They say all rivers flow to the sea...

Well, that's it for 2010. Here we have the obligitory year end post where one sums up one's year or some shit. So sure, a year of up and downs, of deaths and births and the ever present change. Not quite what I expected, but then life never does go according to plan, does it? But despite the oncoming cold I'm getting, I feel better about things than I did last year. Only regret is I didn't produce more, but that can't be helped I suppose. So 2011, what does it hold for me? Seems travel is in the works, I've been invited to several different places for various different reasons. I'm working on a new series, which is going to be a departure from my previous work. I have a solo show in Columbus in September at What the Rock, and it looks like I'm going to be showing out of state, more of that later.

So yeah! Happy New Years to you and yours. May you get what you want and not what you deserve!

Blessed Be ;)

Below is a few videos of my favorite videos that I took this past year. I hopes ya dig!





In memory of Angelo Head, RIP

Winter Solstice

Regardless if you're Pagan or not, I think the Winter Solstice (and all the solar holidays really) are interesting and worth some acknowledgment. Today in the northern hemisphere it's the shortest day, and the longest night. This is caused by the tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the orbit of the earth around the sun. Right now the north end of the planet pointed as far away from the sun as it can get, see below in the handy-dandy graphic I found.


What I find interesting about observing the cyclical wheel of the year (the solstices, the equinoxes, the growing and harvesting) is what a metaphor they are for the way life can be. We all have moments of darkness that seems like they'll never end. Where we lose, where what or who we love or tried so hard to create and keep is gone. It's the long dark. Fortunately though the nature of the universe is change. Just as the sun comes back after the longest night of the year, so too does the dark moments in our life go. Not all at once (most of the time), but hold on and the light comes back a little more each day, and the world will warm up and things will start to grow again.

Tonight for us in the Americas also there will be a complete Lunar Eclipse. It's going to last all night long, peaking for us in Ohio at around 3:30 am. There's going to be cloud cover, so I may not be able to see it, but here's to hoping. Friends down south are lighting bonfires in the night, hoping to watch the lunar event, my thoughts are with them.

In contrast to the festival I attend for the Summer Solstice, today I'll be alone and self reflecting. I'll probably make cookies, Christmas too is coming (which I celebrate with my family) and damn it they need some cookies!

So it's all good.

Here's hoping your holiday season is most festive, how ever you mark or celebrate it (or not). So Happy SolsticeYuleChristmasHanukkahKwanzaaAshuraETC ETC ETC and New Years to All of you crazy cats! Next time I post it'll be back to normal... whatever that is.

and for those who require poetry today, here you go.

December and it's wild winds

Well I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the Winter Solstice (December 21st this year). The sun setting at 5 pm, what can I say, I'm not a fan... however I appreciate the symbolism, especially now.

So here's what's going on. December the 18th (Saturday) there is the closing reception for Fortify! the Fort Hayes Alumni Art Exhibition. The address is 546 Jack Gibbs Blvd.Columbus, OH 43215, and it will run from 5-8. Should be a good party, and I'll be there of course.

With other stuff I'm working on... well I'm just working. The collaboration that I'm not talking about has officially begun, with the first session completed. What's different about this is it involves me working with photography, which I generally only do as a hobby (if that). I'm modifying them digitally, and I have to say I am pleased with the results so far. Yay for new challenges. Thing is though, these still may never be shown in public, due to their um... sensitive nature in tackling certain aspects of the human anatomy. Yeah I know, teaser. That's what I do... tease. I think though that this will all come off very well (in theory). As for the rest, I'm doing my mix media paintings (combining acrylics and/or oils with metallics) and researching trickster myths in contemporary contexts.... or something like that.

So for music, we have Beats Antique, Beauty Beats.

Lax

Hoo boy I have been neglectful! Well lots going on, so let's get to it. The Fort Hayes Alumni exhibition is now up! Check the blog for more info about the who's and whats and wheres. I want to personally invite you to the closing reception on December 18, it's going to be quite festive! Also the Columbus International Film and Video festival that I helped jury will be showing films from November 16-20 at CCAD's Canzani Center and the Gateway Theater. Check the website for times. This coming Saturday November 20 · 7:30pm - 11:30pm there will be an animation and mead tasting event at the Canzani Center that'll help wind down the festival nicely. I will be there, and so should you, check the facebook page for event details.

Oh by the way, if you like beer and are interested in reading a blog about how to brew it, check out this new blog by a friend of mine.

For me things are winding down finally and my goal is to focus on making art and little else. I'm also doing a collaboration, but I can't really talk about it. Because it's experimental it's possible it may never see the light of day, and this may be the last time I ever mention it... so just pretend you never saw this... yeah.

So, sometimes I get song-obsessive, and here's my latest.
Song is Carry Me Ohio, by Sun Kil Moon.
Reminds me of something bitter sweet that didn't work out.

back in world

Well finally got the computer situation taken care of for now. I am now the proud owner of a barely used 3 yr old ibook, which may not have all the juice I want, will at least get me back on line and able to network and manage and do all the stuff I dig doing. So lets get on with what I've been up to.

Last weekend I attended Autumn Fires at Wisteria. It was a short weekend but good fun. I got to do a little iron oxide glazing on some slip cast bisque wear that my friend Casey Bradly had (see left), he runs the ceramic pit firing they have at this festival every year. So here's a fun footnote, this laptop has video editing software, so I get to show you how the event went. This was shot in one day, and shows the process from people making little ceramic works, to the firing (and the resulting bonfire party) to the finished product.

