The Lonely Island has commissioned wallpaper that pays tribute to vibrant Bay Area icons and landmarks.
Designed in a French country toile style by artist Matt Richie (aka Matt136), the "Bay Area Toile" will pop-up for a one-night exhibit at Oakland's Athen B. Gallery on Saturday.
Jorma Taccone, who is one-third of the comedy/music troupe (and "SNL" writing vets) with fellow Berkeley High grads Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, told NBC Bay Area that the idea was more than a year in the making and was inspired by a "Brooklyn Toile" that Beastie Boys frontman Mike D helped to create.
"I live in Brooklyn but I'm always going to be from the Bay," he said. "This was spawned by me wanting to have a representation of the Bay Area in my house."
Taccone, who plans to come to the exhibit, revealed that it was a difficult process to narrow down the list to the eight Bay Area faces who grace the wallpaper: Food maven Alice Waters, political activist and professor Angela Davis, sports hero Joe Montana, former news anchor Dennis Richmond and rap stars E-40, Too $hort, Humpty Hump and the late Mac Dre.
"As an art project, having Mac Dre and Alice Waters on the same wallpaper seems wonderfully appropriate to the Bay," he said.
Beloved Bay Area spots like Oakland's Grand Lake Theater and Children's Fairyland also appear; Taccone speculated that they may design another set of wallpaper in the future that includes more places.
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For now, the first edition of the wallpaper, made of eco-fabric, will be available for sale at the show and beginning Saturday online at Flavor Paper at a price of $250 for two two-foot by 10-foot pre-trimmed and adhesive backed panels that are made for easy, do-it-yourself installation and removal.
Could this be the start of a Martha Stewart-esque home furnishings empire for the Lonely Island?
"Yes," mused Taccone, "but I think we are skewing more Kathy Ireland."
Meanwhile, the Lonely Island is currently editing an untitled musical feature film, a fictional send-up of big screen pop star documentaries with producer Judd Apatow that's slated for release next summer.
