Visualized: Benji Haselhurst

Aug 16, 2012 by Tiny Waves    2 Comments    Posted under: Features, Visualized  

Every time a new album comes out or you’re looking at a show poster, there seems to be a question that is often repeated: “Who did the art?”. Today, I’d like to introduce to you one of those artists who helped shape the aesthetics of the Florida music community, Benji Haselhurst.

Towards the end of his college days in Gainesville, Benji began making artwork for his friend JT Bringardner (Oh Fortuna) and Neal Mackowiak (Jazz Prison) for their band at the time, Rabbit Punch. The next step was being asked to do the artwork for the first Total Bummer, a yearly DIY festival that moves around the state.

“A lot of the bands at Total Bummer I hadn’t heard of, but I loved the music my friends were making. I’ve always had friends who made music and played in bands. I would support them and like their music because they were my friends, but somewhere along the line I loved the music because it was beautiful music that happened to be made by my friends.”

From events like Total Bummer, to posters for Hundred Waters, and shirts for Levek, it’s hard not to find Benji’s work recognizable if you’re a Florida native. My hats off to you Mr. Haselhurst for helping our community for the love it and the love for your friends.