Wisteria Autumn Fires 2010 from Sara Adrian on Vimeo.

So yeah, it was brief but everyone had a great time.

& now, back to the studio! I've been buying wood panels and preping them for painting, and drawing up notes/ideas. That's my goal this winter season, just make stuff and not worry about showing and all that. With working full time and trying to make art I find it difficult to focus on showing as well, so I oscillate between being public and being... not. Just how I'm wired I guess.

It's Halloween/Samhain season, and it's time to get spooky. Here's The Raven, the poem by Edgar Allen Poe, interpreted by Omnia

A bit behind

Well let's jump to it, I have a lot to catch you up on. I've been having a few technical setbacks which have made it not-so-easy for me to update. Most recently my computer's power supply went bad, and possibly the logic board as well. It's a 5 year old mac, and becoming obsolete so... yeah I'm kind of looking for options. But enough of that! I have much to tell you about what I've been up to.

Well, last I chatted with you Urban Scrawl was immanent, well things went well and it was a good day. Bela Grimm, myself and a few random people we invited in collaborated, and I think it came out pretty decent. She provided the background and collage, and I did the more painterly stuff (as I do). So yeah, results below:

The final is 8 x 8 feet

and here's a video

the music is just so you don't hear me rambling on to people.

& here's some of the dancing, in the background you can see the skate park.

After all that was done, I went to Wisteria for their Autumn Fires Festival. Good times were had by everyone, and the weather was great. The folks from the Starwood festival inspired the folks from Tent City and on a couple nights bonfires were lit that were bigger than I am tall, so at least 5.5 feet. It was pretty laid back, and the community was great. Videos below.

Pre-bonfire, the folks in Paw Paw just hanging out

Later that night...

One of the musical acts, Brian Henke & Kenny Klein playing at Caffina's

So yeah... Good times! I'm going to do my best to keep up with things, but until I get this computer thing fixed I'm probably going to post intermittently.

But on we go!

Below is Old Crow Medicine Show, Wagon Wheel. It's been in my head lately...

Urban Scrawl 4

Yep, Urban Scrawl is tomorrow August 27 at Dodge Park, 667 Sullivant Ave, Columbus Ohio. Festival runs from 12 - 8, and is free. There will be music, local craft vendors, break-dancing, skate boarding, and of course... live painting. This year, Bela Grimm and myself will be collaborating on a large panel of 8 x 8 feet. For more about the festival (when bands come on and stuff) check out this article in the Alive. Should be fun! If you come out say hi. By the way the image is from Urban Scrawl few years ago, photo by Bill Minckler.

In other news, I've been crazy busy since I've gotten back from Florida (which was very nice by the way). I've had to review more movies for the festival, I have about six that I need to see by Tuesday. It's been a good experience, and the ones that are going to get in I think you'll like. I'll give my personal opinion on them later when the judging is done. Then there's the painting... I feel like I've had no time to do much else.

By the way! Last Saturday I got to go to the opening of the John M Bennett Skylab Retrospective and Skylab Mailart Visual Poetry Exhibit. Very cool, I got to see my friends from the Post-Neoabsurdist Anti-Collective perform, plus John M. Bennett's visual poetry & mail art he's collaborated on from all over the world. Good Times. Below is a sample of John M. Bennett reading a poem at the Avant Writing Symposium, which just ended (see photos of the event here).

Bummer I had to miss that... this is what I get for having a job.


... so yeah, more stuff coming as always!

So, here's Iron & Wine - Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog)

Headed South & showtime

Yep, I'll be spending this weekend in Fort Myers paying a social call to some relatives. I just checked the weather, looks like it's going to be very stormy and hot, however I'm sure it'll be interesting. I have not seen the sea in a long time (and I hope I don't see any tar-balls... I shouldn't, but, well ya know). I'll see if I can't take some moderately interesting photos.

There's a couple of events that are coming up. I'm taking part in a show with CAW called Rights and Representation at Wholly Craft at 3169 N. High St. Columbus Ohio. Show is open Aug 11- Sept 3 & the reception is August 20th. Come on out, there shall be all kinds of performances and festivities. The Fort Hayes Alumni Arts Exhibition deadline is coming up on August 31st. If that applies to you check the info here for the call for entires.


I've been spending a lot of time in the studio making new work, so soon I'll be posting some stuff. See you Later!

Here is Captain Beefheart, Abba Zaba

Lughnasadh, I wish I had my camera.

So yeah, that was yesterday (August 1st). For those of you that are unfamiliar Lughnasadh (or Lammas) follow the link, but commonly it's to celebrate the first harvest. Interestingly enough the holiday falls in the same weekend with the Ohio State Fair. I don't know if I'll make it out this time, I have a bunch of deadlines. Ah we shall see.

