DESIGn
PUBLISHINg
EVENTS
NIGHTLIFE
ART
FILM
MARKETING
SHOP
“At first glance, Max Michaels doesn’t look like the type of guy who makes an economy soar. In Michaels’ case, he has had a pretty direct impact on Jacksonville’s economy”
– Timothy J. Gibbons, The Times-Union article “The Cool Factor”
ABOUT
Riverside native Max Michaels has long been recognized as a prolific artist, with an unmistakable influence on the local and regional Jacksonville, FL scene. In 1992, he independently launched MOVEMENT magazine (MovementMag.ink), guided by his own creative vision and a focus on music, arts, and club culture. More than three decades later, he continues to publish the magazine alongside a series of art books and comics, while also producing Goth and Nerdcore club nights and award-winning pop culture events across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Beyond publishing and event production, he occasionally showcases his surreal multimedia photography and ventures into film production through gallery exhibitions and special projects.
This is his official web site with quotes from notable peers and a detailed outline with links to the many projects – some retired and some are still evolving to this day – that were all spawned from the creative mind of this Jacksonville, FL native.
CONTACT MAX MICHAELS:
www.Facebook.com/SurrealLife
PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS
“You are officially a pillar of the community, in the shadows lurking.”
-mactruque, Artist
“Max Micheals is still my hero. We gotta thank you for being the greatest inspiration a zinester in Duval could ever have.”
– Section 8, scene zine
Jacksonville, FL
“I really think you should teach here at my school. Everything that you have tried to instill in employees of the magazine, club and other ventures [for free] they are teaching college kids at outragous prices!”
– Alisha E., Movement intern
“You are brilliant!!!”
– Steve Williams
Pedestrian Projects, Jacksonville, FL
“You are the man and keep fightin the good fight. Viva Movement!”
– Moxxi Saint Claire,
Experimental Theatre Performer/Writer
“Awesome, thanks Max!!! Your writing is entertaining!”
– PARAMOUNT pictures representative
for CLOVERFIELD review
Get a quick look at all of my current projects at PerpetualMovement.net
DESIGN
MAX MICHAELS Art + Design
1992 - Ongoing
MAX MICHAELS Art + Design is a specialty prepress design house creating the "look and feel" for clients including logos, flyers, business-cards, invitations, gift-certificates, posters, CD and album art, promotional photos, video, and press materials for bands and events, stage scrims, security laminates, T-shirts, playbills, stickers, etc. for clients from indie to corporate.
PORTFOLIO:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/surreallife/photos/?tab=album&album_id=806900472679374
EVENT AND CLUB BRANDING & DECORATION
1998 - Ongoing
Design and decorate themed events and create club brand image and development from name, logo, interior, exterior designs, and talent acquisition.
Contact me via my Facebook page for bookings:
DESIGN TESTIMONIALS
“We LOVE it! We really feel like you understand
our creative and professional vision!”
– Karen Barnes for web site design of NinjaLife.net
“I like this professional shit!!!”
– Martin Atkins (Invisible Records) for Sheep On Drugs tour design
“MAX you are a Genius!!””
– Dj Catharsis on flyer design for Canvas of Sound
“FANTASTIC, GREAT, BEAUTIFUL, HIP, ETC –
Truly looks awesome.”
– Troy (Museum of Contemporary Art) on flyer design for Canvas of Sound
“Max has done it again. He freakin’ rules!”
– Amanda (WaxCreative/DreamCon) for flyer design
“You’re so kind showing things in such detail.
You’re such a wiz!”
– Gunnel (Edge City) on design advice
“Just want to compliment Max on the great job he did.”
– Ralph (MDRsterling) on Illustrator design for shopping bags)
PUBLISHING
MOVEMENT PUBLISHING
1992-Ongoing
Publishing house for all MOVEMENT art and fiction books.
www.movementpublishing.com
MOVEMENT MAGAZINE
1992-Ongoing
Music, arts and culture indie zine in print since 1992, online since 1998.
www.movementmagazine.com
GO JAX App / EVENT CALENDAR
1996 - Ongoing
Entertainment resource. My print Event Calendar reinvented the way local businesses look at their advertising in the 90s-00s. In 2015 I converted this into the GO Guide and created the GO JAX app to compliment the print version. in 2017 I moved the print magazine to an E-zine inside the app.
www.Facebook.com/GoJaxEvents
Side projects include:
FREQUENCIES
1999 - 2012
Formerly a local music label now used to promote free local music.
