I have been working on a series for a couple of years now and these are some of the pieces that I have produced. I apologize for the quality of the pictures, I really don't think they give much justice to my pieces. All these pieces are mixed media:
The Real World As We Know It
She's SO Delicate
Ride On Through
She's a Real Shit Kicker
Untitled #R
I am very inspired by the old and industrial areas in Milwaukee. These parts of the city remind me that life is meant to be lived; these structures are worn from the passage of time and the constant use and abuse of people and the elements. The city, to me, is just as organic as any "natural" environment in that it fosters life, decays, dies, and becomes re-purposed. The palette I use is the colors of the city with lots of oranges, reds, and browns. I create works that are not realistic depictions , but rather surreal and expressionistic images depicting my mind's eye.
Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
What a perfect example of feminist writing, which segways fabulously into a fasho trasho piece on my lovely feminist rockers.
"SUCK... MY... LEFT ONE!"
-Bikini Kill
The Riot GRRRL movement was associated with the third wave feminist movement in the 1990's most noted through female grunge rock, zines, and DIY ethic with a social and political message of female equality. The aesthetic of this girl movement was living breathing "tank girls", which I think is what really draws me to it.
Created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin
Riot Grrrls was unlike any feminist movement in that it was in your face. It was crude and gave no apologies. They were literally screaming out it's message and addressing things that were kept hush hush or swept under the rug. Things like rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, and female empowerment. It was about bringing women together and letting them know that there was female support; that their feelings and social injustices were an important matter to be publicly addressed. Girl bands that most appealed to me during this time were Bikini Kill, L7, Frumpies, and Babes in Toyland. These all female bands screamed out the injustice done by the patriarchy, which they experienced first hand even in the music scene...
Kathleen Hanna: "It was pretty fucking grim, way worse
than I had thought: a guy in a band yelling "Incest Is Best Put Your
Sister To The Test" before they started their set, constant accusations
that we only got attention 'cause we were women, being physically
assaulted by men before after and during our sets, being screamed at by
men during shows, sound guys threatening to turn off the polarization or
whatever it's called so I'd get shocked every time I sang into the mic.
And, of course, very few girls came to shows in the beginning. It
wasn't a welcoming atmosphere, more like a fucked-up, violent cigar
club."
But these girls stuck to their guns and helped to empower women everywhere.
Kathi Wilcox, Kathleen Hanna, and Tobi Vail
L7 as well as Bikini Kill rocked the hardest, those girls were "fast and frightening". Starting out as a metal band they were included as a riot grrrl band for their lyrics and their fuck you attitude that most only saw in male performers. Their outrageous lyrics leveled the playing field with the guy rockers, Donita Sparks sang confidently "she got so much clit she don't need no balls", speaking to the power of women in terms of genitalia. And she had no doubt about the power she had as a woman, which she proved on a live TV show in Britain called The Word in 1992.
Sexy Bitches
SO LET'S CAUSE A RAUCOUS!
FUCK PRETTY AND PETITE!
Let's get FUCKED and GRUNGE-YYY!
Grunge is back this year, which is great for someone like me who has held on to the aesthetic all this time...
Fuck yeah denims!!
BRING THE COLOR....Or don't
Allison Wolfe from Bratmobile
Plaids!
ANIMAL PRINTS
Her glance hits me like lightning
I heard that girl is fast and frightening
Dirty hair and a laugh that's mean
Her neighbors call her an evil machine
She's fast, she's lean
She's frightening
She's fast, she's lean
She's frightening
Popping wheelies on her motorbike
Straight girls wish they were dykes
She'll do anything on a dare
Mom and Daddy's worst nightmare
Down at the creek smoking pot
She eats the roach so she don't get caught
Throws her mini off in the halls
Got so much clit she don't need no balls
RIOT GRRRL LIVES...and grunge has arisen from the dead 90's.
It has been a very long time since my last post. I have been very busy with work and actually forgot about the blog for quite some time. But at a work party someone actually inquired about the progress of the blog so I thought I would work on it again. I mean I did pick out such a wonderful blog name (along with my best man mate Derick who was also supposed to share the responsibility, but it is only me since he has never posted).
The reminder was actually perfect timing since I did get to see one of my fashion icons this past Sunday. I went to see Amanda Palmer in concert at Turner Hall, and as usual she was lovely. Although sick she still rocked the stage with her outrageous style and head splitting vocals.
Look at that loveliness
Photos courtesy of Warren Iles
She surfed the crowd like a pro. The music was smart, loud, and artistic. She even sang two Dresden Dolls songs. One of which is my favorite, Girl Anachronism, dating all the way back to high school when I lyric checked their first album for our radio station.
The pounding piano, the melodic shouting, and the eerily haunting lyrics made me hungry for more. I wanted to know what this person looked like. I had the album cover to give me an idea of the aesthetic she was part of. Her look however, is much more eclectic. The look of the Dresden Dolls was called punk cabaret, coined by Amanda. It is influenced by old theater, cabaret, and the circus painted on porcelain dolls with punk rock attitude.
The band consists of Amanda Palmer playing piano and Brian Viglione playing drums; the two have a wonderful dynamic. Every time I have seen them in concert it has been a one of a kind experience and always something new. The opening bands/entertainers are different and unique playing so well into an overall performance. The Dresden Dolls and the opening acts are a continuous story on the stage, intermingling music and theater. I became very inspired by this dark and beautiful aesthetic, and in turn started to experiment with my own style.
My first Dresden Dolls concert. Heather and I.
Heather, again, on our way to another Dresden Dolls concert
It's hard to believe that it has been about 9 years since first hearing their album and getting a taste for the bizzarre wonderful world that I would continue to be a part of. Although still occasionally the Dresden Dolls play together, Amanda Palmer is more so performing solo (well not completely). She now tours with various bands and even her husband, Neil Gaiman (which was absolutely adorable, I saw them in Portland last year). Her self confidence is something I aspire for; to feel truly comfortable in my skin. She has no qualms with her body and shows it as a piece of art. Although her dress may seem scantily clad it is not tasteless.
She is a real woman and cares not for what the media has to say about what is sexy and what isn't. She even left a record label (Roadrunner Records) because they wanted to pull shots from her video Leeds United saying her stomach looked fat. Anyone who has ever seen her knows that she is far from fat, and should be aware that she is a feminist who does not participate in superficial bullshit. She is truly an inspiration to women everywhere, and so so fasho trasho.