One of the things I like about Columbus is that it's filled with a weirdness. Not an obvious weirdness or a funk. You can't come to my town and just stroll down the street and see random weirdness randomly. It's like the rest of Ohio, you have to be willing to look beyond the surface, get out, investigate, be open, and you will surely meet some interesting folks, and see some unexpected things. This place does not fail to disappoint the curious and the persistent. So, yesterday I met up with a friend to go to a drum circle. There are a few advertised around town, but neither of us have been. Generally we only get a chance to drum at Wisteria during festival, which isn't -that often-, maybe three or four times a year, & we never get out because we are antisocial artists. So we go, down to Como Park. There is a network of bike trails that run north to south along the Olentangy River, with many pocket sized parks like this one. We pull up and see more people than we expected drumming under one of the permanent shelters. As we got closer we saw people dancing, wearing brightly colored costumes and outfits. One person looked like she was wearing a plushy chicken headdress with a rainbow skirt and bright yellow ruffled leggings. There were a couple children in handmade costumes that looked part octopus, part jellyfish, and part sock monkey, all stitched in an array of bright fabrics. They ran around, climbed on things, having a grand ole' time with their parents who were also dressed in festive fashion. I asked one of the folks who... well I suppose hosts but he more guides, if that was normal. He said with a smile 'no, they just came out of the forest'.

The drum circle vibe was pretty friendly and chill. There were plenty of drums and other instruments left for people who just happened by. One of which was a gent who looked like a very serious biker, in his mid 40's I'd say. He stood for a while, still half mounted on his bike watching us. Then one of the guys offered him a drum, & he took off his helmet and gloves and soon he was in the thick of it drumming away for what seemed to be the very first time. He was still there when we left. This runs on every other Sunday from 2 to 4, or whenever. I'll come back when I have time. Some of the folks there also play with fire, poi, staff, and the like. I gave my info to one of the guys who will hopefully get in touch with the dude who hosts that gathering which is on Tuesdays. That would be great to get in with the fire community here.

So after we left we then went to a friend's house and met up with people I had not seen in a very long time. I was invited to a Lammas party, which had a very lovely potluck, and for games to honor Lugh we took turns hacking at cantaloupe heads with a medieval looking ax and shot a small crossbow at a target. There was much hilarity, and it was good to see old friends.

and now, back to work.

Here is Cottonbelly, Give Thanks & Praise

Narcissus a bit

So, first to what's going on. I'm painting a lot, and I'm finishing up watching the first batch of videos for the Columbus International Film+Video festival (for those who don't recall I'm one of the judges for the arts division this year). Some are really good and I think you'll really enjoy them, & some kinda make me want to die a little. Regardless I think once the festival rolls out it'll be worth checking out. More on that later.

Not much else going on. I'm just making art and getting ready for the Fort Hayes Alumni show deadline in August (hey do you like the logo? I did that). By the way, I will be going down to Fort Myers Florida in the middle next month briefly to visit family. Just a long weekend but it'll be good.

So here's a footnote for you. I used to take part in forums a lot more often than I do now, and when I did that I used to just write stuff. I wouldn't call it poetry, or stories, or... anything, but people after a time seemed to like it and I did get something out of it... sense of satisfaction I suppose. I've been thinking about getting back into doing that to help explore my creativity. I have a constant dialog in my head, and sometimes I think it's worth writing down, but then I don't. This kind of writing I admit is completely masturbatory, and self indulgent, doubly so because I know if I don't publicly post what I write I won't do it in the first place. It's narcissistic, I'll be the first to say so, but that won't and has never really stopped me. This need to share what I create is a big part of what makes me an artist I guess. Besides, I guess I got some stuff to say and too many people feel that way and don't. Since I know I can and will, I suppose I should. Why not, right?

Anyway, so I'm gonna occasionally post some of that crap here... because where else am I going to do it? Maybe later I'll take the stuff I like and make a book out of it with little illustrative comments or something. We will see.

So what I have right now is a kind of short story and a poem...

Williams Canyon

They giggled like doves together. She said ‘come to Williams Canyon with us tonight!’. I followed them both as they held hands before me, She with her impossible beauty and her internal damage, he with his rough leanness and his simple thoughts. I plodded slowly behind, watching them, listening. The small town we lived in fell away to a dirt road, and the rocks that would have been tan or red began to arc up on either side.

We come to a sign, “DO NOT ENTER” which we ignore as children do. What was left to is was a road long since abandoned, the memory of a creek, and the canyon walls climbing ever higher. We continued on, at times I lost sight of my guides. They were too busy with each other, trying to impress the other with stories or wry jokes, they seemed innocent, but so was I, and I knew it.

Eventually whatever road was left was gone, giving way to gravel and scrub oak. I picked my way through the rocks, slowly climbing till we reached the end. A waterfall trickled down to a small pool below us, and my friends slipped away to attend to the flirtations natural evolution for a moment. Leaving me to contemplate, I turned to see where I came from.

I have never seen a moon like this. She hung low in the sky, large yellow and full. Mountains framed her, the winking lights of Manitou decorated the dark base. I wanted to ask it everything, what was I supposed to be doing, why was I in this foreign place, what will happen next? There was no sign, no answer. Stars didn’t shoot across the sky, no animal revealed itself, it was just the scene before me and myself alone to contemplate it for that one brief moment in time.

The couple emerged dusty after beating against each other. We made our way home much as we came, but I felt like I had an answer no matter how undefined. All I could do is go forward, in the moment.

Surgery

A constant dissection running through my mind
Pulling you open with my mouth, teeth, tongue.
Flaying you, spreading you open.
Rendering you helpless.

Humility and shame will not protect you
Bodies clothe expression
Lay aside fear
This won’t hurt much, I promise.

After your assembly
When I have seen what I have recreated
I will whisper silently
Do it to me.

Here's something somewhat local to me, Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters performing Hallowed Ground (music starts at :25, -shrug-)

just working

Nothing very exciting to report right now. I've been working on my stuff, and trying to keep to keep drama down. The thumbnail is a rough draft for a painting I am working on. I think my scanner has been going buggy and is about to die because I should be getting better scans than that. Ah well. Technology joy.

