COME HOME : ANDERSON PAAK

 

I played this one dozens of times...and can't get it out of my mind.  

Thinking of my musician friend Christopher who plays and teaches base guitar. (And could show up on a moped with a fluffy dog named Molly.)

Strong base on this one...

Thinking of my artist friend Tony who said he could not relate at all. He says he gave it all up and cannot stretch canvas or paint any more. Tony this song is a painting.

AN ARTIST WHO REDESIGNS HISTORICAL ROMANCE BOOK COVERS TO FIT THE STORY and THE TIME PERIOD : BERNADETTE BANNER

I don't read romance novels but this genre is the best seller to women.  (Murder - fiction and nonfiction - sells best overall.)  The writer of a historical novel does their best to describe their characters authentically but then the cover is turned over to an artist who may not read the book or understand the fashion, hairstyles, and cosmetics of the era.  BERNADETTE BANNER does and with a much better understanding of what the writer wrote, attempts to redesign the covers.  Watched her videos and was just fascinated.

Because I have a rule that I do not embed videos that have commercials, I'll provide the links instead. 

REDESIGNING HISTORICAL ROMANCE BOOK COVERS TO BE ACTUALLY HISTORICAL PARR 2

HE USES OLD FACE MASKS AND GARBAGE TO MAKE ART

https://youtu.be/r0GnwY-v-qw  Have not embedded this video because of the commercial... one of the most annoying commercials too. Have a look at the link,

A VACATION NEEDED AFTER A VACATION

I accepted when asked to dog sit for a "friend" and, like the Norman Rockwell painting of the family that comes back from a vacation more worn out than when they left, I need a vacation.  I accepted thinking that I wanted to get some extra sleep.  That I wanted to fall asleep reading books.  That I wanted to linger in bed with four old dogs in with me, reading books.  I wanted to take the dogs out on long walks in nature - as long as their old legs would allow - and between walks I wanted to rest and read.  I wanted to read on the back porch that overlooks the garden.  I wanted to read overlooking the ocean. I took books with me that have been on my pile of books I want to read. I started a diary of my dog sitting experience.  After a few days I came up with the title "Diary of a MAD Dog Sitter."  Mad such as "I was crazy to accept."  Mad such as "I'm really getting angry here." 

At this moment, I cannot find the paper I wrote it on - old school paper and ink pens.  It is buried.

My pile of books to be read are unread.

ART SPACE MAGAZINE - BRUCE NAUMAN

CHOICE WORDS FROM THE ARTICLE:

"MIXING ART WITH POLITICS," a wag once said,"IS LIKE MIXING GIN WITH SNOT: IT RUINS THE FORMER AND FAILS TO IMPROVE THE LATTER."

HENRY DARGER : IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL :CHRISTINE TRZYNA FILM REVIEW

This is a peculiar film because the subject, Henry Darger, was a peculiar person and a complete unknown in his lifetime.  He died in 1977 as an old man and then his landlady (who must have really known how to mind her own business) find his art - a treasure!

If Henry had been a child in our times rather than his (he died in 1977 as an old man), he would probably have never been a child slave as an orphan on a farm where he was institutionalized.  He probably would have been diagnosed with some disorder or psychological problem, which there is far too much of going on these days, and medicated, maybe out of his creativity.

Fortunately none of these things happened.  Instead he lead a simple and isolated life and became a secret writer and artist.

Henry Darger worked as a hospital janitor but when he was at home he was writing and painting.  When he died in Chicago his landlady discovered 300 paintings, some over 10 feet long, and 15,000 page illustrated novel called THE REALMS of the UNREAL. 

Clearly his childhood experience of being in an asylum for the "feeble - minded" had deeply effected him, as the story is about slave children.  Seven angelic sisters lead a rebellion against child-enslaving godless men. 

Henry went to church every Sunday of his life, though he struggled with religion.  Interestingly his paintings illustrate this world which we could argue, he lived in, and invented.

Linking to more information from PBS  DARGER - FILM - PBS

C 2013  Christine Trzyna  All Rights Reserved

EXCERPT : AND THE SHOW WENT ON : CULTURAL LIFE IN NAZI-OCCUPIED PARIS BY ALAN RIDING

Pages 239-241

"...the Nazi had...long since "cleansed" the publishers' back lists...some 20,000 books were seized.

"...After the Otto List, a far wider sweep followed, with German military police raiding seventy publishing houses, closing eleven of them, and confiscating over 700,000 books. But the Nazis were not yet satisfied. In July 1942, Propaganda Staffel issued an updated Otto List of 1,070 titles; some books on the first list were removed as mistakes, and others were added. Then in May 1943, a third list was issued, naming 1554 authors, including 739 "Jewish writers in the French language.'

... "In his memoir Heller said that a total of 2, 242 tons of books were burned. He noted, "I was able to visit the place where these books were stocked before their destruction. it was a vast garage on the avenue de la Grande-Armee. In the sad light coming through dusty windows, I saw piled up, torn dirty books, which for me were the objects of a veritable cult. A mountain of horror, a dreadful sight which reminded me of the autos-da-fe in front of Berlin University in May 1933.'

C 2010 Alan Riding
Borzoi Book
Alfred A. Knopf Publisher

BEADWORK MAGAZINE'S CHALLENGE CREATIVE INSPIRATION

Having designed some jewelry in my time, recently I started reading BEADWORK magazine, and I love the feature they call "The Challenge." A few designers receive the same assortment of beads and stones and metal elements and then do what they will with the package.

They don't have to use all the beads provided and it seems to be OK if they use some of their own supply as well. Besides seeing how different artists manifest art in the form of the functional art of jewelry, I've seen some of the most gorgeous jewelry I have ever seen in this magazine.

To bead takes great patience and manual dexterity. I am truly impressed. And for those who want to follow along there are often patterns and instructions.