I'd Like This App

AND TALENT

These sketches are by Jorge Columbo, "using Brushes, an application for the iPhone." See more at The New Yorker's blog Finger Painting, here.

Tiny Showcase

"Caravan Series #3"
Leah Giberson
Here.

I just came across an absolutely fascinating new art site. Tiny Showcase is a site that lets you buy low-cost prints of up-and-coming artists. In their own words:

Tiny Showcase was created by Jon Buonaccorsi and Shea'la Finch in November of 2004.

We are lucky enough to be surrounded by a group of friends who are amazing and talented people.

We started thinking that it would be really nice if we could create a forum and community where all of this incredible talent could be showcased. Pricing was an issue - most of our friends aren't exactly rich, so we began exploring a smaller medium where the artist could make some money on smaller pieces of artwork. The art enthusiast, on the other hand, gets to take home their piece of artwork for around the same price as a CD, book or record...

Each week we pick a new piece of tiny artwork and turn the work into a limited-run print production. Each run is printed on archival Hahnemühle German Printmaking Paper. The archival ink is specially treated and sprayed, giving it an archival lifespan of over 60 years.

You sort of need to see the end product to get the full effect, but each piece really is a beautiful specimen.

Beginning in 2005 we introduced a new pricing structure where a percentage of the money from each print sold is donated to a charity chosen by the artist. This raises the print price slightly, but now the artist, as well as their favorite charity, benefit from each piece sold.

Check it out. And if you have twenty bucks or so, show them some love.

Blogroll

John Grider
Here.

I've added artist John Grider's website--Broken Crow--to the blogroll. As I don't have permission to use his art, and I live in constant fear of being sued for this, I'm hoping that this might assuage any ill-feelings Mr. Grider might have for my blatant violation of the law.

If you get the chance and want to see some very nice art, I suggest you take a look at his site and his work. There's a link now. Look to your right. Good reader.

Roll-Blog

Trip
Jennifer Davis
Here.

You may, but probably didn't notice the addition of three new links to the blogroll on the right side of this page. In the coming weeks you'll notice a couple new additions every few days. It's exciting, I know. I would, however, like to give a little shout-out (give props? what's the hip terminology?) to the following sites and new blogroll additions.

(1) Jennifer Davis: Paintings and Collages: Ms. Davis is another Murderopolis-based artist. You can expect to see her work here at Oberliner, until such time as she sues me for copyright violation.

(2) Umbilical Chord: This blog does music reviews of bands/artists that are, on the whole, hipper than what I listen to. Thus this blog is good for me, as I can read it, and then, when around those of my friends who actually follow the contemporary pop music scene, not only will I be able to nod knowingly at certain names, but perhaps I will even be able to say a few things. This blog is also of note because it is put out by a friend and a fellow editor (at The Grape). Also important, you can actually hear songs by the bands that they review there at the site! God(!) I love technology!(!!!111)

(3) Summerville: Another friend of mine, another Oberliner, and a young political operative gives us some summer musings. I don't really know what else to say about this blog, and, since probably only a couple readers have made it this far into the post, as meta-posts tend to be boring and ill-read things, I don't really have to say any more.

I'd encourage you to check these blogs out: throw them some love; give them some hits; gentle reader(s) I charge you(!)

Coming Up

Tropical Storms
John Grider
Here.

This post is as much for me as for you. I figure if I say I'm going to do something, it might increase the chances that I'll actually do it. So, coming up on Ich Bin Ein Oberliner:

(1) China, Big Bads, and a multipolar world.
(2) John McCain, what is up with that?
(3) David Lapham's Young Liars, also, what is up with that?
(4) Talk nerdy to me, baby (this one's for you, Nora).

On an unrelated note. You may have noticed the new art that's been up and about on Oberliner. It's the work of a Murderopolis based artist, John Grider. I think his stuff is nothing short of breathtaking. Check out his website (Broken Crow); send him some love. It might help make up for my blatant copyright infringement.

Also, did you comment on my last post yet? Yeah, I'm that guy.

More Meta

Kelly Schmader
Here.

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing the abstract art class's final projects. It was wonderful. Once again, I'd like to make the plug for the Oberlin art department. They do really good work. Not everything was great, of course, but there were a number of breathtaking pieces, including a large rack of lollipops, some girl who out-Chuck-Closed Chuck Close, and oversize doughnuts that made me feel strangely uncomfortable. Also, several Oberliner favorites had their work on display, including the three I most often use: Meena Hasan, Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan, and Kelly Schmader (their website is here).

