April 6, 2008 at 6:15 pm · Filed under inspiration
Ever want something really bad, for a really long time? You’d seen pictures of ponies, maybe even video, but never saw one in person. You wondered what their coat would feel like, what riding them would be like, how they move.
I finally got my pony, but it just happens to come in the form of a batik tjap.
I’ve wanted one of these for a long time, I had never even seen one in person, just very small or unspecific photos online or books. I wanted to make one, even, but had no reference for their construction.
I managed to snag a set of three from my favorite auction site, and even though they are not in mint condition, they are awesome to behold.
Made by some serious craftsmen, these ’stamps’ are fashioned from copper strips and wire to be used in the applying of wax to make batik patterns. And what craftsmen they are. I could never make something this amazing.
And to allow for others like myself, curious seekers, I’m supplying these big ol’ detailed images so you can see what went into these pieces. Really, they are art.
I didn’t make it to the SOFA show over the weekend, but I did make it to an opening at DVA Gallery, so I guess I don’t feel too bad. It doesn’t hurt that the DVA show was huge and filled with equally huge awesomeness. And I had the distinct pleasure, nay, HONOR, of looking at an actual Katy Horan painting. Suffice to say it looked pretty awesome. Have I mentioned awesome?
It was no surprise that the painting looked far different from the prints I own, as well as looking at images online. A failure of summation of this difference might begin by saying that the painting looked ‘warm’. A failure of my bank account handing led to me not being able to lay down and make a purchase of it then and there. It would be an excellent dream to own an actual Horan.
Sigh.
After all the gushing though, please allow me to say that the opening showed me again how far I need to go to kick serious ass. I still do not understand how it is that I will get there. I do not understand if anyone will ever be able to look at what I do, on a tshirt, and have the same level of feelings I was having. I’d settle for love or disgust too. Just to feel something strongly.
I attended the annual Mookiejam benefit event last night, and wow. My face hurt from all the smiling. It was such a high level of feel-goodery that one would think that nothing might stop the wave pouring over everyone.
I was saddened to see my shirt that was part of the silent auction not really holding anyone’s attention, nor garnering any bids. And I was up until that point very pleased with it. Then I realized something about the medium. It’s a shirt. It’s on a hanger. To some of the less discerning eye, might it just be only so much laundry? This is a little disappointing, but gives me more impetus to try to improve display, whether it be in the studio, or out at events. Also, to remember if the shirt is by itself, and not part of a larger show of my work, that it needs to range in the ‘less subtle’ variety. Chalk it up to learning. Hopefully by the end of the evening the bids went in and up, for the cause more than for my ego.
And when the MC of the evening said something about the next performer doing beat box…I said, “really?” and was honestly only token apprehensive, but mostly interested and confident, as everyone there was a talent goldmine. And then Yuri brought it.
I can only recommend seeing this guy live. Holy holy. Just amazing. In a long free form segment he beat box from Sant’N'Peppa to Soft Cell to Iron Butterfly. Now that’s a medley. Hot damn.
October 23, 2007 at 5:26 pm · Filed under inspiration
You’ve got to love a band called The Happy Bullets, and if that doesn’t sell you, how about the fact that in the title track of their first album, The Vice and Virtue Ministry, they manage a sweet rhyme with the word ‘bourgeoisie’.
So, now there is a video now for said song. It’s got some interesting visuals, including what I would say is a nod to Douglas Adams, namely some large whales falling from the sky…
October 5, 2007 at 11:37 am · Filed under inspiration
I have two excellent Katy Horan prints yet to be framed and hung. This most excellent video takes some of the sting of the guilt of that away, but mostly due to it providing salve against the world with its subtlety and beauty. This is a motivation to see them finally framed, that they might salve every time I pass them.
The video is quite wonderful, and they do us all the favor of not putting on youtube, so that we might see some of the depth of the work they’ve put into it. I wanted to take screen capture after screen capture, but I think everyone should just go see. Now I want to get that album too.
