Record with Grammy Award Winning Artist

---Contest Complete---

Congrats to winner Josh Smith of Springfield, MO- You win a badass new pendant collaboration from myself and Jason Burruss Designs! Special thank you to everyone who participated and helped spread the word, you receive copy of the new album by True Aristocrats when completed in May. Happy Holidays everybody :)

OVERVIEW: A very limited 250 raffle tickets will be sold for $5/each to win a custom jewelry piece (valued at $475 retail), and will be delivered in time for Christmas and Hanukkah 2011 to the winner! ALL proceeds go to offsetting professional studio time for local musicians to produce a record with Grammy award winning musician , Isaiah "Ikey" Owens. (Formerly in Mars Volta.) Studio costs are an estimated $5000. The record will be made regardless of this raffle- but this is a steep cost for out of pocket local musicians. In these economic times, the art of collaboration is a highly effective and efficient way to raise awareness for the independent arts, both of jewelry and avant guard music! (Please VIEW BOTTOM PORTION FOR "HOW TO WIN" ENTRY RULES)

"Skull Dagger"- Collaboration between Josh Wendler and Jason Burruss (details below...) Photo Courtesy Mike Tobias (Win it!)

The story: Today I am writing to share a really neat multidisciplinary art project with you. If you choose to participate, you get a chance to win a totally rad handmade jewelry piece created by myself (Josh Wendler) and Jason Burruss, hands down the best wire wrap jewelry designer in the industry in my opinion. To call his work wire wrap is a bit of a misnomer, as his craftsmanship and his ultra-clean aesthetic are nothing less than jewelry designer quality. I truly expect to see this man's work in fine art gallery settings one day. (He is the reason I will never do wire wraps, because I could only ever get as good as Jason ...)
    But it gets better… All the proceeds, 100% of it- goes to offset production costs on a new album being released in by the True Aristocrats- a Fort Collins, CO based psychedelic prog rock band (featuring Will Wayland- guitars, and Tyler Lindgren- drums). Their album will be released early 2012, and their music has been described as“ . .. like riding a steam-powered horse through a jungle of espionage...”

                Recently, they got a really unique opportunity to play with and get produced by Grammy award winning musician Isaiah “Ikey” Owens, (most famous work with Mars Volta, if you want a refresher click here. He is the keyboard player. Maybe you remember "Deloused in the Comatorium"?) This is not only a dream come true for the band, they get to use state of the art recording equipment and Owens will be playing on the album! While the band remains unsigned, this is an investment worth making in their artistic career.  

                If you are in the music business, you already know that professional studio time is not cheap... In order to help offset the estimated $5000 it is going to cost to fund this project,  we are doing a raffle for a custom, one-of-a-kind jewelry piece that you will not find in stores! The best part? --> Delivery will be made for the piece to arrive in time for Christmas/Hanukkah! <--
How can you beat that? Without further ado- I give you, "Skull Dagger"- by Jason Burruss and Joshua Wendler

"Skull Dagger"- Sterling Silver wire wrap and stone setting by Jason Burruss(upper portion), and fabrication by Joshua Wendler (lower portion with stone set ametrine.) Emerald Cut Ametrine, Swiss Blue Topaz, and Amethyst in Sterling Silver and Gold Plating Accents 3,5/8"x1".

All handmade, one of a kind artisan work. You will not find this in stores, ladies and gents.

Detail. Photo Courtesy Mike Tobias.

Where You come in:  Raffle tickets are $5 each. Every penny goes to the band for studio time. They have worked very hard at their art, and deserve a chance at making the finest possible record for their artistic legacy.  There is no limit on the amount of raffle tickets you can personally obtain, however the total availability of raffle tickets will be a very limited 250. After that, no more entries will be accepted. 

What you get and when: 

1) WINNER RECEIVES: A truly one-of-a-kind jewelry piece, handmade by Joshua Wendler and Jason Burruss- delivered in time for Christmas and Hanukkah!. This piece will be on display in an underground SAIC art show in December, and immediately thereafter packed and shipped to the winners address.

2) Every contributor receives:Your name in the booklet of the album as well as a full digital download of the album (including art, video, mp3). (Will be emailed to you).