While on the subject of those three, and their art, for those of you breathlessly waiting, Wilder Voice should--maybe I should write "SHOULD"--be out Monday or Tuesday. I say this because Meena is our art editor, an Savannah and Kelly both did a number of illustrations for it. What's more, Wilder Voice will be on a thick magazine stock, which is quite exciting.

Our quasi-competitors, Vox came out yesterday, and they looked wonderful, and, thankfully, nothing like us. In fact, after reading their magazine, I think it's safe to say that we aren't really competitors at all. Theirs is much more academic (in a good way) than ours. Anyway, I know how much work it is to produce these things, so, congratulations, Vox!

I'm bound by my agreement with Google not to directly promote my advertisment, which makes sense. So, I want to make it clear to the Google powers-that-be, I'm not doing that. I just want to show you a recent screen shot to demonstrate how poor their software is at determining good context-specific advertisements:

No comment.

Lastly, I'd like to point out, I have now actually done some non-philosophy related reading, and it was very good. I'll try to review this, and, seeing as I'm desperately looking for a means of procrastination as the end of school draws nearer, I might actually get to it.

Art Show

Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan
Here.

So, do you remember when I wrote about the high quality of art being produced here at Oberlin? Well, now is your chance to see some of it in action: art show this Thursday (April 3) at 8:30 at 16 1/2 Main Street (the second floor). Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan's instillation will be up along with many others. It's being put on by the people who edit So What, the art crit mag here at Oberlin.

New Yorker

Susan Homer
Butterfly-Flowers
At Metaphor Contemporary Art, here

Well, first of all, if you like today's featured painting, I strongly suggest that you who read this and live in New York go see this show. It's at Metaphor Contemporary Art in Brooklyn, and you can get the address and hours here. Homer's show is called The Traveler's Return. I love--and agreew with--this quote from her write-up:

The multiple sessions of work that go into their making leave behind layers of information and traces of brushwork that become part of the topology of the paintings imbuing them with a tactile generative energy and a deep sense of time.

In this New York-centric vein, I'm going to offer up a review of Mannes College of Music's most recent recital of Arnold Schoenburg's Lieder, opus 2 (1899)and Pierrot Lunaire (1912).

First, though, a little background. Schoenburg is probably know best for his role in the creation of (big M) Modern music. But, as demonstrated by soprano Katharine Dain, his early, hyper-Romantic work can be inspiring and bold, as well. Her Lieder was sexy and stunning. I'd watch out for this one. She's got voice, musicality, and can emote better than William Shatner in a fight scene.

The Pierrot--one of the (many) iconic and now-canonic works by Schoenburg--demonstrated, once again, Dane's powerful musicality and ability to connect with her audience (even in Sprechstimme, even in Sprechstimme...), and the ensemble, as a whole, pulled of their difficult parts with remarkable ease.

Back in Oberlin tomorrow.

Mud and Mudd

Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan
here

It's raining here, and it's muddy and miserable, but, just this morning, it was bright, sunny, and temperate. Why, Oberlin, why?

Also, I'm fairly sure my car is stuck in the mud.

On a lighter note, and the point of this post, I had the opportunity to see some instillations done by Oberlin art majors (at least, I assume they were art majors). It wasn't the instillation in Mudd, which, frankly I didn't get. I should say, however, that I like the idea of putting an instillation in Mudd. The place could use more art besides the crazy screaming guy in the stairwell. Moving on.

I wish I had my camera so I could have taken pictures of some of the great work that was there. The class produced some stunning and polished work (including Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan whose art is regularly used here, and who has a website here).

By now, you've probably figured out that I can be an opinionated prick. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have said anything at all.

Fellow oberliners, if you get the chance, do check out some of the stuff coming out of the art department here. I know I will.

Okay, that last line (actually this whole post) was a little icky and not well written, but I'm tired, and I'm not going to fix it.

Also, I'm reading Morrison's The Invisibles again. Review forthcoming? It wouldn't be particularly timely since the thing has been around for over a decade, but that hasn't stopped me before. Stay tuned.

Decoration

Susan Homer

The above painting doesn't have a name. It was given to me by the artist, my cousin Susie. This was the only painting in her last show which didn't sell. I think this is insane. This has to be one of the coolest paintings I've seen in quite some time.

I'm going to bed, but I want to leave you with a poem.

The Butterfly

Look, a butterfly. Did you make a wish?

You don't wish on butterflies.

You do so. Did you make one?

Yes

It doesn't count.