A friend of mine and I went to the Cleveland Museum of Art yesterday. Heard much about it, and it was pretty sweet however it's still under construction so their full collection still isn't out. So yeah that was inspiring for me. Driving around Cleveland, you can tell it's a place that once had money, but half of everything is falling apart. You have this row of gorgeous churches in what was once a decent neighborhood next to a crappy looking McDonalds, and a Dollar General. Also there was much leaning of porches and sagging of roofs. Sign of the times I suppose.

Here is Porcupine Tree - Time Flies

In the still of the night.

These past couple weeks have been quiet, which is what I really needed after a month of running. I really need periods of quiet, so I can think, research and work. Research what? Whatever, doesn't matter what... it's whatever pops into my head. Could be about creation myths, or how to cook with sherry (I've been given two bottles of it, one for drinking and one for cooking... and I don't drink -that- much), or something related to current news or politics, or whatever. I like indulging myself in curiosities, I learn a lot and hence I have this vast weird pile of random info in my head of which you never know how it will come in useful.

So, it's time to get back to work.

For about a year now I've been working with digital imagery for prints. That got started because I was doing a round of interviews that were related to graphic design, and I needed to update that part of my portfolio. What it lead to was gilcee prints, and combining my drawing with textures and layers. It's interesting, this kind of work for me can be completed fast and gives some level of satisfaction. I'll continue with it, but it's more than time for me to get back into painting again.

I'm not as conceptual as many contemporary artists. I am an image and object maker. I want to make icons that can live in your home as well as in a gallery/temple/whatever. Something made by hand has more resonance and punch than any reproduction (and you have to see it in person, no digital photo of any art can match seeing it with your own eyes). The digital prints are good to work out ideas and get them across, and they can be more affordable to collectors. Nothing however to me can take the place of the one of a kind image.

So these next few weeks and months will be set for me to begin a new series. The painting detail is acrylic on canvas, just a thought really. It's a portrait of a gothy-punk girl, I'll post it in full when I update my website which will be soon. I'm going back to wood, and the size will be closer to 16 x 18 or 18 x 24. What the subject is you'll have to wait and see.

Ah well, here is Eumir Deodato, September 13

back from festival... and a sadness

Yes, yes I am. Thanks to Brandon for covering Columbus's Pride, very amusing.

So yeah... to say it has been an eventful week has been an understatement. This was not the post I intended it to be a week ago. I suppose, it would be best if I went in order of events. BTW this is my personal account, and more of a reader's digest. I'll wax more poetic when I do my official festival review on the Juggler.
The day before I was to head down I was packing and buying stuff (as one does when they intend to be in the woods for a week), my van decided not to start. An hour or so later AAA shows up and informs me my starter is probably going bad, and so the next morning was spent in the shop. Very not exciting, but I kind of like the car starting when I ask it to so it was a must. So 6 hours later than I had hoped I was finally on my way. 2 hours and in the middle of the heated day I arrive at Wisteria and set up camp in what folks now call OGC (maybe later I will inform you of what that means). Friends are rediscovered and all was well!
Until... I think I may have mentioned that my G-ma has been sick, well she died on Solstice morning. I get the news, and was told I didn't need to return right away as there wasn't much I could do. Memorial was set for that Friday in Sylvania Ohio (which is just outside of Toledo. For those of you keeping track Wisteria is south of Athens Ohio, which is at the other end of the state). So yeah, a little freak out was called for.

I gotta say though, if I had to find out this news anywhere, Wisteria is not a bad place to do so. I received a lot of support from my friends there (and a few acquaintances and strangers). I was given space when I needed it and company when I required it. Thanks to everyone who was there for me. I really mean that, ya'll make what happened a little easier to deal with.
On Thursday I pulled up camp and went back to Columbus, which is a 2 hr drive. I took the chance to shower and get clothes more suitable for a Christian church and drove the 2.5 hrs up to Sylvania to meet up with my family. The next day was the memorial, which was very nice. In the weeks leading up to my G-ma's death my mom and aunt took turns staying with her in the nursing home. To pass the time they wrote haikus to help express what they were seeing and feeling as the cancer took their mother away. Here's a few of them.

Liberated soul
United with the Great Source.
Eagle flaps her wings.

Earth tilts towards the Sun.
Liberated soul flies free.
Summer Solstice comes.

Life leaves us orphaned
if we stay disconnected.
Streams flow to the sea.

After the memorial, and a return trip to where my grandparents now rest, I returned home and slept.

There was some debate about me returning to Wisteria. There wasn't much I could do in Sylvania as my mom and her siblings worked out details of where to put my G-ma's stuff. I was tired at this point, because I had spent most of my time in 90+ degree heat with high humidity (this past week was a scorcher) and I was sporting a sweet trucker tan from all the driving. Plus there is no air conditioning in the van so once I am on the road I generally had been sweating like a horse. But I did go back, to process and to be among friends for the last night of the festival. Some of those folks I wouldn't see again for a long time, and besides, life is short, and my G-ma wouldn't want me to stop living mine for a second.

I got there in time to see this.

Yep! It's the Momentary Prophets! They had just started their set right as I rolled up to Caffinas. This song is the Fox Song, and they say this song wouldn't exist if not for me. Check out this previous blog post for the illustration that I did for them for fun that they turned in to a pretty groovy song. Thanks guys! It's like ice cream and a hug to me :) By the way, their new album Mandala is pretty rockin, you should buy it when it's available to be bought.

