vote 4 me

My good friend Nick Pizzolato designed the flyer. Check out his site Here

*Or rather the guy who is looking into your eyes on the you-tube screen right now.

Tabula Rasa (an art exhibit)

One of the greatest things about going to Purchase College is being surrounded by creative people all of the time. If it's music, performance, or artwork, one can always expect the person sitting next to you might be the coolest person you have never ever met. A friend, fellow student, and artist, Spencer Alexander is one of those students. Along with Spencer, Alex Derwick, and Manuel Bova opened an art exhibition entitled "Tabula Rasa", which began on Friday March sixth in the Visual Arts building (1019a). Although I wasn't able to attend the opening due to a previously booked event, I heard wonderful things. I did have a chance to check out the space today, and highly suggest it to anyone who has ever picked up a crayon. Don't believe me? Check out these hot pics.
(All photos, by Kellyann Petry)


The artists (from left to right)
Alex, Spencer, Manuel

Q: What's an art exhibition opening without food?
A: A pretty lame time.


I am by no means an expert on art or know how to properly critique it. However, I did enjoy this exhibition tremendously and I believe these type of art shows are where the art world is heading towards in the future. Although the space is about fifty square feet, the viewer is never kept at a visual standstill. The room is decorated with chalk outlined store fronts on a black painted wall canvas. In front of the chalked representations are cardboard cutouts attached to the ceilings. The cutouts are all highly detailed and distinguished characters, made from spray paint and stencils. Not only were there great visuals, but the exhibit also had a soundtrack. Recorded in Port Chester, the recording is an audio snippet of the noise one would here while walking around a city, with some surprise sounds involved. Here are some more pictures from the opening:


On the back wall is a place where the viewer can sign their name, make a wish, or draw profanity, like this kid was obviously doing.




Even Nick Corbo played! Listen to his music Here


If you're thinking to yourself, "well he's just doing this because he's friends with these dudes." Don't believe yourself. I'm not gaining anything from doing this, just the feeling of promoting great work. These artists are consistently creating great images and are always keeping me on my artistic heels. I'm calling it now, but I believe that this is the future of art!

Please check they're personal sites below:
You can find Alex's artwork Here
Spencer's Here
Tell Manuel to get himself a website Here

love always,

Man from the Sea

"I am a traditional outsider. I am an immigrant (from Russia!) and a Jew (sorry)."
-The Will to Whatevs by Eugene Mirman

Way back in the year 2005, I sent Mr. Mirman an email asking if I had seen him in a web TV show called "I Love the 30s". Within a half-hour, he promptly responded "no", along with this tidbit in response to my name:

"And if I see you at some point I will try to pronounce your name with the slight difference that let's you know I know about the K."

Some people have trouble pointing to the exact moments in their life when they fell in love. The minute I read that email I gave my heart to Mr. Mirman, and he has had it ever since.

Over the years, I have watched Eugene Mirman emerge from a humble beginning in stand up comedy and video making to the breakneck world of voice overs and television commercials. You may recognize his charming vibrato on Adult Swim programs such as "Lucy, The Daughter of the Devil" or "Home Movies" or on HBO's "The Flight of the Conchords". He has also recently released a book:



Mr. Mirman's comedy attracts many and alienates more. Some equate his selective brand of humor to that of a fine wine or fermented human feces. Like it or not, either way you're bound to get wasted.

Here are some of my favorite Mir-moments:

Eugene restores justice and protects his honor via stand up:


Eugene marvels at the wonders of modern society, including the Honda Civic:


"A Video Eugene Sent Himself from the Future":


Check out Eugene's new book, "The Will to Whatevs", in addition to his comedy albums including "En Garde, Society!" and "The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman".

Shoot Me.

I don't know about you, but whenever I'm required to do something important and significant, I like to waste time on the computer instead. Mindlessly trolling the interwebs has left me with a slight empty feeling. But thanks to a certain tool called the Stumble button, I came across quite a worthy web offering - the 365 project on Flickr.

It's not hard to guess what this project is about. You take a photograph everyday for a year, at at the end of the year you can look back and remember every single day. I think that is such a fantastic idea. I have a terrible memory - I often look down and freak out because I can't remember putting pants on, so don't even ask me if I did anything exciting last week.