-Lousie Gluck

Avoiding Epistemology Again

Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan
here

Please note the edition of The Headquarters to the blogroll. Meena Hasan, Savannah Mirisola-Sullivan, and Kelly Schmader are all very talented artists, and you'd do well to check them out

On another note, a friend recently pointed out to me that I might come off as less of a jackass in classes if I were, well, less of a jackass. She's right. She, I should say, also said this in a much nicer way. So, I'm making a vow to be more respectful and diplomatic in classes. Please, you who know me, tell me when I'm over the line.

Somewhere along the line, I think I decided that I needed to prove to everyone I was ready to be back. In my ill-advised zeal to prove myself to my classmates, I think--in one class in particular (which is good because I'm only in two classes...)--I became "that guy" who mostly talks to prove his point with little regard for the big picture or common courtesy.

Well, enough of that.

I've gotten used to somewhat thematically dense comic books. Y: The Last Man isn't. So I sped through it and enjoyed it, but only on a liminal level. If you have the good taste to pick up Y don't do what I did. The characterization is first-rate, the pacing is spot-on, and much of what makes it good is easily missed if you read it just for plot.

It is, however, quite addicting. It's the kind of book that gets you making deals with yourself; one more issue or 4AM, whichever comes first... Check it out. It's good for the soul

Completely switching gears (again). I encourage all you yeomen to hit The 'Sco with me tomorrow. It's hip-hop night; it's always fun to see pasty-white boys try to dance to 50 Cent (I include myself in this). Also, dancing releases endorphins, and Ohio is a pretty depressing place. Dancing is good mental hygiene.

I Think I Should Mention

Santa Crack
Here.
From The Post-it Project, here.

This is a blog I came upon rather randomly. It's called The Post-It Project, and, for those of you familiar with my post-it note architectural aspirations, you can imagine I was struck immediately by the name. I've rolled it, and you can check it out here.

Also, the latest villain in Doom Patrol is "The Brotherhood of Dada". Diabolical, no? It's hard not to love a series where the antagonist can say things like this:

Are we not final proof that there is no good, no evil, no truth, no reason? Are we not proof that the universe is a drooling idiot with no fashion sense? From this day on we will celebrate the total absurdity of life, the gigantic hocus-pocus of existence. From this day on let unreason reign! The brotherhood of evil is dead!

LONG LIVE THE BROTHERHOOD OF DADA!

Indeed. God, I love Grant Morrison

Du Jour

keegan wenkman
macabre
here

I've just added Keegan Wenkman, whose art has already graced Oberliner (here and here), to the blogroll. I strongly encourage you to check his stuff out. It's pretty stunning.

I'm thinking of art now, as I've just helped E___ put up posters in her new pad. She has high ceilings and big windows and show art and movie posters and pictures of friends. Me, though, I don't know yet where I live. Furthermore, someone just started moving her stuff into SEED House, and, I'm quite sure, was baffled entirely by my presence in her house. If Oberlin doesn't get its ass in gear and tell me where the hell I'm living, I fear SEED House may cease to be an option as more and more actual denizens arrive, expecting a place to live.

One more:

keegan wenkman
smoker
here

Projects, Pictures, and Other Dispatches From the Art World

jennifer davis
leaking
here.

I know I promised photos of the new tattoo. As soon as I unpack my car and get the install disc for my new camera, you shall have them. You shall also have photos of my friend L___'s art project. She alphabetized every word of the Old Man and the Sea and has taped them onto large poster boards. It certainly lets one come at a novel from a different perspective. Lastly, I just liked the Jennifer Davis thing up top. I'll give another plug for MPLSart. Click here.

Also, haircut tomorrow.

More will be revealed.

Good Luck And...

Keegan Wenkman
Oldboy

Here, via MPLSart.

Good night.

I thought I'd leave you with some more Keegan Wenkman, because I love his art. And tell you the final instalment of Adrian Tomine's Optic Nerve three-parter is done and great. I don't remember what he's calling the three of them (issues nine, ten, and eleven), something like White on Rice. At any rate, like most Tomine, don't read them if you just broke up with someone, are in a relationship with someone, or are even remotely sad, unless you want to wallow in self-misery. Optic Nerve seems to be, and White on Rice (or whatever) especially so, an exploration of twenty-somethings who fuck their love lives/work lives/lives in general up. And, yes, it resonates with me.

Murderopolis Pride

Flying Dutch
Keegan Wenkman

I mentioned adding a new site to my blogroll--MPLSart--in a previous post. I'd just like to elaborate on why exactly I find this site so important.