The night was spent at the drum circle, among friends. It kinda goes something like this:


So yeah. Eventful week, much of what I experienced will take time to process. I'm ok though, just tired. I took a lot of photos and videos for the event site, and most will be mixed and put on Wisteria's youtube channel. A few though I will put on mine, because I can, because I like them, so if you want go there and check it out. There's even one of me spinning fire for the Dragon Ritual Drummers. That was pretty cool I must say.

So, because she was completely awesome, here's a part of the obituary for my G-ma.
She had a biting wit, a great sense of humor, and she was pretty damn awesome I must say. She influenced me a lot, and I was lucky to have her.


Anne Retter Matthews, a member of the Greatest Generation, veteran of World War II, a retired registered nurse, a spirited intellectual, great wit and gifted seamstress, died peacefully on June 21, 2010 at the age of 88 in hospice care in Columbus, Ohio with her family at her side. She was born September 14, 1921 to Otto and Emily Retter, immigrants from Germany and Austria, in Buffalo, N.Y., the youngest of six children. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers and sisters, including Herman, Alfred, Otto, Herta and Ilse. After graduating from high school in 1939, Anne attended nursing school at Buffalo General Hospital where she became a registered nurse. In 1942 she joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. At Bowman Air Field in Kentucky she met the love of her life, Earl Rodney Matthews, Jr., whose task was to teach Army nurses how to swim. They married on September 25, 1944 at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. As an Army Air Corps nurse, she served at a base on Long Island where she cared for casualties from the European theatre and once met Eleanor Roosevelt. After the war, the Matthews lived in Columbus, Ohio. before moving to Toledo in 1948. In 1954, they moved to Sylvania, where they raised their six children and lived the rest of their lives.

She worked as an RN at Toledo Hospital and later was assistant director of nursing at Lake Park Hospital in Sylvania. Following the death of her beloved husband in 1984, Anne continued living independently at her home of 45 years in Sylvania until March 2010 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was a member of the Sylvania United Church of Christ for 56 years, a member of the Ladies Literary Society, and the Book Club. She had a keen wit, loved classical music, and was an avid reader of histories, biographies and mysteries. Anne was a gifted quilter, seamstress and gardener and for many years contributed her work to the Sylvania UCC church bazaar. She is survived by her six children, numerous nieces and nephews, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren

The family wishes to express its deep appreciation to HomeReach Hospice and Kobacker House of Columbus and the caregivers who assisted in the last weeks of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Anne Matthews’ name may be made to Hospice, the American Cancer Society or the United Church of Christ of Sylvania, Ohio.

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part II

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Fear & Loathing in Columbus, Ohio

I feel as if a legitimate introduction is inevitable. My name is Brandon. I live in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. I am 22 years old. I am gay. I post video-logs to my YouTube account:

Branflakes0909

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to express a tidbit of my creativity with the followers of this blog.

I was told that the Whetstone Diaries is under my control until the 27th. I was never really much of a blogger. As a sophomore in high school I took html and javascript classes and tried setting up my own website...which failed miserably

This is my account of the activities that took place in the Short North & Goodale Park during Pride Weekend in Columbus, Ohio

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part I

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My brother and I met up with our friends
Radu, Malin, and Trent



We hadn't even made it to the festival grounds and I was already somewhat inebriated at this point. I was under the assumption that things were supposed to happen like this. We made our way through the vendors and found ourselves near the alcohol tents. A friend gave me a drink ticket which was used to purchase one beer. After the walking/sitting/chilling/listening/looking, I had decided that I was hungry. Devon and I split up with our friends and headed back to the car to retrieve our lunch; which consisted of peanut butter & Black Raspberry jelly sandwiches and chips&salsa.

The next few hours were spent drinking rum and walking around the festival grounds to meet new people. When we felt like we had walked enough, we met up with some people at my friend, Roger's, place. After having a few more drinks, we headed over to Union to hang out with people on High Street. Devon and I were not willing to spend 10 dollars to see the Andrew Christian underwear show at Axis. As soon as the show was finished, a man approached my brother and I and offered us free entrances into Axis Nightclub. After gettin' down with some glowsticks we helped host an after hours party at Trent and Radu's apartment.

...to be continued.

Birds of C.A.W is up, and I'm out!

Well, very nearly. I actually leave Saturday but I have so much to do I figured I better update now. The Birds of C.A.W. show is up and ready to rock this Saturday. Come on out, it's gonna be a rockin show! The thumbnail to the left is a clip of my print that's in the show, go there to see the whole thing.

Now, as I said before, I won't be able to be there because I had arranged a prior obligation that I said I'd help out with. I will be gone till Sunday the 27th. Everything is set, house sitter is housin, all ducks are in rows (for the most part), I just need to pack and get myself ready as with the past two shows I've had not much time to do these things. However I have been here before! It will be all good and fun will be had by all.

But! I will miss both Comfest and Columbus Gay Pride! I KNOW IT'S VERY UPSETTING!

Comfest actually I'm ok with not going to. The last few years it's just gotten too crazy with too many people, it's just not the same vibe, ah well. Now Pride on the other hand...

Now sometimes people ask me if I am a gay. My mom has asked me several times actually... probably because I'm single and have had gay-supportive bumper stickers on my car... and she's weird and seems to forget the dudes I have dated in the past. Yeah, I are a straight person. No, really. Totally like the dudes for dating. Yup. I do love me some homersexuals though, and I do loves me some Pride! I learned my first ballroom dance moves at my very first pride festival, and I've always had a rockin' time since. So yeah, bummer that I can't be there.