Sure, I doubt your memory is as bad as mine. I'm sure you have a little red date-book just packed full of past jaunts and a calander on every wall. But can your say you have an image from almost every day of your life that conjurs up memories you would have otherwise lost? Embark on this project and one day you might be able to say just that, and have the photo album to prove it.

I've put together a list of my ten favorite 365 photographers on Flickr. Check them out, especially if you have 9 hours to kill...

Ten Extraordinary 365 Photographers on Flickr

1. Rosie Hardy
This girl has quite a unique Flickr story. I won't reiterate it here, but if you're curious check out her profile. It's definitely worth it.What I love about her photos is how - regardless of the editing - she always conveys such a special image. It could be just a day in her life, that of a young student residing in England, or a peak into her beautifully imaginative mind. Whatever you're viewing, you're seeing progress. Take a look at some images from the start of her photostream, and then some from the end. It's like she was educated right in from of your eyes.

2. Chrissie White
Ok, so this next girl I found via R.Hardy. She doesn't get full points because she never finished her 365, but who the hell cares - take a look at any of her other photos and you'll see why. This girl is 14, I believe. Friggin 14. I think the extent of my creativity at 14 was sticking candy to my bookshelf with tape and calling it Modern (they were mints, and made my room smell sickly) She is so, so very talented and I hope one day I see her photographs posted in big places.

3. The Brownhorse
He likes marmite? I don't know, this guy was just really dedicated to the project, so he goes on here. Don't be turned off by the first page, he closes his mouth eventually.

4. Dunny
An old set, ranging from 2004 to 2006. I stumbled across this stream, and am quite glad I did so. His photos are sweet and modest, yet still deliver a captivating image. Oh, and he's also a photographer for Threadless!

5. {Karen}
It's often hard for me to imagine my mother as any other person but, well, a mother. I forget that she was around long before I was, I don't consider the fact that she has a mind that operates when her children are not near here. And while I know she constantly thinks of us, she is an independent human being. This women reminds me of that. A mother herself, I can't imagine how she found time to take on such a project and do it in such a lovely manner. Each photo shows a creative glimpse not only into the life of a mother, but of a women still finding her way.

6. Bugsandfishes by Lupin
There more ways than one to shoot the 365 project. While most people opt for the self-portrait, others choose to set themselves simultaneous goals. This girl chose to work on a craft project every day for 365 days and she photographed the evidence. I am an avid crafter, and spend too much time online viewing other peoples craft blogs and projects. So, needless to say, this ladies photostream was a real visual treat for me.

7. Besimo
Like number 7, this fella opted out of the daily self-portrait. His photos remind me of mind snapshots. You know, images of the little things you see every day but disregard. Your friends walking down the lane in front of you, the dog sleeping on the rug, or the birdhouse in the tree silhouetted against the winter sky. This photostream reminds me to take notice of the things I often ignore, or take for granted - because you really do find beauty in the little things.

8. Wiseacre Photo
So this is probably a terrible reason to pick someone to be a part of this list, but what can you do. This guy reminds me of Sam Beam.
There.


9. Gillespinault
I wouldn't mind having a few of these framed on my wall. Each one is visually stimulating (I know that's a ridculous term to use, but you just have to whip it out sometimes) and I think the fact that the descriptions are in another language, makes me so much more curious about the photo.

10. aknacer
I just like this guy because he put a live slug in his mouth. I think that's enough of a reason.

Comedy Sunday's

Louis CK



David Cross


Paul Mooney



i'm calling it.

Giants losing to the Eagles
Pittsburgh beating San Diego.

James Jean@ the Jonathan Levine Gallery

My favorite gallery in all of New York is the Jonathan Levine Gallery. The gallery showcases work by world renowned artists from all different backgrounds from street art to illustration, and I can honestly say that I have never seen a show there that did not disapoint.
From January 10th through February 7th, there will be a show featuring the work of artist/illustrator James Jean, entitled Kindling: New Works on Paper and Canvas.
Jean is a Los Angeles based artist, who graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2001. He works primarily as an illustrator and some of his clients include DC/Vertigo Comics (You can see his work on the "Fables" series covers, among many others), Rollingstone, New York Times, Nike, Target, and Prada, just to name a few. He has won numerous Eisner, and Harvey awards, making him one of the comic book world's elite.