3) The satisfaction of knowing your contribution is raising awareness of independent artistry, both in the avant guard music scene and the jewelry metal arts. 

----->How To Win:<-------

**Mandatory Entry** : $5 donation via paypal to: metal.wendler@gmail.com. Leave a comment below to keep with your email address and the number of entries you purchased. (Entries and payment will be verified by staff to ensure legitimacy of comments.Every penny gets donated to the band.)
If an international winner is selected, please allow ample time for delivery of piece. (May not make the Xmas deadline, sorry guys...)

**YOU MUST LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS WITH YOUR COMMENT SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOUR THE WINNER.

  There is a very limited available amount of 250 raffle tickets for this piece, however you may buy as many raffle tickets as you wish while supplies last.

 This giveaway will end on December 19th, 2011

With your help, we are helping create awareness of fine arts in a multidisciplinary effort which believes that supporting each other is the only way to survive in a tough economy.  I know there are a lot of worthy efforts deserving your money this holiday season, but we want to help facilitate a community that supports the artistic endeavors of individuals who enrich our human experience.  The True Aristocrats are one of the few bands I have, through a live experience with their music, felt the electrifying pulse and creativity that only dedicated craftsmanship and a romantic engagement with music can provide. They will produce this record regardless of this raffle, they will make their contribution to the music world- but you can be a part of it! 

Thank you so much for reading, we really appreciate it. Even if you can’t donate to the project, please consider spreading the word by sharing or liking on social media. Love you all and hope your holiday season is one of family and good company. <3.  

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." – C.S. Lewis

“All art is but imitation of nature. “
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

 

"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision."
James Whistler

See more of Jason Burruss' Work at: www.facebook.com/jasonburruss and www.jasonburrussdesigns.etsy.com 

ABOUT THE TRUE ARISTOCRATS:-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who are the True Aristocrats? "We the True Aristocrats; comprised of Will Wayland and Tyler Lindgren. Through a happenstance re-acquaintance we have again crossed paths and sought to create music. Much time has passed in palaces of exile, desolate roads and rendezvous; now our attention turns to nuance and an overall imploring imminence which swells as a Dionysian undercurrent counterpoised by Apollonian structure of meter and form. Free time is our ceremonial jaunt into realms of chaos as order flourishes in due repose amid the sidewalk calculus. We seek transvaluation, reinterpretation, passion, and pleasure to reinvent and extol the aristocratic virtues of existence; we stilt the precipice of desire to regail in the spontaneous value of insight.

“Susurrus” (released April 16th) is our debut album. This existential sonic journey is the culmination of past years efforts, encounters, emotions, and experiences. It is available for download at our bandcamp page along with the improv EP entitled “Zikkurat Thaumaturge”, the vocal/sound manipulation EP "Haruspex Cremisi", and the Acoustic Psychedelic full-length entitled “The Red Album.” All are available for "name your price" download for @ http://truearistocrats.bandcamp.com. Much more is still to come! Thanks for your interest and time, hope to see you at a show soon!"

Will Wayland and Tyler Lindgren, (Left to right).

Live Footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JZmXlg_Ttes

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/truearistocrats/xibalba

Press:

"Susurrus (LP) is like riding a sonic roller coaster made of right angles.

"While a direct comparison would not be fair, fans of Mr. Bungle, The Mars Volta, and maybe Hella would do well to have a listen".- Calliper Music Blog

"It takes a certain amount of daring to release an improvised EP that consists of only one eighteen-minute track. True Aristocrats take on this task with impressive gallantry and amazing instrumental talent, creating an aesthetic gesture complete with the decadence of aristocracy..." -  Scene Magazine

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 SPECIAL THANKS TO: Everyone who helped, inspired, and lifted me up this year- Mama Smurf, Natalie Eve, Mike Tobias, Austin "Ausome" Parkhill, Takeo "Findsmiles" Hiromitsu, Rachel Stoffa, Courtney Kemp, Victoria Montgomery,Vance Leggett, Keven Kalay, Laurel Goodman, Emily Ritchie, Cara Marie,  Nick Harris, MY MOM AND BRO, and friends and family too far to list!! <3~