(New Site Coming Soon)
MOVEMENT COMICS
1996 - Ongoing
Comic and Graphic novel publishing.
(New Site Coming Soon)
JAX BLACK BOOK
2002 - Ongoing
Once an in-print pocket sized phone book, now a new interactive map coming soon to the GO JAX app.
www.GOjax.info
H5P
2002 - 2005 (retired)
Resource guide for Historic Five Points
pop culture events
HALL OF HEROES
2015-Ongoing
A series of one to multi-day Pop Culture events throughout the year.
HallofHeroesEvents.com
ANCIENT CITY CON
2018-Ongoing
North East Florida’s longest running 3 Day pop culture convention. Purchased the show after its 10th year and returned it back to its home in St Augustine, Florida.
AncientCityCon.com
JEKYLL CON
2016-Ongoing
Formerly Jekyll Con on Jelyll Island, GA.
JekyllCon.com
FORMER SHOWS:
COLLECTIVE CON
2015 -2017
Co-produced this Jax con. Has since left the show over irreconcilable differences with the direction and changes in the show made by the other partners.
NIGHTLIFE
SANCTUARY (Goth-Industrial)
2022-Ongoing
Dark Alternative with DJs, dancers, and special performances.
www.Facebook.com/SanctuaryJax
FACTORY EVENTS
2002-Ongoing
Dark Alternative with DJs, dancers, and special performances.
PIXELATED (Nerdcore)
2010-Ongoing
Jacksonville’s first Nerdcore night with video games and stage shows.
www.Facebook.com/PixelatedJax
TECH NOIR (Synthwave)
2017-Ongoing
Jacksonville’s first Synthwave night.
www.Facebook.com/TechNoirJax
PAST/RETIRED CLUB NIGHTS:
HALO / EROS / SACRIFICE
2000 -2002
Thee Imperial (Downtown Jax)
Goth/Industrial/Dark Wave
DJs Alex Pagan and John Carraway
FASCINATION
2005
The French Quarter
Alternative Dark Fetish Burlesque Theatre.
Promotional director for alternative theatre by Mistress Kitten
in a hard edged club environment. Alternative live staged and improv theatre. Hosted by Klinger of Planet Radio
www.SaturdayNightSeduction.com
THE GALLERY
2001
The Marquee Theatre (formerly Club 5)
Alternative Dark Theatre.
Promotional director for alternative theatre by Moxie Laune’
in a hard edged club environment. Live alternative improv theatre.
www.SaturdayNightSeduction.com
SEDUCTION
1998-Ongoing
Co-creator and promotional director of the Studio 54 styled Fetish Theatre night. A remarkably popular night club event every Saturday night at Club 5 in Historic 5 Points under the direction of maverick venue owner Bruce Chambers. Average 800-1200 patrons each Saturday. Night consisted of Fetish theatre shows by Blixx & Ravynn and Mistress Kitten with special guests, Drag shows and specialty acts (i.e. magicians and side show performances). Directorial duties include booking bands, Dj’s and party themes, as well as creating logos, flyers and ads.
www.SaturdayNightSeduction.com
THE DOMINION (Tuesday / Saturdays)
1994-1997
The Continent / Fat Kat
Goth/Industrial/Dark Wave
DJs John Carraway and Tristan
In the beginning the Dominion started in Club 5’s backstage as a Tuesday night Gothic promotion with Dj Ian Fford (who is currently a resident at New York’s most popular Goth nights) With the addition of the live action role-playing game VAMPIRE: the Masquerade the club requested a Saturday night be added. Bringing in the legendary talents of Dj Myk World the night flourished, on some nights matching the numbers of the main club. Due to renovations the night had to be shut down, but resumed six months later when the Continent asked to pick up the night. The one night a week promotion lasted for approximately eleven months until the club was closed. The Dominion briefly reopened at XANADU for a three week stint in 2000.
HALCYON (Wednesdays)
1993-1995
House/electronica night
Resident DJ Jeremy McDonald
Guest Dj’s included Robert Goodman, Shake, NOVA, Ray Mueler,
Darel Duke, Crown One and many more.
