Jeff Fox

Jeff Fox is a writer and publisher based in Los Angeles, California. He specializes in writing about music, kustom kulture, travel, lowbrow art, Hawaiiana and Polynesian pop. He is best known as the creator and head writer of "Barracuda", a retro-styled pinup stag magazine.

Writing

He has written for Asiana Entertainment (the inflight magazine of Asiana Airlines), Ben Is Dead, Bitch magazine, Chinmusic, Flipside, Gadfly, Genetic Disorder, Girlyhead, Maximum Rocknroll, New Times LA and Razorcake. He has written for the websites aol.com, citysearch.com and eons.com.

Magazine Publishing

In 1994, Fox was the editor of a short-lived, glossy cocktail culture magazine called "Hollywood Highball".The magazine billed it self as "The Definitive Guide to Booze, Cars and Girls" and was a cross between old stag magazines and punk rock zines. Only two issues were produced. The first issue was published in Philadelphia. The second was published in Los Angeles, as Fox had moved from Philadelphia to California to pursue an MFA at the American Film Institute.

Fox was the editor of the official magazine of the Lollapalooza tour in 1997. The magazine featured stories on all of the acts performing on the tour that year.

In 1998, Fox began publishing "Barracuda." The magazine was somewhat similar to "Hollywood Highball", but with a much less crude tone and an intentionally low-fi design. The first issue was printed on uncoated paper inside, with only black and white photos. The purpose was to capture the feel of pulpy, vintage stag magazines as much as possible.

In 1999, while publishing "Barracuda" Fox was hired as art director for the anime and manga magazine Tokyopop.

In 2000, Fox spun off the retail section of Barracuda's website into a separate business, KustomNewsstand.com. The online business sells independently-produced hot rod, lowbrow, tiki and kustom kulture magazines.

Books

Fox was a contributor to the Shecky's Bar Guide series. He has authored essays for the books "Night of the Tiki" and "The Art of Von Dutch."

In 2007, he co-authored the book "Copro/Nason Fine Art: Catalogue Raissone."The book is a retrospective of the Copro/Nason gallery in Culver City, CA.

Museum Exhibition

In early 2008, Fox and Doug Nason (of Copro/Nason Gallery) were invited to curate an exhibit at the Forest Lawn Museum in Glendale, California. The exhibit is called "In Search of Tiki" and opens August 8th, 2008. It consists of the traditional Oceanic art made by the native peoples of the Pacific Islands and the second-generation Pan-Polynesian artifacts that embellished restaurants and bars after World War II. It features traditional Polynesian carvings as well as works by Shag, Mark Ryden, velvet painter Edgar Leeteg, Anthony Ausgang and many others. The exhibit will be open through December, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.barracudamagazine.com Official Barracuda Magazine website]
* [http://www.kustomnewsstand.com KustomNewsstand.com]
* [http://forestlawn.com/Special-Events-And-Facilities/Event-Detail.asp?EventID=139 In Search of Tiki Museum Exhibit information page]