(I don't know what the deal is with these stupid "do fish get thirsty" ads, thanks image shack).

The show opening is January 10 from 6-9 p.m. at the Jonathan Levine Gallery located at 529 West 20th street.
for more info visit www.jonathanlevinegallery.com

-Spencer
www.spenceralexander.blogspot.com

Rebecca Campbell

CLICK ON PICTURES TO VIEW THEM IN FULL SCALE!

I recently stumbled upon the work of Rebecca Campbell (literally) one day using Stumble Upon. For those of you who do not have this on your web browser, it is a must! (www.stumbleupon.com)

Anyway, Rebecca Campbell is a relatively young artist whose work thus far mostly focuses on women in different settings, some fantasy, some realistic as well as portraiture with the utmost realism. Most people know Chuck Close as the pioneer of photo-realism, but Rebecca Campbell is definitely doing her thang. Her website is really great because the visitor can see the progression from her thesis work during art school to the work she is more currently producing. She works in other mediums such as mixed media and photography but I think that her paintings' are the most noteworthy of her portfolio. For someone who feels a little intimidated by art, she is a really great painter to take note of, she puts it all out there for you to take in.

She is currently being exhibited and represented by the Ameringer-Yohe Gallery in New York City. The gallery is exhibiting her series entitled Xanadu. The Ameringer-Yohe Gallery also exhibits the work of modern artists, most notably Jackson Pollock, Willem De Koonig and David Hockey, that's a big deal!!

Check her stuff out at www.rebeccacampbell.net or at 20 W. 57th Street, NY, NY

Happy New Yearrrr!

Some cool and interesting things to check out besides facebook pictures on this New Years Day.

BBC.com lists the 100 Things We Didn't know Last Year
Including:
-Two cups of spearmint tea a day is thought to control excessive hair growth for women.
-Denmark is the happiest country in Europe; Italy the unhappiest.
-Dogs occasionally shoot their owners in the US
-Dumbledore is gay
*Thanks Emily

The Winter Classic Hockey game was held today @ Wrigley field. Check Out some pictures. Hockey Pix

NY Times reports on Endurance Art and Performance

Who was Friedrich Nietzsche ?

Happy New years!

So my latest wind of inspiration has come from and Italian artist who goes by the name of Blu. Blu is a street artist who works on a really large scale, with his murals often ranging from 10 foot walls to 7 story buildings. Armed with a few buckets of house paint, a ladder, and a paint brush or roller tied to a long pole, he sets to work on his massive projects. Keep in mind that like most graffitti artists he does most of his work at night under the radar from the law, which completely blows my mind.




Blu also does wall painted animations. In these works he paints on a wall, photographs it, paints over it, and draws the next image. Check out the animation Muto.

For more information on Blu check out his website at www.blublu.org

-Spencer
www.spenceralexander.blogspot.com

My Christmas Eve Rocked

Last night i went to see Yo La Tengo @ Maxwell's in Hoboken as part of the annual "8 nights of Hanukah with Yo La Tengo". I never had the opportunity to see YLT before, so i thought this would be the best time to do it. Usually on Christmas eve, i slouch around without any egg nog, christmas stuffers, or those awesome christmas sweaters. Why not, you ask? because i'm frecking jewish and Jews have no fun on Christmas, at least the young ones.

These next two days are the worst for younger jews, they have nothing to do and have to hear all the fun and exciting things that their Christmas celebrating friends are doing. So what does a Jew do on Christmas/Eve?

-Watch A Christmas Story on TBS at least two times.
-Go to some kind of feel good Christmas Movie at a movie theater.
-Consume some type of asian cuisine.
-Whine about it


It sux to be jewish on Christmas.


Anyway here are a couple distorted pictures and a video from the show:
pic1
pic2
pic3
pic4

.





That is an illustration by Adrian Tomine (one of my favorite artists) He composed this for the New Yorker to celebrate Yo La Tengo's Murdering The Classics which is performed on Christmas live on WFMU. People call in to request songs of any sort, and YLT attempt to cover them. Hence the name Murdering The Classics

You can find out more information on Adrian Tomine and his graphic novels Here

Listen to more Yo La Tengo

Merry Christmas, you bastards.

Sam