So I worked out an alternate solution that should entertain everyone.

My friend Brandon aka branflakes0909 on the youtubes will be my guest blogger for the week I am gone. He has promised to cover Pride for me, and in general be entertaining for ya'll while I am away. I dunno what he's gonna do, maybe something like this:
It should be entertaining. It better be or I will have to kick his ass!

So yeah, just about off...

Well we gotta sign off with some music!
Here's a clip from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Origin of Love

Have a most festive Festivus Columbus, and Happy Solstice! See you soon.

Go West and Birds of C.A.W.

Last night the Franklinton Arts District put on their Go West festival. Quick readers digest for you @ The Other Paper about the neighborhood here. Nikos Fyodor Rutkowski asked me to take part in the 'Horror Show' section of the block party, and so I did! That painting is below, titled 'Terrible Vision'. It's painted with acrylic with copper leafing and an iron oxide background, size is 16" x 20". Not the greatest photo, I need to retake it as the flash makes the background look more sparkly than it actually is.

Looks like everyone had a great time! My photos from what I had a chance to see are here. I got there kind of late as I had to work on stuff, more on that later... I also shot a short video, sorry about the blurriness, I need a better camera I think.


What I've been working on is the book for art show The Birds of C.A.W that Helma Groot and myself are curating, & I'm also getting the rest of the printing stuff ready to go. The opening will take place on Saturday, June 19th from 7 p.m. to midnight at CS Gallery, 66 Parsons Avenue Columbus, OH. The opening will feature live painting by Heather Alexander and a performance by Colleen Leonardi.

The artist participating in the show are:
Mabi Ponce de Leon
Terri Maloney Houston
Laine Bachman
Jamie Hesper
Megan Coyan
Melissa Vogley Woods
Angela Matteson
Kira Scott
Stephanie Rond
Judy Gerdeman
Patty DeMarias
Peggy Mintun
Lisa McLymont
Wendy Yeager
Barb Vogel
Kim Glover
Katie Niewierski
Brittany Leigh
Cyndi Bellerose McAfee
Colleen Leonardi
Yvette Vandervelde
Sara E. Adrian (of course!)
& Helma Groot

The amount of talented women here is just crazy! I've seen much of the work already and it's going to be a great show which will consist of smaller works of an avian theme. The book will be available at Wholly Craft in August, but will be available online sooner and I will of course let you know when that happens. The rub though is I won't be there for the opening as I have agreed to be in Wisteria. More about that later. I'll be leaving this Friday the 18th, & I intend to update then with an announcement of a special guest blogger that will update you during the week I am gone.

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy, however the major sweatin' is over with (huzza). My G-ma is hanging in there...

So, I think you may need some music. Here is Culturcide with Fake Dancing

What's going on & what's coming next

Heya folks. I know it's been what, a couple weeks since I posted (I try to get on this weekly at least). My thoughts and time have been occupied largely by my maternal Grandmother who is terminally ill with cancer. The extended family helped moved her to Columbus, and there has been many visits and questions and tears over the rapid decline we're witnessing. For me this is compounded with the two major deadlines that are coming up. I have to finish a piece for Go West which will be on June 12th, and various deadlines for the Birds of C.A.W. show that I'm co-curating with Helma Groot that will open on June 18. The stuff I have to do includes finishing my own piece, creating and publishing a book for the show which will be available through Lulu and Amazon, intake and hanging the show, and all of the other little bits and pieces that go along with that. With both there is not much time left, so I've been scrambling and not updating my various blogs like a good internet-whatever-artist should do.

So yeah, I'm fine really. Just a lot going on right now.

Barring any family business (which may definitely come up at this point) I still intend to be going to Wisteria's Summer Solstice Festival (Facebook event here). One of the things I haven't had a chance to update about was going down there for the work weekend. I was only there for Saturday-Sunday morning as my G-ma looked like she was going to pass so I went home early. Work weekends at Wisteria are, well, work... but a lot of fun also. A great way to connect with people, and the Memorial day weekend is a big work weekend with attendance rivaling a small festival. I spent the morning pulling weeds around the swimming pond and the afternoon painting a sign that explains the recycling procedures. That night was drumming around a bonfire and revelry. It's interesting to me how such simple things as lounging in the grass with the stars above you and friends laughing or drumming or just staring at the fire can create such feeling of community and family that no technology no matter how groovy just can't fulfill. After running home and making sure my G-ma was ok the next evening was spent with my extended family on my brother's back porch talking with relatives I had not seen in a long time. Although the circumstances are sad it was good seeing them again.

Here's something I rediscovered recently. This is Clannad, I will find you (Live)

Link-O-Rama

This past week has partly been preoccupied by family business, and partly by other business who's business is not yours. So because I'm a little doped up on allergy meds and I don't feel like ranting much, it's time for another installment of LINK-O-RAMA

1st off, for my artist friends, check out The Madness of Art
"The Madness of Art is a humorous look at Chelsea’s dynamic art scene in New York City. The Madness of Art is created by Gallery Owner and Art Dealer, Jim Kempner, of Jim Kempner Fine Art, drawing from years of real life experiences in the art business. Episodes are humorous and surprisingly realistic.

