Hi hi,

I'm Matthew, an artist, inventor and aspiring playground designer :)

When I'm not building pretty things for rich people, I like to invent pedal-powered machines (both functional and whimsical). If you google me, you'll see some of what I'm talking about, feel free to DM me as well if you're curious.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am traveling to Europe to look at graduate design programs!

Hoping to catch as much design-related material (museums, galleries, design shops) as I can while I’m traveling— would love to have your recommendations ✨

Interests

• hiking
• biking
• viking

Music, Movies, and Books

I’ve been reading my way through humorous non-fiction of Brits who’ve relocated to Scandinavia: Helen Russell and Michael Booth so far.

I do enjoy movies, maybe a little too much, haha. Some of my favorites are: Midsommar, Requiem for a Dream, Arrival, JoJo Rabbit, What We Do in the Shadows, Slumdog Millionaire, The Matrix, Whale Rider, Back to the Future, Braveheart, Amelie, Superbad, Napolean Dynamite, Get Out, Edge of Tomorrow, Groundhog Day, The Toxic Avenger, City Dragon, and so many more. Too many more.

Music:
Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, the New Pornographers, Twin Shadow, Grizzly Bear, Girl Talk, Dan Deacon, Arcade Fire, Steve Reich, Girls in Airports, Cindy Lee, Architecture in Helsinki, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Pink Floyd, Animal Collective, U.S. Girls, Petra Glynt, Jenny Hval, Frank Ocean, Brother Ali, Death From Above 1979, Preoccupations, Laurie Anderson, The Beatles, Queen, The Knife, M.I.A., Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Phoenix, Neon Indian, Dave Brubeck Quartet, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Man Man, Imogen Heap, Yelle, Adam Green, Tune Yards, Perfume Genius, Royksopp, Todd Terje, Girls, Peter Gabriel, The Eurythmics, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Wilco, Fiery Furnaces, CEO, Wolf Parade, Daniel Knox, Joanna Newsom, The Books, Jose Gonzalez, Carla Morrison, ABBA, Dirty Projectors, and... that's all my brain can output at the moment, there's definitely more though

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Built a Conestoga wagon and did the Reverse Oregon Trail — www. thereverseoregontrail.com

Teach, Learn, Share

I could teach you how to build a pedal-powered blender! Seriously, this is 100% a thing I can do 😂

Oh, a little more practical, I can teach you how to open chapstick, apply it, and then close the lid, using only one hand. People are weirdly impressed by this.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Dad jokes. Doing the dishes. Anecdotes that only a goofball artist would have. Tales of building expensive stuff for celebrities and just how surreal the inside of their homes are…. 👀

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Portugal

Countries I’ve Lived In

Guatemala