INKSTAND

It seems that in an effort to satirize right-wing scare tactics against the Obama campaign, cartoonist Barry Blitt pissed off a lot of people. I am not one of those people. However, while I don’t agree that the New Yorker cover was offensive or tasteless, I do agree that the artisit failed miserably at communicating his concept to the public. Rather than looking like a parody of views and ideas Obama’s opponents are trying to convey about him, it seemed more like an illustration of those ideas, a propagandized exaggeration of the views of someone who doesn’t like Obama.

This is a prime example of why The New Yorker should just have the adorable Adrian Tomine do all of their covers. His covers evoke emotions similar to that of hearing a neighbor child’s goldfish has died.

Jake was reading this book a few weeks ago and I couldn’t get enough of that cover. That flying cat thing is ridiculously awesome. Needless to say, I want one.

For the last five years, since I moved out of my parent’s house, I’ve been dragging so much stuff with me and I keep collecting more. One collection of things is pretty much every drawing of mine that I can find as far back as I can remember. Why do I keep them? Maybe because I think I’ll use them someday or that when I’m dead they’ll be treasured or maybe it’s just that I don’t draw as much as I did when I was younger so I need them around to feel some sort of accomplishment.
Now,after moving this winter, I decided I was sick of all the crap that follows me around. I’m going to get rid of all my clothes I don’t wear, sell as many of my books as I can and, of course, get rid of all this worthless paper I hold onto like its worth it’s weight in gold.
I started buy sifting through the piles, not going through them carefully because if i did that I’d save too much. So I just scanned and pulled out all the bigger paintings or drawings ar things that were actually good or meaningfull. Thje rest I just tossed. There were some things that I thought I’d never get rid of, I remembered almost every drawing on every page of homework I ever did. But common sense rang through and it just wasn’t worth it to me to have these things lying around.

As you can see, there was quite a lot. I wish I had taken a before picture so you all could see how it was just crammed in there, it’s mass of rectangular shapes being the only thing saving it from amorphism. But alas… What I did was save the few works of art and handfull of nearly empty blank books I decided to keep and put them in the bottom drawer. I put my art supplies in the other drawers, all of wich had been chilling in the hall closet.

Getting rid of this stuff feels great. Really, it’s one less thing to think about and weigh me down. Sure I’m going to miss some of the fun, cool drawings I did in my youth but I’ve lost so many other things from that time. I dwell in the past too much and it hasn’t been working for me. So I’m going to start getting rid of a lot of stuuf from here on out.
Now if I could jsut deal with that storage unit I have in California.

My friend Garrett, mastermind behind boontdusties.com (?) has started an internet radio station with his girlfriend Amber with the help of some others. I was supposed to put together a review show for them, but with my recent change of residence I didn’t really have a chance to do that AND drink a lot. Priorities.
The station launched on Jan. 1st and I caught a good portion of that show. It aired from 6pm to midnight, and everyday after it airs the previous night’s show at noon, then a new one at 6pm. They have played some really fantastic music so far. Right now they are playing Calvin Don’t Jump, and it’s really sending me. Its been great to surf the web to. There are a lot of indie/acoustic artists played, but I don’t think there’s a specific sound they’re looking for. They played some Indian music earlier tonight. There is a weekly show from the basement of Bop Street Records in Ballard where they play records based just on the album covers. I can’t wait to hear that one.
I will continue to listen to Hollow Earth Radio as long as they are going, and maybe one day you’ll hear me on it. This is one of my friends’ crazy ventures that is actually worthwhile.

This watercolor paper sucks. It gets wrinkled and the water soaks right through making it transparent. It puckers and the fibers get loose, not being able to withstand the moisture.

This exhibit is being shown at the Henry Art Gallery on the University of Washington campus through December 31st. I recommend that you go. Preferably on a thursday if you want to get in for free.
The photos in this exhibit are of a lot of everyday things and places, like street corners and dishes of food. I was reminded of a lot of photos you might see in the liner notes of an album by a band like Sebadoh. I have often, inspired by such album designs, tried to capture interesting images of normal, mundane things. Stephen Shore, however, is a fantastic example of the difference between indie-rock self-indulgence and fine art (he’s the art one).

While there be sure to check out the Light Reign Skyspace thingie. It’s a nice, calming place. It’s also good for kissing. Someone told me that. Right before he kissed me.