Jim Kempner writes, directs and stars in The Madness of Art along with his often co-opted Gallery Director, Dru Arstark, numerous Assistants, Interns, Art Handlers, Dealers and Artists.

The Madness of Art has been constructed through years of videotaping situations featuring artists such as Robert Indiana, Tony Fitzpatrick, Charlie Hewitt, Bernard Venet, Yoko Ono, and Steve Giovinco, as well as clients and family.

It is a fun and refreshing view of art from the gallery perspective.

The Gallery itself, Jim Kempner Fine Art, is located at the epicenter of the New York Art scene at 10th Avenue and 23rd Street. Each episode features a range of contemporary art and artists work of photography, prints, drawings, sculpture and paintings.

Stay tuned! New episodes will be revealed weekly!"

and now, some video crap

and here is something different

Ephemerisle Documentary 2009b by Jason Sussberg from The Seasteading Institute on Vimeo. My mind isn't blown, but looks interesting... but it also kinda looks like an art-douch boat party. We shall see how that develops.

So next weekend I will be at Wisteria on a work weekend (down in southern Ohio near Athens), helping clear trails and getting ready for the festival season. In a little less than a month will be the Summer Solstice festival. Here is some info from the organizers:

Wisteria Community is so pleased to announce our expanded summer
season of events and camping. Starting from June 20 through July 12,
we have three continuous weeks of activity to keep your soul fed and
refreshed. Come to one week or come to all three:
First event of the season is Wisteria Summer Solstice Gathering (June
20-27). Wisteria Solstice is an immersive intensive with hundreds of
people living in cooperative eco-spiritual culture. You will never be
the same after you experience how good life can be when responsible,
freedom-loving people come together to create a musical, artistic
atmosphere of love and creativity. Hear daily concerts on three
stages with quality musical and performance acts, workshops, ceremony,
speakers and much more. Check our Solstice pages (
http://www.wisteria.org/wisteria-summer-solstice.htm) for a growing
list of activities as we build the magical village for this turning
point of the year. Preregistration is required for Solstice, no at-
gate registrations accepted or discounts for partial attendance.

We’re becoming known for our “Temple to the Arts,” our outdoor
amphitheatre and stage with a booming pro-level sound system that
rocks the hills. Come bathe in the bliss. Enjoy the wonders of nature
in the company of like-minded others and other soul-satisfying
activities. In addition to hot showers, we have a cafeteria-style
restaurant with delicious and healthy food prepared fresh. For cold
ones on hot days, visit the Green Man Tavern.

What a year it’s shaping up to be here in the rolling hills of
southern Ohio. If you’ve never been to a magical festival before and
you are an Earth-loving person who believes in creating a better world
in a celebratory way, trust in your guidance and come join your long-
lost family. You don’t need to know someone to be comfortable here –
people are friendly and you can fit right in.

If you are a veteran of this good way of life, we’ll welcome you, your
families and encampment of friends with open hearts and open minds.
We’re getting geared up and excited and looking forward to a beautiful
year. We’ll be waiting for you to come to your summer home here in
the singing green hills. –Wisteria Community

So yeah! For more info about this and the other events at Wisteria check them out at http://wisteria.org

For music, we have the Gotan Project, Epoca

Slipping time

Well, interesting week. It started off with a meeting at Urban Spirit Coffee House to discuss the Columbus International Film+ Video Festival. I'm one of the judges this year for the 'The Arts' category. I'll say more about this when the actual festival happens later this year (August). But yeah! Should be fun!

I got to test out the film as you can see on the left (that's my nephew, who is in fact, awesome). Definitely glitchy, but fun to work with. I kept having a problem with spots appearing on the film which I removed with photoshop. I can see some applications for this, next time I go to one of my events I'll bring some along.

... and the rest is just details.



So anyway, here's a fun bit I stumbled upon.
Check out LaLa Ladyfag & her impeccable fashion sense!

LADYFAG in ANASTASIA & SNEGUROCHKA from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

Polaroid test

So here's more of a footnote.
A friend of mine was getting rid of a bunch of stuff that his parents had lying around, and one of them was a (you guessed it) Polaroid camera, specifically a Polaroid One Step Express Instant 600 Camera in hunter green. So I snagged it. Odds would have it that I heard on NPR a few months ago a bit about the Impossible Project, and it sounded interesting.

The film is now available, and so I bought some. The image on the left is me testing it out. Yeah I know it's not that great... I know now not to get so close. By the way it's a small statue I made in college hanging on the wall that was brazed, mostly composed of iron nails. I like the colors, it's black and white film, the copper tint means the film has been a little warmer than it should be, and it's been hot lately so... that's ok. I think I can do interesting stuff with it. I like photography as a hobby, it's not something I indulge in enough of.

Tonight is a friend's birthday party. I'll bring the camera, and we shall see what happens! Should be interesting.

below is Devendra Banhart, Carmensita. Funnest thing I've seen all morning.

Randomness!

So, I'm really tired today. For the last five days I have not been sleeping well because of a combination of allergies and anxiety dreams. After talking to a friend online and just saying whatever was coursing through my head... I thought to myself 'self, this should be shared with the world!'. So yeah, don't take anything in this post seriously, or personally, because it isn't. Today I am stupid, and terribly random.

BTW this isn't properly edited either, so most of this will be straight crap.

***

When I die, render my fat into candles and burn them in the memory of some forgotten saint.

For some reason your mother is a bitch slap of a whore.

