Sword Distortion
The first “Early Iron Panel Jam” (pre Sword Distortion) Art by Matt Beckner
2nd “Early Iron Panel Jam”. Pinstripe art by Mick Mulder
3rd “Early Iron Panel Jam” Pinstripe art by Kolor Konnection
4th “Early Iron Panel Jam” - Now “Sword Distortion” Pinstripe art by Todd Hanson
5th Sword Distortion. Pinstripe art by Jack “The Italian” Giachino
6th Sword Distortion. Pinstripe art by Cassie Evancich
1st “Hot Dog Jim” artwork by Matt Beckner
7th Sword Distortion that never was. Artwork by Kendra Bell aka Kendystixx
Sword Distortion was one of Colorado’s premier events for pinstripers and lasted for nearly 7 years. It was the birth child of my wife and I after hearing the need for pinstripers at our local car show. I had just started pinstriping and was not doing a very good job at it but really had a passion for it.
We were members of a car club for just over a year when I had mentioned to the president of the club my interest in pinstriping and bringing a pinstriping event to this show and the club was split on the issue. Some club members loved the idea while others wanted the show to stay the same as it had for 30 years.
As my wife and I brainstormed we came up with the idea of having a “Pinstriper’s Art Auction” during the show just before the awards which would raise money for a local charity and help pay for putting on a pinstripe event.
Our first year (2014) we promoted it via social media and had about 10 pinstripers show up. It was a 2-day event with the first day hanging-out at my sign shop where we painted, ate good food, and shared stories and techniques. The next day we were set up the dead center of the car show under tent where we could pinstripe cars & people’s artifacts. With the auction, we raised around $3,000 and put pinstriping in the faces of those who had never seen it done. It was a huge success, and everyone wanted to do it again next year.
The next year changed dramatically. On a whim, I called Todd Hanson of Hanson Graphix to see if he would be willing to come out and teach. To our surprise he said yes and all we had to do was pay for his way to the show. An amazing opportunity for every local striper to learn from a legend in the pinstiping and lettering craft! This doubled our turn-out from the previous year and made for an event like no other in our whole region.
As the years went by, we had Beth Kerney (Lil Dame), Jack (The Italian) Giachino, Hot Rod Jen (Hot Dog Jim), Alan Johnson, Rody Kuschnereit, Joe Broxterman, and of course, Todd Hanson. The teaching was epic! The event was epic!
Unfortunately, as time went on, so came a pandemic. Many events fell victim to the “lock downs” as well as Sword Distortion.
We do have some great memories as well as hopes for a rebirth one day.
… to be continued.
-Matt