MONDAY @ MAX’S (Mondays)
1993-1995
Club 5’s Backstage
House/Dance night.
A weekly club promotion, Monday at Max’s was a weekly gathering of friends and Dj’s for socializing and good music. It began at Max’s house and the night became so popular it was moved to a night club environment. Halcyon, a Wednesday night promotion shared by Max and Dj Jeremy, featured Dj’s from Jacksonville and around Florida. Creators of promotional campaigns like “Where were you on Monday?”, “Free OJ” night (in honor of OJ Simpson they gave away free orange juice) and “Old Rave Night”, a night dedicated to the classic hits from the beginnings of the musical phenomena soon to be known as electronica.
NIGHTLIFE TESTIMONIALS
“You should certainly be proud of the scene
you’ve contributed to … everyone spoke so
highly of you. I know they are lucky to have you!”
– Bradley – CHANT, Austin TX
“Thanx for making [Skinny Puppy]
happen here in Jax Max!”
– Anne K.
“I truly feel I found my new home at the FACTORY!!!I
Love it!!! Truly adore it!!! See you there!!!”
– Velvet Kisses
“[FACTORY] is the best damn club!
Keep up the fantastic work!”
– Rik & Matt of EARTH EMPIRE
“For the record.. This past weekend was my second time
at Factory. I love the people, the music, and everything
you bring to Jax. I will definetly be around more often and
thanx to those who work hard to keep this club going!”
– Jessica
ART
PHOTOGRAPHY
Band, model, property/architectural, or entertainment photography. Contact me via my Facebook page for bookings:
https://www.facebook.com/surreallife/
STARSHAPED
1992-2017
An amazing collection of the photography of Max Michaels from the pages of MOVEMENT magazine. Aa visual doumentary of the Alternative/Electronic icons of the 90's to present.
**NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT**
www.movementpublishing.com
GROTESQUE
1999-2002
An series of surreal photography composed entirely of original
photographs by Max Michaels. Publshed in a 64 page full color book.
www.movementpublishing.com
TRINITY
The 3 follow up mini-series to 'GROTESQUE' of surreal photography composed entirely of original photographs by Max Michaels. Publshed in a full color book.
www.movementpublishing.com
UNFOCUSED
A project of uncropped and unedited photos taken during a trip to New York City by photographer by Max Michaels without looking through the lens of the camera. Publshed in a full color book.
www.movementpublishing.com
VOYEUR
1987-Ongoing
A collection of photos from Max Michaels personal collection.
**COMING SOON IN PRINT**
www.movementpublishing.com
ART TESTIMONIALS
“Dark, twisted, and ominously beautiful.”
Darren Lynn Bousman,
director of REPO! The Genetic Opera
www.repo-opera.com
“Max, with camera always in hand, stitches together an appropriately creepy, living dead world littered with the segmented worms of his own adventures. Of course nothing but fun is to be had in the real world with Max, yet he neatly manages to sculpt the Sturm und Drang, trauma induced peeking, just behind his eyelids.”
Ogre
ohGr/Skinny Puppy
www.skinnypuppy.com
“For those of us whose tastes are firmly entrenched in the macabre, it’s easy to fall in love with the dark world Michaels has created. But what truly sets him apart is the fact that he creates every photographic element in each piece. In this day of appropriation where ‘works of art’ are comprised of clip-art and digital ‘found objects’ from the virtual junkyard of the internet, it is commendable the pains he’s taken to create every corner of his strange and wonderful world.”
Voltaire
filmmaker, Musician, Artist
www.voltaire.net
Max Michaels has an artistic vision that uses the human body not merely as inspiration, but rather as the frame work for conceptual, political, and social commentary. The images range from beautiful to horrific, but rarely wander from their focus on anatomy as the mechanism of art-making, as opposed to its subject matter. Although constructed through photographic elements, the images contain a sculptural quality and each structure takes on a scientific aesthetic. The human figure is eerily warped into ‘Frankensteinian’ creations built to represent a perspective of the world, but always containing an element of shock. In his art, the sanctity of the human body is often violated, and this serves to jar the viewer into feeling the concept, even before the analytical mind can grasp it.
Rogue
of The Crüxshadows
www.cruxshadows.com
“I love what Max does, just like in a good remix or production of a song – the manipulations, the days of messing and leaps of thought mesh into one co-hesive thought – a unique signature. Pretty rare to see these days.”