I cover myself with meat and spit rabbits. Your tree limbs have nothing, and you can't hold me with your roots. It's like you've forgotten everything, you wear no clothes and stand in the street waiting for someone to love you. Unbound, arms wide and the wind whipping, you welcome the sun in the early morning. The air is moist and cool against your body. You may feel like singing, and you do as if there is no one to hear. If you could take flight, you would. But grounded against the pavement it's all you can do to start running into the wide open street. Traffic could come at any moment. You could die, you could be discovered with all your faults and people will expect you to be shamed. Crawl into a hole, die with the guilt of being open. But don't you dare give in to them. You run. You fly. You take everything that you can and give more. You can do this. I know you have in in you. Fear is nothing but the small voices holding you back, bringing you down, making you regret you're not the person you want to be, that you wish you were. Your depression, your loss, your sorrow, is really anger at allowing all the small voices within and without to stop you from running.
So defy them. Stand naked in the street, unbound.

Man I could use a Reuben.

I keep thinking it's later than it is. Ham is falling all over me, my horns are covered in pig.

So um... hey, I saw you over there and I thought you were rather attractive. Would you like to go back to my apartment and I'll show you my etchings?

I want a skirt made of earthworms, living worms... but sitting would be a problem.

I'm not as vulgar as you think you are.

***

Ok that's enough. You have a good Friday. Oh btw the image below is a digital print titled 'Welder' a kind of modern take off of the Goddess Brigit. Have a good weekend!

Mayday!

Hey Folks! Just have some quick announcements. The Pagan Newswire Collective has launched two group blogs, one for the military called Warriors & Kin, and the other for art and culture called The Juggler. I'll be contributing to the second, making observations about the arts as related to Paganism. So yeah if such topics interest you go check that out! Here of course it'll be more about me... because it's my personal blog and that's how I roll.

So yeah, today is Beltaine. Even if you don't count this as a holiday, I'd suggest getting out for a walk in the woods. Here in Ohio especially things are really starting to come in. I'll be planting herbs as soon as the danger of frost is over with. One of the things I try to do if I'm able is go take photos, and here's a few that I took down at Highbanks. Right away when I got to the Olentangy River (Ol-en-tan-gy, not Old-en-tang-y) I heard splashing, and I think I came across some type of fish spawning. There were quite a few of them, swimming in pairs and splashing, & I got a few photos of the ones closest to me. I thought they may have been catfish but they don't compare to the photos I pulled up online. I'd say they were on average 12 inches, give or take a few. If you know what kind they are let me know.

So yeah! I hope your day is most festive :)

Ready to Fire!

Hey folks! So about that Faith & the Muse show... Damn it was the business! My friend Casey & I drove up from Columbus to Lakewood Ohio (just outside of Cleveland) to the Phantasy Nightclub. The place is a complete and total dive, but the kind of dive you want to visit. The space looks like it was once a seafood restaurant or something, because it has a halved sailboat inside (called the Bounty), and other weird architecture (like a random streetlight, the kind that overlooks the highway in the middle of the ceiling). It's great though. I had been in this space something like 14 years ago or so and completely forgot it's location, so stumbling upon that space again unexpectedly was a trip!

Anyway, before we got there U.T.O. and Ludwyg had already performed so I can't say much about them. We caught the tail end Queue Up, they seemed pretty cool, I'd like to catch them again.

So on to the main act. Faith & the Muse is made up of William Faith and Monica Richards. Joining them was Paul Mercer on violin, Julia Cooke on taiko and percussion, Marzia Rangel on cello & percussion (Christ vs. Warhol/The Deadfly Ensemble, ex-Scarlet's Remains), Steven James on guitar/viola/percussion (Christ vs. Warhol/The Deadfly Ensemble, ex-All Gone Dead and Scarlet's Remains), and Aradia and Lucretia*Renee of the dance troupe Serpentine also on backing vocals (and featured in the photo on the left, sorry about the quality but that's what you get with a cell phone). The whole performance was extremely theatrical, it's one of those 'you had to be there' type situations. The crazy part, the whole show was six bucks(!?), that's just crazy talk! Anyway Faith & the Muse tour is on a pretty aggressive schedule, they had been performing every night for the past 16 when they got to Cleveland. So yeah if you can check them out live, and if not just check out some of their music. Below is their video promo for their tour. I tried to shoot some with my camera but I haven't figured out how to get it off the chip yet, if I can do that I'll of course post it. If you want more check out this interview by Bryan Reesman.



So yeah! In other news the Pagan Newswire Collective blog is about ready to launch. There are 8 other bloggers including myself, and everything seems to be running on schedule! I'll post an announcement in a few days when the official launch happens, expect something by Sunday at the latest. This is gonna be groovy, I don't think there's anything else like it out there.

Also, in Second Life it looks like I'm going to be having a show in May. Also I'm almost done setting up my own gallery in The Wastelands, and I'll be able to host small performances as well. I'll post the slurl for those locations and dates once I have them.

Plus I'm going to be taking part in the Fires of Aisling Pagan Arts and Music Fest down in Reynoldsburg Ohio on May 16. Myself and a few other folks will have some art up, and it looks like there will be all kinds of festivus going on. It's free so come on down if you're arse'd. I know at the bottom it says it's by invite only... but hell if you're one of the two or three people who read this blog, you are my guest, I invite you (friend me on facebook and ask for an invite if you're inclined). So come, bring drums if you're the drumming type and let us kick this metaphorical pig!

So yeah, it's all good in the neighborhood. See you later!