Check it – Ryan Bucci is a straight up fool, and also the head of Greenpoint T-shirt company Zeitgeist Coalition (ZTGST for those on the brevity tip.)

NY TACO: Hey, Ryan. What’s up. Your t-shirts are rockin’. What inspired you to start up the Zeitgeist Coalition?

Ryan: Thanks bro. The inspiration behind ZTGST was to create a platform for me to get some things off my chest. I had been designing things for other people almost exclusively and I wanted a chance to do my own thing and regulate what I was saying with my design work. That said, some of the early stuff is social-political. Most of the newer stuff is focused more on things that I find beautiful and interesting rather than trying to make some sort of point or statement.

NY TACO: Jessica Simpson with a rotting zombie mouth, Mickey Mouse with his face meat ripped off revealing a demonic skull underneath… is the Coalition trying to reveal the ugliness behind the sparkling sheen of American “entertainment”?

Ryan: Sort of, bottom line to me is that people aren’t focusing their attention and energy on things that are really important. So those designs in particular are meant to shed light on the fucked-up-ness of our society… like false idols and corporate ‘merica.

NY TACO: Almost all your T-shirts involve masks of some kind, be it mexican wrestler, or munich-type freedom fighter. Does Ryan Bucci wear a mask as well?

Ryan: Yeah I wear a couple of them, I also wear a few hats. But seriously, I occasionally deliver work under the moniker Soy Bueno. I guess that’s a mask of sorts.

NY TACO: Is the Coalition sticking with T-shirts for now or exploring other types of artistic terrorism?

Ryan: Right now, T-shirts are the medium, however, I am working on a bunch of works on paper that will be delivered under the ZTGST brand. And some time next year we will be delivering short-films on our website ztgstco.com, so check it out at the top of 2008.

NY TACO: You’re known to be a lover of fine tacos. Where do you find good tacos in Greenpoint? What’s your favorite taco place in NY?

Ryan: If you are in North Brooklyn, you gotta stop by Acapulco Deli & Restaurant. They got banging huarches. And for like 6 bucks, you’re stuffed and stoked. If it’s downtown in the city, then I like the pulled pork taco at La Esquina, but those jawns are a lil pricey.

ZTGST t-shirts are available at Alter (www.alterbrooklyn.blogspot.com)