Minneapolis pretty much rocks the culture and arts scene in the Midwest. Granted that isn't saying too much; I'm aware Minneapolis does not equal New York. Nevertheless, I'd venture to say that Minneapolis has one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in the country, between the insane number of theaters here (chief among them the world-renown Guthrie), the art scene (led by the cultural powerhouse, The Walker Art Center, creator of The Soap Factory, Movies in the Park, etc.), and the local music scene (for classical, with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Lyra Baroque, and for pop, with tapes and tapes, Battle Royale, and The Bees, just to name a few).

All of this leads me to MPLSart, which highlights young, up-and-coming artists, including Keegan Wenkman, the painter from the top of the post. I'd strongly recommend that you head over the MPLSart and take a look at their featured artist page. I know I'm actually considering taking a portion of the money I'm making at this cushy executive assistant gig and putting it towards buying some art. Unfortunately, I really want to move into a new apartement, and I'll have to find $500 dollars deposit plus first month, so, I may have to wait for the next insanely well-paying temp job.

Fuck, now I have to add the "things i probably won't do but want to" tag to this post.

Morning Update III

Gravity's Rainbow page 56:

What if Mexico's whole generation turned out like this? Will Postwar be nothing but "events," newly created one moment to the next? no links? Is it the end of history?

Next, I'd like to note the addition of a couple of things in the blog roll. First, in the intrest of reciprocity, and 'rolling cool blogs, check out It Has Happened Before. He's hamming out good art postings left and right; I won't try to scoop his site and post them here, but I will say that this post has some pretty amazing pictures.

I also added MPLSart in the interest of maintaining my Murderopolis pride, despite now living in Saint Paul, promoting local art, and loving the site. It is, in many ways, a cross between Last Night's Party and an actual art site, but I can excuse the shameless hipster navel-gazing because (1) it isn't soft-core porn, (2) they post about good art, too, and (3) hipster navel-gazing is far more interesting when I actually know some of the people involved.

Morning Update II

First, news from the Pynchon Project. Page 47:

They turn southward. Lights on the dash glow warmly. Searchlights rake the raining sky. The slender machine shivers over the roads. Jessica drifts toward sleep, the leather seat creaking as she curls about. Windscreen wipers brush the rain in a rhythmic bright warp. It is past two, and time for home.

While on the subject of Pynchon, here's a nice post on It Has Happened Before (the sub-head of the website, for those of you unfamiliar with the first page of Gravity's Rainbow, is "But There Is Nothing To Compare It To Now") about Zak Smith

I had coffee last night with an old acquaintance of mine from High School. I haven't seen her in over two years. It was wonderful to talk with her, and I found the conversation more engaging than I expected. She talked at length about her new-found passion for modern (or, as she said, contemporary) dance. Since I've been doing yoga and pilates with A___--a skilled dancer--this idea of dancing has already been on my mind. I've gotten more flexible since doing yoga (from not being able to touch my toes to putting my hands flat on the ground), and my slowly-developing core strength has made it passable for me to move a little bit after doing pilates--an epic improvement considering my post-pilates near-incontinence and uncontrollable quivering mere weeks ago. I want to do something with these new, underdeveloped skills. I want to dance. I have to stew on this a bit and remember that I make shit for money and have no idea when I'll be making more.

So everyone knows, when at Caffetto (Lyndale & 22nd), I ran three separate groups of people I knew and hadn't seen in a while, two of them who went to high school with me and K___ (my platonic coffee date). Either this is a strange coincidence, or I know the hipster nodes better than I thought I did. Unfortunately, this is probably the beginning of the end for Caffetto, I have little doubt that, soon enough, the hipsters will be gone, replaced by suburban kids with Sum 41 tee-shirts. Alas. To be honest though, I'm not sure which are worse. Can't we just go back to the days of Caffetto as the small, neighborhood coffee joint?

Fuck it. I might as well live it up while I can. I'll grab L___'s red vest, put some gel in my hair, and pack Gravity's Rainbow and see if I can get hit on.

Chickens and Pynchon

I want to have a house with chickens that run free. Like in a third-world country. Is this possible? I'm sure it violates some health code or other. But, honestly, how cool would that be?

On another note, I've--once again--started reading Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. This will be attempt four or five, I can't remember. But, this time, I have another tool at my disposal. Zak Smith, a young, American artist did a piece currently on view and The Walker Art Center (where I work, incidentally). He did one drawing for each page of the book. An epic undertaking, considering that Gravity's Rainbow is beyond complex and is a rather difficult read (okay, a really, really difficult read). I bought the book of his drawings and am making myself stop after each page and look at his interpretations. This prevents my normal problem with Pynchon, where I lose myself in his cul-de-sac prose and end up reading an entire chapter and at the end thinking, "when the hell did he start having sex with a one-limbed prostitute," or "when did he start talking about black Nazis?"

Check it out here.