Martin Atkins
INVISIBLE Records/PIGFACE founder
www.invisiblerecords.com
“Max’s work exists somewhere out on the periphery between classic surrealism and his own twisted dream logic.”
William Morrison
of American Memory Project and ohGr
www.americanmemory.net
“GROTESQUE poignantly explores the dark side of cybernetics … of man and machine combined. A future that haunts the dark corners of our minds.”
Nick Young
of the band A.i.
www.aimusic.com
“The galleries are fantastic. I really liked ‘Grotesque’ ‘No Resolution’ and your ‘Voyeur’ series. I also like how diverse all the work is, as well.”
Chris Vrenna
of Tweaker/Nine Inch Nails
www.tweaker.net
“I love it…. very interesting images.”
Thomas Kuntz
artist of ancient arcana and modern technologies
www.artomic.com
“This is the stuff nightmares are made of.
Awesome, and utterly fantastic to observe.”
– Brett Hudson
“While browsing I found your artwork.
I wanted to say that I think you are
an entirely twisted genius.
I am absolutely astounded by your work.”
– J. Kallio
“Your Art Is Amazing! This is just amazing
and I wanted to let you know
that I think your art is great,
the work of a very talented person!”
– Juan Cabana
FILM
CELL DIVISION FILM
2002 - Ongoing
Producer, writer, director, visual artist, prop builder for short films and music videos.
FILM TESTIMONIALS
Quotes on FAERIE PERIL, Max’s first film:
“Innovative”
– Matt Soergel – Movie critic – The Florida Times Union (Jacksonville.com)
“It looks like Dave McKean and Jim Henson had a love child.”
– Avery Butterworth
Merger Studios (www.mergerstudios.com)
“Burton-esque!”
-Tony Allegretti
“I really enjoyed your film and look forward to
screening it at the Museum.”
– Allison Graff – Director of Education – Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art
“The piece is faerie cool. Great use of music,
I am happy to participate. You are so talented
and it really is great to collaborate with you.”
– Curse Mackey
Grim Faeries, PIGFACE, Thrill Kill Kult
deComposer of the musical score for Faerie Peril
“Faerie Peril reminds me of Curse.”
– Xtina X
Grim Faeries
deComposer of the musical score for Faerie Peril
“Spooky!”
-Abra, age 7. Spawn of Curse and Xtina
MARKETING
FREQUENT FLYER
1996 - Ongoing
FLYER DISTRIBUTION SERVICE FOR BANDS, RETAIL AND NIGHT CLUBS. We distribute to over 100 locations that target the music/club/art culture including; Clothing stores, restaurants and coffee shops, tattoo and piercing parlors, furniture and accessory stores, convenience marts, art museums/galleries and art supply stores, comic shops, adult stores, independent and chain record stores, hair and nail salons, skate shops, playhouse and movie theatres, nightclubs and colleges.
We cover all parts of Jacksonville including Riverside, 5 Points, Murray Hill, Downtown, Springfield, San Marco, Arlington/Regency, Beaches, Southside, Baymeadows, Avenues, Mandarin, Orange Park, and St. Augustine.
FLYER STANDS • STREET TEAM HAND DELIVERY • VEHICLE WINDSHIELD DISTRIBUTION AVAILABLE • CUSTOMIZED ROUTES & LOCATIONS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS
MOVEMENT PR
1999-Ongoing
Individualized personal representation, management and consultation.
SHOP
I support myself 100% on working gig jobs and commission work. Every sale helps me continue to keep all these other projects and events alive. Check out the links below to the various sites where you can buy unique original self published and created products to add to your collection.
If you would like to support by making a donation to help continue my efforts to bring more publications, comics, nightlife events, concerts, and art events. Any amount is welcome and appreciated. Please click this graphic:
PAYPAL
MAGAZINES / ART BOOKS / COMICS
MAG GEAR / STYLIZED PROPAGANDA
ORIGINAL & FAN ART
FAN ART
POP CULTURE EVENTS
Or contact me for any photography or graphic design commissions,
or consultations by sending me a messaging via my Facebook page:
Facebook.com/SurrealLife/
NERD GARAGE
2012- Ongoing
Pop Up Storefront for nerdy toys and collectibles and events.